THE Marquis ofÑfor a long Series of Years was the first and most distinguished Favourite at Court He held the most honourable Employments under the Crown disposed of all Places of Profit as he pleased presided at the Council and in a manner governed the whole Kingdom
This extensive Authority could not fail of making him many Enemies He fell at last a Sacrifice to the Plots they were continually forming against him and was not only removed from all his Employments but banished the Court for ever
The Pain his undeserved Disgrace gave him he was enabled to conceal by the natural Haughtiness of his Temper and behaving rather like a Man who had resigned than been dismissed from his Posts he imagined he triumphed sufficiently over the Malice of his Enemies while he seemed to be wholly insensible of the Effects it produced His secret Discontent however was so much augmented by the Opportunity he now had of observing the Baseness and Ingratitude of Mankind which in some Degree he experienced every Day that he resolved to quit all Society whatever and devote the rest of his Life to Solitude and Privacy For the Place of his Retreat he pitched upon a Castle he had in a very remote Province of the Kingdom in the Neighbourhood of a small Village and several Miles distant from any Town The vast Extent of Ground which surrounded this noble Building he had caused to be laid out in a Manner peculiar to his Taste The most laborious Endeavours of Art had been used to make it appear like the beautiful Product of wild uncultivated Nature But if this Epitome of Arcadia could boast of only artless and simple Beauties the Inside of the Castle was adorned with a Magnificence suitable to the Dignity and immense Riches of the Owner
While Things were preparing at the Castle for his Reception the Marquis though now advanced in Years cast his Eyes on a young Lady greatly inferior to himself in Quality but whose Beauty and good Sense promised him an agreeable Companion After a very short Courtship he married her and in a few Weeks carried his new Bride into the Country from whence he absolutely resolved never to Return
The Marquis following the Plan of Life he had laid down divided his Time between the Company of his Lady his Library which was large and well furnished and his Gardens Sometimes he took the Diversion of Hunting but never admitted any Company whatever and his Pride and extreme Reserve rendered him so wholly inaccessible to the Country Gentry about him that none ever presumed to solicit his Acquaintance
In the Second Year of his Retirement the Marchioness brought him a Daughter and died in Three Days after her Delivery The Marquis who had tenderly loved her was extremely afflicted at her Death but Time having produced its usual Effects his great Fondness for the little Arabella intirely engrossed his Attention and made up all the Happiness of his Life At Four Years of Age he took her from under the Direction of the Nurses and Women appointed to attend her and permitted her to receive no Part of her Education from another which he was capable of giving her himself He taught her to read and write in a very few Months and as she grew older finding in her an uncommon Quickness of Apprehension and an Understanding capable of great Improvements he resolved to cultivate so promising a Genius with the utmost Care and as he frequently in the Rapture of paternal Fondness expressed himself render her Mind as beautiful as her Person was lovely
Nature had indeed given her a most charming Face a Shape easy and delicate a sweet and insinuating Voice and an Air so full of Dignity and Grace as drew the Admiration of all that saw her These native Charms were improved with all the Heightenings of Art her Dress was perfectly magnificent the best Masters of Music and Dancing were sent for from London to attend her She soon became a perfect Mistress of the French and Italian Languages under the Care of her Father and it is not to be doubted but she would have made a great Proficiency in all useful Knowlege had not her whole Time been taken up by another Study
From her earliest Youth she had discovered a Fondness for Reading which extremely delighted the Marquis he permitted her therefore the Use of his Library in which unfortunately for her were great Store of Romances and what was still more unfortunate not in the original French but very bad Translations
The deceased Marchioness had purchased these Books to soften a Solitude which she found very disagreeable and after her Death
the Marquis removed them from her Closer into his Library where Arabella found them
The surprising Adventures with which they were filled proved a most pleasing Entertainment to a young Lady who was wholly secluded from the World who had no other Diversion but ranging like a Nymph through Gardens or to say better the Woods and Lawns in which she was inclosed and who had no other Conversation but that of a grave and melancholy Father or her own Attendants
Her Ideas from the Manner of her Life and the Objects around her had taken a romantic Turn and supposing Romances were real Pictures of Life from them she drew all her Notions and Expectations By them she was taught to believe that Love was the ruling Principle of the World that every other Passion was subordinate to this and that it caused all the Happiness and Miseries of Life Her Glass which she often consulted always shewed her a Form so extremely lovely that not finding herself engaged in such Adventures as were common to the Heroines in the Romances she read she often complained of the Insensibility of Mankind upon whom her Charms seemed to have so little Influence
The perfect Retirement she lived in afforded indeed no Opportunities of making the Conquests she desired but she could not comprehend how any Solitude could be obscure enough to conceal a Beauty like hers from Notice and thought the Reputation of her Charms sufficient to bring a Croud of
Adorers to demand her of her Father Her Mind being wholly filled with the most extravagant Expectations she was alarmed by every trifling Incident and kept in a continual Anxiety by a Vicissitude of Hopes Fears Wishes and Disappointments
Contains a Description of a Ladys Dress in Fashion not much above Two thousand Years agoÑThe Beginning of an Adventure which seems to promise a great deal
ARABELLA had now entered into her Seventeenth Year with the Regret of seeing herself the Object of Admiration to a few Rustics only who happened to see her when one Sunday making use of the Permission the Marquis sometimes allowed her to attend Divine Service at the Church belonging to the Village near which they lived her Vanity was flattered with an Adorer not altogether unworthy of her Notice
This Gentleman was young gay handsome and very elegantly dressed he was just come from London with an Intention to pass some Weeks with a Friend in that Part of the Country and at the time Arabella entered the Church his Eyes which had wandered from one rural Fair to another were in an Instant fixed upon her Face She blushed with a very becoming Modesty and pleased with
the unusual Appearance of so fine a Gentleman and the particular Notice he took of her passed on to her Seat thro a double Row of Country People who with a Profusion of aukward Bows and Courtesies expressed their Respect
Mr Hervey for that was the Strangers Name was no less surprised at her Beauty than the Singularity of her Dress and the odd Whim of being followed into the Church by three WomenAttendants who as soon as she was seated took their Places behind her
Her Dress tho singular was far from being unbecoming All the Beauties of her Neck and Shape were set off to the greatest Advantage by the Fashion of her Gown which in the Manner of a Robe was made to sit tight to her Body and fastened on the Breast with a Knot of Diamonds Her fine black Hair hung upon her Neck in Curls which had so much the Appearance of being artless that all but her Maid whose Employment it was to give them that Form imagined they were so Her Headdress was only a few Knots advantageously disposed over which she wore a white Sarsenet Hood somewhat in the Form of a Veil with which she sometimes wholly covered her fair Face when she saw herself beheld with too much Attention
This Veil had never appeared to her so necessary before Mr Herveys eager Glances threw her into so much Confusion that pulling it over her Face as much as she was able she remained invisible to him all the time they afterwards stayed in the Church This Action by which she would have had him understand
that she was displeased at his gazing on her with so little Respect only increased his Curiosity to know who she was
When the Congregation was dismissed he hastened to the Door with an Intention to offer her his Hand to help her to her Coach but seeing the magnificent Equipage that waited for her and the Number of Servants that attended it he conceived a much higher Idea of her Quality than he had at first and changing his Design contented himself with only bowing to her as she passed and as soon as her Coach drove away inquired of some Persons nearest him who she was
These Rustics highly delighted with the Opportunity of talking to the gay Londoner whom they looked upon as a very extraordinary Person gave him all the Intelligence they were able concerning the Lady he inquired after and filled him with an inconceivable Surprize at the strange Humour of the Marquis who buried so beautiful a Creature in Obscurity
At his Return home he expressed his Admiration of her in Terms that persuaded his Friend she had made some Impression on his Heart and after raillying him a little upon this Suspicion he assumed a more serious Air and told him If he really liked Lady Bella he thought it not impossible but he might obtain her The poor Girl added he has been kept in Confinement so long that I believe it would not be difficult to persuade her to free herself by Marriage She never had a Lover in her Life and therefore the first Person who addresses her has the fairest Chance for succeeding
Mr Hervey tho he could not persuade himself his Cousin was in Earnest when he advised him to court the only Daughter of a Man of the Marquiss Quality and Heiress to his vast Estates yet relished the Scheme and resolved to make some Attempt upon her before he left the Country However he concealed his Design from his Cousin not being willing to expose himself to be ridiculed if he did not succeed and turning the Advice he had given him into a Jest left him in the Opinion that he thought no more of it
In which the Adventure goes on after the accustomed Manner
ARABELLA in the mean time was wholly taken up with the Adventure as she called it at Church The Person and Dress of the Gentleman who had so particularly gazed on her there was so different from what she had been accustomed to see that she immediately concluded he was of some distinguished Rank It was past a Doubt she thought that he was excessively in Love with her and as she soon expected to have some very extraordinary Proofs of his Passion her Thoughts were wholly employed on the Manner in which she should receive them
As soon as she came home and had paid her Duty to the Marquis she hurried to her Chamber to be at Liberty to indulge her agreeable
Reflections and after the Example of her Heroines when any thing extraordinary happened to them called her favourite Woman or to use her own Language her
in whom she confided her most secret Thoughts
Well Lucy said she did you observe that Stranger who eyd us so heedfully Today at Church
This Girl notwithstanding her CountrySimplicity knew a Compliment was expected from her on this Occasion and therefore replied
That she did not wonder at the Gentlemans staring at her for she was sure he had never seen any body so handsome as her Ladyship before
I have not all the Beauty you attribute to me said Arabella smiling a little And with a very moderate Share of it I might well fix the Attention of a Person who seemed to be not overmuch pleased with the Objects about him However pursued she assuming a more serious Air if this Stranger be weak enough to entertain any Sentiments more than indifferent for me I charge you upon Pain of my Displeasure do not be accessary to the Conveying his presumptuous Thoughts to me either by Letters or Messages nor suffer him to corrupt your Fidelity with the Presents he will very probably offer you
Lucy to whom this Speech first gave a Hint of what she ought to expect from her Ladys Lovers finding herself of more Importance
than she imagined was so pleased at the Prospect which opened to her that it was with some Hesitation she promised to obey her Orders
Arabella however was satisfied with her Assurances of observing her Directions and dismissed her from her Presence not without an Apprehension of being too well obeyed
A whole Week being elapsed without meeting with the Importunities she expected she could hardly conceal her Surprize at so mortifying a Disappointment and frequently interrogated Lucy concerning any Attempts the Stranger had made on her Fidelity but the Answers she received only increased her Discontent as they convinced her her Charms had not had the Effect she imagined
Mr Hervey however had been all this time employed in thinking of some Means to get acquainted with the Marquis for being possessed with an extraordinary Opinion of his Wit and personal Accomplishments he did not fear making some Impression on the Heart of the young Lady provided he could have an Opportunity of conversing with her
His Cousins Advice was continually in his Mind and flattered his Vanity with the most agreeable Hopes But the Marquiss Fondness for Solitude and that Haughtiness which was natural to him rendered him so difficult of Access that Hervey from the Intelligence he received of his Humour despaired of being able to prosecute his Scheme when meeting with a young Farmer in one of his EveningWalks and entering into Conversation with him upon
several Country Subjects the Discourse at last turned upon the Marquis ofÑwhose fine House and Gardens were within their View upon which the young Fellow informed him he was Brother to a young Woman that attended the Lady Arabella and being fond of lengthening out the Conversation with so fine a Gentleman gave him without being desired the domestic History of the whole Family as he had received it from Lucy who was the Sister he mentioned
Hervey excessively delighted at this accidental Meeting with a Person so capable of serving his Defign affected a great Desire of being better acquainted with him and under Pretence of acquiring some Knowlege in rural Affairs accustomed himself to call so often at Williams Farm that at last he met with the Person whom the Hopes of seeing had so often carried him thither
Lucy the Moment she saw him enter knowing him again blushed at the Remembrance of the Discourse which had passed between her Lady and herself concerning him and was not at all surprised at the Endeavours he used to speak to her apart But as soon as he began a Conversation concerning Arabella she interrupted him by saying I know Sir that you are distractedly in Love with my Lady but she has forbid me to receive any Letters or Messages from you and therefore I beg you will not offer to bribe me for I dare not disobey her
Mr Hervey was at first so astonished at her Speech that he knew not what to think of it but after a little Reflection attributing to an
Excess of aukward Cunning what in Reality was an Effect of her Simplicity he resolved to make use of the Hint she had given him and presenting her with a Couple of Guineas intreated her to venture displeasing her Lady by bearing a Letter from him promising to reward her better if she succeeded
Lucy made some Difficulty to comply but not being able absolutely to refuse the first Bribe that ever was offered to her she after some Intreaties consented to take the Letter and receiving the Money he presented her left him at Liberty to write after she had got her Brother to furnish him with Materials for that Purpose
A Mistake which produces no great Consequences ÑAn extraordinary Comment upon a Behaviour natural enoughÑAn Instance of a Ladys Compassion for her Lover which the Reader may possibly think not very compassionate
HERVEY who was Master of no great Elegance in Letterwriting was at first at some Loss how to address a Lady of her Quality to whom he was an absolute Stranger upon the Subject of Love but conceiving there was no great Occasion for much Ceremony in declaring himself to one who had been educated in the Country and who he believed could not be displeased with a Lover of his
Figure he therefore in plain Terms told her how deeply he was enamoured of her and conjured her to afford him some Opportunity of paying his Respects to her
Lucy received this Letter from him with a worse Grace than she did the Gold and tho she promised him to deliver it to her Lady immediately yet she kept it a Day or two before she had the Courage to attempt it At last drawing it out of her Pocket with a bashful Air she presented it to her Lady telling her it came from the fine Gentleman whom she saw at Church
Arabella blushed at the Sight of the Letter and tho in Reality she was not displeased yet being a strict Observer of romantic Forms she chid her Woman severely for taking it Carry it back added she to the presumptuous Writer of it and let him know how greatly his Insolence has offended me
Lucy however suffered the Letter to remain on the Toilet expecting some Change in her Ladys Mind for she traversed the Chamber in great seeming Irresolution often stealing a Glance to the Letter which she had a strong Inclination to open but searching the Records of her Memory for a Precedent and not finding that any Lady ever opened a Letter from an unknown Lover she reiterated her Commands to Lucy to carry it back with a Look and Accent so very severe that the Girl extremely apprehensive of having offended her put the Letter again in her Pocket resolving to return it the first Opportunity
Mr Hervey who had his Thoughts wholly taken up with the flattering Prospect of Success no sooner saw Lucy who gave him his Letter without speaking a Word than supposing it had been the Answer he expected he eagerly snatched it out of her Hand and kissing it first in a Rapture of Joy broke it open but his Surprize and Confusion when he saw it was his own Letter returned was inexpressible For some Moments he kept his Eyes fastened upon the tender Billet as if he was really reading it His Disappointment and the ridiculous Figure he knew he must make in the Eyes of his Messenger filled him with so much Confusion that he did not dare to look up but recovering himself at last he affected to turn it into a Jest and laughing first himself gave Lucy the Liberty of laughing also who had with much Difficulty been able to prevent doing it before
The Curiosity he felt to hear how she had acquitted herself of the Trust he had reposed in her made him oblige her to give a Truce to her Mirth in order to satisfy him and Lucy who was extremely exact in her Relations told him all that had passed without omitting the smallest Circumstance
Though it was impossible to draw any favourable Omen from what he heard yet he determined to make another Effort before he set out for London and taking Leave of his Confident after he had appointed her to meet him again the next Day at her Brothers he went home to consider upon Means to effect
his Designs which the ill Success of his first Attempt had not forced him to abandon
Arabella who expected to hear that the Return of his Letter would make her Lover commit some very extravagant Actions and having impatiently waited for an Account of them from Lucy finding she seemed to have no Intention to begin a Discourse concerning him asked her at last If she had executed her Commission and returned the Letter to the insolent Unknown
The Girl answered Yes
Which not being all that her Lady expected And how did he receive it resumed she peevishly
Why Madam replied Lucy I believe he thought your Ladyship had sent him an Answer for he kissed the Letter several times
Foolish Wench replied Arabella How can you imagine he had the Temerity to think I should answer his Letter A Favour which though he had spent Years in my Service would have been infinitely greater than he could have expected No Lucy he kissed the Letter either because he thought it had been touched at least by my Hands or to shew the perfect Submission with which he received my Commands and it is not to be doubted but his Despair will force him to commit some desperate Outrage against himself which I do not hate him enough to wish though he has mortally offended me
Arabella was possessed of great Sensibility and Softness and being really persuaded that her Lover would entertain some fatal Design
seemed so much affected with the Thoughts of what might happen that Lucy who tenderly loved her begged her not to be so much concerned for the Gentleman There is no Fear added she that he will do himself a Mischief for when he discovered his Mistake he laughed heartily as well as myself
How replied Arabella extremely surprised Did he laugh
Which Lucy confirming Doubtless resumed she having taken a little Time to consider of so strange a Phaenomenon he laughed because his Reason was disturbed at the sudden Shock he received Unhappy Man his Presumption will be severely enough punished though I do not add Anger to the Scorn which I have expressed for him Therefore Lucy you may tell him if you please that notwithstanding the Offence he has been guilty of I am not cruel enough to wish his Death and that I command him to live if he can live without Hope
In which one would imagine the Adventure concluded but for a Promise that something else is to come
LUCY now began to think there was something more than she imagined in this Affair Mr Hervey indeed in her Opinion had seemed to be very far from having any Design to attempt his own Life but her
Lady she thought could not possibly be mistaken and therefore she resolved to carry her Message to him immediately though it was then late in the Evening
Accordingly she went to her Brothers where she had some Hope of meeting with him but not finding him there she obliged him to go to the House where he lived and tell him she desired to speak with him
William being let into the Secret of his Sisters frequent Meetings with Mr Hervey imagined she had some agreeable News to acquaint him with and therefore ran immediately to his Relations House which was but at a small Distance but he was told Mr Hervey was in Bed very much indisposed and could not be seen
This News put Lucy in a terrible Fright She told her Apprehensions to her Brother which being such as her Lady had put into her Head and were now confirmed by Mr Herveys Illness the young Farmer stood amazed not being able to comprehend her Meaning and she without staying to explain herself any further went home to the Castle and told her Lady That what she feared was come to pass the Gentleman would certainly die for he was very ill in Bed
This being no more than what Arabella expected she discovered no Surprize but only asked Lucy If she had delivered her Message to him
Would you have me Madam replied she go to his House I am afraid the Marquis will hear of it
My Father replied Arabella can never be offended with me for doing a charitable Action
Ah Madam interrupted Lucy let me go then immediately for fear the poor Gentleman should grow worse
If he be sick almost to Death resumed Arabella he will recover if I command him to do so When did you hear of a Lover dying through Despair when his Mistress let him know it was her Pleasure he should live But as it will not be altogether so proper for you to go to his House as it may be suspected you come from me Ill write a few Lines which you shall copy and your Brother may carry them to him Tomorrow and Ill engage he shall be well in a few Hours
Saying this she went into her Closet and having written a short Note made Lucy write it over again It was as follows
Lucy To the Unfortunate Lover of her Lady
MY Lady who is the most generous Person in the World has commanded me to tell you that presumptuous as you are she does not desire your Death nay more she commands you to live and permits you in case you obey her to hope for her Pardon provided you keep within the Bounds she prescribes to you
Adieu
This Letter Lucy copied and Arabella examining it again thought it rather too kind
and seeming desirous of making some Alteration in it Lucy who was extremely anxious for Mr Herveys Life fearing lest she should alter it in such a manner that the Gentleman might be at Liberty to die if he chose it conjured her Lady in such pressing Terms to let it remain as it was that Arabella suffered herself to be prevailed upon by her Intreaties and remembring that it was not uncommon for the Ladies in Romances to relax a little in their Severity through the Remonstrances of their Women told her with an inchanting Smile that she would grant her Desire and went to Bed with that pleasing Satisfaction which every generous Mind experiences at the Consciousness of having done some very benevolent Action
In the Morning this liferestoring Billet was dispatched by Lucy to her Brother inclosed in one to him charging him to carry it to the sick Gentleman immediately
William having a strong Curiosity to see what his Sister had written ventured to open it and not being able to imagine Lady Bella had really given her Orders to write what appeared to him the most unintelligible Stuff in the World resolved to suppress this Letter till he had questioned her a little concerning it
A few Hours after Mr Hervey who expected to meet Lucy at her Brothers came in His Illness having been only a violent Headach to which he was subject being now quite off he remembred the Appointment he had made but having waited some time and she not coming he returned again to his
Cousins leaving word for her that he would see her the next Day
Scarce was he gone out when Lucy who longed to know what Effect her Letter had produced in his Health came in and eagerly inquiring of her Brother how Mr Hervey was received for Answer that he had been there a Moment before she came
Well cried she clasping her Hands together with Surprize my Lady said her Letter would cure him if he was ever so sick but I did not imagine he would have been well enough to come abroad so soon
Your Lady interrupted William why was it not yourself that wrote that Letter you gave to me
No truly Brother resumed she How was it possible I should write so fine a Letter My Lady made every Word of it and I only wrote it after her
William hearing this would not own the Indiscretion he now thought he had been guilty of in keeping the Letter but suffered his Sister to return to her Lady in the Belief that he had delivered it resolving when he saw her next to say he had lost it for he knew not what Excuse to make to Mr Hervey for not giving it him when he saw him
Arabella received the Account of her Lovers Recovery as a Thing she was absolutely sure of before and thinking she had now done all that could be expected from her Compassion resumed her usual Severity and commanded Lucy to mention him no more If he loves me with that Purity he ought to do pursued
she he will cease to importune me any further And though his Passion be ever so violent his Respect and Submission to my Commands will oblige him to Silence The Obedience he has already shewn in recovering at the first Intimation I gave that it was my Will he should do so convinces me I need not apprehend he will renew his Follies to displease me
Lucy who found by this Discourse of her Ladys that her Commission was at an End with regard to Mr Hervey followed her Directions so exactly that she not only spoke no more of him to her but also in order to avoid him neglected to go to her Brothers
His Impatience at not seeing her made him prevail upon her Brother to go the Castle and intreat her to give him another Interview But Lucy positively refused and to make a Merit with her Lady of her Obedience informed her what he had requested
Arabella resenting a Boldness which argued so little Respect to her Commands began now to repent of the Compassion she had shewn him and commending Lucy for what she had done bid her tell the insolent Unknown if he ever sent to her again that she was resolved never to pardon the Contempt he had shewn for her Orders
Mr Hervey finding himself deserted by Lucy resolved to give over his Attempts congratulating himself for his Discretion in not acquainting his Cousin with what he had already done His Heart not being very much engaged he found no great Difficulty in consoling
himself for his bad Success In a few Days he thought of Lady Bella no more than if he had never seen her but an Accident bringing her again in his Way he could not resist the Inclination he felt to speak to her and by that means drew upon himself a very sensible Mortification
In which the Adventure is really concluded tho possibly not as the Reader expected
THE Marquis sometimes permitting his Daughter to ride out and this being the only Diversion she was allowed or ever experienced she did not fail to take it as often as she could
She was returning from one of these Airings one Day attended by two Servants when Mr Hervey who happened to be at some Distance observing a Lady on Horseback who made a very graceful Figure he rode up to her in order to have a nearer View and knowing Lady Bella again resolved to speak to her But while he was considering how he should accost her Arabella suddenly seeing him and observing he was making up to her her Imagination immediately suggested to her that this insolent Lover had a Design to seize her Person and this Thought terrifying her extremely she gave a loud Shriek which Mr Hervey hearing rode eagerly up to her to inquire
the Reason of it at the same time that her two Attendants as much amazed as himself came galloping up also
Arabella upon his coming close to her redoubled her Cries If you have any Valour said she to her Servants defend your unfortunate Mistress and rescue her from this unworthy Man
The Servants believing him to be a Highwayman by this Exclamation and dreading lest he should present his Pistol at their Heads if they offered to make any Resistance recoiled a few Paces back expecting he would demand their Purses when he had robbed their Lady But the extreme Surprize he was in keeping him motionless the Fellows not seeing any Pistols in his Hand and animated by Arabellas Cries who calling them Cowards and Traitors urged them to deliver her they both in a Moment laid hold of Mr Hervey and forced him to alight which they did also themselves still keeping fast hold of him whom Surprize Shame and Rage had hitherto kept silent
Rascals cried he when he was able to speak what do you mean by using me in this manner Do you suppose I had any Intention to hurt the LadyÑWhat do you take me for
For a Villain for a Ravisher interrupted Arabella who contrary to all Laws both human and divine endeavour to possess yourself by Force of a Person whom your are not worthy to serve and whose Charity and Compassion you have returned with the utmost Ingratitude
Upon my Word Madam said Mr Hervey I dont understand one Word you say You either mistake me for some other Person or are pleased to divert yourself with the Surprize I am in But I beseech you carry the Jest no farther and order your Servants to let me go or by HeavenÑcried he struggling to get loose if I can but free one of my Hands Ill stab the Scoundrels before your Face
It is not with Threats like these resumed Arabella with great Calmness that I can be moved A little more Submission and Respect would become you better you are now wholly in my Power I may if I please carry you to my Father and have you severely punished for your Attempt But to shew you that I am as generous as you are base and designing Ill give you Freedom provided you promise me never to appear before me again But in order to secure my own Safety you must deliver up your Arms to my Servants that I may be assured you will not have it in your Power to make a second Attempt upon my Liberty
Mr Hervey whose Astonishment was increased by every Word she spoke began now to be apprehensive that this might prove a very serious Affair since she seemed resolved to believe he had a Design to carry her off and knowing that an Attempt of that Nature upon an Heiress might have dangerous Consequences he resolved to accept the Conditions she offered him But while he delivered his Hanger to the Servant he assured her in the strongest Terms that he had no other Design in riding up to her but to have a nearer View of her Person
Add not Falshood said Arabella sternly to a Crime already black enough for tho by an Effect of my Generosity I have resolved not to deliver you up to the Resentment of my Father yet nothing shall ever be able to make me pardon this Outrage Go then pursued she go base Man unworthy of the Care I took of thy Safety go to some distant Country where I may never hear of thee more and suffer me if possible to lose the Remembrance of thy Crimes
Saying this she ordered her Servants who had got the Hanger in their Possession to set him at Liberty and mount their Horses which they did immediately and followed their Lady who rode with all imaginable Speed to the Castle
Mr Hervey not yet recovered from his Surprize stood some Moments considering the strange Scene he had been Witness to and in which he had much against his Will appeared the principal Character As he was not acquainted with Lady Bellas Foible he concluded her Fears of him were occasioned by her Simplicity and some Misrepresentations that had been made her by Lucy who he thought had betrayed him and fearing this ridiculous Adventure would be soon made public and himself exposed to the Sneers of his Country Acquaintance he resolved to go back to London as soon as possible
The next Day pretending he had received a Letter which obliged him to set out immediately he took Leave of his Cousin heartily glad at the Escape he should make from his Raillery
for he did not doubt but the Story would very soon be known and told greatly to his Disadvantage
But Arabella in order to be completely generous a Quality for which all the Heroines are famous laid a Command upon her two Attendants not to mention what had passed giving them at the same time Money to secure their Secrecy and threatening them with her Displeasure if they disobeyed
Arabella as soon as she had an Opportunity did not fail to acquaint her faithful Lucy with the Danger from which she had so happily escaped thanking Heaven at the same time with great Devotion for having preserved her from the Hands of the Ravisher
Two or three Months rolled away after this Accident without offering any new Adventure to our fair Visionary when her Imagination always prepossessed with the same fantastic Ideas made her stumble upon another Mistake equally absurd and ridiculous
In which some Contradictions are very happily reconciled
THE Marquiss head Gardener had received a young Fellow into his Masters Service who had lived in several Families of Distinction He had a good Face was tolerably genteel and having an Understanding something above his Condition joind to a great deal of secondhand
Politeness which he had contracted while he lived at London he appeared a very extraordinary Person among the Rustics who were his FellowServants
Arabella when she walked in the Garden had frequent Opportunities of seeing this young Man whom she observed with a very particular Attention His Person and Air had something she thought very distinguishing When she condescended to speak to him about any Business he was employed in she took Notice that his Answers were framed in a Language vastly superior to his Condition and the Respect he paid her had quite another Air from that of the aukward Civility of the other Servants
Having discerned so many Marks of a Birth far from being mean she easily passed from an Opinion that he was a Gentleman to a Belief that he was something more and every new Sight of him adding Strength to her Suspicions she remained in a little time perfectly convinced that he was some Person of Quality who disguised in the Habit of a Gardener had introduced himself into her Fathers Service in order to have an Opportunity of declaring a Passion to her which must certainly be very great since it had forced him to assume an Appearance so unworthy of his noble Extraction
Wholly possessed with this Thought she set herself to observe him more narrowly and soon found out that he went very aukwardly about his Work that he sought Opportunities of being alone that he threw himself in her Way as often as he could and gazed on her very attentively She sometimes fansied she saw him
endeavour to smother a Sigh when he answered her any Question about his Work once saw him leaning against a Tree with his Hands crossed upon his Breast and having lost a String of small Pearls which she remembered he had seen her threading as she sat in one of the Arbours was persuaded he had taken it up and kept it for the Object of his secret Adoration
She often wondered indeed that she did not find her Name carved on the Trees with some mysterious Expressions of Love that he was never discovered lying along the Side of one of the little Rivulets increasing the Stream with his Tears nor for three Months that he had lived there had ever been sick of a Fever caused by his Grief and the Constraint he put upon himself in not declaring his Passion But she considered again that his Fear of being discovered kept him from amusing himself with making the Trees bear the Records of his secret Thoughts or of indulging his Melancholy in any Manner expressive of the Condition of his Soul and as for his not being sick his Youth and the Strength of his Constitution might even for a longer time bear him up against the Assaults of a Fever But he appeared much thinner and paler than he used to be and she concluded therefore that he must in time sink under the Violence of his Passion or else be forced to declare it to her which she considered as a very great Misfortune for not finding in herself any Disposition to approve his Love she must necessarily banish him from her Presence for fear he should have the Presumption to hope that
Time might do any thing in his Favour And it was possible also that the Sentence she would be obliged to pronounce might either cause his Death or force him to commit some extravagant Action which would discover him to her Father who would perhaps think her guilty of holding a secret Correspondence with him
These Thoughts perplexed her so much that hoping to find some Relief by unburdening her Mind to Lucy she told her all her Uneasiness Ah said she to her looking upon Edward who had just passed them how unfortunate do I think myself in being the Cause of that Passion which makes this illustrious Unknown wear away his Days in so shameful an Obscurity Yes Lucy pursued she that Edward whom you regard as one of my Fathers menial Servants is a Person of sublime Quality who submits to this Disguise only to have an Opportunity of seeing me every Day But why do you seem so surprised Is it possible that you have not suspected him to be what he is Has he never unwittingly made any Discovery of himself Have you not surprised him in Discourse with his faithful Squire who certainly lurks hereabouts to receive his Commands and is haply the Confident of his Passion Has he never entertained you with any Conversation about me Or have you never seen any valuable Jewels in his Possession by which you suspected him to be not what he appears
Truly Madam replied Lucy I never took him for any body else but a simple Gardener but now you open my Eyes methinks I can find I have been strangely mistaken for he does
not look like a Man of low Degree and he talks quite in another Manner from our Servants I never heard him indeed speak of your Ladyship but once and that was when he first saw you walking in the Garden he asked our John If you was not the Marquiss Daughter And he said You was as beautiful as an Angel As for sine Jewels I never saw any and I believe he has none but he has a Watch and that looks as if he was something Madam Nor do I remember to have seen him talk with any Stranger that looked like a Squire
Lucy having thus with her usual Punctuality answered every Question her Lady put to her proceeded to ask her What she should say if he should beg her to give her a Letter as the other Gentleman had done
You must by no means take it replied Arabella My Compassion had before like to have been fatal to me If he discovers his Quality to me I shall know in what manner to treat him
They were in this Part of their Discourse when a Noise they heard at some Distance made Arabella bend her Steps to the Place from whence it proceeded and to her infinite Amazement saw the head Gardener with a Stick he had in his Hand give several Blows to the concealed Hero who suffered the Indignity with admirable Patience
Shocked at seeing a Person of Quality treated so unworthily she called out to the Gardener to hold his Hand who immediately obeyed and Edward seeing the young Lady advance sneaked off with an Air very different from an Oroondates
For what Crime pray said Arabella with a stern Aspect did you treat the Person I saw with you so cruelly He whom you take such unbecoming Liberties with may possiblyÑBut again I ask you What has he done You should make some Allowance for his want of Skill in the abject Employment he is in at present
It is not for his want of Skill Madam said the Gardener that I corrected him he knows his Business very well if he would mind it but Madam I have discovered himÑ
Discovered him do you say interrupted Arabella And has the Knowledge of his Condition not been able to prevent such Usage or rather Has it been the Occasion of his receiving it
His Conditions are very bad Madam returned the Gardener and I am afraid are such as will one Day prove the Ruin of Body and Soul too I have for some time suspected he had bad Designs in his Head and just now watched him to the Fishpond and prevented him fromÑ
O dear interrupted Lucy looking pitifully on her Lady whose fair Bosom heaved with Compassion I warrant he was going to make away with himself
No resumed the Gardener smiling at the Mistake he was only going to make away with some of the Carp which the Rogue had caught and intended I suppose to sell but I threw them into the Water again and if your Ladyship had not forbid me I would have drubbed him soundly for his Pains
Fye fye interrupted Arabella out of Breath with Shame and Vexation tell me no more of these idle Tales
Then hastily walking on to hide the Blushes which this strange Accusation of her illustrious Lover had raised in her Face she continued for some time in the greatest Perplexity imaginable
Lucy who followed her and could not possibly reconcile what her Lady had been telling her concerning Edward with the Circumstance of his stealing the Carp ardently wished to hear her Opinion of this Matter but seeing her deeply engaged with her own Thoughts she would not venture to disturb her
Arabella indeed had been in such a terrible Consternation that it was some Time before she even reconciled Appearances to herself but as she had a most happy Faculty in accommodating every Incident to her own Wishes and Conceptions she examined this Matter so many different Ways drew so many Conclusions and fansied so many Mysteries in the most indifferent Actions of the supposed noble Unknown that she remained at last more than ever confirmed in the Opinion that he was some great Personage whom her Beauty had forced to assume an Appearance unworthy of himself When Lucy no longer able to keep Silence drew off her Attention from those pleasing Images by speaking of the Carpstealing Affair again
Arabella whose Confusion returned at that disagreeable Sound charged her in an angry Tone never to mention so injurious a Suspicion
any more For in fine said she to her do you imagine a Person of his Rank could be guilty of stealing Carp Alas pursued she sighing he had indeed some fatal Design and doubtless would have executed it had not this Fellow so luckily prevented him
But Mr Woodbind Madam said Lucy saw the Carp in his Hand I wonder what he was going to do with them
Still resumed Arabella extremely chagrined still will you wound my Ears with that horrid Sound I tell you obstinate and foolish Wench that this unhappy Man went thither to die and if he really caught the Fish it was to conceal his Design from Woodbind His great Mind could not suggest to him that it was possible he might be suspected of a Baseness like that this ignorant Fellow accused him of therefore he took no Care about it being wholly possessed by his despairing Thoughts
However Madam said Lucy your Ladyship may prevent his going to the Fishpond again by laying your Commands upon him to live
I shall do all that I ought answered Arabella but my Care for the Safety of other Persons must not make me forget what I owe to my own
As she had always imputed Mr Herveys fansied Attempt to carry her away to the Letter she had written to him upon which he had probably founded his Hopes of being pardoned for it she resolved to be more cautious for the future in giving such Instances of her Compassion and was at a great Loss in what manner to comfort her despairing Lover without raising Expectations she had no Inclination to confirm
But she was delivered from her Perplexity by the News of his having left the Marquiss Service which she attributed to some new Design he had formed to obtain her and Lucy who always thought as her Lady did was of the same Opinion tho it was talked among the Servants that Edward feared a Discovery of more Tricks and resolved not to stay till he was disgracefully dismissed
In which a Mistake in point of Ceremony is rectified
ARABELLA had scarce done thinking of this last Adventure when the Marquis communicated a Piece of Intelligence to her which opened a Prospect of an infinite Number of new ones
His Nephew having just returned from his Travels was preparing to come and pay him a Visit in his Retreat and as he always designed to marry Arabella to this Youth of whom he was extremely fond he told his Daughter of the intended Visit of her Cousin whom she had not seen since she was eight Years old and for the first time insinuated his Design of giving him to her for an Husband
Arabella whose Delicacy was extremely shocked at this abrupt Declaration of her ¥ather could hardly hide her Chagrin for
tho she always intended to marry some time or other as all the Heroines had done yet she thought such an Event ought to be brought about with an infinite deal of Trouble and that it was necessary she should pass to this State thro a great Number of Cares Disappointments and Distresses of various Kinds like them that her Lover should purchase her with his Sword from a Croud of Rivals and arrive to the Possession of her Heart by many Years of Services and Fidelity
The Impropriety of receiving a Lover of a Fathers recommending appeared in its strongest Light What Lady in Romance ever married the Man that was chose for her In those Cases the Remonstrances of a Parent are called Persecutions obstinate Resistance Constancy and Courage and an Aptitude to dislike the Person proposed to them a noble Freedom of Mind which disdains to love or hate by the Caprice of others
Arabella strengthening her own Resolutions by those Examples of heroic Disobedience told her Father with great Solemnity of Accent that she would always obey him in all just and reasonable Things and being persuaded that he would never attempt to lay any Force upon her Inclinations she would endeavour to make them conformable to his and receive her Cousin with that Civility and Friendship due to so near a Relation and a Person whom he honoured with his Esteem
The Marquis having had frequent Occasions of admiring his Daughters Eloquence did not draw any unpleasing Conclusion from the nice
Distinctions she made and being perfectly assured of her Consent whenever he demanded it expected the Arrival of his Nephew with great Impatience
Arabella whose Thoughts had been fully employed since this Conversation with her Father was indulging her Meditations in one of the most retired Walks in the Garden when she was informed by Lucy that her Cousin was come and that the Marquis had brought him into the Garden to look for her
That Instant they both entered the Walk when Arabella prepossessed as she was against any favourable Thoughts of the young Glanville could not help betraying some Surprize at the Gracefulness of his Figure
It must be confessed said she to her Attendant with a Smile that this Lover my Father has brought us is no contemptible Person Nevertheless I feel an invincible Repugnance in myself against receiving him in that Character
As she finished these Words the Marquis came up and presented Mr Glanville to her who saluting her with the Freedom of a Relation gave her a Disgust that shewed itself immediately in her fair Face which was overspread with such a Gloom that the Marquis was quite astonished at it Indeed Arabella who expected he would hardly have presumed to kiss her Hand was so surprised at his Freedom in attempting her Lips that she not only expressed her Indignation by Frowns but gave him to understand he had mortally offended her
Mr Glanville however was neither surprised nor angry at her Resentment but imputing it
to her Country Education endeavoured to railly her out of her ill Humour and the Marquis being glad to find a Behaviour which he thought proceeded from her Dislike of her Cousin was only an Effect of an overscrupulous Modesty told her that Mr Glanville had committed no Offence by saluting her since that was a Civility which was granted to all Strangers at the first Interview and therefore could not be refused to a Relation
Since the World is so degenerate in its Customs from what it was formerly said Arabella with a Smile full of Contempt upon her Cousin I am extremely happy in having lived in a Solitude which has not yet exposed me to the Mortification of being a Witness to Manners I cannot approve for if every Person I shall meet with for the future be so deficient in their Respects to Ladies as my Cousin is I shall not care how much I am secluded from Society
But dear Lady Bella interrupted Mr Glanville gaily tell me I beseech you how I must behave to please you for I should be extremely glad to be honoured with your good Opinion
The Person resumed she whom I must teach how to acquire my good Opinion will I am afraid hardly recompense me by his Docility in learning for the Pains I should be at in instructing him
But resumed Glanville that I may avoid any more Occasions of offending you only let me know how you would be approached for the future
Since answered she there is no Necessity to renew the Ceremony of introducing you again
to me I have not a second Affront of that Kind to apprehend but I pray tell me If all Cavaliers are as presuming as yourself and if a Relation of your Sex does not think a modest Embrace from a Lady a Welcome sufficiently tender
Nay Cousin cried Glanville eagerly I am now persuaded you are in the Right an Embrace is certainly to be preferred to a cold Salute What would I give that the Marquis would introduce me a second time that I might be received with so delightful a Welcome
The Vivacity with which he spoke this was so extremely disagreeable to Arabella that she turned from him abruptly and striking into another Walk ordered Lucy to tell him she commanded him not to follow her
Mr Glanville however who had no Notion of the exact Obedience which was expected from him would have gone after her notwithstanding this Prohibition which Lucy delivered in a most peremptory Manner after her Ladys Example But the Marquis who had left the two young People at Liberty to discourse and had walked on that he might not interrupt them turning about and seeing Glanville alone called him to have some private Discourse with him and for that time spared Arabella the Mortification of seeing her Commands disobeyed
In which a Lover is severely punished for Faults which the Reader never would have discovered if he had not been told
THE Marquis tho he had resolved to give Arabella to his Nephew was desirous he should first receive some impressions of Tenderness for her before he absolutely declared his Resolution and ardently wished he might be able to overcome that Reluctance which she seemed to have for Marriage But tho Glanville in a very few Days became passionately in Love with his charming Cousin yet she discovered so strong a Dislike to him that the Marquis feared it would be difficult to make her receive him for an Husband He observed she took all Opportunities of avoiding his Conversation and seemed always out of Temper when he addressed any thing to her but was well enough pleased when he discoursed with him and would listen to the long Conversations they had together with great Attention
The Truth is she had too much Discernment not to see Mr Glanville had a great deal of Merit his Person was perfectly handsome he possessed a great Share of Understanding an easy Temper and a Vivacity which charmed every one but the insensible Arabella
She often wondered that a Man who as she told her Confident was Master of so many fine Qualities should have a Disposition so little capable of feeling the Passion of Love with the
Delicacy and Fervour she expected to inspire or that he whose Conversation was so pleasing on every other Subject should make so poor a Figure when he entertained her with Matters of Gallantry However added she I should be to blame to desire to be beloved by Mr Glanville for I am persuaded that Passion would cause no Reformation in the Coarseness of his Manners to Ladies which makes him so disagreeable to me and might possibly increase my Aversion
The Marquis having studied his Nephews Looks for several Days thought he saw Inclination enough in them for Arabella to make him receive the Knowlege of his Intention with Joy He therefore called him into his Closet and told him in few Words that if his Heart was not preengaged and his Daughter capable of making him happy he resolved to bestow her upon him together with all his Estates
Mr Glanville received this agreeable News with the strongest Expressions of Gratitude assuring his Uncle that Lady Bella of all the Women he had ever seen was most agreeable to his Taste and that he felt for her all the Tenderness and Affection his Soul was capable of
I am glad of it my dear Nephew said the Marquis embracing him I will allow you added he smiling but a few Weeks to court her Gain her Heart as soon as you can and when you bring me her Consent your Marriage shall be solemnized immediately
Mr Glanville needed not a Repetition of so agreeable a Command He left his Uncles Closet
with his Heart filled with the Expectation of his approaching Happiness and understanding Arabella was in the Garden he went to her with a Resolution to acquaint her with the Permission her Father had given him to make his Addresses to her
He found his fair Cousin as usual accompanied with her Women and seeing that notwithstanding his Approach they still continued to walk with her and impatient of the Restraint they laid him under I beseech you Cousin said he let me have the Pleasure of walking with you alone What Necessity is there for always having so many Witnesses of our Conversation You may retire said he speaking to Lucy and the other Woman I have something to say to your Lady in private
Stay I command you said Arabella blushing at an Insolence so uncommon and take Orders from no one but myselfÑI pray you Sir pursued she frowning What Intercourse of Secrets is there between you and me that you expect I should favour you with a private Conversation An Advantage which none of your Sex ever boasted to have gained from me and which haply you should be the last upon whom I should bestow it
You have the strangest Notions answered Glanville smiling at the pretty Anger she discovered Certainly you may hold a private Conversation with any Gentleman without giving Offence to Decorum and I may plead a Right to this Happiness above any other since I have the Honour to be your Relation
It is not at all surprising resumed Arabella gravely that you and I should differ in Opinion upon this Occasion I dont remember that ever we agreed in any thing and I am apt to believe we never shall
Ah dont say so Lady Bella interrupted lie What a Prospect of Misery you lay before me For if we are always to be opposite to each other it is necessary you must hate me as much as I admire and love you
These Words which he accompanied with a gentle Pressure of her Hand threw the astonished Arabella into such an Excess of Anger and Shame that for a few Moments she was unable to utter a Word
What a horrid Violation this of all the Laws of Gallantry and Respect which decree a Lover to suffer whole Years in Silence before he declares his Flame to the divine Object that causes it and then with awful Tremblings and submissive Prostrations at the Feet of the offended Fair
Arabella could hardly believe her Senses when she heard a Declaration not only made without the usual Forms but also that the presumtuous Criminal waited for her Answer without seeming to have any Apprehension of the Punishment to which he was to be doomed and that instead of deprecating her Wrath he looked with a smiling Wonder upon her Eyes as if he did not fear their Lightenings would strike him dead
Indeed it was scarce possible for him to help smiling and wondering too at the extraordinary Notion of Arabella for as soon as he had pronounced
those fatal Words she started back two or three Steps cast a Look at him full of the highest Indignation and lifting up her fine Eyes to Heaven seemed in the Language of Romance to accuse the Gods for subjecting her to so cruel an Indignity
The Tumult of her Thoughts being a little settled she turned again towards Glanville whose Countenance expressing nothing of that Confusion and Anxiety common to an Adorer in so critical a Circumstance her Rage returned with greater Violence than ever
If I do not express all the Resentment your Insolence has filled me with said she to him affecting more Scorn than Anger tis because I hold you too mean for my Resentment but never hope for my Pardon for your presumptuous Confession of a Passion I could almost despise myself for inspiring If it be true that you love me go and find your Punishment in that Absence to which I doom you and never hope I will suffer a Person in my Presence who has affronted me in the manner you have done
Saying this she walked away making a Sign to him not to follow her
Mr Glanville who was at first disposed to laugh at the strange Manner in which she received his Expressions of Esteem for her found something so extremely haughty and contemptuous in the Speech she had made that he was almost mad with Vexation
As he had no Notion of his Cousins heroic Sentiments and had never read Romances he was quite ignorant of the Nature of his Offence and supposing the Scorn she had expressed for
him was founded upon the Difference of their Rank and Fortune his Pride was so sensibly mortified at that Thought and at her so insolently forbiding him her Presence that he was once inclined to shew his Resentment of such ungenteel Usage by quitting the Castle without taking Leave even of the Marquis who he thought could not be ignorant of the Reception he was likely to meet with from his Daughter and ought to have guarded him against it if he really meant him so well as he seemed to do
As he was extremely violent and hasty in his Resolutions and nicely sensible of the least Affront he was not in a Condition to reason justly upon the Marquiss Conduct in this Affair and while he was fluctuating with a thousand different Resolutions Lucy came to him with a Billet from her Lady which she delivered without staying till he opened it and was superscribed in this Manner
Arabella To the most presumptuous Man in the WorldÑ
YOU seem to acknowlege so little Respect and Deference for the Commands of a Lady that I am afraid it will be but too necessary to reiterate that which at parting I laid upon you Know then that I absolutely insist upon your repairing in the only manner you are able the Affront you have put upon me which is by never appearing before me again If you think proper to confine me to my Chamber by continuing here any longer you will
add Disobedience to the Crime by which you have already mortally offended
Arabella
The Superscription of this Letter and the uncommon Style of it persuaded Mr Glanville that what he had been foolish enough to resent as an Affront was designed as a Jest and meant to divert him as well as herself He examined her Behaviour again and wondered at his Stupidity in not discovering it before His Resentment vanishing immediately he returned to the House and went without Ceremony to Arabellas Apartment which he entered before she perceived him being in a profound Musing at one of the Windows The Noise he made in approaching her obliged her at last to look up when starting as if she had seen a Basilisk she flew to her Closet and shutting the Door with great Violence commanded him to leave her Chamber immediately
Mr Glanville still supposing her in Jest intreated her to open the Door but finding she continued obstinate Well said he going away I shall be revenged on you some time hence and make you repent the Tricks you play me now
Arabella not being able to imagine any thing by these Words he spoke in Raillery but that he really in the Spite and Anguish of his Heart threatened her with executing some terrible Enterprize she did not doubt but he either intended to carry her away or thinking her Aversion to him proceeded from his having a Rival happy enough to be esteemed by her those
mysterious Words he had uttered related to his Design of killing him so that as she knew he could discover no Rival to wreak his Revenge upon she feared that at once to satisfy that Passion as well as his Love he would make himself Master of her Liberty For in fine said she to Lucy to whom she communicated all her Thoughts have I not every thing to apprehend from a Man who knows so little how to treat my Sex with the Respect which is our Due and who after having contrary to the timorous Nature of that Passion insulted me with a free Declaration of Love treated my Commands with the utmost Contempt by appearing before me again and even threatens me with the Revenge he is meditating at this Moment
Had Mr Glanville been present and heard the terrible Misfortunes which she presaged from the few Words he had jestingly spoke he would certainly have made her quite furious by the Diversion her Mistake would have afforded him But the more she reflected on his Words the more she was persuaded of the terrible Purpose of them
Twas in vain to acquaint her Father with the Reasons she had for disliking his Choice His Resolution was fixed and if she did not voluntarily conform to it she exposed herself to the Attempts of a violent and unjust Lover who would either prevail upon the Marquis to lay a Force upon her Inclinations or make himself Master of her Person and never cease persecuting her till he had obliged her to give him her Hand
Having reasoned herself into a perfect Conviction that all these things must necessarily happen she thought it both just and reasonable to provide for her own Security by a speedy Flight The Want of a Precedent indeed for an Action of this Nature held her a few Moments in Suspense for she did not remember to have read of any Heroine that voluntarily left her Fathers House however persecuted she might be but she considered that there was not any of the Ladies in Romances in the same Circumstances with herself who was without a favoured Lover for whose sake it might have been believed she had made an Elopement which would have been highly prejudicial to her Glory and as there was no Foundation for any Suspicion of that Kind in her Case she thought there was nothing to hinder her from withdrawing from a tyrannical Exertion of parental Authority and the secret Machinations of a Lover whose Aim was to take away her Liberty either by obliging her to marry him or by making her a Prisoner
Contains several Incidents in which the Reader is expected to be extremely interested
ARABELLA had spent some Hours in her Closet revolving a thousand different Stratagems to escape from the Misfortune that
threatened her when she was interrupted by Lucy who after desiring Admittance informed her that the Marquis having rode out to take the Air that Evening had fallen from his Horse and received some Hurt that he was gone to Bed and desired to see her
Arabella hearing her Father was indisposed ran to him excessively alarmed and reflecting on the Resolution she had just before taken of leaving him which aggravated her Concern she came to his Bedside with her Eyes swiming in Tears Mr Glanville was sitting near him but rising at her Appearance to give her his Chair which she accepted without taking any Notice of him he stood at some Distance contemplating her Face to which Sorrow had given so many Charms that he gazed on her with an Eagerness and Delight that could not escape her Observation
She blushed excessively at the passionate Looks he gave her and finding the Marquiss Indisposition not considerable enough to oblige her to a constant Attendance at his Bedside she took the first Opportunity of returning to her Chamber but as she was going out Glanville presented his Hand to lead her up Stairs Which she scornfully refusing
Sure Cousin said he a little piqued you are not disposed to carry on your illnatured Jest any further
If you imagined I jested with you said Arabella I am rather to accuse the Slowness of your Understanding for your persisting in treating me thus freely than the Insolence I first imputed it to But whatever is the Cause of it
I now tell you again that you have extremely offended me and if my Fathers Illness did not set Bounds to my Resentment at present I would make you know that I would not suffer the Injury you do me so patiently
Since you would have me to believe you are serious replied Glanville be pleased to let me know what Offence it is you complain of for I protest I am quite at a Loss to understand you
Was it not enough resumed Arabella to affront me with an insolent Declaration of your Passion but you must also in Contempt of my Commands to the contrary appear before me again pursue me to my Chamber and use the most brutal Menaces to me
Hold pray Madam interrupted Glanville and suffer me to ask you If it is my Presumption in declaring myself your Admirer that you are so extremely offended at
Doubtless it is Sir answered Arabella and such a Presumption as without the aggravating Circumstances you have since added to it is sufficient to make me always your Enemy
I beg Pardon returned Mr Glanville gravely for that Offence and also for staying any longer in a House which you have so genteelly turned me out of
My Pardon Mr Glanville resumed she is not so easily gained Time and your Repentance may indeed do much towards obtaining it
Saying this she made a Sign to him to retire for he had walked up with her to her Chamber But finding he did not obey her for really he
was quite unacquainted with these Sorts of dumb Commands she hastily retired to her Closet lest he should attempt to move her Pity by any Expressions of Despair for the cruel Banishment she had doomed him to
Mr Glanville seeing she had shut herself up in her Closet left her Chamber and retired to his own more confounded than ever at the Behaviour of his Cousin
Her bidding him so peremptorily to leave the House would have equally persuaded him of her Ignorance and Illbreeding had not the Elegance of her Manners in every other respect proved the contrary Nor was it possible to doubt she had a great Share of Understanding since her Conversation singular as some of her Sentiments seemed to him was far superior to most other Ladies Therefore he concluded the Affront he had received proceeded from her Disdain to admit the Addresses of any Person whose Quality was inferior to hers which probably was increased to some particular Dislike she had to his Person
His Honour would not permit him to make Use of that Advantage her Fathers Authority could give him and wholly engrossed by his Resentment of the Usage he had received from her he resolved to set out for London the next Day without seeing the Marquis from whom he was apprehensive of some Endeavours to detain him
Having taken this Resolution he ordered his Servant to have the Horses ready early in the Morning and without taking any Notice of his Intention he left the Castle riding as fast
as possible to the next Stage from whence he wrote to his Uncle and dispatching a Messenger with his Letter held on his Way to London
The Marquis being pretty well recovered from his Indisposition by a good Nights Rest sent for Mr Glanville in the Morning to walk with him as was his Custom in the Garden but hearing he had rode out tho he imagined it was only to take the Air yet he could not help accusing him in his own Thoughts of a little Neglect for which he resolved to chide him when he returned But his long Stay filling him with some Surprize he was beginning to express his Fears that something had befallen him to Arabella who was then with him when a Servant presented him the Letter which Mr Glanvilles Messenger had that Moment brought
The Marquis casting his Eyes on the Direction and knowing his Nephews Hand Bless me cried he extremely surprised What can this mean Bella added he heres a Letter from your Cousin
Arabella at these Words started up and preventing her Father with a respectful Action from opening it I beseech you my Lord said she before you read this Letter suffer me to assure you that if it contains any thing fatal I am not at all accessary to it Tis true I have banished my Cousin as a Punishment for the Offence he was guilty of towards me but Heaven is my Witness I did not design his Death and if he has taken any violent Resolution against himself he has greatly exceeded my Commands
The Marquis whose Surprize was considerably increased by these Words hastily broke open the Letter which she perceiving hurried out of the Room and locking herself up in her Closet began to bewail the Effect of her Charms as if she was perfectly assured of her Cousins Death
The Marquis however who from Lady Bellas Exclamation had prepared himself for the Knowlege of some very extraordinary Accident was less surprised than he would otherwise have been at the Contents which were as follow
My Lord
AS my leaving your House so abruptly will certainly make me appear guilty of a most unpardonable Rudeness I cannot dispense with myself from acquainting your Lordship with the Cause though to spare the Reproaches Lady Bella will probably cast on me for doing so I could wish you knew it by any other Means
But my Lord I value your Esteem too much to hazard the Loss of it by suffering you to imagine that I am capable of doing any thing to displease you Lady Bella was pleased to order me to stay no longer in the House and menaced me with some very terrible Usage if I disobeyed her She used so many other contemptuous Expressions to me that I am persuaded I shall never be so happy as to possess the Honour you designed for
My Lord
Your most obedient c Charles Glanville
When the Marquis had read this Letter he went to his Daughters Apartment with an Intention to chide her severely for her Usage of his Nephew but seeing her come to meet him with her Eyes bathed in Tears he insensibly lost some Part of his Resentment
Alas my Lord said she I know you come prepared to load me with Reproaches upon my Cousins Account but I beseech your Lordship do not aggravate my Sorrows Tho I banished Mr Glanville I did not desire his Death and questionless if he knew how I resent it his Ghost would be satisfied with the Sacrifice I make him
The Marquis not being able to help smiling at this Conceit which he saw had so strongly possessed her Imagination that she had no sort of Doubt but that her Cousin was dead asked her If she really believed Mr Glanville loved her well enough to die with Grief at her ill Usage of him
If said she he loves me not well enough to die for me he certainly loves me but little and I am the less obliged to him
But I desire to know interrupted the Marquis For what Crime it was you took the Liberty to banish him from my House
I banished him my Lord resumed she for his Presumption in telling me he loved me
That Presumption as you call it tho I know not for what Reason said the Marquis was authorized by me Therefore know Bella that I not only permit him to love you but I also expect you should endeavour to return his Affection and look upon him as the Man
whom I design for your Husband Theres his Letter pursued he putting it into her Hand I blush for the Rudeness you have been guilty of but endeavour to repair it by a more obliging Behaviour for the future I am going to send after him immediately to prevail upon to return Therefore write him an Apology I charge you and have it done by the Time my Messenger is ready to set out
Saying this he went out of the Room and Arabella eagerly opened the Letter and finding it in a Style so different from what she expected her Dislike of him returned with more Violence than ever
Ah the Traitor said she aloud Is it thus that he endeavours to move my Compassion How greatly did I overrate his Affection when I imagined his Despair was capable of killing him Disloyal Man pursued she walking about Is it by Complaints to my Father that thou expectest to succeed And dost thou imagine the Heart of Arabella is to be won by Violence and Injustice
In this manner she wasted the Time allotted for her to write and when the Marquis sent for her Letter having no Intention to comply she went to his Chamber conjuring him not to oblige her to a Condescension so unworthy of her
The Marquis being now excessively angry with her rose up in a Fury and leading her to his WritingDesk ordered her instantly to write to her Cousin
If I must write my Lord said she sobbing pray be so good as to dictate what I must say
Apologize for your rude Behaviour said the Marquis and desire him in the most obliging manner you can to return
Arabella seeing there was a necessity for obeying took up the Pen and wrote the following Billet
The unfortunate Arabella to the most ungenerous Glanville
IT is not by the Power I have over you that I command you to return for I disclaim any Empire over so unworthy a Subject but since it is my Fathers Pleasure I should invite you back I must let you know that I repeal your Banishment and expect you will immediately return with the Messenger who brings this however to spare your Acknowlegements know that it is in Obedience to my Fathers absolute Commands that you receive this Mandate from
Arabella
Having finished this Billet she gave it to the Marquis to read who finding a great deal of his own Haughtiness of Temper in it could not resolve to check her for a Disposition so like his own Yet he told her her Stile was very uncommon And pray added he smiling who taught you to superscribe your Letters thus
The unfortunate Arabella to the most ungenerous Glanville
Why Bella this Superscription is wholly calculated for the Bearers Information But come alter it immediately for I dont choose my Messenger should know that you
are unfortunate or that my Nephew is ungenerous
Pray my Lord replied Arabella content yourself with what I have already done in Obedience to your Commands and suffer my Letter to remain as it is Methinks it is but reasonable I should express some little Resentment at the Complaint my Cousin has been pleased to make to you against me nor can I possibly make my Letter more obliging without being guilty of an unpardonable Meanness
You are a strange Girl replied the Marquis taking the Letter and inclosing it in one from himself in which he earnestly intreated his Nephew to return threatening him with his Displeasure if he disobeyed and assuring him that his Daughter would receive him as well as he could possibly desire
The Messenger being dispatched with Orders to ride Post and overtake the young Gentleman he obeyed his Orders so well that he came up with him atÑ where he intended to lodge that Night
Mr Glanville who expected his Uncle would make use of some Methods to recal him opened his Letter without any great Emotion but seeing another inclosed his Heart leaped to his Mouth not doubting but it was a Letter from Arabella but the Contents surprised him so much that he hardly knew whether he ought to look upon them as an Invitation to return or a new Affront her Words were so distant and haughty The Superscription being much the same with a Billet he had received from her in the Garden which had made him conclude her
in Jest he knew not what to think of it One would swear this dear Girls Head is turned said he to himself if she had not more Wit than her whole Sex besides
After reading Arabellas Letter several times he at last opened his Uncles and seeing the pressing Instances he made him to return he resolved to obey and the next Morning set out for the Castle
Arabella during the time her Cousin was expected appeared so melancholy and reserved that the Marquis was extremely uneasy You have never said he to her disobeyed me in any one Action of your Life and I may with reason expect you will conform to my Will in the Choice I have made of a Husband for you since it is impossible to make any Objection either to his Person or Mind and being the Son of my Sister he is certainly not unworthy of you tho he has not a Title
My first Wish my Lord replied Arabella is to live single not being desirous of entering into any Engagement which may hinder my Solicitude and Cares and lessen my Attendance upon the best of Fathers who till now has always most tenderly complied with my Inclinations in every thing But if it is your absolute Command that I should marry give me not to one who tho he has the Honour to be allied to you has neither merited your Esteem or my Favour by any Action worthy of his Birth or the Passion he pretends to have for me for in fine my Lord by what Services has he deserved the Distinction with which you honour him Has he ever delivered you from any considerable
Danger Has he saved your Life and hazarded his own for you upon any Occasion whatever Has he merited my Esteem by his Sufferings Fidelity and Respect or by any great and generous Action given me a Testimony of his Love which should oblige me to reward him with my Affection Ah my Lord I beseech you think not so unworthily of your Daughter as to bestow her upon one who has done so little to deserve her If my Happiness be dear to you do not precipitate me into a State from whence you cannot recal me with a Person whom I can never affect
She would have gone on but the Marquis interrupted her sternly Ill hear no more said he of your foolish and ridiculous Objections What Stuff is this you talk of What Service am I to expect from my Nephew And by what Sufferings is he to merit your Esteem Assure yourself Arabella continued he that I will never pardon you if you presume to treat my Nephew in the Manner you have done I perceive you have no real Objection to make to him therefore I expect you will endeavour to obey me without Reluctance for since you seem to be so little acquainted with what will most conduce to your own Happiness you must not think it strange if I insist upon directing your Choice in the most important Business of your Life
Arabella was going to reply but the Marquis ordered her to be silent and she went to her own Apartment in so much Affliction that she thought her Misfortunes were not exceeded by any she had ever read
In which a logical Argument is unseasonably interrupted
THE Marquis was also extremely uneasy at her Obstinacy He desired nothing more ardently than to marry her to his Nephew but he could not resolve to force her Consent and however determined he appeared to her yet in Reality he intended only to use Persuasions to effect what he desired and from the natural Sweetness of her Temper he was sometimes not without Hopes that she might at last be prevailed upon to comply
His Nephews Return restored him to Part of his usual Tranquillity After he had gently chid him for suffering himself to be so far transported with his Resentment at the little Humours of a Lady as to leave his House without acquainting him he bid him go to Arabella and endeavour to make his Peace with her
Mr Glanville accordingly went to her Apartment resolving to oblige her to come to some Explanation with him concerning the Offence she complained of but that fair incensed Lady who had taken Shelter in her Closet ordered Lucy to tell him she was indisposed and could not see him
Glanville however comforted himself for this Disappointment by the Hopes of seeing her at Supper and accordingly she came when the SupperBell rung and making a very cool Compliment to her Cousin placed herself at Table
The soft Languor that appeared in her Eyes gave such an additional Charm to one of the loveliest Faces in the World that Glanville who sat opposite to her could not help gazing on her with a very particular Attention he often spoke to her and asked her trifling Questions for the sake of hearing the Sound of her Voice which Sorrow had made inchantingly sweet
When Supper was over she would have retired but the Marquis desired her to stay and entertain her Cousin while he went to look over some Dispatches he had received from London
Arabella blushed with Anger at this Command but not daring to disobey she kept her Eyes fixed on the Ground as if she dreaded to hear something that would displease her
Well Cousin said Glanville tho you desire to have no Empire over so unworthy a Subject as myself yet I hope you are not displeased at my returning in Obedience to your Commands
Since I am not allowed any Will of my own said she sighing it matters not whether I am pleased or displeased nor is it of any Consequence to you to know
Indeed but it is Lady Bella interrupted he for if I knew how to please you I would never if I could help it offend Therefore I beg you tell me how I have disobliged you for certainly you have treated me as harshly as if I had been guilty of some very terrible Offence
You had the Boldness said she to talk to me of Love and you well know that Persons of my Sex and Quality are not permitted to
listen to such Discourses and if for that Offence I banished you my Presence I did no more than Decency required of me and which I would yet do were I Mistress of my own Actions
But is it possible Cousin said Glanville that you can be angry with any one for loving you Is that a Crime of so high a Nature as to merit an eternal Banishment from your Presence
Without telling you said Arabella blushing whether I am angry at being loved tis sufficient you know that I will not pardon the Man who shall have the Presumption to tell me he loves me
But Madam interrupted Glanville if the Person who tells you he loves you be of a Rank not beneath you I conceive you are not at all injured by the favourable Sentiments he feels for you and tho you are not disposed to make any Returns to his Passion yet you are certainly obliged to him for his good Opinion
Since Love is not voluntary replied Arabella I am not obliged to any Person for loving me for questionless if he could help it he would
If it is not a voluntary Favour interrupted Glanville it is not a voluntary Offence and if you do not think yourself obliged by the one neither are you at Liberty to be offended with the other
The Question said Arabella is not whether I ought to be offended at being loved but whether it is not an Offence to be told I am so
If there is nothing criminal in the Passion itself Madam resumed Glanville certainly there can be no Crime in declaring it
However specious your Arguments may appear interrupted Arabella I am persuaded it is an unpardonable Crime to tell a Lady you love her and tho I had nothing else to plead yet the Authority of Custom is sufficient to prove it
Custom Lady Bella said Glanville smiling is wholly on my Side for the Ladies are so far from being displeased at the Addresses of their Lovers that their chiefest Care is to gain them and their greatest Triumph to hear them talk of their Passion So Madam I hope youll allow that Argument has no Force
I dont know answered Arabella what Sort of Ladies there are who allow such unbecoming Liberties but I am certain that Statira Parisatis Clelia Mandana and all the illustrious Heroines of Antiquity whom it is a Glory to resemble would never admit of such Discourses
Ah for Heavens sake Cousin interrupted Glanville endeavouring to stifle a Laugh do not suffer yourself to be governed by such antiquated Maxims The World is quite different to what it was in those Days and the Ladies in this Age would as soon follow the Fashions of the Greek and Roman Ladies as mimick their Manners and I believe they would become one as ill as the other
I am sure replied Arabella the World is not more virtuous now than it was in their Days and there is good Reason to believe it is not much wiser and I dont see why the Manners of this Age are to be preferred to those of former ones unless they are wiser and better However I cannot be persuaded that Things
are as you say and that when I am a little better acquainted with the World I shall find as many Persons who resemble Oroondates Artaxerxes and the illustrious Lovers of Clelia as those who are like Tiribases Artaxes and the presuming and insolent Glanville
By the Epithets you give me Madam said Glanville I find you have placed me in very bad Company But pray Madam if the illustrious Lover of Clelia had never discovered his Passion how would the World have come to the Knowledge of it
He did not discover his Passion Sir resumed Arabella till by the Services he did the noble Clelius and his incomparable Daughter he could plead some Title to their Esteem He several times preserved the Life of that renowned Roman delivered the beautiful Clelia when she was a Captive and in fine conferred so many Obligations upon them and all their Friends as he might well expect to be pardoned by the divine Clelia for daring to love her Nevertheless she used him very harshly when he first declared his Passion and banished him also from her Presence and it was a long time before she could prevail upon herself to compassionate his Sufferings
The Marquis coming in interrupted Arabella upon which she took Occasion to retire leaving Glanville more captivated with her than ever
He found her Usage of him was grounded upon Examples she thought it her Duty to follow and strange as her Notions of Life appeared yet they were supported with so much
Wit and Delicacy that he could not help admiring her while he foresaw the Oddity of her Humour would throw innumerable Difficulties in his Way before he should be able to obtain her
However as he was really passionately in Love with her he resolved to accommodate himself as much as possible to her Taste and endeavour to gain her Heart by a Behaviour most agreeable to her He therefore assumed an Air of great Distance and Respect never mentioned his Affection nor the Intentions of her Father in his Favour and the Marquis observing his Daughter conversed with him with less Reluctance than usual leaving to Time and the Merit of his Nephew to dispose her to comply with his Desires resolved not to interpose his Authority in an Affair upon which her own Happiness so much depended
In which the Reader will find a Specimen of the true Pathetic in a Speech of OroondatesÑThe Adventure of the Books
ARABELLA saw the Change in her Cousins Behaviour with a great deal of Satisfaction for she did not doubt but his Passion was as strong as ever but that he forbore thro Respect from entertaining her with any
Expressions of it Therefore she now conversed with him with the greatest Sweetness and Complaisance She would walk with him for several Hours in the Garden leaning upon his Arm and charmed him to the last Degree of Admiration by the agreeable Sallies of her Wit and her fine Reasoning upon every Subject he proposed
It was with the greatest Difficulty he restrained himself from telling her a Thousand times a Day that he loved her to Excess and conjuring her to give her Consent to her Fathers Designs in his Favour But tho he could get over his Fears of offending her yet it was impossible to express any Sentiments of this Nature to her without having her Women Witnesses of his Discourse for when he walked with her in the Garden Lucy and another Attendant always followed her If he sat with her in her own Chamber her Women were always at one End of it And when they were both in the Marquiss Apartment where her Women did not follow her poor Glanville found himself embarrassed by his Presence for conceiving his Nephew had Opportunities enough of talking to his Daughter in private he always partook of their Conversation
He passed some Weeks in this Manner extremely chagrined at the little Progress he made and was beginning to be heartily weary of the Constraint he laid upon himself when Arabella one Day furnished him without designing it with an Opportunity of talking to her on the Subject he wished for
When I reflect said she laughing upon the Difference there was between us some Days ago and the Familiarity in which we live at present I cannot imagine by what means you have arrived to a good Fortune you had so little Reason to expect for in fine you have given me no Signs of Repentance for the Fault you committed which moved me to banish you and I am not certain whether in conversing with you in the manner I do I give you not as much Reason to find Fault with my too great Easiness as you did me to be displeased with your Presumption
Since returned Glanville I have not persisted in the Commission of those Faults which displeased you what greater Signs of Repentance can you desire than this Reformation in my Behaviour
But Repentance ought to precede Reformation replied Arabella otherwise there is great room to suspect it is only feigned And a sincere Repentance shews itself in such visible Marks that one can hardly be deceived in that which is genuine I have read of many indiscreet Lovers who not succeeding in their Addresses have pretended to repent and acted as you do that is without giving any Signs of Contrition for the Fault they had committed have eat and slept well never lost their Colour or grew one bit thinner by their Sorrow but contented themselves with saying they repented and without changing thetr Disposition to renew their Fault only concealed their Intention for fear of losing any favourable Opportunity of committing it again But true Repentance as
I was saying not only produces Reformation but the Person who is possessed of it voluntarily punishes himself for the Faults he has been guilty of Thus Mazares deeply repenting of the Crime his Passion for the divine Manda¥a had forced him to commit as a Punishment obliged himself to follow the Fortune of his glorious Rival obey all his Commands and fighting under his Banners assist him to gain the Possession of his adored Mistress Such a glorious Instance of Selfdenial was indeed a sufficient Proof of his Repentance and infinitely more convincing than the Silence he imposed upon himself with respect to his Passion
Oroondates to punish himself for his Presumption in daring to tell the admirable Statira that he loved her resolved to die to expiate his Crime and doubtless would have done so if his fair Mistress at the Intreaty of her Brother had not commanded him to live
But pray Lady Bella interrupted Glanville were not these Gentlemen happy at last in the Possession of their Mistresses
Doubtless they were Sir resumed she but it was not till after numberless Misfortunes infinite Services and many dangerous Adventures in which their Fidelity was put to the strongest Trials imaginable
I am glad however said Glanville that the Ladies were not insensible for since you do not disapprove of their Compassion for their Lovers it is to be hoped you will not be always as inexorable as you are now
When I shall be so fortunate interrupted she to meet with a Lover who shall have as pure
and perfect a Passion for me as Oroondates had for Statira and give me as many glorious Proofs of his Constancy and Affection doubtless I shall not be ungrateful But since I have not the Merits of Statira I ought not to pretend to her good Fortune and shall be very well contented if I escape the Persecutions which Persons of my Sex who are not frightfully ugly are always exposed to without hoping to inspire such a Passion as that of Oroondates
I should be glad to be better acquainted with the Actions of this happy Lover Madam said Glanville that forming myself upon his Example I may hope to please a Lady as worthy of my Regard as Statira was of his
For Heavens sake Cousin resumed Arabella laughing how have you spent your Time and to what Studies have you devoted all your Hours that you could find none to spare for the Perusal of Books from which all useful Knowledge may be drawn which give us the most shining Examples of Generosity Courage Virtue and Love which regulate our Actions form our Manners and inspire us with a noble Desire of emulating those great heroic and virtuous Actions which made those Persons so glorious in their Age and so worthy Imitation in ours However as it is never too late to improve suffer me to recommend to you the reading of these Books which will soon make you discover the Improprieties you have been guilty of and will probably induce you to avoid them for the future
I shall certainly read them if you desire it said Glanville and I have so great an Inclination
to be agreeable to you that I shall embrace every Opportunity of becoming so and will therefore take my Instructions from these Books if you think proper or from yourself which indeed will be the quickest Method of teaching me
Arabella having ordered one of her Women to bring Cleopatra Cassandra Clelia and the Grand Cyrus from her Library Glanville no sooner saw the Girl return sinking under the Weight of those voluminous Romances but he began to tremble at the Apprehension of his Cousin laying her Commands upon him to read them and repented of his Complaisance which exposed him to the cruel Necessity of performing what to him appeared an Herculean Labour or else incurring her Anger by his Refusal
Arabella making her Women place the Books upon a Table before her opened them one after another with Eyes sparkling with Delight while Glanville sat rapt in Admiration at the Sight of so many huge Folios written as he conceived upon the most trifling Subjects imaginable
I have chosen out these few said Arabella not observing his Consternation from a great many others which compose the most valuable Part of my Library and by that time you have gone thro these I imagine you will be considerably improved
Certainly Madam replied Glanville turning over the Leaves in great Confusion one may as you say be greatly improved for these Books contain a great deal And looking over a Page of Cassandra without any Design read
these Words which were Part of Oroondatess Soliloquy when he received a cruel Sentence from Statira
Ah cruel says this miserable Lover and what have I done to merit it Examine the Nature of my Offence and you will see I am not so guilty but that my Death may free me from Part of that Severity Shall your Hatred last longer than my Life And can you detest a Soul that forsakes its Body only to obey you No no you are not so hardhearted that Satisfaction will doubtless content you And when I shall cease to be doubtless I shall cease to be odious to you
Upon my Soul said Glanville stifling a Laugh with great Difficulty I cannot help blaming the Lady this sorrowful Lover complains of for her great Cruelty for here he gives one Reason to suspect that she will not even be contented with his dying in Obedience to her Commands but will hate him after Death an Impiety quite inexcusable in a Christian
You condemn this illustrious Princess with very little Reason interrupted Arabella smiling at his Mistake for besides that she was not a Christian and ignorant of those Divine Maxims of Charity and Forgiveness which Christians by their Profession are obliged to practise she was very far from desiring the Death of Oroondates for if you will take the Pains to read the succeeding Passages you will find that she expresses herself in the most obliging Manner in the World for when Oroondates tells her he would live if she would consent he should the
Princess most sweetly replies
I not only consent but also intreat it and if I have any Power command it
However lest you should fall into the other Extreme and blame this great Princess for her Easiness as you before condemned her for her Cruelty tis necessary you should know how she was induced to this favourable Behaviour to her Lover Therefore pray read the whole Transaction Stay here it begins continued she turning over a good many Pages and marking where he should begin to read
Glanville having no great Stomach to the Task endeavoured to evade it by intreating his Cousin to relate the Passages she desired he should be acquainted with But she declining it he was obliged to obey and began to read where she directed him And to leave him at Liberty to read with the greater Attention she left him and went to a Window at another End of the Chamber
Mr Glanville who was not willing to displease her examined the Task she had set him resolving if it was not a very hard one to comply but counting the Pages he was quite terrified at the Number and could not prevail upon himself to read them Therefore glancing them over he pretended to be deeply engaged in reading when in Reality he was contemplating the surprising Effect these Books had produced in the Mind of his Cousin who had she been untainted with the ridiculous Whims they created in her Imagination was in his Opinion one of the most accomplished Ladies in the World
When he had sat long enough to make her believe he had read what she had desired he rose up and joining her at the Window began to talk of the Pleasantness of the Evening instead of the Rigour of Statira
Arabella coloured with Vexation at his extreme Indifference in a Matter which was of such prodigious Consequence in her Opinion but disdaining to put him in mind of his Rudeness in quitting a Subject they had not thoroughly discussed and which she had taken so much Pains to make him comprehend she continued silent and would not condescend to afford him an Answer to any thing he said
Glanville by her Silence and Frowns was made sensible of his Fault and to repair it began to talk of the inexorable Statira though indeed he did not well know what to say
Arabella clearing up a little did not disdain to answer him upon her favourite Topic I knew said she you would be ready to blame this Princess equally for her Rigour and her Kindness but it must be remembred that what she did in Favour of Oroondates was wholly owing to the Generosity of Artaxerxes
Here she stopped expecting Glanville to give his Opinion who strangely puzzled replied at random To be sure Madam he was a very generous Rival
Rival cried Arabella Artaxerxes the Rival of Oroondates Why certainly you have lost your Wits He was Statiras Brother and it was to his Mediation that Oroondates or Orontes owed his Happiness
Certainly Madam replied Glanville it was very generous in Artaxerxes as he was Brother to Statira to interpose in the Behalf of an unfortunate Lover and both Oroondates and Orontes were extremely obliged to him
Orontes replied Arabella was more obliged to him than Oroondates since the Quality of Orontes was infinitely below that of Oroondates
But Madam interrupted Glanville extremely pleased at his having so well got over the Difficulty he had been in which of these two Lovers did Statira make happy
This unlucky Question immediately informed Arabella that she had been all this time the Dupe of her Cousin who if he had read a single Page would have known that Orontes and Oroondates was the same Person the Name of Orontes being assumed by Oroondates to conceal his real Name and Quality
The Shame and Rage she conceived at so glaring a Proof of his Disrespect and the Ridicule to which she had exposed herself were so great that she could not find Words severe enough to express her Resentment but protesting that no Consideration whatever should oblige her to converse with him again she ordered him instantly to quit her Chamber and assured him if he ever attempted to approach her again she would submit to the most terrible Effects of her Fathers Resentment rather than be obliged to see a Person who had by his unworthy Behaviour made himself her Scorn and Aversion
Glanville who saw himself going to be discarded a second time attempted with great
Submission to move her to recal her cruel Sentence but Arabella bursting into Tears complained so pathetically of the Cruelty of her Destiny in exposing her to the hated Importunities of a Man she despised and whose Presence was so insupportable that Glanville thinking it best to let her Rage evaporate before he attempted to pacify her quitted her Chamber cursing Statira and Orontes a thousand times and loading the Authors of those Books with all the Imprecations his Rage could suggest
The Adventure of the Books continued
IN this Temper he went to the Gardens to pass over the Chagrin this unfortunate Accident had given him when meeting the Marquis who insisted upon knowing the Cause of that ill Humour so visible in his Countenance Glanville related all that had passed but in Spite of his Anger it was impossible for him to repeat the Circumstances of his Disgrace without laughing as well as the Marquis who thought the Story so extremely diverting that he would needs hear it over again
However Charles said he though I shall do what I can to gain your Pardon from Bella yet I shall not scruple to own you acted extremely wrong in not reading what she desired you for besides losing an Opportunity of obliging her you drew yourself into a terrible Dilemma
for how was it possible for you to evade a Discovery of the Cheat you put upon her when she began to talk with you upon those Passages she had desired you to read
I acknowledge my Error my Lord answered Glanville but if you restore me to my Cousins Favour again I promise you to repair it by a different Behaviour for the future
Ill see what I can do for you said the Marquis leaving him to go to Arabellas Apartment who had retired to her Closet extremely afflicted at this new Insult she had received from her Cousin Her Grief was the more poignant as she was beginning to imagine by the Alteration in his Behaviour that he would prove such a Lover as she wished for Mr Glanvilles Person and Qualifications had attracted her particular Notice And to speak in the Language of Romance she did not hate him but on the contrary was very much disposed to wish him well Therefore it was no Wonder she extremely resented the Affront she had received from him
The Marquis not finding her in her Chamber proceeded to her Closet where her Women informed him she was retired and knocking gently at the Door was admitted by Arabella whom he immediately discerned to have been weeping very much for her fine Eyes were red and swelled and the Traces of her Tears might still be observed on her fair Face which at the Sight of the Marquis was overspread with a Blush as if she was conscious of her Weakness in lamenting the Crime her Cousin had been guilty of
The Marquis drew a favourable Omen for his Nephew from her Tears and Confusion but not willing to increase it by acknowleging he had observed it he told her he was come at Mr Glanvilles Request to make up the Quarrel between them
Ah my Lord interrupted Arabella speak no more to me of that unworthy Man who has so grosly abused my Favour and the Privilege I allowed him His Baseness and Ingratitude are but too manifest and there is nothing I so much regret as my Weakness in restoring him to Part of my good Opinion after he had once forfeited it by an Insolence not to be paralleled
Indeed Bella said the Marquis smiling you resent too deeply these slight Matters I cant think my Nephew so guilty as you would have me believe he is and you ought neither to be angry or surprised that he preferred your Conversation before reading in a foolish oldfashioned Book that you put in his Hands
If your Lordship had ever read these Books replied Arabella reddening with Vexation tis probable you would have another Opinion of them but however that may be my Cousin is not to be excused for the Contempt he shewed to my Commands and for daring by the Cheat he put on me to expose me to the Shame of seeing myself so ridiculously imposed upon
However you must forgive him said the Marquis and I insist upon it before I quit your Apartment that you receive him into Favour
Pardon me my Lord replied Arabella this is what I neither can nor ought to do and I
hope you will not wrong me so much as to continue to desire it
Nay Bella said he this is carrying Things too far and making trifling Disputes of too great Consequence I am surprised at your Treatment of a Man whom after all if ever you intend to obey me you must consent to marry
There is no Question my Lord replied she but it would be my Glory to obey you in whatever is possible but this you command me now to do not being so I conceive you will rather impute my Refusal to Necessity than Choice
How returned the Marquis will you endeavour to persuade me that it is not possible Mr Glanville should be your Husband
Tis impossible he should be so with my Consent resumed Arabella and I cannot give it without wounding my own Quiet in a most sensible manner
Come come Bella said the Marquis fretting at her extreme Obstinacy this is too much I am to blame to indulge your Foibles in this Manner Your Cousin is worthy of your Affection and you cannot refuse it to him without incurring my Displeasure
Since my Affection is not in my own Power to bestow said Arabella weeping I know not how to remove your Displeasure but questionless I know how to die to avoid the Effects of what would be to me the most terrible Misfortune in the World
Foolish Girl interrupted the Marquis how strangely do you talk Are the Thoughts of
Death become so familiar to you that you speak of dying with so little Concern
Since my Lord resumed she in an exalted Tone I do not yield either in Virtue or Courage to many others of my Sex who when persecuted like me have fled to Death for Relief I know not why I should be thought less capable of it than they and if Artimisa Candace and the beautiful Daughter of Cleopatra could brave the Terrors of Death for the sake of the Men they loved there is no Question but I also could imitate their Courage to avoid the Man I have so much Reason to hate
The Girl is certainly distracted interrupted the Marquis excessively enraged at the strange Speech she had uttered These foolish Books my Nephew talks of have turned her Brain Where are they pursued he going into her Chamber Ill burn all I can lay my Hands upon
Arabella trembling for the Fate of her Books followed her Father into the Room who seeing the Books which had caused this woful Adventure lying upon the Table he ordered one of her Women to carry them into his Apartment vowing he would commit them all to the Flames
Arabella not daring in the Fury he was in to interpose he went out of the Room leaving her to bewail the Fate of so many illustrious Heroes and Heroines who by an Effect of a more cruel Tyranny than any they had ever experienced before were going to be cast into the merciless Flames which would doubtless pay very little Regard to the divine Beauties of the admirable Clelia or the heroic Valour of the
brave Orontes and the rest of those great Princes and Princesses whose Actions Arabella proposed for the Model of hers
Fortune however which never wholly forsook these illustrious Personages rescued them from so unworthy a Fate and brought Mr Glanville into the Marquiss Chamber just as he was giving Orders to have them destroyed
END of the FIRST BOOK
In which the Adventure of the Books is happily concluded
THE Marquis as soon as he saw Mr Glanville told him he was resolved to cure Arabella of her Whims by burning the Books that had put them into her Head I have seized upon some of them pursued he smiling and you may if you please wreak your Spite upon these Authors of your Disgrace by burning them yourself
Though I have all the Reason in the World to be enraged with that Incendiary Statira said Glanville laughing for the Mischief she has done me yet I cannot consent to put such an Affront upon my Cousin as to burn her favourite Books And now I think of it my Lord pursued he Ill endeavour to make a Merit with Lady Bella by saving them Therefore spare them at my Request and let me carry them to her I shall be quite unhappy till we are Friends again
You may do as you will said the Marquis but I think it encouraging her in her Follies to give them to her again
Glanville without replying eagerly took up the Books for fear the Marquis should change his Mind and highly delighted with the Opportunity he had got of making his Peace with Lady Bella ran to her Apartment loaded with these kind Intercessors and making his Way by Lucy who would have opposed him penetrated even into the Closet of the melancholy Fairone who was making bitter Reflections on the Cruelty of her Destiny and bewailing her Loss with a Deluge of Tears
As ridiculous as the Occasion of these Tears was yet Glanville could not behold them without being affected Assuming therefore a Countenance as sad as he was able he laid the Books before her and told her he hoped she would excuse his coming into her Presence without her Permission since it was only to restore her those Books whose Loss she seemed so greatly to lament and added that it was with much Difficulty he prevailed upon the Marquis not to
burn them immediately and his Fears that he might really do as he threatened made him snatch them up and bring them with so little Ceremony into her Closet
Arabella whose Countenance brightened into a Smile of pleasing Surprize at the Sight of her recovered Treasure turned her bright Eyes upon Glanville with a Look of Complacency that went to his Heart
I well perceive said she that in exaggerating the Merit of this little Service you have done me you expect I should suffer it to cancel your past Offences I am not ungrateful enough to be insensible of any Kindness that is shewn me and tho I might be excused for suspecting it was rather Policy than Friendship that induced you to seek my Satisfaction by saving these innocent Victims of my Fathers Displeasure nevertheless I pardon you upon the Supposition that you will for the future avoid all Occasion of offending me
At these Words she made a Sign to him to be gone fearing the Extravagance of his Joy would make him throw himself at her Feet to thank her for the infinite Favour she had conferred upon him but finding he seemed disposed to stay longer she called one of her Women into the Closet and by some very significant Frowns gave Glanville to understand his Stay was displeasing so that he left her with a very low Bow highly pleased at her having repealed his Banishment and assured the Marquis that nothing could have happened more fortunate for him than his intended Disposal of
his Daughters Books since it had proved the Means of restoring him to her Favour
Which contains a very natural Incident
FROM this Time Mr Glanville tho he was far from coming up to Lady Bellas Idea of a Lover yet by the Pains he apparently seemed to be at in obliging her made every Day some Progress in her Esteem The Marquis was extremely pleased at the Harmony which subsisted between them tho he could have wished to have seen their Marriage advance a little faster but Glanville who was better acquainted with Arabellas Foible than the Marquis assured him he would ruin all his Hopes if he pressed her to marry and intreated him to leave it intirely to him to dispose her to consent to both their Wishes
The Marquis was satisfied with his Reasons and resolving not to importune his Daughter upon that Subject any more they lived for some Months in a perfect Tranquillity to which an Illness the Marquis was seized with and which was from the first thought to be dangerous gave a sad Interruption
Arabellas extreme Tenderness upon this Occasion her anxious Solicitude her pious Cares and neverceasing Attendance at the Bedside of her sick Father were so many new Charms
that engaged the Affection of Glanville more strongly As the Marquiss Indisposition increased so did her Care and Affiduity She would not allow any one to give him any thing but herself bore all the pettish Humours of a sick Man with a surprising Sweetness and Patience watched whole Nights successively by his Bedside and when at his Importunity she consented to take any Rest it was only upon a Couch in his Chamber from whence no Intreaties could make her remove Mr Glanville partook with her in these Fatigues and by his Care of her Father and Tenderness for her confirmed her in the Esteem she had entertained of him
The Marquis who had struggled with the Violence of his Distemper for a Fortnight died on the Fifteenth Day in the Arms of Arabella who received his last Looks his Eyes never removing themselves from her Face till they were closed by Death Her Spirits which the Desire she had of being useful to him had alone supported now failed her at once and she fell upon the Bed without Sense or Motion as soon as she saw him expire
Mr Glanville who was kneeling on the other Side and had been holding one of his Uncles Hands started up in the most terrible Consternation and seeing the Condition she was in flew to her Relief Her Women while he supported her used all the Endeavours they could think of to recover her but she continued so long in her Swoon that they apprehended she was dead and Glanville was resigning himself up to the most bitter Sorrow when she opened her Eyes but it was only to close them again
Her Faintings continued the whole Day and the Physicians declaring she was in great Danger from her extreme Weakness she was carried to Bed in a Condition that seemed to promise very little Hopes of her Life
The Care of the Marquiss Funeral devolving upon Mr Glanville he sent a Messenger express for his Father who was appointed Guardian to Lady Bella the Marquis having first asked her if she was willing it should be so This Gentleman arrived Time enough to be Witness of that sad Ceremony which was performed with a Magnificence suitable to the Birth and Fortune of the Marquis
Lady Bella kept her Bed several Days and her Life was thought to be in Danger but her Youth and the Strength of her Constitution overcame her Disease and when she was so well recovered as to be able to admit of a Visit from her Uncle Mr Glanville sent for Permission to introduce him The afflicted Arabella granted his Request but being then more indisposed than usual she intreated they would defer their Visit for an Hour or two which they complied with and returning at the appointed Time were conducted into her DressingRoom by Lucy who informed them her Lady was just fallen into a Slumber
Mr Glanville who had not seen her for some Days expected her waking with great Impatience and pleased himself with describing her with a Lovers Fondness to his Father when the Sound of her Voice in the next Room interrupted him
Which treats of a consolatory Visit and other grave Matters
ARABELLA being then awaked from her Slumber was indulging her Grief by Complaints which her Women were so used to hear that they never offered to disturb her Merciless Fate said she in the most moving Tone imaginable Cruel Destiny that not contented with having deprived my Infancy of the soft Cares and tender Indulgences of a Mothers Fondness has robbed me of the only Parent I had left and exposed me at these early Years to the Grief of losing him who was not only my Father but my Friend and Protector of my Youth
Then pausing a Moment she renewed her Complaints with a deep Sigh Dear Relics of the best of Fathers pursued she Why was it not permitted me to bathe you with my Tears Why were those sacred Remains of him from whom I drew my Life snatched from my Eyes ere they had poured their Tribute of Sorrow over them Ah pitiless Women said she to her Attendants you prevented me from performing the last pious Rites to my dear Father You by your cruel Care hindered me from easing my sad Heart by paying him the last Duties he could receive from me Pardon O dear and sacred Shade of my loved Father pardon this unwilling Neglect of thy afflicted
Child who to the last Moment of her wretched Life will bewail thy Loss
Here she ceased speaking and Mr Glanville whom this Soliloquy had much less confounded than his Father was preparing to go in and comfort her when the old Gentleman stopping him with a Look of great Concern My Niece is certainly much worse than we apprehend said he She is in a Delirium Our Presence may perhaps discompose her too much
No Sir replied Glanville extremely confused at this Suspicion my Cousin is not so bad as you suppose It is common enough for People in any great Affliction to ease themselves by Complaints
But these replied the Knight are the strangest Complaints I ever heard and savour so much of Phrensy that I am persuaded her Head is not quite right
Glanville was going to reply when Lucy entering told them her Lady had ordered their Admission Upon which they followed her into Arabellas Chamber who was lying negligently upon her Bed
Her deep Mourning and the black Gawse which covered Part of her fair Face was so advantageous to her Shape and Complexion that Sir Charles who had not seen her since she grew up was struck with an extreme Surprize at her Beauty while his Son was gazing on her so passionately that he never thought of introducing his Father to her who contemplated her with as much Admiration as his Son though with less Passion
Arabella rising from her Bed saluted her Uncle with a Grace that wholly charmed him and turning to receive Mr Glanville she burst into Tears at the Remembrance of his having assisted her in her last Attendance upon her Father Alas Sir said she when we saw each other last we were both engaged in a very melancholy Office Had it pleased Heaven to have spared my Father he would doubtless have been extremely sensible of your generous Cares nor shall you have any Reason to accuse me of Ingratitude since I shall always acknowlege your Kindness as I ought
If you think you owe me any Obligation returned Glanville pay me dearest Cousin by moderating your Sorrow Indeed your suffer yourself to sink too much under an Affliction which is impossible to be remedied
Alas answered Arabella my Grief is very slight compared to that of many others upon the Death of their Relations The Great Sysigambis who questionless wanted neither Fortitude nor Courage upon the News of her Granddaughters Death wrapt herself up in her Veil and resolving never more to behold the Light waited for Death in that Posture
Menecrates upon the Loss of his Wife built a magnificent Tomb for her and shutting himself up in it resolved to pass away the Remainder of his Life with her Ashes These indeed were glorious Effects of Piety and Affection and unfeigned Signs of an excessive Sorrow What are the few Tears I shed to such illustrious Instances of Grief and Affection as these
Glanville finding his Cousin upon this Strain blushed extremely and would have changed the Subject but the old Gentleman who had never heard of these two Persons she mentioned who expressed their Sorrow for their Losses in so strange a Manner was surprised at it and was resolved to know more about them
Pray Niece said he were you acquainted with these People who could not submit to the Dispensation of Providence but as one may say flew in the Face of Heaven by their Impatience
I am very well acquainted with their History resumed Arabella and I can assure you they were both very admirable Persons
Oh Oh their History interrupted the Knight What I warrant you they are to be found in the Fairy Tales and those sort of Books Well I never could like such Romances not I for they only spoil Youth and put strange Notions into their Heads
I am sorry resumed Arabella blushing with Anger that we are like to differ in Opinion upon so important a Point
Truly Niece said Sir Charles if we never differ in any thing else I shall be very easy about this slight Matter tho I think a young Lady of your fine Sense for my Son praises you to the Skies for your Wit should not be so fond of such ridiculous Nonsense as these StoryBooks are filled with
Upon my Word resumed Arabella all the Respect I owe you cannot hinder me from telling you that I take it extremely ill you should in my Presence rail at the finest Productions in
the World I think we are infinitely obliged to these Authors who have in so sublime a Style delivered down to Posterity the heroic Actions of the bravest Men and most virtuous of Women But for the inimitable Pen of the famous Scudery we had been ignorant of the Lives of many great and illustrious Persons The warlike Actions of Oroondates Aronces Juba and the renowned Artaban had haply never been talked of in our Age and those fair and chaste Ladies who were the Objects of their pure and constant Passions had still been buried in Obscurity and neither their divine Beauties or singular Virtue been the Subject of our Admiration and Praise But for the famous Scudery we had not known the true Cause of that Action of Clelias for which the Senate decreed her a Statue namely Her casting herself with an unparalleled Courage into the Tyber a deep and rapid River as you must certainly know and swimming to the other Side It was not as the Roman Historians falsly report a Stratagem to recover herself and the other Hostages from the Power of Porsena it was to preserve her Honour from Violation by the impious Sextus who was in the Camp But for Scudery we had still thought the inimitable Poetess Sappho to be a loose Wanton whose Verses breathed nothing but unchaste and irregular Fires On the contrary she was so remarkably chaste that she would never even consent to marry but loving Phaon only with a Platonic Passion obliged him to restrain his Desires within the Compass of a Brothers Affection Numberless are the Mistakes he has cleared up of this Kind and
I question if any other Historian but himself knew that Cleopatra was really married to Julius Caesar or that Caesario her Son by this Marriage was not murdered as was supposed by the Order of Augustus but married the fair Queen of Ethiopia in whose Dominions he took Refuge The prodigious Acts of Valour which he has recounted of those accomplished Princes have never been equalled by the Heroes of either the Greek or Roman Historians How poor and insignificant are the Actions of their Warriors to Scuderys where one of those admirable Heroes would put whole Armies into Terror and with his single Arm oppose a Legion
Indeed Niece said Sir Charles no longer able to forbear interrupting her these are all very improbable Tales I remember when I was a Boy I was very fond of reading the History of Jack the Giant killer and Tom Thumb and these Stories so filled my Head that I really thought one of those little Heroes killed Men an hundred Feet high and that the other after a great many surprising Exploits was swallowed up by a Cow
You was very young Sir you say interrupted Arabella tartly when those Stories gained your Belief However your Judgment was certainly younger if you ever believed them at all for as credulous as you are pleased to think me I should never at any Age have been persuaded such Things could have happened
My Father Madam said Glanville who was strangely confused all this Time bore Arms in his Youth and Soldiers you know never trouble themselves much with reading
Has my Uncle been a Soldier said Arabella and does he hold in Contempt the Actions of the bravest Soldiers in the World
The Soldiers you speak of Niece said Sir Charles were indeed the bravest Soldiers in the World for I dont believe they ever had their Equals
And yet Sir said Arabella there are a great Number of such Soldiers to be found in Scudery
Indeed my dear Niece interrupted Sir Charles they are to be found nowhere else except in your Imagination which I am sorry to see is filled with such Whimsies
If you mean this to affront me Sir resumed Arabella hardly able to forbear Tears I know how far as my Uncle I ought to bear with you But methinks it is highly unkind to aggravate my Sorrows by such cruel Jests and since I am not in an Humour to suffer them dont take it ill if I intreat you to leave me to myself
Mr Glanville who knew nothing pleased his Cousin so much as paying an exact Obedience to her Commands rose up immediately and bowing respectfully to her asked his Father If he should attend him into the Gardens
The Baronet who thought Arabellas Behaviour bordered a good deal upon Rudeness took his Leave with some Signs of Displeasure upon his Countenance and notwithstanding all his Son could say in Excuse for her he was extremely offended
What said he to Mr Glanville does she so little understand the Respect that is due to me as her Uncle that she so peremptorily desired
me to leave her Room My Brother was to blame to take so little Care of her Education she is quite a Rustic
Ah dont wrong your Judgment so much Sir said Glanville my Cousin has as little of the Rustic as if she had passed all her Life in a Court Her fine Sense and the native Elegance of her Manners give an inimitable Grace to her Behaviour and as much exceed the studied Politeness of other Ladies I have conversed with as the Beauties of her Person do all I have ever seen
She is very handsome I confess returned Sir Charles but I cannot think so well of her Wit as you do for methinks she talks very oddly and has the strangest Conceits Who but herself would think it probable that one Man could put a whole Army to Flight or commend a foolish Fellow for living in a Tomb because his Wife was buried in it Fie fie these are silly and extravagant Notions and will make her appear very ridiculous
Mr Glanville was so sensible of the Justness of this Remark that he could not help sighing which his Father observing told him That since she was to be his Wife it was his Business to produce a Reformation in her for added he notwithstanding the immense Fortune she will bring you I should be sorry to have a Daughterinlaw for whom I should blush as often as she opens her Mouth
I assure you Sir said Mr Glanville I have but very little Hopes that I shall be so happy as to have my Cousin for a Wife for tho it was my Uncles Command I should make my Addresses
to her she received me so ill as a Lover that I have never dared to talk to her upon that Subject since
And pray resumed Sir Charles upon what Terms are you at present
While I seem to pretend nothing to her as a Lover replied Mr Glanville she is very obliging and we live in great Harmony together but I am persuaded if I exceed the Bounds of Friendship in my Professions she will treat me extremely ill
But interrupted Sir Charles when she shall know that her Father has bequeathed you one Third of his Estate provided she dont marry you tis probable her Mind may change and you may depend upon it since your Heart is so much set upon her that as I am her Guardian I shall press her to perform the Marquiss Will
Ah Sir resumed Mr Glanville never attempt to lay any Constraint upon my Cousin in an Affair of this Nature Permit me to tell you it would be an Abuse of the Marquiss generous Confidence and what I would never submit to
Nay nay said the old Gentleman you have no Reason to fear any Compulsion from me Tho her Father has left me her Guardian till she is of Age yet it is with such Restriction that my Niece is quite her own Mistress in that Respect for tho she is directed to consult me in her Choice of an Husband yet my Consent is not absolutely necessary The Marquis has certainly had a great Opinion of his Daughters Prudence and I hope she will prove herself worthy of it by her Conduct
Mr Glanville was so taken up with his Reflections upon the State of his Affairs that he made but little Reply and as soon as he had disengaged himself retired to his Chamber to be at more Liberty to indulge his Meditations As he could not flatter himself with having made any Impression upon the Heart of Arabella he foresaw a thousand Incoveniences from the Death of the Marquis for besides that he lost a powerful Mediator with his Cousin he feared that when she appeared in the World her Beauty and Fortune would attract a Croud of Admirers among whom it was probable she would find some one more agreeable to her Taste than himself As he loved her with great Tenderness this Thought made him extremely uneasy and he would sometimes wish the Marquis had laid a stronger Injunction upon her in his Will to marry him and regretted the little Power his Father had over her But he was too generous to dwell long upon these Thoughts and contented himself with doing all that was honourable to obtain her without seeking for any Assistance from unjustifiable Methods
Which contains some common Occurrences but placed in a new Light
ARABELLA in a few Days leaving her Chamber had so many Opportunities of charming her Uncle by her Conversation
which when it did not turn upon any Incident in her Romances was perfectly fine easy and entertaining that he declared he should quit the Castle with great Regret and endeavoured to persuade her to accompany him to Town But Arabella who was determined to pass the Year of her Mourning in the Retirement she had always lived in absolutely refused strong as her Curiosity was to see London
Mr Glanville secretly rejoiced at this Resolution tho he seemed desirous of making her change it but she was unalterable and therefore the Baronet did not think proper to press her any more
Her Fathers Will being read to her she seemed extremely pleased with the Articles in favour of Mr Glanville wishing him Joy of the Estate that was bequeathed to him with a most inchanting Sweetness
Mr Glanville sighed and cast his Eyes on the Ground as he returned her Compliment with a very low Bow and Sir Charles observing his Confusion told Arabella that he thought it was a very bad Omen for his Son to wish him Joy of an Estate which he could not come to the Possession of but by a very great Misfortune
Arabella understanding his Meaning blushed and willing to change the Discourse proceeded to consult her Uncle upon the Regulation of her House Besides the Legacies her Father had bequeathed to his Servants those who were more immediately about his Person she desired might have their Salaries continued to them She made no other Alteration than discharging these Attendants retaining all the others and
submitting to her Uncle the Management of her Estates receiving the Allowance he thought proper to assign her till she was of Age of which she wanted three Years
Every Thing being settled Sir Charles prepared to return to Town Mr Glanville who desired nothing so much as to stay some time longer with his Cousin in her Solitude got his Father to intreat that Favour for him of Arabella But she represented to her Uncle the Impropriety of a young Gentlemans staying with her in her House now her Father was dead in a manner so genteel and convincing that Sir Charles could press it no further and all that Mr Glanville could obtain was a Permission to visit her some time after provided he could prevail upon his Sister Miss Charlotte Glanville to accompany him
The Day of their Departure being come Sir Charles took his Leave of his charming Niece with many Expressions of Esteem and Affection and Mr Glanville appeared so concerned that Arabella could not help observing it and bade him adieu with great Sweetness
When they were gone she found her Time hung heavy upon her Hands her Father was continually in her Thoughts and made her extremely melancholy She recollected the many agreeable Conversations she had had with Glanville and wished it had been consistent with Decency to have detained him Her Books being the only Amusement she had left she applied herself to reading with more Eagerness than ever but notwithstanding the Delight she took in this Employment she had so many Hours of Solitude and Melancholy to indulge
the Remembrance of her Father in that she was very far from being happy
As she wished for nothing more passionately than an agreeable Companion of her own Sex and Rank an Accident threw a Person in her Way who for some Days afforded her a little Amusement Stepping one Day out of her Coach to go into Church she saw a young Lady enter accompanied with a middleaged Woman who seemed to be an Attendant As Arabella had never seen any one above the Rank of a Gentleman Farmers Daughter in this Church her Attention was immediately engaged by the Appearance of this Stranger who was very magnificently dressed Tho she did not seem to be more than eighteen Years of Age her Statute was above the ordinary Size of Women and being rather too plump to be delicate her Mien was so majestic and such an Air of Grandeur was diffused over her whole Person joined to the Charms of a very lovely Face that Arabella could hardly help thinking she saw the beautiful Candace before her who by Scuderys Description very much resembled this Fair one
Arabella having heedfully observed her Looks thought she saw a great Appearance of Melancholy in her Eyes which filled her with a generous Concern for the Misfortunes of so admirable a Person but the Service beginning she was not at Liberty to indulge her Reflections upon this Occasion as she never suffered any Thoughts but those of Religion to intrude upon her Mind during these pious Rites
As she was going out of Church she observed the young Lady attended only with the Woman who came with her preparing to walk
home and therefore stept forward and saluting her with a Grace peculiar to herself intreated her to come into her Coach and give her the Pleasure of setting her down at her own House So obliging an Offer from a Person of Arabellas Rank could not fail of being received with great Respect by the young Lady who was not ignorant of all the Forms of Goodbreeding and accepting her Invitation she stepped into the Coach Arabella obliging her Woman to come in also for whom as she had that Day only Lucy along with her there was Room enough
As they were going home Arabella who longed to be better acquainted intreated the fair Stranger as she called her to go to the Castle and spend the Day with her and she consenting they passed by the House where she lodged and alighted at the Castle where Arabella welcomed her with the most obliging Expressions of Civility and Respect The young Lady tho perfectly versed in the Modes of TownBreeding and nothingmeaning Ceremony was at a Loss how to make proper Returns to the Civilities of Arabella The native Elegance and Simplicity of her Manners were accompanied with so much real Benevolence of Heart such insinuating Tenderness and Graces so irresistible that she was quite oppressed with them and having spent most of her Time between her Toilet and Quadrille was so little qualified for partaking a Conversation so refined as Arabellas that her Discourse appeared quite tedious to her since it was neither upon Fashions Assemblies Cards or Scandal
Her Silence and that Absence of Mind which she betrayed made Arabella conclude she was
under some very great Affliction and to amuse her after Dinner led her into the Gardens supposing a Person whose Uneasiness as she did not doubt proceeded from Love would be pleased with the Sight of Groves and Streams and be tempted to disclose her Misfortunes while they wandered in that agreeable Privacy In this however she was deceived for tho the young Lady sighed several times yet when she did speak it was only of indifferent Things and not at all in the manner of an afflicted Heroine
After observing upon a thousand Trifles she told Arabella at last to whom she was desirous of making known her Alliance to Quality that these Gardens were extremely like those of her FathersinLaw the Duke ofÑatÑ
At this Intimation she expected Arabella would be extremely surprised but that Lady whose Thoughts were always familiarized to Objects of Grandeur and would not have been astonished if she had understood her Guest was the Daughter of a King appeared so little moved that the Lady was piqued by her Indifference and after a few Moments Silence began to mention going away
Arabella who was desirous of retaining her a few Days intreated her so obligingly to favour her with her Company for some time in her Solitude that the other could not refuse and dispatching her Woman to the House where she lodged to inform them of her Stay at the Castle would have dispensed with her coming again to attend her had not Arabella insisted upon the contrary
The Reserve which the DaughterinLaw of the Duke ofÑstill continued to maintain
notwithstanding the repeated Expressions of Friendship Arabella used to her increased her Curiosity to know her Adventures which she was extremely surprised she had never offered to relate but attributing her Silence upon this Head to her Modesty she was resolved as was the Custom in those Cases to oblige her Woman who she presumed was her Confidante to relate her Ladys History to her and sending for this Person one Day when she was alone to attend her in her Closet she gave Orders to her Women if the fair Stranger came to inquire for her to say she was then busy but would wait on her as soon as possible
After this Caution she ordered Mrs Morris to be admitted and obliging her to sit down told her she sent for her in order to hear from her the History of her Ladys Life which she was extremely desirous of knowing
Mrs Morris who was a Person of Sense and had seen the World was extremely surprised at this Request of Arabella which was quite contrary to the Laws of Goodbreeding and as she thought betrayed a great deal of impertinent Curiosity She could not tell how to account for the free Manner in which she desired her to give up her Ladys Secrets which indeed were not of a Nature to be told and appeared so much confused that Arabella took Notice of it and supposing it was her Bashfulness which caused her Embarrassment she endeavoured to reassure her by the most affable Behaviour imaginable
Mrs Morris who was not capable of much Fidelity for her Lady being but lately taken
into her Service and not extremely fond of her thought she had now a fine Opportunity of recommending herself to Arabella by telling her all she knew of Miss Groves for that was her Name and therefore told her since she was pleased to command it she would give her what Account she was able of her Lady but intreated her to be secret because it was of great Consequence to her that her Affairs should not be known
I always imagined said Arabella that your beautiful Mistress had some particular Reason for not making herself known and for coming in this private Manner into this Part of the Country You may assure yourself therefore that I will protect her as far as I am able and offer her all the Assistance in my Power to give her Therefore you may acquaint me with her Adventures without being apprehensive of a Discovery that would be prejudicial to her
Mrs Morris who had been much better pleased with the Assurances of a Reward for the Intelligence she was going to give her looked a little foolish at these fine Promises in which she had no Share and Arabella supposing she was endeavouring to recollect all the Passages of her Ladys Life told her She need not give herself the Trouble to acquaint her with any thing that passed during the Infancy of her Lady but proceed to acquaint her with Matters of greater Importance And since said she you have no doubt been most favoured with her Confidence you will do me a Pleasure to describe to me exactly all the Thoughts of her Soul as she has communicated them to you that I may the better comprehend her History
The History of Miss Groves interspersed with some very curious Observations
THOUGH Madam said Mrs Morris I have not been long in Miss Grovess Service yet I know a great many Things by the means of her former Woman who told them to me tho my Lady thinks I am ignorant of them and I know that this is her second Trip into the Country
Pray interrupted Arabella do me the Favour to relate Things methodically Of what Use is it to me to know that this is your Ladys second Trip as you call it into the Country if I know not the Occasion of it Therefore begin with informing me who were the Parents of this admirable young Person
Her Father Madam said Mrs Morris was a Merchant and at his Death left her a large Fortune and so considerable a Jointure to his Wife that the Duke ofÑ being then a Widower was tempted to make his Addresses to her Mrs Groves was one of the proudest Women in the World and this Offer flattering her Ambition more than ever she had Reason to expect she married the Duke after a very short Courtship and carried Miss Groves down with her toÑ where the Duke had a fine Seat and where she was received by his Graces Daughters who were much about her own Age with great Civility Miss Groves Madam was then about twelve Years old and was educated
with the Dukes Daughters who in a little time became quite disgusted with their new Sister for Miss Groves who inherited her Mothers Pride tho not her Understanding in all things affected an Equality with those young Ladies who conscious of the Superiority of their Birth could but ill bear with her Insolence and Presumption As they grew older the Difference of their Inclinations caused perpetual Quarrels amongst them for his Graces Daughters were serious reserved and pious Miss Groves affected noisy Mirth was a great Romp and delighted in masculine Exercises
The Duchess was often reflected on for suffering her Daughter without any other Company than two or three Servants to spend great Part of the Day in riding about the Country leaping over Hedges and Ditches exposing her fair Face to the Injuries of the Sun and Wind and by those coarse Exercises contracting a masculine and robust Air not becoming her Sex and tender Years Yet she could not be prevailed upon to restrain her from this Diversion till it was reported she had listened to the Addresses of a young Sportsman who used to mix in her Train when she went upon those Rambles and procured frequent Opportunities of conversing with her
There is a great Difference interrupted Arabella in suffering Addresses and being betrayed into an involuntary Hearing of them and this last I conceive to have been the Case of your Lady for it is not very probable she would so far forget what she owed to her own Glory
as to be induced to listen quietly to Discourses like those you mention
However Madam resumed Mrs Morris the Duchess thought it necessary to keep her more at home but even here she was not without meeting Adventures and found a Lover in the Person who taught her to write
That indeed was a very notable Adventure said Arabella but it is not strange that Love should produce such Metamorphoses Tis not very long ago that I heard of a Man of Quality who disguised himself in a poor Habit and worked in the Gardens of a certain Nobleman whose Daughter he was enamoured with These things happen every Day
The Person I speak of Madam said Mrs Morris was never discovered to be any thing better than a Writingmaster and yet for all that Miss was smitten with his fine Person and was taking Measures to run away with him when the Intrigue was discovered the Lover dismissed and the young Lady whose faulty Conduct had drawn upon her her Mothers Dislike was sent up to London and allowed to be her own Mistress at Sixteen to which unpardonable Neglect of her Mother she owes the Misfortunes that have since befallen her
Whatever may be the common Opinion of this Matter interrupted Arabella again I am persuaded the Writingmaster as you call him was some Person of Quality who made use of that Device to get Access to his beautiful Mistress Love is ingenious in Artifices Who would have thought that under the Name of Alcippus a simple Attendant of the fair Artemisa Princess
of Armenia the gallant Alexander Son of the great and unfortunate Antony by Queen Clcopatra was concealed who took upon himself that mean Condition for the sake of seeing his adored Princess Yet the Contrivance of Orontes Prince of the Massagetes was far more ingenious and even dangerous for this valiant and young Prince happening to see the Picture of the beautiful Thalestris Daughter of the Queen of the Amazons he fell passionately in Love with her and knowing that the Entrance into that Country was forbid to Men he dressed himself in Womens Apparel and finding means to be introduced to the Queen and her fair Daughter whose Amity he gained by some very singular Services in the Wars he lived several Years undiscovered in their Court I see therefore no Reason to the contrary but that this Writingmaster might have been some illustrious Person whom Love had disguised and I am persuaded added she smiling that I shall hear more of him anon in a very different Character
Indeed Madam said Mrs Morris whom this Speech of Arabella had extremely surprised I never heard any thing more about him than what I have related and for what I know he continues still to teach Writing for I dont suppose the Duchesss Displeasure could affect him
How is it possible said Arabella that you can suppose such an Offence to Probability In my Opinion tis much more likely that this unfortunate Lover is dead thro Despair or perhaps wandering over the World in Search
of that Fair one who was snatched from his Hopes
If it was his Design to seek for her Madam resumed Mrs Morris he need not have gone far since she was only sent to London whither he might easily have followed her
There is no accounting for these Things said Arabella Perhaps he has been imposed upon and made to believe that it was she herself that banished him from her Presence Tis probable too that he was jealous and thought she preferred some one of his Rivals to him Jealousy is inseparable from true Love and the slightest Matters imaginable will occasion it And what is still more wonderful this Passion creates the greatest Disorders in the most sensible and delicate Hearts Never was there a more refined and faithful Passion than that of the renowned Artamenes for Mandana and yet this Prince was driven almost to Distraction by a Smile which he fansied he saw in the Face of his Divine Mistress at a time when she had some Reason to believe he was dead and he was so transported with Grief and Rage that tho he was a Prisoner in his Enemys Camp where the Knowledge of his Quality would have procured him certain Death yet he determined to hazard all Things for the fake of presenting himself before Mandana and upbraiding her with her Infidelity when in Reality nothing was farther from the Thoughts of that fair and virtuous Princess than the Lightness he accused her of So that as I said before it is not at all to be wondered at if this disguised Lover of your Lady was driven to Despair by Suspicions as groundless perhaps as those of
Artamenes yet not the less cruel and tormenting
Mrs Morris finding Arabella held her Peace at these Words went on with her History in this mannerÑMiss Groves Madam being directed by her Woman in all things took up her Lodgings in her Fathers House who was a broken Tradesman and obliged to keep himself concealed for fear of his Creditors Here she formed her Equipage which consisted of a Chair one Footman a Cook and her Woman As she was indulged with the Command of what Money she pleased her Extravagance was boundless She lavished away large Sums at Gaming which was her favourite Diversion kept such a Number of different Animals for Favourites that their Maintenance amounted to a considerable Sum every Year Her Womans whole Family were supported at her Expence and as she frequented all public Places and surpassed Ladies of the first Quality in Finery her Dress alone consumed great Part of her Income I need not tell you Madam that my Lady was a celebrated Beauty You have yourself been pleased to say that she is very handsome When she first appeared at Court her Beauty and the uncommon Dignity of her Person at such early Years made her the Object of general Admiration The King was particularly struck with her and declared to those about him that Miss Groves was the finest Woman at Court The Ladies however found means to explain away all that was flattering in this Distinction They said Miss Groves was clumsy and it was her Resemblance to the unwieldy German
Ladies that made her so much admired by his Majesty Her Pride and the Quality Airs she affected were the Subject of great Ridicule to those that envied her Charms Some Censures were maliciously cast on her Birth for as she was always styled the Duchess ofÑs Daughter a Custom she introduced herself she seemed to disclaim all Title to a legal Father Miss Groves as universally admired as she was yet made but very few particular Conquests Her Fortune was known to be very considerable and her Mothers Jointure was to descend to her after her Death Yet there was no Gentleman who would venture upon a Wife of Miss Grovess Taste for Expence as very few Estates to which she could pretend would support her Extravagance ÑThe Honourable Mr LÑBrother to the Earl ofÑ was the only one amidst a Croud of Admirers who made any particular Address to her This Gentleman was tolerably handsome and had the Art of making himself agreeable to the Ladies by a certain Air of Softness and Tenderness which never failed to make some Impression upon those he desired to deceive
Miss Groves was ravished with her Conquest and boasted of it so openly that People who were acquainted with this Gentlemans Character foreseeing her Fate could not help pitying her
A very few Months Courtship completed the Ruin of poor Miss Groves She fell a Sacrifice to Oaths which had been often prostituted for the same inhuman Purposes and became so fond of her Betrayer that it was with great
Difficulty he could persuade her not to give him even in public the most ridiculous Proofs of her Tenderness Her Woman pretends that she was ignorant of this Intrigue till Miss Groves growing big with Child it could no longer be concealed it was at length agreed she should liein at her own Lodgings to prevent any Suspicions from her retreating into the Country but that Scheme was overruled by her Womans Mother who advised her to conceal herself in some Village not far from Town till the Affair was over
Miss Groves approved of this second Proposal but took Advantage of her Shape which being far from delicate would not easily discover any growing Bigness to stay in Town as long as she possibly could When her Removal was necessary she went to the Lodgings provided for her a few Miles distant from London And notwithstanding the Excuses which were framed for this sudden Absence the true Cause was more than suspected by some busy People who industriously inquired into her Affairs
Mr LÑsaw her but seldom during her Illness The Fear of being discovered was his Pretence But her Friends easily saw through this Disguise and were persuaded Miss Groves was waning in his Affections
As she had a very strong Constitution she returned to Town at the End of three Weeks The Child was dead and she looked handsomer than ever Mr LÑcontinued his Visits and the Town to make Remarks of them All this time the Duchess never troubled herself about the Conduct of this unfortunate
young Creature And the People she was with had not the Goodness to give her any Hint of her Misconduct and the Waste of her Fortune On the contrary they almost turned her Head with their Flatteries preyed upon her Fortune and winked at her Irregularities
She was now a second time with Child Her Character was pretty severely handled by her Enemies Mr LÑbegan openly to slight her And she was now several thousand Pounds in Debt The Mother and Sisters of her Woman in whose House she still was were base enough to whisper the Fault she had been guilty of to all their Acquaintances Her Story became generally known She was shunned and neglected by every body and even Mr LÑ who had been the Cause of her Ruin intirely abandoned her and boasted openly of the Favours he had received from her
Miss Groves protested to her Friends That he had promised her Marriage but Mr LÑconstantly denied it and never scrupled to say when he was questioned about it That he found Miss Groves too easy a Conquest to make any Perjury necessary Her Tenderness however for this base Man was so great that she never could bear to hear him railed at in her Presence but would quarrel with the only Friends she had left if they said any thing to his Disadvantage As she was now pretty far advanced with Child she would have retired into the Country but the bad Condition of her Affairs made her Removal impossible In this Extremity she had Recourse to her Uncle a rich Merchant in the City who having taken all the necessary Precautions
for his own Security paid Miss Grovess Debts carrying on in her Name a Lawsuit with the Duchess for some Lands which were to be put into her Hands when she was of Age and which that great Lady detained Miss Groves being reduced to live upon something less than an Hundred a Year quitted London and came into this Part of the Country where she was received by Mrs Barnett one of her Womans Sisters who is married to a Country Gentleman of some Fortune In her House she layin of a Girl which Mr LÑsent to demand and will not be persuaded to inform her how or in what manner he has disposed of the Child
Her former Woman leaving her I was received in her Place from whom I learnt all these Particulars And Miss Groves having gained the Affections of Mr Barnetts Brother her Beauty and the large Fortune which she has in Reversion has induced him notwithstanding the Knowledge of her past unhappy Conduct to marry her But their Marriage is yet a Secret Miss Groves being apprehensive of her Uncles Displeasure for not consulting him in her Choice
Her Husband is gone to London with an Intention to acquaint him with it and when he returns their Marriage will be publicly owned
Containing what a judicious Reader will hardly approve
MRS Morris ending her Narration Arabella who had not been able to restrain her Tears at some Parts of it thanked her for the Trouble she had been at and assured her of her Secrecy Your Ladys Case said she is much to be lamented and greatly resembles the unfortunate Cleopatras whom Julius Caesar privately marrying with a Promise to own her for his Wife when he should be peaceable Master of the Roman Empire left that great Queen big with Child and never intending to perform his Promise suffered her to be exposed to the Censures the World has so freely cast upon her and which she so little deserved
Mrs Morris seeing the favourable Light in which Arabella viewed the Actions of her Lady did not think proper to say any thing to undeceive her but went out of the Closet not a little mortified at her Disappointment For she saw she was likely to receive nothing for betraying her Ladys Secrets from Arabella Who seemed so little sensible of the Pleasure of Scandal as to be wholly ignorant of its Nature and not to know it when it was told her
Miss Groves who was just come to Lady Bellas Chamberdoor to inquire for her was surprised to see her Woman come out of it
and who upon meeting her expressed great Confusion As she was going to ask her some Questions concerning her Business there Arabella came out of her Closet and seeing Miss Groves in her Chamber asked her Pardon for staying so long from her
I have been listening to your History said she with great Frankness which your Woman has been relating And I assure you I am extremely sensible of your Misfortunes
Miss Groves at these Words blushed with extreme Confusion and Mrs Morris turned pale with Astonishment and Fear Arabella not sensible that she had been guilty of any Indiscretion proceeded to make Reflections upon some Part of her Story which though they were not at all disadvantageous to that young Lady she received as so many Insults And asked Lady Bella If she was not ashamed to tamper with a Servant to betray the Secrets of her Mistress
Arabella a little surprised at so rude a Question answered however with great Sweetness and protested to her that she would make no ill Use of what she had learned of her Affairs For in fine Madam said she do you think I am less fit to be trusted with your Secrets than the Princess of the Leontines was with those of Clelia between whom there was no greater Amity and Acquaintance than with us And you must certainly know that the Secrets which that admirable Person entrusted with Lysimena were of a Nature to be more dangerous if revealed than yours The Happiness of Clelia depended upon Lysimenas Fidelity And the
Liberty nay haply the Life of Aronces would have been in Danger if she had betrayed them Though I do not intend to arrogate to myself the Possession of those admirable Qualities which adorned the Princess of the Leontines yet I will not yield to her or any one else in Generosity and Fidelity And if you will be pleased to repose as much Confidence in me as those illustrious Lovers did in her you shall be convinced I will ¥abour as earnestly for your Interest as that fair Princess did for those of Aronces and Clelia
Miss Groves was so busied in reflecting upon the Baseness of her Woman in exposing her that she heard not a Word of this fine Harangue at which Mrs Morris notwithstanding the Cause she had for Uneasiness could hardly help laughing but assuming some of that Haughtiness in her Looks for which she used to be remarkable she told Lady Bella that she imputed her impertinent Curiosity to her Country Ignorance and ill Breeding And she did not doubt but she would be served in her own kind and meet with as bad Fortune as she had done and perhaps deserve it worse than she did For there are more false Men in the World besides Mr LÑ and she was no handsomer than other People
Saying this she flung out of the Room her Woman following leaving Arabella in such Confusion at a Behaviour of which she had never before had an Idea that for some Moments she remained immoveable
Recollecting herself at last and conceiving that Civility required she should endeavour to appease this incensed Lady she went down
Stairs after her and stopping her just as she was going out of the House intreated her to be calm and suffer her to vindicate herself from the Imputation of being impertinently curious to know her Affairs
Miss Groves quite transported with Shame and Anger refused absolutely to stay
At least Madam said Arabella stay till my Coach can be got ready and dont think of walking home so slightly attended
This Offer was as sullenly answered as the other And Arabella finding she was determined to venture home with no other Guard than her Woman who silently followed her ordered two of her Footmen to attend her at a small Distance and to defend her if there should be Occasion
For who knows said she to Lucy what Accident may happen Some one or other of her insolent Lovers may take this Opportunity to carry her away and I should never forgive myself for being the Cause of such a Misfortune to her
Mrs Morris having found it easy to reconcile herself to her Lady by assuring her that Lady Bella was acquainted with great Part of her Story before and that what she told her tended only to justify her Conduct as she might have been convinced by what Lady Bella said they both went home with a Resolution to say nothing of what had passed with relation to the Cause of the Disgust Miss Groves had received But only said in general that Lady Bella was the most ridiculous Creature in the World and
was so totally ignorant of good Breeding that it was impossible to converse with her
Which treats of the Olympic Games
WHILE Arabella was ruminating on the unaccountable Behaviour of her new Acquaintance she received a Letter from her Uncle informing her for she had expresly forbid Mr Glanville to write to her that his Son and Daughter intended to set out for her Seat in a few Days
This News was received with great Satisfaction by Arabella who hoped to find an agreeable Companion in her Cousin and was not so insensible of Mr Glanvilles Merit as not to feel some kind of Pleasure at the Thought of seeing him again
This Letter was soon followed by the Arrival of Mr Glanville and his Sister who upon the Sight of Arabella discovered some Appearance of Astonishment and Chagrin for notwithstanding all her Brother had told her of her Accomplishments she could not conceive it possible for a young Lady bred up in the Country to be so perfectly elegant and genteel as she found her Cousin
As Miss Charlotte had a large Share of Coquetry in her Composition and was fond of Beauty in none of her own Sex but herself she
was sorry to see Lady Bella possessed of so great a Share and being in Hopes her Brother had drawn a flattering Figure of her Cousin she was extremely disappointed at finding the Original so handsome
Arabella on the contrary was highly pleased with Miss Glanville and finding her Person very agreeable did not fail to commend her Beauty A sort of Complaisance mightily in Use among the Heroines who knew not what Envy or Emulation meant
Miss Glanville received her Praises with great Politeness but could not find in her Heart to return them And as soon as these Compliments were over Mr Glanville told Lady Bella how tedious he had found the short Absence she had forced him to and how great was his Satisfaction at seeing her again
I shall not dispute the Truth of your last Assertion replied Arabella smiling since I verily believe you are mighty well satisfied at present but I know not how you will make it appear that an Absence which you allow to be short has seemed so tedious to you for this is a manifest Contradiction However pursued she preventing his Reply you look so well and so much at Ease that I am apt to believe Absence has agreed very well with you
And yet I assure you Madam said Mr Glanville interrupting her that I have suffered more Uneasiness during this Absence than I fear you will permit me to tell you
Since replied Arabella that Uneasiness has neither made you thinner nor paler I dont think you ought to be pitied For to say the
Truth in these Sort of Matters a Persons bare Testimony has but little Weight
Mr Glanville was going to make her some Answer when Miss Glanville who while they had been speaking was adjusting her Dress at the Glass came up to them and made the Conversation more general
After Dinner they adjourned to the Gardens where the gay Miss Glanville running eagerly from one Walk to another gave her Brother as many Opportunities of talking to Lady Bella as he could wish However he stood in such Awe of her and dreaded so much another Banishment that he did not dare otherwise than by distant Hints to mention his Passion and Arabella well enough pleased with a Respect that in some measure came up to her Expectation discovered no Resentment at Insinuations she was at Liberty to dissemble the Knowlege of And if he could not by her Behaviour flatter himself with any great Hopes yet he found as little Reason in Arabellas Language to despair
Miss Glanville at the End of a few Weeks was so tired of the magnificent Solitude she lived in that she heartily repented her Journey and insinuated to her Brother her Inclination to return to Town
Mr Glanville knowing his Stay was regulated by his Sisters intreated her not to expose him to the Mortification of leaving Arabella so soon and promised her he would contrive some Amusements for her which should make her relish the Country better than she had yet done
Accordingly he proposed to Arabella to go to the Races which were to be held atÑa few Miles from the Castle She would have excused herself upon account of her Mourning but Miss Glanville discovered so great an Inclination to be present at this Diversion that Arabella could no longer refuse to accompany her
Since said she to Miss Glanville you are fond of public Diversions it happens very luckily that these Races are to be held at the Time you are here I never heard of them before and I presume tis a good many Years since they were last celebrated Pray Sir pursued she turning to Glanville do not these Races in some Degree resemble the Olympic Games Do the Candidates ride in Chariots
No Madam replied Glanville the Jockeys are mounted upon the fleetest Coursers they can procure and he who first reaches the Goal obtains the Prize
And who is the fair Lady that is to bestow it resumed Arabella I dare engage one of her Lovers will enter the Lists she will doubtless be in no less Anxiety than he and the Shame of being overcome will hardly affect him with more Concern than herself that is provided he be so happy as to have gained her Affections I cannot help thinking the fair Elismonda was extremely happy in this Particular For she had the Satisfaction to see her secret Admirer Victor in all the Exercises at the Olympic Games and carry away the Prize from many Princes and Persons of rare Quality who were Candidates with him and he had also the Glory to receive
three Crowns in one Day from the Hands of his adored Princess who questionless bestowed them upon him with an infinite deal of Joy
What Sort of Races were those Madam said Miss Glanville whose Reading had been very confined
The Olympic Games Miss said Arabella so called from Olympia a City near which they were performed in the Plains of Elis consisted of Foot and ChariotRaces Combats with the Cestus Wrestling and other Sports They were instituted in Honour of the Gods and Heroes and were therefore termed sacred and were considered as a Part of Religion
They were a kind of School or military Apprenticeship in which the Courage of the Youth found constant Employment And the Reason why Victory in those Games was attended with such extraordinary Applause was that their Minds might be quickened with great and noble Prospects when in this Image of War they arrived to a Pitch of Glory approaching in some respects to that of the most famous Conquerors They thought this Sort of Triumph one of the greatest Parts of Happiness of which Human Nature was capable So that when Diagoras had seen his Sons crowned in the Olympic Games one of his Friends made him this Compliment Now Diagoras you may die satisfied since you cant be a God It would tire you perhaps was I to describe all the Exercises performed there But you may form a general Notion of them from what you have doubtless read of Justs and Tournaments
Really said Miss Glanville I never read about any such Things
No replied Arabella surprised Well then I must tell you that they hold a middle Place between a Diversion and a Combat but the Olympic Games were attended with a much greater Pomp and Variety And not only all Greece but other neighbouring Nations were in a manner drained to furnish out the Appearance
Well for my Part said Miss Glanville I never before heard of these Sort of Races those I have been at were quite different I know the Prizes and Bets are sometimes very considerable
And doubtless interrupted Arabella there are a great many Heroes who signalize themselves at these Races not for the sake of the Prize which would be unworthy of great Souls but to satisfy that burning Desire of Glory which spurs them on to every Occasion of gaining it
As for the Heroes or Jockeys said Miss Glanville call them what you please I believe they have very little Share either of the Profit or Glory For their Masters have the one and the Horses the other
Their Masters interrupted Arabella What I suppose a great many foreign Princes send their Favourites to Combat in their Name I remember to have read that Alcibiades triumphed three times successively at the Olympic Games by means of one of his Domestics who in his Masters Name entered the Lists
Mr Glanville fearing his Sister would make some absurd Answer and thereby disoblige his Cousin took up the Discourse And turning it upon the Grecian History engrossed her Conversation for two Hours wholly to himself while Miss Glanville to whom all they said was quite unintelligible diverted herself with humming a Tune and tinkling her Cousins Harpsichord which proved no Interruption to the more rational Entertainment of her Brother and Arabella
Which concludes with an excellent moral Sentence
THE Day being come on which they designed to be present at the Races or as Arabella called them the Games Miss Glanville having spent four long Hours in dressing herself to the greatest Advantage in order if possible to eclipse her lovely Cousin whose Mourning being much deeper was less capable of Ornaments came into her Chamber and finding her still in her Morning Dress For Heavens sake Lady Bella said she when do you purpose to be ready Why it is almost time to be gone my Brother says and here you are not a bit dressed
Dont be uneasy said Arabella smiling and going to her Toilet I shant make you wait long
Miss Glanville seating herself near the Table resolved to be present while her Cousin was dressing that she might have an Opportunity to make some Remarks to her Disadvantage But she was extremely mortified to observe the Haste and Negligence she made her Women use in this important Employment and that notwithstanding her Indifference nothing could appear more lovely and genteel
Miss Glanville however pleased herself with the Certainty of seeing her Cousins Dress extremely ridiculed for the peculiar Fashion of her Gown And the Veil which as becoming as it was would by its Novelty occasion great Diversion among the Ladies helped to comfort her for the Superiority of her Charms which partial as she was to her own she could not help secretly confessing
Arabella being dressed in much less time than her Cousin Mr Glanville was admitted who led her down Stairs to her Coach which was waiting His Sister secretly repining at the Advantage Arabella had over her in having so respectful an Adorer followed And being placed in the Coach they set out with great Appearance of Goodhumour on all Sides
They got toÑbut just time enough to see the Beginning of the first Course Arabella who fansied the Jockeys were Persons of great Distinction soon became interested in the Fate of one of them whose Appearance pleased her
more than the others Accordingly she made Vows for his Success and appeared so extremely rejoiced at the Advantage he had gained that Miss Glanville maliciously told her People would make Remarks at the Joy she expressed and fansy she had a more than ordinary Interest in that Jockey who had first reached the Goal
Mr Glanville whom this impertinent Insinuation of his Sister had filled with Confusion and Spite sat biting his Lips trembling for the Effect it would produce in Arabella But she giving quite another Turn to her Cousins Words I assure you said she with a Smile I am not any further interested in the Fate of this Person who has hitherto been successful than what the Handsomeness of his Garb and the Superiority of his Skill may demand from an unprejudiced Spectator And though I perceive you imagine he is some concealed Lover of mine yet I dont remember to have ever seen him And I am confident it is not for my sake that he entered the Lists nor is it my Presence which animates him
Lord bless me Madam replied Miss Glanville Who would ever think of such strange things as these you talk of Nobody will pretend to deny that you are very handsome to be sure but yet thank Heaven the Sight of you is not so dangerous but that such sort of People as these are may escape your Chains
Arabella was so wholly taken up with the Event of the Races that she gave but very little Heed to this sarcastic Answer of Miss Glanville whose Brother taking Advantage of an Opportunity which Arabella gave him by putting her
Head quite out of the Coach chid her very severely for the Liberty she took with her Cousin Arabella by looking earnestly out of the Window had given so full a View of her fine Person to a young Baronet who was not many Paces from the Coach that being struck with Admiration at the Sight of so lovely a Creature he was going up to some of her Attendants to ask who she was when he perceived Mr Glanville with whom he was intimately acquainted in the Coach with her Immediately he made himself known to his Friend being excessively rejoiced at having got an Opportunity of beginning an Acquaintance with a Lady whose Sight had so charmed him
Mr Glanville who had observed the profound Bow he made to Arabella accompanied with a Glance that shewed an extreme Admiration of her was very little pleased at this Meeting yet he dissembled his Thoughts well enough in his Reception of him But Miss Glanville was quite overjoyed hoping she would now have her Turn of Gallantry and Compliment Therefore accosting him in her free Manner Dear Sir George said she you come in a lucky Time to brighten up the Conversation Relations are such dull Company for one another tis half a Minute since we have exchanged a Word
My Cousin said Arabella smiling has so strange a Disposition for Mirth that she thinks all her Moments are lost in which she finds nothing to laugh at For my Part I do so earnestly long to know to which of these Pretenders Fortune will give the Victory that I
can suffer my Cares for them to receive no Interruption from my Cousins agreeable Gaiety
Mr Glanville observing the Baronet gazed upon Arabella earnestly while she was speaking those few Words resolved to hinder him from making any Reply by asking him several Questions concerning the Racers their Owners and the Bets which were laid to which Arabella added And pray Sir said she do me the Favour to tell me if you know who that gallant Man is who has already won the first Course
I dont know really Madam said Sir George what his Name is extremely surprised at her Manner of asking
The Jockey had now gained the Goal a Second time and Arabella could not conceal her Satisfaction Questionless said she he is a very extraordinary Person but I am afraid we shall not have the Pleasure of knowing who he is for if he has any Reason for keeping himself concealed he will evade any Inquiries after him by slipping out of the Lists while this Hurry and Tumult lasts as Hortensius did at the Olympic Games yet notwithstanding all his Care he was discovered by being obliged to fight a single Combat with one of the Persons whom he had worsted at those Games
Mr Glanville who saw his Sister by her little Coquetries with Sir George had prevented him from hearing great Part of this odd Speech proposed returning to the Castle to which Arabella agreed But conceiving Civility obliged her to offer the Convenience of a Lodging to a Stranger of Sir Georges Appearance and who was an Acquaintance of her Cousins You must
permit me said she to Mr Glanville to intreat your noble Friend will accompany us to the Castle where he will meet with better Accommodations than at any Inn he can find for I conceive that coming only to be a Spectator of these Games he is wholly unprovided with a Lodging
The Baronet surprised at so uncommon a Civility was at a Loss what Answer to make her at first but recollecting himself he told her that he would if she pleased do himself the Honour to attend her home but as his House was at no great Distance fromÑ he would be put to no Inconveniency for a Lodging
Miss Glanville who was not willing to part so soon with the Baronet insisted with her Cousins Leave upon his coming into the Coach which he accordingly did giving his Horse to the Care of his Servant and they proceeded together to the Castle Arabella still continuing to talk of the Games as she called them while poor Glanville who was excessively confused endeavoured to change the Discourse not without an Apprehension that every Subiect he could think of would afford Arabella an Occasion of shewing her Foible which notwithstanding the Pain it gave him could not lessen the Love he felt for her
Sir George whose Admiration of Lady Bella increased the longer he saw her was extremely pleased with the Opportunity she had given him of cultivating an Acquaintance with her He therefore lengthened out his Visit in hopes of being able to say some fine Things to her before he went away but Miss Glanville who strove
by all the little Arts she was Mistress of to engage his Conversation wholly to herself put it absolutely out of his Power so that he was obliged to take his Leave without having the Satisfaction of even pressing the fair Hand of Arabella so closely was he observed by her Cousin Happy was it for him that he was prevented by her Vigilance from attempting a Piece of Gallantry which would undoubtedly have procured him a Banishment from her Presence but ignorant how kind Fortune was to him in balking his Designs he was ungrateful enough to go away in a mighty ill Humour with this fickle Goddess So little capable are poor Mortals of knowing what is best for them
Containing some curious Anecdotes
LADY Bella from the Familiarity with which Miss Glanville treated this gay Gentleman concluding him her Lover and one who was apparently well received by her had a strong Curiosity to know her Adventures and as they were walking the next Morning in the Garden she told her that she thought it was very strange they had hitherto observed such a Reserve to each other as to banish mutual Trust and Confidence from their Conversation Whence comes it Cousin added she being so young and lovely as you are that you questionless have been engaged in many Adventures you have
never reposed Trust enough in me to savour me with a Recital of them
Engaged in many Adventures Madam returned Miss Glanville not liking the Phrase I believe I have been engaged in as few as your Ladyship
You are too obliging returned Arabella who mistook what she said for a Compliment for since you have more Beauty than I and have also had more Opportunities of making yourself beloved questionless you have a greater Number of Admirers
As for Admirers said Miss Charlotte bridling I fansy I have had my Share Thank God I never found myself neglected but I assure you Madam I have had no Adventures as you call them with any of them
No really interrutped Arabella innocently
No really Madam retorted Miss Glanville and I am surprised you should think so
Indeed my Dear said Arabella you are very happy in this respect and also very singular for I believe there are few young Ladies in the World who have any Pretensions to Beauty that have not given Rise to a great many Adventures and some of them haply very fatal
If you knew more of the World Lady Bella said Miss Glanville pertly you would not be so apt to think that young Ladies engage themselves in troublesome Adventures Truly the Ladies that are brought up in Town are not so ready to run away with every Man they see
No certainly interrupted Arabella they do not give their Consent to such Proceedings but for all that they are doubtless run away with many times for truly there are some Men whose Passions are so unbridled that they will have recourse to the most violent Methods to possess themselves of the Objects they love Pray do you remember how often Mandana was run away with
Not I indeed Madam replied Miss Glanville I know nothing about her but I suppose she is a Jew by her outlandish Name
She was no Jew said Arabella tho she favoured that People very much for she obtained the Liberty of great Numbers of them from Cyrus who had taken them Captives and could deny her nothing she asked
Well said Miss Glanville and I suppose she denied him nothing he asked and so they were even
Indeed but she did tho resumed Arabella for she refused to give him a glorious Scarf which she wore tho he begged it on his Knees
And she was very much in the right said Miss Glanville for I see no Reason why a Lover should expect a Gift of any Value from his Mistress
Doubtless said Arabella such a Gift was worth a Million of Services and had he obtained it it would have been a glorious Distinction for him However Mandana refused it and severely virtuous as you are I am persuaded you cant help thinking she was a little too rigorous in denying a Favour to a Lover like himÑ
Severely virtuous Lady Bella said Miss Glanville colouring with Anger Pray what do you mean by that Have you any Reason to imagine I would grant any Favour to a Lover
Why if I did Cousin said Arabella would it derogate so much from your Glory think you to bestow a Favour upon a Lover worthy your Esteem and from whom you had received a thousand Marks of a most pure and faithful Passion and also a great Number of very singular Services
I hope Madam said Miss Glanville it will never be my Fate to be so much obliged to any Lover as to be under a Necessity of granting him Favours in Requital
I vow Cousin interrupted Arabella you put me in mind of the fair and virtuous Antonia who was so rigid and austere that she thought all Expressions of Love were criminal and was so far from granting any Person Permission to love her that she thought it a mortal Offence to be adored even in private
Miss Glanville who could not imagine Arabella spoke this seriously but that it was designed to sneer at her great Eagerness to make Conquests and the Liberties she allowed herself in which had probably come to her Knowlege was so extremely vexed at the malicious Jest as she thought it that not being able to revenge herself she burst into Tears
Arabellas Goodnature made her be greatly affected at this Sight and asking her Pardon for having undesignedly occasioned her so much Uneasiness begged her to be composed and
tell her in what she had offended her that she might be able to justify herself in her Apprehensions
You have made no Scruple to own Madam said she that you think me capable of granting Favours to Lovers when Heaven knows I never granted a Kiss without a great deal of Confusion
And you had certainly much Reason for Confusion said Arabella excessively surprised at such a Confession I assure you I never injured you so much in my Thoughts as to suppose you ever granted a Favour of so criminal a Nature
Look you there now said Miss Glanville weeping more violently than before I knew what all your roundabout Speeches would come to All you have said in Vindication of granting Favours was only to draw me into a Confession of what I have done How ungenerous was that
The Favours I spoke of Madam said Arabella were quite of another Nature than those it seems you have so liberally granted Such as giving a Scarf a Bracelet or some such Thing to a Lover who had haply sighed whole Years in Silence and did not presume to declare his Passion till he had lost best Part of his Blood in Defence of the Fair one he loved It was when you maintained that Mandana was in the right to refuse her magnificent Scarf to the illustrious Cyrus that I took upon me to oppose your Rigidness and so much mistaken was I in your Temper that I foolishly compared you to the fair and wise Antonia whose Severity was so remarkable but really by what I understand
from your own Confession your Disposition resembles that of the inconsiderate Julia who would receive a Declaration of Love without Anger from any one and was not overshy any more than yourself of granting Favours almost as considerable as that you have mentioned
While Arabella was speaking Miss Glanville having dried up her Tears sat silently swelling with Rage not knowing whether she should openly avow her Resentment for the injurious Language her Cousin had used to her by going away immediately or by making up the Matter appear still to be her Friend that she might have the more Opportunities of revengeing herself The Impetuosity of her Temper made her most inclined to the former but the Knowlege that Sir George was to stay yet some Months in the Country made her unwilling to leave a Place where she might often see a Man whose fine Person had made some Impression upon her Heart and not enduring to leave such a charming Conquest to Arabella she resolved to suppress her Resentment for the present and listened without any Appearance of Discomposure to a fine Harangue of her Cousin upon the Necessity of Reserve and distant Behaviour to Men who presumed to declare themselves Lovers enforcing her Precepts with Examples drawn from all the Romances she had ever read at the End of which she embraced her and assured her if she had said any thing harsh it proceeded from her great Regard to her Glory of which she ardently wished to see her as fond as herself
Miss Glanville constrained herself to make a Reply that might not appear disagreeable And they were upon these Terms when Mr Glanville came up to them and told Lady Bella Sir George had sent to intreat their Company at his House that Day But added he as I presume you will not think proper to go on account of your Mourning neither my Sister nor I will accept the Invitation
I dare say interrupted Miss Glanville hastily Lady Bella will not expect such a needless Piece of Ceremony from us and if she dont think proper to go she wont confine us
By no means Cousin said Arabella smiling and being persuaded Sir George makes the Entertainment purely for your Sake it would not be kind in me to deprive him of your Company
Mr Glanville being pleased to find his Cousin discovered no Inclination to go would have persuaded his Sister not to leave Lady Bella But Miss Glanville looked so much displeased at his Request that he was obliged to insist upon it no more and both retiring to dress Lady Bella went up to her Apartment and betook herself to her Books which supplied the Place of all Company to her
Miss Glanville having taken more than ordinary Pains in dressing herself in order to appear charming in the Eyes of Sir George came in to pay her Compliments to Lady Bella before she went not doubting but she would be chagrined to see her look so well But Lady Bella on the contrary praised the Clearness of her Complexion and the Sparkling of her Eyes
I question not said she but you will give Fetters to more Persons than one Today but remember I charge you added she smiling while you are taking away the Liberty of others to have a special Care of your own
Miss Glanville who could not think it possible one Woman could praise another with any Sincerity cast a Glance at the Glass fearing it was rather because she looked but indifferently that her Cousin was so lavish in her Praises and while she was setting her Features in a Mirror which every Day represented a Face infinitely more lovely than her own Mr Glanville came in who after having very respectfully taken Leave of Lady Bella led his Sister to the Coach
Sir George who was extremely mortified to find Lady Bella not in it handed Miss Glanville out with an Air so reserved that she raillied him upon it and gave her Brother a very unpleasing Emotion by telling Sir George she hoped Lady Bellas not coming along with them would not make him bad Company
As he was too gallant to suffer an handsome young Lady who spread all her Attractions for him to believe he regretted the Absence of another when she was present he coquetted with her so much that Mr Glanville was in hopes his Sister would wholly engage him from Lady Bella
In which our Heroine is engaged in a very perilous Adventure
IN the mean time that solitary Fair one was alarmed by a Fear of a very unaccountable Nature for being in the Evening in her Closet the Windows of which had a Prospect of the Gardens she saw her illustrious concealed Lover who went by the Name of Edward while he was in her Fathers Service talking with great Emotion to her HouseSteward who seemed earnestly to listen to some Propositions he was making to him Her Surprize at this Sight was so great that she had not Power to observe them any longer but seating herself in her Chair she had just Spirits enough to call Lucy to her Assistance who extremely frighted at the pale Looks of her Lady gave her a Smellingbottle and was preparing to cut her Lace when Arabella preventing her told her in a low Voice that she feared she should be betrayed into the Hands of an insolent Lover who was come to steal her away Yes added she with great Emotion I have seen this presumptuous Man holding a Conversation with one of my Servants and tho I could not possibly at this Distance hear their Discourse yet the Gestures they used in speaking explained it too well to me and I have Reason to expect I shall suffer the same Violence that many illustrious Ladies have done before me and be
carried away by Force from my own House as they were
Alas Madam said Lucy terrified at this Discourse who is it that intends to carry your Ladyship away Sure no Robbers will attempt any Mischief at such a time as this
Yes Lucy replied Arabella with great Gravity the worst kind of Robbers Robbers who do not prey upon Gold and Jewels but what is infinitely more precious Liberty and Honour Do you know that Person who called himself Edward and worked in these Gardens like a common Gardener is now in the House corrupting my Servants and questionless preparing to force open my Chamber and carry me away And Heaven knows when I shall be delivered from his Chains
God forbid said Lucy sobbing that ever such a Lady should have such hard Hap What Crime I wonder can you be guilty of to deserve to be in Chains
My Crime resumed Arabella is to have Attractions which expose me to these inevitable Misfortunes which even the greatest Princesses have not escapedÑBut dear Lucy can you not think of some Methods by which I may avoid the Evil which waits me Who knows but that he may within these few Moments force a Passage into my Apartment These slight Locks can make but a poor Resistance to the Violence he will be capable of using
Oh dear Madam cried Lucy trembling and pressing near her what shall we do
I asked your Advice said she but I perceive you are less able than myself to think of any
thing to save meÑAh Glanville pursued she sighing would to Heaven thou wert here now
Yes Madam said Lucy Mr Glanville I am sure would not suffer any one to hurt your Ladyship
As thou valuest my Friendship said Arabella with great Earnestness never acquaint him with what has just now escaped my Lips True I did call upon him in this Perplexity I did pronounce his Name and that haply with a Sigh which involuntarily sorced its Way And questionless if he knew his good Fortune even amidst the Danger of losing me for ever he would resent some Emotions of Joy But I should die with Shame at having so indiscreetly contributed to his Satisfaction And therefore again I charge you conceal with the utmost Care what I have said
Indeed Madam said Lucy I shall tell him nothing but what your Ladyship bids me and I am so frighted that I can think of nothing but that terrible Man that wants to carry you away Mercy on us added she starting I think I hear somebody on the Stairs
Do not be alarmed said Arabella in a majestic Tone It is I who have most Reason to fear Nevertheless I hope the Grandeur of my Courage will not sink under this Accident Hark somebody knocks at the Door of my AntechamberÑMy own Virtue shall support meÑGo Lucy and ask who it is
Indeed I cant Madam said she clinging to her Pray pardon me Indeed I am so afraid I cannot stir
Weaksouled Wench said Arabella How unfit art thou for Accidents like these Ah had Cylenia and Nartesia been like thee the fair Berenice and the Divine Princess of Media had not so eagerly intreated their Ravishers to afford them their Company in their Captivity But go I order you and ask who it is that is at the Door of my Apartment They knock again Offer at no Excuses but do your Duty
Lucy seeing her Lady was really angry went trembling out of the Closet but would go no farther than her Bedchamber from whence she called out to know who was at the Door
I have some Business with your Lady said the HouseSteward for it was he that knocked Can I speak with her at present
Lucy a little reassured by his Voice made no Answer but creeping softly to the Door of the Antechamber doublelocked it and then cried out in a Transport No I will take Care you shall not come to my Lady
And why pray Mrs Lucy said the Steward What have I done that you are so much my Enemy
You are a Rogue said Lucy growing very courageous because the Door was locked between them
A Rogue said he What Reason have you for calling me a Rogue I assure you I will acquaint my Lady with your Insolence I came to speak to her Ladyship about Edward who prayed me to intercede for him that he may be taken again into her Service For he says my Lady never believed any thing against him
and that was my Business But when I see her Ill know whether you are allowed to abuse me in this manner
Arabella by this time was advanced as far as the Bedchamber longing to know what sort of Conference Lucy was holding with her intended Ravisher When that faithful Confidante seeing her came running to her and whispered her that the HouseSteward was at the Door and said he wanted to intercede for Edward
Ah the Traitor said Arabella retiring again Has he then really bargained with that disloyal Man to deliver up his Mistress I am undone Lucy said she unless I can find a Way to escape out of the House They will questionless soon force the Doors of my Apartment
Suppose said Lucy your Ladyship went down the Stairs that lead from your Dressingroom into the Garden and you may hide yourself in the Gardeners House till Mr Glanville come
I approve said Arabella of one Part of your Proposal But I shall not trust myself in the Gardeners House who questionless is in the Plot with the rest of my perfidious Servants since none of them have endeavoured to advertise me of my Danger If we can gain the Gardens undiscovered we may get out by that Door at the Foot of the Terrace which leads into the Fields for you know I always keep the Key of that private Door So Lucy let us commend ourselves to the Direction of Providence and be gone immediately
But what shall we do Madam said Lucy when we are got out
Why said Arabella you shall conduct me to your Brothers and probably we may meet with some generous Cavalier by the Way who will protect us till we get thither However as I have as great a Danger to fear within Doors as without I will venture to make my Escape though I should not be so fortunate as to meet with any Knight who will undertake to protect me from the Danger which I may apprehend in the Fields
Saying this she gave the Key of the Door to Lucy whose Heart beat violently with Fear and covering herself with some black Cypress which she wore in the Nature of a Veil went softly down the little Staircase to the Terrace followed by Lucy who looked eagerly about her every Step that she went and having gained the Gardendoor hastily unlocked it and fled as fast as possible cross the Fields in order to procure a Sanctuary at Williams House Arabella begging Heaven to throw some generous Cavalier in her Way whose Protection she might implore and taking every Tree at a Distance for a Horse and Knight hastened her Steps to meet her approaching Succour which as soon as she came near miserably balked her Expectations
Though Williams Farm was not more than two Miles from the Castle yet Arabella unused to such a rude Way of Travelling began to be greatly fatigued The Fear she was in of being pursued by her apprehended Ravisher had so violent an Effect upon her Spirits that she
was hardly able to prosecute her Flight and to complete her Misfortunes happening to stumble over a Stump of a Tree that lay in her Way she strained her Ancle and the violent Anguish she felt threw her into a Swoon
Lucy upon whose Arm she leaned perceiving her fainting screamed out aloud not knowing what to do with her in that Condition She placed her upon the Ground and supporting her Head against that fatal Stump began to rub her Temples weeping excessively all the time Her Swoon still continuing the poor Girl was in inconceivable Terror Her Brothers House was now but a little Way off but it being impossible for her to carry her Lady thither without some Help she knew not what to resolve upon
At length thinking it better to leave her for a few Moments to run for Assistance than to sit by her and see her perish for want of it she left her though not without extreme Agony and flew with the utmost Eagerness to her Brothers She was lucky enough to meet him just coming out of his Door and telling him the Condition in which she left her Lady he without asking any Questions about the Occasion of so strange an Accident notwithstanding his Amazement ran with all Speed to the Place where Lucy had left her But to their Astonishment and Sorrow she was not to be found They walked a long time in Search of her and Lucy being almost distracted with Fear lest she had been carried away made Complaints that so puzzled her Brother he knew not what to say to her But finding their
Search fruitless they agreed to go home to the Castle supposing with some Appearance of Reason that they might hear of her there
Here they found nothing but Grief and Confusion Mr Glanville and his Sister were just returned and had been at Lady Bellas Apartment but not finding her there they asked her Women where she was who not knowing any thing of her Flight concluded she was in the Garden with Lucy Mr Glanville surprised at her being at that Hour in the Garden ran eagerly to engage her to come in being apprehensive she would take Cold by staying so late in the Air But not finding her in any of her usual Walks he ordered several of the Servants to assist him in searching the whole Garden sending them to different Places But they all returned without Success which filled him with the utmost Consternation
He was returning excessively uneasy to the House when he saw Lucy who had been just told in answer to her Inquiries about her Lady that they were gone to look for her in the Garden and running up to Mr Glanville who hoped to hear News of Lady Bella from her Oh Sir said she is my Lady found
What Lucy said Mr Glanville more alarmed than before do not you know where she is I thought you had been with her
Oh dear cried Lucy wringing her Hands for certain my poor Lady was stolen away while she was in that fainting Fit Sir said she to Glanville I know who the Person is that my Lady said and almost broke my Heart would
keep her in Chains He was in the House not many Hours ago
Mr Glanville suspecting this was some new Whim of Arabellas would not suffer Lucy to say any more before the Servants who stood gaping with Astonishment at the strange Things she uttered but bid her follow him to his Apartment and he would hear what she could inform him concerning this Accident He would if possible have prevented his Sister from being present at the Story but not being able to form any Excuse for not suffering her to hear every thing that related to her Cousin they all three went into his Chamber where he desired Lucy to tell him what she knew about her Lady
You must know Sir said Lucy sobbing that there came a Man here to take away my Lady A great Man he is though he worked in the Gardens for he was in Love with her And so he would not own who he was
And pray interrupted Miss Glanville Who told you he was a great Man as you say
My Lady told me said Lucy But howsomever he was turned away for the Gardener says he catched him stealing Carp
A very great Man indeed said Miss Glanville that would steal Carp
You must know Madam said she that was only a Pretence For he went there my Lady says to drown himself
Bless me cried Miss Glanville laughing the Girls distracted sure Lord Brother dont listen to her nonsensical Tales we shall never find my Cousin by her
Leave her to me said Mr Glanville whispering Perhaps I may discover something by her Discourse that will give us some Light into this Affair
Nay Ill stay I am resolved answered she for I long to know where my Cousin is Tho do you think what this Girl says is true about a great Man disguised in the Gardens Sure my Cousin could never tell her such Stuff But now I think of it added she Lady Bella when we were speaking about the Jockey talked something about a Lover I now believe it is as the Girl says Pray lets hear her out
Mr Glanville was ready to die with Vexation at the Charmer of his Souls being thus exposed but there was no Help for it
Pray said he to Lucy tell us no more about this Man But if you can guess where your Lady is let me know
Indeed I cant Sir said she for my Lady and I both stole out of the House for fear Edward should break open the Doors of her Apartment and we were running as fast as possible to my Brothers House where she said she would hide herself till you came but my poor dear Lady fell down and hurt herself so much that she fainted away I tried what I could to fetch her again but she did not open her Eyes So I ran like Lightning to my Brother to come and help me to carry her to the Farm but when we came back she was gone
What do you say cried Mr Glanville with a distracted Look Did you leave her in that Condition in the Fields And was she not to be found when you came back
No indeed Sir said Lucy weeping we could not find her though we wandered about a long time
Oh Heavens said he walking about the Room in a violent Emotion Where can she be What is become of her Dear Sister pursued he order somebody to saddle my Horse Ill traverse the Country all Night in quest of her
You had best inquire Sir said Lucy if Edward is in the House He knows may be where my Lady is
Who is he cried Glanville
Why the great Man Sir said Lucy whom we thought to be a Gardener who came to carry my Lady away which made her get out of the House as fast as she could
This is the strangest Story said Miss Glanville that ever I heard Sure nobody would be so mad to attempt such an Action my Cousin has the oddest Whims
Mr Glanville not able to listen any longer charged Lucy to say nothing of this Matter to any one and then ran eagerly out of the Room ordering two or three of the Servants to go in Search of their Lady He then mounted his Horse in great Anguish of Mind not knowing whither to direct his Course
In which the Lady is wonderfully delivered
BUT to return to Arabella whom we left in a very melancholy Situation Lucy had not been gone long from her before she opened her Eyes and beginning to come perfectly to herself was surprised to find her Woman not near her The Moon shining very bright she looked round her and called Lucy as loud as she was able but not seeing her or hearing any Answer her Fears became so powerful that she had like to have relapsed into her Swoon
Alas unfortunate Maid that I am cried she weeping excessively questionless I am betrayed by her on whose Fidelity I relied and who was acquainted with my most secret Thoughts She is now with my Ravisher directing his Pursuit and I have no Means of escaping from his Hands Cruel and ungrateful Wench thy unparalleled Treachery grieves me no less than all my other Misfortunes But why do I say Her Treachery is unparalleled Did not the wicked Arianta betray her Mistress into the Power of her insolent Lover Ah Arabella thou art not single in thy Misery since the divine Mandana was like thyself the Dupe of a mercenary Servant
Having given a Moment or two to these sad Reflections she rose from the Ground with an
Intention to walk on but her Ancle was so painful that she could hardly move Her Tears began now to flow with greater Violence She expected every Moment to see Edward approach her and was resigning herself up to Despair when a Chaise driven by a young Gentleman passed by her Arabella thanking Heaven for sending this Relief called out a¥ loud as she could conjuring him to stay
The Gentleman hearing a Womans Voice stopped immediately and asked what she wanted
Generous Stranger said Arabella advancing as well as was she able do not refuse your Assistance to save me from a most terrible Danger I am pursued by a Person whom for very urgent Reasons I desire to avoid I conjure you therefore in the Name of her you love best to protect me and may you be crowned with the Enjoyment of all your Wishes for so charitable an Action
If the Gentleman was surprised at this Address he was much more astonished at the Beauty of her who made it Her Stature her Shape her inimitable Complexion the Lustre of her fine Eyes and the thousand Charms that adorned her whole Person kept him a Minute silently gazing upon her without having the Power to make her an Answer
Arabella finding he did not speak was extremely disappointed Ah Sir said she What do you deliberate upon Is it possible you can deny so reasonable a Request to a Lady in my Circumstances
For Gods sake Madam said the Gentleman alighting and approaching her let me know who you are and how I can be of any Service to you
As for my Quality said Arabella be assured it is not mean and let this Knowlege suffice at present The Service I desire of you is to convey me to some Place where I may be in Safety for this Night Tomorrow I will intreat you to let some Persons whom I shall name to you know where I am to the end they may take proper Measures to secure me from the Attempts of an insolent Man who has driven me from my own House by the Designs he was going to execute
The Gentleman saw there was some Mystery in her Case which she did not choose to explain and being extremely glad at having so beautiful a Creature in his Power told her she might command him in all she pleased and helping her into the Chaise drove off as fast as he could Arabella suffering no Apprehensions from being alone with a Stranger since nothing was more common to Heroines than such Adventures all her Fears being of Edward whom she fansied every Moment she saw pursuing them And being extremely anxious to be in some Place of Safety she urged her Protector to drive as fast as possible who willing to have her at his own House complied with her Request but was so unlucky in his Haste as to overturn the Chaise Though neither Arabella nor himself were hurt by the Fall yet the Necessity there was to stay some time to put the Chaise in a Condition to carry them any farther filled
her with a thousand Apprehensions lest they should be overtaken
In the mean time the Servants of Arabella among whom Edward not knowing how much he was concerned in her Flight was resolved to distinguish himself by his Zeal in searching for her had dispersed themselves about in different Places Chance conducted Edward to the very Spot where she was When Arabella perceiving him while he was two or three Paces off Oh Sir cried she behold my Persecutor Can you resolve to defend me against the Violence he comes to offer me
The Gentleman looking up and seeing a Man in Livery approaching them asked her If that was the Person she complained of and if he was her Servant
If he is my Servant Sir replied she blushing he never had my Permission to be so And indeed no one else can boast of my having granted them such a Liberty
Do you know whose Servant he is then Madam replied the Gentleman a little surprised at her Answer which he could not well understand
You throw me into a great Embarrassment Sir resumed Arabella blushing more than before Questionless he appears to be mine but since as I told you before he never discovered himself to me and I never permitted him to assume that Title his Services if ever I received any from him were not at all considered by me as Things for which I was obliged to him
The Gentleman still more amazed at Answers so little to the Purpose was going to desire her to explain herself upon this strange Affair when Edward coming up close to Arabella cried out in a Transport Oh Madam thank God you are found
Hold impious Man said Arabella and do not give Thanks for that which haply may prove thy Punishment If I am found thou wilt be no better for it And if thou continuest to persecute me thou wilt probably meet with thy Death where thou thinkest thou hast found thy Happiness
The poor Fellow who understood not a Word of this Discourse stared upon her like one that had lost his Wits when the Protector of Arabella approaching him asked him with a stern Look What he had to say to that Lady and why he presumed to follow her
As the Man was going to answer him Mr Glanville came galloping up and Edward seeing him ran up to him and informed him that he had met with Lady Bella and a Gentleman who seemed to have been overturned in a Chaise which he was endeavouring to refit and that her Ladyship was offended with him for coming up to her and also that the Gentleman had used some threatening Language to him upon that Account
Mr Glanville excessively surprised at what he heard stopped and ordering a Servant who came along with him to run back to the Castle and bring a Chaise thither to carry Lady Bella home he asked Edward several more Questions relating to what she and the Gentleman
had said to him And notwithstanding his Knowlege of her ridiculous Humour he could not help being alarmed by her Behaviour nor concluding that there was something very mysterious in the Affair
While he was thus conversing with Edward Arabella who had spied him almost as soon was filled with Apprehension to see him hold so quiet a Parly with her Ravisher The more she reflected upon this Accident the more her Suspicions increased and persuading herself at last that Mr Glanville was privy to his Designs this Belief however improbable wrought so powerfully upon her Imagination that she could not restrain her Tears
Doubtless said she I am betrayed and the perjured Glanville is no longer either my Friend or Lover He is this Moment concerting Measures with my Ravisher how to deliver me into his Power and like Philidaspes is glad of an Opportunity by this Treachery to be rid of a Woman whom his Parents and hers had destined for his Wife
Mr Glanville having learned all he could from Edward alighted and giving him his Horse to hold came up to Arabella And after expressing his Joy at meeting with her begged her to let him know what Accident had brought her unattended from the Castle at that time of Night
If by this Question said the incensed Arabella you would persuade me you are ignorant of the Cause of my Flight know your Dissimulation will not succeed and that having Reason to believe you are equally guilty with him from
whose intended Violence I fled I shall have recourse to the Valour of this Knight you see with me to defend me as well against you as that Ravisher with whom I see you leaguedÑAh unworthy Cousin pursued she What dost thou propose to thyself by so black a Treachery What is to be the Price of my Liberty which thou so freely disposest of Has thy Friend there said she pointing to Edward a Sister or any Relation for whom thou barterest by delivering me up to him But assure thyself this Stratagem shall be of no Use to thee For if thou art base enough to oppress my valiant Deliverer with Numbers and thinkest by Violence to get me into thy Power my Cries shall arm Heaven and Earth in my Defence Providence may haply send some generous Cavaliers to my Rescue and if Providence fails me my own Hand shall give me Freedom for that Moment thou offerest to seize me that Moment shall be the last of my Life
While Arabella was speaking the young Gentleman and Edward who listened to her eagerly thought her Brain was disturbed But Mr Glanville was in a terrible Consusion and silently cursed his ill Fate to make him in Love with a Woman so ridiculous
For Heavens sake Cousin said he striving to repress some Part of his Disorder Do not give way to these extravagant Notions There is nobody intends to do you any Wrong
What interrupted she would you persuade me that that Impostor there pointing to Edward has not a Design to carry me away
which you by supporting him are not equally guilty of
Who I Madam cried out Edward Sure your Ladyship does not suspect me of such a strange Design God knows I never thought of such a Thing
Ah Dissembler interrupted Arabella do not make use of that sacred Name to mask thy impious Falshoods Confess with what Intent you came into my Fathers Service disguised
I never came disguised Madam returned Edward
No said Arabella What means that Dress in which I see you then
Tis the Marquiss Livery Madam said Edward which he did not order to be taken from me when I left his Service
And with what Purpose didst thou wear it said she Do not your Thoughts accuse you of your Crime
I always hoped MadamÑsaid he
You hoped interrupted Arabella frowning Did I ever give you Reason to hope I will not deny but I had Compassion on you but even That you was ignorant of
I know Madam you had Compassion on me said Edward for your Ladyship I always thought did not believe me guilty
I was weak enough said she to have Compassion on you though I did believe you guilty
Indeed Madam returned Edward I always hoped as I said before but your Ladyship would not hear me out that you did not believe any malicious Reports and therefore you had Compassion on me
I had no Reports of you said she but what my own Observation gave me and that was sufficient to convince me of your Fault
Why Madam said Edward did your Ladyship see me steal the Carp then which was the Fault unjustly laid to my Charge
Mr Glanville as much Cause as he had for Uneasiness could with great Difficulty restrain Laughter at this ludicrous Circumstance for he guessed what Crime Arabella was accusing him of As for the young Gentleman he could not conceive what she meant and longed to hear what would be the End of such a strange Conference But poor Arabella was prodigiously confounded at his mentioning so low an Affair not being able to endure that Glanville and her Protector should know a Lover of hers could be suspected of so base a Theft
The Shame she conceived at it kept her silent for a Moment But recovering herself at last No said she I knew you better than to give any Credit to such an idle Report Persons of your Condition do not commit such paltry Crimes
Upon my Soul Madam said the young Gentleman Persons of his Condition often do worse
I dont deny it Sir said Arabella and the Design he meditated of carrying me away was infinitely worse
Really Madam returned the Gentleman if you are such a Person as I apprehend I dont see how he durst make such an Attempt
It is very possible Sir said she that I might be carried away though I was of greater Quality than I am Were not Mandana Candace Clelia and many other Ladies who underwent the same Fate of a Quality more illustrious than mine
Really Madam said he I know none of these Ladies
No Sir said Arabella extremely mortified
Let me intreat you Cousin interrupted Glanville who feared this Dispute would be very tedious to expose yourself no longer to the Air at this time of Night Suffer me to conduct you home
It concerns my Honour said she that this generous Stranger should not think I am the only one that was ever exposed to these insolent Attempts You say Sir pursued she that you dont know any of these Ladies I mentioned before Let me ask you then If you are acquainted with Parthenissa or Cleopatra who were both for some Months in the Hands of their Ravishers
As for Parthenissa Madam neither have I heard of her nor do I remember to have heard of any more than one Cleopatra But she was never ravished I am certain for she was too willing
How Sir said Arabella Was Cleopatra ever willing to run away with her Ravisher
Cleopatra was a Whore was she not Madam said he
Hold thy Peace unworthy Man said Arabella and profane not the Memory of that fair and glorious Queen by such injurious Language That Queen I say whose Courage was
equal to her Beauty and her Virtue surpassed by neither Good Heavens What a black Defamer have I chosen for my Protector
Mr Glanville rejoicing to see Arabella in a Disposition to be offended with her new Acquaintance resolved to sooth her a little in hopes of prevailing upon her to return home Sir said he to the Gentleman who could not conceive why the Lady should so warmly defend Cleopatra you were in the Wrong to cast such Reflections upon that great Queen repeating what he had heard his Cousin say before For all the World pursued he knows she was married to Julius Caesar
Though I commend you said Arabella for taking the Part of a Lady so basely vilified yet let not your Zeal for her Honour induce you to say more than is true for its Justification for thereby you weaken instead of strengthening what may be said in her Defence One Falshood always supposes another and renders all you can say suspected Whereas pure unmixed Truth carries Conviction along with it and never fails to produce its desired Effect
Suffer me Cousin interrupted Glanville to represent to you the Inconveniency you will certainly feel by staying so late in the Air Leave the Justification of Cleopatra to some other Opportunity and take care of your own Preservation
What is it you require of me said Arabella
Only resumed Glanville that you would be pleased to return to the Castle where my Sister and all your Servants are inconsolable for your Absence
But who can assure me answered she that I shall not by returning home enter voluntarily into my Prison For to say the Truth I still more than suspect you abet the Designs of this Man since I behold you in his Party and ready no doubt to draw your Sword in his Defence How will you be able to clear yourself of this Crime Yet I will venture to return to my House provided you will swear to me you will offer me no Violence with regard to your Friend there And also I insist that he from this Moment disclaim all Intentions of persecuting me and banish himself from my Presence for ever Upon this Condition I pardon him and will likewise pray to Heaven to pardon him also Speak presumptuous Unknown said she to Edward Wilt thou accept of my Pardon upon the Terms I offer it thee And wilt thou take thyself to some Place where I may never behold thee again
Since your Ladyship said Edward is resolved not to receive me into your Service I shant trouble you any more But I think it hard to be punished for a Crime I was not guilty of
Tis better said Arabella turning from him that thou shouldst complain of my Rigour than the World tax me with Lightness and Indiscretion And now Sir said she to Glanville I must trust myself to your Honour which I confess I do a little suspect But however tis possible you have repented like the poor Prince Thrasybulus when he submitted to the Suggestions of a wicked Friend to carry away the fair Alcionida whom he afterwards restored Speak Glanville pursued she are you desirous
of imitating that virtuous Prince or do you still retain your former Sentiments
Upon my Word Madam said Glanville you will make me quite mad if you go on in this manner Pray let me see you safe home and then if you please you may forbid my Entrance into the Castle if you suspect me of any bad Intentions towards you
Tis enough said she I will trust you As for you Sir speaking to the young Gentleman you are so unworthy in my Apprehensions by the Calumnies you have uttered against a Person of that Sex which merits all your Admiration and Reverence that I hold you very unfit to be a Protector of any of it Therefore I dispense with your Services upon this Occasion and think it better to trust myself to the Conduct of a Person who like Thrasybulus by his Repentance has restored himself to my Confidence than to one who though indeed he has never betrayed me yet seems very capable of doing so if he had the Power
Saying this she gave her Hand to Glanville who helped her into the Chaise that was come from the Castle and the Servant who brought it mounting his Horse Mr Glanville drove her Home leaving the Gentleman who by this time had refitted his Chaise in the greatest Astonishment imaginable at her unaccountable Behaviour
END of the SECOND BOOK
Two Conversations out of which the Reader may pick up a great deal
ARABELLA continuing to ruminate upon her Adventure during their little Journey appeared so low and reserved that Mr Glanville tho he ardently wished to know all the Particulars of her Flight and Meeting with that Gentleman whose Company he found her in was obliged to suppress his Curiosity for the present out of a Fear of displeasing her As soon as they alighted at the
Castle her Servants ran to receive her at the Gates expressing their Joy to see her again by a thousand confused Exclamations
Miss Glanville being at her Toilet when she heard of her Arrival ran down to welcome her in her Hurry forgetting that as her Woman had been curling her Hair she had no Cap on
Arabella received her Compliments with a little Coolness for observing that her Grief for her Absence had not made her neglect any of her usual Solicitude about her Person she could not conceive it had been very great Therefore when she had made some slight Answer to the hundred Questions she asked in a Breath she went up to her Apartment and calling Lucy who was crying with Joy for her Return she questioned her strictly concerning her leaving her in the Fields acknowleging to her that she suspected her Fidelity tho she wished at the same time she might be able to clear herself
Lucy in her Justification related after her punctual Way all that had happened By which Arabella was convinced she had not betrayed her and was also in some Doubt whether Mr Glanville was guilty of any Design against her
Since said she to Lucy thou art restored to my good Opinion I will as I have always done unmask my Thoughts to thee I confess then with Shame and Confusion that I cannot think of Mr Glanvilles assisting the Unknown to carry me away without resenting a most poignant Grief Questionless my Weakness will surprise thee and could I conceal it
from myself I would from thee but alas it is certain that I do not hate him and I believe I never shall guilty as he may be in my Apprehensions
Hate him Madam said Lucy God forbid you should ever hate Mr Glanville who I am sure loves your Ladyship as well as he does his own Sister
You are very confident Lucy said Arabella blushing to mention the Word Love to me If I thought my Cousin had bribed thee to it I should be greatly incensed However tho I forbid you to talk of his Passion yet I permit you to tell me the Violence of his Transports when I was missing the Threats he uttered against my Ravishers the Complaints he made against Fortune the Vows he offered for my Preservation and in fine whatever Extravagances the Excess of his Sorrow forced him to commit
I assure you Madam said Lucy I did not hear him say any of all this
What interrupted Arabella And didst thou not observe the Tears trickle from his Eyes which haply he strove to conceal Did he not strike his Bosom with the Vehemence of his Grief and cast his accusing and despairing Eyes to Heaven which had permitted such a Misfortune to befal me
Indeed Madam I did not resumed Lucy but he seemed to be very sorry and said He would go and look for your Ladyship
Ah the Traitor interrupted Arabella in a Rage Fain would I have found out some Excuse for him and justified him in my Apprehensions
but he is unworthy of these savourable Thoughts Speak of him no more I command you he is guilty of assiisting my Ravisher to carry me away and therefore merits my eternal Displeasure But tho I could find Reasons to clear him even of that Crime yet he is guilty of Indifference and Insensibility for my Loss since he neither died with Grief at the News of it nor needed the Interposition of his Sister or the Desire of delivering me to make him live
Arabella when she had said this was silent but could not prevent some Tears stealing down her fair Face Therefore to conceal her Uneasiness or to be at more Liberty to indulge it she ordered Lucy to make haste and undress her and going Tobed passed the small Remainder of the Night not in Rest which she very much needed but in Reflections on all the Passages of the preceding Day And finding or imagining she found new Reasons for condemning Mr Glanville her Mind was very far from being at Ease
In the Morning lying later than usual she received a Message from Mr Glanville inquiring after her Health to which she answered That he was too little concerned in the Preservation of it to make it necessary to acquaint him
Miss Glanville soon after sent to desire Permission to drink her Chocolate by her Bedside which as she could not in Civility refuse she was very much perplexed how to hide her Melancholy from the Eyes of that discerning Lady who she questioned not would interpret it in favour of her Brother
Upon Miss Glanvilles Appearance she forced herself to assume a chearful Look asking her Pardon for receiving her in Bed and complaining of bad Rest which had occasioned her lying late
Miss Glanville after answering her Compliments with almost equal Politeness proceeded to ask her an hundred Questions concerning the Cause of her Absence from the Castle Your Woman pursued she laughing told us a strange Medley of Stuff about a great Man who was a Gardener and wanted to carry you away Sure there was nothing in it Was there
You must excuse me Cousin said Arabella if I do not answer your Questions precisely now Tis sufficient that I tell you Certain Reasons obliged me to act in the Manner I did for my own Preservation and that another time you shall know my History which will explain many things you seem to be surprised at at present
Your History said Miss Glanville Why will you write your own History then
I shall not write it said Arabella tho questionless it will be written after my Death
And must I wait till then for it resumed Miss Glanville gaily
No no interrupted Arabella I mean to gratify your Curiosity sooner but it will not be yet a good time and haply not till you have acquainted me with yours
Mine said Miss Glanville It would not be worth your hearing for really I have nothing to tell that would make an History
You have questionless returned Arabella gained many Victories over Hearts have occasioned many Quarrels between your Servants by favouring some one more than the others Probably you have caused some Bloodshed and have not escaped being carried away once or twice You have also I suppose undergone some Persecution from those who have the Disposal of you in Favour of a Lover whom you have an Aversion to and lastly there is haply some one among your Admirers who is happy enough not to be hated by you
I assure you interrupted Miss Glanville I hate none of my Admirers and I cant help thinking you very unkind to use my Brother as you do I am sure there is not one Man in an hundred that would take so much from your Hands as he does
Then there is not one Man in an hundred resumed Arabella whom I should think worthy to serve me But pray Madam What ill Usage is it your Brother complains of I have treated him with much less Severity than he had Reason to expect and notwithstanding he had the Presumption to talk to me of Love I have endured him in my Sight an Indulgence for which I may haply be blamed in Afterages
Why sure Lady Bella said Miss Glanville it would be no such Crime for my Brother to love you
But it was a mortal Crime to tell me so interrupted Arabella
And why was it such a mortal Crime to tell you so said Miss Glanville Are you the first Woman by Millions that has been told so
Doubtless returned Arabella I am the first Woman of my Quality that ever was told so by any Man till after an infinite Number of Services and secret Sufferings And truly I am of the illustrious Mandanas Mind for she said That she should think it an unpardonable Presumption for the greatest King on Earth to tell her he loved her tho after Ten Years of the most faithful Services and concealed Torments
Ten Years cried out Miss Glanville in Amazement Did she consider what Alterations ten Years would make in her Face and how much older she would be at the End of Ten Years than she was before
Truly said Arabella it is not usual to consider such little Matters so nicely one never has the Idea of an Heroine older than Eighteen tho her History begins at that Age and the Events which compose it contain the Space of Twenty more
But dear Cousin resumed Miss Glanville do you resolve to be Ten Years a courting Or rather will you be loved in Silence Ten Years and be courted the other Ten and so marry when you are an old Woman
Pardon me Cousin resumed Arabella I must really find Fault with the Coarseness of your Language Courting and Old Woman What strange Terms Let us I beseech you end this Dispute If you have any thing to say in Justification of your Brother which I suppose was the chief Intention of your Visit I shall not be rude enough to restrain you tho I could wish you would not lay me under the Necessity
of hearing what I cannot persuade myself to believe
Since returned Miss Glanville I know of no Crime my Brother has been guilty of I have nothing to say in his Justification I only know that he is very much mortified at the Message you sent him this Morning for I was with him when he received it But pray What has he done to offend you
If Mr Glanville interrupted Arabella hopes for my Pardon he must purchase it by his Repentance and a sincere Confession of his Fault which you may much better understand from himself than from me And for this Purpose I will condescend to grant him a private Audience at which I desire you would be present and also I should take it well if you will let him know that he owes this Favour wholly to your Interposition
Miss Glanville who knew her Brother was extremely desirous of seeing Arabella was glad to accept of these strange Terms and left her Chamber in order to acquaint him with that Ladys Intentions
A solemn Interview
IN the mean time that Fairone being risen and negligently dressed as was her Custom went into her Closet sending to give Miss
Glanville Notice That she was ready to see her This Message immediately brought both the Brother and the Sister to her Apartment And Miss Glanville at her Brothers Request staying in the Chamber where she busied herself in looking at her Cousins Jewels which lay upon the Toilet he came alone into the Closet in so much Confusion at the Thoughts of the ridiculous Figure he made in complying with Arabellas fantastical Humours that his Looks persuading her there was some great Agitation in his Mind she expected to see him fall at her Feet and endeavour to deprecate her Wrath by a Deluge of Tears
Mr Glanville however disappointed her in that respect for taking a Seat near her he began to intreat her with a smiling Countenance to tell him in what he had offended her protesting that he was not conscious of doing or saying any thing to displease her
Arabella was greatly confused at this Question which she thought she had no Reason to expect it not being possible for her to tell him she was offended that he was not in absolute Despair for her Absence without at the same time confessing she looked upon him in the Light of a Lover whose Expressions of a violent Passion would not have displeased her Therefore to disengage herself from the Perplexity his Question threw her into she was obliged to offer some Violence to her Ingenuousness and contrary to her real Belief tax him again with a Design of betraying her into the Power of the Unknown
Mr Glanville tho excessively vexed at her persisting in so ridiculous an Error could hardly
help smiling at the stern Manner in which she spoke but knowing of what fatal Consequence it would be to him if he indulged any Gaiety in so solemn a Conference he composed his Looks to a Gravity suitable to the Occasion and asked her in a very submissive Tone What Motive she was pleased to assign for so extraordinary a Piece of Villainy as that she supposed him guilty of
Truly answered she blushing I do not pretend to account for the Actions of wicked and ungenerous Persons
But Madam resumed Glanville if I must needs be suspected of a Design to seize upon your Person methinks it would have been more reasonable to suppose I would rather use that Violence in Favour of my own Pretensions than those of any other whatever for tho you have expresly forbid me to tell you I love you yet I hope you still continue to think I do
I assure you returned Arabella assuming a severe Look I never gave myself the Trouble to examine your Behaviour with Care enough to be sensible if you still were guilty of the Weakness which displeased me but upon a Supposition that you repented of your Fault I was willing to live with you upon Terms of Civility and Friendship as became Persons in that Degree of Relationship in which we are Therefore if you are wise you will not renew the Remembrance of those Follies I have long since pardoned nor seek Occasions of offending me by new ones of the same kind lest it produce a more severe Sentence than that I formerly laid upon you
However Madam returned Mr Glanville you must suffer me to assure you That my own Interest which was greatly concerned in your Safety and my Principles of Honour would never allow me to engage in so villainous an Enterprize as that of abetting any Person in stealing you away Nor can I conceive how you possibly could imagine a Fellow who was your menial Servant could form so presumptuous and dangerous a Design
By your Manner of speaking resumed Arabella one would imagine you were really ignorant both of the Quality of that presumptuous Man as well as his designed Offence But yet tis certain I saw you in his Company and saw you ready to draw your Sword in his Defence against my Deliverer Had I not the Evidence of my own Senses for your Guilt I must confess I could not be persuaded of it by any other Means Therefore since Appearances are certainly against you it is not strange if I cannot consent to acquit you in my Apprehenons till I have more certain Confirmation of your Innocence than your bare Testimony only which at present has not all the Weight with me it had some time ago
I protest Madam said Mr Glanville who was strangely perplexed I have Reason to think my Case extremely hard since I have brought myself to be suspected by you only through my Eagerness to find you and Solicitude for your Welfare
Doubtless interrupted Arabella if you are innocent your Case is extremely hard yet it is not singular and therefore you have
less Reason to complain The valiant Coriolanus who was the most passionate and faithful Lover imaginable having by his admirable Valour assisted the Ravishers of his adored Cleopatra against those who came to rescue her and by his Arm alone opposed to great Numbers of their Enemies facilitated the Execuion of their Design had the Mortification afterwards to know that he had all that time been fighting against that Divine Princess who loaded him with the most cruel Reproaches for the Injury he had done her Yet Fortune was so kind as to give him the Means of repairing his Fault and restoring him to some Part of her good Opinion for covered with Wounds as he was and fatigued with fighting before yet he undertook in that Condition to prevent her Ravishers from carrying her off and for several Hours continued fighting alone with near Two hundred Men who were not able to overcome him notwithstanding his extreme Weariness and the Multitude of Blows which they aimed at him Therefore Glanville considering you as Cleopatra did that unfortunate Prince who was before suspected by her as neither guilty nor innocent I can only like her wish you may find some Occasion of justifying yourself from the Crime laid to your Charge Till then I must be under a Necessity of banishing you from my Presence with the same consolatory Speech she used to that unfortunate PrinceÑ
Go therefore Glanville go and endeavour your own Justification I desire you should effect it no less than you do yourself and if my Prayers can obtain from
Heaven this Favour for you I shall not scruple to offer some in your behalf
In which the Interview is ended not much to the Lovers Satisfaction but exactly conformable to the Rules of Romance
ARABELLA when she had pronounced these Words blushed excessively thinking she had said too much But not seeing any Signs of extreme Joy in the Face of Glanville who was silently cursing Cleopatra and the Authors of those Romances that had ruined so noble a Mind and exposed him to perpetual Vexations by the unaccountable Whims they had raisedÑWhy are you not gone said she while I am in an Humour not to repent of the Favour I have shewn you
You must excuse me Cousin said Mr Glanville peevishly if I do not think so highly as you do of the Favour Pray how am I obliged to you for depriving me of the Pleasure of seeing you and sending me on a Wildgoose Chace after Occasions to justify myself of a Crime I am wholly innocent of and would scorn to commit
Though resumed Arabella with great Calmness I have Reason to be dissatisfied with the cool and unthankful manner in which you receive
my Indulgence yet I shall not change the favourable Disposition I am in towards you unless you provoke me to it by new Acts of Disobedience Therefore in the Language of Cleopatra I shall tell youÑ
Upon my Soul Madam interrupted Glanville I have no Patience with that rigorous Gipsy whose Example you follow so exactly to my Sorrow Speak in your own Language I beseech you for I am sure neither hers nor any ones upon Earth can excel it
Yet said Arabella striving to repress some Inclination to smile at this Sally notwithstanding your unjust Prohibitions I shall make use of the Language of that incomparable Lady to tell you my Thoughts which are That tis possible you might be sufficiently justified in my Apprehensions by the Anxiety it now appears you had for my Safety by the Probability which I find in your Discourse and the good Opinion I have of you were it not requisite to make your Innocence apparent to the World that so it might be lawful for Arabella to readmit you with Honour into her former Esteem and Friendship
Mr Glanville seeing it would be in vain to attempt to make her alter her fantastical Determination at this time went out of the Closet without deigning to make any Reply to his Sentence though delivered in the Language of the admirable Cleopatra But his ill Humour was so visible in his Face that Arabella who mistook it for an Excess of Despair could not help feeling some kind of Pity for the Rigour which the Laws of Honour and Romance
obliged her to use him with And while she sat meditating upon the Scene which had just passed Mr Glanville returned to his own Room glad that his Sister not being in Arabellas Chamber where he had left her had no Opportunity of observing his Discontent which she would not fail to inquire the Cause of
Here he sat ruminating upon the Follies of Arabella which he found grew more glaring every Day Every thing furnished Matter for some new Extravagance her Character was so ridiculous that he could propose nothing to himself but eternal Shame and Disquiet in the Possession of a Woman for whom he must always blush and be in Pain But her Beauty had made a deep Impression on his Heart He admired the Strength of her Understanding her lively Wit the Sweetness of her Temper and a Thousand amiable Qualities which distinguished her from the rest of her Sex Her Follies when opposed to all those Charms of Mind and Person seemed inconsiderable and weak and though they were capable of giving him great Uneasiness yet they could not lessen a Passion which every Sight of her so much the more confirmed
As he seared it was impossible to help loving her his Happiness depended upon curing her of her romantic Notions and though he knew not how to effect such a Change in her as was necessary to complete it yet he would not despair but comsorted himself with Hopes of what he had not Courage to attempt Sometimes he fansied Company and an Acquaintance with the World would produce the Alteration
he wished Yet he dreaded to see her exposed to Ridicule by her fantastical Behaviour and become the Jest of Persons who were not possessed of half her Understanding
While he traversed his Chamber wholly engrossed by these Reflections Miss Glanville was entertaining Sir George of whose coming she was informed while she was in Arabellas Chamber
In which our Heroine is greatly disappointed
MISS Glanville supposing her Brother would be glad not to be interrupted in his Conference with Lady Bella did not allow any one to acquaint them with Sir Georges Visit and telling the Baronet her Cousin was indisposed had by these means all his Conversation to herself
Sir George who ardently wished to see Lady Bella protracted his Visit in hopes that he should have that Satisfaction before he went away And that fair Lady whose Thoughts were a little discomposed by the Despair she apprehended Mr Glanville was in and fearful of the Consequences when she had sat some time after he left her ruminating upon what had happened quitted her Closet to go and inquire of Miss Glanville in what Condition his Mind
seemed to be when he went away for she never doubted but that he was gone like Coriolanus to seek out for some Occasion to manifest his Innocence
Hearing therefore the Voice of that Lady who was talking and laughing very loud in one of the Summerparlours and being terrified with the Apprehension that it was her Brother with whom she was thus diverting herself she opened the Door of the Room precipitately and by her Entrance filled Sir George with extreme Pleasure while her unexpected Sight produced a quite contrary Effect on Miss Glanville
Arabella eased of her Fear that it was Mr Glanville who instead of dying with Despair was giving Occasion for that noisy Laugh of his Sister saluted the Baronet with great Civility and turning to Miss Glanville I must needs chide you said she for the Insensibility with which it appears you have parted with your Brother
Bless me Madam interrupted Miss Glanville what do you mean Whither is my Brother gone
That indeed I am quite ignorant of resumed Arabella and I suppose he himself hardly knows what Course he shall take But he has been with you doubtless to take his Leave
Take his Leave repeated Miss Glanville Has he left the Castle so suddenly then and gone away without me
The Enterprize upon which he is gone said Arabella would not admit of a Ladys Company And since he has left so considerable an
Hostage with me as yourself I expect he will not be long before he return and I hope to the Satisfaction of us both
Miss Glanville who could not penetrate into the Meaning of her Cousins Words began to be strangely alarmed But presently supposing she had a mind to divert herself with her Fears she recovered herself and told her she would go up to her Brothers Chamber and look for him
Arabella did not offer to prevent her being very desirous of knowing whether he had not left a Letter for her upon his Table as was the Custom in those Cases And while she was gone Sir George seized the Opportunity of saying an hundred gallant Things to her which she received with great Indifference the most extravagant Compliments being what she expected from all Men And provided they did not directly presume to tell her they loved her no Sort of Flattery or Adulation could displease her
In the mean time Miss Glanville having found her Brother in his Chamber repeated to him what Lady Bella had said as she supposed to fright her
Mr Glanville hearing this and that Sir George was with her hastened to them as fast as possible that he might interrupt the foolish Stories he did not doubt she was telling
Upon Miss Glanvilles Appearance with her Brother Arabella was astonished
I apprehended Sir said she that you were some Miles from the Castle by this time But your Delay and Indifference convince me you
neither expect nor wish to find the means of being justified in my Opinion
Pray Cousin interrupted Glanville speaking softly to her let us leave this Dispute to some other time
No Sir resumed she aloud my Honour is concerned in your Justification Nor is it fit I should submit to have the Appearance of Amity for a Person who has not yet sufficiently cleared himself of a Crime with too much Reason laid to his Charge Did Coriolanus think you act in this manner Ah if he had doubtless Cleopatra would never have pardoned him Nor will I any longer suffer you to give me repeated Causes of Discontent
Sir George seeing Confusion in Mr Glanvilles Countenance and Rage in Arabellas began to think that what he had at first took for a Jest was a serious Quarrel between them at which it was not proper he should be present and was preparing to go When Arabella stopping him with a graceful ActionÑ
If noble Stranger said she you are so partial to the Failings of a Friend that you will undertake to defend any unjustifiable Action he may be guilty of you are at Liberty to depart But if you will promise to be an unprejudiced Hearer of the Dispute between Mr Glanville and myself you shall know the Adventure which has given Rise to it and will be Judge of the Reasonableness of the Commands I have laid on him
Though Madam said Sir George bowing very low to her Mr Glanville is my Friend yet there is no Likelihood I shall espouse his Interest
against yours And a very strong Prepossession I feel in Favour of you already persuades me that I shall give Sentence on your Side since you have honoured me so far as to constitute me Judge of this Difference
The solemn Manner in which Sir George who began to suspect Lady Bellas peculiar Turn spoke this pleased her infinitely while Mr Glanville vexed as he was could hardly forbear laughing When Arabella after a Look of Approbation to Sir George replied
I find I have unwillingly engaged myself to more than I first intended For to enable you to judge clearly of the Matter in Dispute tis necessary you should know my whole History
Mr Glanville at this Word not being able to constrain himself uttered a Groan of the same Nature with those which are often heard in the Pit at the Representation of a new Play Sir George understood him perfectly well yet seemed surprised And Arabella starting up
Since said she I have given you no new Cause of Complaint pray from whence proceeds this Increase of Affliction
I assure you Cousin answered he my Affliction if you please to term it so increases every Day and I believe it will make me mad at last For this unaccountable Humour of yours is not to be borne
You do not seem replied Arabella to be far from Madness already And if your Friend here upon hearing the Passages between us should pronounce you guilty I shall be at a Loss whether I ought to treat you as a Madman or a Criminal Sir added she turning
to Sir George you will excuse me if for certain Reasons I can neither give you my History myself nor be present at the Relation of it One of my Women who is most in my Confidence shall acquaint you with all the Particulars of my Life After which I expect Mr Glanville will abide by your Decision as I assure myself I shall be contented to do
Saying this she went out of the Parlour in order to prepare Lucy for the Recital she was to make
Mr Glanville resolving not to be present at this new Absurdity ran out after her and went into the Garden with a strong Inclination to hate the lovely Visionary who gave him such perpetual Uneasiness leaving his Sister alone with the Baronet who diverted herself extremely with the Thoughts of hearing her Cousins History assuring the Baronet that he might expect something very curious in it and find Matter sufficient to laugh at for she was the most whimsical Woman in the World
Sir George who resolved to profit by the Knowlege of her Foible made very little Reply to Miss Glanvilles Sneers but waited patiently for the promised History which was much longer coming than he imagined
Some curious Instructions for relating an History
ARABELLA as soon as she left them went up to her Apartment and calling Lucy into her Closet told her that she had made Choice of her since she was best acquainted with her Thoughts to relate her History to her Cousins and a Person of Quality who was with them
Sure your Ladyship jests with me said Lucy How can I make a History about your Ladyship
There is no Occasion replied Arabella for you to make a History There are Accidents enough in my Life to afford Matter for a long one All you have to do is to relate them as exactly as possible You have lived with me from my Childhood and are instructed in all my Adventures so that you must be certainly very capable of executing the Task I have honoured you with
Indeed said Lucy I must beg your Ladyship will excuse me I never could tell how to repeat a Story when I have read it and I know it is not such simple Girls as I can tell Histories It is only sit for Clerks and such Sort of People that are very learned
You are learned enough for that Purpose said Arabella and if you make so much Difficulty in performing this Part of your Duty pray how
came you to imagine you were fit for my Service and the Distinction I have favoured you with Did you ever hear of any Woman that refused to relate her Ladys Story when desired Therefore if you hope to possess my Favour and Confidence any longer acquit yourself handsomely of this Task to which I have preferred you
Lucy terrified at the Displeasure she saw in her Ladys Countenance begged her to tell her what she must say
Well exclaimed Arabella I am certainly the most unfortunate Woman in the World Every thing happens to me in a contrary manner from any other Person Here instead of my desiring you to soften those Parts of my History where you have greatest room to flatter and to conceal if possible some of those Disorders my Beauty has occasioned you ask me to tell you what you must say as if it was not necessary you should know as well as myself and be able not only to recount all my Words and Actions even the smallest and most inconsiderable but also all my Thoughts however instantaneous relate exactly every Change of my Countenance number all my Smiles Halfsmiles Blushes Turnings pale Glances Pauses Fullstops Interruptions the Rise and Falling of my Voice every Motion of my Eyes and every Gesture which I have used for these Ten Years past nor omit the smallest Circumstance that relates to me
Lord bless me Madam said Lucy excessively astonished I never till this Moment it seems knew the hundredth thousandth Part
of what was expected from me I am sure if I had I would never have gone to Service for I might well know I was not fit for such Slavery
There is no such great Slavery in doing all I have mentioned to you interrupted Arabella It requires indeed a good Memory in which I never thought you deficient for you are punctual to the greatest Degree of Exactness in recounting every thing one desires to hear from you
Lucy whom this Praise soothed into good Humour and flattered with a Belief that she was able with a little Instruction to perform what her Lady required told her if she pleased only to put her in a Way how to tell her History she would engage after doing it once to tell it again whenever she was desired
Arabella being obliged to comply with the odd Request for which there was no Precedent in all the Romances her Library was stuffed with began to inform her in this manner
First said she you must relate my Birth which you know is very illustrious and because I am willing to spare you the Trouble of repeating Things that are not absolutely necessary you must apologize to your Hearers for slipping over what passed in my Infancy and the first Eight or Ten Years of my Life not failing however to remark that from some sprightly Sallies of Imagination at those early Years those about me conceived marvellous Hopes of my future Understanding From thence you must proceed to an accurate Description of my Person
What Madam interrupted Lucy must I tell what Sort of Person you have to People who have seen you but a Moment ago
Questionless you must replied Arabella and herein you follow the Examples of all the Squires and Maids who relate their Masters and Ladies Histories For though it be to a Brother or near Relation who has seen them a thousand times yet they never omit an exact Account of their Persons
Very well Madam said Lucy I shall be sure not to forget that Part of my Story I wish I was as perfect in all the rest
Then Lucy you must repeat all the Conversations I have ever held with you upon the Subjects of Love and Gallantry that your Audience may be so well acquainted with my Humour as to know exactly before they are told how I shall behave in whatever Adventures befal meÑAfter that you may proceed to tell them how a noble Unknown saw me at Church how prodigiously he was struck with my Appearance the tumultuous Thoughts that this first View of me occasioned in his MindÑ
Indeed Madam interrupted Lucy again I cant pretend to tell his Thoughts For how should I know what they were None but himself can tell that
However that may be said Arabella I expect you should decypher all his Thoughts as plainly as he himself could do otherwise my History will be very imperfect Well I suppose you are at no loss about that whole Adventure in which you yourself bore so great a Share so
need not give you any further Instructions concerning it Only you must be sure as I said before not to omit the least Circumstance in my Behaviour but relate every thing I did said and thought upon that Occasion The disguised Gardener must appear next in your Story Here you will of necessity be a little deficient since you are not able to acquaint your Hearers with his true Name and Quality which questionless is very illustrious However above all I must charge you not to mention that egregious Mistake about the Carp for you know howÑ
Here Miss Glanvilles Entrance put a Stop to the Instructions Lucy was receiving For she told Arabella that Sir George was gone
How returned she is he gone Truly I am not much obliged to him for the Indifference he has shewed to hear my Story
Why really Madam said Miss Glanville neither of us expected you would be as good as your Word you were so long in sending your Woman down And my Brother persuaded Sir George you were only in Jest and Sir George has carried him home to Dinner
And is it at Sir Georges replied Arabella that your Brother hopes to meet with an Occasion of clearing himself He is either very insensible of my Anger or very conscious of his own Innocence
Miss Glanville having nothing to say in Answer to an Accusation she did not understand changed the Discourse And the two Ladies passed the rest of the Day together with tolerable Goodhumour on Miss Glanvilles Side
who was in great hopes of making a Conquest of the Baronet before whom Arabella had made herself ridiculous enough But that Lady was far from being at Ease she had laid herself under a Necessity of banishing Mr Glanville if he did not give some convincing Proof of his Innocence which as Matters stood she thought would be very hard for him to procure and as she could not absolutely believe him guilty she was concerned she had gone so far
MR Glanville coming home in the Evening a little elevated with the Wine of which he had drank too freely at Sir Georges being told the Ladies were together entered the Room where they were sitting and beholding Arabella whose Pensiveness had given an inchanting Softness to her Face with a Look of extreme AdmirationÑ
Upon my Soul Cousin said he if you continue to treat me so cruelly youll drive me mad How I could adore you this Moment added he gazing passionately at her if I might but hope you did not hate me
Arabella who did not perceive the Condition he was in was better pleased with this Address than any he had ever used and therefore instead
of chiding him as she was wont for the Freedom of his Expressions she cast her bright Eyes upon the Ground with so charming a Confusion that Glanville quite transported threw himself on his Knees before her and taking her Hand attempted to press it to his Lips But she hastily withdrawing itÑ
From whence is this new Boldness said she And what is it you would implore by that prostrate Posture I have told you already upon what Conditions I will grant you my Pardon Clear yourself of being an Accomplice with my designed Ravisher and I am ready to restore you to my Esteem
Let me perish Madam returned Glanville if I would not die to please you this Moment
It is not your Death that I require said she And though you should never be able to justify yourself in my Opinion yet you might haply expiate your Crime by a less Punishment than Death
What shall I do then my Angelic Cousin resumed he
Truly said she the Sense of your Offence ought so mortally to afflict you that you should invent some strange kind of Penance for yourself severe enough to prove your Penitence sincereÑYou know I suppose what the unfortunate Orontes did when he found he had wronged his adored Thalestris by an injurious Suspicion
I wish he had hanged himself said Mr Glanville rising up in a Passion at seeing her again in her Altitudes
And why pray Sir said Arabella are you so severe upon that poor Prince who was haply infinitely more innocent than yourself
Severe Madam said Glanville fearing he had offended her Why to be sure he was a sad Scoundrel to use his adored Thalestris as he did And I think one cannot be too severe upon him
But returned Arabella Appearances were against her and he had some Shadow of Reason for his Jealousy and Rage Then you know amidst all his Transports he could not be prevailed upon to draw his Sword against her
What did that signify said Glanville I suppose he scorned to draw his Sword upon a Woman That would have been a Shame indeed
That Woman Sir resumed Arabella was not such a contemptible Antagonist as you think her And Men as valiant possibly as Orontes though questionless he was one of the most valiant Men in the World have been cut in Pieces by the Sword of that brave Amazon
Lord bless me said Miss Glanville I should be afraid to look at such a terrible Woman I am sure she must be a very masculine Sort of Creature
You are much mistaken Miss said Arabella For Thalestris tho the most stout and courageous of her Sex was nevertheless a perfect Beauty and had as much Harmony and Softness in her Looks and Person as she had Courage in her Heart and Strength in her Blows
Indeed Madam resumed Miss Glanville you can never persuade me that a Woman who can
sight and cut People to Pieces with her Blows can have any Softness in her Person She must needs have very masculine Hands that could give such terrible Blows And I can have no Notion of the Harmony of a Persons Looks who by what you say must have the Heart of a Tyger But indeed I dont think there ever could be such a Woman
What Miss interrupted Arabella Do you pretend to doubt that there ever was such a Person as Thalestris Queen of the Amazons Does not all the World know the Adventures of that illustrious Princess her Affection for the unjust Orontes who accused her of having a scandalous Intrigue with Alexander whom she went to meet with a very different Design upon the Borders of her Kingdom The injurious Letter he wrote her upon this Suspicion made her resolve to seek for him all over the World to give him that Death he had merited by her own Hand And it was in those Rencounters that he had with her while she was thus incensed that he forbore to defend himself against her though her Sword was often pointed to his Breast
But Madam interrupted Mr Glanville pray what became of this Queen of the Amazons Was she not killed at the Siege of Troy
She never was at the Siege of Troy returned Arabella But she assisted the Princes who besieged Babylon to recover the Liberty of Statira and Parisatis And it was in the opposite Party that she met with her faithless Lover
If he was faithless Madam said Mr Glanville he deserved to die And I wish with all
my Soul she had cut him in Pieces with that famous Sword of hers that had done such Wonders
Yet this faithless Man resumed Arabella whom you seem to have such an Aversion to gave so glorious a Proof of his Repentance and Sorrow that the fair Queen restored him to her Favour and held him in much dearer Affection than ever For after he was convinced of her Innocence he was resolved to punish himself with a Rigour equal to the Fault he had been guilty of and retiring to the Woods abandoned for ever the Society of Men dwelling in a Cave and living upon bitter Herbs passing the Days and Nights in continual Tears and Sorrow for his Crime And here he proposed to end his Life had not the fair Thalestris found him out in this Solitude and struck with the Sincerity of his Repentance pardoned him and as I have said before restored him to her Favour
And to shew you said Glanville that I am capable of doing as much for you I will if you insist upon it seek out for some Cave and do Penance in it like that Orontes provided you will come and fetch me out of it as that same fair Queen did him
I do not require so much of you said Arabella for I told you before that haply you are justified already in my Opinion but yet it is necessary you should find out some Method of convincing the World of your Innocence otherwise it is not fit I should live with you upon Terms of Friendship and Civility
Well well Madam said Glanville Ill convince you of my Innocence by bringing that Rascals Head to you whom you suspect I was inclined to assist in stealing you away
If you do that resumed Arabella doubtless you will be iustified in my Opinion and the Worlds also and I shall have no Scruple to treat you with as much Friendship as I did before
My Brother is much obliged to you Madam interrupted Miss Glanville for putting him upon an Action that would cost him his Life
I have so good an Opinion of your Brothers Valour said Arabella that I am persuaded he will find no Difficulty in performing his Promise and I make no question but I shall see him covered with the Spoils of that Impostor who would have betrayed me and I flatter myself he will be in a Condition to bring me his Head as he bravely promises without endangering his own Life
Does your Ladyship consider said Miss Glanville that my Brother can take away no Persons Life whatever without endangering his own
I consider Madam said Arabella your Brother as a Man possessed of Virtue and Courage enough to undertake to kill all my Enemies and Persecutors though I had ever so many and I presume he would be able to perform as many glorious Actions for my Service as either Juba Caesario Artamenes or Artaban who though not a Prince was greater than any of them
If those Persons you have named said Miss Glanville were Murderers and made a Practice of killing People I hope my Brother will be too wise to follow their Examples A strange kind of Virtue and Courage indeed to take away the Lives of ones FellowCreatures How did such Wretches escape the Gallows I wonder
I perceive interrupted Arabella what kind of Apprehensions you have I suppose you think if your Brother was to kill my Enemy the Law would punish him for it But pray undeceive yourself Miss The Law has no Power over Heroes they may kill as many Men as they please without being called to any Account for it and the more Lives they take away the greater is their Reputation for Virtue and Glory The illustrious Artaban from the Condition of a private Man raised himself to the sublimest Pitch of Glory by his Valour for he not only would win half a dozen Battles in a Day but to shew that Victory followed him whereever he went he would change Parties and immediately the Vanquished became Conquerors then returning to the Side he had quitted changed the Laurels of his former Friends into Chains He made nothing of tumbling Kings from their Thrones and giving away half a dozen Crowns in a Morning for his Generosity was equal to his Courage and to this Height of Power did he raise himself by his Sword Beginning at first with petty Conquests and not disdaining to oppose his glorious Arm to sometimes less than a Score of his Enemies so by degrees enuring himself
to conquer inconsiderable Numbers he came at last to be the Terror of whole Armies who would fly at the Sight of his single Sword
This is all very astonishing indeed said Miss Glanville However I must intreat you not to insist upon my Brothers quarrelling and fight¥ng with People since it will be neither for your Honour nor his Safety for I am afraid if he was to commit Murder to please you the Laws would make him suffer for it and the World would be very free with its Censures on your Ladyships Reputation for putting him upon such shocking Crimes
By your Discourse Miss replied Arabella one would imagine you knew as little in what the good Reputation of a Lady consists as the Safety of a Man for certainly the one depends intirely upon his Sword and the other upon the Noise and Bustle she makes in the World The Blood that is shed for a Lady enhances the Value of her Charms and the more Men a Hero kills the greater his Glory and by Consequence the more secure he is If to be the Cause of a great many Deaths can make a Lady infamous certainly none were ever more so than Mandana Cleopatra and Statira the most illustrious Names in Antiquity for each of whom haply an hundred thousand Men were killed Yet none were ever so unjust as to profane the Virtue of those Divine Beauties by casting any Censures upon them for these glorious Effects of their Charms and the heroic Valour of their Admirers
I must confess interrupted Miss Glanville I should not be sorry to have a Duel or Two
fought for me in Hydepark but then I would not have any Blood shed for the World
Glanville here interrupting his Sister with a Laugh Arabella also could not forbear smiling at the harmless Kind of Combats her Cousin was fond of
But to put an End to the Conversation and the Dispute which gave Rise to it she obliged Mr Glanville to promise to fight with the Impostor Edward whenever he found him and either take away his Life or force him to confess he had no Part in the Design he had meditated against her
This being agreed upon Arabella conducting Miss Glanville to her Chamber retired to her own and passed the Night with much greater Tranquillity than she had done the preceding being satisfied with the Care she had taken of her own Glory and persuaded that Glanville was not unfaithful a Circumstance that was of more Consequence to her Happiness than she was yet aware of
In which our Heroine is suspected of Insensibility
WHILE these things passed at the Castle Sir George was meditating on the Means he should use to acquire the Esteem of Lady Bella of whose Person he was a little
enamoured but of her Fortune a great deal more
By the Observations he had made on her Behaviour he discovered her peculiar Turn He was well read in Romances himself and had actually employed himself some Weeks in giving a new Version of the Grand Cyrus but the prodigious Length of the Task he had undertaken terrified him so much that he gave it over Nevertheless he was perfectly well acquainted with the chief Characters in most of the French Romances could tell every thing that was borrowed from them in all the new Novels that came out and being a very accurate Critic and a mortal Hater of Dryden ridiculed him for want of Invention as it appeared by his having recourse to these Books for the most shining Characters and Incidents in his Plays Almanzor he would say was the Copy of the famous Artaban in Cleopatra whose Exploits Arabella had expatiated upon to Miss Glanville and her Brother His admired Character of Melantha in Marriage lamode was drawn from Berissa in the Grand Cyrus and the Story of Osmyn and Bensayda in his Conquest of Granada taken from Sesostris and Timerilla in that Romance
Fraught therefore with the Knowlege of all the Extravagances and Peculiarities in those Books he resolved to make his Addresses to Arabella in the Form they prescribed and not having Delicacy enough to be disgusted with the Ridicule in her Character served himself with her Foible to effect his Designs
It being necessary in order to his better Acquaintance with Arabella to be upon very friendly Terms with Miss Glanville and her Brother he said a thousand gallant Things to one and seemed so little offended with the Gloom he observed upon the Countenance of the other who positively assured him that Arabella meant only to laugh at him when she promised him her History that he intreated him with the most obliging Earnestness to favour him with his Company at his House where he omitted no sort of Civility to confirm their Friendship and Intimacy and persuaded him by several little and seemingly unguarded Expressions that he was not so great an Admirer of Lady Bella as her agreeable Cousin Miss Glanville
Having thus secured a Footing in the Castle he furnished his Memory with all the necessary Rules of making Love in Arabellas Taste and deferred his next Visit no longer than till the following Day but Mr Glanville being indisposed and not able to see Company he knew it would be in vain to expect to see Arabella since it was not to be imagined Miss Glanville could admit of a Visit her Brother being ill and Lady Bella must be also necessarily engaged with her
Contenting himself therefore with having inquired after the Health of the Two Ladies he returned home not a little vexed at his Disappointment
Mr Glanvilles Indisposition increasing every Day grew at last dangerous enough to fill his Sister with extreme Apprehensions Arabella
keeping up to her Forms sent regularly every Day to inquire after his Health but did not offer to go into his Chamber though Miss Glanville was almost always there
As she conceived his Sickness to be occasioned by the Violence of his Passion for her she expected some Overture should be made her by his Sister to engage her to make him a Visit such a Favour being never granted by any Lady to a sick Lover till she was previously informed her Presence was necessary to hinder the Increase of his Distemper
Miss Glanville would not have failed to represent to her Cousin the Incivility and Carelesness of her Behaviour in not deigning to come and see her Brother in his Indisposition had not Mr Glanville imputing this Neglect to the Nicety of her Notions which he had upon other Occasions experienced absolutely forbid her to say any thing to her Cousin upon this Subject
Miss Glanville being thus forced to Silence by the Fear of giving her Brother Uneasiness Arabella was extremely disappointed to find that in Five Days Illness no Application had been made to her either by the sick Lover or his Sister who she thought interested herself too little in his Recovery so that her Glory obliging her to lay some Constraint upon herself she behaved with a Coolness and Insensibility that increased Miss Glanvilles Aversion to her while in Reality she was extremely concerned for her Cousins Illness but not supposing it dangerous since they had not recourse to the usual Remedy of beseeching a
Visit from the Person whose Presence was alone able to work a Cure she resolved to wait patiently the Event
However she never failed in her Respect to Miss Glanville whom she visited every Morning before she went to her Brother and also constantly dined with her in her own Apartment inquiring always with great Sweetness concerning her Brothers Health when perceiving her in Tears one Day as she came in as usual to dine with her she was extremely alarmed and asked with great Precipitation If Mr Glanville was worse
He is so bad Madam returned Miss Glanville that I believe it will be necessary to send for my Papa for fear he should die and he not see him
Die Miss interrupted Arabella eagerly No he must not die and shall not if the Pity of Arabella is powerful enough to make him live Let us go then Cousin said she her Eyes streaming with Tears let us go and visit this dear Brother whom you lament Haply my Sight may repair the Evils my Rigour has caused him and since as I imagine he has forborn through the profound Respect he has for me to request the Favour of a Visit I will voluntarily bestow it on him as well for the Affection I bear you as because I do not wish his Death
You do not wish his Death Madam said Miss Glanville excessively angry at a Speech in her Opinion extremely insolent Is it such a mighty Favour pray not to wish the Death of my Brother who never injured you I am
sure your Behaviour has been so extremely inhuman that I have repented a thousand times we ever came to the Castle
Let us not waste the time in idle Reproaches said Arabella If my Rigour has brought your Brother into this Condition my Compassion can draw him out of it It is no more than what all do suffer who are possessed of a violent Passion and few Lovers ever arrive to the Possession of their Mistresses without being several times brought almost to their Graves either by their Severity or some other Cause But nothing is more easy than to work a Cure in these Cases for the very Sight of the Person beloved sometimes does it as it happened to Artamenes when the Divine Mandana condescended to visit him A few kind Words spoken by the fair Princess of Persia to Oroondates recalled him from the Gates of Death and one Line from Parisatiss Hand which brought a Command to Lysimachus to live made him not only resolve but even able to obey herÑ
Miss Glanville quite out of Patience at this tedious Harangue without any Regard to Ceremony flounced out of the Room and ran to her Brothers Chamber followed by Arabella who imputed her rude Haste to a Suspicion that her Brother was worse
By which we hope the Reader will be differently affected
AT their Entrance into the Room Miss Glanville inquired of the Physician just going out How he found her Brother Who replied that his Fever was increased since last Night and that it would not seeing Arabella preparing to go to his Bedside be proper to disturb him
Saying this he bowd and went out and Miss Glanville repeating what the Physician had said begged her to defer speaking to him till another time
I know said she that he apprehends the Sight of me will cause so many tumultuous Motions in the Soul of his Patient as may prove prejudicial to him Nevertheless since his Disorder is questionless more in his Mind than Body I may prove haply a better Physician than he since I am more likely than he to cure an Illness I have causedÑ
Saying this she walked up to Mr Glanvilles Bedside who seeing her thanked her with a weak Voice for coming to see him assuring her he was very sensible of the Favour she did himÑ
You must not said she blushing thank me too much lest I think the Favour I have done you is really of more Consequence than I imagined since it merits so many Acknowlegements
Your Physician tells us pursued she that your Life is in Danger but I persuade myself you will value it so much from this Moment that you will not protract your Cure any longer
Are you mad Madam whispered Miss Glanville who stood behind her to tell my Brother that the Physician says he is in Danger I suppose you really wish he may die or you would not talk so
If answered she whispering again to Miss Glanville you are not satisfied with what I have already done for your Brother I will go as far as Modesty will permit me And gently pulling open the Curtains
Glanville said she with a Voice too much raised for a sick Persons Ear I grant to your Sisters Solicitations what the fair Statira did to an Interest yet more powerful since as you know it was her own Brother who pleaded in Favour of the dying Orontes Therefore considering you in a Condition haply no less dangerous than that of that passionate Prince I condescend like her to tell you that I do not wish your Death that I intreat you to live and lastly by all the Power I have over you I command you to recover
Ending these Words she closed the Curtain that her transported Lover might not see her Blushes and Confusion which were so great that to conceal them even from Miss Glanville she hurried out of the Room and retired to her own Apartment expecting in a little time to receive a Billet under the sick Mans Hand importing that in Obedience to her
Commands he was recovered and ready to throw himself at her Feet to thank her for that Life she had bestowed upon him and to dedicate the Remains of it to her Service
Miss Glanville who stayed behind her in a strange Surprize at her ridiculous Behaviour though she longed to know what her Brother thought of it finding he continued silent would not disturb him The Shame he conceived at hearing so absurd a Speech from a Woman he passionately loved and the Desire he had not to hear his Sisters Sentiments upon it made him counterfeit Sleep to avoid any Discourse with her upon so disagreeable a Subject
That Day his Fever increased and the next the Physician pronouncing him in great Danger a Messenger was dispatched to Town to hasten the Coming of Sir Charles and poor Miss Glanville was quite inconsoleable under the Apprehensions of losing him
Arabella not to derogate from her Character affected great Firmness of Mind upon this Occasion she used the most persuasive Eloquence to moderate her Cousins Affliction and caused all imaginable Care to be taken of Mr Glanville While any one was present her Looks discovered only a calm and decent Sorrow yet when she was alone or had only her dear Lucy with her she gave free Vent to her Tears and discovered a Grief for Mr Glanvilles Illness little different from that she had felt for her Fathers
As she now visited him constantly every Day she took an Opportunity when she was alone
by his Bedside to chide him for his Disobedience in not recovering as she had commanded him
Dear Cousin answered he faintly Can you imagine Health is not my Choice And do you think I would suffer these Pains if I could possibly ease myself of them
Those Pains replied Arabella mistaking his Complaint ought to have ceased when the Cause of them did and when I was no longer rigorous you ought no longer to have suffered But tell me since you are questionless one of the strangest Men in the World and the hardest to be comforted nay and I may add the most disobedient of all that ever wore the Fetters of Love Tell me I say what must I do to content you
If I live Cousin said GlanvilleÑ
Nay interrupted Arabella since my Empire over you is not so absolute as I thought and since you think fit to reserve to yourself the Liberty of dying contrary to my Desire I think I had better resolve not to make any Treaty with you However as I have gone thus far I will do something more and tell you since I have commanded you to live I will also permit you to love me in order to make the Life I have bestowed on you worthy your Acceptance Make me no Reply said she putting her Hand on his Mouth but begin from this Moment to obey me
Saying this she went out of the RoomÑ
A few Hours after his Fever being come to a Height he grew delirious and talked very wildly but a favourable Crisis ensuing he fell
into a sound and quiet Sleep and continued in it for several Hours Upon his waking the Physician declared his Fever was greatly abated and the next Morning pronounced him out of DangerÑ
Miss Glanville transported with Joy ran to Lady Bella and informed her of this good News but as she did not make her the Acknowledgements she expected for being the Cause of his Recovery she behaved with more Reserve than Miss Glanville thought was necessary Which renewed her former Disgusts yet dreading to displease her Brother she concealed it from the Observation of her CousinÑ
Arabella being desirous of completing her Lovers Cure by some more favourable Expressions went to his Chamber accompanied by Miss Glanville
I see said she approaching to his Bedside with an inchanting Smile that you know how to be obedient when you please and I begin to know by the Price you set upon your Obedience that small Favours will not content you
Indeed my dearest Cousin said Glanville who had found her more interested in his Recovery than he expected you have been very obliging and I will always most gratefully own it
I am glad interrupted Arabella that Gratitude is not banished from all your Family and that that Person in it for whom I have the most Sensibility is not intirely divested of itÑ
I hope said Mr Glanville my Sister has given you no Cause to complain of her
Indeed but she has replied Arabella for notwithstanding she is obliged to me for the Life of a Brother whom questionless she loves very well nevertheless she did not deign to make me the least Acknowledgement for what I have done in your Favour However Glanville provided you continue to observe that Respect and Fidelity towards me which I have Reason to hope for from you your Condition shall be never the worse for Miss Glanvilles unacknowleging Temper and I now confirm the Grant I Yesterday made you and repeat it again That I permit you to love me and promise you not to be displeased at any Testimonies you will give me of your Passion provided you serve me with an inviolable Fidelity
But Madam returned Mr Glanville to make my Happiness complete you must also promise to love me or else what signifies the Permission you give me to love you
You are almost as unacknowleging as your Sister resumed Arabella blushing and if your Health was perfectly reestablished questionless I should chide you for your Presumption but since something must be allowed to sick Persons whose Reason one may suppose is weakened by their Indisposition I will pardon your Indiscretion at this time and counsel you to wait patiently for what Heaven will determine in your Favour Therefore endeavour to merit my Affection by your Respect Fidelity and Services and hope from my Justice whatever it ought to bestowÑ
Ending this Speech with a Solemnity of Accent that gave Mr Glanville to understand
any Reply would offend her he silently kissed her fair Hand which she held out to him a Favour the Terms upon which they now were and his Sickness gave him a Right to expectÑ And finishing her Visit for that time left him to his Repose being extremely pleased at the Prospect of his Recovery and very well satisfied at having so gracefully got over so great a Difficulty as that of giving him Permission to love her For by the Laws of Romance when a Lady has once given her Lover that Permission she may lawfully allow him to talk to her upon the Subject of his Passion accept all his Gallantries and claim an absolute Empire over all his Actions reserving to herself the Right of fixing the Time when she may own her Affection And when that important Step is taken and his Constancy put to a few Years more Trial when he has killed all his Rivals and rescued her from a thousand Dangers she at last condescends to reward him with her Hand and all her Adventures are at an End for the future
END of the THIRD BOOK
In which our Heroine discovers her Knowlege in Astronomy
SIR George who had never missed a Day during Mr Glanvilles Illness in sending to the Castle now he was able to see Company visited him very frequently and sometimes had the Happiness to meet with Arabella in his Chamber But knowing the Conditions of her Fathers Will and Mr Glanvilles Pretensions he was obliged to lay so much Constraint upon himself in the Presence of Miss Glanville and her Brother that
he hardly durst trust his Eyes to express his Admiration of her for Fear of alarming them with any Suspicion of his Designs However he did not fail to recommend himself to her Esteem by a Behaviour to her full of the most perfect Respect and very often ere he was aware uttered some of the extravagant Compliments that the Gallants in the French Romances use to their Mistresses
If he walked with her in the Gardens he would observe that the Flowers which were before languishing and pale bloomed with fresh Beauty at her Approach that the Sun shined out with double Brightness to exceed if possible the Lustre of her Eyes and that the Wind fond of kissing her celestial Countenance played with her fair Hair and by gentle Murmurs declared its HappinessÑ
If Miss Glanville happened to be present when he talked to her in this Strain she would suppose he was ridiculing her Cousins fantastical Turn and when she had an Opportunity of speaking to him alone would chide him with a great deal of good Humour for giving hrr so much Diversion at her Cousins Expence
Sir George improving this Hint persuaded Miss Glanville by his Answers that he really laughed at Arabella and being now less fearful of giving any Suspicion to the gay Coquet since she assisted him to deceive her he applied himself with more Assiduity than ever to insinuate himself into Arabellas Flavour
However the Necessity he was under of being always of Arabellas Opinion sometimes
drew him into little Difficulties with Miss Glanville Knowing that young Lady was extremely fond of Scandal he told her as a most agreeable Piece of News one Afternoon when he was there that he had seen Miss Groves who he supposed had come into the Country upon the same Account as she had done a Twelvemonth before Her Marriage being yet a Secret the complaisant Baronet threw out an Hint or two concerning the Familiarity and Correspondence there was between her and the Gentleman to whom she was really secretly married
Miss Glanville making the most of this Intelligence said a thousand severe Things against the unfortunate Miss Groves which Arabella always benevolent and kind could not bear
I persuade myself said she to her Cousin that you have been misinformed concerning this Beauty whose Misfortunes you aggravate by your cruel Censures and whoever has given you the History of her Life has haply done it with great InjusticeÑ
Why Madam interrupted Miss Glanville do you think you are better acquainted with her History as you call it who have never been in Town where her Follies made her so remarkable than Persons who were Eyewitnesses of all her ridiculous Actions
I apprehend said Arabella that I who have had a Relation made to me of all the Passages of her Life and have been told all her most secret Thoughts may know as much if not more than Persons who have lived in the same Place with her and have not had that Advantage
and I think I know enough to vindicate her from many cruel Aspersions
Pray Madam returned Miss Glanville will your Ladyship pretend to defend her scandalous Commerce with Mr LÑ
I know not Miss said Arabella why you call her Intercourse with that perjured Man by so unjust an Epithet If Miss Groves be unchaste so was the renowned Cleopatra whose Marriage with Julius Caesar is controverted to this Day
And what Reasons Madam said Miss Glanville have you for supposing Miss Groves was married to Mr LÑ since all the World knows to the contrary
Very sufficient ones said Arabella since it is hardly possible to suppose a young Lady of Miss Grovess Quality would stain the Lustre of her Descent by so shameful an Intrigue and also since there are Examples enough to be found of Persons who suffered under the same unhappy Circumstances as herself yet were perfectly innocent as was that great Queen I have mentioned who questionless you Sir are sufficiently convinced was married to that illustrious Conqueror who by betraying so great and so fair a Queen in great measure tarnished the Glory of his LaurelsÑ
Married Madam replied Sir George Who presumes to say that fair Queen was not married to that illustrious Conqueror
Nay you know Sir interrupted Arabella many People did say even while she was living that she was not married and have branded her Memory with infamous Calumnies upon Account of the Son she had by Caesar the brave
Caesario who under the Name of Cleomedon performed such Miracles of Valour in Ethiopia
I assure you Madam said Sir George I was always a great Admirer of the famous Cleomedon who was certainly the greatest Hero in the World
Pardon me Sir said Arabella Cleomedon was questionless a very valiant Man but he and all the Heroes that ever were must give place to the unequalled Prince of Mauritania that illustrious and for a long time unfortunate Lover of the Divine Cleopatra who was Daughter as you questionless know of the great Queen we have been speaking ofÑ
Dear Heart said Miss Glanville What is all this to the Purpose I would fain know whether Sir George believes Miss Groves was ever married to Mr LÑ
Doubtless I do said he for as Lady Bella says she is in the same unhappy Circumstance with the great Cleopatra and if Julius Caesar could be guilty of denying his Marriage with that Queen I see no Reason to suppose why Mr LÑmight not be guilty of the same kind of Injustice
So then interrupted Miss Glanville blushing with Spite you will really offer to maintain that Miss Groves was married Ridiculous How such a Report would be laughed at in London
I assure you replied Arabella if ever I go to London I shall not scruple to maintain that Opinion to every one who will mention that Fairone to me and use all my Endeavours to confirm them in it
Your Ladyship would do well said Miss Glanville to persuade People that Miss Groves at Fifteen did not want to run away with her Writingmaster
As I am persuaded myself said Arabella that Writing master was some noble Stranger in Disguise who was passionately in Love with her I shall not suffer any body in my Hearing to propagate such an unlikely Story but since he was a Person worthy of her Affection if she had run away with him her Fault was not without Example and even Excuse You know what the fair Artemisa did for Alexander Sir pursued she turning to Sir George I would fain know your Sentiments upon the Action of that Princess which some have not scrupled to condemnÑ
Whoever they are Madam said Sir George who condemn the fair Artemisa for what she did for Alexander are Miscreants and Slanderers and though that beautiful Princess has been dead more than Two thousand Years I would draw my Sword in Defence of her Character against all who should presume in my Presence to cast any Censures upon it
Since you are so courageous said Miss Glanville laughing excessively at this Sally which she thought was to ridicule her Cousin it is to be hoped you will defend a living Ladys Character who may thank you for it and make the World believe that her Correspondence with Mr LÑwas intirely innocent and that she never had any Design to run away with her Writingmaster
Are you resolved Cousin said Lady Bella to persist in that ridiculous Mistake and take a Nobleman for a Writingmaster only because his Love put him upon such a Stratagem to obtain his Mistress
Indeed Lady Bella said Miss Glanville smileing you may as well persuade me the Moon is made of a Cream Cheese as that any Nobleman turned himself into a Writingmaster to obtain Miss GrovesÑ
Is it possible Miss said Arabella that you can offer such an Affront to my Understanding as to suppose I would argue upon such a ridiculous System and compare the Second glorious Luminary of the Heavens to so unworthy a Resemblance I have taken some Pains to contemplate the Heavenly Bodies and by Reading and Observation am able to comprehend some Part of their Excellence Therefore it is not probable I should descend to such trivial Comparisons and liken a Planet which haply is not much less than our Earth to a thing so inconsiderable as that you nameÑ
Pardon me dear Cousin interrupted Miss Glanville laughing louder than before if I divert myself a little with the Extravagance of your Notions Really I think you have no Reason to be angry if I supposed you might make a Comparison between the Moon and a Cream Cheese since you say that same Moon which dont appear broader than your Gardeners Face is not much less than the whole World Why certainly I have more Reason to trust my own Eyes than such whimsical Notions as these
Arabella unwilling to expose her Cousins Ignorance by a longer Dispute upon this Subject begged her to let it drop for the present and turning to Sir George I am very glad said she that having always had some Inclination to excuse and even defend the Flight of Artemisa with Alexander my Opinion is warranted by that of a Person so generous as yourself Indeed when we consider that this Princess forsook her Brothers Dominions and fled away with a Lover whom she did not hate questionless her Enemies accuse her with some Appearance of Reason of too great Imbecillity
But Madam replied Sir George her Enemies will not take the Pains to examine her Reasons for this ConductÑ
True Sir resumed Arabella for she was in Danger of seeing a Prince who loved her put to a cruel and infamous Death upon a public Scaffold and she did not resolve to fly with him till all her Tears and Prayers were found ineffectual to move the King her Brother to Mercy
Tho replied Sir George I am extremely angry with the indiscreet Cepio who discovered Alexander to the Armenian King yet what does your Ladyship think of that gallant Action of his when he saw him upon the Scaffold and the Executioner ready to cut off his Head How brave it was of him to pass undauntedly thro the prodigious Number of Guards that environed the Scaffold and with his drawn Sword run the Executioner throughthe Body in the Sight of them all Then giving the Prince another
Sword engage more than Two thousand Men in his Defence
Questionless replied Arabella it was a glorious Action and when I think how the King of Armenia was enraged to see such a Multitude of Soldiers fly from the Swords of Two Men I cannot choose but divert myself with the Consternation he was in Yet that was nothing to the horrible Despair which tormented him afterwards when he found that Alexander after being again taken and imprisoned had broken his Chains and carried away with him the Princess Artimesa his Sister
In which a very pleasing Conversation is left unfinished
AS Arabella was in this Part of her Discourse a Servant came to inform her that Sir Charles Glanville was just alighted Upon which Miss Glanville flew to receive her Father and Arabella walking a little slower after her gave Sir George an Opportunity of holding a little longer Conversation with her
I dare believe Madam said he when you read the Story of the unfortunate Alexander your fair Eyes did not refuse to shed some Tears at the barbarous and shameful Death he was going to suffer Yet I assure you melancholy as his Situation was it was also very
glorious for him since he had the sublime Satisfaction of dying for the Person he adored and had the ravishing Pleasure to know that his Fate would draw Tears from that lovely Princess for whom he sacrificed his Life Such a Condition Madam ought to be envied rather than pitied for next to the Happiness of possessing the Person one adores certainly the Glory of dying for her is most to be coveted
Arabella pleasingly surprised to hear Language so conformable to her own Ideas looked for a Moment upon the Baronet with a most inchanting Complaisancy in her EyesÑ
It must be confessed Sir said she that you speak very rationally upon these Matters and by the Tenderness and Generosity of your Sentiments you give me Cause to believe that your Heart is prepossessed with some Object worthy of inspiring them
Sir George seeming as if he struggled to suppress a Sigh You are in the right Madam said he to suppose that if my Heart be prepossessed with any Object it is with one who is capable of inspiring a very sublime Passion and I assure you if ever it submits to any Fetters they shall be imposed on me by the fairest Person in the WorldÑ
Since Love is not voluntary replied Arabella smiling it may happen that your Heart may be surprised by a meaner Beauty than such a one as you describe However as a Lover has always an extraordinary Partiality for the beloved Object tis probable what you say may come to pass and you may be
in Love with the fairest Person in the World in your own Opinion
They were now so near the House that Sir George could reply no other ways than by a very passionate Glance which Arabella did not observe being in haste to pay her Respects to her Uncle whom she met just going to Mr Glanville Her Looks were directed to him Sir Charles saluting her with great Affection they all went into Mr Glanvilles Chamber who received his Father with the utmost Respect and Tenderness extremely regretting the Trouble he had been at in taking a Journey to the Castle upon his Account and gently blaming his Sister for her Precipitancy in alarming him so soon
Sir Charles extremely overjoyed to find him so well recovered would not allow him to blame Miss Glanville for what she had done but addressing himself to his Niece he thanked her for the Care she had taken of Mr Glanville in very obliging Terms
Arabella could not help blushing at her Uncles Compliment supposing he thanked her for having restored her Cousin to his Health
I assure you Sir said she Mr Glanville is less obliged to my Commands than to the Goodness of his Constitution for his Recovery and herein he was not so obedient as many Persons I could name to him
Mr Glanville willing to prevent the Companys Observation upon this Speech began to acquaint his Father with the Rise and Progress of his Distemper But though the old Gentleman listened with great Attention to his
Son while he was speaking yet not having lost a Word of what Arabella had said as soon as he was done he turned to his Niece and asked her how she could be so unjust to accuse his Son of Disobedience because he did not recover when she commanded him Why Madam added he you want to carry your Power farther then ever any Beauty did before you since you pretend to make People sick and well whenever you please
Really Sir replied Arabella I pretend to no more Power than what I presume all others of my Sex have upon the like Occasions and since nothing is more common than for a Gentleman though ever so sick to recover in Obedience to the Commands of that Person who has an absolute Power over his Life I conceive I have a Right to think myself injured if Mr Glanville contrary to mine had thought proper to dieÑ
Since said the old Gentlemen smiling my Son has so well obeyed your Commands in recovering his Health I shall tremble lest in Obedience to a contrary Command of yours he should die and deprive me of an Heir a Misfortune which if it should happen I should place to your Account
I assure you Sir said Arabella very gravely I have too great an Esteem for Mr Glanville to condemn him to so severe a Punishment as Death for light Offences And since it is not very probable that he will ever commit such Crimes against me as can be only expiated by his Death such as Infidelity Disobedience
and the like you have no Reason to fear such a Misfortune by my meansÑ
Alas replied Sir George you Beauties make very nice Distinctions in these Cases and think if you do not directly command your Lovers to die you are noways accountable for their Death And when a Lover as it often happens dies through Despair of ever being able to make himself beloved or being doomed to Banishment or Silence falls into a Fever from which nothing but Kindness can recover him and that being denied he patiently expires ¥ say when these Things happen as they certainly do every Day How can you hold your selves guiltless of their Deaths which are apparently occasioned either by your Scorn or Insensibility
Sir Charles and Miss Glanville were extremely diverted at this Speech of Sir Georges and Mr Glanville though he would have wished he had been raillying any other Persons Follies than his Cousins yet could not help smiling at the solemn Accent in which he delivered himselfÑ
Arabella mightily pleased with his Manner of talking was resolved to furnish him with more Occasions of diverting the Company at her Expence
I see answered she you are one of those Persons who call a just Decorum which all Ladies who love Glory as they ought to do are obliged to preserve by the Name of Severity But pray what would you have a Lady do whom an importunate Lover presumes to declare his Passion to You know it is not permitted
us to listen to such Discourses and you know also whoever is guilty of such an Offence merits a most rigorous Punishment Moreover you find that when a Sentence of Banishment or Silence is pronounced upon them these unhappy Criminals are so conscious of the of Justice their Doom that they never murmur against their Judge who condemns them and therefore whatever are their Fates in Consequence of that Anger they have incurred the Ladies thus offended ought not to be charged with it as any cruel Exertion of their Power
Such Eloquence as yours Madam replied Sir George might defend Things yet more unjustifiable However you must give me Leave as being interested in the Safety of my Sex still to be of Opinion that no Man ought to be hated because he adores a beautiful Object and consecrates all his Moments to her Service
Questionless resumed Arabella he will not be hated while out of the Respect and Reverence he bears her he carefully conceals his Passion from her Knowlege but as soon as ever he breaks through the Bounds which that Respect prescribes him and lets her understand his true Sentiments he has Reason to expect a most rigorous Sentence since he certainly by that Presumption has greatly deserved it
If the Ladies replied Sir George were more equitable and would make some Distinction between those who really love them in a passionate and respectful Silence and others who do not feel the Power of their Charms they might spare themselves the Trouble of hearing
what so mortally offends them But when a Lady sees a Man every Day who by his Looks Sighs and Solicitude to please her by his numberless Services and constant Attendance of her makes it evident that his Soul is possessed with a violent Passion for her I say when a Lady sees and yet will not see all this and persists in using a passionate Adorer with all the Indifference due to a Man wholly insensible of the Power of her Charms what must he do in such a mortifying Situation but make known his Torments to her that occasions them in order to prevail upon her to have some Sense of what he does and feels hourly for her sake
But since he gains nothing by the Discovery of his Passion resumed Arabella but on the contrary loses the Advantages he was before possessed of which were very great since he might see and discourse with his Mistress every Day and haply have the Honour to do her a great many petty Services and receive some of her Commands all these Advantages he loses when he declares he loves And truly I think a Man who is so unwise as to hazard a certain Happiness for a very improbable Hope deserves to be punished as well for his Folly as Presumption and upon both these Accounts Banishment is not too rigorous a Sentence
Definition of Love and BeautyÑThe necessary Qualities of a Hero and Heroine
THOUGH replied Mr Glanville you are very severe in the Treatment you think it necessary our Sex should receive from yours yet I wish some of our Town Beauties were if not altogether of your Opinion yet sufficiently so as to make it not a Slavery for a Man to be in their Company for unless one talks of Love to these fair Conquets the whole time one is with them they are quite displeased and look upon a Man who can think any thing but themselves worthy his Thoughts or Observation with the utmost Contempt How often have you and I Sir George pursued he pitied the Condition of the few Men of Sense who are sometimes among the Croud of Beaux who attend the Two Sister Beauties to all Places of polite Diversion in Town For those Ladies think it a mortal Injury done to their Charms if the Men about them have Eyes or Ears for any Object but their Faces or any Sound but that of their Voices So that the Connoisseurs in Music who attend them to Ranelagh must stop their Ears like Ulysses when the Siren Frasi sings and the Wits who gallant them to the Side box must lay a much greater Constraint upon themselves in order to
resist the Soulmoving Garrick and appear insensible while he is upon the Stage
Upon my Soul added Sir George forgetting the Character he assumed when I have seen some Persons of my Acquaintance talking to the eldest of these Ladies while one of Congreves Comedies has been acting his Face quite turned from the Stage and hers overspread with an eternal Smile her fine Eyes sometimes lifted up in a beautiful Surprize and a little inchanting Giggle halfhid with her Fan in spite of their Inattention I have been ready to imagine he was entertaining her with Remarks upon the Play which she was judicious enough to understand and yet I have afterwards been informed by himself that nothing was less in their Thoughts and all that Variety in her Face and that extreme seeming Earnestness in his Discourse was occasioned by the most trifling Subjects imaginable He perhaps had been telling her how the Sight of her Squirrel which peeped out of her Pocket surprised some Ladies she was visiting and what they said upon her Pondness for it when she was gone blaming them at the same time for their want of Delicacy in not knowing how to set a right Value upon such pleasing Animals Hence proceeded her Smiles the lifting up of her Eyes the halfstifled Laugh and all the pretty Gestures that appeared so wonderfully charming to all those who did not hear their Discourse And it is upon such Trifies as these or else on the inexhaustible Subject of their Charms that all who are ambitious
of being near these Miracles are under a Necessity of talking
And pray interrupted Arabella What Subjects afford Matter for a more pleasing Variety of Conversation than those of Beauty and Love Can we speak of any Object so capable of delighting as Beauty or of any Passion of the Mind more sublime and pleasing than Love
With Submission Madam said Glanville I conceive all that can be said either of Beauty or of Love may be comprised in a very few Words All who have Eyes and behold true Beauty will be ready to confess it is a very pleasing Object and all that can be said of it may be said in very few Words for when we have run over the Catalogue of Charms and mentioned fine Eyes fine Hair delicate Complexion regular Features and an elegant Shape we can only add a few Epithets more such as Lovely Dangerous Inchanting Inresistible and the like and every thing that can be said of Beauty is exhausted And so likewise it is with Love we know that Admiration precedes it that Beauty kindles it Hope keeps it alive and Despair puts an End to it and that Subject may be as soon discussed as the other by the judicious Use of proper Words such as Wounds Darts Fires Languishings Dyings Torture Rack Jealousy and a few more of no Signification but upon th¥s Subject
Certainly Sir said Arabella you have not well considered what you say since you maintain that Love and Beauty are Subjects easily and quickly discussed Take the Pains I beseech you to reflect a little upon those numerous and
long Conversations which these Subjects have given Rise to in Clelia and the Grand Cyrus where the most illustrious and greatest Personages in the World manage the Disputes and the agreeable Diversity of their Sentiments on those Heads affords a most pleasing and rational Entertainment You will there find that the greatest Conquerors and Heroes of invincible Valour reason with the most exact and scrupulous Nicety upon Love and Beauty the Superiority of fair and brown Hair controverted by Warriors with as much Eagerness as they dispute for Victory in the Field and the different Effects of that Passion upon different Hearts defined with the utmost Accuracy and Eloquence
I must own interrupted Sir Charles I should have but a mean Opinion of those Warriors as you call them who could busy themselves in talking of such Trifles and be apt to imagine such insignificant Fellows who could wrangle about the Colour of their Mistresses Hair would be the first to turn their Backs upon the Enemy in Battle
Is it possible Sir resumed Arabella glowing with Indignation that you can entertain such unworthy Thoughts of Heroes who merit the Admiration and Praise of all Ages for their inestimable Valour whom the Spears of a whole Army opposed to each of their single Swords would not oblige to fly What think you Sir pursued she looking at Sir George of the injurious Words my Uncle has uttered against those heroic Princes whose Courage I believe you are as well acquainted with as myself
The great Oroondates the invincible Artaban the valiant and fortunate Artamenes the irresistible Juba the incomparable Cleomedon and an hundred other Heroes I could name are all injured by this unjust Assertion of my Uncle since certainly they were not more famous for their noble and wonderful Actions in War than for the Sublimity and Constancy of their Affections in Love
Some of these Heroes you have named replied Sir George had the Misfortune even in their Lives to be very cruelly vilified The great Oroondates was a long time accused of Treachery to his Divine Princess the valiant and unfortunate Artamenes was suspected of Inconstancy and the irresistible Juba reproached with Infidelity and Baseness by both his Mistress and Friend
I never knew you was so well acquainted with these Persons interrupted Mr Glanville and I fansy it is but very lately that you have given yourself the Trouble to read Romances
I am not of your Opinion said Arabella Sir George questionless has appropriated great Part of his Time to the Perusal of those Books so capable of improving him in all useful Knowlege the Sublimity of Love and the Quintessence of Valour which Two Qualities if possessed in a superlative Degree form a true and perfect Hero as the Perfection of Beauty Wit and Virtue make a Heroine worthy to be served by such an illustrious Personage and I dare say Sir George has profited so much by the great Examples of Fidelity and Courage he has placed before his Eyes that no Consideration
whatever could make him for one Moment fail in his Constancy to the Divine Beauty he adores and inspired by her Charms he would scorn to turn his Back as my Uncle phrases it upon an Army of an hundred thousand Men
I am extremely obliged to you Madam said Sir George bowing his Head to the Ground to hide a Smile he could not possibly restrain for the good Opinion you have of my Courage and Fidelity
As for Sir Georges Courage Cousin said Mr Glanville laughing I never disputed it And though it be indeed a very extraordinary Exertion of it to fight singly against an Army of an hundred thousand Men yet since you are pleased to think it probable I am as willing to believe Sir George may do it as any other Man but as for his Fidelity in Matters of Love I greatly suspect it since he has been charged with some very flagrant Crimes of that Nature
How Sir resumed Arabella Have you ever been faithless then and after having sworn haply to devote your whole Life to the Service of some Beauty have you ever violated your Oaths and been base enough to forsake her
I have too much Complaisance Madam said Sir George to contradict Mr Glanville who has been pleased positively to assert that I have been faithless as you most unkindly phrase it
Nay Sir replied Arabella this Accusation is not of a Nature to be neglected and though a King should say it I conceive if you are innocent you have a Right to contradict him
and clear yourself Do you consider how deeply this Assertion wounds your Honour and Happiness for the future What Lady think you will receive your Services loaded as you are with the terrible Imputation of Inconstancy
Oh as for that Madam said Miss Glanville I believe no Lady will think the worse of Sir George for being faithless For my Part I declare nothing pleases me so much as gaining a Lover from another Lady which is a greater Compliment to ones Beauty then the Addresses of a Man that never was in Love beforeÑ
You may remember Cousin replied Arabella that I said once before your Spirit and Humour resembled a certain great Princess very much and I repeat it again never was there a greater Conformity in Tempers and Inclinations
My Daughter said Sir Charles is mightily obliged to you Lady Bella for comparing her to a great Princess Undoubtedly you mean it as a Compliment
If you think said Arabella that barely comparing her to a Princess be a Compliment I must take the Liberty to differ from you My Cousin is not so many Degrees below a Princess as that such a Comparison should be thought extraordinary for if her Ancestors did not wear a Crown they might haply have deserved it and her Beauty may one Day procure her a Servant whose Sword like that of the great Artaban may win her a Sceptre who with a noble Confidence told his Princess when the Want of a Crown was objected to him I wear
a Sword Madam than can perform things more difficult that what you require and if a Crown be all that I want to make me worthy of you tell me what Kingdom in the World you choose to reign in and I will lay it at your Feet
That was a Promise replied Sir George fit only for the great Artaban to make But Madam if you will permit me to make any Comparison between that renowned Warrior and myself I would venture to tell you that even the great Artaban was not exempted from the Character of Inconstancy any more than myself since as you certainly know he was in Love with Three great Princesses successively
I grant you replied Arabella that Artaban did wear the Chains of Three Princesses successively But it must also be remembred in his Justification that the Two First of these Beauties refused his Adorations and treated him with Contempt because he was not a Prince Therefore recovering his Liberty by those Disdains they cast on him he preserved that illustrious Heart from Despair to tender it with more passionate Fidelity to the Divine Princess of the Parthians who though greatly their Superior in Quality and Beauty did permit him to love her However I must confess I find something like Levity in the Facility he found in breaking his Fetters so often and when I consider that among all those great Heroes whose Histories I have read none but himself ever bore without dying the Cruelties he experienced from those Princesses I am sometimes tempted to accuse him myself of Inconstancy
But indeed every thing we read of that Prodigy of Valour is wholly miraculous and since the Performance of Impossibilities was reserved for him I conclude this Miracle also among many others was possible to him whom nothing was ever able to resist upon Earth However pursued she rising I shall not absolutely condemn you till I have heard your Adventures from your own Mouth at a convenient Time when I shall be able to judge how far you merit the odious Appellation of Inconstancy
Saying this she saluted her Uncle who had for some time been conversing in a low Voice with his Son with a Grace wholly charming and retired to her Apartment Miss Glanville following her a few Moments after the Compliment extravagant as it was which she had paid her having procured her some Goodwill from the vain and interested Miss Glanville they conversed together with a great deal of good Humour till Dinnertime which because Mr Glanville was not absolutely recovered was served in his Chamber
In which our Heroine is engaged in a new Adventure
AS Mr Glanville took a great deal of Pains to turn the Discourse upon Subjects on which the charming Arabella could expatiate
without any Mixture of that Absurdity which mingled itself in a great many others the rest of that Day and several others were passed very agreeably At the End of which Mr Glanville being perfectly recovered and able to go abroad the Baronet proposed to take the Diversion of Hunting which Arabella who was used to it consented to partake of but being informed that Miss Glanville could not ride and chose to stay at home she would have kept her Company had not Sir Charles insisted upon the contrary
As Sir George and some other Gentlemen had invited themselves to be of the Party Arabella on her coming down to mount her Horse found a great many young Gallants ready to offer her their Assistance upon this Occasion Accepting therefore with great Politeness this Help from a Stranger who was nearest her she mounted her Horse giving Occasion to every one that was present to admire the Grace with which she sat and managed him Her Shape being as perfect as any Shape could possibly be her Ridinghabit discovered all its Beauties Her Hat and the white Feather waving over Part of her fine black Hair gave a peculiar Charm to her lovely Face And she appeared with so many Advantages in this Dress and Posture that Mr Glanville forgetting all her Absurdities was wholly lost in the Contemplation of so many Charms as her whole Person was adorned with
Sir George though he really admired Arabella was not so passionately in Love as Mr Glanville and being a keen Sportsman eagerly pursued
the Game with the rest of the Hunters but Mr Glanville minded nothing but his Cousin and kept close by her
After having rode a long time Arabella conceiving it a Piece of Cruelty not to give her Lover an Opportunity of talking to her as by his extreme Solicitude he seemed ardently to desire coming to a delightful Valley she stopped and told Mr Glanville that being weary of the Chace she should alight and repose herself a little under the Shade of those Trees
Mr Glanville extremely pleased at this Proposition dismounted and having helped her to alight seated himself by her on the Grass
Arabella expecting he would begin to talk to her of his Passion could not help blushing at the Thoughts of having given him such an Opportunity and Mr Glanville endeavouring to accommodate himself to her Ideas of a Lover expressed himself in Terms extravagant enough to have made a reasonable Woman think he was making a Jest of her All which however Arabella was extremely pleased with and she observed such a just Decorum in her Answers that as the Writers of Romance phrase it if she did not give him any absolute Hopes of being beloved yet she said enough to make him conclude she did not hate him
They had conversed in this manner near a Quarter of an Hour when Arabella perceiving a Man at a little Distance walking very composedly shrieked out aloud and rising with the utmost Precipitation flew from Mr Glanville and went to untie her Horse while his Astonishment
being so great at her Behaviour that he could not for a Moment or two ask her the Cause of her FearÑ
Do you not see said she out of Breath with the Violence of her Apprehensions the Person who is coming towards us It is the same who some Months ago attempted to carry me away when I was riding out with only Two Attendants I escaped for that time the Danger that threatened me but questionless he comes now to renew his Attempts Therefore can you wonder at my Fear
If it should be as you say Madam interrupted Glanville What Reason have you to fear Do you not think I am able to defend you
Ah without Doubt you are able to defend me answered she and though if you offer to resist the Violence he comes to use against me he will haply call Two or Three Dozen armed Men to his Assistance who are I suppose concealed hereabouts yet I am not apprehensive that you will be worsted by them But as it happened to the brave Juba and Cleomedon while they were fighting with some hundred Men who wanted to carry away their Princesses before their Faces and were giving Death at every Blow in order to preserve them the Commander of these Ravishers seeing the Two Princesses sitting as I was under a Tree ordered them to be seized by Two of his Men and carried away while the Two Princes were losing best Part of of their Blood in their Defence therefore to prevent such an Accident happening while
you are fighting for my Rescue I think it will be the safest Way for me to get on Horseback that I may be in a Condition to escape and that you may not employ your Valour to no Purpose
Saying this having with Mr Glanvilles Assistance loosed her Horse from the Tree he helped her to mount and then remounted his own
Your Antagonist said Arabella is on Foot and therefore though I prize your Life extremely yet I cannot dispense with myself from telling you that tis against the Laws of Knighthood to take any Advantage of that kind over your Enemy nor will I permit your Concern for my Safety to make you forget what you owe to your own Reputation
Mr Glanville fretting excessively at her Folly begged her not to make herself uneasy about things that were never likely to happen
The Gentleman yonder added he seems to have no Designs to make any Attempt against you If he should I shall know how to deal with him But since he neither offers to assault me nor affront you I think we ought not to give him any Reason to imagine we suspect him by gazing on him thus and letting him understand by your Manner that he is the Subject of our Conversation If you please Madam we will endeavour to join our Company
Arabella while he was speaking kept her Eyes fixed upon his Face with Looks which expressed her Thoughts were labouring upon some very important Point And after a Pause
of some Moments Is it possible said she with a Tone of extreme Surprize that I should be so mistaken in you Do you really want Courage enough to defend me against that Ravisher
Oh Heavens Madam interrupted Glanville try not my Temper thus Courage enough to defend you Sdeath you will make me mad Who in the Name of Wonder is going to molest you
He whom you see there replied Arabella pointing to him with her Finger For know cold and insensible as thou art to the Danger which threatens me yonder Knight is thy Rival and a Rival haply who deserves my Esteem better than thou dost since if he has Courage enough to get me by Violence into his Power that same Courage would make him defend me against any Injuries I might be offered from another And since nothing is so contemptible in the Eyes of a Woman as a Lover who wants Spirit to die in her Defence know I can sooner pardon him whom thou would cowardly fly from for the Violence which he meditates against me than thyself for the Pusillanimity thou hast betrayed in my Sight
With these Words she galloped away from her astonished Lover who not daring to follow her for fear of increasing her Suspicions of his Cowardice flung himself off his Horse in a violent Rage and forgetting that the Stranger was observing and now within Hearing he fell accusing and exclaiming against the Books that had turned his Cousins Brain and railing at his own ill Fate that condemned him to the
Punishment of loving her Mr Harvey for it really was he whom an Affair of Consequence had brought again into the Country hearing some of Mr Glanvilles last Words and observing the Gestures he used concluded he had been treated like himself by Arabella whom he knew again at a Distance Therefore coming up to Mr Glanville laughingÑ
Though I have not the Honour of knowing you Sir said he I must beg the Favour you will inform me if you are not disturbed at the ridiculous Folly of the Lady I saw with you just now She is the most fantastical Creature that ever lived and in my Opinion fit for a Madhouse Pray are you acquainted with her
Mr Glanville being in a very ill Humour could not brook the Freedom of this Language against his Cousin whose Follies he could not bear any one should rail at but himself and being provoked at his Sneers and the Interruption he had given to their Conversation he looked upon him with a disdainful Frown and told him in an haughty Tone That he was very impertinent to speak of a Lady of her Quality and Merit so rudely
Oh Sir I beg your Pardon replied Mr Harvey laughing more than before What I suppose you are the Champion of this fair Lady But I assure myself if you intend to quarrel with every one that will laugh at her you will have more Business upon your Hands than you can well manage
Mr Glanville transported with Rage at this Insolence hit him such a Blow with the ButEnd
of his Whip that it stunned him for a Moment but recovering himself he drew his Sword and mad with the Affront he had received made a Push at Glanville who avoiding it with great Dexterity had recourse to his Hanger for his Defence
Arabella in the mean time who had not rid far concealing herself behind some Trees saw all the Actions of her Lover and intended Ravisher and being possessed with an Opinion of her Cousins Cowardice was extremely rejoiced to see him fall upon his Enemy first and that with so much Fury that she had no longer any Reason to doubt his Courage Her Suspicions therefore being removed her Tenderness for him returned and when she saw them engaged with their Swords for at that Distance she did not plainly perceive the Difference of their Weapons her Apprehensions for her Cousin were so strong that though she did not doubt his Valour she could not bear to see him expose his Life for her And without making any Reflections upon the Singularity of her Design she was going to ride up to them and endeavour to part them when she saw several Men come towards them whom she took to be the Assistants of her Ravisher though they were in reality Haymakers who at a Distance having seen the Beginning of their Quarrel had hastened to part them
Terrified therefore at this Reinforcement which she thought would expose her Cousin to great Danger she galloped with all Speed after the Hunters being directed by the Sound of the Horn Her Anxiety for her Cousin made
her regardless of her own Danger so that she rode with a surprising Swiftness and overtaking the Company she would have spoken to tell them of her Cousins Situation when her Spirits failing her she could only make a Sign with her Hand and sunk down in a Swoon in the Arms of Sir George who eagerly galloped up to her and supporting her as well as he was able till some others came to her Relief they took her off her Horse and placed her upon the Ground when by the Help of some Water they brought from a Spring near them in a little time she came to herself
Sir Charles who seeing her come up to them without his Son and by her fainting concluded some Misfortune had happened to him the Moment she opened her Eyes asked her eagerly Where he was
Your Son said Arabella sighing is with a Valour equal to that of the brave Cleomedon this Moment fighting in my Defence against a Croud of Enemies and is haply shedding the last Drop of his Blood in my Quarrel
Shedding the last Drop of his Blood haply interrupted Sir Charles excessively grieved and not a little enraged at Arabella supposing she had introduced him into some Quarrel It may be happy for you Madam but I am sure it will make me very miserable if my Son comes to any Harm
If it be the Will of Heaven he should fall in this Combat resumed Arabella he can never have a more glorious Destiny And as that Consideration will doubtless sweeten his last Moments so it ought to be your Consolation
However I beg youll lose no time but haste to his Assistance for since he has a considerable Number of Enemies to deal with tis not improbable but he may be overpowered at last
Where did you leave my Son Madam cried Sir Charles eagerly
He is not far off replied Arabella And you will doubtless be directed to the Place by the Sight of the Blood of his Enemies which he has spilt Go that way pursued she pointing with her Finger towards the Place where she had left her Cousin There you will meet with him amidst a Croud of Foes which he is sacrisicing to my Safety and his just Resentment
Sir Charles not knowing what to think galloped away followed by most Part of the Company Sir George telling Lady Bella that he would stay to defend her against any Attempts that might be made on her Liberty by any of her Ravishers Servants who were probably straggling about Arabella however being perfectly recovered insisted upon following her Uncle
There is no Question said she but Mr Glanville is victorious I am only apprehensive for the dangerous Wounds he may have received in the Combat which will require all our Care and Assistance
Sir George who wanted to engross her Company a little to himself in vain represented to her that amidst the Horrors of a Fight so bloody as that must certainly be in which Mr Glanville and his Friends would be now engaged it would be dangerous for her to venture her Person Yet she would not be persuaded
but having mounted her Horse with his Assistance she rode as fast as she was able after the rest of the Company
SIR Charles who by this Time had got to the Place she directed him to but saw no Appearance of fighting and only a few Haymakers in Discourse together inquired If there had been any Quarrel between two Gentlemen in that Place
One of them at this Question advancing told Sir Charles that two Gentlemen had quarrelled there and were fighting with Swords but that they had parted them and that one of them having an Horse tied to a Tree mounted him and rode away That the other they believed was not far off and that there had been no Bloodshed they having come time enough to prevent it
Sir Charles was extremely satisfied with this Account and giving the Haymakers some Money for the good Office they did in parting the two Combatants rode up to meet Lady Bella and informed her that his Son was safe
I cannot imagine he is safe replied she when I see some of his Enemies pointing to the Haymakers still alive It is not customary in those Cases to suffer any to escape And questionless
my Cousin is either dead or a Prisoner since all his Adversaries are not vanquished
Why you dream Madam replied Sir Charles Those Fellows yonder are Haymakers What should make them Enemies to my Son They were lucky enough to come in time to prevent him and another Gentleman from doing each other a Mischief I cannot imagine for what Reason my Son quarrelled with that Person they speak of Perhaps you can inform me
Certainly Sir said Arabella I can inform you since I was the Cause of their Quarrel The Story is too long to tell you now and besides it is so connected with the other Accidents of my Life that tis necessary you should be acquainted with my whole History in order to comprehend it But if those Persons are what you say and did really part my Cousin and his Antagonist truly I believe they have done him a very ill Office For I am persuaded my Cousin will never be at Rest till by his Rivals Death he has freed himself from one capable of the most daring Enterprizes to get me into his Power And since I cannot be in Security while he lives and persists in the Resolution he has taken to persecute me it had been better if he had suffered all the Effects of my Cousins Resentment at that time than to give him the Trouble to hunt him through the World in order to sacrifice him to the Interest of his Love and Vengeance
Sir Charles no less astonished than alarmed at this Discovery of his Nieces sanguinary Sentiments told her he was sorry to see a Lady so far forget the Gentleness of her Sex as to encourage
and incite Men to such Extremities upon her Account And for the future added he I must intreat you Niece to spare me the Affliction of seeing my Son exposed to these dangerous Quarrels For though his Life is so little regarded by you yet it is of the utmost Consequence to me
Arabella who found Matter sufficient in the Beginning of this Speech to be offended with her Uncle yet mistaking the latter Part of it for a pathetic Complaint of her Cruelty replied very gravely That her Cousins Safety was not so indifferent to her as he imagined And that she did not hate him so much but that his Death would affect her very sensibly
Arabella in speaking these Words blushed with Shame as thinking they were rather too tender And Sir Charles who coloured likewise from a very different Motive was opening his Mouth to tell her that he did not think his Son was much obliged to her for not hating him when Arabella supposing he designed to press her to a further Explanation of the favourable Sentiments she felt for Mr Glanville stopped him with Precipitation Press me no more said she upon this Subject And as I have already spoken too much haply before so many Witnesses seek not to enhance my Confusion by prolonging to Discourse that at present must needs be disagreeable to me
I shall readily agree with you Madam replied Sir Charles that you have spoken too much And if I had thought you capable of speaking in the manner you have done I
would have been more cautious in giving you an Occasion for it
I should imagine Sir said Arabella blushing with Anger as she before did with Shame that you would be the last Person in the World who could think I had spoken too much upon this Occasion And since you are pleased to tell me so I think it fit to let you know that I have not in my Opinion transgressed the Laws of Decency and Decorum in what I have said in my Cousins Favour And I can produce many Examples of greater Freedom of Speech in Princesses and Ladies of the highest Quality However I shall learn such a Lesson of Moderation in this respect from your Reproof that I promise you neither yourself or Mr Glanville shall have any Cause for the future to complain of my want of Discretion
Sir Charles who was very polite and goodnatured was half angry with himself for having obliged his Niece to such a Submission as he thought it and apologizing for the Rudeness of his Reprehension assured her that he was perfectly convinced of her Discretion in all things and did not doubt but her Conduct would be always agreeable to him
Arabella who from what her Uncle had said began to entertain Suspicions that would never have entered any Imagination but hers looked earnestly upon him for half a Moment as if she wished to penetrate into the most secret Recesses of his Heart But fans¥ing she saw something in his Looks that confirmed her Apprehensions she removed her Eyes from his Face and fastening them on the Ground remained
for some Moments in ConfusionÑSir Charles whom her apparent Disturbance made very uneasy proposed returning to the Castle telling Lady Bella he expected to find his Son already there
Tis more than probable said she turning to Sir George that my Cousin is gone in Pursuit of my Ravisher and the Interruption that has been given to his designed Vengeance making him more furious than before tis not likely he will return till he has punished his Insolence by that Death he so justly merits
Mr Glanville is already so happy in your Opinion said Sir George with a very profound Sigh that there is no need of his rendering you this small Service to increase your Esteem But if my Prayers are heard the Punishment of your Ravisher will be reserved for a Person less fortunate indeed than Mr Glanville tho not less devoted to your Interest and concerned in your Preservation
Sir George counterfeiting a Look of extreme Confusion and Fear as he ended these Words
Arabella who perfectly comprehended the Meaning they were designed to convey thought herself obliged to take no Notice of them And therefore without making any Reply to the young Baronet who ventured slowly to lift his Eyes to her Face in order to discover if there were any Signs of Anger in it she told Sir Charles she inclined to go home And Sir George with the rest of the Company attended them to the Castle where as soon as they arrived they took their Leave
Sir George notwithstanding Arabellas Care to deprive him of an Opportunity of speaking to her told her in a Whisper having eagerly alighted to help her off her Horse
I am going Madam to find out that insolent Man who has dared to offer Violence to the fairest Person in the World And if I am so happy as to meet with him he shall either take my Life or I will put him into a Condition never to commit any more Offences of that Nature
Saying this he made a low Bow and being desirous to prevent her Answer remounted his Horse and went away with the rest of the Company
Arabella who upon this Occasion was to be all Confusion mixed with some little Resentment discovered so much Emotion in her Looks while Sir George was whispering to her that her Uncle as he was handing her into the House asked her If she was offended at any thing Sir George had said to her
Arabella construing this Question as she had done some other things her Uncle had said to her replied in a reserved manner Since my Looks contrary to my Intention have betrayed my Thoughts to you I will not scruple to confess that I have some Cause to be offended with Sir George and that in two Instances Today he has seemed to forget the Respect he owes me
Sir Charles was fired at this Account Is it possible said he that Sir George has had the Assurance to say any thing to offend you and that before my Face too This Affront is not to be borne
I am sorry replied Arabella eying him heedfully to see you so much concerned at it
Dont be uneasy interrupted Sir Charles There will be no bad Consequences happen from it But he shall hear of it added he raising his Voice with Passion Ill force him this Night to explain himself
You must pardon me Sir said Arabella more and more confirmed in her Notions if I tell you that I am extremely offended at your uncommon Zeal upon this Occasion And also I must assure you that a little more Calmness would be less liable to Suspicion
Miss Glanville coming to meet them Sir Charles who did not take much Notice of what Arabella said eagerly inquired for his Son and hearing he was not come home was apprehensive of his meeting again with the Person he had quarrelled with But his Fears did not last long for Mr Glanville came in having purposely avoided the Company to hide the Uneasiness Lady Bellas tormenting Folly had given him
In which the Mistakes are continued
AS soon as Mr Glanville appeared the two Ladies retired Miss Glanville asking Arabella a hundred Questions concerning their Diversion the Drift of which was to know how Sir George behaved to her But that fair
Lady whose Thoughts were wholly employed on the strange Accidents which had happened to her that Day longed to be at Liberty to indulge her Reflections and complaining of extreme Weariness under Pretence of reposing herself till Dinner got quit of Miss Glanvilles Company which at that time she thought very tedious
As soon as she was left to herself her Imagination running over all that had happened she could not help confessing that few Women ever met with such a Variety of Adventures in one Day In Danger of being carried off by Violence by one Lover delivered by another Insinuations of Love from a Third who she thought was enamoured of her Cousin and what was still more surprising a Discovery that her Uncle was not insensible of her Charms but was become the Rival of his own Son
As extravagant as this Notion was Arabella found Precedents in her Romances of Passions full as strange and unjustifiable and confirmed herself in that Opinion by recollecting several Examples of unlawful Love Why should I not believe said she that my Charms can work as powerful Effects as those of Olympia Princess of Thrace whose Brother was passionately enamoured of her
Did not the Divine Clelia inspire Maherbal with a violent Passion for her who though discovered to be her Brother did not nevertheless cease to adore her And to bring an Instance still nearer to my own Case was not the Uncle of the fair Alcyone in Love with her
And did he not endeavour to win her Heart by all the Methods in his Power
Ah then pursued she let us doubt no more of our Misfortune And since our fatal Beauty has raised this impious Flame let us stifle it with our Rigour and not allow an illtimed Pity or Respect to encourage a Passion which may one Day cast a Blemish upon our Glory
Arabella having settled this Point proceeded to reflect on the Conquest she had made of Sir George She examined his Words over and over and found them so exactly conformable to the Language of an Oroondates or Oronces that she could not choose but be pleased But recollecting that it behoved her like all other Heroines to be extremely troubled and perplexed at an Insinuation of Love she began to lament the cruel Necessity of parting with an agreeable Friend who if he persisted in making her acquainted with his Thoughts would expofe himself to the Treatment Persons so indiscreet always meet with nor was she less concerned lest if Mr Glanville had not already dispatched her Ravisher Sir George by wandering in Search of him and haply sacrificing him to his eager Desire of serving her should by that means lay her under an Obligation to him which considering him as a Lover would be a great Mortification
Sir George however was gone home to his own House with no Thoughts of pursuing Arabellas Ravisher And Mr Glanville being questioned by his Father concerning his Quarrel invented some trifling Excuse for it which
not agreeing with the Account the Baronet had received from Arabella he told his Son that he had concealed the Truth from him and that there was more in that Affair than he had owned You quarrelled added he upon Arabellas Account and she did not scruple to affirm it before all the Company
Mr Glanville who had vainly flattered himself with an Hope that his Cousin had not acquainted the Company with her whimsical Apprehensions was extremely vexed when he found she had exposed herself to their Ridicule and that it was probable even he had not escaped But willing to know from her own Mouth how far she had carried her Folly he went up to her Chamber and being immediately admitted she began to congratulate him upon the Conquest he had gained as she supposed over his Enemy and thanked him very solemnly for the Security he had procured for her
Mr Glanville after assuring her that she was in no Danger of ever being carried away by that Person whom she feared proceeded to inquire into all that had passed between her and the Company whom she had joined when she left him and Arabella relating every Particular gave him the Mortification to know that her Folly had been sufficiently exposed But she touched upon her Fears for him with so much Delicacy and mentioned her Fainting in such a manner as insinuated a much greater Tenderness than he before had Reason to hope for and this Knowlege destroying all his Intentions to quarrel with her for what she had said he appeared so easy and satisfied that Arabella
reflecting upon the Misfortune his Fathers newborn Passion would probably be the Occasion of to him could not help sighing at the Apprehension looking on him at the same time with a kind of pitying Complacency which did not escape Mr Glanvilles Notice
I must know the Reason of that Sigh Cousin said he smiling and taking her Hand
If you are wise replied Arabella gravely you will be contented to remain in the pleasing Ignorance you are at present and not seek to know a thing which will haply afford you but little Satisfaction
You have increased my Curosity so much by this Advice resumed he accommodating his Looks to Arabellas that I shall not be at Rest till I know what it is you conceal from me And since I am so much concerned in it even by your own Confession I have a Right to press you to explain yourself
Since you are so importunate replied Arabella I mnst tell you that I will not do you so great a Diskindness as to explain myself nor will I be the first who shall acquaint you with your Misfortune since you will haply too soon arrive at the Knowlege of it by other means
Glanville who imagined this was some new Whim that had got into her Head was but little perplexed at an Insinuation which had he been ignorant of her Foible would have given him great Uneasiness But being sensible that she expected he would press her to disclose herself and appear extremely concerned at her refusing him that Satisfaction he counterfeited
so well that she was at a loss how to evade the Arguments he used to make her unfold the terrible Mystery when the Dinnerbell ringing and relieving her sor the present Mr Glanville led her down to the Parlour where Sir Charles and his Daughter attended their coming
In which the Mistakes are not yet cleared up
THE Baronet who had been put into a bad Humour by Arabellas Insinuations that Sir George had affronted her appeared reserved and uneasy and being resolved to question her about it was willing first to know exactly what it was his Niece had been offended at But as he feared if it came to his Sons Knowlege it would produce a Quarrel between the young Gentlemen that might have dangerous Consequences he was desirous of speaking to her alone and as soon as Dinner was over asked her to take a Walk with him upon the Terrace telling her he had something to say to her in private Arabella whose Fears had been considerably increased by the Pensiveness which appeared in her Uncles Looks during Dinner and supposing he wanted a private Conversation only to explain himself more clearly to her than he had yet done was excessively alarmed at this Request and casting her Eyes down to the Ground blushed in such
a manner as betrayed her Confusion and made Miss Glanville and her Brother believe that she suspected her Uncle had a Design to press her soon to give her Hand to Mr Glanville which occasioned her apparent Disorder
Sir Charles however who had not so heedfully observed her Behaviour repeated his Request adding with a Smile upon her giving him no Answer Sure Lady Bella you are not afraid to be alone with your Uncle
No Sir replied Arabella giving him a piercing Look I am not afraid of being alone with my Uncle and as long as he pretends to be no more than my Uncle I shall not scruple to hear what he has to say to me
Sir Charles a little vexed at an Answer which insinuated as he thought a Complaint of his having pretended to more Authority over her than he ought told her he hoped she had no Cause to believe he would displease her by any improper Exertion of that Power over her with which her Father had intrusted him For I assure you added he I would rather you should follow my Advice as an Uncle than obey me as a Guardian and since my Affection for you is prehaps greater than what many People have for a Niece my Solicitude ought to be imputed to that Motive
I have all the Sense I ought to have of that Affection you honour me with replied Arabella and since I hope it will be always what it should be without wishing for its Increase I am contented with those Testimonies I have already received of it and do not desire any other
Sir Charles a little puzzled to understand the Meaning of these Words which the grave Looks of Arabella made yet more mysterious rose from his Seat with an Air of Discontent I should have been glad to have spoken a Word in private to you Niece said she but since you think proper to make so much Ceremony in such a Trifle Ill defer it till you are in a better Humour
Miss Glanville seeing her Father going out of the Room stepped before him Nay Papa said she if you want to speak with my Cousin my Brother and I will go out and leave you to yourselves
You will do me a very great Displeasure said Arabella for I am sure my Uncle has not any thing of Consequence to say to me Howexer added she seeing Miss Glanville go away I am resolved I will not be left alone and therefore Mr Glanville since I can pretend to some Power over you I command you to stay
You may remember Madam said Mr Glanville with a Smile you refused to gratify my Curiosity with regard to something you hinted to me some time ago and to punish you added he going out of the Room I am resolved you shall listen to what my Father has to say to you for by your Unwillingness to hear it I imagine you suspect already what it is
Arabella finding she had no way to avoid hearing what she dreaded so much and observing her Uncle had resumed his Chair prepared to give him Audience but in order to deprive him of all Hope that she would receive his Discourse favourably she assumed the severest
Look she was capable of and casting her Eyes on the Ground with a Mixture of Anger and Shame waited with a kind of Fear and Impatience for what he had to say
I see Madam said the Baronet observing her Confusion that you apprehend what I am going to say to you but I beseech you do not fear I have any Intentions but such as youll approve
You are certainly in the right Sir said Arabella in the Interpretation you have put on my Looks I am really in Pain about the Purport of your Discourse And you would particularly oblige me if you would dispense with me from hearing it
I see replied Sir Charles that out of a mistaken Fear you are unwilling to hear me in order to avoid coming to the Explanation I desire But I tell you once again you have nothing to apprehend
I have every thing to apprehend Sir resumed Arabella tartly while you persist in your Design of disobliging me and you cannot give me a greater Proof of the Badness of your Intentions than by thus forcing me to listen to Discourses I ought to avoid
Since my Word has no Weight with you replied Sir Charles Ill condescend to assure you by the most sacred Oath That I do not mean to come to any Extremities with Sir George concerning what you already told me All I desire to know is If you think you had any Reason to be offended with him for any thing he said And in that Case I cannot dispense with myself from expostulating with him about it
You would do me a Favour Sir resumed Arabella if you would interest yourself a little less in what Sir George said to me The Offence was committed against me only and none but myself has any Right to resent it
Tis enough Niece said Sir Charles rising You acknowlege sufficient to make me resolve to oblige him to ask Pardon for the Affront you have received However I beg you may make yourself easy no ill Consequences will happen from this Affair provided my Son does not know it And I know you have too much Discretion to acquaint him with it
Saying this he went out of the Room leaving Arabella in great Consusion at what he had said which in her Opinion had amounted almost to a plain Declaration of his Passion and his Design of putting an End to Sir Georges Pretensions whom it was probable he looked upon as a more dangerous Rival than his Son confirmed her in the Opinion of his Resolution to persecute her
Full of the Reflections this Accident had occasioned she went to walk in the Garden where Mr Glanville his Sister having just left him joined her
As he imagined his Fathers Design in speaking to her alone was to prevail upon her to consent to marry him before she left the Country which was what he most earnestly wished he drew a bad Omen from the Discontent which appeared in her Eyes
Is it with me Cousin said he or with what my Father has been saying to you that you are angry
With both replied Arabella hastily for if you had staid in the Room as I commanded you I should not have been exposed to the Pain of hearing Things so disagreeable
Since I knew what would be the Purport of my Fathers Discourse said Mr Glanville you ought not to be surprised I could not resolve to give any Interruption to it by my Presence And being so much interested in the Success of his Solicitations I could not choose but give him an Opportunity of speaking to you alone as he desired
It seems then resumed Arabella you know what was the Subject of his Conversation
I believe I can guess interrupted Mr Glanville smiling
Is it possible cried Arabella starting back in great Surprize that knowing as you say you do your Fathers Intentions you would resolve to furnish him with an Opportunity of disclosing them
Can you blame me said Mr Glanville for suffering him to undertake what I durst not myself I know your Delicacy or rather your Severity so well that I am sensible if I had taken the Liberty to say what my Father has said you would have been extremely offended and punished me as you have often done with a Banishment from your Presence Nay pursued he seeing Astonishment and Anger in her Countenance I perceive you are at this Moment going to pronounce some terrible Sentence against me
You are deceived said Arabella with a forced Calmness I am so far from being offended
with you that I am ready to acknowlege you merit very extraordinary Praises for the perfect Resignation you shew to the Will and for your Credit I will suppose the Commands of your Father But I would advise you to be contented with the Reputation of being a dutiful Son and for the future never aspire to that of being a faithful Lover
Speaking these Words which were wholly unintelligible to her amazed Admirer she left him and went to her own Apartment strangely surprised at the Indifference of Mr Glanville who as she understood what he had said was not only willing to resign her to his Father but also took upon him to mediate in his behalf
As she was unwilling to acknowlege even to herself that the Grief she felt at this Discovery proceeded from any Affection for her Cousin she imputed it to the Shame of seeing herself so basely forsaken and neglected and not being able to find a Precedent for such an Indignity offered to the Charms of any Lady in her Romances the Singularity of her Fate in this respect seemed to demand all her Uneasiness
Which contains some necessary Consequences of the foregoing MistakesÑA Soliloquy on a LoveLetter
WHILE Arabella passed her Time in her Closet in the most disagreeable Reflections Glanville was racking his Brain to find out the Meaning of those mysterious Words she had uttered at leaving him He examined them twenty times over but could not possibly penetrate into their Sense But supposing at last that they really meant nothing at all or were occasioned by some new Flight of her Imagination he went to find out his Father in order to know what had passed between him and Arabella
Sir Charles however was not to be found he had ordered his Horse to be made ready under Pretence of taking a little Ride after Dinner and passing by Sir Georges House alighted to pay him a Visit
The young Baronet being at home received him with great Politeness And Sir Charles whose peculiar Disposition was to be nicely tenacious of every thing which he imagined had any Relation to the Honour of his Family took the first Opportunity to question him concerning the Confusion his Whisper had occasioned in Lady Bella adding That she had confessed he had given her Reason to take ill what he had said to her
Sir George who was by no means willing to quarrel with the Uncle of Arabella received the old Gentlemans Remonstrances with a great deal of Calmness and finding Arabella had not discovered the Purport of that Whisper which had offended her he told Sir Charles That the Confusion he saw in her Countenance was occasioned by his raillying her upon the Fright she had been in upon Mr Glanvilles Account He added some Particulars to this Account that intirely taking away all Inclination in Sir Charles to pursue the Matter any farther they parted upon very good Terms Sir George promising very soon to return his Visit at the Castle
Mr Glanville upon his Fathers Return being impatient to know what he had said to Arabella inquired with so much Precipitation concerning the Conversation they had had together that Sir Charles unwilling to tell him the Truth and not having time to consider of an Answer evaded his Question in such a manner that Mr Glanville could not help making some Observation upon it and comparing this Circumstance with what Arabella had said tho he could not comprehend the Meaning that seemed to be concealed under their Behaviour he immediately concluded there was some Mystery which it concerned him to find out
Possessed with this Opinion he longed for an Opportunity to talk with Arabella alone but he was not so happy to obtain one for tho that Fairone presided at the Teatable as usual and also appeared at Supper yet she so industriously avoided all Occasions of being alone
with him tho but for a Moment and appeared so reserved and uneasy that it was impossible for him to speak to her upon that Subject
As soon as it was time to retire having resolved to request the Favour of a few Moments Conversation with her in her own Apartment and when he had as was his Custom handed her up Stairs instead of wishing her a good Night at her Chamberdoor he was going to desire Permission to enter it with her when Lucy coming to meet her Lady whispered her in the Ear upon which Arabella turning towards him gave him an hasty Salute and hurried into her Apartment
Glanville no less vexed at this Disappointment than perplexed at that Whisper which had caused such a visible Emotion in Arabella retired to his own Room tormented with a thousand uneasy Suspicions for which he could not exactly assign a Cause and wishing impatiently for the next Day in which he hoped to procure some Explanation of what at present greatly perplexed him
In the mean time Arabella who had been informed by Lucy in that Whisper who was eager to let her know it that a Messenger had brought a Letter from Sir George and late as it was at Night waited for an Answer was debating with herself whether she should open this Billet or not She had a strong Inclination to see what it contained but fearful of transgressing the Laws of Romance by indulging a Curiosity not justifiable by Example she resolved to return this Letter unopened
Here said she to Lucy give this Letter to the Messenger that brought it and tell him I was excessively offended with you for receiving it from his Hands
Lucy taking the Letter was going to obey her Orders when recollecting herself she bid her stay
Since Sir George said she to herself is no declared Lover of mine I may without any Offence to Decorum see what this Letter contains To refuse receiving it will be to acknowlege that his Sentiments are not unknown to me and by consequence to lay myself under a Necessity of banishing him Nor is it fit that I should allow him to believe I am so ready to apprehend the Meaning of every gallant Speech which is used to me and to construe such Insinuations as he took the Liberty to make me into Declarations of Love
Allowing therefore the Justice of these Reasons she took the Letter out of Lucys Hand and being upon the Point of opening it a sudden Thought controuled her Designs She threw it suddenly upon her Toilet and looking very earnestly upon it
Presumptuous Paper said she speaking with great Emotion to the Letter Bold Repository of thy Masters daring Thoughts Shall I not be blamed by all who hereafter will hear or read my History if contrary to the Apprehensions I have that thou containest a Confession that will displease me I open thy Seal and become accessary to thy Writers Guilt by deigning to make myself acquainted with it And thou too indiscreet and unwary Friend
whose Folds contain the Acknowlegement of his Crime What will it advantage thee or him if torn by my resenting Hand I make thee suffer for the Part thou bearest in thy Masters Fault and teach him by thy Fate how little Kindness he has to expect from me Yet to spare myself the Trouble of reading what will questionless greatly displease me I will return thee uninjured into thy Masters Hands and by that Moderation make him repent the Presumption he has been guilty of
Containing a LoveLetter in the Heroic Stile with some occasional Reasonings by Lucy full of Wit and Simplicity
OUR fair Heroine having ended the foregoing Soliloquy took up the Letter and gave it to Lucy who had all the time she was speaking observed a profound Silence mixed with a most eager Attention
Here pursued she carry it to the Person who brought it and bid him tell his Master that lest I should find any thing in it which may offend me I have chosen not to read it And if he is wise he will profit by my Concern for him and take care how he hazards displeasing me a Second time by an Importunity of this kind which I shall not so easily pardon him
Lucy who had taken particular Notice of this Speech in order to remember every Word
of it when she repeated it again went conning her Lesson to the Place where she had desired the Servant to wait her coming But he was gone such being indeed his Masters Orders for he was apprehensive that following the Custom of the Ladies in Romances Arabella would return his Letter and therefore to deprive her of an Opportunity of sending it back that Night he ordered his Man to say he waited for an Answer but as soon as he conveniently could to come away without one
Lucy in a great Surprize at the Servants going away returned to her Lady with the Letter in her Hand telling her she must needs read it now since the Person who brought it was gone
It must be confessed said Arabella taking the Letter from her with a Smile he has fallen upon an ingenious Device to make me keep it for this Night and since haply I may be mistaken in the Contents I have a mind to open it
Lucy did not fail to confirm her Lady in this Design And Arabella making as if she yielded to the Importunities of her Confidante opened the Letter which she found as follows
The unfortunate and despairing Bellmour to the Divine Arabella
Madam
SINCE it is doubtless not only with your Permission but even by your Commands that your Uncle Sir Charles Glanville comes to pronounce the Sentence of my Death in the
Denunciation of your Anger I submit Madam without repining at the Rigour of that Doom you have inflicted on me Yes Madam this Criminal who has dared to adore you with the most sublime and perfect Passion that ever was acknowleges the Justice of his Punishment and since it is impossible to cease loving you or to live without telling you he does so he is going voluntarily to run upon that Death your Severity makes him wish for and the Greatness of his Crime demands Let my Death then O Divine Arabella expiate the Offence I have been guilty of And let me hope those fair Eyes that have beheld me with Scorn when alive will not refuse to shed some Tears upon my Tomb And that when you remember my Crime of loving you you will also be pleased to remember that I died for that Crime and wish for no other Comfort in Death but the Hope of your not hating when he is no more
The unhappy Bellmour
Arabella who had read this Letter aloud sighed gently at the Conclusion of it but poor Lucy who was greatly affected at so dolorous an Epistle could not restrain her Tears but sobbed so often and with so much Violence as at length recalled her Lady from the Reverie into which she was plunged
What ails you said she to her Confidante greatly surprised What is the Cause of this unseemly Sorrow
Oh Madam cried Lucy her Sobs making a frequent and unpleasing Interruption in her
Words I shall break my Heart to be sure Never was such a sad mournful Letter in the World I could cry my Eyes out for the poor Gentleman Pray excuse me Madam but indeed I cant help saying You are the most hardheartedest Lady I ever knew in my born Days Why to be sure you dont care if an hundred fine Gentlemen should die for you tho their Spirits were to haunt you every Night Well I would not have what your Ladyship has to answer for for all the World
You are a foolish Wench replied Arabella smiling at her Simplicity Do you think I have any Cause to accuse myself tho Five thousand Men were to die for me Tis very certain my Beauty has produced very deplorable Effects The unhappy Hervey has expiated by his Death the Violence his too desperate Passion forced him to meditate against me The no less guilty the noble Unknown Edward is wandering about the World in a tormenting Despair and stands exposed to the Vengeance of my Cousin who has vowed his Death My Charms have made another Person whose Character ought to be sacred to me forget all the Ties of Consanguinity and become the Rival of his Son whose Interest he once endeavoured to support And lastly the unfortunate Bellmour consumes away in an hopeless Passion and conscious of his Crime dooms himself haply with more Severity than I desire to a voluntary Death in hopes thereby of procuring my Pardon and Compassion when he is no more All these Lucy as I said before are very deplorable Effects of my Beauty but
you must observe that my Will has no Part in the Miseries that unfortunate Beauty occasions and that tho I could even wish myself less fair in order to avoid giving so much Unhappiness to others yet these Wishes would not avail and since by a fatal Necessity all these Things will happen whether I would or no I must comfort myself under the Uneasiness which the Sensibility of my Temper makes me feel by the Reflection that with my own Consent I contribute nothing to the Misfortune of those who love me
Will your Ladyship then let poor Sir George die said Lucy who had listened very attentively to this fine Harangue without understanding what it meant
Questionless he must die replied Arabella if he persists in his Design of loving me
But pray Madam resumed Lucy cannot your Ladyship command him to live as you did Mr Hervey and Mr Glanville who both did as you bid them
I may command him to live said Arabella and there is no Question but he would obey me if I likewise permit him to love me but this last not being fit for me to do I see no way to prevent the sad Resolution he has taken
To be sure Madam returned Lucy your Ladyship knows what you ought to do better than I can advise your Ladyship being that you are more learned than me But for all that I × its better to save Life than to kill as the BibleBook says and since I am sure your Ladyship is a good Christian if the Gentleman
dies for the Want of a few kind Words or so I am sure you will be troubled in Mind about it
It must be confessed said Arabella smiling that tho your Solicitations are not very eloquent they are very earnest and affecting and I promise you I will think about it and if I can persuade myself I am doing no wrong Thing by concerning myself about his Preservation I will dispatch you Tomorrow Morning with my Orders to him to live or at least to proceed no further in his Design of dying till he has further Cause
Lucy being extremely glad she had gained her Point called in her Ladys other Women who having assisted her to undress left her in her Closet to which she always retired for an Hour before she went to Bed
A Dispute very learnedly handled by two Ladies in which the Reader may take what Part he pleases
MR Glanville who was too much in Love to pass the Night with any great Degree of Tranquillity under the Apprehensions he felt it being the Nature of that Passion to magnify the most inconsiderable Trifles into Things of the greatest Importance when they concern the beloved Object did not fail to torment himself with a thousand different Fears which the mysterious
Behaviour of his Father and the more mysterious Words of his Mistress gave Rise to Among many various Conjectures all equally unreasonable he fixed upon one no way advantageous to Sir Charles for supposing that the Folly of Arabella had really disgusted him and made him desirous of breaking off the designed Match between them he was as he thought taking Measures to bring this about knowing that if Lady Bella refused to fulfil her Fathers Desire in this Particular a very considerable Estate would descend to him
Upon any other Occasion Mr Glanville would not have suspected his Father of so ungenerous an Action but Lovers think every thing possible which they fear and being prepossessed with this Opinion he resolved the next Morning to sound his Fathers Inclinations by intreating him to endeavour to prevail upon Lady Bella to marry him before her Year of Mourning for the marquis was expired
Attending him therefore at Breakfast in his own Chamber he made his designed Request not without heedfully observing his Countenance at the same time and trembling lest he should make him an Answer that might confirm his uneasy Suspicion
Sir Charles however agreeably surprised him by promising to comply with his Desire that Day for added he tho my Niece has some odd ways yet upon the Whole she is a very accomplished Woman and when you are her Husband you may probably find the Means of curing her of those little Follies
which at present are conspicuous enough but being occasioned by a Country Education and a perfect Ignorance of the World the Instruction which then you will not scruple to give her and which from a Husband without any Offence to her Delicacy she may receive may reform her Conduct and make her Behaviour as complete as it must be confessed both her Person and Mind now are
Mr Glanville having acquiesced in the Justice of this Remark as soon as Breakfast was over went to visit the two Ladies who generally drank their Chocolate together
Miss Glanville being then in Lady Bellas Apartment he was immediately admitted where he found them engaged in a high Dispute and much against his Will was obliged to be Arbitrator in the Affair they having upon his Entrance both appealed to him
But in order to place this momentous Affair in a true Light tis necessary to go back a little and acquaint the Reader with what had passed in the Apartment and also following the Custom of the Romance and NovelWriters in the Heart of our Heroine
No sooner were her fair Eyes open in the Morning than the unfortunate Sir George presenting himself to her Imagination her Thoughts to use Scuderys Phrase were at a cruel War with each other She wished to prevent the Death of this obsequious Lover but she could not resolve to preserve his Life by giving him that Hope he required and without which she
feared it would be impossible for him to live
After pondering a few Hours upon the Necessity of his Case and what a just Regard to her own Honour required of her Decorum prevailed so much over Compassion that she resolved to abandon the miserable Sir George to all the Rigour of his Destiny when happily for the disconsolate Lover the History of the fair Amalazotha coming into her Mind she remembred that this haughty Princess having refused to marry the Person her Father recommended to her because he had not a Crown upon his Head nevertheless when he was dying for Love of her condescended to visit him and even to give him a little Hope in order to preserve his Life See conceived it could be no Blemish to her Character if she followed the Example of this most glorious Princess and suffered herself to relax a little in her Severity to prevent the Effects of her Lovers Despair
Fear not Arabella said she to herself fear not to obey the Dictates of thy Compassion since the glorious Amalazontha justifies by her Example the Means thou wilt use to preserve a noble Life which depends upon a few Words thou shalt utter
When she had taken this Resolution she rung her Bell for her Women and as soon as she was dressed she dismissed them all but Lucy whom she ordered to bring her Paper and Pens telling her she would write an Answer to Sir Georges Letter
Lucy obeyed with great Joy but by that
time she had brought her Lady all the Materials for Writing her Mind was changed she having reflected that Amalazontha whose Example in order to avoid the Censure of future Ages she was resolved exactly to follow did not write to Ambiome¥ but paid him a Visit she resolved to do the like and therefore bid Lucy take them away again telling her She had thought better of it and would not write to him
Lucy extremely concerned at this Resolution obeyed her very slowly and with greeat seeming Regret
I perceive said Arabella you are afraid I shall abandon the unfortunate Man you solicit for to the Violence of his Despair but tho I do not intend to write to him yet Ill make use of a Method perhaps as effectual for to speak truly I mean to make him a Visit for by this time his Fever is I suppose violent enough to make him keep his Bed
And will you be so good Madam said Lucy to go and see the poor Gentleman I warrant you he will be ready to die for Joy when he sees you
There must be proper Precautions used said Arabella to prevent those Consequences which the sudden and unexpected Sight of me may produce Those about him I suppose will have Discretion enough for that Therefore give Orders for the Coach to be made ready and tell my Women they must attend me and be sure you give them Directions when I enter Sir Georges Chamber to stay at a convenient Distance in order to leave me an Opportunity
of speaking to him without being heard As for you you may approach the Bedside with me since being my Confident you may hear all we have to say
Arabella having thus settled the Ceremonial of her Visit according to the Rules prescribed by Romances sat down to her Teatable having sent to know if Miss Glanville was up and received for Answer that she would attend her at Breakfast
Arabella who had at first determined to say nothing of this Affair to her Cousin could not resist the Desire she had of talking upon a Subject so interesting and telling her with a Smile that she was about to make a very charitable Visit that Morning asked her if she was disposed to bear her Company in it
I know you Country Ladies said Miss Glanville are very fond of visiting your sick Neighbours For my Part I do not love such a grave kind of Amusement yet for the sake of the Airing I shall be very willing to attend you
I think said Arabella with a more serious Air than before it behoves every generous Person to compassionate the Misfortunes of their Acquaintance and Friends and to relieve them as far as lies in their Power but those Miseries we ourselves occasion to others demand in a more particular Manner our Pity and if consistent with Honour our Relief
And pray returned Miss Glanville who is it you have done any Mischief to which you are to repair by this charitable Visit as you call it
The Mischief I have done replied Arabella blushing and casting down her Eyes was not voluntary I assure you Yet I will not scruple to repair it if I can tho since my Power is confined by certain unavoidable Laws my Endeavours may not haply have all the Success I could wish
Well but dear Cousin interrupted Miss Glanville tell me in plain English what this Mischief is which you have done and to what Purpose you are going out this Morning
I am going to pay a Visit to Sir George Bellmour replied Arabella and I intreat you fair Cousin to pardon me for robbing you of so accomplished a Lover I really always thought he was in Love with you till I was undeceived by some Words he spoke Yesterday and a Letter I received from him last Night in which he has been bold enough to declare his Passion to me and through the Apprehension of my Anger is this Moment dying with Grief and tis to reconcile him to Life that I have prevailed upon myself to make him a Visit in which charitable Design as I said before I should be glad of your Company
Miss Glanville who believed not a Word Lady Bella had said burst out a laughing at a Speech that appeared to her so extremely false and ridiculous
I see said Arabella you are of a Humour to divert yourself with the Miseries of a despairing Lover and in this Particular you greatly resemble the fair and witty Doralisa who always jested at such Maladies as are occasioned by Love However this Insensibility
does not become you so well as her since all her Conduct was conformable to it no Marr in the World being bold enough to talk to her of Love but you Cousin are ready even by your own Confession to listen to such Discourses from any body and therefore this Behaviour in you may be with more Justice termed Levity than Indifference
I perceive Cousin said Miss Glanville I have always the worst of those Comparisons you are pleased to make between me and other People but I assure you as free and indiscreet as you think me I should very much scruple to visit a Man upon any Occasion whatever
I am quite astonished Miss Glanville resumed Arabella to hear you assume a Character of so much Severity you who have granted Favours of a Kind in a very great Degree criminal
Favours interrupted Miss Glanville criminal Favours Pray explain yourself Madam
Yes Cousin said Arabella I repeat it again criminal Favours such as allowing Persons to talk to you of Love not forbidding them to write to you giving them Opportunities of being alone with you for several Moments together and several other Civilities of the like Nature which no Man can possibly merit under many Years Services Fidelity and Pains All these are criminal Favours and highly blameable in a Lady who has any Regard for her Reputation
All these replied Miss Glanville are nothing in Comparison of making them Visits and
no Woman who has any Reputation at all will be guilty of taking such Liberties
What Miss replied Arabella will you dare by this Insinuation to cast any Censures upon the Virtue of the divine Mandana the haughty Amalazontha the fair Statira the cold and rigid Parisatis and many other illustrious Ladies who did not scruple to visit their Lovers when confined to their Beds either by the Wounds they received in Battle or the more cruel and dangerous ones they suffered from their Eyes These chaste Ladies who never granted a Kiss of their Hand to a Lover till he was upon the Point of being their Husband would nevertheless most charitably condescend to approach their Bedside and speak some compassionate Words to them in order to promote their Cure and make them submit to live nay these divine Beauties would not refuse to grant the same Favour to Persons whom they did not love to prevent the fatal Consequences of their Despair
Lord Madam interrupted Miss Glanville I wonder you can talk so blasphemously to call a Parcel of confident Creatures divine and such terrible Words
Do you know Miss said Arabella with a stern Look that tis of the greatest Princesses that ever were whom you speak in this irreverent Manner Is it possible that you can be ignorant of the sublime Quality of Mandana who was the Heiress of Two powerful Kingdoms Are you not sensible that Amalazontha was Queen of Turringia And will you pretend
to deny the glorious Extraction of Statira and Parisatis Princesses of Persia
I shall not trouble myself to deny any thing about them Madam said Miss Glanville for I never heard of them before and really I do not choose to be always talking of Queens and Princesses as if I thought none but such great People were worthy my Notice It looks so affected I shuld imagine every one laughed at me that heard me
Since you are so very scrupulous returned Arabella that you dare not imitate the Sublimest among Mortals I can furnish you with many Examples from the Conduct of Persons whose Quality was not much superior to yours which may reconcile you to an Action you at present with so little Reason condemn And to name but One among some Thousands the fair Cleonice the most rigid and austere Beauty in all Sardis paid several Visits to the passionate Ligdamis when his Melancholy at the ill Success of his Passion threw him into a Fever that confined him to his Bed
And pray Madam who was that Cleonice said Miss Glanville and where did she live
In Sardis I tell you said Arabella in the Kingdom of Lydia
Oh then it is not in our Kingdom said Miss Glanville What signifies what Foreigners do I shall never form my Conduct upon the Example of Outlandish People what is common enough in their Countries would be very particular here and you can never persuade me that it is seemly for Ladies to pay Visits to Men in their Beds
A Lady said Arabella extremely angry at her Cousins Obstinacy who will suffer Men to press her Hand write to her and talk to her of Love ought to be ashamed of such an affected Niceness as that you pretend to
I insist upon it Madam said Miss Glanville that all those innocent Liberties you rail at may be taken by any Woman without giving the World room to censure her but without being very bold and impudent she cannot go to see Men in their Beds a Freedom that only becomes a Sister or near Relation
So then replied Arabella reddening with Vexation you will persist in affirming the divine Mandana was impudent
If she paid such indiscreet Visits as those she was said Miss Glanville
Oh Heavens cried Arabella have I lived to hear the most illustrious Princess that ever was in the World so shamefully reflected on
Bless me Madam said Miss Glanville what Reason have you to defend the Character of this Princess so much She will hardly thank you for your Pains I fansy
Were you acquainted with the Character of that most generous Princess said Arabella you would be convinced that she was sensible of the smallest Benefits but it is not with a View of acquiring her Favour that I defend her against your inhuman Aspersions since it is more than Two thousand Years since she died yet common Justice obliges me to vindicate a Person so illustrious for her Birth and Virtue
and were you not my Cousin I should express my Resentment in another Manner for the Injury you do her
Truly said Miss Glanville I am not much obliged to you Madam for not downright quarrelling with me for one that has been in her Grave Two thousand Years However nothing shall make me change my Opinion and I am sure most People will be of my Side of the Argument
That Moment Mr Glanville sending for Permission to wait upon Arabella she ordered him to be admitted telling Miss Glanville she would acquaint her Brother with the Dispute To which she consented
Which inculcates by a very good Example that a Person ought not to be too hasty in deciding a Question he does not perfectly understand
YOU are come very opportunely Sir said Arabella when he entered the Room to be Judge of a great Controversy between Miss Glanville and myself I beseech you therefore let us have your Opinion upon the Matter
Miss Glanville maintains that it is less criminal in a Lady to hear Persons talk to her of Love allow them to kiss her Hand and permit them to write to her than to make a charitable Visit to a Man who is confined to his Bed
through the Violence of his Passion and Despair the Intent of this Visit being only to prevent the Death of an unfortunate Lover and if necessary to lay her Commands upon him to live
And this latter is your Opinion is it not Madam said Mr Glanville
Certainly Sir replied Arabella and in this I am justified by all the Heroines of Antiquity
Then you must be in the Right Madam returned Mr Glanville both because your own Judgment tells you so and also the Example of these Heroines you mention
Well Madam interrupted Miss Glanville hastily since my Brother has given Sentence on your Side I hope you will not delay your Visit to Sir George any longer
How said Mr Glanville surprised is Lady Bella going to visit Sir George Pray Madam may I presume toinquire the Reason for your doing him this extraordinary Favour
You are not very wise said Arabella looking gravely upon Miss Glanville to discover a Thing which may haply create a Quarrel between your Brother and the unfortunate Person you speak of Yet since this Indiscretion cannot be recalled we must endeavour to prevent the Consequences of it
I assure you Madam interrupted Mr Glanville extremely impatient to know the Meaning of these Hints you have nothing to fear from me Therefore you need not think yourself under any Necessity of concealing this Affair from me
You are not haply so moderate as you pretend said Arabella who would not have been displeased to have seen him in all the jealous Transports of an enraged Orontes but whatever ensues I can no longer keep from your Knowledge a Truth your Sister has begun to discover but in telling you what you desire to know I expect you will suppress all Inclinations to Revenge and trust the Care of your Interest to my Generosity
You are to know then that in the Person of your Friend Sir George you have a Rival haply the more to be feared as his Passion is no less respectful than violent I possibly tell you more than I ought pursued she blushing and casting down her Eyes when I confess that for certain Considerations wherein perhaps you are concerned I have received the first Insinuation of this Passion with Disdain enough and I assure myself that you are too generous to desire any Revenge upon a miserable Rival of whom Death is going to free you
Then taking Sir Georges Letter out of her Cabinet she presented it to Mr Glanville
Read this added she but read it without suffering yourself to be transported with any violent Motions of Anger And as in Fight I am persuaded you would not oppress a fallen and vanquished Foe so in Love I may hope an unfortunate Rival will merit your Compassion
Never doubt it Madam replied Mr Glanville receiving the Letter which Miss Glanville with a beating Heart earnestly desired to hear read Her Brother after asking Permission of
Arabella prepared to gratify her Curiosity but he no sooner read the first Sentence than notwithstanding all his Endeavours a Smile appeared in his Face and Miss Glanville less able and indeed less concerned to restrain her Mirth at the uncommon Stile burst out a laughing with so much Violence as obliged her Brother to stop and counterfeit a terrible Fit of Coughing in order to avoid giving Arabella the like Offence
The Astonishment of this Lady at the surprising and unexpected Effect her Lovers Letter produced on Miss Glanville kept her in a profound Silence her Eyes wandering from the Sister to the Brother who continuing his Cough was not able for some Moments to go on with his Reading
Arabella during this Interval having recovered herself a little asked Miss Glanville if she found any thing in a Lovers Despair capable of diverting her so much as she seemed to be with that of the unfortunate Sir George
My Sister Madam said Mr Glanville preventing her Reply knows so many of Sir Georges Infidelities that she cannot persuade herself he is really in such a dangerous Way as he insinuates Therefore you ought not to be surprised if she is rather disposed to laugh at this Epistle than to be moved with any Concern for the Writer who though he is my Rival I must say appears to be in a deplorable Condition
Pray Sir resumed Arabella a little composed by those Words finish the Letter Your
Sister may possibly find more Cause for Pity than Contempt in the latter Part of it
Mr Glanville giving a Look to his Sister sufficient to make her comprehend that he would have her restrain her Mirth for the future proceeded in his Reading but every Line increasing his strong Inclination to laugh when he came to the pathetic Wish that her fair Eyes might shed some Tears upon his Tomb no longer able to keep his assumed Gravity he threw down the Letter in a counterfeited Rage
Curse the stupid Fellow cried he is he mad to call the finest Black Eyes in the Universe fair Ah Cousin said he to Arabella to must be little acquainted with the Influence of your Eyes since he can so egregiously mistake their Colour
And it is very plain replied Arabella that you are little acquainted with the sublime Language in which he writes since you find Fault with an Epithet which marks the Beauty not the Colour of those Eyes he praises for in fine Fair is indifferently applied as well to Black and Brown Eyes as to Light and Blue ones when they are either really lovely in themselves or by the Lovers Imagination created so And therefore since Sir Georges Prepossession has made him see Charms in my Eyes which questionless are not there by calling them fair he has very happily expressed himself since therein he has the Sanction of those great Historians who wrote the Histories of Lovers he seems to imitate as well in his Actions as Stile
I find my Rival is very happy in your Opinion Madam said Mr Glanville and I am apt to believe I shall have more Reason to envy than pity his Situation
If you keep within the Bounds I prescribe you replied Arabella you shall have no Reason to envy his Situation but considering the Condition to which his Despair has by this Time certainly reduced him Humanity requires that we should take some Care of him and to shew you how great my Opinion of your Generosity is I will even intreat you to accompany me in the Visit I am going to make him
Mr Glanville being determined if possible to prevent her exposing herself affected to be extremely moved at this Request and rising from his Chair in great seeming Agitation traversed the Room for some Moments without speaking a Word Then suddenly stopping
And can you Madam said he looking upon Arabella suppose that I will consent to your visiting my Rival and that I will be mean enough to attend you myself to his House Do you think that Orontes you have often reproached me with would act in such a Manner
I dont know how Orontes would have acted in this Case said Arabella because it never happened that such a Proof of his Submission was ever desired of him but considering that he was of a very fiery and jealous Disposition it is probable he might act as you do
I always understood Madam said Mr Glanville that Orontes was a Favourite of yours but it seems I was mistaken
You will be very unjust said Arabella to draw any unfavourable Conclusion from what I have said to the Prejudice of that valiant Prince for whom I confess I have a great Esteem and truly whoever reflects upon the great Actions he did in the Wars between the Amazons and the fierce Naobarzanes King of the Cilicians must needs conceive a very high Idea of his Virtue but if I cannot bring the Example of Orontes to influence you in the present Case I can mention those of other Persons no less illustrious for their Birth and Courage than him Did not the brave Memnon when his Rival Oxyatres was sick intreat the beautiful Barsina to favour him with a Visit And the complaisant Husband of the divine Parisatis was not contented with barely desiring her to visit Lysimachus who was dying with Despair at her Marriage but would many times bring her himself to the Bedside of this unfortunate Lover and leaving her there give him an Opportunity of telling her what he suffered for her sake
I am afraid Madam said Mr Glanville I shall never be capable of imitating either the brave Memnon nor the complaisant Lysimachus in this Case and the Humour of Orontes seems to me the most commendable
Nevertheless said Arabella the Humour of Orontes cost him an infinite Number of Pains and it may happen you will as near resemble him in his Fortune as you do in his Disposition But pray let us end this Dispute at present If you are not generous enough to visit an unfortunate Rival you shall not put a Stop to
the Charity of my Intentions and since Miss Glanville is all of a sudden become so severe that she will not accompany me in this Visit I shall be contented with the Attendance of my Women
Saying this she rose from her Seat calling Lucy and ordered her to bid her Companions attend
Mr Glanville seeing her thus determined was almost mad with Vexation
Upon my Soul Madam said he feizing her Hand you must not go
How Sir said Arabella sternly
Not without seeing me die first resumed he in a languishing Tone
You must not die replied Arabella a little softened nor must you pretend to hinder me from going
Nay Madam said Glanville one of these two Things will certainly happen Either you must resolve not to visit Sir George or else be contented to see me die at your Feet
Was ever any Lady in so cruel a Dilemma said Arabella throwing herself into the Chair in a languishing Posture What can I do to prevent the Fate of two Persons one of whom I infinitely pity and the other obstinate as he is I cannot hate Shall I resolve to let the miserable Bellmour die rather than grant him a Favour the most rigid Virtue would not refuse him or shall I by opposing the impetuous Humour of a Lover to whom I am somewhat obliged make myself the Author of his Death Fatal Necessity which obliges me either to be cruel or unjust and with a Disposition
to neither makes me in some Degree guilty of both
In which our Heroine is in some little Confusion
WHILE Arabella was uttering this pathetic Complaint Mr Glanville with great Difficulty kept himself from smiling and by some supplicating Looks to his Sister prevented her laughing out yet she gigled in secret behind her Fan But Arabella was so lost in her melancholy Reflections that she kept her Eyes immoveably fixed on the Ground for some Moments At last casting an upbraiding Glance at Glanville
Is it possible cruel Person that you are said she to him that you can without Pity see me suffer so much Uneasiness and knowing the Sensibility of my Temper can expose me to the Grief of being accessary to the Death of an unfortunate Man guilty indeed of a too violent Passion which merits a gentler Punishment than that you doom him to
Dont be uneasy dear Cousin interrupted Miss Glanville I dare assure you Sir George wont die
It is impossible to think that said Arabella since he has not so much as received a Command from me to live but tell me truly pursued she do you believe it probable that he will obey me and live
Indeed Madam said Miss Glanville I could swear for him that he will
Well replied Arabella I will content myself with sending him my Commands in Writing but it is to be feared they will not have so much Efficacy upon his Spirit
Mr Glanville extremely pleased that she had laid aside her Design of visiting Sir George did not oppose her writing to him though he was plotting how to prevent the Letter reaching his Hands and while she went into her Closet to write he conferred with his Sister upon the Means he should use expressing at the same time great Resentment against Sir George for endeavouring to supplant him in his Cousins Affection
What then said Miss Glanville do you really imagine Sir George is in Love with Lady Bella
He is either in Love with her Person or Estate replied Mr Glanville or perhaps with both for she is handsome enough to gain a Lover of his Merit though she had no Fortune and she has Fortune enough to do it though she had no Beauty
My Cousin is well enough to be sure said Miss Glanville but I never could think her a Beauty
If replied Mr Glanville a most lovely Complection regular Features a fine Stature an elegant Shape and an inexpressible Grace in all her Motions can form a Beauty Lady Bella may pretend to that Character without any Dispute
Though she was all that you say returned Miss Glanville I am certain Sir George is not in Love with her
I wish I was certain of that replied Mr Glanville for tis very probable you are mistaken
You may see by his Letter interrupted Miss Glanville what a Jest he makes of her and if you had heard how he talked to her the other Day in the Garden you would have died with Laughing yet my poor Cousin thought he was very serious and was so foolishly pleased
I assure you Charlotte said Mr Glanville gravely I shall take it very ill if you make so free with your Cousins little Foibles and if Sir George presumes to make a Jest of her as you say I shall teach him better Manners
You are the strangest Creature in the World said Miss Glanville A Minute or two ago you was wishing to be sure he was not in Love with her and now you are angry when I assure you he is only in Jest
Arabella that Moment coming out of her Closet broke off their Discourse I have written to Sir George said she addressing herself to Mr Glanville and you are at Liberty if you please to read my Letter which I propose to send away immediately
Mr Glanville taking the Letter out of her Hand with a low Bow began to read it to himself but Arabella willing his Sister should also be acquainted with the Contents obliged him much against his Will to read it aloud It was as follows
Arabella To Bellmour
WHATEVER Offence your presumptuous Declaration may have given me yet my Resentment will be appeased with a less Punishment than Death And that Grief and Submission you have testified in your Letter may haply have already procured you Pardon for your Fault provided you do not forfeit it by Disobedience
I therefore command you to live and command you by all that Power you have given me over you
Remember I require no more of you than Parisatis did of Lysimachus in a more cruel and insupportable Misfortune Imitate then the Obedience and Submission of that illustrious Prince and tho you should be as unfortunate as he let your Courage also be equal to his and like him be contented with the Esteem that is offered you since it is all that can be bestowed by
Arabella
Mr Glanville finding by this Epistle that Arabella did not design to encourage the Addresses of Sir George would not have been against his receiving it had he not feared the Consequence of his having such a convincing Proof of the Peculiarity of her Temper in his Possession and while he kept the Letter in his Hand as if he wanted to consider it a little better he meditated on the Means to prevent its being ever delivered and had possibly fixed upon some successful Contrivance when a
Servant coming in to inform the Ladies that Sir George was come to wait on them put an End to his Schemes and he immediately ran down to receive him not being willing to increase by his Stay the Astonishment and Confusion which appeared in the Countenance of Arabella at hearing a Man whom she had believed and represented to be dying was come to pay her a Visit
Where the Lady extricates herself out of her former Confusion to the great Astonishment we will suppose of the Reader
MISS Glanville not having so much Delicacy as her Brother could not help exulting a little upon this Occasion
After the terrible Fright you have been in Madam said she upon Sir Georges Account I wonder you do not rather think it is his Ghost than himself that is come to see us
There is no Question but it is himself that is come said Arabella who had already reconciled this Visit to her first Thoughts of him and it is haply to execute his fatal Design in my Presence that has brought him here and like the unfortunate Agilmond he means to convince me of his Fidelity and Love by falling upon his Sword before my Eyes
Bless me Madam said Miss Glanville what horrid Things come into your Head I vow you terrify me out of my Wits to hear you
There is no Occasion for your Fears interrupted Arabella Since we already suspect his Designs it will be very easy to prevent them Had the Princess of the Sarmatians known the fatal Intentions of her despairing Lover doubtless she would have used some Precautions to hinder him from executing them for want of which she saw the miserable Agilmond weltering in his Blood at her Feet and with Reason accused herself of being the Cause of so deplorable a Spectacle
The Astonishment Miss Glanville was in to hear her Cousin talk in this Manner kept her from giving her any Interruption while she related several other terrible Instances of Despair
In the mean time Sir George who was impatient to go up to Lady Bellas Apartment having flattered himself with an Hope that his Letter was favourably received and that he should be permitted to hope at least made a short Visit to Sir Charles in his own Room and accompanied by Mr Glanville who was resolved to see in what manner Arabella received him went to her Apartment
As he had taken care at his Entrance to accommodate his Looks to the Character he had assumed of an humble despairing Lover Arabella no sooner saw him but her Countenance changed and making a Sign to Mr Glanville who could not comprehend what she meant to seize upon the Guard of his Sword she hastily stept forward to meet him
I am too well convinced said she to Sir George that the Intent of your coming hither To day is to commit some Violence against yourself before my Eyes But listen not I beseech you to the Dictates of your Despair Live I command you live and since you say I have the absolute Disposal of your Life do not deprive yourself of it without the Consent of her on whom you profess to have bestowed it
Sir George who did not imagine Arabella would communicate his Letter to her Cousins and only expected some distant Hints from her concerning it was so confounded at this Reception before them that he was not able to reply He blushed and turned pale alternately and not daring to look either upon Miss Glanville or her Brother or to meet the Eyes of the fair Visionary who with great Impatience expected his Answer he hung down his Head in a very silly Posture and by his Silence confirmed Arabella in her Opinion
As he did not want for Wit and Assurance during that Interval of Silence and Expectation from all Parties his Imagination suggested to him the Means of extricating himself out of the ridiculous Perplexity he was in and as it concerned him greatly to avoid any Quarrel with the Brother and Sister he determined to turn the whole Matter into a Jest but if possible to manage it so that Arabella should not enter into his Meaning
Raising therefore his Eyes and looking upon Arabella with a melancholy Air
You are not deceived Madam said he This Criminal with whom you are so justly offended comes with an Intention to die at your Feet and breathe out his miserable Life to expiate those Crimes of which you accuse him But since your severe Compassion will oblige me to live I obey oh most divine but cruel Arabella I obey your harsh Commands and by endeavouring to live give you a more convincing Proof of that Respect and Submission I shall always have for your Will
I expected no less from your Courage and Generosity said Arabella with a Look of great Complacency and since you so well know how to imitate the great Lysimachus in your Obedience I shall not be less acknowleging then the fair Parisatis but will have for you an Esteem equal to that Virtue I have observed in you
Sir George having received this gracious Promise with a most profound Bow turned to Mr Glanville with a kind of chastened Smile upon his Countenance
And you fortunate and deserving Knight said he happy in the Affections of the fairest Person in the World grudge me not this small Alleviation of my Misfortunes and envy me not that Esteem which alone is able to make me suffer Life while you possess in the Heart of the divine Arabella a Felicity that might be envied by the greatest Monarchs in the World
As diverting as this Scene was Mr Glanville was extremely uneasy For though Sir Georges Stratagem took and he believed he
was only indulging the Gaiety of his Humour by carrying on this Farce yet he could not endure he should divert himself at Arabellas Expence The solemn Speech he had made him did indeed force him to smile but he soon assumed a graver Look and told Sir George in a low Voice that when he had finished his Visit he should be glad to take a Turn with him in the Garden
Sir George promised to follow him and Mr Glanville left the Room and went into the Gardens where the Baronet having taken a respectful Leave of Arabella and by a sly Glance convinced Miss Glanville he had sacrificed her Cousin to her Mirth went to join her Brother
Mr Glanville as soon as he saw him walked to meet him with a very reserved Air Which Sir George observing and being resolved to keep up his Humour
What inhuman but too happy Lover said he what am I to understand by that Cloud upon your Brow Is it possible that thou canst envy me the small Comfort I have received and not satisfied with the glorious Advantages thou possessest wilt thou still deny me that Esteem which the divine Arabella has been pleased to bestow upon me
Pray Sir George said Mr Glanville lay aside this pompous Style I am not disposed to be merry at present and have not all the Relish for this kind of Wit that you seem to expect I desired to see you here that I might tell you without Witnesses I take it extremely ill you should presume to make my Cousin
the Object of your Mirth Lady Bella Sir is not a Person with whom such Liberties ought to be taken nor will I in the double Character of her Lover and Relation suffer it from any one whatever
Cruel Fortune said Sir George stepping back a little and lifting up his Eyes shall I always be exposed to thy Persecutions And must I without any apparent Cause behold an Enemy in the Person of my Friend who though without murmuring I resign to him the adorable Arabella is yet resolved to dispute with me a Satisfaction which does not deprive him of any Part of that glorious Fortune to which he is destined Since it is so unjust and cruel Friend pursued he strike this Breast which carries the Image of the divine Arabella but think not that I will offer to defend myself or lift my Sword against a Man beloved by her
This is all very fine returned Mr Glanville hardly able to forbear laughing but tis impossible with all your Gaiety to hinder me from being serious upon this Business
Then be as serious as thou wilt dear Charles interrupted Sir George provided you will allow me to be gay and not pretend to infect me with thy unbecoming Gravity
I have but a few Words to say to you then Sir replied Mr Glanville Either behave with more Respect to my Cousin or prepare to give me Satisfaction for the Insults you offer her
Oh I understand you Sir said Sir George and because you have taken it into your Head
to be offended at a Trifle of no Consequence in the World I must give you a fair Chance to run me through the Body There is something very foolish saith in such an extravagant Expectation But since Custom has made it necessary that a Man must venture his Soul and Body upon these important Occasions because I will not be out of the Fashion you shall command me whenever you think sit though I shall fight with my Schoolfellow with a very ill Will I assure you
There is no Necessity for fighting said Mr Glanville blushing at the ludicrous Light in which the gay Baronet had placed his Challenge The Concession I have required is very small and not worth the contesting for on your Side Lady Beilas Peculiarity to which you contribute so much can afford you at best but an illnatured Diversion while it gives me a real Pain and sure you must acknowlege you are doing me a very great Injury when you endeavour to confirm a Lady who is to be my Wife in a Behaivour that excites your Mirth and makes her a fit Object for your Ridicule and Contempt
You do Lady Bella a mnch greater Injury than I do replied Sir George by supposing she can ever be an Object of Ridicule and Contempt I think very highly of her Understanding and though the Bent of her Studies has given her Mind a romantic Turn yet the Singularity of her Manners is far less disagreeable than the lighter Follies of most of her Sex
But to be absolutely perfect interrupted Mr Glanville I must cure her of that Singularity and therefore I beg you will not persist in assuming a Behaviour conformable to her romantic Ideas but rather help me to banish them from her Imagination
Well replied Sir George since you no longer threaten Ill do what I can to content you but I must quit my Heroics by Degrees and sink with Decency into my own Character otherwise she will never endure me in her Presence
Arabella and Miss Glanville appearing in the Walk broke off the Conversation The Baronet and Mr Glanville walked forward to meet them but Arabella who did not desire Company struck into another Walk whither Mr Glanville following proposed to join her when he saw his Father who had been taking a Turn there alone make up to Arabella and supposing he would take that Opportunity to talk to her concerning him he went back to his Sister and Sir George whose Conversation he interrupted to the great Regret of Miss Glanville
In which will be found one of the former Mistakes pursued and another cleared up to the great Satisfaction of Two Persons among whom the Reader we expect will make a Third
ARABELLA no sooner saw Sir Charles advancing towards her when sensible of the Consequence of being alone with a Person whom she did not doubt would make use of that Advantage to talk to her of Love she endeavoured to avoid him but in vain for Sir Charles guessing her Intentions walked hastily up to her and taking hold of her Hand
You must not go away Lady Bella said he I have something to say to you
Arabella extremely discomposed at this Behaviour struggled to free her Hand from her Uncle and giving him a Look on which Disdain and Fear were visibly painted
Unhand me Sir said she and force me not to forget the Respect I owe you as my Uncle by treating you with a Severity such uncommon Insolence demands
Sir Charles letting go her Hand in a great Surprize at the Word Insolent which she had used asked her If she knew to whom she was speaking
Questionless I am speaking to my Uncle replied she and tis with great Regret I see myself obliged to make use of Expressions no
way conformable to the Respect I bear that sacred Character
And pray Madam said Sir Charles somewhat softened by this Speech who is it that obliges you to lay aside that Respect you seem to acknowlege is due to your Uncle
You do Sir replied she and tis with infinite Sorrow that I beheld you assuming a Character unbecoming the Brother of my Father
This is pretty plain indeed interrupted Sir Charles But pray Madam inform me what it is you complain of
You questionless know much better than I can tell you replied Arabella blushing the Offence I accuse you of nor is it proper for me to mention what it would not become me to suffer
Zounds cried Sir Charles no longer able to suppress his growing Anger this is enough to make a Man mad
Ah I beseech you Sir resumed Arabella suffer not an unfortunate and illjudged Passion to be the Bane of all your Happiness and Virtue Recall your wandring Thoughts reflect upon the Dishonour you will bring upon yourself by persisting in such unjustifiable Sentiments
I do not know how it is possible to avoid it said Sir Charles and notwithstanding all this fine Reasoning there are few People but would fly into greater Extremities but my Affection for you makes meÑ
Hold hold I conjure you Sir interrupted Arabella force me not to listen to such injurious
Language carry that odious Affection somewhere else and do not persecute an unfortunate Maid who has contributed nothing to thy Fault and is only guilty of too much Compassion for thy Weakness
Good God cried Sir Charles starting back and looking upon Arabella with Astonishment how I pity my Son What would I not give if he did not love this Girl
Think not replied Arabella that the Passion your Son has for me makes your Condition a bit the worse for I would be such as I am with respect to you were there no Mr Glanville in the World
I never thought Niece said Sir Charles after a little Pause that any Part of my Behaviour could give you the Offence you complain of or authorize that Hatred and Contempt you take the Liberty to express for me But since it is so I promise you I will quit your House and leave you to your self I have always been solicitous for your Welfare and ungrateful as you areÑ
Call me not ungrateful interrupted Arabella again Heaven is my Witness that had you not forgot I was your Niece I would have always remembred you was my Uncle and not only have regarded you as such but have looked upon you as another Father under whose Direction Providence had placed me since it had deprived me of my real Father and whose Tenderness and Care might have in some measure supplied the Loss I had of him But Heaven has decreed it otherwise and since it is his Will that I should be deprived of the
Comfort and Assistance my Orphan State requires I must submit without murmuring to my Destiny Go then unfortunate and lamented Uncle pursued she wiping some Tears from her fine Eyes go and endeavour by Reason and Absence to recover thy Repose and be assured whenever you can convince me you have triumphed over these Sentiments which now cause both our Unhappiness you shall have no Cause to complain of my Conduct towards you
Finishing these Words she left him with so much Speed that it would have been impossible for him to have stopped her though he had intended it But indeed he was so lost in Wonder and Confusion at a Behaviour for which he was not able to assign any other Cause than Madness that he remained fixed in the same Posture of Surprize in which she had left him and from which he was first interrupted by the Voice of his Son who seeing Arabella flying towards the House in great seeming Emotion came to know the Result of their Conversation
Sir said Mr Glanville who had spoken to his Father before but had no Answer will you not inform me what Success you have had with my Cousin How did she receive your Proposal
Speak of her no more said Sir Charles she is a proud ungrateful Girl and unworthy the Affection you have for her
Mr Glanville who trembled to hear so unfavourable an Answer to his Inquiries was struck dumb with his Surprize and Grief when
Sir Charles taking Notice of the Alteration in his Countenance
I am sorry said he to find you have set your Heart upon this fantastic Girl If ever she be your Wife which I very much doubt she will make you very unhappy But Charles pursued he I would advise you to think no more of her content yourself with the Estate you gain by her Refusal of you With that Addition to your own Fortune you may pretend to any Lady whatever and you will find many that are full as agreeable as your Cousin who will be proud of your Addresses
Indeed Sir said Mr Glanville with a Sigh there is no Woman upon Earth whom I would choose to marry but Lady Bella I flattered myself I had been happy enough to have made some Progress in her Affection but it seems I was mistaken however I should be glad to know if she gave you any Reasons for refusing me
Reasons said Sir Charles There is no making her hear Reason or expecting Reason from her I never knew so strange a Woman in my Life She would not allow me to speak what I intended concerning you but interrupted me every Moment with some highflown Stuff or other
Then I have not lost all Hopes of her cried Mr Glanville eagerly for since she did not hear what you had to say she could not possibly deny you
But she behaved in a very impertinent Manner to me interrupted Sir Charles complained of my harsh Treatment of her and said several
other Things which because of her uncommon Style I could not perfectly understand yet they seemed shocking and upon the Whole treated me so rudely that I am determined to leave her to herself and trouble my Head no more about her
For Gods sake dear Sir said Mr Glanville alarmed at this Resolution suspend your Anger till I have seen my Cousin There is some Mistake I am persuaded in all this I know she has some very odd Humours which you are not so well acquainted with as I am Ill go to her and prevail upon her to explain herself
You may do so if you please replied Sir Charles but I fear it will be to very little Purpose for I really suspect her Head is a little turned I do not know what to do with her It is not fit she should have the Management of herself and yet tis impossible to live upon easy Terms with her
Mr Glanville who did not doubt but Arabella had been guilty of some very ridiculous Folly offered nothing more in her Justification but having attended his Father to his own Chamber went to Arabellas Apartment
He found the pensive Fairone in a melancholy Posture her Head reclined upon one of her fair Hands and though her Eyes were fixed upon a Book she held in the other yet she did not seem to read but rather to be wholly buried in Contemplation
Mr Glanville having so happily found her alone for her Women were not then in her Chamber seated himself near her having first
asked Pardon for the Interruption he had given to her Studies and Arabella throwing aside her Book prepared to listen to his Discourse which by the Agitation which appeared in Looks she imagined would be upon some extraordinary Subject
I left my Father just now said he in a great deal of Uneasiness on account of something you said to him Lady Bella He apprehends you are disobliged and he would willingly know how
Has your Father then acquainted you with the Subject of our Conversation interrupted Arabella
I know what would have been the Subject of your Conversation replied Mr Glanville if you had been pleased to listen to what Sir Charles intended to say to you on my Behalf
On your Behalf interrupted Arabella Ah poor deceived Glanville how I pity thy blind Sincerity But it is not for me to undeceive thee Only thus much I must say to you Beware of committing your Interests to a Person who will be a much better Advocate for another than for you
Mr Glanville rejoiced to find by these Words that her Resentment against his Father was occasioned by a Suspicion so favourable for him assured her that Sir Charles wished for nothing more earnestly than that he might be able to merit her Esteem and that it was to dispose her to listen to his Addresses that he wanted to discourse with her that Morning
Mr Glanville being obliged through his Knowlege of his Cousins Temper to speak to her in this distant Manner went on with his Assurances of his Fathers Candour in this Respect and Arabella who would not declare her Reasons for doubting it only replied That she wished Sir Charles meant all that he had said to him but that she could not persuade herself to believe him sincere till his future Actions had convinced her he was so
Mr Glanville impatient to let his Father know how greatly he had been mistaken in the Cause of Arabellas Behaviour made his Visit shorter than he would otherwise have done in order to undeceive him
It is possible said Sir Charles when his Son had repeated the Conversation he had just had with Arabella that she could be so foolish as to imagine I had a Design to propose any one else to her but you What Reason have I ever given her to think I would not be glad to have her for my Daughterinlaw Indeed she has some odd Ways that are very disagreeable but she is one of the best Matches in England for all that Poor Girl pursued he she had Reason to be angry if that was the Case and now I remember she cried when I told her I would leave the House yet her Spirit was so great that she told me I might go Well Ill go and make it up with her but who could have imagined she would have been so foolish Sir Charles at the Repetition of these Words hurried away to Arabellas Apartment
Niece said he at his Entrance I am come to ask you Pardon for having led you into a Belief that I meantÑ
Tis enough Sir interrupted Arabella I grant you my Pardon for what is past and as it does not become me to receive Submissions from my Uncle while he remembers he is so I will dispense with your Acknowlegements at present Only to convince me that this sudden Alteration is sincere avoid I beseech you for the future all Occasions of displeasing me
I protest cried Sir Charles that I never intendedÑ
I will not hear you say a Word more of your past Intentions interrupted Arabella again I have forgot them all and while you continue to regard me as your Niece I will never remember them to your Disadvantage
Then I may hope said Sir CharlesÑ
Oh Heavens cried Arabella not suffering him to proceed do you come to insult me thus with a mock Repentance And has my Easiness in being so ready to forget the Injury you would have done me made you presumptuous enough to cherish an insolent Hope that I will ever change my Resolution
How vexatious is this replied Sir Charles fretting to see her continually mistaking him I swear to you by all that is sacred that tis my Son for whom I would solicit your Consent
How said Arabella astonished Will you then be just at last And can you resolve to plead for that Son whose Interest but a Moment ago you would have destroyed
I see said Sir Charles it is impossible to convince you
No no interrupted Arabella hastily it is not impossible but my own ardent Wishes that it may be so will help to convince me of the Truth of what you say For in fine do you think I shall not be as glad as yourself to find you capable of acting honourably by your Son and to see myself no longer the Cause of the most unjustifiable Conduct imaginable
Sir Charles was opening his Mouth to press her in Favour of Mr Glanville whom notwithstanding her strange Behaviour he was glad to find she loved when Arabella preventing him
Seek not I beseech you said she to destroy that Belief I am willing to give your Words by any more Attempts at this time to persuade me for truly I shall interpret your Solicitude no way in your Favour therefore if you desire I should be convinced you are sincere let the Silence I require of you be one Proof of it
Sir Charles who looked excessively out of Countenance at such a peremptory Command from his Niece was going out of her Chamber in a very ill Humour when the Dinnerbell ringing she gave him her Hand with a very gracions Air and permitted him to lead her into the Diningroom where they found Mr Glanville his Sister and Sir George who had been detained to Dinner by Miss Glanville expecting their coming
Containing some Account of Thalestris Queen of the Amazons with other curious Anecdotes
LADY Bella having recovered her usual Chearfulness thro the Satisfaction she felt at her Uncles returning to Reason and the Abatement she perceived in Sir Georges extreme Melancholy mixed in the Conversation with that Wit and Vivacity which was natural to her and which so absolutely charmed the whole Company that not one of them remembred any of her former Extravagancies
Mr Glanville gazed on her with a passionate Tenderness Sir George with Admiration and the old Baronet with Wonder and Delight
But Miss Glanville who was inwardly vexed at the Superiority her Cousins Wit gave her over herself wished for nothing more than an Opportunity of interrupting a Conversation in which she could have no Share and willing to put them in mind of some of Arabellas strange Notions when she observed them disputing concerning some of the Actions of the antient Romans she very innocently asked Sir George Whether in former times Women went to the Wars and fought like Men For my Cousin added she talks of one Thaltris a Woman that was as courageous as any Soldier whatever
Mr Glanville horridly vexed at a Question that was likely to engage Arabella in a Discourse very different from that she had been so capable of pleasing in frowned very intelligibly at his Sister and to prevent any Answer being given to her absurd Demand directed some other Conversation to Arabella But she who saw a favourite Subject started took no Notice of what Mr Glanville was saying to her but directing her Looks to Sir George
Though Miss Glanville said she be a little mistaken in the Name of that fair Queen she has mentioned yet I am persuaded you know whom she means and that it is the renowned Thalestris whose Valour staggers her Belief and of whom she wants to be informed
Ay ay Thalestris said Miss Glanville It is such a strange Name I could not remember it but pray was there ever such a Person
Certainly Madam there was replied Sir George She was Queen of the Amazons a warlike Nation of Women who possessed great Part of Cappadocia and extended their Conquests so far that they became formidable to all their Neighbours
You find Miss said Arabella I did not attempt to impose upon you when I told you of the admirable Valour of that beautiful Queen which indeed was so great that the united Princes in whose Cause she fought looked upon her Assistance to be equal to that of a whole Army and they honoured her accordingly with the most distinguishing Marks of their Esteem and Acknowlegement and offered her the chief Command of their Forces
O shameful cried Sir Charles offer a Woman the Command of an Army Brave Fellows indeed that would be commanded by a Woman Sure your mistake Niece there never was such a thing heard of in the World
What Sir said Arabella will you contradict a Fact attested by the greatest Historians that ever were You may as well pretend to say there never were such Persons as Oroondates or Juba as dispute the Existence of the famous Thalestris
Why pray Madam said Sir Charles who were those
One of them replied Arabella was the great King of Scythia and the other Prince of the Two Mauritanias
Odsheart interrupted Sir Charles I believe their Kingdoms are in the Moon I never heard of Scythia or the Two Mauritanias before
And yet Sir replied Arabella those Kingdoms are doubtless as well known as France or England and there is no Question but the Descendants of the great Oroondates and the valiant Juba sway the Sceptres of them to this Day
I must confess said Sir George I have a very great Admiration for those Two renowned Princes and have read their beautiful Exploits with infinite Pleasure notwithstanding which I am more inclined to esteem the great Artaban then either of them
Though Artaban replied Arabella is without Question a Warrior equal to either of them and haply no Person in the World possessed so sublime a Courage as his was yet it may be
your Partiality proceeds from another Cause and you having the Honour to resemble him in some little Infidelities he was accused of with less Justice than yourself perhaps induces you to favour him more than any other
Arabella blushed when she ended these Words And Sir George replied with a Sigh
I have indeed the Honour Madam to resemble the great Artaban in having dared to raise my Thoughts towards a Divine Person who with Reason condemns my Adorations
Heyday cried Sir Charles are you going to speak of Divine Things after all the Fables you have been talking of Troth I love to hear young Men enter upon such Subjects But pray Niece who told you Sir George was an Infidel
Mr Glanville replied Arabella And I am inclined to think he spoke Truth for Sir George has never pretended to deny it
How interrupted Sir Charles I am sorry to hear that I hope you have never added he looking at the young Baronet endeavoured to corrupt my Son with any of your Freethinking Principles I am for every body having Liberty of Conscience but I cannot endure to hear People of your Stamp endeavouring to propagate your mischievous Notions and because you have no Regard for your own future Happiness disturbing other People in the laudable Pursuit of theirs
We will not absolutely condemn Sir George said Arabella till we have heard his History from his own Mouth which he promised some time ago to relate when I desired it
I do not imagine his History is fit to be heard by Ladies said Sir Charles for your Infidels live a strange kind of Life
However that may be replied Arabella we must not dispense with Sir George from performing his Promise I dare say there are no Ladies here who will think the worse of him for freely confessing his Faults
You may answer for yourself if you please Madam said Sir Charles but I hope my Girl there will not say as much
I dare say my Cousin is not so rigid said Arabella She has too much the Spirit of Julia in her to find Fault with a little Infidelity
I am always obliged to you for your Comparisons Cousin said Miss Glanville I suppose this is greatly to my Advantage too
I assure you Madam said Sir George Lady Bella has done you no Injury by the Comparison she has just now made for Julia was one of the finest Princesses in the World
Yet she was not free from the Suspicion of Infidelity replied Arabella but though I do not pretend to tax my Cousin with that Fault yet it is with a great deal of Reason that I say she resembles her in her volatile Humour
I was never thought to be illhumoured in my Life Madam said Miss Glanville colouring and I cannot imagine what Reason I have given you for saying I am
Nay Cousin said Arabella I am not condemning your Humour for to say the Truth there are a great many Charms in a volatile Disposition and notwithstanding the admirable Beauty of Julia it is possible she made as
many Slaves by her light and airy Carriage as she did by her Eyes though they were the fairest in the World except the divine Cleopatras
Cleopatra cried Sir Charles Why she was a Gypsey was she not
I never heard her called so said Arabella gravely and I am apt to believe you are not at all acquainted with her But pray pursued she let us wave this Discourse at present and prepare to listen to Sir Georges Relation of his Life which I dare say is full of very extraordinary Events However Sir added she directing her Speech to the young Baronet I am afraid your Modesty will induce you to speak with less Candour than you ought of those great Actions which questionless you have performed Therefore we shall hear your History with greater Satisfaction from the Mouth of your faithful Squire who will not have the same Reasons that you have for suppressing what is most admirable in the Adventures of your Life
Since it is your Pleasure Madam replied Sir George to hear my Adventures I will recount them as well as I am able my self to the end that I may have an Opportunity of obliging you by doing some Violence to my natural Modesty which will not suffer me to relate Things the World have been pleased to speak of to my Advantage without some little Confusion
Then casting down his Eyes he seemed to be recollecting the most material Passages in his Life Mr Glanville though he could have
wished he had not indulged Arabella in her ridiculous Request was not able to deny himself the Diversion of hearing what Kind of History he would invent and therefore resolved to stay and listen to him
Miss Glanville was also highly delighted with the Proposal but Sir Charles who could not conceive there could be any thing worth listening to in a young Rakes Account of himself got up with an Intention to walk in the Garden when perceiving it rained he changed his Resolution and resuming his Seat prepared to listen as every one else did to the expected Story
When Sir George after having paused a Quarter of an Hour longer during which all the Company observed a profound Silence began his Relation in this Manner addressing himself to Arabella
End of the Fifth BOOK
Containing the Beginning of Sir Georges History in which the ingenious Relater has exactly copied the Stile of Romance
THOUGH at present Madam you behold me in the Quality of a private Gentleman in the Possession only of a tolerable Estate yet my Birth is illustrious enough My Ancestors having formerly worn a Crown which as they won by their Valour so they lost by their Misfortune only
How interrupted Sir Charles are you descended from Kings Why I never heard you say so before Pray Sir how far are you removed from Royal Blood and which of your Forefathers was it that wore a Crown
Sir replied Sir George it is not much more than Eight hundred Years since my Ancestors who were Saxons swayed the Sceptre of Kent and from the first Monarch of that mighty Kingdom am I lineally descended
Pray where may that Kingdom of Kent lie said Sir Charles
InÑreplied Sir George
A mighty Kingdom indeed said Sir Charles Why it makes but a very small Part of the Kingdom of Britain now Well if your Ancestors were Kings of that County as it is now called it must be confessed their Dominions were very small
However that may be said Arabella it raises Sir George greatly in my Esteem to hear he is descended from Kings for truly a Royal Extraction does infinitely set off noble and valiant Actions and inspires only lofty and generous Sentiments Therefore illustrious Prince for in that Light I shall always consider you be assured though Fortune has despoiled you of your Dominions yet since she cannot deprive you of your Courage and Virtue Providence will one Day assist your noble Endeavours to recover your Rights and place you upon the Throne of your Ancestors from whence you have been so inhumanly driven Or haply to repair that Loss your Valour may procure you
other Kingdoms no less considerable than that to which you was born
For Heavens sake Niece said Sir Charles How come such improbable Things into your Head Is it such an easy Matter think you to conquer Kingdoms that you can flatter a young Man who has neither Fleets nor Armies with such strange Hopes
The great Artaban Sir resumed Arabella had neither Fleets nor Armies and was Master only of a single Sword yet he soon saw himself greater than any King disposing the Destinies of Monarchs by his Will and deciding the Fates of Empires by a single Word But pray let this Dispute rest where it is and permit Sir George to continue his Relation
It is not necessary Madam resumed Sir George to acquaint you with the Misfortunes of my Family or relate the several Progressions it made towards the private Condition in which it now is For besides that reciting the Events of so many Hundred Years may haply in some measure try your Patience I should be glad if you would dispense with me from entering into a Detail of Accidents that would sensibly afflict me It shall suffice therefore to inform you that my Father being a peaceable Man fond of Retirement and Tranquillity made no Attempts to recover the Sovereignty from which his Ancestors had been unjustly expelled but quietly beheld the Kingdom of Kent in the Possession of other Masters while he contented himself with the Improvement of that small Pittance of Ground which was all
that the unhappy Prince Veridomer my Grandfather was able to bequeath to him
Heyday cried Sir Charles Will you newchristen your Grandfather when he has been in his Grave these Forty Years I knew honest Sir Edmard Bellmour very well though I was but a Youth when he died but I believe no Person in Kent ever gave him the Title of Prince Veridomer Fie fie these are idle Brags
Sir George without taking Notice of the old Baronets Heat went on with his Narration in this manner
Things were in this State Madam when I was born I will not trouble you with the Relation of what I did in my Infancy
No pray skip over all that interrupted Sir Charles I suppose your Infancy was like other Peoples What can there be worth hearing in that
You are deceived Sir said Arabella The Infancy of illustrious Personages has always something very extraordinary in it and from their childish Words and Actions there have been often Presages drawn of their future Greatness and Glory
Not to disoblige Sir Charles however said the young Prince of Kent I will not repeat many things which I said and did in the first Years of my Life that those about me thought very surprising and from them prognosticated that very strange Accidents would befal me
I have been a Witness of some very unfavourable Prognostics of you said Sir Charles
smiling for you was the most unlucky bold Spark that ever I knew in my Life
Tis very certain pursued Sir George that the Forwardness of my Spirit gave great Uneasiness to my Father who being as I said before inclinable to a peaceable and sedentary Life endeavoured as much as possible to repress that Vivacity in my Disposition which he feared might involve me in dangerous Enterprizes The Pains he took in my Education I recompensed by a more than ordinary Docility and before I was Thirteen performed all my Exercises with a marvelous Grace and if I may dare say so was at those early Years the Admiration and Wonder of all that saw me
Lady Bella had some Reason to fear your Modesty I find said Sir Charles smiling for methinks you really speak too slightly of your Excellencies
However that may be resumed Sir George my Father saw these early Instances of a towering Genius in me with a Pleasure chastened by his Fears that the Grandeur of my Courage would lead me to attempt something for the Recovery of that Kingdom which was my Due and which might haply occasion his losing me
Possessed with these Thoughts he carefully avoided saying any thing to me concerning the glorious Pretences to which my Birth gave me a Right and often wished it had been possible for him to conceal from me that I was the true and lawful Heir of the Kingdom of Kent a Circumstance he never chose to mention to
any Person and would have been glad if it had always remained a Secret
And so it was a Secret interrupted Sir Charles for till this Day I never heard of it and it might still have been a Secret if you had pleased for nobody I dare say would suspect such a Thing and very few I believe will be inclined to think there is any thing in such an improbable Tale
Notwithstanding all my Fathers Endeavours to the contrary Madam pursued Sir George I cherished those towering Sentiments the Knowledge of my Birth inspired me with and it was not without the utmost Impatience that I brooked the private Condition to which I found myself reduced
Cruel Fate would I sometimes cry was it not enough to deprive me of that Kingdom which is my Due and subject me to a mean and inglorious State but to make that Condition infinitely more grievous must thou give me a Soul towering above my abject Fortune A Soul that cannot but disdain the base Submission I must pay to those who triumph in the Spoils of my ruined House A Soul which sees nothing above its Hopes and Expectations And in fine a Soul that excites me daily to attempt Things worthy of my Birth and those noble Sentiments I inherit from my great Forefathers Ah pursued I unhappy Bellmour what hinders thee from making thyself known and acknowleged for what thou art What hinders thee from boldly asserting thy just and natural Rights and
from defying the Usurper who detains them from thee What hinders thee I say
What Interrupted Sir Charles why the Fear of a Halter I suppose There is nothing more easy than to answer that Question
Such Madam said Sir George were the Thoughts which continually disturbed my Imagination and doubtless they had not failed to push me on to some hazardous Enterprize had not a fatal Passion interposed and by its sweet but dangerous Allurements stifled for a while that Flame which Ambition and the Love of Glory kindled in my Soul
Sir George here pausing and fixing his Eyes with a melancholy Air on the Ground as if prest with a tender Remembrance
Mr Glanville asked him similing If the Thoughts of poor Dolly disturbed him Pray added he give us the History of your first Love without any Mixture of Fable or shall I take the Trouble off you For you know I am very well acquainted with your Affair with the pretty Milkmaid and can tell it very succinctly
Tis true Sir said Sir George sighing I cannot recall the Idea of Dorothea into my Remembrance without some Pain That fair but unfaithful Shepherdess who first taught me to sigh and repaid my Tenderness with the blackest Infidelity Yet I will endeavour to compose myself and go on with my Narration
Be pleased to know then Madam pursued Sir George that having my Thoughts in this
manner wholly employed with the Disasters of my Family I had arrived to my seventeenth Year without being sensible of the Power of Love but the Moment now arrived which was to prove fatal to my Liberty Following the Chace one Day with my Father and some other Gentlemen I happened to lag a little behind them and being taken up with my ordinary Reflections I lost my Way and wandered a long time without knowing or considering whither I was going Chance at last conducted me to a pleasant Valley surrounded with Trees and being tired with riding I lighted and tying my Horse to a Tree walked forward with an Intention to repose myself a few Moments under the Shade of one of those Trees that had attracted my Observation But while I was looking for the most convenient Place I spied at the Distance of some few Yards from me a Woman lying asleep upon the Grass Curiosity tempted me to go nearer this Person and advancing softly that I might not disturb her I got near enough to have a View of her Person But ah Heavens what Wonders did my Eyes encounter in this ViewÑThe Age of this fair Sleeper seemed not to exceed Sixteen her Shape was formed with the exactest Symmetry one of her Hands supported her Head the other as it lay carelesly stretched at her Side gave me an Opportunity of admiring its admirable Colour and Proportion The thin Covering upon her Neck discovered Part of its inimitable Beauty to my Eyes but her Face her lovely Face fixed all my Attention
Certain it is Madam that out of this Company it would be hard to find any thing so perfect as what I now viewed Her Complexion was the purest White imaginable heightened by the inchanting Glow which dyed her fair Cheeks with a Colour like that of a newblown Rose Her Lips formed with the greatest Perfection and of a deeper Red seemed to receive new Beauties from the Fragrance of that Breath that parted from them Her auburn Hair fell in loose Ringlets over her Neck and some straggling Curls that played upon her fair Forehead set off by a charming Contrast the Whitness of that Skin it partly hid Her Eyes indeed were closed and though I knew not whether their Colour and Beauty were equal to those other Miracles in her Face yet their Proportion seemed to be large and the snowy Lids which covered them were admirably set off by those long and fable Lashes that adorned them
For some Moments I gazed upon this lovely Sleeper wholly lost in Wonder and Admiration
Where whispered I where has this Miracle been concealed that my Eyes were never blessed with the Sight of her before These Words though I uttered them softly and with the utmost Caution yet by the murmuring Noise they made caused an Emotion in the beauteous Sleeper that she started and presently after opened her Eyes But what Words shall I find to express the Wonder the Astonishment and Rapture which the Sight of those bright Stars inspired me with The Flames which darted
from those glorious Orbs cast such a dazling Splendor upon a Sight too weak to bear a Radiance so unusual that stepping back a few Paces I contemplated at a Distance that Brightness which began already to kindle a consuming Fire in my Soul
Bless me interrupted Sir Charles confounded at so pompous a Description who could this be
The pretty Milkmaid Dolly Acorn replied Mr Glanville gravely Did you never see her Sir when you was at your Seat atÑ She used often to bring Cream to my Lady
Aye aye replied Sir Charles I remember her She was a very pretty Girl And so it was from her Eyes that all those Splendors and Flames came that had like to have burnt you up Sir George Well well I guess how the Story will end Pray let us hear it out
I have already told you Madam resumed Sir George the marvelous Effects the Sight of those bright Eyes produced upon my Spirit I remained fixed in a Posture of Astonishment and Delight and all the Faculties of my Soul were so absorbed in the Contemplation of the Miracles before me that I believe had she still continued before my Eyes I should never have moved from the Place where I then stood But the fair Virgin who had spied me at the small Distance to which I was retired turned hastily about and flew away with extraordinary Swiftness
When Love now lending me Wings whom Admiration had before made motionless I persued her so eagerly that at last I overtook her
and throwing myself upon my Knees before her
Stay I conjure you cried I and if you be a Divinity as your celestial Beauty makes me believe do not refuse the Adoration I offer you But if as I most ardently wish you are a Mortal though sure the fairest that ever graced the Earth stop a Moment to look upon a Man whose Respects for you as a Mortal fall little short of those Adorations he offers you as a Goddess
I cant but think cried Sir Charles laughing how poor Dolly must be surprised at such a rhodomontade Speech
Oh Sir replied Mr Glanville you will find she will make as good a one
Will she by my Troth said Sir Charles I dont know how to believe it
This Action pursued Sir George and the Words I uttered a little surprised that fair Maid and brought a Blush into her lovely Cheeks but recovering herself she replied with an admirable Grace
I am no Divinity said she and therefore your Adorations are misplaced But if as you say my Countenance moves you to any Respect for me give me a Proof of it by not endeavouring to hold any further Discourse with me which is not permitted me from one of your Sex and Appearance
A very wise Answer indeed interrupted Sir Charles again Very few Town Ladies would have disclaimed the Title of Goddess if their Lovers had thought proper to bestow it
upon them I am mightily pleased with the Girl for her Ingenuity
The Discretion of so young a Damsel resumed Sir George charmed me no less than her Beauty and I besought her with the utmost Earnestness to permit me a longer Conversation with her
Fear not lovely Virgin said I to listen to the Vows of a Man who till he saw you never learnt to sigh My Heart which defended its Liberty against the Charms of many admirable Ladies yields without Reluctance to the pleasing Violence your Beauties lay upon me Yes too charming and dangerous Stranger I am no longer my own Master It is in your Power to dispose of my Destiny Consider therefore I beseech you whether you can consent to see me die For I swear to you by the most sacred Oaths unless you promise to have some Compassion on me I will no longer behold the Light of Day
You may easily conceive Madam that considering this lovely Maid in the Character of a Shepherdess in which she appeared I made her a Declaration of my Passion without thinking myself obliged to observe those Respects which to a Person of equal Rank with myself Decorum would not have permitted me to forget
However she repelled my Boldness with so charming a Modesty that I began to believe she might be a Person of illustrious Birth disguised under the mean Habit she wore But having requested her to inform me who she was she told me her Name was Dorothea and that
she was Daughter to a Farmer that lived in the neighbouring Valley This Knowlege increasing my Confidence I talked to her of my Passion without being the least afraid of offending her
And therein you was greatly to blame said Arabella For truly though the fair Dorothea told you she was Daughter to a Farmer yet in all Probability she was of a much higher Extraction if the Picture you have drawn of her be true
The fair Arsinoe Princess of Armenia was constrained for a while to conceal her true Name and Quality and pass for a simple Countrywoman under the Name of Delia Yet the generous Philadelph Prince of Cilicia who saw and loved her under that Disguise treated her with all the Respect he would have done had he known she was the Daughter of a King In like manner Prince Philoxipes who fell in Love with the beautiful Policrete before he knew she was the Daughter of the great Solon and while he looked upon her as a poor Stranger born of mean Parents nevertheless his Love supplying the Want of those Advantages of Birth and Fortune he wooed her with a Passion as full of Awe and Delicacy as if her Extraction had been equal to his own And therefore those admirable Qualities the fair Dorothea possessed might also have convinced you she was not what she seemed but haply some great Princess in Disguise
To tell you the Truth Madam replied Sir George notwithstanding the fair Dorothea informed me she was of a mean Descent I could
not easily forego the Opinion that she was of an illustrious Birth And the Histories of those fair Princesses you have mentioned coming into my Mind I also thought it very possible that this divine Person might either be the Daughter of a great King or Lawgiver like them but being wholly engrossed by the Violence of my newborn Affection I listened to nothing but what most flattered my Hopes and addressing my lovely Shepherdess with all the Freedom of a Person who thinks his Birth much superior to hers she listened to my Protestations without any seeming Reluctance and condescended to assure me before we parted that she did not hate me So fair a Beginning seemed to promise me the most favourable Fortune I could with Reason expect I parted from my fair Shepherdess with a thousand Vows of Fidelity exacting a Promise from her that she would meet me as often as she conveniently could and have the Goodness to listen to those Assurances of inviolable Tenderness my Passion prompted me to offer her When she left me it seemed as if my Soul had forsaken my Body to go after her My Eyes pursued her Steps as long as she was in Sight I envied the Ground she prest as she went along and the Breezes that kissed that celestial Countenance in their Flight
For some Hours I stood in the same Posture in which she had left me contemplating the sudden Change I had experienced in my Heart and the Beauty of that divine Image which was now engraven in it Night drawing on I began to think of going home and untying my
Horse I returned the Way I had come and at last struck into a Road which brought me to the Place where I parted from the Company from whence I easily found my Way home so changed both in my Looks and Carriage that my Father and all my Friends observed the Alteration with some Surprize
In which Sir George continuing his surprising History relates a most stupendous Instance of a Valour only to be parallelled by that of the great Oroondates Caesareo c c c
FOR some Months continued Sir George I prosecuted my Addresses to the admirable Dorothea and I flattered myself with a Hope that I had made some Progress in her Heart But alas this deceitful Fairone who only laughed at the Torments she made me endure at the time she vowed eternal Constancy to me gave her Hand to a Lover of her Fathers providing and abandoned me without Remorse to the most cruel Despair
I will not trouble you Madam with the Repetition of those Complaints which this perfidious Action drew from me for a long time At length my Courage enabling me to overcome the Violence of my Grief I resolved to think of the ungrateful Dorothea no more and
the Sight of another Beauty completing my Cure I no longer remembred the unfaithful Shepherdess but with Indifference
Thus Madam have I faithfully related one of those Infidelities wherewith my Enemies slander me who can support their Assertion with no better Proof than that I did not die when Dorothea abandoned me But I submit it to your Candour whether an unfaithful Mistress deserved such an Instance of Affection from a Lover she had betrayed
Why really replied Arabella after a little Pause you had some Excuse to plead for your Failure in this Point And though you cannot be called the most perfect amongst Lovers seeing you neither died nor was in Danger of dying yet neither ought you to be ranked among those who are most culpable But pray proceed in your Story I shall be better able to form a right Judgment of your Merit as a Lover when I have heard all your Adventures
My Passion for Dorothea resumed Sir George being cured by her Treachery towards me the Love of Glory began again to revive in my Soul I panted after some Occasion to signalize my Valour which yet I had met with no Opportunity of doing but hearing that a mighty Army was preparing to march upon a secret Expedition I privately quitted my Fathers Seat and attended only by my faithful Squire I took the same Route the Army had taken and arrived the Day before the terrible Battle ofÑwas fought where without making myself known I performed such Prodigies of Valour as astonished all who beheld
me Without doubt I should have been highly caressed by the Commander who certainly would have given me the Honour of a Victory my Sword alone had procured for him but having unwittingly engaged myself too far in Pursuit of the flying Enemy I found myself alone encompassed with a Party of about Five hundred Men who seeing they were pursued only by a single Man faced about and prepared to kill or take me Prisoner
Pray Sir interrupted Sir Charles when did all this happen And how came it to pass that your Friends have been ignorant to this Moment of those Prodigies of Valour you performed at that Battle I never heard you was ever in a Battle Fame has done you great Injustice by concealing the Part you had in that famous Victory
The great Care I took to conceal myself replied Sir George was one Reason why my Friends did not attribute to me the Exploits which the Knight in black Armour who was no other than myself performed and the Accident I am going to relate prevented my being discovered while the Memory of those great Exploits were yet fresh in the Minds of those I had so greatly obliged
Be pleased to know therefore Madam that seeing myself about to be encompassed by this Party of the Enemy I disdained to fly and though I was alone resolved to sustain their Attack and sell my Life as dear as possible
Why if you did so you was a Madman cried Sir Charles in a Heat The bravest Man that ever lived would not have presumed to
fight with so great a Number of Enemies What could you expect but to be cut in Pieces Pooh pooh dont think any body will credit such a ridiculous Tale I never knew you was so addicted toÑ
Lying perhaps the good Knight would have said but Sir George who was concerned he was present at his Legend and could not blame him for doubting his Veracity prevented his Utterance of a Word he would be obliged to take ill by abruptly going on with his Story
Placing my Back therefore against a Tree pursued he to prevent my being assaulted behind I presented my Shield to the Boldest of these Assailants who having struck an impotent Blow upon it as he was lifting up his Arm to renew his Attack I cut it off with one Stroke of my Sword and the same Instant plunged it to the Hilt in the Breast of another and clove the Scull of a Third who was making at me in two Parts
Sir Charles at this Relation burst into a loud Fit of Laughter and being more inclined to divert himself than be offended at the Folly and Vanity of the young Baronet he permitted him to go on with his surprising Story without giving him any other Interruption
These Three Executions Madam pursued Sir George were the Effects only of so many Blows which raised such Indignation in my Enemies that they prest forward in great Numbers to destroy me but having as I before said posted myself so advantageously that I could only be assaulted before not more than
Three or Four could attack me at one time The Desire of lengthening out my Life till happily some Succour might come to my Relief so invigorated my Arm and added to my ordinary Strength an almost irresistible Force that I dealt Death at every Blow and in less than a quarter of an Hour saw more than Fifty of my Enemies at my Feet whose Bodies served for a Bulwark against their Fellows Swords
The Commander of this little Body not having Generosity enough to be moved with those prodigious Effects of my Valour in my Favour was transported with Rage at my Resistance and the Sight of so many of his Men slain before his Face served only to increase his Fury and that Moment seeing that with Two more Blows I had sent Two of his most valiant Soldiers to the Shades and that the rest fearing to come within the Length of my Sword had given me a few Moments Respite
Ah Cowards cried he are you afraid of a single Man And will you suffer him to escape from your Vengeance who has slain so many of your brave Comrades before your Eyes
These Words inspiring them with a Fierceness such as he desired they advanced towards me with more Fury than before By this time I had received several large Wounds and my Blood ran down from many Parts of my Body Yet was I not sensible of any Decay of Strength nor did the settled Designs of my Enemies to destroy me daunt me in the least I still relied upon the Assistance I expected Providence
would send to my Relief and determined if possible to preserve my Life till it arrived
I fought therefore with a Resolution which astonished my Enemies but did not move them to any Regard for my Safety And observing their brutal Commander a few Paces from me encouraging his Men both with his Cries and Gestures Indignation against this inhuman Wretch so transported me out of my Discretion that I quitted my Post in order to sacrifice him to my Revenge
Seeing me advance furiously towards him he turned pale with Fear and endeavoured to shelter himself in the midst of his Men who more valiant than himself opposed themselves to my Rage to favour his Retreat But quickly clearing myself a Way with my Sword I pressed towards the barbarous Coward and ere he could avoid the Blow I aimed at him it struck him senseless at my Feet
My particular Revenge thus satisfied I was sensible of the Fault I had committed in quitting my Post by which I exposed myself to be surrounded by the Enemy I endeavoured to regain it but in vain I was beset on all Sides and now despaired of any Safety and therefore only fought to die courageously and make as many of my Enemies as I could attend my Fall
Exasperated by the Misfortune of their Commander they pressed upon me with redoubled Fury Faint as I was with the Loss of Blood and so fatigued with the past Action and the obstinate Fight I had maintained so long with such a considerable Number I could hardly any
longer lift up my Arm and to complete my Misfortune having thrust my Sword into the Body of one of the forwardest of my Enemies in my endeavouring to regain it it broke in Pieces and the Hilt only remained in my Hand
This Accident completed my Defeat Deprived of my Sword I was no longer capable of making any Defence Several of them pressed upon me at once and throwing me down tied my Hands together behind me Shame and Rage at this Indignity worked so forcibly upon my Spirts weakened as I then was that I fell into a Swoon What happened till my Recovery I am not able to tell but at the Return of my Senses I found myself laid on a Bed in a tolerable Chamber and some Persons with me who kept a profound Silence
A LoveAdventure after the Romantic Taste
RECOLLECTING in a few Moments all that happened to me I could not choose but be surprised at finding myself treated with so little Severity considering I was Prisoner to Persons who had been Witnesses of the great Quantity of Blood I had shed in my own Defence My Wounds had been dressed while I continued in my Swoon and the Faces of those Persons who were about me expressed nothing of Unkindness
After reflecting some time longer on my Situation I called to a young Man who sat near my Bedside and intreated him to inform me Where I was and to whom I was a Prisoner But could get no other Answer to those Questions than a most civil Intreaty to compose myself and not protract the Cure of my Wounds by talking which the Surgeons had declared would be of a bad Consequence and had therefore ordered me to be as little disturbed as possible
Notwithstanding this Remonstrance I repeated my Request promising to be entirely governed by them for the future in what regarded my Health provided they would satisfy me in those Particulars But my Attendant did not so much as reply to those Importunities but to prevent the Continuance of them rose from his Seat and retired to the other End of the Chamber
I passed that Day and several others without being able to learn the Truth of my Condition All this time I was diligently waited on by the two Persons I had first seen neither of whom I could prevail upon to inform me of what I desired to know and judging by this obstinate Reserve and the Manner of my Treatment that there was some Mystery in the Case, I forbore to ask them any more Questions conceiving they had particular Orders not to answer them
The Care that was taken to forward my Cure in Three Weeks entirely restored me to Health I longed impatiently to know what was to be my Destiny and busied myself
in conjecturing it in vain when one Morning an elderly Lady entered my Chamber at whose Appearance my Two Attendants retired
After she had saluted me very civilly and inquired after my Health she seated herself in a Chair near my Bedside and spoke to me in this manner
I make no question Sir but you are surprised at the Manner in which you have been treated and the Care there has been taken to prevent discovering to you the Place where you now are but you will doubtless be more surprised to hear you are in the Fortress ofÑ and in the House of Prince Marcomire whose Party you fought against alone and whom you so dangerously wounded before you was taken Prisoner by his Men
Is it possible Madam said I who from the first Moment of her Appearance had been in a strange Perplexity is it possible I am in the House of a Man whose Life I endeavoured so eagerly to destroy And is it to him who oppressed me so basely with Numbers that I am obliged for the Succour I have received
It is not to him replied the Lady that you are obliged for the favourable Treatment you have had but listen to me patiently and I will disclose the Truth of your Adventure
Prince Marcomire who was the Person that headed that Party against which you so valiantly defended yourself after the Loss of the Battle was hastening to throw himself into this Place where his Sister and many Ladies of Quality had come for Security Your indiscreet
Pursuit engaged you in the most unequal Combat that ever was fought andÑ
Nay Sir interrupted Arabella though I do not refuse to give you all the Praises your gallant Defence of yourself against Five hundred Men deserves yet I cannot agree with that Lady in saying it was the most unequal Combat that ever was fought For do but reflect I beseech you upon that which the brave Prince of Mauritania sustained against twice that Number of Men with no other Arms than his Sword and you having been in Battle that Day was as I conceive completely armed The young Prince of Egypt accompanied only by the valiant but indiscreet Cepio his Friend engaged all the King of Armenias Guards and put them all to Flight The courageous Ariobasanes scorned to turn his Back upon a whole Army not to mention the invincible Artaban whom a thousand Armies together could not have made to turn
Be pleased to observe Madam said Sir George that to the end I may faithfully recount my History I am under a Necessity of repeating Things which haply may seem too advantageous for a Man to say of himself Therefore I indeed greatly approve of the Custom which no doubt this Inconveniency introduced of a Squire who is thoroughly instructed with the Secrets of his Masters Heart relating his Adventures and giving a proper Eulogium of his rare Valour without being in Danger of offending the Modesty of the renowned Knight who as you know Madam upon those Occasions commodiously slips away
It being however this Ladys Opinion that no Man ever undertook a more hazardous Combat or with greater Odds against him she did not fail to express her Admiration of it in very high Terms
The Noise of this Accident pursued she was soon spread over the whole Town and the beautiful Sydimiris Marcomires Sister hearing that her Brother was wounded as it was thought to Death and that the Person who killed him was taken Prisoner she flew out to meet her wounded Brother distracted with Grief and vowing to have the severest Tortures executed on him who had thus barbarously murdered her Brother Those who bore that unhappy Prince having brought him into the House his Wounds were searched and the Surgeons declared they were very dangerous
Sydimiris hearing this redoubled her Complaints and Vows of Vengeance against you Her Brother having then the chief Authority in the Place she commanded in his Name to have you brought hither and to be most strictly guarded determined if her Brother died to sacrifice you to his Ghost
Full of these sanguinary Resolutions she left his Chamber having seen him laid in Bed and his Wounds dressed but passing along a Gallery to her own Apartment she met the Persons who were bringing you to the Room that was to be your Prison You was not pursued the Lady yet recovered from your Swoon so that they carried you like one that was dead They had taken off your Helmet to give you
Air by which means your Face being quite uncovered pale languishing and your Eyes closed as if in Death presented the most moving and at the same time most pleasing Object in the World
Sydimiris who stopt and for a Moment eagerly gazed upon you lost all of a sudden the Fierceness which before had animated her against you And lifting up her Eyes to view those Men that carried you
Are you sure said she to them that this is the Person who wounded my Brother
Yes Madam replied one of them this must be he since there was no other in his Company and he alone sustained the Attack of Five hundred Men and would probably not have left one of them alive had not his Sword by breaking put it into our Power to take him Prisoner
Carry him away said Sydimiris but let his Wounds be dressed and let him be carefully looked to that if my Brother dies he may be punished as he deserves
Pronouncing these Words in a low and faltering Voice she turned her Eyes a second time upon you then hastily averting her Looks she hurried to her own Chamber and threw herself into a Chair with all the Marks of a very great Disturbance
The Affection I have for her being the Person who had brought her up and most favoured with her Confidence made me behold her in this Condition with great Concern and supposing it was her Brother that disquieted her I besought her not to give way to the Violence
of her Grief but to hope that Heaven would restore him to her Prayers
Alas my dear Urinoe said she I am more culpable than you can imagine and I grieve less for the Condition to which I see Marcomire reduced than for that Moderation wherewith I am constrained spite of myself to behold his Enemy
Yes dear Urinoe pursued she blushing and casting down her Eyes the Actions of this Unknown appear to me in quite another Light since I have seen him and instead of looking upon him as the Murderer of my Brother I cannot help admiring that rare Valour with which he defended himself against so great a Number of Enemies and am even ready to condemn the furious Marcomire for oppressing so brave a Man
As I had never approved of those violent Transports of Grief and Rage which she had expressed upon the first News of her Brothers Misfortune and as I looked upon your glorious Defence with the utmost Admiration so far from condemning the Change of her Thoughts I confirmed her in the favourable Opinion she began to entertain of you and continuing to make Remarks upon all the Particulars of the Combat which had come to our Knowlege we found nothing in your Behaviour but what increased our Admiration
Sydimiris therefore following the Dictates of her own Generosity as well as my Advice placed Two Persons about you whose Fidelity we could rely on and gave them Orders to treat you with all imaginable Care and Respect
but not to inform you of the Place in which you was or to whom you was Prisoner
In the mean time Marcomire whose Wounds had been again examined was declared out of Danger by the Surgeons and he having understood the Excess of his Sisters Grief and the Revenge she had vowed against you gave her Thanks for those Expressions of her Tenderness and also uttered some Threats which intimated a violent Hatred against you and a Design of prosecuting his Revenge upon you as soon as he was in a Condition to leave his Chamber
Sydimiris who heard him could with Difficulty dissemble her Concern
Ah Urinoe said she to me when we were alone tis now that I more than ever repent of that Excess of Rage which transported me against the brave Unknown I have thereby put him intirely into my Brothers Power and shall be haply accessary to that Death he is meditating for him or else a perpetual Imprisonment
This Reflection gave her so much Pain that I could not choose but pity her and considering that the only way to preserve you was for her to dissemble a Rage equal to Marcomires against you in order to prevent being suspected of any Design in your Favour I persuaded her to join with him in every thing he said while in the mean time we would endeavour to get you cured of your Wounds that you might at least be in a Condition once more
to defend yourself with that miraculous Valour Heaven has bestowed on you
Sydimiris perceiving her Brother would soon be in a Condition to execute his Threats resolved to hazard every thing rather than to expose you to his Rage She therefore communicated to me her Design of giving you Liberty and by presenting a sufficient Reward to your Guard inducing them to favour your Escape
I undertook to manage this Business in her Name and have done it so effectually that you will this Night be at Liberty and may depart the Town immediately in which it will be dangerous to stay any time for fear of being discovered
Sydimiris forbad me to let you know the Person to whom you would be obliged for your Freedom but I could not endure that you should unjustly involve the Sister of Marcomire in that Resentment you will questionless always preserve against him and to keep you from being innocently guilty of Ingratitude I resolved to acquaint you with the Nature of those Obligations you owe to her
The Adventure continued
AH Madam said I perceiving she had finished her Discourse doubt not but I shall most gratefully preserve the Remembrance of what the generous Sydimiris has done for me
and shall always be ready to lose that Life in her Defence which she has had the superlative Goodness to take so much Care of But Madam pursued I with an earnest Look do not I beseech you refuse me one Favour without which I shall depart with inconceivable Sorrow
Depend upon it valiant Sir replied she that if what you will require of me be in my Power and fit for me to grant I shall very willingly oblige you
It is then resumed I trembling at the Boldness of my Request that you would condescend to intreat the most generous Sydimiris to favour me with an Interview and give me an Opportunity of throwing myself at her Feet to thank her for all those Favours I have received from her Compassion
I cannot promise you replied the Lady rising to prevail upon Sydimiris to grant you an Audience but I assure you that I will endeavour to dispose her to do you this Favour and it shall not be my Fault if you are not satisfied
Saying this she went out of my Chamber I having followed her to the Door with Protestations that I would never forget her Kindness upon this Occasion
I past the rest of that Day in an anxious Impatience for Night divided between Fear and Hope and more taken up with the Thoughts of seeing Sydimiris than with my expected Liberty
Night came at last and the Door of my Apartment opening I saw the Lady who had been with me in the Morning enter
I have prevailed upon Sydimiris to see you said she and she is willing at my Intreaty to grant that Favour to a Person who she with Reason thinks has been inhumanly treated by her Brother
Then giving me her Hand she conducted me along a large Gallery to a stately Apartment and after traversing several Rooms she led me into one where Sydimiris herself was Who as soon as she perceived me rose from her Seat and received me with great Civility
In the Transport I then was I know not how I returned the grateful Salute the incomparable Sydimiris gave me for most certain it is that I was so lost in Wonder at the Sight of the many Charms I beheld in her Person that I could not unlock my Tongue or remove my Eyes from her inchanting Face but remained fixed in a Posture which at once expressed my Admiration and Delight
To give you a Description of that Beauty which I then contemplated I must inform you Madam that Sydimiris is tall of a handsome Stature and admirably proportioned her Hair was of the finest Black in the World her Complexion marvelously fair and all the Lineaments of her Visage were perfectly beautiful and her Eyes which were large and black sparkled with so quick and piercing a Fire that no Heart was able to resist their powerful Glances Moreover Sydimiris is admirably shaped her Port is high and noble and her Air so free yet so commanding that there are few Persons in the World with whom she may not dispute the Priority of Beauty In fine
Madam Sydimiris appeared with so many Advantages to a Spirit prepossessed already with the most grateful Sense of her Favours that I could not resist the sweet Violence wherewith her Charms took Possession of my Heart I yielded therefore without Reluctance to my Destiny and resigned myself in an Instant to those Fetters which the Sight of the Divine Sydimiris prepared for me Recovering therefore a little from that Admiration which had so totally ingrossed all my Faculties I threw myself at her Feet with an Action wholly composed of Transport
Divine Sydimiris said I beholding her with Eyes in which the Letters of my newborn Passion might very plainly be read see at your Feet a Man devoted to your Service by all the Ties of Gratitude and Respect I come Madam to declare to you that from the First Moment you gave me Liberty I had devoted that and my Life to you and at your Feet I confirm the Gift protesting by all that is most dear and sacred to me that since I hold my Life from the Divine Sydimiris she alone shall have the absolute Disposal of it for the future and shuld she please again to demand it either to appease her Brothers Fury or to sacrifice it to her own Security I will most faithfully perform her Will and shed the last Drop of that Blood at her Command which I would with Transport lose in her Defence
A fine highflown Speech indeed said Sir Charles laughing but I hope you did not intend to keep your Word
Sure Sir replied Arabella you do not imagine that Sir George would have failed in executing all he had promised to the beautiful and generous Sydimiris What could he possibly have said less And indeed what less could she have expected from a Man whom at the Hazard of her own Life and Happiness she had given Freedom to
I accompanied these Words Madam pursued Sir George with so passionate a Look and Accent that the fair Sydimiris blushed and for a Moment cast down her Eyes with a visible Confusion At last
Sir replied she I am too well satisfied with what I have done with respect to your Safety to require any Proofs of your Gratitude that might be dangerous to it and shall remain extremely well satisfied if the Obligations you think you owe me may induce you to moderate your Resentment against my Brother for the cruel Treatment you received from him
Doubt not Madam interrupted I eagerly but I shall in the Person of Marcomire regard the Brother of the divine Sydimiris and that Consideration will be sufficient not only to make me forget all the Violences he committed against me but even to desend his Life if need be with the Hazard of my own
Excessively generous indeed said Sir Charles I never heard any thing like it
Oh dear Sir replied Arabella there are numberless Instances of equal and even superior Generosity to be met with in the L¥ves of the Heroes of Antiquity You will there see a Lover whose Mistress has been taken from
him either by Treachery or Force venture his Life in Defence of the injurious Husband who possesses her and though all his Felicity depends upon his Death yet he will rescue him from it at the Expence of the greater Part of his Blood
Another who after a long and bloody War has by taking his Enemy Prisoner an Opportunity of terminating it honourably yet thro an heroick Principle of Generosity he gives his Captive Liberty without making any Conditions and has all his Work to do over again
A Third having contracted a violent Friendship with the Enemies of his Country through the same generous Sentiments draws his Sword in their Defence and makes no Scruple to fight against an Army where the King his Father is in Person
I must confess said Sir Charles that Generosity seems to me very peculiar that will make a Man fight for his Enemies against his own Father
It is in that Peculiarity Sir said Arabella that his Generosity consists for certainly there is nothing extraordinary in fighting for ones Father and ones Country but when a Man has arrived to such a Pitch of Greatness of Soul as to neglect those mean and selfish Considerations and loving Virtue in the Persons of his Enemies can prefer their Glory before his own particular Interest he is then a perfect Hero indeed Such a one was Oroondates Artaxcrxes and many others I could name who all gave eminent Proofs of their Disinterestedness and Greatness of Soul upon the like Occasions
Therefore not to detract from Sir Georges Merit I must still insist that in the Resolutions he had taken to defend his Enemys Life at the Expence of his own he did no more than what any Man of ordinary Generosity ought to do and what he was particularly obliged to by what the amiable Sydimiris had done for him
I was so happy however Madam continued Sir George to find that those Expressions of my Gratitude wrought somewhat upon the Heart of the lovely Sydimiris in my Favour Her Words discovered as much and her Eyes spoke yet more intelligibly but our Conversation was interrupted by the discreet Urinoe who fearing the Consequence of so long a Stay in her Chamber represented to me that it was time to take my Leave
I turned pale at this cruel Sound and beholding Sydimiris with a languishing Look
Would to Heaven Madam said I that instead of giving me Liberty you would keep me eternally your Prisoner for though a Dungeon was to be the Place of my Confinement yet if it was near you it would seem a Palace to me for indeed I am no longer in a Condition to relish that Freedom you bestow upon me since it must remove me farther from you But I beseech you Madam to believe that in delivering me from your Brothers Fetters you have cast me into your own and that I am more a Prisoner than ever but a Prisoner to so lovely a Conqueror that I do not wish to break my Chains and prefer the sweet and glorious Captivity
I am in to all the Crowns in the World
You are very bold said Sydimiris blushing to entertain me with such Discourse yet I pardon this Offence in Consideration of what you have suffered from my Brother and on Condition that you will depart immediately without speaking another Word
Sydimiris spoke this so earnestly that I durst not disobey her and kissing the Hem of her Robe with a passionate Air I left ber Chamber conducted by Urinoe who having brought me to a private Door which carried us into the Street I there found a Man waiting for me whom I knew to be the same that had attended me during my Stay in that House
Urinoe having recommended to him to see me safe out of the Town I took Leave of her with the most grateful Acknowlegements for her Kindness and followed my Conductor so oppressed with Grief at the Thoughts of leaving the Place where Sydimiris was that I had hardly Strength to walk
An extraordinary Instance of Generosity in a Lover somewhat resembling that of the great Artaxerxes in Cassandra
THE farther I went continued Sir George the more my Regret increased and finding it would be impossible to live and quit
the Divine Sydimiris I all at once took a Resolution to remain in the Town concealed and communicating my Design to my Guide I engaged him to assist me in it by a Present of a considerable Sum which he could not resist Accordingly he left me in a remote Part of the Town and went to find out a convenient Lodging for me which he soon procured and also a Suit of Cloaths to disguise me my own being very rich and magnificent
Having recommended me as a Relation of his who was newly arrived I was received very civilly by the People with whom he placed me and finding this young Man to be very witty and discreet and also very capable of serving me I communicated to him my Intentions by staying which were only to be near the Divine Sydimiris and to have the Happiness of sometimes seeing her when she went abroad
This Man entering into my Meaning assured me he would faithfully keep my Secret and that he would not fail to bring me Intelligence of all that passed in the Palace of Marcomire
I could with Difficulty keep myself from falling at his Feet to express my Sense of his kind and generous Offers but I contented myself with presenting him another Sum of Money larger than the first and assured him of my future Gratitude
He then took Leave and left me to my Reflections which were wholly upon the Image of the Divine Sydimiris and the Happiness of being so near the Object I adored
My Confident came to me the next Day but brought me no other News than that my Escape was not yet known to Marcomire I inquired if he had seen Sydimiris but he replied he had not and that Urinoe had only asked him if he had conducted me safe out of Town To which he had answered as we had agreed that I had got out safe and undiscovered
A Day or two after he brought me News more pleasing for he told me that Sydimiris had sent for him into her Chamber and asked him several Questions concerning me That she appeared very melancholy and even blushed whenever she mentioned my Name
This Account gave sufficient Matter for my Thoughts to work upon for several Days I interpreted Sydimiriss Blush a Thousand different Ways I reflected upon all the different Causes to which it might be owing and busied myself with all those innumerable Conjectures which as you know Madam such an Incident always gives Rise to in a Lovers Imagination At length I explained it to my own Advantage and felt thereby a considerable Increase of my Affection
A whole Week having elapsed without another Sight of my Confidant I began to be greatly alarmed when on the Eighth Day of this cruel Suspense I saw him appear but with so many Marks of Disturbance in his Face that I trembled to hear what he had to acquaint me with
Oh Sir said he as soon as his Concern suffered him to speak Marcomire has discovered
your Escape and the Means by which it was procured One of those in whom Urinoe confided has betrayed it to him and the beauteous Sydimiris is likely to feel the most terrible Effects of his Displeasure He has confined her to her Chamber and vows to sacrifice her Life to the Honour of his Family which he says she has stained and he loads that admirable Lady with so many Reproaches that it is thought her Grief for such undeserved Calumnies will occasion her Death
Scarce had he finished these cruel Words when I who all the time he had been speaking beheld him with a dying Eye sunk down at his Feet in a Swoon which continued so long that he began to think me quite dead However I at last opened my Eyes but it was only to pour forth a River of Tears and to utter Complaints which might have moved the most obdurate Heart
After having a long time tormented myself in weeping and complaining I at last took a Resolution which afforded me some Alleviation of my Grief and the faithful Toxares seeing me a little composed left me to myself with a Promise to return soon and acquaint me with what passed further in the Palace of Marcomire
As soon as he was gone I rose from my Bed and dressing myself in those Cloaths I wore when I was taken Prisoner I went to the Palace of Marcomire and demanding to see him I was told he was in the Apartment of Sydimiris and at my earnest Desire they conducted me thither
When I entered the Room I beheld that incomparable Beauty stretched upon a Couch dissolved in Tears and Urinoe upon her Knees before her accompanying with her own those precious Drops which fell from the bright Eyes of her Mistress
Marcomire who was walking furiously about the Room exclaiming with the utmost Violence against that fair Sufferer did not observe my Entrance so that I had an Opportunity of going towards Sydimiris who lifting up her Eyes to look upon me gave a loud Shriek and by a Look of extreme Anguish let me understand how great her Apprehensions were upon my Account
I am come Madam said I to perform Part of the Promise I made you and by dying to prove your Innocence and freeing you from the Reproaches you suffer on my Account I shall have the Happiness to convince you that my Life is infinitely less dear to me than your Tranquillity Sydimiris who hearkened to me with great Emotion was going to make some Answer when Marcomire alarmed by his Sisters Shriek came towards us and viewing me at first with Astonishment and then with a Smile of Cruelty and Revenge
Is it possible said he that I behold my designed Murderer again in my Power
I am in thy Power said I because I am willing to be so and came voluntarily to put myself into your Hands to free that excellent Lady from the Imputation you have laid on her Know Marcomire that it is to myself alone I owed my Liberty which I would still preserve
against all the Forces thou couldst bring to deprive me of it and this Sword which left thee Life enough to threaten mine would haply once more put yours in Danger were I not restrained by a powerful Consideration which leaves me not the Liberty of even wishing you ill
Ah Dissembler said Marcomire in a Rage think not to impose upon me by thy counterfeited Mildness Thou art my Prisoner once more and I shall take care to prevent your escaping a Second time
I am not your Prisoner replied I while I possess this Sword which has already defended me against greater Numbers than you have here to oppose me but continued I throwing down my Sword at Sydimiriss Feet I resign my Liberty to restore that Lady to your good Opinion and to free her from those base Aspersions thou hast unjustly loaded her with upon my Account
It matters not said the brutal Brother taking up my Sword whether thou hast resigned or I have deprived thee of Liberty but since thou art in my Power thou shall feel all the Effects of my Resentment Take him away pursued he to some of his People put him into the worst Dungeon you can find and let him be guarded carefully upon Pain of Death if he again escapes
With these Words several Men offered to lead me out of the Room but I repulsed them with Disdain and making a low Reverence to Sydimiris whose Countenance expressed the Extremes of Fear and Anguish I followed my
Conductors to the Prison allotted for me which hideous as it was I contemplated with a secret Pleasure since I had by that Action which had brought me into it given a Testimony of my Love for the adorable Sydimiris
In which it will be seen that the Lady is as generous as her Lover
I Passed some Days in this Confinement melancholy enough My Ignorance of the Destiny of Sydimiris gave me more Pain than the Sense of my own Misfortunes and one Evening when I was more then usually disquieted one of my Guard entered my Prison and giving me a Letter retired without speaking a Word I opened this Letter with Precipitation and by the Light of a Lamp which was allowed me I read the following Words
Sydimiris To the most generous Bellmour
IT is not enough to tell you that the Method you took to free me from my Brothers Severity has filled me with the utmost Esteem and Admiration So generous an Action merits a greater Acknowlegement and I will make no Scruple to confess that my Heart is most sensibly touched by it Yes Bellmour I have received this glorious Testimony of your Affection with such a Gratitude as you yourself could have wished to inspire me with and it
shall not be long before you will have a convincing Proof of the Effect it has had upon the Spirit of
Sydimiris
This Letter Madam pursued Sir George being wholly calculated to make me hope that I was not hated by the Divine Sydimiris and that she meditated something in my Favour I resigned myself up to the most delightful Expectations
What cried I transported with the Excess of my Joy Does the most admirable Sydimiris condescend to assure me that I have touched her Heart And does she promise me that I shall receive some convincing Proof of her Acknowlegement
Ah too happy and too fortunate Bellmour to what a glorious Destiny hast thou been reserved And how oughtest thou to adore these Fetters that have procured thee the Esteem of the Divine SydimirisÑ
Such Madam were the Apprehensions which the Billet I had received inspired me with I continually flattered myself with the most pleasing Hopes and during Three Weeks longer in which I heard no more from Sydimiris my Imagination was wholly filled with those sweet Thoughts which her Letter had made me entertain
At length on the Evening of a Day which I had wholly spent in reading over Sydimiriss Letter and interpreting the Sense of it a thousand different Ways but all agreeable to my ardent Wishes I saw the sage Urinoe enter my
Prison accompanied by Toxares whom I had not seen during my last Confinement Wholly transported at the Sight of these Two Friends and not doubting but they had brought me the most agreeable News I ran towards them and throwing my self at Urinoes Feet I begged her in an Ecstacy of Joy to acquaint me with Sydimiriss Commands
Urinoe in some Confusion at this Action intreated me to rise Tis fit cried I in a Transport I could not master that in this Posture I should receive the Knowlege of that Felicity Sydimiris has had the Goodness to promise me Urinoe sighed at these Words and beholding me with a Look of Compassion and Tenderness
Would to God said she that all I have to say were as agreeable as the first News I have to tell you which is that you are free and at Liberty to leave the Town this Moment Sydimiris continued she has bought your Freedom at the Expence of her own and to deliver you from her Brothers Chains she has put on others haply more cruel than those you have worn In fine she has married a Man whom she detested to procure your Liberty her Brother having granted it to her upon that Condition alone
Scarce had Urinoe finished these Words when I fell without Sense or Motion at her Feet Toxares and she who had foreseen what might happen having provided themselves with Cordials necessary to restore me brought me to myself with infinite Trouble
Cruel said I to them with a Tone and Look which witnessed the Excess of my Despair Why have you hindered me from dying at once to prevent the thousand Deaths I shall suffer from my Grief Is this the Confirmation of those glorious Hopes Sydimiris had permitted me to entertain Is this that Proof of the Acknowlegements I was to expect And is it by throwing herself into the Arms of my Rival that she repays those Obligations she thinks she owes me
Ah inhuman Sydimiris was it to make my Despair more poignant that thou flatterest me with such a Prospect of Happiness And was it necessary to the Grandeur of thy Nuptials that my Life should be the Sacrifice
But how unjust am I cried I repenting in an Instant of those injurious Suspicions How unjust am I to accuse the Divine Sydimiris of Inhumanity Was it not to give me Freedom that she bestowed herself upon a Man she hates And has she not made herself miserable for ever to procure me a fansied Happiness
Ah if it be so what a Wretch am I I who have been the only Cause of that Misery to which she has doomed herself Ah Liberty pursued I how I detest thee since purchased by the Misfortune of Sydimiris And how far more sweet and glorious were those Chains which I wore for her sake
My Sighs and Tears leaving me no longer the Power of Speech I sunk down on my Bed oppressd with a mortal Grief
Urinoe and Toxares drew near to comfort me
and said all that sensible and discreet Persons could think of to alleviate my Despair
Though I have heard that Sydimiris is married replied I without dying immediately yet do not imagine that I will suffer this odious Life to continue long If Sorrow do not quickly dispatch me I will seek Death by other Means for since Sydimiris is lost I have no more Business in the World
The charitable Urinoe and Toxares endeavoured in vain to divert me from this sad Resolution when Urinoe finding all their Reasonings ineffectual drew a Letter out of her Pocket and presenting it to me I had Orders said she not to let this Letter be delivered to you till you had left the Town but the Despair to which I see you reduced does I conceive dispense with my rigorous Observation of those Directions
While Urinoe was speaking I opened this Letter trembling and found it as follows
Containing an Incident full as probable as any in Scuderys Romances
Sydimiris To Bellmour
IF that Proof of my Gratitude which I promised to give you fall short of your Expectations blame not the Defect of my Will but the Rigour of my Destiny It was by this
only Way I could give you Liberty nor is it too dearly bought by the Loss of all my Happiness if you receive it as you ought Had I been allowed to follow my own Inclinations there is no Man in the World I would have preferred to yourself I owe this Confession to the Remembrance of your Affection of which you gave me so generous an Instance and the Use I expect you will make of it is to console you under a Misfortune which is common to us both though I haply have most Reason to complain since I could not be just to you without being cruel at the same time or confer a Benefit without loading you with a Misfortune If the Sacrifice I have made of myself for your sake gives me any Claim to the Continuance of your Love I command you by the Power it gives me over you to live and not add to the Miseries of my Condition the Grief of being the Cause of your Death Remember I will look upon your Disobedience as an Act of the most cruel Ingratitude and your Compliance with this Request shall ever be esteemed as the dearest Mark you can give of that Passion you have borne to the unfortunate
Sydimiris
Ah Sydimiris cried I having read this Letter more cruel in your Kindness than Severity After having deprived me of yourself do you forbid me to die and expose me by so rigorous a Command to Ills infinitely more hard and painful than Death
Yes pursued I after a little Pause yes Sydimiris
thou shalt be obeyed we will not dye since thou hast commanded us to live and notwithstanding the Tortures to which thou condemnest us we will obey this Command and give thee a glorious Proof of our present Submission by enduring that Life which the Loss of thee has rendered truly wretched
Urinoe and Toxares somewhat reassured by the Resolution I had taken exhorted me by all the Persuasions Friendship could put in their Mouths to persevere in it and Urinoe bidding me Farewel I endeavoured to prevail upon her to procure me a Sight of Sydimiris once more or at least to bear a Letter from me to her but she refused both these Requests so obstinately telling me Sydimiris would neither consent to the one nor the other that I was obliged to be contented with the Promise she made me to represent my Affliction in a true Light to her Mistress and to assure her that nothing but her absolute Commands could have hindered me from dying Then taking leave of me with much Tenderness she went out of tbe Prison leaving Toxares with me who assisted me to dress and conducted me out of that miserable Place where I had passed so many sad and also joyful Hours At a Gate to which he brought me I found a Horse waiting and having embraced this faithful Confidant with many Expressions of Gratitude I bestowed a Ring of some Value upon him to remember me by and mounting my Horse with a breaking Heart I took the first Road which presented itself to my Eyes and galloped away without knowing whither I went I rode the whole
Night so totally engrossed by my Despair that I did not perceive my Horse was so tired it could hardly carry me a Step farther At last the poor Beast fell down under me so that I was obliged to dismount and looking about me perceived I was in a Forest without seeing the least Appearance of any Habitation
The Wilderness and Solitude of the Place flattered my Despair and while my Horse was feeding upon what Grass he could find I wandered about The Morning just breaking gave me Light enough to direct my Steps Chance at last conducted me to a Cave which seemed to have been the Residence of some Hermit or unfortunate Lover like myself It was dug at the Side of a Rock the Entrance to it thick set with Bushes which hid it from View I descended by a few Steps cut rudely enough and was convinced it had formerly served for a Habitation for some religious or melancholy Person for there were Seats of Turf raised on each Side of it a kind of Bed composed of dried Leaves and Rushes and a Hole made artificially at the Top to admit the Light
While I considered this Place attentively I all at once took up a Resolution inspired by my Despair which was to continue there and indulge my Melancholy in a Retirement so fitted for my Purpose
Giving my Horse therefore Liberty to go where he pleased and hanging up my Arms upon a Tree near my Cave I took Possession of this solitary Mansion with a gloomy Kind of Satisfaction and devoted all my Hours to the Contemplation of my Misfortunes
I lived in this manner Madam for Ten Months without feeling the least Desire to change my Habitation and during all that time no Mortal approached my Solitude so that I lived perfectly secure and undiscovered
A single Combat fought with prodigious Valour and described with amazing Accuracy
GIVE me Leave Sir said Sir Charles to ask If you eat in all this Time
Alas Sir replied Sir George Sighs and Tears were all my Sustenance
Sir Charles Mr Glanville and Miss laughing at this Answer Arabella seemed greatly confused
It is not to be imagined said she that Sir George or to say better Prince Viridmore lived Ten Months without eating any thing to support Nature but such trifling Circumstances are always left out in the Relations of Histories and truly an Audience must be very dull and unapprehensive that cannot conceive without being told that a Man must necessarily eat in the Space of Ten Months
But the Food Sir George lived on replied the Baronet was very unsubstantial and would not afford him much Nourishment
I suppose resumed Arabella he lived upon such Provisions as the Forest afforded him such as wild Fruits Herbs bitter Sallads and the like which considering the Melancholy that possessed him would appear a voluptuous Repast and which the unfortunate Orontes when he was in the same Situation thought infinitely too good for him
Sir Charles finding Arabella took no Notice of the Historians Hyperbole of living upon his Sighs and Tears passed it over for fear of offending her and Sir George who had been in some Anxiety how to bring himself off when he perceived Arabella was reasonable enough to suppose he must have eat during his Abode in the Forest went on with his Relation in this Manner
I lived as I before observed to you Madam in this Cave for Ten Months and truly I was so reconciled to that solitary way of Life and found so much Sweetness in it that I believe I should have remained there till this Day but for the Adventure which I am going to recount
It being my Custom to walk out every Evening in the Forest returning to my Cave something later then usual I heard the Cries of a Woman at some Distance who seemed to be in Distress I stopped to listen from what Side those Cries proceeded and perceiving they seemed to approach nearer to me I took down my Armour from the Tree where I had hung it and hastily arming myself shaped my Course towards the Place from whence those
Complaints seemed to come resolving to assist that unknown Person with all the Strength that was left me
Having gone some Paces I spied through the Branches of the Trees a Man on Horseback with a Lady who struggled to get loose and at times calling aloud for Succour
This Sight inflaming me with Rage against that impious Ravisher I flew towards him And when I came within hearing
Hold Wretch cried I and cease to offer Violence to that Lady whom thou bearest away by Force or prepare to defend thyself against one who will die before he will suffer thee to prosecute thy unjust Designs
The Man without answering me clapped Spurs to his Horse and it would have been impossible to have overtaken him had not my own Horse which had never quitted the Forest appeared in my View I quickly mounted him and followed the Track the Ravisher had taken with such Speed that I came up with him in a Moment
Caitiff said I release the Lady and defend thyself These Words which I accompanied with a thundering Blow upon his Headpiece obliged him to set down the Lady who implored Heaven with the utmost Ardour to grant me the Victory And recoiling back a few Paces to take a View of me
I know not said he for what Reason thou settest thyself to oppose my Designs but I well know that thou shalt dearly repent of thy Temerity
Saying this he advanced furiously towards
me and aimed so heavy a Blow at my Head that had I not received it on my Shield I might haply have no longer been in a Condition to defend the distressed Lady But having with the greatest Dexterity imaginable avoided this Blow I made at him with so much Fierceness and directed my Aims so well that in a few Moments I wounded him in several Places and his Arms were all dyed with his Blood
This good Success redoubled my Vigour and having by a lucky Stroke with my Sword cut the Strings of his Headpiece it fell off And his Head being bare I was going to let fall a dreadful Blow upon it which doubtles¥ would have shivered it in a thousand Pieces when he cried out for Quarter and letting fall his Sword by that Action assured me my Victory was intire
Live Wretch cried I since thou art base enough to value Life after being vanquished but swear upon my Sword that thou wilt never more attempt the Liberty of that Lady
While I was speaking I perceived he was no longer able to sit his Horse But staggering a Moment he fell off and lay extended without Motion upon the Ground Touched with Compassion at this Sight I alighted and supposing him to be in a Swoon was preparing to give him some Assistance but upon my nearer Approach I found he was quite dead
Leaving therefore this mournful Object I I turned about with an Intention to go and offer the distressed Lady my further Help but I perceived her already at my Feet
Valiant Knight said she with a Tone of Voice so bewitching that all my Faculties were suspended as by Inchantment suffer me on my Knees to thank you for the Deliverance you have procured me from that base Man since to your admirable Valour I owe not only the Preservation of my Life but what is infinitely dearer to me my Honour
The Astonishment wherewith I beheld the miraculous Beauty that appeared before me kept me a Moment in such an attentive Gaze that I forgot she was at my Feet Recollecting myself however with some Confusion at my Neglect
Oh rise Madam cried I helping her up with infinite Respect and debase not such Perfection to a Posture in which all the Monarchs on the Earth might glory to appear before it
That you may the better conceive the Alteration which the Sight of this fair Unknown produced in my Soul I will endeavour to give you a Description of her Beauty which was altogether miraculous
In which the Reader will find a Description of a Beauty in a Style truly sublime
THE newfallen Snow pursued Sir George was tanned in Comparison of the refined Purity of that White which made up the
Ground of her Complexion and though Fear had a little gathered the Carnations of her Cheeks yet her Joy at being delivered seemed to plant them there with such fresh Advantages that my Eye might shrink at the Brightness of that mingled Lustre Her Mouth as well for Shape as Colour might shame the Imitation of the best Pencils and the liveliest Tints and though through some petty Intervals of Joy it wanted the Smiles which Grief and Terror sequestred yet she never opened it but like the East at the Birth of a beautiful Day and then discovered Treasures whose excelling Whiteness made the Price inestimable All the Features of her Face had so near a Kindred to Proportion and Symmetry as the several Masters of Apelless Art might have called it his Glory to have copied Beauties from her as the best of Models The Circumference of her Visage shewed the Extremes of an imperfect Circle and almost formed it to a perfect Oval And this Abridgment of Marvels was tapered by a Pair of the brightest Stars that ever were lighted up by the Hand of Nature As their Colour was the same with the Heavens there was a spherical Harmony in their Motion and that mingled with a Vivacity so penetrating as neither the firmest Eye nor the strongest Soul could arm themselves with a Resistance of Proof against those pointed Glories Her Head was crowned with a prodigious Quantity of fair long Hair which Colour as fitly suited the Beauty of her Eyes as Imagination could make it To these Marvels of Face were joined the rest of her Neck
Hands and Shape and there seemed a Contest between the Form and Whiteness of the two former which had the largest Commission from Nature to work Wonders
In fine her Beauty was miraculous and could not fail of producing a sudden Effect upon a Heart like mine
Having passed in an Instant from the extremest Admiration to something yet more tender I reiterated my Offers of Service to the fair Unknown who told me she feared her Father had Occasion for some Assistance her Ravisher having left his Men to engage him and keep off his Pursuit while he rode off with his Prize Hereupon I beggd her to direct me to the Place where she left her Father assuring her I would gladly venture my Life a Second time to preserve his and she desiring to go with me I placed her before me on my Horse and had the exquisite Pleasure of supporting with my Arms the fairest and most admirable Creature in the World
In less than half an Hour which had appeared to me but a Moment we got to the Place where she had been torn from her Father whom we beheld with three of his Servants maintaining a Fight against twice as many of their Enemies
Having gently set down the beauteous Unknown upon the Grass I flew to the Relief of her Father and throwing myself furiously amongst his Assailants dispatched two of them with so many Blows The others seeing so unexpected an Assistance gave back a little and
I took Advantage of their Consternation to redouble my Blows and brought Two more of them at my Feet
There remained now but Four to overcome and my Arrival having given new Vigour to those whose Part I had taken they seconded me so well that we soon had nothing more left to do for the rest seeing their Comrades slain sought their Safety in Flight We were too generous to pursue them the Blood of such Wretches being unworthy to be shed by our Swords
The fair Unknown seeing us Conquerors flew to embrace her Father who holding her pressed between his Arms turned his Eyes upon me then quitting her came towards me and in the most obliging Terms imaginable returned me Thanks for the Assistance I had brought him and being informed by his Daughter of what I had done for her Preservation this old Gentleman renewed his Acknowlegements calling me the Preserver of his Life the valiant Defender of his Daughters Honour his tutelary Angel and the Guardian of his House
In fine he loaded me with so many Thanks and Praises that I could not choose but be in some Confusion and to put an End to them I begged he would inform me by what means he came into that Misfortune
He told me that residing in a Castle at the Extremity of this Forest the Charms of his Daughter had captivated a neighbouring Lord whose Character and Person being disagreeable
both to her and himself he had absolutely refused to give her to him Thereupon he had set upon them as they were going to visit a Relation at some Distance and dragging Philonice out of the Coach put her before him on his Horse and carried her away leaving Eight of his Men to engage him and his Servants who being but Four in Number must inevitably have perished had I not come to his Relief and by my miraculous Valour vanquished all his Enemies
Saying this he desired me to go home with him to the Castle and having led his Daughter to the Coach insisted upon my placing myself next her and getting in himself ordered them to return home
This Accident having altered his Design of making the Visit which had been the Occasion of his Journey
The Baron for that I found was his Title entertained me all the Way with repeated Expressions of Acknowledgements and Tenderness and the incomparable Philonice condescended also to assure me of her Gratitude for the Service I had done her
At our Arrival at the Castle I perceived it was very large and magnificent The Baron conducted me to one of the best Apartments and would stay in the Room till my Armour was taken off that he might be assured I had received no Hurts Having rendered him the like Civility in his own Chamber and satisfied myself he was not wounded we returned to the beautiful Philonice and this second Sight
having finished my Defeat I remained so absolutely her Slave that neither Dorothea nor Sydimiris were more passionately beloved
At the earnest Intreaty of the Baron I staid some Weeks in the Castle during which the daily Sight of Philonice so augmented my Flames that I was no longer in a Condition to conceal them but fearing to displease that Divine Beauty by a Confession of my Passion I languished in secret and the Constraint I laid upon myself gave me such Torments that I fell into a profound Melancholy and looked so pale and dejected that the Baron was sensible of the Alteration and conjured me in the most pressing Terms to acquaint him with the Cause of my Uneasiness But though I continued obstinately silent with my Tongue yet my Eyes spoke intelligibly enough and the Blushes which appeared in the fair Cheeks of Philonice whenever she spoke to me on the Subject of my Grief convinced me she was not ignorant of my Passion
At length the Agitation of my Mind throwing me into a Fever the Baron who was firmly persuaded that my Illness proceeded from some concealed Vexation pressed me continually to declare myself and finding all his Intreaties ineffectual he commanded his Daughter to endeavour to find out the Cause of that Grief which had put me into such a Condition
For that Purpose therefore having brought the fair Philonice into my Chamber he staid a few Minutes and leaving the Room under Pretence of Business Philonice remained alone
by my Bedside her Women out of Respect staying at the other End of the Chamber
This Divine Person seeing herself alone with me and remembring her Fathers Command blushed and cast down her Eyes in such apparent Confusion that I could not help observing it And interpreting it to the Displeasure she took in being so near me
Whatever Joy I take in the Honour your Visit does me Madam said I in a weak Voice yet since nothing is so dear to me as your Satisfaction I would rather dispense with this Mark of your Goodness to an unfortunate Wretch then see you in the least Constraint
And why replied she with a Tone full of Sweetness do you suppose that I am here by Constraint when it would be more just to believe that in visiting the valiant Defender of my Honour and the Life of my Father I only follow my own Inclinations
Ah Madam said I transported with Joy at so favourable a Speech the little Service I had the Happiness to do you does not merit so infinite a Favour and tho I had lost the best Part of my Blood in your Defence I should have been well rewarded with your Safety
Since you do not repent of what you have done replied she I am willing to be obliged to you for another Favour and ask it with the greater Hope of obtaining it as I must acquaint you it is by my Fathers Command I take that Liberty who is much interested in my Success
There is no Occasion Madam returned I to make use of any Interest but your own to engage me to obey you since that is and ever will be allpowerful with me Speak then Madam and let me know what it is you desire of me that I may once in my Life have the Glory of obeying you
It is said she blushing still more than before that you will acquaint us with the Cause of that Melancholy which has as we imagine occasioned your present Illness
At these Words I trembled turned pale and not daring to discover the true Cause of my Affliction I remained in a profound Silence
I see said the beautiful Philonice that you have no Inclination to obey me and since my Request has as I perceive given you some Disturbance I will prevail upon my Father to press you no farther upon this Subject
No Madam said I eagerly the Baron shall be satisfied and you shall be obeyed though after the Knowlege of my Crime you doom me to that Death I so justly merit
Yes Madam this unfortunate Man who has had the Glory to acquire your Esteem by the little Service he did you has cancelled the Merit of that Service by daring to adore you
I love you divine Philonice and not being able either to repent or cease to be guilty of loving you I am resolved to die and spare you the Trouble of pronouncing my Sentence I beseech you therefore to believe that I would have died in Silence but for your Command to declare myself and you should never have
known the Excess of my Love and Despair had not my Obedience to your Will obliged me to confess it
I finished these Words with so much Fear and Confusion that I durst not lift my Eyes up to the fair Face of Philonice to observe how she received this Discourse I waited therefore trembling for her Answer but finding that in several Minutes she spoke not a Word I ventured at last to cast a languishing Glance upon the Visage I adored and saw so many Marks of Disorder upon it that I was almost dead with the Apprehensions of having offended her beyond even the Hope of procuring her Pardon by my Death
Wherein Sir George concludes his History which produces an unexpected Effect
THE Silence of Philonice continued Sir George pierced me to the Heart and when I saw her rise from her Seat and prepare to go away without speaking Grief took such Possession of my Spirits that uttering a Cry I fell into a Swoon which as I afterwards was informed greatly alarmed the beautiful Philonice who resuming her Seat had the Goodness to assist her Women in bringing me to myself and when I opened my Eyes I had
the Satisfaction to behold her still by me and all the Signs of Compassion in her Face
This Sight a little reassuring me I ask your Pardon Madam said I for the Condition in which I have appeared before you and also for that I am not yet dead as is doubtless your Wish But I will make Haste pursued I sighing to fulfil your Desires and you shall soon be freed from the Sight of a miserable Wretch who to his last Moment will not cease to adore you
It is not your Death that I desire said the fair Philonice and after having preserved both my Father and me from Death it is not reasonable that we should suffer you to die if we can help it
Live therefore Bellmour pursued she blushing and live if possible without continuing in that Weakness I cannot choose but condemn Yet whatever are your Thoughts for the future remember that your Death will be a Fault I cannot resolve to pardon
Speaking these Words without giving me time to answer she left my Chamber and I found something so sweet and favourable in them that I resolved to obey her and forward my Cure as much as I was able However the Agitation of Spirits increased my Fever so much that my Life was despaired of
The Baron hardly ever left my Bedside Philonice came every Day to see me and seemed extremely moved at the Danger I was in One Day when I was worse than usual she came
close to the Bedside and opening the Courtain
What Bellmour said she do you pay so little Obedience to my Commands that you resolve to die
Heaven is my Witness Madam said I faintly that nothing is so dear and sacred to me as your Commands and since out of your superlative Goodness you are pleased to have some Care for my Life I would preserve it to obey you were it in my Power but alas Madam I strive in vain to repel the Violence of my Distemper
In a few Days more I was reduced to the last Extremity It was then that the fair Philonice discovered that she did not hate me for she made no Scruple to weep before me and those Tears she so liberally shed had so powerful an Effect upon my Mind that the Contentment I felt communicated itself to my Body and gave such a Turn to my Distemper that my Recovery was not only hoped but expected
The Baron expressed his Satisfaction at this Alteration by the most affectionate Expressions and though the fair Philonice said very little yet I perceived by the Joy that appeared in her fair Eyes that she was not less interested in my Recovery than her Father
The Physicians having declared me out of Danger the Baron who had taken his Resolutions long before came one Day into my Chamber and ordering those who attended me to leave us alone
Prince said he for in recounting my History to him I had disclosed my true Quality I am not ignorant of that Affection you bear my Daughter and am sensible it has occasioned the Extremity to which we have seen you reduced Had you been pleased to acquaint me with your Sentiments you would have avoided those Displeasures you have suffered for though your Birth were not so illustrious as it is yet preferring Virtue to all other Advantages I should have esteemed my Daughter honoured by your Love and have freely bestowed her on you But since to those rare Qualities wherewith Heaven has so liberally endowed you you add also that of a Birth so noble doubt not but I shall think myself highly favoured by your Alliance If therefore your Thoughts of my Daughter be not changed and you esteem her worthy to be your Bride I here solemnly promise you to bestow her upon you as soon as you are perfectly recovered
I leave you to guess Madam the Joy which I felt at this Discourse It was so great that it would not permit me to thank him as I should have done for the inestimable Blessing he bestowed on me
I saw Philonice a few Minutes after and being commanded by her Father to give me her Hand she did so without any Marks of Reluctance and having respectfully kissed it I vowed to be her Slave for ever
Who would have imagined continued Sir George with a profound Sigh that Fortune while she thus seemed to flatter me was preparing to make me suffer the severest Torments
I began now to leave my Bed and was able to walk about my Chamber The Baron was making great Preparations for our Nuptials when one Night I was alarmed with the Cries of Philonices Women and a few Moments after the Baron came into my Chamber with a distracted Air
O Son cried he for so he always called me now Philonice is lost both to you and me She is carried off by Force and I am preparing to follow and rescue her if possible but I fear my Endeavours will be fruitless since I know not which Way her Ravishers have taken
Oh Sir cried I transported both with Grief and Rage you shall not go alone Her Rescue belongs to me and I will effect it or perish in the Attempt
The Baron having earnestly conjured me not to expose myself to the Danger of a Relapse by so imprudent a Resolution was obliged to quit me Word being brought him that his Horse was ready And as soon as he was gone out of the Room in spite of all that could be said to prevent me by my Attendants I made them put on my Armour and mounting a Horse I had caused to be made ready fallied furiously out of the Castle breathing out Vows of Vengeance against the Wretch who had robbed me of Philonice
I rode the whole Night without stopping Day appeared when I found myself near a small Village I entered it and made strict Enquiry after the Ravisher of Philonice describing the fair Creature and offering vast Rewards to any who could bring me the least Intelligence
of her But all was in vain I could make no Discovery
After travelling several Days to no Purpose I returned to the Castle in order to know if the Baron had been more successful in his Pursuit then myself but I found him oppressed with Grief He had heard no Tidings of his Daughter and had suffered no small Apprehensions upon my Account Having assured him I found myself very able to travel I took an affectionate Leave of him promising him never to give over my Search till I had found the Divine Philonice But Heaven has not permitted me that Happiness and though I have spent several Years in searching for her I have never been able to discover where she is Time has not cured me of my Grief for her Loss and though by an Effect of my Destiny another Object possesses my Soul yet I do not cease to deplore her Misfortune and to offer up Vows for her Happiness
And is this all you have to say said Arabella whom the latter Part of his History had extremely surprised or are we to expect a Continuance of your Adventures
I have faithfully related all my Adventures that are worthy your Hearing Madam returned Sir George and I flatter myself you will do me the Justice to own that I have been rather unfortunate than faithless and that Mr Glanville had little Reason to tax me with Inconstancy
In my Opinion resumed Arabella Mr Glanville spoke too favourably of you when he called you only inconstant and if he had added
the Epithet of Ungrateful and Unjust he would have marked your Character better
For in fine Sir pursued she you will never persuade any reasonable Person that your being able to lose the Remembrance of the fair and generous Sydimiris in your new Passion for Philonice was not an Excess of Levity But your suffering so tamely the Loss of this last Beauty and allowing her to remain in the Hands of her Ravisher while you permit another Affection to take Possession of your Soul is such an Outrage to all Truth and Constancy that you deserve to be ranked among the falsest of Mankind
Alas Madam replied Sir George who had not foreseen the Influence Arabella would draw from this last Adventure What would you have an unfortunate Man whose Hopes have been so often and so cruelly disappointed do I have bewailed the Loss of Philonice with a Deluge of Tears I have taken infinite Pains to find her but to no Purpose and when Heaven compassionating my Sufferings presented to my Eyes an Object to whom the whole World ought to pay Adoration how could I resist that powerful Impulse which forced me to love what appeared so worthy of my Affection
Call not interrupted Arabella that an irresistible Impulse which was only the Effect of thy own changing Humour The same Excuse might be pleaded for all the Faults we see committed in the World and Men would no longer be answerable for their own Crimes Had you imitated the illustrious Heroes of Antiquity as well in the Constancy of their Affections
as it must be confessed you have done in their admirable Valour you would now be either sighing in your Cave for the Loss of the generous Sydimiris or wandering through the World in Search of the beautiful Philonice Had you persevered in your Affection and continued your Pursuit of that Fairone you would perhaps ere this have found her sleeping under the Shade of a Tree in some lone Forest as Philodaspes did his admirable Delia or disguised in a Slaves Habit as Ariobarsanes saw his Divine Olympia or bound haply in a Chariot and have had the Glory of freeing her as Ambriomer did the beauteous Agione or in a Ship in the Hands of Pirates like the incomparable Eliza orÑ
Enough dear Niece interrupted Sir Charles you have quoted Examples sufficient if this inconstant Man would have the Grace to follow them
True Sir replied Arabella and I would recommend to his Consideration the Conduct of those illustrious Persons I have named to the end that pursuing their Steps he may arrive at their Glory and Happiness that is the Reputation of being perfectly constant and the Possession of his Mistress And be assured Sir pursued Arabella looking at Sir George that Heaven will never restore you the Crown of your Ancestors and place you upon the Throne to which you pretend while you make yourself unworthy of its Protection by so shameful an Inconstancy
I perhaps speak with too much Freedom to a great Prince whom though Fortune has despoiled
of his Dominions is intitled to a certain Degree of Respect But I conceive it belongs to me in a particular manner to resent the Baseness of that Crime to which you are pleased to make me the Excuse and looking upon myself as dishonoured by those often prostituted Vows you have offered me I am to tell you that I am highly disobliged and forbid you to appear in my Presence again till you have resumed those Thoughts which are worthy your noble Extraction and are capable of treating me with that Respect that is my Due
Saying this she rose from he Seat and walked very majestically out of the Room leaving Sir George overwhelmed with Shame and Vexation at having conducted the latter Part of his Narration so ill and drawn upon himself a Sentence which deprived him of all his Hopes
MR Glanville excessively delighted with this Event could not help laughing at the unfortunate Baronet who seemed by his Silence and downcast Looks to expect it
Who would have imagined said he that so renowned a Hero would have tarnished the Glory of his Laurels as my Cousin says by so base an Ingratitude Indeed Prince pursued he laughing you must resolve to recover your
Reputation either by retiring again to your Cave and living upon bitter Herbs for the generous Sydimiris or else wander through the World in search of the Divine Philonice
Dont triumph dear Charles replied Sir George laughing in his Turn have a little Compassion upon me and confess that nothing could be more unfortunate than that damnd Slip I made at the latter End of my History But for that my Reputation for Courage and Constancy had been as high as the great Oroondates or Juba
Since you have so fertile an Invention said Sir Charles you may easily repair this Mistake Odsheart It is pity you are not poor enough to be an Author you would occupy a Garret in Grubstreet with great Fame to yourself and Diversion to the Public
Oh Sir cried Sir George I have Stock enough by me to set up for an Author Tomorrow if I please I have no less than Five Tragedies some quite others almost finished Three or Four Essays on Virtue Happiness c Three thousand Lines of an Epic Poem half a Dozen Epitaphs a few Acrostics and a long String of Puns that would serve to embellish a Daily Paper if I was disposed to write one
Nay then interrupted Mr Glanville you are qualified for a Critic at the Bedford Coffeehouse where with the rest of your Brothers Demywits you may sit in Judgment upon the Productions of a Young a RÑ or a Johnson Rail with premeditated Malice at the Rambler and for the want of Faults turn even its inimitable Beauties into Ridicule The
Language because it reaches to Perfection may be called stiff laboured and pedantic the Criticisms when they let in more Light than your weak Judgment can bear superficial and ostentatious Glitter and because those Papers contain the finest System of Ethics yet extant damn the queer Fellow for overpropping Virtue an excellent new Phrase which those who can find no Meaning in may accommodate with one of their own then give shrewd Hints that some Persons though they do not publish their Performances may have more Merit than those that do
Upon my Soul Charles said Sir George thou art such an illnatured Fellow that I am afraid thou wilt be sneering at me when I am gone and wilt endeavour to persuade Lady Bella that not a Syllable of my Story is true Speak pursued he Wilt thou have the Cruelty to deprive me of my lawful Claim to the great Kingdom of Kent and rob me of the Glory of fighting singly against Five hundred Men
I do not know said Sir Charles whether my Niece be really imposed upon by the Gravity with which you told your surprising History but I protest I thought you were in earnest at first and that you meant to make us believe it all to be Fact
You are so fitly punished said Mr Glanville for that illjudged Adventure you related last by the bad Opinion Lady Bella entertains of you that I need not add to your Misfortune And therefore you shall be Prince Veridomer if you please since under that Character you
are obliged not to pretend to any Lady but the incomparable Philonice
Sir George who understood his Meaning went home to think of some Means by which he might draw himself out of the Embarrassment he was in and Mr Glanville as he had promised did not endeavour to undeceive Lady Bella with regard to the History he had feigned being very well satisfied with his having put it out of his Power to make his Addresses to her since she now looked upon him as the Lover of Philonice
As for Sir Charles he did not penetrate into the Meaning of Sir Georges Story and only imagined that by relating such a Heap of Adventures he had a Design to entertain the Company and give a Proof of the Felicity of his Invention and Miss Glanville who supposed he had been ridiculing her Cousins strange Notions was better pleased with him than ever
Arabella however was less satisfied than any of them She could not endure to see so brave a Knight who drew his Birth from a Race of Kings tarnish the Glory of his gallant Actions by so base a Perfidy
Alas said she to herself How much Reason has the beautiful Philonice to accuse me for all the Anguish she suffers since I am the Cause that the ungrateful Prince on whom she bestows her Affections suffers her to remain quietly in the Hands of her Ravisher without endeavouring to rescue her But Oh too lovely and unfortunate Fairone said she as if she had been present and listening to her
distinguish I beseech you between those Faults which the Will and those which Necessity makes us commit I am the Cause tis true of thy Lovers Infidelity but I am the innocent Cause and would repair the Evils my fatal Beauty gives Rise to by any Sacrifice in my Power to make
While Arabella by her romantic Generosity bewails the imaginary Afflictions of the full as imaginary Philonice Mr Glanville who thought the Solitude she lived in confirmed her in her absurd and ridiculous Notions desired his Father to press her to go to London
Sir Charles complied with his Request and earnestly intreated her to leave the Castle and spend a few Months in Town Her Year of Mourning being now expired she consented to go but Sir Charles who did not think his Sons Health absolutely confirmed proposed to spend a few Weeks at Bath which was readily complied with by Arabella
The End of BOOK VI
For the Shortness of which the Length of the next shall make some Amends
SIR George to gratify Arabellas Humour had not presumed to come to the Castle for several Days but hearing that they were preparing to leave the Country he wrote a short Billet to her and in the Style of Romance most humbly intreated her to grant him a Moments Audience
Arabella being informed by Lucy to whom Sir Georges Gentleman had addressed himself that he had brought a Letter from his Master she
ordered her to bring him to her Apartment and as soon as he appeared
How comes it said she that the Prince your Master has had the Presumption to importune me again after my absolute Commands to the contrary
The Prince my Master Madam said the Man excessively surprised
Ay said Arabella Are you not Sir Georges Squire And does he not trust you with his most secret Thoughts
I belong to Sir George Bellmour Madam replied the Man who did not understand what She meant I have not the Honour to be a Squire
No interrupted Arabella tis strange then that he should have honoured you with his Commission Pray what is it you come to request for him
My Master Madam said he ordered me to get this Letter delivered to your Ladyship and to stay for your Commands
You would persuade me said she sternly being provoked that he did not deliver the Letter upon his Knees as was the Custom in Romances that you are not acquainted with the Purport of this audacious Billet since you express so little Fear of my Displeasure but know presumptuous that I am mortally offended with your Master for his daring to suppose I would read this Proof at once of his Insolence and Infidelity and was you worth my Resentment I would haply make you suffer for your Want of Respect to me
The poor Man surprised and confounded at
her Anger and puzzled extremely to understand what she meant was opening his Mouth to say something tis probable in his own Defence when Arabella preventing him
I know what thou wouldst say said she Thou wouldst abuse my Patience by a false Detail of thy Masters Sighs Tears Exclamations and Despair
Indeed Madam I dont intend to say any such Thing replied the Man
No repeated Arabella a little disappointed Bear back his presumptuous Billet which I suppose contains the melancholy Account and tell him He that could so soon forget the generous Sydimiris for Philonice and could afterwards be false to that incomparable Beauty is not a Person worthy to adore Arabella
The Man who could not tell what to make of this Message and feared he should forget these two hard Names humbly intreated her to be pleased to acquaint his Master by a Line with her Intentions Arabella supposing he meant to importune her still more made a Sign with her Hand very majestically for him to be gone but he not able to comprehend her Meaning stood still with an Air of Perplexity not daring to beg her to explain herself supposing she by that Sign required something of him
Why dost thou not obey my Commands said Arabella finding he did not go
I will to be sure Madam replied he wishing at the same time secretly she would let him know what they were
And yet said she hastily thou art disobeying
me this Moment Did I not bid you get out of my Presence and to speak no more of your inconstant Master whose Crimes have rendered him the Detestation of all generous Persons whatever
Sir Georges Messenger extremely surprised at so harsh a Character of his Master and the Rage with which the Lady seemed to be actuated made haste to get out of her Apartment and at his Return informed his Master very exactly of the Reception he had met with repeating all Lady Bellas Words which notwithstanding the Blunders he made in the Names of Sydimiris and Philonice Sir George understood well enough and found new Occasion of wondering at the Excess of Arabellas Extravagance who he never imagined would have explained herself in that Manner to his Servant
Without endeavouring therefore to see Arabella he went to pay his Compliments to Sir Charles Mr Glanville and Miss Glanville to the last of which he said some soft things that them her extremely regret his staying behind made in the Country
Not so long as was first intended but contains however a surprising Adventure on the Road
THE Day of their Departure being come they set out in a Coach and Six attended by several Servants on Horseback The First
Days Journey passed off without any Accident worthy relating but towards the Close of the Second they were alarmed by the Appearance of three Highwaymen well mounted at a small Distance
One of the Servants who had first spied them immediately rode up to the Coach and for fear of alarming the Ladies whispered Mr Glanville in the Ear
Sir Charles who was sitting next his Son and had heard it cried out with too little Caution Hows this Are we in any Danger of being attacked say you
Mr Glanville without replying jumped out of the Coach at which Miss Glanville screamed out and lest her Father should follow whipped into her Brothers Sear and held him fast by the Coat
Arabella being in a strange Consternation at all this put her Head out of the Coach to see what was the Matter and observing Three or Four Men of a genteel Appearance on Horseback who seemed to halt and gaze on them without offering to advance
Sir said she to her Uncle are they yonder Knights whom you suppose will attack us
Ay ay said Sir Charles they are Knights of the Road indeed I suppose we shall have a Bout with them for it will be scandalous to deliver since we have the Odds of our Side and are more than a Match for them
Arabella interpreting these Words in her own Way looked out again and seeing the Robbers who had by this time taken their Resolution galloping towards them her Cousin
and the Servants ranging themselves of each Side of the Coach as if to defend them
Hold hold valiant Men said she as loud as she could speak addressing herself to the Highwaymen do not by a mistaken Generosity hazard your Lives in a Combat to which the Laws of Honour do not oblige you We are not violently carried away as you falsly suppose we go willingly along with these Persons who are our Friends and Relations
Heyday cried Sir Charles starting at her with great Surprize whats the Meaning of all this Do you think these Fellows will mind your fine Speeches Niece
I hope they will Sir said she Then pulling her Cousin shew yourself for Heavens Sake Miss pursued she and second my Assurances that we are not forced away These generous Men come to fight for our Deliverance
The Highwaymen who were near enough to hear Arabellas Voice though they could not distinguish her Words gazed on her with great Surprize and finding they would be very well received thought fit to abandon their Enterprize and galloped away as fast as they were able Some of the Servants made a Motion to pursue them but Mr Glanville forbad it and entering again into the Coach congratulated the Ladies upon the Escape they had
Since these Men said Arabella did not come to deliver us out of a mistaken Notion that we were carried away by Force it must necessarily follow they had some bad Design and I protest I know not who to suspect is the Author of it unless the Person you vanquished
said she to Mr Glanville the other Day in a single Combat for the disguised Edward you assured me was dead But perhaps continued she it was some Lover of Miss Glanvilles who designed to make an Attempt to carry her away Methinks he was too slenderly attended for such an hazardous Undertaking
Ill assure you Madam said Miss Glanville I have no Lovers among Highwaymen
Highwaymen repeated Arabella
Why ay to be sure Madam rejoined Sir Charles What do you take them for
For Persons of Quality Sir resumed Arabella and though they came questionless either upon a good or bad Design yet it cannot be doubted but that their Birth is illustrious otherwise they would never pretend either to fight in our Defence or to carry us away
I vow Niece said Sir Charles I cant possibly understand you
My Cousin Sir interrupted Mr Glanville has been mistaken in these Persons and has not yet possibly believed them to be Highwaymen who came to rob us
There is no Question Sir said Arabella smiling that if they did not come to defend us they came to rob you But it is hard to guess which of us it was of whom they designed to deprive you for it may very possibly be for my Cousins fake as well as mine that this Enterprize was undertaken
Pardon me Madam said Mr Glanville who was willing to prevent his Father from answering her Absurdities these Men had no other Design than to rob us of our Money
How said Arabella Were these Cavaliers who appeared to be in so handsome a Garb that I took them for Persons of prime Quality were they Robbers I have been strangely mistaken it seems However I apprehend there is no Certainty that your Suspicions are true and it may still be as I say that they either came to rescue or carry us away
Mr Glanville to avoid a longer Dispute changed the Discourse having observed with Confusion that Sir Charles and his Sister seemed to look upon his beloved Cousin as one that was out of her Senss
Which concludes with an authentic Piece of History
ARABELLA during the rest of this Journey was so wholly taken up in contemplating upon the last Adventure that she mixed but little in the Conversation Upon their drawing near Bath the Situation of that City afforded her the Means of making a Comparison between the Valley in which it was placed with the Amphitheatrical View of the Hills around it and the Valley of Tempe
Twas in such a Place as this said she pursuing her Comparison that the fair Andronice delivered the valiant Hortensius And really I could wish our Entrance into that City might
be preceded by an Act of equal Humanity with that of that fair Princess
For the Gratification of that Wish Madam sid Mr Glanville it is necessary some Person should meet with a Misfortune out of which you might be able to relieve him but I suppose the Benevolence of your Disposition may be equally satisfied with not finding any Occasion as of exercising it when it is found
Though it be not my Fortune to meet with those Occasions replied Arabella there is no Reason to doubt but others do who possibly have less Inclination to afford their Assistance than myself And it is possible if any other than the Princess of Messina had happened to pass by when Hortensius was in the Hands of the Thessalians he would not have been rescued from the ignominious Death he was destined to merely for killing a Stork
How interrupted Sir Charles put a Man to Death for killing a Stork Ridiculous Pray in what Part of the World did that happen Among the Indians of America I suppose
No Sir said Arabella in Thessaly the fairest Part in all Macedonia famous for the beautiful Valley of Tempe which excited the Curiosity of all Travellers whatever
No not all Madam returned Sir Charles for I am acquainted with several Travellers who never saw it nor even mentioned it and if it is so famous as you say I am surprised I never heard of it before
I dont know said Arablla what those Travellers thought worthy of their Notice but I am certain that if any Chance should conduct
me into Macedonia I would not leave it till I saw the Valley of Tempe so celebrated by all the Poets and Historians
Dear Cousin cried Glanville who could hardly forbear smiling what Chance in the Name of Wonder should take you into Macedonia at so great a Distance from your own Country
And so said Sir Charles this famous Valley of Tempe is in Turky Why you must be very fond of travelling indeed Lady Bella if you would go into the Great Moguls Country where the People are all Pagans they say and worship the Devil
The Country my Cousin speaks of said Mr Glanville is in the Grand Signors Dominions The Great Mogul you know SirÑ
Well interrupted Sir Charles the Great Mogul or the Grand Signor I know not what you call him But I hope my Niece does not propose to go thither
Not unless I am forcibly carried thither said Arabella but I do determine if that Misfortune should ever happen to me that I would if possible visit the Vale of Tempe which is in that Part of Greece they call Macedonia
Then I am persuaded replied Sir Charles youll never see that famous Valley you talk of for it is not very likely you should be forcibly carried away into Turky
And why do you think it unlikely that I should be carried thither interrupted Arabella Do not the same Things happen now that did formerly And is any thing more common then Ladies being carried by their Ravishers
into Countries far distant from their own May not the same Accidents happen to me that have happened to so many illustrious Ladies before me And may I not be carried into Macedonia by a Similitude of Destiny with that of a great many beautiful Princesses who though born in the most distant Quarters of the World chanced to meet at one time in the City of Alexandria and related their miraculous Adventures to each other
And it was for that very Purpose they met Madam said Mr Glanville smiling
Why truly said Arabella it happened very luckily for each of them that they were brought into a Place where they found so many illustrious Companions in Misfortune to whom they might freely communicate their Adventures which otherwise might haply have been concealed or at least have been imperfectly delivered down to us However added she smiling if I am carried into Macedonia and by that means have an Opportunity of visiting the famous Vale of Tempe I shall take care not to draw the Resentment of the Thessalians upon me by an Indiscretion like that of Hortensius
For be pleased to know Sir said she addressing herself to her Uncle that his killing a Stork however inconsiderable a Matter it may appear to us was yet looked upon as a Crime of a very atrocious Nature among the Thessalians for they have a Law which forbids upon Pain of Death the killing of Storks the Reason for which is that Thessaly being subject to be infested with a prodigious Multitude
of Serpents which are a delightful Food to these Sorts of Fowls they look upon them as sacred Birds sent by the Gods to deliver them from these Serpents and Vipers And though Hortensius being a Stranger was pardoned through the Intercession of the Princess Andronice they made him promise to send another Stork into Thessaly to the end that he might be reputed innocent
In which one of our Heroines Whims is justified by some others full as whimsical
THIS Piece of History with Sir Charless Remarks upon it brought them into Bath Their Lodgings being provided beforehand the Ladies retired to their different Chambers to repose themselves after the Fatigue of their Journey and did not meet again till Supper was on Table when Miss Glanville who had eagerly enquired what Company was then in the Place and heard there were a great many Persons of Fashion just arrived prest Arabella to go to the PumpRoom the next Morning assuring her she would find a very agreeable Amusement
Arabella accordingly consented to accompany her and being told the Ladies went in an Undress of a Morning she accommodated herself to the Custom and went in a negligent Dress but instead of a Capuchin she were something
like a Veil of black Gauze which covered almost all her Face and Part of her Waist and gave her a very singular Appearance
Miss Glanville was too envious of her Cousins Superiority in point of Beauty to inform her of any Oddity in her Dress which she thought might expose her to the Ridicule of those that saw her and Mr Glanville was too little a Critic in Ladies Apparel to be sensible that Arabella was not in the Fashion and since every thing she wore became her extremely he could not choose but think she drest admirably well He handed her therefore with a great deal of Satisfaction into the PumpRoom which happened to be greatly crouded that Morning
The Attention of most Part of the Company was immediately engaged by the Appearance Lady Bella made Strangers are here most strictly criticized and every new Object affords a delicious Feast of Raillery and Scandal
The Ladies alarmed at the Singularity of her Dress crouded together in Parties and the Words Who can she be Strange Creature Ridiculous and other Exclamations of the same Kind were whispered very intelligibly
The Men were struck with her Figure veiled as she was Her fine Stature the beautiful Turn of her Person the Grace and Elegance of her Motion attracted all their Notice The Phaenomena of the Veil however gave them great Disturbance So lovely a Person seemed to promise the Owner had a Face not unworthy of it but that was totally hid
from their View For Arabella at her Entrance into the Room had pulled the Gauze quite over her Face following therein the Custom of the Ladies in Clelia and the Grand Cyrus who in mixed Companies always hid their Faces with great Care
The Wits and PrettyFellows railed at the envious Covering and compared her to the Sun obscured by a Cloud while the Beaux demd the horrid Innovation and expressed a Fear lest it should grow into a Fashion
Some of the wiser Sort took her for a Foreigner others of still more Sagacity supposed her a Scots Lady covered with her Plaid and a third Sort infinitely wiser than either concluded she was a Spanish Nun that had escaped from a Convent and had not yet quitted her Veil
Arabella ignorant of the Diversity of Opinions to which her Appearance gave Rise was taken up in discoursing with Mr Glanville upon the medicinal Virtue of the Springs the Oeconomy of the Baths the Nature of the Diversions and such other Topics as the Objects around them furnished her with
In the mean time Miss Glanville was got amidst a Croud of her Acquaintance who had hardly paid the Civilities of a first Meeting before they eagerly inquired who that Lady she brought with her was
Miss Glanville informed them that she was her Cousin and Daughter to the deceased Marquis ofÑadding with a Sneer That she had been brought up in the Country knew nothing of the World and had some very peculiar Notions
as you may see said she by that odd kind of Covering she wears
Her Name and Quality were presently whispered all over the Room The Men hearing she was a great Heiress found greater Beauties to admire in her Person The Ladies awd by the Sanction of Quality dropt their Ridicule on her Dress and began to quote Examples of Whims full as inexcusable
One remembred that Lady JÑTÑ alalways wore her Ruffles reversed that the Countess ofÑwent to Court in a Farthingale that the Duchess ofÑsat astride upon a Horse and a certain Lady of great Fortune and nearly allied to Quality because she was not dignified with a Title invented a new one for herself and directed her Servants to say in speaking to her Your Honouress which afterwards became a Custom among all her Acquaintance who mortally offended her if they omitted that Instance of Respect
Containing some historical Anecdotes the Truth of which may possibly be doubted as they are not to be found in any of the Historians
AFTER a short Stay in the Room Arabella expressing a Desire to return home Mr Glanville conducted her out Two Gentlemen of his Acquaintance attending Miss Glanville
Sir Charles detained them to Breakfast by which means they had an Opportunity of satisfying their Curiosity and beheld Arabella divested of that Veil which had as they said and tis probable they said no more than they thought concealed one of the finest Faces in the World
Miss Glanville had the Mortification to see both the Gentlemen so charmed with the Sight of her Cousins Face that for a long time she sat wholly neglected but the Seriousness of her Behaviour giving some little Disgust to the youngest of them who was what the Ladies call a PrettyFellow a dear Creature and the most diverting Man in the World he applied himself wholly to Miss Glanville and soon engaged her in a particular Conversation
Mr Selvin so was the other Gentleman called was of a much graver Cast He affected to be thought deepread in History and never failed to take all Opportunities of displaying his Knowlege of Antiquity which was indeed but very superficial but having some few Anecdotes by Heart which he would take Occation to introduce as often as he could he passed among many Persons for one who by Application and Study had acquired an universal Knowlege of antient History
Speaking of any particular Circumstance he would fix the Time by computing the Year with the Number of the Olympiads
It happened he would say in the 141st Olympiad
Such an amazing Exactness had a suitable
Effect on his Audience and always procured him a great Degree of Attention
This Gentleman hitherto had no Opportunity of displaying his Knowledge of History the Discourse having wholly turned upon News and other Trifles when Arabella after some more Inquiries concerning the Place remarked that there was a very great Difference between the medicinal Waters at Bath and the fine Springs at the Foot of the Mountain Thermopylae in Greece as well in their Qualities as manner of using them and I am of Opinion added she that Bath famous as it is for restoring Health is less frequented by infirm Persons than the famous Springs of Thermopylae were by the Beauties of Greece to whom those Waters have the Reputation of giving new Lustre
Mr Selvin who with all his Reading had never met with any Account of these celebrated Grecian Springs was extremely disconcerted at not being able to continue a Conversation which the Silence of the rest of the Company made him imagine was directed wholly to him
The Shame he conceived at seeing himself posed by a Girl in a Matter which so immediately belonged to him made him resolve to draw himself out of this Dilemma at any Rate aud though he was far from being convinced that there were no such Springs at Thermopylae as Arabella mentioned yet he resolutely maintained that she must be mistaken in their Situation for to his certain Knowlege there were
no medicinal Waters at the Foot of that Mountain
Arabella who could not endure to be contradicted in what she took to be so incontestable a Fact reddened with Vexation at his unexpected Denial
It should seem said she by your Discourse that you are unacquainted with many material Passages that passed among very illustrious Persons there and if you knew any thing of Pisistratus the Athenian you would know that an Adventure he had at those Baths laid the Foundation of all those great Designs which he afterwards effected to the total Subversion of the Athenian Government
Mr Selvin surprised that this Piece of History had likewise escaped his Observation resolved however not to give up his Point
I think Madam replied he with great Selfsufficiency that I am pretty well acquainted with every thing which relates to the Affairs of the Athenian Commonwealth and know by what Steps Pisistratus advanced himself to the Sovereignty It was a great Stroke of Policy in him said he turning to Mr Glanville indeed to wound himself in order to get a Guard assigned him
You are mistaken Sir said Arabella if you believe there was any Truth in the Report of his having wounded himself It was done either by his Rival Lycurgus or Theocrites who believing him still to be in Love with the fair Cerinthe whom he courted took that Way to get rid of him Neither is it true that Ambition alone inspired Pisistratus with a Design of
enslaving his Country Those Authors who say so must know little of the Springs and Motives of his Conduct It was neither Ambition nor Revenge that made him act as he did it was the violent Affection he conceived for the beautiful Chorante whom he first saw at the famous Baths of Thermopylae which put him upon those Designs for seeing that Lycurgus who was not his Rival in Ambition but Love would certainly become the Possessor of Chorante unless he made himself Tyrant of Athens he had recourse to that violent Method in order to preserve her for himself
I protest Madam said Mr Selvin casting down his Eyes in great Confusion at her superior Knowlege in History these Particulars have all escaped my Notice and this is the first time I ever understood that Pisistratus was violently in Love and that it was not Ambition which made him aspire to Sovereignty
I do not remember any Mention of this in Plutarch continued he rubbing his Forehead or any of the Authors who have treated on the Affairs of Greece
Very likely Sir replied Arabella but you will see the whole Story of Pisistratuss Love for Chorante with the Effects it produced related at large in Scudery
Scudery Madam said the sage Mr Selvin I never read that Historian
No Sir replied Arabella then your Reading has been very confined
I know Madam said he that Herodotus Thucydides and Plutarch have indeed quoted him frequently
I am surprised Sir said Mr Glanville who was excessively diverted at this Discovery of his great Ignorance and Affectation that you have not read that famous Historian especially as the Writers you have mentioned quote him so often
Why to tell you the Truth Sir said he though he was a Roman yet it is objected to him that he wrote but indifferent Latin with no Purity or Elegance andÑ
You are quite mistaken Sir interrupted Arabella the great Scudery was a Frenchman and both his Clelia and Artamenes were written in French
A Frenchman was he said Mr Selvin with a lofty Air Oh then tis not surprising that I have not read him I read no Authors but the Antients Madam added he with a Look of Selfapplause I cannot relish the Moderns at all I have no Taste for their Way of Writing
But Scudery must needs be more ancient than Thucydides and the rest of those Greek Historians you mentioned said Mr Glanville How else could they quote him
Mr Selvin was here so utterly at a Loss that he could not conceal his Confusion He held down his Head and continued silent while the Beau who had listened to the latter Part of their Discourse exerted his supposed Talent of Raillery against the unhappy Admirer of the antient Authors and increased his Confusion by a thousand Sarcasms which gave more Diversion to himself than any body else
Which contains some excellent Rules for Raillery
MR Glanville who had too much Politeness and Good nature to insist too long upon the Ridicule in the Character of his Acquaintance changed the Discourse And Arabella who had observed with some Concern the illjudged Raillery of the young Beau took Occasion to decry that Species of Wit and gave it as her Opinion that it was very dangerous and unpleasing
For truly said she it is almost impossible to use it without being hated or feared and whoever gets a Habit of it is in Danger of wronging all the Laws of Friendship and Humanity
Certainly pursued she looking at the Beau it is extremely unjust to railly ones Friends and particular Acquaintance First choose them well and be as nice as you please in the Choice but when you have chosen them by no means play upon them Tis cruel and malicious to divert ones self at the Expence of ones Friend
However Madam said Mr Glanville who was charmed to hear her talk so rationally you may give People Leave to railly their Enemies
Truly resumed Arabella I cannot allow that any more than upon Friends for Raillery is the poorest kind of Revenge that can be taken
Methinks it is mean to railly Persons who have a small Share of Merit since haply their Defects were born with them and not of their own acquiring and it is great Injustice to descant upon one slight Fault in Men of Parts to the Prejudice of a thousand good Qualities
For aught I see Madam said the Beau you will not allow one to railly any body
I am of Opinion Sir said Arabella that there are very few proper Objects for Raillery and still fewer who can railly well The Talent of Raillery ought to be born with a Person no Art can infuse it and those who endeavour to railly in spite of Nature will be so far from diverting others that they will become the Objects of Ridicule themselves
Many other pleasing Qualities of Wit may be acquired by Pains and Study but Raillery must be the Gift of Nature It is not enough to have many lively and agreeable Thoughts but there must be such an Expression as must convey their full Force and Meaning the Air the Aspect the Tone of the Voice and every Part in general must contribute to its Perfection
There ought also to be a great Distance between Raillery and Satire so that one may never be mistaken for the other Raillery ought indeed to surprise and sensibly touch those to whom it is directed but I would not have the Wounds it makes either deep or lasting Let those who feel it be hurt like Persons who gathering Roses are pricked by the Thorns and find a sweet Smoll to make amends
I would have Raillery raise the Fancy and quicken the Imagination the Fire of its Wit should only enable us to trace its Original and shine as the Stars do but not burn Yet after all I cannot greatly approve of Raillery or cease to think it dangerous and to pursue my Comparison said she with an inchanting Smile Persons who possess the true Talent of Raillery are like Comets they are seldom seen and are at once admird and feard
I protest Lady Bella said Sir Charles who had listend to her with many Signs of Admiration you speak like an Orator
One would not imagine interrupted Mr Glanville who saw Arabella in some Confusion at the coarse Praise her Uncle gave her that my Cousin could speak so accurately of a Quality she never practises And tis easy to judge by what she has said that no body can railly finer than herself if she pleases
Mr Selvin tho he bore her a Grudge for knowing more History than he did yet assurd her that she had given the best Rules imaginable for raillying well But the Beau whom she had silencd by her Reproof was extremely angry and supposing it would mortify her to see him pay Court to her Cousin he redoubled his Assiduities to Miss Glanville who was highly delighted at seeing Arabella less taken Notice of by this gay Gentleman than herself
In which the Author condescends to be very minute in the Description of our Heroins Dress
THE Indifference of Mr Tinsel convincing Miss Glanville that Arabella was less to be dreaded than she imagind she had no Reluctance at seeing her prepare for her publick Appearance the next Ball Night
Having consulted her Fancy in a rich Silver Stuff she had bought for that Purpose a Person was sent for to make it and Arabella who followd no Fashion but her own Taste which was formd on the Manners of the Heroines orderd the Woman to make her a Robe after the same Model as the Princess Julias
The Mantuamaker who thought it might do her great Prejudice with her new Customer to acknowledge she knew nothing of the Princess Julia or the Fashion of her Gown replied at Random and with great Pertness
That that Taste was quite out and she would advise her Ladyship to have her Cloaths made in the present Mode which was far more becoming
You can never persuade me said Arabella that any Fashion can be more becoming than that of the Princess Julias who was the most gallant Princess upon Earth and knew better than any other how to set off her Charms It may indeed be a little obselete now pursued
she for the Fashion could not but alter a little in the Compass of near two thousand Years
Two thousand Years Madam said the Woman in a great Surprize Lord help us Tradespeople if they did not alter a thousand Times in as many Days I thought your Ladyship was speaking of the last Months Taste which as I said before is quite out now
Well replied Arabella let the present Mode be what it will I insist upon having my Cloaths made after the Pattern of the beautiful Daughter of Augustus being convinced that none other can be half so becoming
What Fashion was that pray Madam said the Woman I never saw it
How replied Arabella Have you already forgot the Fashion of the Princess Julias Robe which you said was wore but last Month Or are you ignorant that the Princess Julia and the Daughter of Augustus is the same Person
I protest Madam said the Woman extremely confusd I had forgot that till you called it to my Mind
Well said Arabella make me a Robe in the same Taste
The Mantuamaker was now wholly at a Loss in what Manner to behave for being conscious that she knew nothing of the Princess Julias Fashion she could not undertake to make it without Directions and she was afraid of discovering her Ignorance by asking for any so that her Silence and Embarrassment persuading Arabella she knew nothing of the Matter she dismist her with a small Present for the Trouble she had given her and had Recourse
to her usual Expedient which was to make one of her Women who understood a little of the Mantuamaking Business make a Robe for her after her own Directions
Miss Glanville who imagind she had sent for Workwomen in order to have Cloaths made in the modern Taste was surprizd at her Entrance into her Chamber to see her dressing for the Ball in a Habit singular to the last Degree
She wore no Hoop and the Blue and Silver Stuff of her Robe was only kept by its own Richness from hanging close about her It was quite open round her Breast which was shaded with a rich Border of Lace and clasping close to her Waist by small Knots of Diamonds descended in a sweeping Train on the Ground
The Sleeves were short wide and slashd fastned in different Places with Diamonds and her Arms were partly hid by half a Dozen Falls of Ruffles Her Hair which fell in very easy Ringlets on her Neck was placd with great Care and Exactness round her lovely Face and the Jewels and Ribbons which were all her Headdress disposd to the greatest Advantage
Upon the whole nothing could be more singularly becoming than her Dress or set off with greater Advantage the striking Beauties of her Person
Miss Glanville tho she was not displeasd to see her persist in her Singularity of Dress yet could not behold her look so lovely in it without feeling a secret Uneasiness but consoling herself with the Hopes of the Ridicule she
would occasion she assumd a chearful Air approvd her Taste in the Choice of her Colours and went with her at the usual Hour to the Rooms attended by Mr Glanville Mr Selvin and the young Beau we have formerly mentiond
The Surprize Arabellas unusual Appearance gave to the whole Company was very visible to every one but herself
The Moment she enterd the Room every one whisperd the Person next to them and for some Moments nothing was heard but the Words the Princess Julia which was ecchod at every Corner and at last attracted her Observation
Mr Glanville and the rest of the Company with her were in some Confusion at the universal Exclamation which they imagind was occasiond by the Singularity of her Habit tho they could not conceive why they gave her that Title Had they known the Adventure of the Mantuamaker it would doubtless have easily occurrd to them for the Woman had no sooner left Arabella than she related the Conference she had with a Lady newly arrivd who had requird her to make a Robe in the Manner of the Princess Julias and dismissd her because she did not understand the Fashions that prevaild two thousand Years ago
This Story was quickly dispersd and for its Novelty afforded a great deal of Diversion every one longd to see a Fashion of such Antiquity and expected the Appearance of the Princess Julia with great Impatience
It is not to be doubted but much Mirth was treasurd up for her Appearance and the occasional Humourist had already prepared his accustomd Jest when the Sight of the devoted fair One repelld his Vivacity and the designd Ridicule of the whole Assembly
Scarce had the first tumultous Whisper escapd the Lips of each Individual when they found themselves awd to Respect by that irresistable Charm in the Person of Arabella which commanded Reverence and Love from all who beheld her
Her noble Air the native Dignity in her Looks the inexpressible Grace which accompanyd all her Motions and the consummate Loveliness of her Form drew the Admiration of the whole Assembly
A respectful Silence succeeded and the Astonishment her Beauty occasiond left them no Room to descant on the Absurdity of her Dress
Miss Glanville who felt a malicious Joy at the Sneers she expected would be cast on her Cousin was greatly disappointed at the Deference which seemd to be paid her and to vent some Part of her Spleen took occasion to mention her Surprize at the Behaviour of the Company on their Entrance wondering what they could mean by whispering the Princess Julia to one another
I assure you said Arabella smiling I am not less surprizd than you at it and since they directed their Looks to me at the same Time I fancy they either took me for some Princess of the Name of Julia who is expected here toNight
or else flatter me with some Resemblance to the beautiful Daughter of Augustus
The Comparison Madam said Mr Selvin who took all Occasions to shew his Reading is too injurious to you for I am of Opinion you as much excel that licentious Lady in the Beauties of your Person as you do in the Qualities of your Mind
I never heard Licentiousness imputed to the Daughter of Augustus Caesar said Arabella and the most her Enemies can say of her is that she loved Admiration and would permit herself to be beloved and to be told so without shewing any Signs of Displeasure
Bless me Madam interrupted Mr Selvin how strangely do you mistake the Character of Julia Tho the Daughter of an Emperor she was pardon the Expression the most abandond Prostitute in Rome many of her Intrigues are recorded in History but to mention only one Was not her infamous Commerce with Ovid the Cause of his Banishment
Some Reflexions very fit and others very unfit for an AssemblyRoom
YOU speak in strange Terms replied Arabella blushing of a Princess who if she was not the most reservd and severe Person in the World was yet nevertheless absolutely chaste
I know there were People who represented her Partiality for Ovid in a very unfavourable Light but that ingenious Poet when he related his History to the great Agrippa told him in Confidence all that had passd between him and the Princess Julia than which nothing could be more innocent tho a little indiscreet For tis certain that she permitted him to love her and did not condemn him to any rigorous Punishment for daring to tell her so yet for all this as I said before tho she was not altogether so austere as she ought to have been yet she was nevertheless a most virtuous Princess
Mr Selvin not daring to contradict a Lady whose extensive Reading had furnishd her with Anecdotes unknown almost to any Body else by his Silence confessd her Superiority But Mr Glanville who knew all these Anecdotes were drawn from Romances which he found contradicted the known Facts in History and assignd the most ridiculous Causes for Things of the greatest Importance could not help smiling at the Facility with which Mr Selvin gave into those idle Absurdities For notwithstanding his Affectation of great Reading his superficial Knowledge of History made it extremely easy to deceive him and as it was his Custom to mark in his PocketBook all the Scraps of History he heard introduced into Conversation and retail them again in other Company he did not doubt but he would make a Figure with the curious Circumstances Arabella had furnishd him with
Arabella observing Mr Tinsel by his familiar Bows significant Smiles and easy Salutations
was acquainted with the greatest Part of the Assembly told him that she did not doubt but he knew the Adventures of many Persons whom they were viewing and that he would do her a Pleasure if he would relate some of them
Mr Tinsel was charmd with a Request which afforded him an Opportunity of gratifying a favourite Inclination and seating himself near her immediately was beginning to obey her Injunctions when she gracefully intreated him to stay a Moment and calling to Mr Glanville and his Sister who were talking to Mr Selvin askd them if they chose to partake of a more rational Amusement than Dancing and listen to the Adventures of some illustrious Persons which Mr Tinsel had promisd to relate
I assure you Madam said Mr Glanville smiling you will find that a less innocent Amusement than Dancing
Why so Sir replied Arabella since it is not an indiscreet Curiosity which prompts me to a Desire of hearing the Histories Mr Tinsel has promisd to entertain me with but rather a Hope of hearing something which may at once improve and delight me something which may excite my Admiration engage my Esteem or influence my Practice
Twas doubtless with such Motives as these that we find Princesses and Ladies of the most illustrious Rank in Clelia and the Grand Cyrus listning to the Adventures of Persons in whom they were probably as little interested as we are in these around us Kings Princes and Commanders of Armies thought it was no Waste of their Time in the midst of the
Hurry and Clamour of a Camp to listen many Hours to the Relation of one single History and not filld with any extraordinary Events but haply a simple Recital of common Occurrences The great Cyrus while he was busy in reducing all Asia to his Yoke heard nevertheless the Histories of all the considerable Persons in the Camp besides those of Strangers and even his Enemies If there was therefore any thing either criminal or mean in hearing the Adventures of others do you imagine so many great and illustrious Persons would have given in to such an Amusement
After this Arabella turnd gravely about to Mr Tinsel and told him he was at Liberty to begin his Recital
The Beau a little disconcerted by the Solemnity with which she requested his Information knew not how to begin with the Formality that he saw was required of him and therefore fat silent for a few Moments which Arabella supposd was to recall to his Memory all the Passages he proposd to relate
His Perplexity would probably have increasd instead of lessening by the profound Silence which she observed had not Miss Glanville seated herself with a sprightly Air on the other Side of him and directing his Eyes to a tall handsome Woman that had just enterd askd him pleasantly to tell her History if he knew it
Mr Tinsel brought into his usual Track by this Question answerd smiling That the History of that Lady was yet a Secret or known but to very few but my Intelligence added
he is generally the × and may always be depended on
Perhaps said × the Lady is one of your Acquaintances É you with the Recital of her É from her own Mouth
No really Madam answerd Mr Tinsel surprizd at the great Simplicity of Arabella for so he understood it the Lady I believe is not so communicative And to say the Truth I should not chuse to hear her Adventures from herself since she certainly would suppress the most material Circumstances
In a Word said he lowering his Voice That Lady was for many Years the Mistress of a young military Nobleman whom she was so complaisant to follow in all his Campaigns Marches Sieges and every Inconveniency of War He married her in Gibraltar from whence he is lately arrivd and introducd his new Lady to his noble Brother by whom she was not unfavourably receivd Tis worth remarking that this same haughty Peer thought sit to resent with implacable Obstinacy the Marriage of another of his Brothers with the Widow of a brave Officer of considerable Rank in the Army Tis true she was several Years older than the young Lord and had no Fortune but the Duke assignd other Reasons for his Displeasure He complaind loudly that his Brother had dishonourd the Nobility of his Birth by this Alliance and continued his Resentment till the Death of the young Hero who gave many remarkable Proofs of his Courage and Fortitude upon several Occasions and died gloriously before the Walls of Carthagena
leaving his disconsolate Lady a Widow a second Time with the Acquisition of a Title indeed but a very small Addition to her Fortune
Observe that gay splendid Lady I beseech you Madam pursued he turning to Arabella how affectedly she looks and talks and throws her Eyes around the Room with a haughty Selfsufficiency in her Aspect and insolent Contempt for every Thing but herself Her Habit her Speech her Motions are all French nothing in England is able to please her the People so dull so aukwardly polite the Manners so gross no Delicacy no Elegance no Magnificence in their Persons Houses or Diversions every Thing is so distasteful there is no living in such a Place One may crawl about indeed she says and make a shift to breathe in the odious Country but one cannot be said to live and with all the Requisites to render Life delightful here one can only suffer not enjoy it
Would one not imagine pursued he this fine Lady was a Person of very exalted Rank who has the Sanction of Birth Riches and Grandeur for her extraordinary Pride and yet she is no other than the Daughter of an InnKeeper at Spa and had the exalted Post assignd her of attending new Lodgers to their Apartments acquainting them with all the Conveniences of the Place answering an humble Question or two concerning what Company was in the Town what Scandal was stirring and the like
One of our great Sea Commanders going thither for his Health happend to lodge at this Inn and was so struck with her Charms that he marryd her in a few Weeks and soon after brought her to England
Such was the Origin of this fantastick Lady whose insupportable Pride and ridiculous Affectation draws Contempt and Aversion whereshe appears
Did I not tell you Madam interrupted Mr Glanville that the Amusement you had chose was not so innocent as Dancing What a deal of Scandal has Mr Tinsel utterd in the Compass of a few Minutes
I assure you replied Arabella I know not what to make of the Histories he has been relating I think they do not deserve that Name and are rather detatched Pieces of Satire on particular Persons than a serious Relation of Facts I confess my Expectations from this Gentleman have not been answerd
I think however Madam said Mr Glanville we may allow that there is a negative Merit in the Relations Mr Tinsel has made for if he has not shewn us any Thing to approve he has at least shewn us what to condemn
The Ugliness of Vice replyd Arabella ought only to be represented to the Vicious to whom Satire like a magnifying Glass may aggravate every Defect in order to make its Deformity appear more hideous but since its End is only to reprove and amend it should never be addressd to any but those who come within its Correction and may be the better for it A virtuous Mind need not be shewn
the Deformity of Vice to make it be hated and avoided the more pure and uncorrupted our Ideas are the less shall we be insluencd by Example A natural Propensity to Virtue or Vice often determines the Choice Tis sufficient therefore to shew a good Mind what it ought to pursue though a bad one must be told what to avoid In a Word one ought to be always incited the other always restraind
I vow Lady Bella said Miss Glanville youd make one think one came here to hear a Sermon you are so very grave and talk upon such highflown Subjects What Harm was there in what Mr Tinsel was telling us It would be hard indeed if one might not divert ones self with other Peoples Faults
I am afraid Miss said Arabella those who can divert themselves with the Faults of others are not behind hand in affording Diversion And that very Inclination added she smilingly to hear other Peoples Faults may by those very People be condemned as one and afford them the same Kind of illnaturd Pleasure you are so desirous of
Nay Madam returnd Miss Glanville your Ladyship was the first who introducd the Discourse you condemn so much Did not you desire Mr Tinsel to tell you Histories about the Company and ask my brother and me to come and hear them
Tis true replyd Arabella that I did desire you to partake with me of a pleasing and rational Amusement for such I imagind Mr Tinsels Histories might afford far from a Detail of Vices Follies and Irregularities I
expected to have heard the Adventures of some illustrious Personages related between whose Actions and those of the Heroes and Heroines of Antiquity I might have found some Resemblance
For Instance I hopd to have heard imitated the sublime Courage of a Clelia who to save her Honour from the Attempts of the impious Tarquin leapd into the River Tyber and swam to the other Side or the noble Resolution of the incomparable Candace who to escape out of the Hands of her Ravisher the Pirate Zenadorus set Fire to his Vessel with her own Hands and committed herself to the Mercy of the Waves Or the Constancy and Affection of a Mandana who for the Sake of a Cyrus refused the richest Crowns in the World and braved the Terrors of Death to preserve herself for him
As for the Men I hoped to have heard of some who might have almost equalld the great Oroondates the invincible Artaban the valiant Juba the renowned Alcamenes and many thousand Heroes of Antiquity whose glorious Exploits in War aud unsaken Constancy in Love have given them an immortal Fame
While Arabella was uttering this long Speech with great Emotion Miss Glanville with a sly Look at the Beau gave him to understand that was her Cousins Foible
Mr Tinsel however not able to comprehend the Meaning of what she said listend to her with many Signs of Perplexity and Wonder
Mr Selvin in secret repind at her prodigious Knowledge of History and Mr Glanville
with his Eyes fixd on the Ground bit his Lips almost through with Madness
In the mean Time several among the Company desirous of hearing what the strange Lady was saying so loud and with so much Eagerness and Emotion gatherd round them which Mr Glanville observing and fearing Arabella would expose herself still farther whisperd his Sister to get her away if possible
Miss Glanville tho very unwilling obeyd his Injunctions and complaining of a sudden Headach Arabella immediately proposd retiring which was joyfully complied with by Mr Glanville who with the other Gentlemen attended them home
AT their Return Sir Charles told his Niece That she had now had a Specimen of the World and some of the fashionable Amusements and askd her how she had been entertaind
Why truly Sir replied she smiling I have brought away no great Relish for a Renewal of the Amusement I have partaken of Tonight If the World in which you seem to think I am but new initiated affords only these Kinds of Pleasures I shall very soon regret the Solitude and Books I have quitted
Why pray said Miss Glanville What Kind of Amusements did your Ladyship expect to find in the World And what was there disagreeable in your Entertainment to Night I am sure there is no Place in England except London where there is so much good Company to be met with as here The Assembly was very numerous and brillant and one can be at no Loss for Amusements The PumpRoom in the Morning the Parade and the Rooms in the Evening with little occasional Parties of Pleasure will find one sufficient Employment and leave none of ones Time to lye useless upon ones Hand
I am of Opinion replied Arabella that ones Time is far from being well employd in the Manner you portion it out And People who spend theirs in such trifling Amusements must certainly live to very little Purpose
What room I pray you does a Lady give for high and noble Adventures who consumes her Days in Dressing Dancing listening to Songs and ranging the Walks with People as thoughtless as herself How mean and contemptible a Figure must a Life spent in such idle Amusements make in History Or rather Are not such Persons always buried in Oblivion and can any Pen be found who would condescend to record such inconsiderable Actions
Nor can I persuade myself added she that any of those Men whom I saw at the Assembly with Figures so feminine Voices so soft such tripping Steps and unmeaning Gestures have ever signalized either their Courage or Constancy
but might be overcome by their Enemy in Battle or be false to their Mistress in Love
Law Cousin replyd Miss Glanville you are always talking of Battles and Fighting Do you expect that Persons of Quality and fine Gentlemen will go to the Wars What Business have they to fight That belongs to the Officers
Then every fine Gentleman is an Officer said Arabella and some other Title ought to be found out for Men who do nothing but Dance and Dress
I could never have imagined interrupted Mr Tinsel surveying Arabella that a Lady so elegant and gay in her own Appearance should have an Aversion to Pleasure and Magnificence
I assure you Sir replied Arabella I have an Aversion to neither On the contrary I am a great Admirer of both But my Ideas of Amusements and Grandeur are probably different from yours
I will allow the Ladies to be sollicitous about their Habits and dress with all the Care and Elegance they are capable of but such Trifles are below the Consideration of a Man who ought not to owe the Dignity of his Appearance to the Embroidery on his Coat but to his high and noble Air the Grandeur of his Courage the Elevation of his Sentiments and the many heroick Actions he has performd
Such a Man will dress his Person with a graceful Simplicity and lavish all his Gold and Embroidery upon his Armour to render him conspicuous in the Day of Battle The Plumes in his Helmet will look more graceful in the
Field than the Feather in his Hat at a Ball and Jewels blaze with more Propriety on his Shield and Cuirass in Battle than glittering on his Finger in a Dance
Do not imagine however pursued she that I absolutely condemn Dancing and think it a Diversion wholly unworthy of a Hero
History has recorded some very famous Balls at which the most illustrious Persons in the World have appeard
Cyrus the Great we are informd opend a Ball with the divine Mandana at Sardis The renownd King of Scythia dancd with the Princess Cleopatra at Alexandria The brave Cleomedon with the fair Candace at Ethiopia but these Diversions were taken but seldom and considerd indeed as an Amusement not as a Part of the Business of Life
How would so many glorious Battles have been fought Cities taken Ladies rescud and other great and noble Adventures been atchievd if the Men sunk in Sloth and Effeminacy had continually followd the Sound of a Fiddle saunterd in Publick Walks and tattled over a Teatable
I vow Cousin said Miss Glanville you are infinitely more severe in your Censures than Mr Tinsel was at the Assembly You had little Reason methinks to be angry with him
All I have said replyd Arabella were the natural Inference from your own Account of the Manner in which People live here When Actions are a Censure upon themselves the Reciter will always be considerd as a Satirist
In which our Heroine justifies her own Notions by some very illustrious Examples
MR Selvin and Mr Tinsel who had listend attentively to this Discourse of Arabella took Leave as soon as it was ended and went away with very different Opinions of her
Mr Tinsel declaring she was a Fool and had no Knowledge of the World and Mr Selvin convincd she was a Wit and very learnd in Antiquity
Certainly said Mr Selvin in Support of his Opinion the Lady has great Judgment has been capable of prodigious Application as is apparent by her extensive Reading Then her Memory is quite miraculous I protest I am quite charmd with her I never met with such a Woman in my Life
Her Cousin in my Opinion replyd Mr Tinsel is infinitely beyond her in every Merit but Beauty How sprightly and free her Conversation What a thorough Knowledge of the World So true a Taste for polite Amusements and a Fund of Spirits that sets Vapours and Spleen at Defiance
This Speech bringing on a Comparison between the Ladies the Champions for each grew so warm in the Dispute that they had like to have quarrelld However by the Interposition
of some other Gentlemen who were with them they parted tolerable Friends that Night and renewd their Visits to Sir Charles in the Morning
They found only Miss Glanville with her Father and Brother Arabella generally spent the Mornings in her own Chamber where Reading and the Labours of the Toilet employd her Time till Dinner Tho it must be confessd to her Honour that the latter engrossd but a very small Part of it
Miss Glanville with whom the Beau had a long Conversation at one of the Windows in which he recounted his Dispute with Mr Selvin and the Danger he ran of being pinkd in a Duel that was his Phrase for her Sake at last proposd a Walk to which she consented and engagd to prevail upon Arabella to accompany them
That Lady at first positively refusd alleging in Excuse That she was so extremely interested in the Fate of the Princess Melisintha whose Story she was reading that she could not stir till she had finishd it
That poor Princess continud she is at present in a most terrible Situation She has just set Fire to the Palace in order to avoid the Embraces of a King who forcd her to marry him I am in Pain to know how she escapes the Flames
Pshaw interrupted Miss Glanville let her perish there if she will Dont let her hinder our Walk
Who is it you doom with so much Cruelty to perish said Arabella closing the Book and
looking stedfastly on her Cousin Is it the beautiful Melisintha that Princess whose Fortitude and Patience have justly renderd her the Admiration of the whole World That Princess descended from a Race of Heroes whose heroick Virtues all glowd in her own beauteous Breast that Princess who when taken Captive with the King her Father bore her Imprisonment and Chains with a marvellous Constancy and who when she enslaved her Conqueror and given Fetters to the Prince who held her Father and herself in Bonds nobly refusd the Diadem he profferd her and devoted herself to Destruction in order to punish the Enemy of her House I am not able to relate the rest of her History seeing I have read no further myself but if you will be pleased to sit down and listen to me while I read what remains I am persuaded you will find new Cause to love and admire this amiable Princess
Pardon me Madam said Miss Glanville I have heard enough and I could have been very well satisfyd not to have heard so much I think we waste a great deal of Time talking about People we know nothing of The Morning will be quite lost if we dont make Haste Come added she you must go You have a new Lover below who waits to go with us hell die if I dont bring you
A new Lover returnd Arabella surprizd
Aye aye said Miss Glanville the learned Mr Selvin I assure you he had almost quarrelld with Mr Tinsel last Night about your Ladyship
Arabella at this Intelligence casting down her Eyes discoverd many Signs of Anger and Confusion And after a Silence of some Moments during which Miss Glanville had been employd in adjusting her Dress at the Glass addressing herself to her Cousin with an Accent somewhat less sweet than before
Had any other than yourself Miss said she acquainted me with the Presumption of that unfortunate Person I should haply have discoverd my Resentment in other Terms But as it is must inform you that I take it extremely ill you should be accessary to giving me this Offence
Hey day said Miss Glanville turning about hastily How have I offended your Ladyship pray
I am willing to hope Cousin replyd Arabella that it was only to divert yourself with the Trouble and Confusion in which you see me that you have indiscreetly told Things which ought to have been buryd in Silence
And what is all this mighty Trouble and Confusion about then Madam said Miss Glanville smiling Is it because I told you Mr Selvin was a Lover of your Ladyship
Certainly said Arabella such an Information is sufficient to give one a great deal of Perplexity Is it such a little Matter think you to be told that a Man has the Presumption to love one
A meer Trifle replyd Miss Glanville laughing a hundred Lovers are not worth a Moments Thought when ones sure of them for then the Trouble is all over And as for this
unfortunate Person as your Ladyship called him let him die at his Leisure while we go to the Parade
Your Levity Cousin said Arabella forces me to smile notwithstanding the Cause I have to be incensd however I have Charity enough to make me not desire the Death of Mr Selvin who may repair the Crime he has been guilty of by Repentance and Discontinuation
Well then said Miss Glanville you are resolvd to go to the Parade Shall I reach you your odd Kind of Capuchin
How said Arabella can I with any Propriety see a Man who has discoverd himself to have a Passion for me Will he not construe such a Favour into a Permission for him to hope
Oh no interrupted Miss Glanville he does not imagine I have told your Ladyship he loves you for indeed he dont know that I am acquainted with his Passion
Then he is less culpable than I thought him replyd Arabella and if you think I am in no Danger of hearing a Confession of his Fault from his own Mouth Ill comply with your Request and go with you to the Parade But added she I must first engage you to promise not to leave me alone a Moment lest he should take Advantage of such an Opportunity to give some Hint of his Passion that would force me to treat him very rigorously
Miss Glanville answerd laughing That she would be sure to mind her Directions However said she your Ladyship need not be apprehensive he will say any fine Things to you
for I knew a young Lady he was formerly in Love with and the odious Creature visited her a Twelvemonth before he found Courage enough to tell her she was handsome
Doubtless replyd Arabella he was much to be commended for his Respect A Lover should never have the Presumption to declare his Passion to his Mistress unless in certain Circumstances which may at the same Time in part disarm her Anger For Instance he must struggle with the Violence of his Passion till it has cast him into a Fever His Physicians must give him over pronouncing his Distemper incurable since the Cause of it being in his Mind all their Art is incapable of removing it Thus he must suffer rejoicing at the Approach of Death which will free him from all his Torments without violating the Respect he owes to the Divine Object of his Flame At length when he has but a few Hours to live his Mistress with many Signs of Compassion conjures him to tell her the Cause of his Despair The Lover conscious of his Crime evades all her Inquiries but the Lady laying at last a peremptory Command upon him to disclose the Secret he dares not disobey her and acknowledges his Passion with the utmost Contrition for having offended her bidding her take the small Remainder of his Life to expiate his Crime and finishes his Discourse by falling into a Swoon
The Lady is touchd at his Condition commands him to live and if necessary permits him to hope
This is the most common Way in which such Declarations are and ought to be brought about However there are others which are as well calculated for sparing a Ladys Confusion and deprecating her Wrath
The Lover for Example like the Prince of the Massage¥es after having buried his Passion in Silence for many Years may chance to be walking with his Confidant in a retird Place to whom with a Deluge of Tears he relates the Excess of his Passion and Despair And while he is thus unbosoming his Griefs not in the least suspecting he is overheard his Princess who had been listning to him in much Trouble and Confusion by some little Rustling she makes unawares discovers herself
The surprizd Lover throws himself at her Feet begs Pardon for his Rashness observes that he had never presumd to discover his Passion to her and implores her Leave to die before her as a Punishment for his undesignd Offence
The Method which the great Artamenes took to let the Princess of Media know he adored her was not less respectful This valiant Prince who had long loved her being to fight a great Battle in which he had some secret Presages he should fall which however deceivd him wrote a long Letter to the divine Mandana wherein he discoverd his Passion and the Resolution his Respect had inspird him with to consume in Silence and never presume to disclose his Love while he lived acquainting her that he had orderd that Letter not to be deliverd to her till it was certainly known that he was dead
Accordingly he receivd several Wounds in the Fight which brought him to the Ground and his Body not being found they concluded it was in the Enemys Possession
His faithful Squire who had receivd his Instructions before the Battle hastens to the Princess who with all the Court is mightily affected at his Death
He presents her the Letter which she makes no Scruple to receive since the Writer is no more She reads it and her whole Soul is melted with Compassion she bewails his Fate with the most tender and affectionate Marks of Grief
Her Confidant asks why she is so much affected since in all Probability she would not have pardond him for loving her had he been alive
She acknowledges the Truth of her Observation takes Notice that his Death having cancelld his Crime his respectful Passion alone employs her Thoughts she is resolvd to bewail as innocent and worthy of Compassion when dead whom living she would treat as a Criminal and insinuates that her Heart had entertaind an Affection for him
Her Confidant treasures up this Hint and endeavours to console her but in vain till News is brought that Artamenes who had been carryd for dead out of the Field and by a very surprizing Adventure conceald all this Time is returnd
The Princess is coverd with Confusion and tho glad he is alive resolves to banish him for his Crime
Her Confidant pleads his Cause so well that she consents to see him and since he can no longer conceal his Passion he confirms the Confession in his Letter humbly begging Pardon for being still alive
The Princess who cannot plead Ignorance of his Passion nor deny the Sorrow she testifyd for his Death condescends to pardon him and he is also permitted to hope In like Manner the great Prince of PersiaÑ
Does your Ladyship consider how late it is interrupted Miss Glanville who had hitherto very impatiently listend to her Dont let us keep the Gentlemen waiting any longer for us
I must inform you how the Prince of Persia declard his Love for the incomparable Berenice said Arabella
Another Time dear Cousin said Miss Glanville methinks we have talkd long enough upon this Subject
I am sorry the Time has seemd so tedious to you said Arabella smiling and therefore Ill trespass no longer upon your Patience Then ordering Lucy to bring her Hat and Gloves she went down Stairs followd by Miss Glanville who was greatly disappointed at her not putting on her Veil
In which our Heroine being mistaken herself gives Oceasion for a great many other Mistakes
AS soon as the Ladies enterd the Room Mr Selvin with more Gaiety than usual advancd towards Arabella who put on so cold and severe a Countenance at his Approach that the poor Man extreamly confusd drew back and remaind in great Perplexity fearing he had offended her
Mr Tinsel seeing Mr Selvins Reception and awd by the becoming Majesty in her Person notwithstanding all his Assurance accosted her with less Confidence than was his Custom but Arabella softning her Looks with the most engaging Smiles made an Apology for detaining them so long from the Parade gave her Hand to the Beau as being not a suspected Person and permitted him to lead her out Mr Glanville to whom she always allowd the Preference on those Occasions being a little indisposd and not able to attend her
Mr Tinsel whose Vanity was greatly flatterd by the Preference Arabella gave him to his Companion proceeded according to his usual Custom to examine her Looks and Behaviour with more Care conceiving such a Preference must proceed from a latent Motive which was not unfavourable for him His Discernment on these Occasions being very surprising
he soon discoverd in the bright Eyes of Arabella a secret Approbation of his Person which he endeavourd to increase by displaying it with all the Address he was Master of and did not fail to talk her into an Opinion of his Wit by ridiculing every Body that passd them and directing several studyd Compliments to herself
Miss Glanville who was not so agreeably entertaind by the grave Mr Selvin saw these Advances to a Gallantry with her Cousin with great Disturbance She was resolved to interrupt it if possible and being convincd Mr Selvin preferrd Arabellas Conversation to hers she plotted how to pair them together and have the Beau to herself
As they walkd a few Paces behind her Cousin and Mr Tinsel she was in no Danger of being overheard and taking Occasion to put Mr Selvin in mind of Arabellas Behaviour to him when he accosted her she askd him if he was conscious of having done any thing to offend her
I protest Madam replyd Mr Selvin I know not of any thing I have done to displease her I never faild to my Knowledge in my Respects towards her Ladyship for whom indeed I have a most profound Veneration
I know so much of her Temper resumd Miss Glanville as to be certain if she has taken it into her Head to be angry with you she will be ten times more so at your Indifference And if you hope for her Favour you must ask her Pardon with the most earnest Submission imaginable
If I knew I had offended her replyd Mr Selvin I would very willingly ask her Pardon but really since I have not been guilty of any Fault towards her Ladyship I dont know how to acknowledge it
Well said Miss Glanville coldly I only took the Liberty to give you some friendly Advice which you may follow or not as you please I know my Cousin is angry at something and I wish you were Friends again thats all
I am mightily obligd to you Madam said Mr Selvin and since you assure me her Ladyship is angry Ill ask her Pardon tho really as I said before I dont know for what
Well interrupted Miss Glanville well join them at the End of the Parade and to give you an Opportunity of speaking to my Cousin Ill engage Mr Tinsel myself
Mr Selvin who thought himself greatly obligd to Miss Glanville for her good Intentions tho in reality she had a View of exposing of her Cousin as well as an Inclination to engage Mr Tinsel took Courage as they turnd to get on the other Side of Arabella whom he had not dard before to approach while Miss Glanville addressing a Whisper of no great Importance to her Cousin parted her from the Beau and slackning her Pace a little fell into a particular Discourse with him which Arabella being too polite to interrupt remaind in a very perplexing Situation dreading every Moment that Mr Selvin would explain himself Alarmd at his Silence yet resolvd to interrupt him if he began to speak and afraid of beginning a Conversation
first lest he should construe it to his Advantage
Mr Selvin being naturally timid in the Company of Ladies the Circumstance of Disgrace which he was in with Arabella her Silence and Reserve so added to his accustomd Diffidence that tho he endeavourd several times to speak he was not able to bring out any thing but a preluding Hem which he observd to his extreme Confusion seemd always to encrease Arabellas Constraint
Indeed that Lady upon any Suspicion that he was going to break his mysterious Silence always contracted her Brow into a Frown cast down her Eyes with an Air of Perplexity endeavourd to hide her Blushes with her Fan and to shew her Inattention directed her Looks to the contrary Side
The Lady and Gentleman being in equal Confusion no Advances were made on either Side towards a Conversation and they had reachd almost the End of the Parade in an uninterrupted Silence when Mr Selvin fearing he should never again have so good an Opportunity of making his Peace collected all his Resolution and with an Accent trembling under the Importance of the Speech he was going to make began
Madam Since I have had the Honour of walking with your Ladyship I have observed so many Signs of Constraint in your Manner that I hardly dare intreat you to grant me a Moments Hearing while IÑ
Sir interrupted Arabella before you go any further I must inform you that what you are
going to say will mortally offend me Take heed then how you commit an Indiscretion which will force me to treat you very rigorously
If your Ladyship will not allow me to speak in my own Justification said Mr Selvin yet I hope you will not refuse to tell me my Offence since IÑ
You are very confident indeed interrupted Arabella again to suppose I will repeat what would be infinitely grievous for me to hear Against my Will pursued she I must give you the Satisfaction to know that I am not ignorant of your Crime but I also assure you that I am highly incensd and that not only with the Thoughts you have dard to entertain of me but likewise with your Presumption in going about to disclose them
Mr Selvin whom the seeming Contradictions in this Speech astonishd yet imagind in general it hinted at the Dispute between him and Mr Tinsel and supposing the Story had been told to his Disadvantage which was the Cause of her Anger replyd in great Emotion at the Injustice done him
Since somebody has been so officious to acquaint your Ladyship with an Affair which ought to have been kept from your Knowledge tis a Pity they did not inform you that Mr Tinsel was the Person that had the least Respect for your Ladyship and is more worthy of your Resentment
If Mr Tinsel replied Arabella is guilty of an Offence like yours yet since he has conceald it better he is less culpable than you and you have done that for him which haply
he would never have had Courage enough to do for himself as long as he lived
Poor Selvin quite confounded at these intricate Words would have beggd her to explain herself had she not silencd him with a dreadful Frown Aand making a Stop till Miss Glanville and Mr Tinsel came up to them She told her Cousin with a peevish Accent that she had performd her Promise very ill and whisperd her that she was to blame for all the Mortifications she had sufferd
Mr Tinsel supposing the Alteration in Arabellas Humour proceeded from being so long deprivd of his Company endeavourd to make her Amends by a Profusion of Compliments which she receivd with such an Air of Displeasure that the Beau vexd at the ill Success of his Gallantry told her he was afraid Mr Selvins Gravity had infected her Ladyship
Say rather replyd Arabella that his Indiscretion has offended me
Mr Tinsel charmd with this beginning Confidence which confirmd his Hopes of having made fome Impression on her Heart conjurd her very earnestly to tell him how Mr Selvin had offended her
Tis sufficient resumd she that I tell you he has offended me without declaring the Nature of his Crime since doubtless it has not escaped your Observation which if I may believe him is not wholly disinterested To confess yet more tis true that he hath told me something concerning you whichÑ
Let me perish Madam interrupted the Beau if one Syllable he has said be true
How said Arabella a little disconcerted Will you always persist in a Denial then
Deny it Madam returnd Mr Tinsel Ill deny what he has said with my last Breath tis all a scandalous Forgery No Man living is less likely to think of your Ladyship in that Manner If you knew my Thoughts Madam you would be convincd nothing is more impossible andÑ
Sir interrupted Arabella extremely mortifyd methinks you are very eager in your Justification I promise you I do not think you guilty of the Offence he chargd you with if I did you would haply experience my Resentment in such a Manner as would make you repent of your Presumption
Arabella in finishing these Words interrupted Miss Glanvilles Discourse with Mr Selvin to tell her she desird to return Home to which that young Lady who had not been at all pleasd with the Mornings Walk consented
In which our Heroine reconciles herself to a mortifying Incident by recollecting an Adventure in a Romance similar to her own
AS soon as the Ladies were come to their Lodgings Arabella went up to her own Apartment to meditate upon what had passd and Miss Glanville retird to dress for Dinner
while the two Gentlemen who thought they had great Reason to be dissatisfyd with each other on Account of Lady Bellas Behaviour went to a Coffeehouse in order to come to some Explanation about it
Well Sir said the Beau with a sarcastick Air I am greatly obligd to you for the Endeavours you have usd to ruin me in Lady Bellas Opinion Rat me if it is not the greatest Misfortune in the World to give occasion for Envy
Envy Sir interrupted Mr Selvin I protest I do really admire your great Skill in Stratagems but I do not envy you the Possession of it You have indeed very wittily contrivd to put your own Sentiments of that Lady which you deliverd so freely the other Night into my Mouth Twas a Masterpiece of Cunning indeed and as I said before I admire your Skill prodigiously
I dont know what you mean replyd Tinsel y¥u talk in Riddles Did you not yourself acquaint Lady Bella with the Preference I gave Miss Glanville to her What would you propose by such a Piece of Treachery You have ruind all my Hopes by it The Lady resents it excessively and its no Wonder faith it must certainly mortify her Upon my Soul I can never forgive thee for so mal a propos a Discovery
Forgive me Sir replied Selvin in a Rage I dont want your Forgiveness I have done nothing unbecoming a Man of Honour The Lady was so prejudiced by your Insinuations that she would not give me Leave to speak
otherwise I would have fully informd her of her Mistake that she might have known how much she was obligd to you
So she would not hear thee interrupted Tinsel laughing dear Soul how very kind was that Faith I dont know how it is but I am very lucky without deserving to be so Thou art a Witness for me Frank I took no great Pains to gain this fine Creatures Heart but it was damnd malicious tho to attempt to make Discoveries I see she is a little piqud but Ill set all to rights again with a Billetdoux Ive an excellent Hand tho I say it at a Billetdoux I never knew one of mine fail in my Life
Harky Sir said Selvin whispering any more Attempts to shift your Sentiments upon me and you shall hear of it In the mean Time be assurd Ill clear myself and put the Saddle upon the right Horse
Demme if thou art not × queer Fellow said Tinsel endeavouring to hide his Discomposure at this Threat under a forcd Laugh
Selvin without making any Reply retird to write to Arabella which Tinsel suspecting resolvd to be before hand with him and without leaving the Coffeehouse calld for Paper and wrote a Billet to her which he dispatchd away immediately
The Messenger had just got Admittance to Lucy when another arrivd from Selvin
They both presented their Letters but Lucy refusd them saying her Lady would turn her away if she receivd such Sort of Letters
Such Sort of Letters returnd Tinsels Man Why do you know what they contain then
To be sure I do replyd Lucy they are LoveLetters and my Lady has chargd me never to receive any more
Well replyd Selvins Servant you may take my Letter for my Master desird me to tell you it was about Business of Consequence which your Lady must be acquainted with
Since you assure me it is not a LoveLetter Ill take it said Lucy
And pray take mine too said Tinsels Mercury for I assure you it is not a LoveLetter neither its only a Billetdoux
Are you sure of that replyd Lucy because I may venture to take it I fancy if its what you say
Ill swear it said the Man delivering it to her Well said she receiving it Ill take them both up But what did you call this pursud she I must not forget it or else my Lady will think it a LoveLetter
A Billetdoux said the Man
Lucy for fear she should forget it repeated the Words Billetdoux several Times as she went up Stairs but entering her Ladys Apartment she perceiving the Letters in her Hand askd her so sternly how she durst presume to bring them into her Presence that the poor Girl in her Fright forgot the Lesson she had been conning and endeavouring to recal it into her Memory took no Notice of her Ladys Question which she repeated several times but to no Purpose
Arabella surprizd at her inattention reiterated her Commands in a Tone somewhat
louder than usual asking her at the same Time why she did not obey her immediately
Indeed Madam replyd Lucy your Ladyship would not order me to take back the Letters if you knew what they were They are not LoveLetters I was resolvd to be sure of that before I took them This Madam is a Letter about Business of Consequence and the otherÑOh dear I cant think what the Man calld it But it is not a LoveLetter indeed Madam
You are a simple Wench said Arabella smiling You may depend upon it all Letters directed to me must contain Matters of Love and Gallantry and those I am not permitted to receive Take them away then immediately But stay pursued she seeing she was about to obey her one of them you say was deliverd to you as a Letter of Consequence perhaps i¥ is so Indeed it may contain an Advertisement of some Design to carry me away How do I know but Mr Selvin incited by his Love and Despair may intend to make such an Attempt Give me that Letter Lucy I am resolved to open it As for the otherÑyet who knows but the other may also bring me Warning of the same Danger from another Quarter The Pains Mr Tinsel took to conceal his Passion nay almost as I think to deny it amounts to a Proof that he is meditating some Way to make sure of me Tis certainly so Give me that Letter Lucy I should be accessary to their intended Violence if I neglected this timely Discovery
Well cried she taking one of the Letters this is exactly like what happend to the beautiful Princess of Cappadocia who like me in one and the same Day receivd Advice that two of her Lovers intended to carry her off
As she pronouncd these Words Miss Glanville enterd the Room to whom Arabella immediately recounted the Adventure of the Letters telling her she did not doubt but they containd a Discovery of some Conspiracy to carry her away
And whom does your Ladyship suspect of such a strange Design pray said Miss Glanville smiling
At present replyd Arabella the two Cavaliers who walkd with us to Day are the Persons who seem the most likely to attempt that Violence
I dare answer for Mr Tinsel replied Miss Glanville he thinks of no such Thing
Well said Arabella to convince you of your Mistake I must inform you that Mr Selvin having the Presumption to begin a Declaration of Love to me on the Parade this Morning I reprovd him severely for his Want of Respect and threatned him with my Displeasure in the Rage of his Jealousy at seeing me treat Mr Tinsel well he discoverd to me that he also was as criminal as himself in order to oblige me to a severer Usage of him
So he told you Mr Tinsel was in Love with you interrupted Miss Glanville
He told it me in other Words, replyd Arabella for he said Mr Tinsel was guilty of that Offence which I resented so severely to him
Miss Glanville beginning to comprehend the Mystery with great Difficulty forbore laughing at her Cousins Mistake for she well knew the Offence Mr Selvin hinted at and desirous of knowing what those Letters containd she beggd her to delay opening them no longer
Arabella pleasd at her Solicitude opend one of the Letters but glancing her Eye to the Bottom and seeing the Name of Selvin she threw it hastily upon the Table and averting her Eyes What a Mortification have I avoided said she that Letter is from Selvin and questionless contains an Avowal of his Crime
Nay you must read it cried Miss Glanville taking it up since you have opend it its the same Thing You can never persuade him but you have seen it However to spare your Nicety Ill read it to you Which accordingly she did and found it as follows
MADAM
I Knows not what Insinuations have been made use of to persuade you I was guilty of the Offence which with Justice occasiond your Resentment this Morning but I assure you nothing was ever more false My Thoughts of your Ladyship are very different and full of the profoundest Respect and Veneration I have Reason to suspect Mr Tinsel is the Person who has thus endeavoured to prejudice me with your Ladyship therefore I am excusable if I tell you that those very Sentiments too disrespectful to be named which he would persuade
you are mine he discoverd himself He then Madam is the Person guilty of that Offence he so falsly lays to the Charge of him who is with the utmost Respect and Esteem
Madam
Your Ladyships most obedient and most humble Servant F SELVIN
Hows this cryd Miss Glanville Why Madam you are certainly mistaken You see Mr Selvin utterly denies the Crime of loving you He has sufferd very innocently in your Opinion Indeed your Ladyship was too hasty in condemning him
If what he says be true replied Arabella who had been in extream Confusion while a Letter so different from what she expected was reading I have indeed unjustly condemnd him Nevertheless I am still inclind to believe this is all Artifice and that he is really guilty of entertaining a Passion for me
But why should he take so much Pains to deny it Madam said Miss Glanville Methinks that looks very odd
Not at all interrupted Arabella whose Spirits were raisd by recollecting an Adventure in her Romance similar to this Mr Selvin has fallen upon the very same Stratagem with Seramenes who being in Love with the beautiful Cleobuline Princess of Corinth took all imaginable Pains to conceal his Passion in order
to be near that fair Princess who would have banishd him from her Presence had she known he was in Love with her Nay he went so far in his Dissimulation as to pretend Love to one of the Ladies of her Court that his Passion for the Princess might be the less taken notice of In these Cases therefore the more resolutely a Man denies his Passion the more pure and violent it is
Then Mr Selvins Passion is certainly very violent replyd Miss Glanville for he denies it very resolutely and I believe none but your Ladyship would have discoverd his Artifice But shall we not open the other Letter I have a strong Notion it comes from Tinsel
For that very Reason I would not be acquainted with the Contents replyd Arabella You see Mr Selvin accuses him of being guilty of that Offence which he denies I shall doubtless meet with a Confirmation of his Love in that Letter Do not I beseech you added she seeing her Cousin preparing to open the Letter expose me to the Pain of hearing a presumptuous Declaration of Love Nay pursued she rising in great Emotion if you are resolved to persecute me by reading it Ill endeavour to get out of the hearing of it
You shant I declare said Miss Glanville laughing and holding her Ill oblige you to hear it
I vow Cousin said Arabella smiling you use me just as the Princess Cleopatra did the fair and wise Antonia However if by this you mean to do any Kindness to the unfortunate Person who wrote that Billet you are greatly
mistaken since if you oblige me to listen to a Declaration of his Crime you will lay me under a Necessity to banish him A Sentence he would have avoided while I remained ignorant of it
In which our Heroins Extravagance will be thought perhaps to be carried to an extravagant Length
MADAM
I Had the Honour to assure you this Morning on the Parade that the Insinuations Mr Selvin made use of to rob me of the superlative Happiness of your Esteem were entirely false and groundless May the Beams of your bright Eyes never shine on me more if there is any Truth in what he said to prejudice me with your Ladyship If I am permitted to attend you to the Rooms this Evening I hope to convince you that it was absolutely impossible I could have been capable of such a Crime who am with the most profound Respect
Your Ladyships most devoted c D TINSEL
Well Madam said Miss Glanville when she had read this Epistle I fancy you need not pronounce a Sentence of Banishment upon poor Mr Tinsel he seems to be quite innocent of the Offence your Ladyship suspects him of
Why really returnd Arabella blushing with extreme Confusion at this second Disappointment I am greatly perplexd to know how I ought to act on this Occasion I am much in the same Situation with the Princess Serena For you must know this PrincessÑ Here Lucy entering informd the Ladies Dinner was servdÑI shall defer till another Opportunity said Arabella upon this Interruption the Relation of the Princess Serenas Adventures which you will find added she in a low Voice bears a very great Resemblance to mine
Miss Glanville replyd she would hear it whenever she pleasd and then followd Arabella to the Dining Room
The Cloth was scarce removd when Mr Selvin came in Arabella blushd at his Appearance and discoverd so much Perplexity in her Behaviour that Mr Selvin was apprehensive he had not yet sufficiently justifyd himself and therefore took the first Opportunity to approach her
I shall think myself very unhappy Madam said he bowing if the Letter I did myself the Honour to write to you this MorningÑ
Sir interrupted Arabella I perceive you are going to forget the Contents of that Letter and preparing again to offend me by a presumptuous Declaration of Love
Who I Madam replyd he in great Astonishment and Confusion III protestÑtho II have a very great Respect for your Ladyship yetÑyet I never presumd toÑtoÑtoÑ
You have presumd too much replied Arabella and I should forget what I owd to my own Glory if I furnishd you with any more Occasions of offending meÑKnow then I absolutely forbid you to appear before me again at least till I am convincd you have changd your Sentiments
Saying this she rose from her Seat and making a Sign to him not to follow her which indeed he had no Intention to do she quitted the Room highly satisfyd with her own Conduct upon this Occasion which was exactly conformable to the Laws of Romance
Mr Tinsel who had just alighted from his Chair having a Glimpse of her as she passd to her own Apartment resolvd if possible to procure a private Interview for he did not doubt but his Billet had done Wonders in his Favour
For that Purpose he venturd up to her AntiChamber where he found Lucy in waiting whom he desird to acquaint her Lady that he intreated a Moments Speech with her
Lucy after hesitating a Moment and looking earnestly at him replied Sir if youll promise me faithfully you are not in Love with my Lady Ill go and deliver your Message
Duce take me said Tinsel if that is not a very whimsical Condition trulyÑPray my Dear how came it into thy little Brain to
suspect I was in Love with thy Lady But suppose I should be in Love with her what then
Why then its likely you would die thats all said Lucy without my Lady would be so kind to command you to live
I vow thou hast mighty pretty Notions Child said Tinsel smiling hast thou been reading any PlayBook lately But pray dost think thy Lady would have compassion on me if I was in Love with her Come I know thou art in her Confidence Hast thou ever heard her talk of me Does she not tell thee all her Secrets
Here Arabellas Bell ringing the Beau slippd half a Guinea into her Hand which Lucy not willing to refuse went immediately to her Lady to whom with a trembling Accent she repeated Mr Tinsels Request
Imprudent Girl cried Arabella for I am loth to suspect thee of Disloyalty to thy Mistress Dost thou know the Nature and Extent of the Request thou hast deliverd Art thou ignorant that the presumptuous Man whom thou sollicitest this Favour for has mortally offended me
Indeed Madam said Lucy frighted out of her Wits I dont sollicit for him I scorn to do any such Thing I would not offend your Ladyship for the World For before I would deliver his Message to your Ladyship I made him assure me that he was not in Love with your Ladyship
That was very wisely done indeed replied Arabella smiling And do you believe he spoke the Truth
Yes indeed I am sure of it said Lucy eagerly if your Ladyship will but be pleasd to see him he is only in the next Room I dare promiseÑ
How interrupted Arabella What have you done Have you brought him into my Apartment then I protest this Adventure is exactly like what befel the beautiful Statira when by a Stratagem of the same Kind Oroondates was introducd into her Presence Lucy thou art another Barsina I think but I hope thy Intentions are not less innocent than hers was
Indeed Madam replyd Lucy excessively uneasy at her Ladys Words I am very innocent I am no Barsina as your Ladyship calls me
I dare answer for thee said Arabella smiling at the Turn she gave to her Words thou art no Barsina and I should wrong thee very much to compare thee with that wise Princess for thou art certainly one of the most simple Wenches in the World But since thou hast gone so far let me know what the unfortunate Person desires of me for since I am neither more rigid nor pretend to more Virtue than Statira I may do at least as much for him as that great Queen did for Oroondates
He desires Madam said Lucy that your Ladyship would be pleasd to let him speak with you
Or in his Words I suppose replied Arabella he humbly implord a Moments Audience
I told your Ladyship his very Words indeed Madam said Lucy
I tell thee Girl thou art mistaken said Arabella tis impossible he should sue for such a Favour in Terms like those Therefore go back and let him know that I consent to grant him a short Audience upon these Conditions
First Provided he does not abuse my Indulgence by offending me with any Protestations of his Passion
Secondly That he engages to fulfil the Injunctions I shall lay upon him however cruel and terrible they may appear
Lastly That his Despair must not prompt him to any Act of Desperation against himself
Lucy having received this Message quitted the Room hastily for fear she should forget it
Well my pretty Ambassadress said Tinsel when he saw her enter the AntiChamber Will your Lady see me
No Sir replied Lucy
No interrupted Tinsel thats kind faith after waiting so long
Pray Sir said Lucy dont put me out so I shall forget what my Lady orderd me to tell you
Oh I ask your Pardon Child said Tinsel Come let me hear your Message
Sir said Lucy adapting the Solemnity of her Ladys AccentÑMy Lady bad me say that she will grantÑNo that she consents to grant you a short Dience
Audience you would say Child said Tinsel But how came you to tell me before she would not see meÑ
I vow and protest Sir said Lucy you have put all my Ladys Words clean out of my HeadÑI dont know what comes nextÑ
Oh no matter said Tinsel you have told me enough Ill wait upon her directly
Lucy who saw him making towards the Door prest between it and him and having all her Ladys Whims in her Head supposd he was going to carry her awayÑPossessd with this Thought she screamd out Help Help for Heavens Sake My Lady willl be carryd away
Arabella hearing this Exclamation of her Womans ecchod her Screams tho with a Voice infinitely more delicate and seeing Tinsel who confounded to the last Degree at the Cries of both the Lady and her Woman had got into her Chamber he knew not how she gave herself over for lost and fell back in her Chair in a Swoon or something she took for a Swoon for she was persuaded it could happen no otherwise since all Ladies in the same Circumstances arr terrifyd into a fainting Fit and seldom recover till they are conveniently carried away and when they awake find themselves many Miles off in the Power of their Ravisher
Arabellas other Women alarmd by her Cries came running into the Room and seeing Mr Tinsel there and their Lady ia a Swoon concluded some very extraordinary Accident had happend
What is your Business here cryd they all at a Time Is it you that has frighted her Ladyship
Devil take me said Tinsel amazd if I can tell what all this means
By this Time Sir Charles Mr Glanville and his Sister came running astonishd up Stairs Arabella still continud motionless in her Chair her Eyes closd and her Head reclind upon Lucy who with her other Women was endeavouring to recover her
Mr Glanville eagerly ran to her Assistance while Sir Charles and his Daughter as eagerly interrogated Mr Tinsel who stood motionless with Surprize concerning the Cause of her Disorder
Arabella then first discovering some Signs of Life half opend her Eyes
Inhuman Wretch cryd she with a faint Voice supposing herself in the Hands of her Ravisher think not thy cruel Violence shall procure thee what thy Submissions could not obtain and if when thou hadst only my Indifference to surmount thou didst find it so difficult to overcome my Resolution now that by this unjust Attempt thou hast added Aversion to that Indifference never hope for any Thing but the most bitter Reproaches from meÑ
Why Niece said Sir Charles approaching her whats the Matter Look up I beseech you nobody is attempting to do you any Hurt heres none but Friends about you
Arabella raising her Head at the Sound of her Uncles Voice and casting a confusd Look on the Persons about her
May I believe my Senses Am I rescud and in my own Chamber To whose Valour is my Deliverance owing Without
doubt tis to my Cousins but where is he Let me assure him of my Gratitude
Mr Glanville who had retird to a Window in great Confusion as soon as he heard her call for him came towards her and in a Whisper beggd her to be composd that she was in no Danger
And pray Niece said Sir Charles now you are a little recoverd be so good to inform us of the Cause of your Fright What has happend to occasion all this Confusion
How Sir said Arabella dont you know then what has happendÑPray how was I brought again into my Chamber and by what Means was I rescud
I protest said Sir Charles I dont know that you have been out of it
Alas replied Arabella I perceive you are quite ignorant of what has befallen me nor am I able to give you any Information All I can tell you is that alarmd by my Womens Cries and the Sight of my Ravisher who came into my Chamber I fainted away and so faciliated his Enterprize since doubtless it was very easy for him to carry me away while I remaind in that senseless Condition How I was rescud or by whom one of my Women can haply inform you since its probable one of them was also forcd away with meÑOh Heavns cryd she seeing Tinsel who all this while stood gazing like one distracted what makes that impious Man in my Presence What am I to think of this Am I really deliverd or no
What can this mean cried Sir Charles turning to Tinsel Have you Sir had any Hand in frighting my NieceÑ
I Sir said Tinsel Let me perish if ever I was so confounded in my Life The Ladys Brain is disorderd I believe
Mr Glanville who was convincd all this Confusion was causd by some of Arabellas usual Whims dreaded lest an Explanation would the more expose her and therefore told his Father that it would be best to retire and leave his Cousin to the Care of his Sister and her Women adding that she was not yet quite recoverd and their Presence did but discompose her
Then addressing himself to Tinsel told him he would wait upon him down Stairs
Arabella seeing them going away together and supposing they intended to dispute the Possession of her with their Swords calld out to them to stay
Mr Glanville however without minding her pressd Mr Tinsel to walk down
Nay pray Sir said the Beau let us go in again she may grow outrageous if we disoblige her
Outrageous Sir said Glanville do you suppose my Cousin is mad
Upon my Soul Sir replied Tinsel if she is not mad she is certainly a little out of her Senses or soÑ
Arabella having reiterated her Commands for her Lovers to return and finding they did not obey her ran to her Chamberdoor where they were holding a surly Sort of Conference especially
on Glanvilles Side who was horridly out of Humour
I perceive by your Looks said Arabella to her Cousin the Design you are meditating but know that I absolutely forbid you by all the Power I have over you not to engage in Combat with my Ravisher here
Madam interrupted Glanville I beseech you do notÑ
I know said she you will object to me the Examples of Artamenes Aronces and many others who were so generous as to promise their Rivals not to refuse them that Satisfaction whenever they demanded itÑbut consider you have not the same Obligations to Mr Tinsel that Artamenes had to the King of Assyria or that Arances had toÑ
For Gods Sake Cousin said Glanville whats all this to the Purpose Curse on Aronces and the King of Assyria I sayÑ
The Astonishment of Arabella at this intemperate Speech of her Cousin kept her for a Moment immoveable when Sir Charles who during this Discourse had been collecting all the Information he could from Lucy concerning this perplexd Affair came towards Tinsel and giving him an angry Look told him He should take it well if he forbore visiting any of his Family for the future
Oh Your most obedient Servant Sir said Tinsel You expect I suppose I should be excessively chagrind at this Prohibition But upon my Soul I am greatly obligd to you Agad I have no great Mind to a Halter And since this Lady is so apt to think People have a Design
to ravish her the wisest Thing a Man can do is to keep out of her Way
Sir replied Glanville who had followd him to the Door I believe there was been some little Mistake in what has happend TodayÑHowever I expect youll take no unbecoming Liberties with the Character of Lady BellaÑ
Oh Sir said Tinsel I give you my Honour I shall always speak of the Lady with the most profound Veneration She is a most accomplishd incomprehensible Lady And the Devil take me if I think there is her Fellow in the WorldÑAnd so Sir I am your most obedientÑ
A Word with you before you go said Glanville stopping himÑNo more of these Sneers as you value that smooth Face of yours or Ill despoil it of a Nose
Oh Your humble Servant said the Beau retiring in great Confusion with something betwixt a Smile and a Grin upon his Countenance which he took Care however Mr Glanville should not see who as soon as he quitted him went again to Arabellas Apartment in order to prevail upon his Father and Sister to leave her a little to herself for he dreaded lest some more Instances of her Extravagance would put it into his Fathers Head that she was really out of her Senses
Well Sir said Arabella upon his Entrance you have I suppose given your Rival his Liberty I assure you this Generosity is highly agreeable to meÑAnd herein you imitate the noble Artamenes who upon a like Occasion acted as you have done For when Fortune
had put the Ravisher of Mandana in his Power and he became the Vanquisher of his Rival who endeavourd by Violence to possess that divine Princess this truly generous Hero relinquishd the Right he had of disposing of his Prisoner and instead of sacrificing his Life to his just and reasonable Vengeance he gave a Proof of his admirable Virtue and Clemency by dismissing him in Safety as you have done However added she I hope you have made him swear upon your Sword that he will never make a second Attempt upon my Liberty I perceive pursued she seeing Mr Glanville continued silent with his Eyes bent on the Ground for indeed he was ashamd to look up that you would willingly avoid the Praise due to the heroick Action you have just performdÑ Nay I suppose you are resolvd to keep it secret if possible yet I must tell you that you will not escape the Glory due to it Glory is as necessarily the Result of a virtuous Action as Light is an Effect of the Sun which causeth it and has no Dependence on any other Cause since a virtuous Action continues still the same tho it be done without Testimony and Glory which is as one may say born with it constantly attends it tho the Action be not known
I protest Niece said Sir Charles thats very prettily said
In my Opinion Sir pursued Arabella if any thing can weaken the Glory of a good Action its the Care a Person takes to make it known As if one did not do Good for the Sake of Good but for the Praise that generally follows it Those then that are governd by
so interested a Motive ought to be considerd as sordid rather than generous Persons who making a Kind of Traffick between Virtue and Glory barter just so much of the one for the other and expect like other Merchants to make Advantage by the Exchange
Mr Glanville who was charmd into an Extacy at this sensible Speech of Arabellas forgot in an Instant all her Absurdities He did not fail to express his Admiration of her Understanding in Terms that brought a Blush into her fair Face and obligd her to lay her Commands upon him to cease his excessive Commendations Then making a Sign to them to leave her alone Mr Glanville who understood her took his Father and Sister down Stairs leaving Arabella with her faithful Lucy whom she immediately commanded to give her a Relation of what had happend to her from the Time of her swooning till she recoverd
A Dialogue between Arabella and Lucy in which the latter seems to have the Advantage
WHY Madam said Lucy all I can tell your Ladyship is that we were all excessively frighted to be sure when you fainted especially myself and that we did what we could to recover youÑAnd so accordingly your Ladyship did recover
Whats this to the Purpose said Arabella perceiving she stopd here I know that I fainted and tis also very plain that I recoverd againÑI ask you what happend to me in the intermediate Time between my Fainting and Recovery Give me a faithful Relation of all the Accidents to which by my Fainting I am quite a Stranger and which no doubt are very considerableÑ
Indeed Madam replied Lucy I have given your Ladyship a faithful Relation of all I can remember
When resumd Arabella surpizdÑ
This Moment Madam said Lucy
Why sure thou dreamst Wench replied she Hast thou told me how I was seizd and carryd off How I was rescud again AndÑ
No indeed Madam interrupted Lucy I dont dream I never told your Ladyship that you was carryd off
Well said Arabella and why dost thou not satisfy my Curiosity Is it not fit I should be acquainted with such a momentous Part of my History
I cant indeed and please your Ladyship said Lucy
What canst thou not said Arabella enragd at her Stupidity as she thought it
Why Madam said Lucy sobbing I cant make a History of nothing
Of nothing Wench resumd Arabella in a greater Rage than before Dost thou call an Adventure to which thou was a Witness and borest haply so great a Share in nothingÑAn Adventure which hereafter will make a considerable
Figure in the Relation of my Life dost thou look upon as trisling and of no Consequence
No indeed I dont Madam said Lucy
Why then pursued Arabella dost thou wilfully neglect to relate it Suppose as there is nothing more likely thou wert commanded by some Persons of considerable Quality or haply some great Princes and Princesses to recount the Adventures of my Life wouldst thou omit a Circumstance of so much Moment
No indeed Madam said Lucy
I am glad to hear thou art so discreet said Arabella and pray do me the Favour to relate this Adventure to me as thou wouldst do to those Princes and Princesses if thou wert commanded
Here Arabella making a full Stop fixd her Eyes upon her Woman expecting every Moment she would begin the desird NarrativeÑ But finding she continud silent longer than she thought was necessary for recalling the several Circumstances of the Story into her Mind
I find said she it will be necessary to caution you against making your Audience wait too long for your Relation it looks as if you was to make a studied Speech not a simple Relation of Facts which ought to be free from all Affectation of Labour and Art and be told with that graceful Negligence which is so becoming to Truth
This I thought proper to tell you added she that you may not fall into that Mistake when you are called upon to relate my AdventuresÑ Well now if you please to beginÑ
What pray Madam said Lucy
What repeated Arabella Why the Adventures which happend to me so lately Relate to me every Circumstance of my being carried away and how my Deliverance was effected by my Cousin
Indeed Madam said Lucy I know nothing about your Ladyships being carried away All I know isÑ
Begone cried Arabella losing all Patience at her Obstinacy get out of my Presence this Moment Wretch unworthy of my Confidence and Favour thy Treason is too manifest thou art bribd by that presumptuous Man to conceal all the Circumstances of his Attempt from my Knowleddge to the End that I may not have a full Conviction of his Guilt
Lucy who never saw her Lady so much offended before and knew not the Occasion of it burst into Tears which so affected the tender Heart of Arabella that losing insensibly all her Anger she told her with a Voice softend to a Tone of the utmost Sweetness and Condescension that provided she would confess how far she had been prevaild upon by his rich Presents to forget her Duty she would pardon and receive her again into FavourÑ
Speak added she and be not afraid after this Promise to let me know what Mr Tinsel requird of thee and what were the Gifts with which he purchasd thy Services doubtless he presented thee with Jewels of a considerable ValueÑ
Since your Ladyship said Lucy sobbing has promisd not to be angry I dont care if I do
tell your Ladyship what he gave me He gave me this half Guinea Madam indeed he did but for all that when he would come into your Chamber I struggled with him and cryd out for fear he should carry your Ladyship awayÑ
Arabella lost in Astonishment and Shame at hearing of so inconsiderable a Present made to her Woman the like of which not one of her Romances could furnish her orderd her immediately to withdraw not being willing she should observe the Confusion this strange Bribe had given her
MISS Glanville who with a malicious Pleasure had secretly triumphd in the Extravagances her beautiful Cousin had been guilty of was now sensibly disappointed to find they had had so little Effect on her Father and Brother for instead of reflecting upon the Absurdities to which they had been a Witness Mr Glanville artfully pursud the Subject Arabella just before had been expatiating upon taking notice frequently of some Observations of hers and
by a well contrivd Repetition of her Words obligd his Father a second Time to declare that his Niece had spoken extremely well
Mr Glanville taking the Word launchd out into such Praises of her Wit that Miss Glanville no longer able to listen patiently replyd
Twas true Lady Bella sometimes said very sensible Things that twas a great Pity she was not always in a reasonable Way of thinking or that her Intervals were not longerÑ
Her Intervals Miss said Glanville pray what do you mean by that ExpressionÑ
Why pray said Miss Glanville dont you think my Cousin is sometimes a little wrong in the Head
Mr Glanville at these Words starting from his Chair took a Turn across the Room in great Discomposure then stopping all of a sudden and giving his Sister a furious LookÑ Charlotte said he dont give me Cause to think you are envious of your Cousins superior ExcellenciesÑ
Envious repeated Miss Glanville I envious of my CousinÑI vow I sh¥uld never have thought of thatÑIndeed Brother you are much mistaken my Cousins superior Excellencies never gave me a Moments DisturbanceÑ Tho I must confess her unaccountable Whims have often excited my PityÑ
No more of this Charlotte interrupted Mr Glanville as you value my FriendshipÑ No more of itÑ
Why really Son said Sir Charles my Niece has very strange Whimsies sometimes How it came into her Head to think Mr Tinsel would
attempt to carry her away I cant imagine For after all he only prest rather too rudely into her Chamber for which as you see I have ferbidden his Visits
That was of a Piece said Miss Glanville sneeringly to her Brother with her asking you if you had made Mr Tinsel swear upon your Sword that he would never again attempt to carry her away and applauding you for having given him his Liberty as the generous Atermens did on the same Occasion
I would advise you Charlotte said Mr Glanville not to aim at repeating your Cousinss Words till you know how to pronounce them properly
Oh thats one of her superior Excellencies said Miss Glanville
Indeed Miss said Glanville very provokingly she is superior to you in many Things and as much so in the Goodness of her Heart as in the Beauty of her PersonÑ
Come come Charles said the Baronet who observd his Daughter sat swelling and biting her Lip at this Reproach personal Reflections are better avoided Your Sister is very well and not to be disparagd tho to be sure Lady Bella is the finest Woman I ever saw in my Life
Miss Glanville was if possible more disgusted at her Fathers Palliation than her Brothers Reproaches and in order to give a Loose to her Passion accusd Mr Glanville of a Decrease in his Affection for her since he had been in Love with her Cousin and having found this Excuse for her Tears very freely gave vent to themÑ
Mr Glanville being softned by this Sight sacrificed a few Compliments to her Vanity which soon restord her to her usual Tranquillity then turning the Discourse on his beloved Arabella pronouncd a Panegyrick on her Virtues and Accomplishments of an Hour long which if it did not absolutely persuade his Sister to change her Opinion it certainly convincd his Father that his Niece was not only perfectly well in her Understanding but even better than most others of her Sex
Mr Glanville had just finishd her Eulogium when Arabella appeard Joy dancd in his Eyes at her Approach he gazd upon her with a Kind of conscious Triumph in his Looks her consummate Loveliness justifying his Passion and being in his Opinion more than an Excuse for all her Extravagancies
In which our Heroine as we presume shews herself in two very different Lights
ARABELLA who at her Entrance had perceivd some Traces of Uneasiness upon Miss Glanvilles Countenance tenderly askd her the Cause to which that young Lady answering in a cold and reservd Manner Mr Glanville to divert her Reflexions on it very freely accusd himself of having given his Sister some Offence To be sure Brother said Miss Glanville
you are very vehement in your Temper and are as violently carryd away about Things of little Importance as of the greatest and then whatever you have a Fancy for you love so obstinately
I am obligd to you Miss interrupted Mr Glanville for endeavouring to give Lady Bella so unfavourable an Opinion of meÑ
I assure you said Arabella Miss Glanville has said nothing to your Disadvantage For in my Opinion the Temperament of great Minds ought to be such as she represents yours to be For there is nothing at so great a Distance from true and heroick Virtue as that Indifference which obliges some People to be pleasd with all Things or nothing Whence it comes to pass that they neither entertain great Desires of Glory nor Fear of Infamy that they neither love nor hate that they are wholly influencd by Custom and are sensible only of the Afflictions of the Body their Minds being in a Manner insensibleÑ
To say the Truth I am inclind to conceive a greater Hope of a Man who in the Beginning of his Life is hurryd away by some evil Habit than one that fastens on nothing The Mind that cannot be brought to detest Vice will never be persuaded to love Virtue but one who is capable of loving or hating irreconcilebly by having when young his Passions directed to proper Objects will remain fixd in his Choice of what is good But with him who is incapable of any violent Attraction and whose Heart is chilled by a general Indifference Precept or Example will have no ForceÑ
And Philosophy itself which boasts it hath Remedies for all Indispositions of the Soul never had any that can cure an indifferent MindÑ Nay added she I am persuaded that Indifference is generally the inseparable Companion of a weak and imperfect Judgment For it is so natural to a Person to be carryd towards that which he believes to be good that if indifferent People were able to judge of Things they would fasten on something But certain it is that this lukewarmness of Soul which sends sorth but seeble Desires sends also but feeble Lights so that those who are guilty of it not knowing any thing clearly cannot fasten on any thing with Perseverance
Mr Glanville when Arabella had finishd this Speech cast a triumphing Glance at his Sister who had affected great Inattention all the while she had been speaking Sir Charles in his Way expressd much Admiration of her Wit telling her if she had been a Man she would have made a great Figure in Parliament and that her Speeches might have come perhaps to be printed in time
This Compliment odd as it was gave great Joy to Glanville when the Conversation was interrupted by the Arrival of Mr Selvin who had slipt away unobservd at the Time that Arabellas Indisposition had alarmd them and now came to enquire after her Health and also if an Opportunity offerd to set her right with Regard to the Suspicions she had entertaind of his designing to pay his Addresses to her
Arabella as soon as he had sent in his Name appeard to be in great Disturbance and upon
his Entrance offerd immediately to withdraw telling Mr Glanville who would have detaind her that she found no Place was likely to secure her from the Persecutions of that Gentleman
Glanville stard and lookd strangely perplexd at this Speech Miss Glanville smild and poor Selvin with a very silly LookÑhemd two or three times and then with a faultring Accent said Madam I am very much concernd to find your Ladyship resolvd to persist inÑ
Sir interrupted Arabella my Resolutions are unalterable I told you so before and am surprizd after the Knowledge of my Intentions you presume to appear in my Presence again from whence I had so positively banishd you
Pray Niece said Sir Charles what has Mr Selvin done to disoblige you
Sir replyd Arabella Mr Selvins Offence can admit of no other Reparation than that which I requird of him which was a voluntary Banishment from my Presence And in this pursud she I am guilty of no more Severity to you than the Princess Udosia was to the unfortunate Thrasimedes For the Passion of this Prince having come to her Knowledge notwithstanding the Pains he took to conceal it this fair and wise Princess thought it not enough to forbid his speaking to her but also banishd him from her Presence laying a peremptory Command upon him never to appear before her again till he was perfectly curd of that unhappy Love he had entertaind for herÑImitate
therefore the meritorious Obedience of this poor Prince and if that Passion you profess for meÑ
How Sir interrupted Sir Charles Do you make Love to my Niece thenÑ
Sir replied Mr Selvin who was strangely confounded at Arabellas Speech tho I really admire the Perfections this Lady is possessd of yet I assure you upon my Honour I never had a Thought of making any Addresses to her and I cant imagine why her Ladyship persists in accusing me of such Presumption
So formal a Denial after what Arabella had said extremely perplexd Sir Charles and filld Mr Glanville with inconceivable ShameÑ
Miss Glanville enjoyd their Disturbance and full of an illnaturd Triumph endeavourd to look Arabella into Confusion But that Lady not being at all discomposd by this Declaration of Mr Selvins having accounted for it already replied with great Calmness
Sir Tis easy to see thro the Artifice of your disclaiming any Passion for meÑUpon any other Occasion questionless you would rather sacrifice your Life than consent to disavow these Sentiments which unhappily for your Peace you have entertaind At present the Desire of continuing near me obliges you to lay this Constraint upon yourself however you know Thrasimedes fell upon the same Stratagem to no Purpose The rigid Udosia saw thro the Disguise and would not dispense with herself from banishing him from Rome as I do you from EnglandÑ
How Madam interrupted Selvin amazdÑ
Yes Sir replied Arabella hastily nothing less can satisfy what I owe to the Consideration of my own Glory
Upon my Word Madam said Selvin half angry and yet strongly inclind to laugh I dont see the Necessity of my quitting my native Country to satisfy what you owe to the Consideration of your own Glory Pray how does my staying in England affect your Ladyships Glory
To answer your Question with another said Arabella Pray how did the Stay of Thrasimedes in Rome affect the Glory of the Empress Udosia
Mr Selvin was struck dumb with this Speech for he was not willing to be thought so deficient in the Knowledge of History as not to be acquainted with the Reasons why Thrasimedes should not stay in Rome
His Silence therefore seeming to Arabella to be a tacit Confession of the Justice of her Commands a Sentiment of Compassion for this unfortunate Lover intruded itself into her Mind and turning her bright Eyes full of a soft Complacency upon Selvin who stard at her as if he had lost his WitsÑ
I will not said she wrong the Sublimity of your Passion for me so much as to doubt your being ready to sacrifice the Repose of your own Life to the Satisfaction of mine Nor will I do so much Injustice to your Generosity as to suppose the Glory of obeying my Commands will not in some Measure soften the Rigour of your DestinyÑI know not whether it may be lawful for me to tell you that your Misfortune
does really cause me some Affliction but I am willing to give you this Consolation and also to assure you that to whatever Part of the World your Despair will carry you the good Wishes and Compassion of Arabella shall follow youÑ
Having said this with one of her fair Hands she coverd her Face to hide the Blushes which so compassionate a Speech had causdÑHolding the other extended with a careless Air supposing he would kneel to kiss it and bathe it with his Tears as was the Custom on such melancholy Occasions her Head at the sam Time turned another Way as if reluctantly and with Confusion she granted this FavourÑ But after standing a Moment in this Posture and finding her Hand untouchd she concluded Grief had deprivd him of his Senses and that he would shortly fall into a Swoon as Thrasimedes did And to prevent being a Witness of so doleful a Sight she hurryd out of the Room without once turning about and having reachd her own Apartment sunk into a Chair not a little affected with the deplorable Condition in which she had left her supposd miserable Lover
The Contrast continued
THE Company she had left behind her being all except Mr Glanville to the last Degree surprizd at her strange Words and
Actions continued mute for several Minutes after she was gone staring upon one another as if each wishd to know the others Opinion of such an unaccountable Behaviour At last Miss Glanville who observed her Brothers Back was towards her told Mr Selvin in a low Voice that she hopd he would call and take his Leave of them before he set out for the Place where his Despair would carry himÑ
Mr Selvin in spite of his natural Gravity could not forbear laughing at this Speech of Miss Glanvilles which shockd her Brother and not being able to stay where Arabella was ridiculd nor intitled to resent it which would have been a manifest Injustice on that Occasion he retird to his own Apartment to give vent to that Spleen which in those Moments made him out of Humour with all the World
Sir Charles when he was gone indulgd himself in a little Mirth on his Nieces Extravagance protesting he did not know what to do with her Upon which Miss Glanville observd that it was a Pity there were not such Things as Protestant Nunneries giving it as her Opinion that her Cousin ought to be confind in one of those Places and never sufferd to see any Company by which Means she would avoid exposing herself in the Manner she did now
Mr Selvin who possibly thought this a reasonable Scheme of Miss Glanvilles seemd by his Silence to assent to her Opinion but Sir Charles was greatly displeasd with his Daughter for expressing herself so freely alledging that Arabella when she was out of those Whims was a very sensible young Lady and sometimes
talkd as learnedly as a Divine To which Mr Selvin also added that she had a great Knowledge of History and had a most surprizing Memory and after some more Discourse to the same Purpose he took his Leave earnestly entreating Sir Charles to believe that he never entertaind any Design of making his Addresses to Lady Bella
In the mean Time that Lady after having given near half an Hour to those Reflexions which occur to Heroines in the same Situation with herself called for Lucy and orderd her to go to the DiningRoom and see in what Condition Mr Selvin was telling her she had certainly left him in a Swoon as also the Occasion of it and bid her give him all the Consolation in her Power
Lucy with Tears in her Eyes at this Recital went down as she was orderd and entering the Room without any Ceremony her Thoughts being wholly fixd on the melancholy Circumstance her Lady had been telling her she lookd eagerly round the Room without speaking a Word till Sir Charles and Miss Glanville who thought she had been sent with some Message from Arabella askd her both at the same Instant What she wantedÑ
I came Sir said Lucy repeating her Ladys Words to see in what Condition Mr Selvin is in and to give him all the Solation in my Power
Sir Charles laughing heartily at this Speech askd her what she could do for Mr Selvin To which she replyd she did not know but
her Lady had told her to give him all the Solation in her Power
Consolation thou wouldst say I suppose said Sir Charles
Yes Sir said Lucy curtesying Well Child added he go up and tell your Lady Mr Selvin does not need any Consolation
Lucy accordingly returnd with this Message and was met at the ChamberDoor by Arabella who hastily askd her if Mr Selvin was recoverd from his Swoon To which Lucy replyd that she did not know but that Sir Charles bid her tell her Ladyship Mr Selvin did not need any Consolation
Oh Heavens cryd Arabella throwing herself into a Chair as pale as DeathÑHe is dead he has fallen upon his Sword and put an End to his Life and Miseries at onceÑOh how unhappy am I cryd she bursting into Tears to be the Cause of so cruel an AccidentÑWas ever any Fate so terrible as mineÑWas ever Beauty so fatalÑWas ever Rigour so unfortunateÑHow will the Quiet of my future Days be disturbed by the sad Remembrance of a Man whose Death was caused by my DisdainÑBut why resumd she after a little PauseÑWhy do I thus afflict myself for what has happend by an unavoidable Necessity Nor am I singular in the Misfortune which has befallen meÑDid not the sad Perinthus die for the beautiful PantheaÑ Did not the Rigour of Barsina bring the miserable Oxyatres to the GraveÑAnd the Severity of Statira make Oroondates fall upon his Sword in her Presence tho happily he escapd being killd by itÑLet us then not afflict ourselves
unreasonably at this sad AccidentÑLet us lament as we ought the fatal Effects of our CharmsÑBut let us comfort ourselves with the Thought that we have only acted conformable to our Duty
Arabella having pronouncd these last Words with a solemn and lofty Accent orderd Lucy who listend to her with Eyes drownd in Tears to go down and ask if the Body was removdÑ for added she all my Constancy will not be sufficient to support me against that pitiful Sight
Lucy accordinly deliverd her Message to Sir Charles and Miss Glanville who were still together discoursing on the fantastical Turn of Arabella when the Knight who could not possibly comprehend what she meant by asking if the Body was removed bid her tell her Lady he desired to speak with her
Arabella upon receiving this Summons set herself to consider what could be the Intent of it If Mr Selvin be dead said she what Good can my Presence do among them Surely it cannot be to upbraid me with my Severity that my Uncle desires to see meÑNo it would be unjust to suppose it Questionless my unhappy Lover is still struggling with the Pangs of Death and for a Consolation in his last Moments implores the Favour of resigning up his Life in my Sight Pausing a little at these Words she rose from her Seat with a Resolution to give the unhappy Selvin her Pardon before he dyd Meeting Mr Glanville as he was returning from his Chamber to the DiningRoom she told him she hopd the Charity she was going to discover
towards his Rival would not give him any Uneasiness and preventing his Reply by going hastily into the Room he followd her dreading some new Extravagance yet not able to prevent it endeavourd to conceal his Confusion from her ObservationÑArabella after breathing a gentle Sigh told told Sir Charles that she was come to grant Mr Selvin her Pardon for the Offence he had been guilty of that he might depart in Peace
Well well said Sir Charles he is departed in Peace without it
How Sir interrupted Arabella is he dead then already Alas why had he not the Satisfaction of seeing me before he expird that his Sould might have departed in Peace He would have been assurd not only of my Pardon but Pity also and that Assurance would have made him happy in his last Moments
Why Niece interrupted Sir Charles staring you surprize me prodigiously Are you in earnest
Questionless I am Sir said she nor ought you to be surprizd at the Concern I express for the Fate of this unhappy Man nor at the Pardon I proposd to have granted him since herein I am justified by the Example of many great and virtuous Princesses who have done as much nay haply more than I intended to have done for Persons whose Offences were greater than Mr Selvins
I am very sorry Madam said Sir Charles to hear you talk in this Manner Tis really enough to make one suspect you areÑ
You do me great Injustice Sir interrupted Arabella if you suspect me to be guilty of any unbecoming Weakness for this Man If barely expressing my Compassion for his Misfortunes be esteemd so great a Favour what would you have thought if I had supported his Head on my Knees while he was dying shed Tears over him and discoverd all the Tokens of a sincere Affliction for himÑ
Good God said Sir Charles lifting up his Eyes Did any body ever hear of any thing like this
What Sir said Arabella with as great an Appearance of Surprize in her Countenance as his had discoverd Do you say you never heard of any thing like this Then you never heard of the Princess of Media I supposeÑ
No not I Madam said Sir Charles peevishly
Then Sir resumd Arabella permit me to tell you that this fair and virtuous Princess condescended to do all I have mentiond for the fierce Labynet Prince of Assyria who tho he had mortally offended her by stealing her away out of the Court of the King her Father nevertheless when he was wounded to Death in her Presence and humbly implord her Pardon before he died she condescended as I have said to support him on her Knees and shed Tears for his DisasterÑI could produce many more Instances of the like Compassion in Ladies almost as highly born as herself tho perhaps their Quality was not quite so illustrious she being the Heiress of two powerful Kingdoms Yet to mention only theseÑ
Good Heavns cryd Mr Glanville here being quite out of Patience I shall go distractedÑ
Arabella surprizd at this Exclamation lookd earnestly at him for a MomentÑand then askd him Whether any thing she had said had given him Uneasiness
Yes upon my Soul Madam said Glanville so vexd and confusd that he hardly knew what he saidÑ
I am sorry for it replyd Arabella gravely and also am greatly concernd to find that in Generosity you are so much exceeded by the illustrious Cyrus who was so far from taking Umbrage at Mandanas Behaviour to the dying Prince that he commended her for the Compassion she had shewn him So also did the brave and generous Oroondates when the fair StatiraÑ
By Heavns cryd Glanville rising in a Passion theres no hearing this Pardon me Madam but upon my Soul youll make me hang myself
Hang yourself repeated Arabella sure you know not what you sayÑYou meant I suppose that youll fall upon your Sword What Hero ever threatned to give himself so vulgar a Death But pray let me know the Cause of your Despair so sudden and so violent
Mr Glanville continuing in a sort of sullen Silence Arabella raising her Voice went on
Tho I do not conceive myself obligd to give you an Account of my Conduct seeing that I have only permitted you yet to hope for my Favour yet I owe to myself and my own
Honour the Justification I am going to make Know then that however suspicious my Compassion for Mr Selvin may appear to your mistaken Judgment yet it has its Foundation only in the Generosity of my Disposition which inclines me to pardon the Fault when the unhappy Criminal repents and to afford him my Pity when his Circumstances require it Let not therefore the Charity I have discoverd towards your Rival be the Cause of your Despair since my Sentiments for him were he living would be what they were before that is full of Indifference nay haply Disdain And suffer not yourself to be so carried away by a violent and unjust Jealousy as to threaten your won Death which if you really had any Ground for your Suspicions and truly lovd me would come unsought for tho not undesirdÑ For indeed was your Despair reasonable Death would necessarily follow it for what Lover can live under so desperate a Misfortune In that Case you may meet Death undauntedly when it comes nay embrace it with Joy but truly the killing ones self is but a false Picture of true Courage proceeding rather from Fear of a further Evil than Contempt of that you fly to For if it were a Contempt of Pain the same Principle would make you resolve to bear patiently and fearlesly all kind of Pains and Hope being of all other the most contrary Thing to Fear this being an utter Banishment of Hope seems to have its Ground in Fear
In which Mr Glanville makes an unsuccessful Attempt upon Arabella
ARABELLA when she had finishd these Words which banishd in part Mr Glanvilles Confusion went to her own Apartment followd by Miss Glanville to whom she had made a Sign for that Purpose and throwing herself into a Chair burst into Tears which greatly surprizing Miss Glanville she prest her to tell her the Cause
Alas replyd Arabella have I not Cause to think myself extremely unhappy The deplorable Death of Mr Selvin the Despair to which I see your Brother reducd with the fatal Consequences which may attend it fills me with a mortal Uneasiness
Well said Miss Glanville your Ladyship may make yourself quite easy as to both these Matters for Mr Selvin is not dead nor is my Brother in Despair that I know of
What do you say Miss interrupted Arabella is not Mr Selvin dead Was the Wound he gave himself not mortal then
I know of no Wound that he gave himself not I said Miss Glanville what makes your Ladyship suppose he gave himself a Wound Lord bless me what strange Thoughts come into your Head
Truly I am rejoicd to hear it replyd Arabella and in order to prevent the Effects of his Despair Ill instantly dispatch my Commands to him to live
I dare answer for his Obedience Madam said Miss Glanville smiling
Arabella then gave Orders for Paper and Pens to be brought her and seeing Mr Glanville enter the Room very formally acquainted him with her Intention telling him that he ought to be satisfyd with the Banishment to which she had doomd his unhappy Rival and not require his Death since he and nothing to fear from his Pretensions
I assure you Madam said Mr Glanville I am perfectly easy upon that Account And in order to spare you the Trouble of sending to Mr Selvin I may venture to assure you that he is in no Danger of dying
Tis impossible Sir replyd Arabella according to the Nature of Things tis impossible but he must already be very near DeathÑ You know the Rigour of my Sentence you knowÑ
I know Madam said Mr Glanville that Mr Selvin does not think himself under a Necessity of obeying your Sentence and has the Impudence to question your Authority for banishing him from his native Country
My Authority Sir said Arabella strangely surprizd is founded upon the absolute Power he has given me over him
He denies that Madam said Glanville and says that he neither can give nor you exercise an absolute Power over him since you are both accountable to the King whose Subjects you are and both restraind by the Laws under whose Sanction you live
Arabellas apparent Confusion at these Words giving Mr Glanville Hopes that he had fallen upon a proper Method to cure her of some of her strange Notions he was going to pursue his Arguments when Arabella looking a little sternly upon him
The Empire of Love said she like the Empire of Honour is governd by Laws of its own, which have no Dependence upon or Relation to any other
Pardon me Madam said Glanville if I presume to differ from you Our Laws have fixd the Boundaries of Honour as well as those of Love
How is that possible replyd Arabella when they differ so widely that a Man may be justifyd by the one and yet condemnd by the other For Instance pursued she you are not permitted by the Laws of the Land to take away the Life of any Person whatever yet the Laws of Honour oblige you to hunt your Enemy thro the World in order to sacrifice him to your Vengeance Since it is impossible then for the same Actions to be at once just and unjust it must necessarily follow that the Law which condemns it and that which justifies it is not the same but directly oppositeÑAnd now added she after a little Pause I hope I have entirely cleard up that Point to you
You have indeed Madam replyd Mr Glanville proved to a Demonstration that what is called Honour is something distinct from Justice since they command Things absolutely opposite to each other
Arabella without reflecting on this Inference went on to prove the independent Sovereignty of Love which said she may be collected from all the Words and Actions of those Heroes who were inspird by this Passion We see it in them pursued she triumphing not only over all natural and avowd Allegiance but superior even to Friendship Duty and Honour itself This the Actions of Oroondates Artaxerxes Spitridates and many other illustrious Princes sufficiently testify
Love requires a more unlimited Obedience from its Slaves than any other Monarch can expect from his Subjects an Obedience which is circumscribd by no Laws whatever and dependent upon nothing but itself
I shall live Madam says the renowned Prince of Scythia to the divine Statira I shall live since it is your Command I should do so and Death can have no Power over a Life which you are pleasd to take Care ofÑ
Say only that you wish I should conquer said the great Juba to the incomparable Cleopatra and my Enemies will be already vanquishd ÑVictory will come over to the Side you favourÑand an Army of a hundred thousand Men will not be able to overcome the Man who has your Commands to conquerÑ
How mean and insignificant pursued she are the Titles bestowd on other Monarchs compard with those which dignify the Sovereigns of Hearts such as divine Arbitress of my Fate Visible Divinity Earthly Goddess and many others equally sublimeÑ
Mr Glanville losing all patience at her obstinate Folly interrupted her here with a Question quite foreign to the Subject she was discussing and soon after quitting her Chamber retird to his own more than ever despairing of her Recovery
In which is introducd a very singular Character
MISS Glanville whose Envy and Dislike of her lovely Cousin was heightend by her Suspicions that she disputed with her the Possession of Sir Georges Heart she having been long in reality a great Admirer of that gay Gentleman was extremely delighted with the Ridicule her absurd Behaviour had drawn upon her at Bath which she found by Enquiry was thro Mr Tinsels Representation grown almost general
In order therefore to be at Liberty to go to the Publick Places uneclipsd by the superior Beauty of Arabella she acquainted her Father and Brother with Part of what she had heard which determind them to prevent that young Ladys Appearance in Publick while they staid at Bath this being no difficult Matter to bring about since Arabella only went to the Rooms or Parade in Compliance with the Invitation of her Cousins
Miss Glanville being by these Means rid of a Rival too powerful even to contend with went with more than usual Gaiety to the Assembly where the Extravagancies of Arabella afforded a perpetual Fund for Diversion Her more than passive Behaviour upon this Occasion banishing all Restraint among those she conversd with the Jest circulated very freely at Arabellas Expence Nor did Miss Glanville fail to give new Poignancy to their Sarcasms by artfully disclosing the bent of her Cousins Studies and enumerating the many Absurdities they had made her guilty of
Arabellas uncommon Beauty had gaind her so many Enemies among the Ladies that composd this Assembly that they seemd to contend with each other who should ridicule her most The celebrated Countess ofÑbeing then at Bath approachd a Circle of these fair Defamers and listning a few Moments to the contemptuous Jests they threw out against the absent Beauty declard herself in her Favour which in a Moment such was the Force of her universally acknowledgd Merit and the Deference always payd to her Opinion silencd every pretty Impertinent around her
This Lady who among her own Sex had no Superior in Wit Elegance and Ease was inferior to very few of the other in Sense Learning and Judgment Her Skill in Poetry Painting and Musick tho incontestably great was numberd among the least of her Accomplishments Her Candour her Sweetness her Modesty and Benevolence while they securd her from the Darts of Envy renderd her superior
to Praise and made the one as unnecessary as the other ineffectual
She had been a Witness of the Surprize Arabellas extraordinary Appearance had occasiond and struck with that as well as the uncommon Charms of her Person had prest near her with several others of the Company when she was discoursing in the Manner we have related
A Person of the Countesss nice Discernment could not fail of observing the Wit and Spirit which tho obscurd was not absolutely hid under the Absurdity of her Notions And this Discovery adding Esteem to the Compassion she felt for the fair Visionary she resolvd to rescue her from the illnaturd Raillery of her Sex praising therefore her Understanding and the Beauty of her Person with a Sweetness and Generosity peculiar to herself she accounted in the most delicate Manner imaginable for the Singularity of her Notions from her Studies her Retirment her Ignorance of the World and her lively Imagination And to abate the Keenness of their Sarcasms acknowledgd that she herself had when very young been deep read in Romances and but for an early Acquaintance with the World and being directed to other Studies was likely to have been as much a Heroine as Lady Bella
Miss Glanville tho she was secretly vexd at this Defence of her Cousin was however under a Necessity of seeming obligd to the Countess for it And that Lady expressing a Desire to be acquainted with Lady Bella Miss Glanville
respectfully offerd to attend her Cousin to her Lodgings which the Countess as respectfully declind saying As Lady Bella was a Stranger she would make her the first Visit
Miss Glanville at her Return gave her Brother an Account of what had happend at the Assembly and filld him with an inconceivable Joy at the Countesss Intention He had always been a zealous Admirer of that Ladys Character and flatterd himself that the Conversation of so admirable a Woman would be of the utmost Use to Arabella
That very Night he mentiond her to his beloved Cousin and after enumerating all her fine Qualities declard that she had already conceivd a Friendship for her and was solicitous of her Acquaintance
I think myself extremely fortunate replied Arabella in that I have tho questionless undeservedly acquird the Amity of this lovely Person and I beg you pursued she to Miss Glanville to tell her that I long with Impatience to embrace her and to give her that Share in my Heart which her transcendent Merit deserves
Miss Glanville only bowd her Head in Answer to this Request giving her Brother at the same Time a significant Leer who tho used to Arabellas Particularities could not help being a little confounded at the heroick Speech she had made
Containing something which at first Sight may possibly puzzle the Reader
THE Countess was as good as her Word and two Days after sent a Card to Arabella importing her Design to wait on her that Afternoon
Our Heroine expected her with great Impatience and the Moment she enterd the Room flew towards her with a graceful Eagerness and straining her in her Arms embracd her with all the Fervour of a long absent Friend
Sir Charles and Mr Glanville were equally embarrassd at the Familiarity of this Address but observing that the Countess seemd not to be surprizd at it but rather to receive it with Pleasure they were soon composd
You cannot imagine lovely Stranger said Arabella to the Countess as soon as they were seated with what Impatience I have longd to behold you since the Knowledge I have receivd of your rare Qualities and the Friendship you have been pleasd to honour me withÑAnd I may truly protest to you that such is my Admiration of your Virtues that I would have gone to the farthest Part of the World to render you that which you with so much Generosity have condescended to bestow upon me
Sir Charles stard at this extraordinary Speech and not being able to comprehend a Word of it was concernd to think how the Lady to whom it was addressd would understand it
Mr Glanville lookd down and bit his Nails in extreme Confusion but the Countess who had not forgot the Language of Romance returnd the Compliment in a Strain as heroick as hers
The Favour I have receivd from Fortune said she in bringing me to the Happiness of your Acquaintance charming Arabella is so great that I may rationally expect some terrible Misfortune will befall me Seeing that in this Life our Pleasures are so constantly succeeded by Pains that we hardly ever enjoy the one without suffering the other soon after
Arabella was quite transported to hear the Countess express herself in Language so conformable to her own but Mr Glanville was greatly confounded and began to suspect she was diverting herself with his Cousins Singularities And Sir Charles was within a little of thinking her as much out of the Way as his Niece
Misfortunes Madam said Arabella are too often the Lot of excellent Persons like yourself The sublimest among Mortals both for Beauty and Virtue have experiencd the Frowns of Fate The Sufferings of the divine Statira or Cassandra for she bore both Names the Persecutions of the incomparable Cleopatra the Dissresses of the beautiful Cundace and the Afflictions of the fair and generous Mandana are Proofs that the most illustrious Persons in the World have felt the Rage of Calamity
It must be confessd said the Countess that all those fair Princesses you have namd were for a while extremely unfortunate Yet in the Catalogue of these lovely and afflicted Persons
you have forgot one who might with Justice dispute the Priority of Sufferings with them allÑ I mean the beautiful Elisa Princess of Parthia
Pardon me Madam replyd Arabella I cannot be of your Opinion The Princess of Parthia may indeed justly be rankd among the Number of unfortunate Persons but she can by no means dispute the melancholy Precedence with the divine CleopatraÑFor in fine Madam what Evils did the Princess of Parthia suffer which the fair Cleopatra did not likewise endure and some of them haply in a greater Degree If Elisa by the tyrannical Authority of the King her Father saw herself upon the Point of becoming the Wife of a Prince she detested was not the beautiful Daughter of Antony by the more unjustifiable Tyranny of Augustus likely to be forced into the Arms of Tyberius a proud and cruel Prince who was odious to the whole World as well as to her If Elisa was for some time in the Power of Pyrates was not Cleopatra Captive to an inhuman King who presented his Sword to the fair Breast of that divine Princess worthy the Adoration of the whole Earth And in fine if Elisa had the Grief to see her dear Artaban imprisond by the Order of Augustus Cleopatra beheld with mortal Agonies her beloved Coriolanus inclosd amidst the Guards of that enragd Prince and doomd to a cruel Death
Tis certain Madam replyd the Countess that the Misfortunes of both these Princesses were very great tho as you have shewd me with some Inequality And when one reflects upon the dangerous Adventures to which Persons
of their Quality were exposd in those Times one cannot help rejoicing that we live in an Age in which the Customs Manners Habits and Inclinations differ so widely from theirs that tis impossible such Adventures should even happen
Such is the strange Alteration of Things that some People I dare say at present cannot be persuaded to believe there ever were Princesses wandering thro the World by Land and Sea in mean Disguises carryd away violently out of their Fathers Dominions by insolent LoversÑSome discoverd sleeping in Forests other Shipwreckd on desolate Islands confind in Castles bound in Chariots and even strugling amidst the tempestuous Waves of the Sea into which they had cast themselves to avoid the brutal Force of theirRavishers Not one of these Things having happend within the Compass of several thousand Years People unlearnd in Antiquity would be apt to deem them idle Tales so improbable do they appear at present
Arabella tho greatly surprizd at this Discourse did not think proper to express her Thoughts of it She was unwilling to appear absolutely ignorant of the present Customs of the World before a Lady whose good Opinion she was ardently desirous of improving Her Prepossessions in favour of the Countess made her receive the new Delights she held out to her with Respect tho not without Doubt and Irresolution Her Blushes her Silence and downcast Eyes gave the Countess to understand Part of her Thoughts who for fear of alarming her too much for that Time dropt the
Subject and turning the Conversation on others more general gave Arabella an Opportunity of mingling in it with that Wit and Vivacity which was natural to her when Romances were out of the Question
THE Countess charmd with the Wit and good Sense of Arabella could not conceal her Admiration but exprest it in Terms the most obligingly imaginable And Arabella who was excessively delighted with her returnd the Compliments she made her with the most respectful Tenderness
In the midst of these mutual Civilities Arabella in the Style of Romance intreated the Countess to favour her with the Recital of her Adventures
At the Mention of this Request that Lady conveyd so much Confusion into her Countenance that Arabella extremely embarrassd by it tho she knew not why thought it necessary to apologize for the Disturbance she seemd to have occasiond in her
Pardon me Madam replyd the Countess recovering herself if the uncommoness of your Request made a Moments Reflexion necessary
to É that a young Lady of your Sense and Delicacy could mean no Offence to Decorum by making it The Word Adventures carries in it so free and licentious a Sound in the Apprehensions of People at this Period of Time that it can hardly with Propriety be applyd to those few and natural Incidents which compose the History of a Woman of Honour And when I tell you pursued she with a Smile that I was born and christend had a useful and proper Education receivd the Addresses of my LordÑthrough the Recommendation of my Parents and marryd him with their Consents and my own Inclination and that since we have livd in great Harmony together I have told you all the material Passages of my Life which upon Enquiry you will find differ very little from those of other Women of the same Rank who have a moderate Share of Sense Prudence and Virtue
Since you have already Madam replied Arabella blushing excusd me for the Liberty I took with you it will be unnecessary to tell you it was grounded upon the Customs of antient Times when Ladies of the highest Rank and sublimest Virtue were often exposd to a Variety of cruel Adventures which they imparted in Confidence to each other when Chance brought them together
Custom said the Countess smiling changes the very Nature of Things and what was honourable a thousand Years ago may probably be lookd upon as infamous nowÑA Lady in the heroick Age you speak of would not be thought to possess any great Share of Merit if she had not
been many times carried away by one or other of her insolent Lovers Whereas a Beauty in this could not pass thro the Hands of several different Ravishers without bringing an Imputation on her Chastity
The same Actions which made a Man a Hero in those Times would constitute him a Murderer in TheseÑAnd the same Steps which led him to a Throne Then would infallibly conduct him to a Scaffold Now
But Custom Madam said Arabella cannot possibly change the Nature of Virtue or Vice And since Virtue is the chief Characteristick of a Hero a Hero in the last Age will be a Hero in thisÑTho the Natures of Virtue or Vice cannot be changed replied the Countess yet they may be mistaken and different Principles Customs and Education may probably change their Names if not their Natures
Sure Madam said Arabella a little moved you do not intend by this Inference to prove Oroondates Artaxerxes Juba Artaban and the other Heroes of Antiquity bad Men
Judging them by the Rules of Christianity and our present Notions of Honour Justice and Humanity they certainly are replied the Countess
Did they not possess all the necessary Qualifications of Heroes Madam said Arabella and each in a superlative DegreeÑWas not their Valour invincible their Generosity unbounded and their Fidelity inviolable
It cannot be denied said the Countess but that their Valour was invincible and many thousand Men less courageous than themselves
felt the fatal Effects of that invincible Valour which was perpetually seeking after Occasions to exert itself Oroondates gave many extraordinary Proofs of that unbounded Generosity so natural to the Heroes of his Time This Prince being sent by the King his Father at the Head of an Army to oppose the Persian Monarch who had unjustly invaded his Dominions and was destroying the Lives and Properties of his Subjects having taken the Wives and Daughters of his Enemy Prisoners had by these Means an Opportunity to put a Period to a War so destructive to his Country Yet out of a Generosity truly heroick he releasd them immediately without any Conditions and falling in Love with one of those Princesses secietly quitted his Fathers Court resided several Years in that of the Enemy of his Father and Country engagd himself to his Daughter and when the War broke out again between the two Kings fought furiously against an Army in which the King his Father was in Person and shed the Blood of his future Subjects without Remorse tho each of those Subjects we are told would have sacrificd his Life to save that of their Prince so much was he belovd Such are the Actions which immortalize the Heroes of Romance and are by the Authors of those Books styld glorious godlike and divine Yet judging of them as Christians we shall find them impious and base and directly opposite to our present Notions of moral and relative Duties
Tis certain therefore Madam added the Contess with a Smile that what was Virtue in
those Days is Vice in ours And to form a Hero according to our Notions of em at present tis nessary to give him Qualities very different from Oroondates
The secret Charm in the Countenance Voice and Manner of the Countess joind to the Force of her reasoning could not fail of making some Impression on the Mind of Arabella but it was such an Impression as came far short of Conviction She was surprizd embarrassd perplexd but not convincd Heroism romantick Heroism was deeply rooted in her Heart it was her Habit of thinking a Principle imbibd from Education She could not separate her Ideas of Glory Virtue Courage Generosity and Honour from the false Representations of them in the Actions of Oroondates Juba Artaxerxes and the rest of the imaginary Heroes The Countesss Discourse had raisd a Kind of Tumult in her Thoughts which gave an Air of Perplexity to her lovely Face and made that Lady apprehensive she had gone too far and lost that Ground in her Esteem which she had endeavourd to acquire by a Conformity to some of her Notions and Language In this however she was mistaken Arabella felt a Tenderness for her that had already the Force of a long contracted Friendship and an Esteem little less than Veneration
When the Countess took Leave the Professions of Arabella tho deliverd in the Language of Romance were very sincere and affecting and were returnd with an equal Degree of Tenderness by the Countess who had conceivd a more than ordinary Affection for her
Mr Glanville who could have almost worshipd the Countess for the generous Design be saw she had entertaind took an Opportunity as he handed her to her Chair to intreat in a Manner as earnestly as polite that she would continue the Happiness of her Acquaintance to his Cousin which with a Smile of mingled Dignity and Sweetness she assurd him of
Which concludes Book the Eighth
MR Glanville at his Return to the DiningRoom finding Arabella retird told his Father in a Rapture of Joy that the charming Countess would certainly make a Convert of Lady Bella
Methinks said the Baronet she has as strange Whims in her Head as my Niece Adsheart what a deal of Stuff did she talk about A Parcel of Heroes as she calls them with confounded hard NamesÑIn my Mind she is more likely to make Lady Bella worse than better
Mr Glanville a little vexd at his Fathers Misapprehension endeavourd with as much Delicacy as he could to set him right with Regard to the Countess so that he brought him at last to confess she managd the Thing very well
The Countess who had resolvd to take Arabella openly into her Protection was thinking on Means to engage her to appear at the
Assembly whither she proposd to accompany her in a modern Dress But her good Intentions towards our lovely Heroine were suspended by the Account she receivd of her Mothers Indisposition which commanded her immediate Attendance on her at her Seat inÑ
Her sudden Departure gave Arabella an extreme Uneasiness and proved a cruel Disappointment to Mr Glanville who had founded all his Hopes of her Recovery on the Conversation of that Lady
Sir Charles having Affairs that requird his Presence in London proposd to his Niece the leaving Bath in a few Days to which she consented and accordingly they set out for London in Arabellas Coach and Six attended by several Servants on Horseback her Women having been sent away before in the Stage
Nothing very remarkable happend during this Journey so we shall not trouble our Readers with several small Mistakes of Arabellas such as her supposing a neat Country Girl who was riding behind a Man to be some Lady or Princess in Disguise forcd away by a Lover she hated and intreating Mr Glanville to attempt her Rescue which occasiond some little Debate between her and Sir Charles who could not be persuaded to believe it was as she said and forbid his Son to meddle in other Peoples Affairs Several of these Sort of Mistakes as we said before we omit and will therefore if our Reader pleases bring our Heroine without further Delay to London
The End of the Eighth Book
In which is related an admirable Adventure
MISS Glanville whose Spirits were greatly exhilerated at their Entrance into London that Seat of Magnificence and Pleasure congratulated her Cousin upon the Entertainment she would receive from the new and surprizing Objects which every Day for a considerable Time would furnish her with and ran over the Catalogue of Diversions with such a Volubility of Tongue as drew a gentle Reprimand from her Father and made her keep a sullen Silence till they were set down in
St Jamess Square the Place of their Residence in Town
Sir Charles having orderd his late Ladys Apartment to be prepard for the Accommodation of his Niece as soon as the first Civilities were over she retird to her Chamber where she employd herself in giving her Women Directions for placing her Books of which she had brought a moderate Quantity to London in her Closet
Miss Glanville as soon as she had dispatchd away some hundred Cards to her Acquaintance to give them Notice she was in Town attended Arabella in her own Apartment and as they sat at the Tea she begun to regulate the Diversions of the Week naming the DrawingRoom Park Concert Ranelagh LadyÑAssembly the Dutchess of Rant VauxHall and a long c of Visits at which Arabella with an Accent that expressd her Surprize askd her If she supposd she intended to stay in Town three or four YearsÑ
Law Cousin said Miss Glanville all this is but the Amusement of a few Days
Amusement do you say replied Arabella methinks it seems to be the sole Employment of those Days And what you call the Amusement must of Necessity be the Business of Life
You are always so grave Cousin said Miss Glanville one does not know what to say to you However I shant press you to go to Publick Places against your Inclination yet youll condescend to receive a few Visits I suppose
Yes replied Arabella and if among the Ladies whom I shall see I find any like the amiable
Countess of Ñ I shall not scruple to enter into the most tender Amity with them
The Countess of Ñ is very well to be sure said Miss Glanville yet I dont know how it is she does not suit my TasteÑShe is very particular in a great many Things and knows too much for a Lady as I heard my Lord Fribble say one Day Then she is quite unfashionable She hates Cards keeps no Assembly is seen but seldom at Publick Places and in my Opinion as well as in a great many others is the dullest Company in the World Im sure I met her at a Visit a little before I went down to your Seat and she had not been a quarter of an Hour in the Room before she set a whole Circle of Ladies a yawning
Arabella tho she had a sincere Contempt for her Cousins Manner of thinking yet always politely conceald it and vexd as she was at her Sneers upon the Countess she contented herself with gently defending her telling her at the same Time that till she met with a Lady who had more Merit than the Countess possessd she should always possess the first Place in her Esteem
Arabella who had from Youth adopted the Resentments of her Father refusd to make her Appearance at Court which Sir Charles gently intimated to her yet being not wholly divested of the Curiosity natural to her Sex she condescended to go incog to the Gallery on a B¥ll Night accompanied by Mr Glanville and his Sister in order to behold the Splendor of the British Court
As her Romances had long familiarizd her Thoughts to Objects of Grandeur and Magnificence she was not so much struck as might have been expected with those that now presented themselves to her View Nor was she a little disappointed to find that among the Men she saw none whose Appearance came up to her Ideas of the Air and Port of an Artaban Oroondates or Juba or any of the Ladies who did not in her Opinion fall short of the Perfections of Elisa Mandana Statira c Twas remarkable too that she never enquird how often the Princesses had been carried away by captivated Monarchs or how many Victories the Kings Sons had gaind but seemd the whole Time she was there to have suspended all her Romantick Ideas of Glory Beauty Gallantry and Love
Mr Glanville was highly pleasd with her composd Behaviour and a Day or two after intreated her to allow him the Honour of shewing her what was remarkable and worthy of her Observation in this great Metropolis To this she also consented and for the greater Privacy began their Travels in a hird Coach
Part of several Days were taken up in this Employment but Mr Glanville had the Mortification to find she was full of Allusions to her Romances upon every Occasion such as her asking the Person who shews the Armoury at the Tower the Names of the Knights to whom each Suit belongd and wondering there were no Devices on the Shields or Plumes of Feathers in the Helmets She observd that the Lyon Lysimachus killd was according to the History of
that Prince much larger than any of those she was shewd in the Tower and also much fiercer Took Notice that St Pauls was less magnificent in the Inside than the Temple in which Cyrus when he went to Mandana heard her return Thanks for his supposd Death Enquird if it was not customary for the King and his whole Court to sail in Barges upon the Thames as Augustus used to do upon the Tyber whether they had not Musick and Collations in the Park and where they celebrated the Justs and Tournaments
The Season for VauxHall being not yet over she was desirous of once seeing a Place which by the Description she had heard of it greatly resembled the Gardens of Lucullus at Rome in which the Emperor with all the Princes and Princesses of his Court were so nobly entertaind and where so many gallant Conversations had passd among those admirable Persons
The Singularity of her Dress for she was coverd with her Veil drew a Number of Gazers after her who prest round her with so little Respect that she was greatly embarrassd and had Thoughts of quitting the Place delightful as she ownd it immediately when her Attention was wholly engrossd by an Adventure in which she soon interested herself very deeply
An Officer of Rank in the Sea Service had brought his Mistress disguisd in a Suit of Mans or rather Boys Cloaths and a Hat and Feather into the Gardens The young Creature being a little intoxicated with the Wine she had taken too freely was thrown so much off her
Guard as to give Occasion to some of the Company to suspect her Sex and a gay Fellow in order to give them some Diversion at her Expence pretending to be affronted at something she said drew his Sword upon the disguisd Fair One which so alarmd her that she shriekd out She was a Woman and ran for Protection to her Lover who was so dis¥rderd with Liquor that he was not able to defend her
Miss Glanville ever curious and inquisitive demanded the Cause why the Company ran in Crouds to that particular Spot and receivd for Answer That a Gentleman had drawn his Sword upon a Lady disguisd in a Mans Habit
Oh Heavns cryd Arabella this must certainly be a very notable Adventure The Lady has doubtless some extraordinary Circumstances in her Story and haply upon Enquiry her Misfortunes will be found to resemble those which obligd the beautiful Aspasia to put on the same Disguise who was by that Means murderd by the cruel Zenodorus in a Fit of Jealousy at the Amity his Wife exprest for her But can I not see this unfortunate Fair One added she pressing in spite of Mr Glanvilles Intreaties thro the CroudÑI may haply be able to afford her some Consolation
Mr Glanville finding his Persuasions were not regarded followd her with very little Difficulty For her Veil falling back in her Hurry she did not mind to replace it and the Charms of her Face joind to the Majesty of her Person and Singularity of her Dress attracting every Persons Attention and Respect they made Way for her to pass not a little surprizd
at the extreme Earnestness and Solemnity that appeard in her Countenance upon an Event so diverting to every one else
The disguisd Lady whom she was endeavouring to approach had thrown herself upon a Bench in one of the Boxes trembling still with the Apprehension of the Sword tho her Antagonist was kneeling at her Feet making Love to her in MockHeroicks for the Diversion of the Company
Her Hat and Peruke had fallen off in her Fright and her Hair which had been turnd up under it hung now loosely about her Neck and gave such an Appearance of Woe to a Face which notwithstanding the Paleness that Terror had overspread it with was really extremely pretty that Arabella was equally struck with Compassion and Admiration of her
Lovely Unknown said she to her with an Air of extreme Tenderness tho I am a Stranger both to your Name and History yet your Aspect persuading me your Quality is not mean and the Condition and Disguise in which I behold you shewing that you are Unfortunate permit me to offer you all the Assistances in my Power seeing that I am movd thereto by my Compassion for your Distress and that Esteem which the Sight of you must necessarily inspire
Mr Glanville was struck dumb with Confusion at this strange Speech and at the Whispers and Scoffs it occasiond among the Spectators He attempted to take hold of her Hand in order to lead her away but she disengagd herself from him with a Frown of Displeasure and taking no Notice of Miss Glanville who whisperd
with great Emotion Lord Cousin how you expose yourself prest nearer to the Beautiful Disguisd and again repeated her Offers of Service
The Girl being perfectly recoverd from her Intoxication by the Fright she had been in gazd upon Arabella with a Look of extreme Surprize Yet being movd to respect by the Dignity of her Appearance and strange as her Words seemd to be by the obliging Purport of them and the affecting Earnestness with which they were deliverd she rose from her Seat and thankd her with an Accept full of Regard and Submission
Fair Maid said Arabella taking her Hand let us quit this Place where your Discovery may probably subject you to more Dangers If you will be pleasd to put yourself into my Protection and acquaint me with the History of your Misfortunes I have Interest enough with a valiant Person who shall undertake to free you from your Persecutions and reestablish the Repose of your Life
The kneeling Hero who as well as every one else that were present had gazd with Astonishment at Arabella during all this Passage perceiving she was about to rob him of the disguisd Fair seizd hold of the Hand she had at Liberty and swore he would not part with her
Mr Glanville almost mad with Vexation endeavourd to get Arabella away
Are you mad Madam said he in a Whisper to make all this Rout about a Prostitute Do you see how every body stares at you What will they thinkÑFor Heavns sake let us be gone
What Sir replied Arabella in a Rage Are you base enough to leave this admirable Creature in the Power of that Man who is questionless her Ravisher and will you not draw your Sword in her Defence
Hey day cryd the SeaOfficer wakd out of his stupid Dose by the Clamour about him Whats the Matter hereÑWhat are you doing Wheres my Lucy Zoons Sir said he to the young Fellow who held her What Business have you with my Lucy And uttering a dreadful Oath drew out his Sword and staggerd towards his gay Rival who observing the Weakness of his Antagonist flourishd with his Sword to shew his Courage and frighten the Ladies who all ran away screaming Arabella taking Miss Glanville under the Arm cried out to Mr Glanville as she left the Place to take Care of the distressd Lady and while the two Combatants were disputing for her to carry her away in Safety
But Mr Glanville without regarding this Injunction hastend after her and to pacify her told her the Lady was rescud by her favourite Lover and carryd off in Triumph
But are you sure said Aabella it was not some other of her Ravishers who carryd her away and not the Person whom she has haply favourd with her Affection May not the same Thing have happend to her as did to the beautiful Candace Queen of Ethiopia who while two of her Ravishers were fighting for her a third whom she took for her Deliverer came and carryd her away
But she went away willingly I assure you Madam said Mr Glanville Pray dont be in any Concern about herÑ
If she went away willingly with him replyd Arabella tis probable it may not be another Ravisher And yet if this Person that rescud her happend to be in Armour and the Vizor of his Helmet down she might be mistaken as well as Queen Candace
Well well he was not in Armour Madam said Glanville almost beside himself with Vexation at her FollyÑ
You seem to be disturbd Sir said Arabella a little surprizd at his peevish Tone Is there any Thing in this Adventure which concerns you Nay now I remember you did not offer to defend the Beautiful Unknown I am not willing to impute your Inaction upon such an Occasion to Want of Courage or Generosity perhaps you are acquainted with her History and from this Knowledge refusd to engage in her Defence
Mr Glanville perceiving the Company gather from all Parts to the Walk they were in told her he would acquaint her with all he knew concerning the disguisd Lady when they were in the Coach on their Return Home and Arabella impatient for the promisd Story proposd to leave the Gardens immediately which was gladly complyd with by Mr Glanville who heartily repented his having carryd her thither
Which ends with a very unfavourable Prediction for our Heroine
AS soon as they were seated in the Coach she did not fail to call upon him to perform his Promise But Mr Glanville excessively out of Humour at her exposing herself in the Gardens replyd without considering whether he shuld not offend her That he knew no more of the disguisd Lady than any body else in the Place
How Sir replyd Arabella Did you not promise to relate her Adventures to me And would you have me believe you knew no more of them than the rest of the Cavaliers and Ladies in the Place
Upon my Soul I dont Madam said Glanville yet what I know of her is sufficient to let me understand she was not worth the Consideration you seemd to have for her
She cannot sure be more indiscreet than the fair and unfortunate Hermione replyd Arabella who like her put on Mans Apparel through Despair at the ill Success of her Passion for Alexander ÑAnd certain it is that tho the beautiful Hermione was guilty of one great Error which lost her the Esteem of Alexander yet she had a high and noble Soul as was manifest by her Behaviour and Words when she was run thro by the Sword of Demetrius Oh Death cryd she as she was falling how sweet do I find
thee and how much and how earnestly have I desird thee
Oh Lord oh Lord cryd Mr Glanville hardly sensible of what he said Was there ever any Thing so intolerable
Do you pity the unhappy Hermione Sir said Arabella interpreting his Exclamation her own Way Indeed she is well worthy of your Compassion And if the bare Recital of the Words she utterd at receiving her Deaths Wound affects you so much you may guess what would have been your Agonies had you been Demetrius that gave it to her
Here Mr Glanville groaning aloud thro Impatience at her AbsurditiesÑ
This Subject affects you deeply I perceive said Arabella There is no Question but you would have acted in the same Circumstance as Demetrius did Yet let me tell you the Extravagancy of his Rage and Despair for what he had innocently committed was imputed to him as a great Imbecillity as was also the violent Passion he conceivd soon after for the Fair Deidamia You know the Accident which brought that fair Princess into his Way
Indeed I do not Madam said Glanville peevishly
Well then Ill tell you said Arabella but pausing a little
The Recital I have engagd myself to make added she will necessarily take up some Hours Time as upon Reflexion I have found So if you will dispense with my beginning it at present I will satisfy your Curiosity Tomorrow when I may be able to pursue it without Interruption
To this Mr Glanville made no other Answer than a Bow with his Head and the Coach a few Moments after arriving at their own House he led her to her Apartment firmly resolvd never to attend her to any more Publick Places while she continued in the same ridiculous Folly
Sir Charles who had several Times been in doubt whether Arabella was not really disorderd in her Senses upon Miss Glanvilles Account of her Behaviour at the Gardens concluded she was absolutely mad and held a short Debate with himself Whether he ought not to bring a Commission of Lunacy against her rather than marry her to his Son whom he was persuaded could never be happy with a Wife so unaccountably absurd Tho he only hinted at this to Mr Glanville in a Conversation he had with him while his Dissatisfaction was at its Height concerning Arabella yet the bare Supposition that his Father ever thought of such a Thing threw the young Gentleman into such Agonies that Sir Charles to compose him protested he would do nothing in relation to his Niece that he would not approve of Yet he expostulated with him on the Absurdity of her Behaviour and the Ridicule to which she exposd herself wherever she went appealing to him whether in a Wife he could think those Follies supportable which in a Mistress occasiond him so much Confusion
Mr Glanville as much in Love as he was felt all the Force of this Inference and acknowledgd to his Father That he could not think of marrying Arabella till the Whims her Romances
had put into her Head were crazd by a better Knowledge of Life and Manners But he added with a Sigh That he knew not how this Reformation would be effected for she had such a strange Facility in reconciling every Incident to her own fantastick Ideas that every new Object added Strength to the fatal Deception she laboured under
In which Arabella meets with another admirable Adventure
OUR lovely Heroine had not been above a Fortnight in London before the gross Air of that smoaky Town affected her Health so much that Sir Charles proposd to her to go for a few Weeks to Richmond where he hird a House elegantly furnishd for her Reception
Miss Glanville had been too long out of that darling City to pay her the Compliment of attending her constantly at Richmond yet she promisd to be as often as possible with her And Sir Charles having Affaris that could not dispense with his Absence from town placd his Steward in her House being a Person whose Prudence and Fidelity he could rely upon and he with her Women and two or three other menial Servants made up her Equipage
As it was not consistent with Decorum for Mr Glanville to reside in her House he contented himself with riding to Richmond generally
every Day And as long as Arabella was pleasd with that Retirement he resolvd not to press her Return to Town till the Countess ofÑarrivd in whose Conversation he grounded all his Hopes of her Cure
At that Season of the Year Richmond not being quite deserted by Company Arabella was visited by several Ladies of Fashion who charmd with her Affability Politeness and good Sense were strangely perplexd how to account for some Peculiarities in her Dress and Manner of thinking
Some of the younger Sort from whom Arabellas extraordinary Beauty took away all Pretensions to Equality on that Score made themselves extremely merry with her Oddnesses as they calld them and gave broad Intimations that her Head was not right
As for Arabella whose Taste was as delicate Sentiments as refind and Judgment as clear as any Persons could be who believd the Authenticity of Scuderys Romances she was strangely disappointed to find no Lady with whom she could converse with any tolerable Pleasure And that instead of Clelias Statiras Mandanas c she found only Miss Glanville among all she knew
The Comparison she drew between such as these and the charming Countess ofÑwhom she had just begun to be acquainted with at Bath increasd her Regret for the Interruption that was given to so agreeable a Friendship And it was with infinite Pleasure Mr Glanville heard her repeatedly wish for the Arrival of that admirable Lady as she always calld her in Town
Not being able to relish that insipid Conversation of the young Ladies that visited her at Richmond her chief Amusement was to walk in the Park there which because of its Rural Privacy was extremely agreeable to her Inclinations
Here she indulgd Contemplation leaning on the Arm of her faithful Lucy while her other Women walkd at some Distance behind her and two Men Servants kept her always in Sight
One Evening when she was returning from her usual Walk she heard the Sound of a Womans Voice which seemd to proceed from a Tuft of Trees that hid her from her View And stopping a Moment distinguishd some plaintive Accents which increasing her Curiosity she advancd towards the Place telling Lucy she was resolvd if possible to discover who the distressd Lady was and what was the Subject of her Affliction
As she drew nearer with softly treading Steps she could distinguish through the Branches of the Trees now despoild of great part of their Leaves two Women seated on the Ground their Backs towards her and one of them with her Head gently reclind on the others Shoulder seemd by her mournful Action to be weeping for she often put her Handkerchief to her Eyes breathing every Time a Sigh which as Arabella phrasd it seemd to proceed from the deepest Recesses of her Heart
This Adventure more worthy indeed to be styld an Adventure than all our Fair Heroine had ever yet met with and so conformable to what she had read in Romances filld her Heart with eager Expectation She made a Sign to
Lucy to make no Noise and creeping still closer towards the Place where this afflicted Person sat she heard her distinctly utter these Words which however were often interrupted with her Sighs
Ah Ariamenes whom I to my Misfortune have too much loved and whom to my Misfortune I fear I shall never sufficiently hate since that Heavn and thy cruel Ingratitude hath ordaind that thou shalt never be mine and that so many sweet and dear Hopes are for ever taken from me return me at least ungrateful Man return me those Testimonies of my innocent Affection which were sometimes so dear and precious to thee Return me those Favours which all innocent as they were are become Criminal by thy Crime Return me Cruel Man return me those Reliques of my Heart which thou detainest in Despight of me and which notwithstanding thy Infidelity I cannot recover
Here her Tears interrupting her Speech Arabella being impatient to know the History of this afflicted Person came softly round to the other Side and shewing herself occasiond some Disturbance to the sad Unknown who rising from her Seat with her Face averted as if ashamd of having so far disclosd her Sorrows in a Strangers Hearing endeavourd to pass by her unnoticd
Arabella perceiving her Design stopd her with a very graceful Action and with a Voice all composd of Sweetness earnestly conjurd her to relate her History
Think not Lovely Unknown said she for she was really very pretty that my Endeavours to detain you proceed from an indiscreet Curiosity Tis true some Complaints which have fallen from your fair Mouth have raisd in me a Desire to be acquainted with your Adventures but this Desire has its Foundation in that Compassion your Complaints have filld me with And if I wish to know your Misfortunes tis only with a View of affording you some Consolation
Pardon me Madam said the Fair Afflicted gazing on Arabella with many Signs of Admiration if my Confusion at being overheard in a Place I had chosen to bewail my Misfortunes made me be guilty of some Appearance of Rudeness not seeing the admirable Person I wanted to avoid But pursued she hesitating a little those Characters of Beauty I behold in your Face and the Gracefulness of your Deportment convincing me you can be of no ordinary Rank I will the less scruple to acquaint you with my Adventures and the Cause of those Complaints you have heard proceed from my Mouth
Arabella assuring her that whatever her Misfortunes were she might depend upon all the Assistance in her Power seated herself near her at the Foot of the Tree where she had been fitting and giving Lucy Orders to join the rest of her Women and stay at a Distance till she made a Sign to them to advance she prepard to listen to the Adventures of the Fair Unknown who after some little Pause began to relate them in this Manner
In which is related the History of the Princess of Gaul
MY Name Madam is Cynccia my Birth Illustrious enough seeing that I am the Daughter of a Sovereign Prince who possesses a large and spacious Territory in what is now called Antient Gaul
What Madam interrupted Arabella Are you a Princess then
Questionless I am Madam replied the Lady and a Princess happy and prosperous till the Felicity of my Life was interrupted by the perfidious Ariamenes
Pardon me Madam interrupted Arabella again that my Ignorance of your Quality made me be deficient in those Respects which are due to your high Birth and which notwithstanding those Characters of Greatness I might read in the Lineaments of your Visage I yet neglected to p¥yÑ
Alas Madam said the Stranger that little Beauty which the Heavens bestowd on me only to make me wretched as by the Event it has proved has long since taken its Flight and together with my Happiness I have lost that which made me Unhappy And certain it is Grief has made such Ravages among what might once have been thought tolerable in my Face that I should not be surprizd if my being no longer Fair should make you with Difficulty believe I ever was so
Arabella after a proper Compliment in Answer to this Speech intreated the Princess to go on with her History who hesitating a little complyd with her Request
Be pleasd to know then Madam said she that being bred up with all imaginable Tenderness in my Fathers Court I had no sooner arrivd to my Sixteenth Year than I saw myself surrounded with Lovers who nevertheless such was the Severity with which I behavd myself conceald their Passions under a respectful Silence well knowing Banishment from my Presence was the least Punishment they had to expect if they presumd to declare their Sentiments to me
I livd in this Fashion Madam for Two Years longer rejoicing in the Insensibility of my own Heart and triumphing in the Sufferings of others when my Tranquillity was all at once interrupted by an Accident which I am going to relate to you
The Princess stopt here to give Vent to some Sighs which a cruel Remembrance forcd from her and continuing in a deep Muse for five or six Minutes resumd her Story in this Manner
It being my Custom to walk in a Forest adjoining to one of my Fathers Sum mer Residences attended only by my Women one Day when I was taking this A musement I perceivd at some Distance a Man lying on the Ground and impelld by a sudden Curiosity I advancd towards this Person whom upon a nearer View I perceivd to have been wounded very much and fainted away through
Loss of Blood His Habit being very rich I concluded by that he was of no mean Quality But when I had lookd upon his Countenance pale and languishing as it was methought there appeard so many Marks of Greatness accompanyd with a Sweetness so happily blended that my Attention was engagd in an extraordinary Manner and interested me so powerfully in his Safety that I commanded some of my Women to run immediately for proper Assistance and convey him to the Castle while I directed others to throw some Water in his Face and to apply some Linen to his Wounds to stop the Bleeding
These charitable Cares restord the wounded Stranger to his Senses he opend his Eyes and turning them slowly to the Objects around him fixd at last their languishing Looks on me When movd as it should seem to some Respect by what he saw in my Countenance he rose with some Difficulty from the Ground and bowing almost down to it again by that Action seemd to pay me his Acknowledgments for what he supposd I had done for his Preservation
His extreme Weakness having obligd him to creep towards a Tree against the Back of which he supported himself I went nearer to him and having told him the Condition in which I found him and the Orders I had dispatchd for Assistance requested him to acquaint me with his Name and Quality and the Adventure which had brought him into that Condition
My Name Madam answerd he is Ariamenes my Birth is Noble enough I have spent some Years in my Travels and was returning
to my native Country when passing thro this Forest I was seizd with an Inclination to sleep I had tyd my Horse to a Tree and retiring some few Paces off stretchd myself at the Foot of a large Oak whose Branches promisd me an agreeable Shade I had not yet closd my Eyes when the Slumber I invited was dissipated by the Sound of some Voices near me
A Curiosity not natural to me made me listen to the Discourse of these Persons whom by the Tone of their Voices tho I could not see them I knew to be Men
In short Madam I was a Witness to a most horrible Scheme which they concerted together my Weakness will not permit me to enter into an exact Detail of all I heard The Result of their Conference was To seize the Princess of this Country and carry her off
Here pursued Cynecia I interrupted the Stranger with a loud Cry which giving him to understand who I was he apologizd in the most graceful Manner imaginable for the little Respect he had hitherto paid me
I then intreated him to tell me If he had any Opportunity of hearing the Name of my designd Ravisher to which he replyd that he understood it to be Taxander
This Man Madam was one of my Fathers Favourites and had been long secretly in Love with me
Ariamenes then informd me that being enflamd with Rage against these impious Villains he rose from the Ground remounted his Horse and defyd the two Traytors aloud threatning them with Death unless they abandond their impious Design
Taxander made no Answer but rushd furiously upon him and had the Biseness to suffer his wicked Associate to assist him But the valiant Ariamenes tho he spoke modestly of his Victory yet gave me to understand that he had made both the Villams abandon their wicked Enterprize with their Lives and that dismounting in order to see if they were quite dead he found himself so faint with the Wounds he had received from them both that he had not Strength to remount his Horse but crawling on in Hopes of meeting with some Assistance sainted away at last through Weariness and Loss of Blood
While he was giving me this Account the Chariot I had sent for arrived and having made him such Acknowledgments as the Obligation I had received from him demanded I causd him to get into the Chariot and sending one with him to acquaint the Prince my Father with all that had happend and the Merit o¥ the valiant Stranger I returnd the same Way I came with my Women my Thoughts being wholly engrossd by this Unknown
The Service he had done me filld me with a Gratitude and Esteem for him which prepard my Heart for those tender Sentiments I afterwards entertaind to the Ruin of my Repose
I will not tire your Patience Madam with a minute Detail of all the succeeding Passages of my Story it shall suffice to tell you That Ariamenes was received with extraordinary Marks of Esteem by my Father that his Cure was soon compleated and that having vow¥ himself to my Service and declard an unalterable
Passion for me I permitted him to love me and gave him that Share in my Heart which I fear not all his Infidelities will ever deprive him of
His Attachment to me was soon suspected by Taxanders Relations who having secretly vowd his Ruin endeavourd to discover if I had admitted his Addresses and having made themselves Masters of our Secrets by means of the Treachery of one of my Women procurd Information to be given to my Father of our mutual Passion
Alas what Mischiefs did not this fatal Discovery produce My Father enragd to the last Degree at this Intelligence confind me to my Apartments and orderd Ariamenes to leave his Dominions within three Days
Spare me Madam the Repetition of what passd at our last sad Interview which by large Bribes to my Guards he obtaind
His Tears his Agonies his Vows of everlasting Fidelity so soothd my Melancholy at parting with him and persuaded me of his Constancy that I waited for several Months with perfect Tranquillity for the Performance of the Promise he made me to do my Father such considerable Services in the War he was engagd in with one of his Neighbours as should oblige him to give me to him for his Reward
But alas two Years rolld on without bringing back the unfaithful Ariamenes My Father died and my Brother who succeeded him being about to force me to marry a Prince whom I detested I secretly quitted the Court and attended only by this faithful Confidant whom
you behold with me and some few of my trusty Domesticks I came hither in Search of Ariamenes he having told me this Country was the Place of his Birth
Polenor the most prudent and faithful of my Servants undertook to find out the ungreateful Ariamenes whom yet I was willing to find Excuses for but all his Enquiries were to no Effect the Name of Ariamenes was not known in this Part of the World
Tird out with unsuccessful Enquiries I resolvd to seek out some obscure Place where I might in secret lament my Misfortunes and expect the End of them in Death My Attendants found me out such a Retreat as I wanted in a neighbouring Village which they call Twickenham I think from whence I often make Excursions to this Park attended only as you see and here indulge myself in Complaints upon the Cruelty of my Destiny
The sorrowful Cynecia here ended her Story to which in the Course of her Relation she had given a great many Interruptions through the Violence of her Grief And Arabella after having said every thing she could think on to alleviate her Affliction earnestly intreated her to accept of an Asylum at her House where she should be treated with all the Respect due to her illustrious Birth
The afflicted Lady tho she respectfully declind this Offer yet expressd a great Desire of commencing a strict Amity with our fair Heroine who on her Part made her the most tender Protestations of Friendship
The Evening being almost closd they parted with great Reluctancy on both Sides mutually promising to meet in the same Place the next Day
Cynecia having enjoind her new Friend absolute Secrecy Arabella was under a Necessity of keeping this Adventure to herself And tho she longd to tell Mr Glanville who came to visit her the next Day that the Countess was extremely mistaken when she maintaind there were no more wandering Princesses in the World yet the Engagement she had submitted to kept her silent
ARABELLA who impatiently longd for the Hour of meeting the fair Princess with whom she was extremely delighted consulted her Watch so often and discoverd so much Restlessness and Anxiety that Mr Glanville began to be surprizd and the more as she peremptorily commanded him not to attend her in her Evening Walk This Prohibition which tho he durst not dispute he secretly resolvd to disobey and as soon as she set out for the Park with her usual Attendants he slippd out by a Backdoor and keeping her in his Sight himself unseen she venturd to watch her Motions
As he had expected to unravel some great Mystery he was agreeably disappointed to find she continud her Walk in the Park with great Composure and tho she was soon joind by the imaginary Princess yet conceiving her to be some young Lady with whom she had commencd an Acquaintance at Richmond his Heart was at Rest and for fear of displeasing her he took a contrary Path from that she was in that he might not meet her yet resolvd to stay till he thought she would be inclind to return and then shew himself and conduct her Home A Solicitude for which he did not imagine she need be offended
The two Ladies being met after reciprocal Compliments the Princess intreated Arabella to relate her Adventures who not being willing to violate the Laws of Romance which require an unbounded Confidence upon these Occasions began very succinctly to recount the History of her Life which as she managd it containd Events almost as Romantick and Incredible as any in her Romances winding them up with a Confession that she did not hate Mr Glanville whom she acknowledgd to be one of the most faithful and zealous of Lovers
Cynecia with a Sigh congratulated her upon the Fidelity of a Lover who by her Description was worthy the Place he possessd in her Esteem And expressing a Wish that she could see unobservd by him this gallant and generous Person Arabella who that Moment espyd him at a Distance yet advancing towards them told her with a Blush that overspread all her Face That her Curiosity might be satisfyd in
the Manner she wishd for yonder added she is the Person we have been talking of
Cynecia at these Words looking towards the Place where her fair Friend had directed no sooner cast her Eyes upon Mr Glanville than giving a loud Cry she sunk into the Arms of Arabella who astonishd and perplexd as she was eagerly held them out to support her
Finding her in a Swoon she dispatchd Lucy who was near her to look for some Water to throw in her Face but that Lady breathing a deep Sigh opend her languishing Eyes and fixing a melancholy Look upon Arabella
Ah Madam said she wonder not at my Affliction and Surprize since in the Person of your Lover I behold the ungrateful Ariamenes
Oh Heavns my fair Princess replied Arabella What is it you say Is it possible Glanville can be Ariamenes
He cried the afflicted Princess with a disorderd Accent He whom I now behold and whom you call Glanville was once Ariamenes the perjurd the ungrateful Ariamenes Adieu Madam I cannot bear this Sight I will hide myself from the World for ever nor need you fear a Rival or an Enemy in the unfortunate Cynecia who if possible will cease to love the unfaithful Ariamenes and will never hate the beautiful Arabella
Saying this without giving her Time to answer she took hold of her Confidant by the Arm and went away with so much Swiftness that she was out of sight before Arabella was enough recoverd from her Astonishment to be able to intreat her Stay
Our charming Heroine ignorant till now of the true State of her Heart was surprizd to find it assaulted at once by all the Passions which attend disappointed Love Grief Rage Jealousy and Despair made so cruel a War in her gentle Bosom that unable either to express or to conceal the strong Emotions with which she was agitated she gave Way to a violent Burst of Tears leaning her Head upon Lucys Shoulder who wept as heartily as her Lady tho ignorant of the Cause of her Affliction
Mr Glanville who was now near enough to take Notice of her Posture came running with eager Heart to see what was the matter when Arabella rousd from her Extacy of Grief by the Sound of his Steps lifted up her Head and seeing him approach
Lucy cried she trembling with the Violence of her Resentment Tell that Traitor to keep out of my Sight Tell him I forbid him ever to appear before me again And tell him added she with a Sigh that shook her whole tender Frame All that Blood in his Body is too little to wash away his Guilt or to pacify my Indignation
Then hastily turning away she ran towards her other Attendants who were at some Distance and joining her Women proceeded directly Home
Mr Glanville amazd at this Action was making after her as fast as he could when Lucy crossing in his Way cryd out to him to stop
My Lady said she bid me tell you TraitorÑ
Hey day interrupted Glanville What the Devil does the Girl mean
Pray Sir said she let me deliver my Message I shall forget if you speak to me till I have said it allÑStay let me see What comes next
No more Traitor I hope said Glanville
Nor Sir said Lucy but there was something about washing in Blood and you must keep out of her Sight and not appear before the NationÑOh dear I have forgot it half My Lady was in such a piteous Taking I forgot it I believe as soon as she said it What shall I doÑ
No Matter said Glanville Ill overtake her and askÑ
No no Sir said Lucy Pray dont do that Sir my Lady will be very angry Ill venture to ask her to tell me over again and come back and let you know it
But tell me replyd Glanville Was any thing the Matter with your Lady She was in a piteous Taking you say
Oh dear yes Sir said Lucy but I was not bid to say any thing about that To be sure my Lady did cry sadly and sighd as if her Heart would break but I dont know what was the Matter with her
Well said Glanville excessively shockd at this Intelligence Go to your Lady I am going HomeÑYou may bring me her Message to my own Apartment
Lucy did as she was desird and Mr Glanville impatient as he was to unravel the Mystery yet dreading lest his Presence should make
Arabella be guilty of some Extravagance before the Servants who were with her he followd slowly after her resolving if possible to procure a private Interview with the lovely Visionary for whose Sorrow tho he suspected it was owing to some ridiculous Cause he could not help being affected
Not much plainer than the former
ARABELLA who had walkd as fast as her Legs would carry her got Home before Lucy could overtake her and retiring to her Chamber gave Way to a fresh Burst of Grief and bewaild the Infidelity of Glanville in Terms befitting a Clelia or Mandana
As soon as she saw Lucy enter she started from her Chair with great Emotion
Thou comest said she I know to intercede for that ungrateful Man whose Infidelity I am weak enough to lament But open not thy Mouth I charge thee in his Defence
No indeed Madam said Lucy
Nor bring me any Account of his Tears his Desparation or his Despair said Arabella since questionless he will feign them all to deceive me
Here Glanville who had watchd Lucys coming and had followd her into Arabellas Apartment appeard at the Door
Oh Heavns cryd Arabella lifting up her fine Eyes Can it be that this disloyal Man unawd by the Discovery of his Guilt again presumes to approach meÑ
Dearest Cousin said Glanville What is the Meaning of all thisÑHow have I disobligd youÑWhat is my Offence I beseech you tell me
Ask the inconstant Ariamenes replyd Arabella the Offence of the ungrateful Glanville The Betrayer of Cynecia can best answer that Question to the Deceiver of Arabella And the Guilt of the one can only be compard to the Crimes of the other
Good God interrupted Mr Glanville fretting excessively What am I to understand by all this On my Soul Madam I dont know the Meaning of one Word you say
Oh Dissembler said Arabella Is it thus that thou wouldst impose upon my Credulity Does not the Name of Ariamenes make thee tremble then And canst thou hear that of Cynecia without Confusion
Dear Lady Bella said Glanville smiling What are these Names to me
False Man interrupted Arabella Dost thou presume to sport with thy Crimes then Are not the Treacheries of Ariamenes the Crimes of Glanville Could Ariamenes be false to the Princess
of Gaul and can Glanville be innocent towards Arabella
Mr Glanville who had never heard her in his Opinion talk so ridiculously before was so amazd at the incomprehensible Stuff she utterd with so much Emotion that he began to fear her Intellects were really touchd This Thought gave him a Concern that spread itself in a Moment over his Countenance He gazd on her with a fixd Attention dreading yet wishing she would speak again equally divided between his Hopes that her next Speech would remove his Suspicion and his Fears that it might more confirm them
Arabella taking Notice of his pensive Posture turnd away her Head lest by beholding him she should relent and treat him with less Severity than she had intended making at the same Time a Sign to him to be gone
Indeed Lady Bella said Glanville who understood her perfectly well I cannot leave you in this Temper I must know how I have been so unfortunate as to offend you
Arabella no longer able to contain herself burst into Tears at this Question With one Hand she made repeated Signs to him to be gone with the other she held her Handkerchief to her Eyes vexd and ashamd of her Weakness
But Mr Glanville excessively shockd at this Sight instead of leaving her threw himself on his Knees before her and taking her Hand which he tenderly prest to his Lips
Good God my dearest Cousin said he How you distract me by this Behaviour Sure
something extraordinary must be the Matter What can it be that thus afflicts youÑAm I the Cause of these TearsÑCan I have offended you so muchÑSpeak dear MadamÑLet me know my Crime Yet may I perish if I am conscious of any towards youÑ
Disloyal Man said Arabella disengaging her Hand from his Does then the Crime of Ariamenes seem so light in thy Apprehension that thou canst hope to be thought innocent by Arabella No no ungrateful Man the unfortunate Cynecia shall have no Cause to say that I will triumph in her Spoils I myself will be the Minister of her Revenge and Glanville shall suffer for the Crime of Ariamenes
Who the Devil is this Ariamenes cryd Glanville rising in a Passion And why am I to suffer for his Crime pray For Heavns Sake dear Cousin dont let your Imagination wander thus Upon my Soul I dont believe there is any such Person as Ariamenes in the World
Vile Equivocator said Arabella Ariamenes tho dead to Cynecia is alive to the deluded Arabella The Crimes of Ariamenes are the Guilt of Glanville And if the one has made himself unworthy of the Princess of Gaul by his Perfidy and Ingratitude the other by his Baseness and Deceit merits nothing but Contempt and Detestation from Arabella
Frenzy by my Soul cryd Glanville mutteringly between his Teeth This is downright Frenzy What shall I doÑ
Hence from my Presence resumd Arabella false and ungrateful Man persecute me no more with the hateful Offers of thy Love From
this Moment I banish thee from my Thoughts for ever and neither as Glanville or as Ariamenes will I ever behold thee more
Stay dear Cousin said Glanville holding her for she was endeavouring to rush by him unwilling he should see the Tears that had overspread her Face as she pronouncd those Words hear me I beg you but one Word Who is it you mean by AriamenesÑIs it meÑTell me Madam I beseech youÑThis is some horrid MistakeÑYou have been imposd upon by some villainous ArtificeÑSpeak dear Lady BellaÑIs it me you mean by Ariamenes For so your last Words seemd to hintÑ
Arabella without regarding what he said struggled violently to force her Hand from his and finding him still earnest to detain her told him with an enragd Voice That she would call for Help if he did not unhand her directly
Poor Glanville at this Menace submissively dropt her Hand and the Moment she was free she flew out of the Room and locking herself up in her Closet sent her Commands to him by one of her Women whom she calld to her to leave her Apartment immediately
Containing indeed no great Matters but being a Prelude to greater
MR Glanville who stood fixd like a Statue in the Place where Arabella had left him was rousd by this Message which tho palliated
a little by the Girl that deliverd it who was not quite so punctual as Lucy nevertheless filld him with extreme Confusion He obeyd however immediately and retiring to his own Apartment endeavourd to recall to his Memory all Lady Bella had said
The Ambiguity of her Style which had led him into a Suspicion he had never entertaind before her last Words had partly explaind if as he understood she did she meant him by Ariamenes Taking this for granted he easily conceivd some Plot grounded on her Romantick Notions had been laid to prepossess her against him
Sir Georges Behaviour to her rushd that Moment into his Thoughts He instantly recollected all his Fooleries his History his Letter his Conversation all apparently copied from those Books she was so fond of and probably done with a View to some other Design upon her
These Reflections joind to his new awakd Suspicions that he was in Love with her convincd him he was the Author of their present Misunderstanding and that he had imposd some new Fallacy upon Arabella in order to promote a Quarrel between them
Fird almost to Madness at this Thought he stampd about his Room vowing Revenge upon Sir George execrating Romances and cursing his own Stupidity for not discovering Sir George was his Rival and knowing his plotting Talent not providing against his Artifices
His first Resolutions were to set out immediately for Sir Georges Seat and force him to confess the Part he had acted against him But a
Moments Consideration convincd him that was not the most probable Place to find him in since it was much more likely he was waiting the Success of his Schemes in London or perhaps at Richmond
Next to satiating his Vengeance the Pleasure of detecting him in such a Manner that he could not possibly deny or palliate his Guilt was next his Heart
He resolvd therefore to give it out that he was gone to London to make Lady Bella believe it was in Obedience to her Commands that he had left her with a Purpose not to return till he had cleard his Innocence but in reality to conceal himself in his own Apartment and see what Effects his reputed Absence would produce
Having thus taken his Resolution he sent for Mr Roberts his Fathers Steward to whose Care he had entrusted Lady Bella in her Retirement and acquainting him with Part of his Apprehensions with Regard to Sir Georges Attemp¥s upon his Cousin he imparted to him his Design of staying conceald there in order to discover more effectually those Attempts and to preserve Lady Bella from any Consequence of them
Mr Roberts approvd of his Design and assurd him of his Vigilance and Care both in concealing his Stay and also in giving him Notice of every Thing that passd
Mr Glanville then wrote a short Billet to Arabella expressing his Grief for her Displeasure his Departure in Obedience to her Orders and his Resolution not to appear in her Presence
till he could give her convincing Proofs of his Innocence
This Letter he sent by Roberts which Arabella condescended to read but would return no Answer
Mr Glanville then mounting his Horse which Roberts had orderd to be got ready rode away and leaving him at a House he sometimes put up at returnd on Foot and was let in by Mr Roberts at the Gardendoor and conducted unseen to his Chamber
While he passd that Night and great Part of the next Day meditating on the Treachery of Sir George and soothing his Uneasiness with the Hopes of Revenge Arabella no less disquieted musd on the Infidelity of her Lover the Despair of Cynecia and the Impossibility of her ever being happy Then ransacking her Memory for Instances in her Romances of Ladies equally unfortunate with herself she would sometimes compare herself to one Lady sometimes to another adapting their Sentiments and making Use of their Language in her Complaints
Great Part of the Day being spent in this Manner the uneasy Restlessness of her Mind made her wish to see Cynecia again She longd to ask her a hundred Questions about the unfaithful Ariamenes which the Suddainess of her Departure and her own Astonishment prevented her from doing when she made that fatal Discovery which had cost her so much Uneasiness
Sometimes a faint Hope would arise in her Mind that Cynecia might be mistaken thro the great Resemblance that possibly was between Ariamenes and Glanville
She rememberd that Mandana had been deceivd by the Likeness of Cyrus to Spitridates and concluded that illustrious Prince inconstant because Spitridates whom she took for Cyrus saw her carryd away without offering to rescue her
Dwelling with Eagerness upon this Thought because it afforded her a temporary Relief from others more tormenting she resolvd to go to the Park tho she had but little Hopes of finding Cynecia there supposing it but too probable that the Disturbance which the Sight or fancyd Sight of Ariamenes had given her would confine her for some Days to her Chamber Yet however small the Probability was of meeting with her she could not resist the impatient Desire she felt of going to seek her
Dispensing therefore with the Attendance of any other Servant but Lucy she left her Apartment with a Design of resuming her usual Walk when she was met at her stepping out of the Door by Lady LÑs three Daughters who had visited her during her Residence at Richmond and another young Lady
These Ladies who to vary the Scene of their Rural Diversions were going to cross over to Twickenham and walk there prest Lady Bella to accompany them Our melancholy Heroine refusd them at first but upon their repeated Importunity recollecting that the Princess of Gaul had informd her she resided there she consented to go in Hopes some favourable Chance might bring her in their Way or discover the Place of her Retreat when she could easily find some Excuse for leaving her Companions and going to her
Mr Roberts who according to his Instructions narrowly watchd Arabellas Motions finding she did not command his Attendance as usual resolvd however to be privately of this Party He had but just Time to run up and acquaint Mr Glanville and then followd the Ladies at a Distance who taking Boat passd over to Twickenham which he also did as soon as he saw them landed
Which acquaints the Reader with two very extraordinary Accidents
MR Glanville who did not doubt but Roberts would bring him some Intelligence sat waiting with anxious Impatience for his Return The Evening drew on apace he numberd the Hours and began to grow uneasy at Arabellas long Stay His Chamber Window looking into the Garden he thought he saw his Cousin coverd with her Veil as usual hasten down one of the Walks his Heart leapd at this transient View he threw up the Sash and looking out saw her very plainly strike into a cross Walk and a Moment after saw Sir George who came out of a little Summerhouse at her Feet Transported with Rage at this Sight he snatchd up his Sword flew down the Stairs into the Garden and came running like a Madman up the Walk in which the Lovers were The Lady observing him first for Sir Georges Back was towards
him shriekd aloud and not knowing what she did ran towards the House crying for Help and came back as fast yet not Time enough to prevent Mischief For Mr Glanville actuated by an irresistible Fury cryd out to Sir George to defend himself who had but just Time to draw his Sword and make an ineffectual Pass at Mr Glanville when he receivd his into his Body and fell to the Ground
Mr Glanville losing his Resentment insensibly at the Sight of his Rivals Blood threw down his Sword and endeavourd to support him while the Lady who had lost her Veil in her running and to the great Astonishment of Mr Glanville provd to be his Sister came up to them with Tears and Exclamations blaming herself for all that had happend Mr Glanville with a Heart throbbing with Remorse for what he had done gazd on his Sister with an accusing Look as she hung over the wounded Baronet with streaming Eyes sometimes wringing her Hands then clasping them together in an Agony of Grief
Sir George having Strength enough left to observe her Disorder and the generous Concern of Glanville who holding him in his Arms intreated his Sister to send for proper Assistance Dear Charles said he you are too kind I have usd you very ill I have deservd my Death from your HandÑYou know not what I have been base enough to practise against youÑ If I can but live to clear your Innocence to Lady Bella and free you from the Consequences of this Action I shall die satisfydÑ
His Strength failing him at these Words he fainted away in Mr Glanvilles Arms who tho now convincd of his Treachery was extremely shockd at the Condition he saw him in
Miss Glanville renewing her Tears and Exclamations at this Sight he was obligd to lay Sir George gently upon the Ground and ran to find out somebody to send for a Surgeon and to help him to convey him into the House
In his Way he was met by Mr Roberts who was coming to seek him and with a Look of Terror and Confusion told him Lady Bella was brought Home extremely illÑthat her Life had been in Danger and that she was but just recoverd from a terrible fainting Fit
Mr Glanville tho greatly alarmd at this News forgot not to take all possible Care of Sir George directing Roberts to get some Person to carry him into the House and giving him Orders to procure proper Assistance flew to Lady Bellas Apartment
Her Women had just put her to Bed raving as in a strong Delirium Mr Glanville approachd her and finding she was in a violent Fever dispatchd a Man and Horse immediately to Town to get Physicians and to acquaint his Father with what had happend
Mr Roberts upon the Surgeons Report that Sir George was not mortally wounded came to inform him of this good News but he sound him incapable of listning to him and in Agonies not to be exprest Twas with Difficulty they forcd him out of Arabellas Chamber into his own where throwing himself upon his × he refusd to see or speak to any Body till
he was told Sir Charles and the Physicians were arrivd
He then ran eagerly to hear their Opinions of his beloved Cousin which he soon discoverd by their significant Gestures and half pronouncd Words to be very bad They comforted him however with Hopes that she might recover and insisting upon her being kept very quiet obligd him to quit the Room While all the necessary Methods were taken to abate the Violence of the Disease Sir Charles who had been informd by his Steward of his Sons Duel with Sir George was amazd to the last Degree at two such terrible Accidents
Having seen his Son to his Chamber and recommended him to be patient and composd he went to visit the young Baronet and was not a little surprizd to find his Daughter sitting at his Beds Head with all the Appearance of a violent Affliction
Indeed Miss Glanvilles Cares were so wholly engrossd by Sir Georges that she hardly ever thought of her Cousin Arabella and had just stept into her Chamber while the Surgeons were dressing Sir Georges Wound and renewd her Attendance upon him as soon as that was over
Miss Glanville however thought proper to make some trifling Excuses to her Father for her Solicitude about Sir George And the young Baronet on whom the Fear of Death producd its usual Effects and made him extremely concernd for the Errors of his past Life and very desirous of attoning for them if possible assurd Sir Charles that if he livd he
would offer himself to his Acceptance for a Soninlaw declaring that he had basely trifled with the Esteem of his Daughter but that she had wholly subdued him to herself by her forgiving Tenderness
Sir Charles was very desirous of knowing the Occasion of his Quarrel with his Son but Sir George was too weak to hold any further Conversation upon which Sir Charles after a short Visit retird taking Miss Glanville along with him
Which will be found to contain Information absolutely necessary for the right understanding of this History
OUR fair and afflicted Heroine accompanied by the Ladies we have mentiond having crossd the River pursud their Walk upon its winding Banks entertaining themselves with the usual Topicks of Conversation among young Ladies such as their Winnings and Losings at Brag the Prices of Silks the newest Fashions the best HairCutter the Scandal at the last Assembly c
Arabella was so disgusted with this as she thought insipid Discourse which gave no Relief to the Anxiety of her Mind but added a Kind of Fretfulness and Impatience to her Grief that she resolvd to quit them and with Lucy go in quest of the Princess of Gauls Retreat
The Ladies however insisted upon her not leaving them and her Excuse that she was going in search of an unfortunate Unknown for whom she had vowd a Friendship made them all immediately resolve to accompany her extremely diverted with the Oddity of the Design and sacrificing her to their Mirth by sly Leers Whispers stifled Laughs and a thousand little sprightly Sallies which the disconsolate Arabella took no Notice of so deeply were her Thoughts engagd
Tho she knew not which Way to direct her Steps yet concluding the melancholy Cynccia would certainly chuse some very solitary Place for her Residence she rambled about among the least frequented Paths followd by the young Ladies who ardently desird to see this unfortunate Unknown tho at Arabellas earnest Request they promisd not to shew themselves to the Lady who she informd them for very urgent Reasons was obligd to keep herself conceald
Fatiguing as this Ramble was to the delicate Spirits of Arabellas Companions they were enabled to support it by the Diversion her Behaviour afforded them
Every Peasant she met she enquird if a Beautiful Lady disguisd did not É thereabout
To some she gave a Description of her Person to others an Account of the Domesticks that were with her not forgetting her Dress her Melancholy and the great Care she took to keep herself conceald
These strange Enquiries with the strange Language in which they were made not a little surprizd the good People to whom she addressd herself yet movd to Respect by the majestick Loveliness of her Person they answerd her in the Negative without any Mixture of Scoff and Impertinence
How unfavourable is Chance said Arabella fretting at the Disappointment to Persons who have any Reliance upon it This Lady that I have been in Search of so long without Success may probably be found by others who do not seek her whose Presence she may wish to avoid yet not be able
The young Ladies finding it grew late expressd their Apprehensions at being without any Attendants and desird Arabella to give over her Search for that Day Arabella at this Hint of Danger enquird very earnestly If they apprehended any Attempts to carry them away And without staying for an Answer urgd them to walk Home as fast as possible apologizing for the Danger into which she had so indiscreetly drawn both them and herself yet added her Hopes that if any Attempt should be made upon their Liberty some generous Cavalier would pass by who would rescue them A Thing so common that they had no Reason to despair of it
Arabella construing the Silence with which her Companions heard these Assurances into a Doubt of their being so favoured by Fortune proceeded to inform them of several Instances wherein Ladies met with unexpected Relief and Deliverance from Ravishers
She mentiond particularly the Rescue of Statira by her own Brother whom she imagind for many Years dead that of the Princess Berenice by an absolute Stranger and many others whose Names Characters and Adventures she occasionally run over all which the young Ladies heard with inconceivable Astonishment And the Detail had such an Effect upon Arabellas Imagination bewilderd as i¥ was in the Folies of Romances that spying three or four Horsemen riding along the Road towards them she immediately concluded they would be all seizd and carryd off
Possessd with this Belief she utterd a loud Cry and flew to the Waterside which alarming the Ladies who could not imagine what was the Matter they ran after her as fast as possible
Arabella stopd when she came to the Waterside and looking round about and not perceiving any Boat to waft them over to Richmond a Thought suddenly darted into her Mind worthy those ingenious Books which gave it Birth
Turning therefore to the Ladies who all at once were enquiring the Cause of her Fright
Tis now my fair Companions said she with a solemn Accent that the Destinies have
furnishd you with an Opportunity of displaying in a Manner truly Heroick the Sublimity of your Virtue and the Grandeur of your Courage to the World
The Action we have it in our Power to perform will immortalize our Fame and raise us to a Pitch of Glory equal to that of the renownd Clelia herself
Like her we may expect Statues erected to our Honour Like her be proposd as Patterns to Heroines in ensuing Ages And like her perhaps meet with Sceptres and Crowns for our Reward
What that beauteous Roman Lady performd to preserve herself from Violation by the impious Sextus let us imitate to avoid the Violence our intended Ravishers yonder come to offer us
Fortune which has thrown us into this Exigence presents us the Means of gloriously escaping And the Admiration and Esteem of all Ages to come will be the Recompence of our noble Daring
Once more my fair Companions If your Honour be dear to you if an immortal Glory be worth your seeking follow the Example I shall set you and equal with me the Roman Clelia
Saying this she plungd into the Thames intending to swim over it as Clelia did the Tyber
The young Ladies who had listend with silent Astonishment at the long Speech she had made them the Purport of which not one of them understood screamd out aloud at this
horrid Spectacle and wringing their Hands ran backwards and forwards like distracted Persons crying for Help Lucy tore her Hair and was in the utmost Agony of Grief when Mr Roberts who as we have said before kept them always in Sight having observd Arabella running towards the Waterside followd them as fast as he could and came Time enough up to see her frantick Action Jumping into the River immediately after her he caught hold of her Gown and drew her after him to the Shore A Boat that Instant appearing he put her into it senseless and to all Appearance dead He and Lucy supporting her they were wasted over in a few Moments to the other Side Her House being near the River Mr Roberts carryd her in his Arms to it and as soon as he saw her shew Signs of returning Life left her to the Care of the Women who made haste to put her into a warm Bed and ran to find out Mr Glanville as we have related
There remains now only to account for Sir George and Miss Glanvilles sudden Appearance which happend gentle Reader exactly as follows
Miss Glanville having set out pretty late in the Afternoon with a Design of staying all Night at Richmond as her Chaise drove up KewLane saw one of her Cousins Women Deborah by Name talking to a Gentleman whom notwithstanding the Disguise of a Horsemans Coat and a Hat slouchd over his Face she knew to be Sir George Bellmour
This Sight alarming her Jealousy and renewing all her former Suspicions that her Cousins Charms rivald hers in his Heart as soon as she alighted finding Arabella was not at Home she retird in great Anguish of Mind to her Chamber revolving in her Mind every Particular of Sir Georges Behaviour to her Cousin in the Country and finding new Cause for Suspicion in every Thing she recollected and reflecting upon the Disguise in which she saw him and his Conference with her Woman she concluded herself had all along been the Dupe of his Artifice and her Cousin the real Object of his Love
This Thought throwing her into an Extremity of Rage all her tenderest Emotions were lost in the Desire of Revenge She imagind to herself so much Pleasure from exposing his Treachery and putting it our of his Power to deny it that she resolvd whatever it cost her to have that Satisfaction
Supposing therefore Deborah was now returnd she rung her Bell and commanded her Attendance on her in her Chamber
The Stern Brow with which she receivd her frightend the Girl conscious of her Guilt into a Disposition to confess all even before she was taxd with any thing
Miss Glanville saw her Terror and endeavourd to heighten it by entering at once into Complaints and Exclamations against her threatning to acquaint her Father with her Plots to betray her Lady and assuring her of a very severe Punishment for her Treachery
The Girl terrifyd extremely at these Menaces beggd Miss Glanville with Tears to forgive her and not to acquaint Sir Charles or her Lady with her Fault adding that she would confess all and never while she livd do such a Thing again
Miss Glanville would make her no Promises but urgd her to confess Upon which Deborah sobbing ownd That for the Sake of the Presents Sir George had made her she consented to meet him privately from Time to Time and give him an Account of every Thing that passd with Regard to her Lady not thinking there was any Harm in it That according to his Desires she had constantly acquainted him with all her Ladys Motions when and where she went how she and Mr Glanville agreed and a hundred other Things which he enquird about That that Day in particular he had intreated her to procure him the M¥ans of an Interview with her Lady if possible and understanding Mr Glanville was not at Richmond she had let him privately into the Garden where she hopd to prevail upon her Lady to go
What said Miss Glanville surprizd Is Sir George waiting for my Cousin in the Garden then
Yes indeed Madam said Deborah But Ill go and tell him to wait no longer and never speak to him again if your Ladyship will but be pleasd to forgive me
Miss Glanville having taken her Resolution not only promisd Deborah her Pardon but also
a Reward provided she would contrive it so that she might meet Sir George instead of her Cousin
The Girl having the true ChamberMaid Spirit of Intrigue in her immediately proposd her putting on one of her Ladys Veils which as it was now the Close of the Evening would disguise her sufficiently to which Miss Glanville transported with the Thoughts of thus having an Opportunity of convincing Sir George of his Perfidy and reproaching him for it consented and bid her bring it without being observd into her Chamber
Deborah informing her that Sir George was conceald in the SummerHouse as soon as she had equippd herself with Arabellas Veil she went into the Walk that led to it and Sir George believing her to be that Lady hastend to throw himself at her Feet and had scarce got through half a Speech he had studyd for his present Purpose when Mr Glanville gave a fatal Interruption to his Heroicks in the Manner we have already related
RICHMOND was now a Scene of the utmost Confusion and Distress Arabellas Fever was risen to such a Height that she was
given over by the Physicians and Sir Georges Wounds tho not judgd mortal at first yet by the great Effusion of Blood had left him in so weak a Condition that he was thought to be in great Danger
Sir Charles almost distracted with the Fears of the Consequences of Sir Georges Death intreated his Son to quit the Kingdom but Mr Glanville protesting he would rather die than leave Arabella in that Illness he was obligd to give Bail for his Appearance in Case Sir George dyd This Affair notwithstanding all Endeavours to prevent it having made a great Noise
Poor Sir Charles opprest as he was with the Weight of all these Calamities was yet obligd to labour incessantly to keep up the Spirits of his Son and Daughter The settled Despair of the one and the silent swelling Grief of the other cut him to the Heart He omitted no Arguments his Paternal Affection suggested to him to moderate their Affliction Mr Glanville often endeavourd to assume a Composure he was very far from feeling in order to satisfy his Father But Miss Glanville looking upon herself to be the Cause of Sir Georges Misfortune declard She should be miserable all her Life if he died
Arabella in her lucid Intervals being sensible of her Danger prepard for Death with great Piety and Constancy of Mind having solemnly assurd Mr Glanville of her Forgiveness who would not at that Time enter into an Explanation
of the Affair which had given her Offence for fear of perplexing her She permitted his Presence often in her Chamber and desird with great Earnestness the Assistance of some worthy Divine in her Preparations for Death The Pious and Learned DoctorÑat Sir Charless Intimation of his Nieces Desire came constantly twice a Day to attend her Her Fever by a favourable Crisis and the great Skill of her Physicians left her in a Fortnight but this violent Distemper had made such a Ravage in her delicate Constitution and reducd her so low that there seemd very little Probability of her Recovery DoctorÑ in whom her unfeignd Piety her uncommon Firmness of Mind had created a great Esteem and Tenderness for her took all Opportunities of comforting exhorting and praying by her The Occasion of her Illness being the Subject of every bodys Conversation at Richmond he gently hinted it to her and urgd her to explain her Reasons for so extravagant an Action
In the Divine Frame Arabella was then in this Action appeard to her rash and vainglorious and she acknowledgd it to be so to her pious Monitor Yet she related the Motives which inducd her to it the Danger she was in of being carryd away the Parity of her Circumstances then with Clelia and her emulous Desire of doing as much to preserve her Honour as that renownd Roman Lady did for hers
The good Doctor was extremely surprizd at this Discourse He was beginning to think her
again delirious but Arabella added to this Account such sensible Reasoning on the Nature of that Fondness for Fame which prompted her to so rash an Undertaking that the Doctor left her in strange Embarrassment not knowing how to account for a Mind at once so enlightend and so ridiculous
Mr Glanville meeting him as he came out of her Chamber the Doctor took this Opportunity to acknowledge the Difficulties Arabellas inconsistent Discourse had thrown him into Mr Glanville taking him into his own Apartment explaind the Nature of that seeming Inconsistency and expatiated at large upon the Disorders Romances had occasiond in her Imagination several Instances of which he recounted and filld the Doctor with the greatest Astonishment and Concern He lamented pathetically the Ruin such a ridiculous Study had brought on so noble a Mind and assurd Mr Glanville he would spare no Endeavours to rescue it from so shocking a Delusion
Mr Glanville thankd him for his good Design with a Transport which his Fears of his Cousins Danger almost mingled with Tears and the Doctor and he agreed to expect for some few Days longer an Alteration for the better in the Health of her Body before he attempted the Cure of her Mind Mr Glanvilles extreme Anxiety had made him in Appearance neglect the repentant Sir George contenting himself with constantly sending twice a Day to enquire after his Health but had not yet visited him
No sooner had the Physicians declared that Arabella was no longer in Danger than his Mind being freed from that tormenting Load of Suspence under which it had labourd while her Recovery was yet doubful he went to Sir Georges Chamber who by reason of his Weakness tho he was also upon the Recovery still kept his Bed
Sir George tho he ardently wishd to see him yet conscious of the Injuries he had both done and designd him could not receive his Visit without extreme Confusion But entering into the Cause of their Quarrel as soon as he was able to speak he freely acknowledgd his Fault and all the Steps he had taken to supplant him in Arabellas Affection
Mr Glanville understanding by this Means that he had bribd a young Actress to personate a Princess forsaken by him and had taught her all that Heap of Absurdity with which she had imposd upon Arabella as has been related desird only by Way of Reparation That when his Cousin was in a Condition to be spoken to upon that Subject he would condescend to own the Fraud to her which Sir George faithfully promising an Act of Oblivion passd on Mr Glanvilles Side for all former Injuries and a solemn Assurance from Sir George of inviolable Friendship for the future An Assurance however which Mr Glanville would willingly have dispensd with For tho not of a vindictive Temper it was one of his Maxims That a Man who had once betrayd him it would be an Error in Policy ever to trust again
THE good Divine who had the Cure of Arabellas Mind greatly at Heart no sooner perceivd that the Health of her Body was almost restord and that he might talk to her without the Fear of any Inconvenience than he introducd the Subject of her throwing herself into the River which he had before lightly touchd upon and still declard himself dissatisfyd with
Arabella now more disposd to defend this Point than when languishing under the Pressure of Pain and Dejection of Mind endeavourd by Arguments founded upon Romantick Heroism to prove That it was not only reasonable and just but also great and glorious and exactly conformable to the Rules of Heroick Virtue
The Doctor listend to her with a mixd Emotion between Pity Reverence and Amazement And tho in the Performance of his Office he had been accustomd to accommodate his Notions to every Understanding and had therefore accumulated a great Variety of Topicks and Illustrations yet he found himself now engagd in a Controversy for which he was not so well prepard as he imagind and was at
a Loss for some leading Principle by which he might introduce his Reasonings and begin his Confutation
Tho he saw much to praise in her Discourse he was afraid of confirming her Obstinacy by Commendation And tho he also found much to blame he dreaded to give Pain to a Delicacy he reverd
Perceiving however that Arabella was silent as if expecting his Reply he resolvd not to bring upon himself the Guilt of abandoning her to her Mistake and the Necessity of speaking forcd him to find something to say
Tho it is not easy Madam said he for any one that has the Honour of conversing with your Ladyship to preserve his Attention free to any other Idea than such as your Discourse tends immediately to impress yet I have not been able while you was speaking to refrain from some very mortifying Reflections on the Imperfection of all human Happiness and the uncertain Consequences of all those Advantages which we think ourselves not only at Liberty to desire but obligd to cultivate
Tho I have known some Dangers and Distresses replyd Arabella gravely yet I did not imagine myself such a Mirror of Calamity as could not be seen without Concern If my Life has not been eminently fortunate it has yet escapd the great Evils of Persecution Captivity Shipwrecks and Dangers to which many Ladies far more Illustrious both by Birth and Merit than myself have been exposd And indeed
tho I have sometimes raisd Envy or possibly incurrd Hatred yet I have no Reason to believe I was ever beheld with Pity before
The Doctor saw he had not introducd his Discourse in the most acceptable Manner but it was too late to repent
Let me not Madam said he be censurd before I have fully explaind my Sentiments
That you have been envyd I can readily believe For who that gives Way to natural Passions has not Reason to envy the Lady Arabella But that you have been hated I am indeed less willing to think tho I know how easily the greater Part of Mankind hate those by whom they are excelld
If the Misery of my Condition replyd Arabella has been able to excite that Melancholy your first Words seemd to imply Flattery will contribute very little towards the Improvement of it Nor do I expect from the Severity of the Sacerdotal Character any of those Praises which I hear perhaps with too much Pleasure from the rest of the World
Having been so lately on the Brink of that State in which all Distinctions but that of Goodness are destroyd I have not recoverd so much Laevity but that I would yet rather hear Instructions than Compliments
If therefore you have observd in me any dangerous Tenets corrupt Passions or criminal Desires I conjure you discover me to myself Let no false Civility restrain your Admonitions Let me know this Evil which can
strike a good Man with Horror and which I dread the more as I do not feel it
I cannot suppose that a Man of your Order would be alarmd at any other Misery than Guilt Nor will I think so meanly of him whose Direction I have intreated as to imagine he can think Virtue unhappy however overwhelmd by Disasters or Oppression
Keep me therefore no longer in Suspence I expect you will exert the Authority of your Function and I promise you on my Part Sincerity and Submission
The good Man was now compleatly embarrassd he saw his Meaning mistaken but was afraid to explain it left he should seem to pay Court by a cowardly Retraction He therefore pausd a little and Arabella supposed he was studying for such Expressions as might convey Censure without Offence
Sir said she if you are not yet satisfyd of my Willingness to hear your Reproofs let me evince my Docility by intreating you to consider yourself as dispensd from all Ceremony upon this Occasion
Your Imaginations Madam replyd the Doctor are too quick for Language you conjecture too soon what you do not wait to hear and reason upon Suppositions which cannot be allowd you
When I mentiond my Reflections upon human Misery I was far from concluding your Ladyship miserable compard with the rest of Mankind and though contemplating the abstracted
Idea of possible Felicity I thought that even You might be producd as an Instance that it is not attainable in this World I did not impute the Imperfection of your State to Wickedness but intended to observe That though even Virtue be added to external Advantages there will yet be something wanting to Happiness
Whoever sees you Madam will immediately say That nothing can hinder you from being the happiest of Mortals but Want of Power to understand your own Advantages And whoever is admitted to your Conversation will be convincd that you enjoy all that Intellectual Excellence can confer yet I see you harrassd with innumerable Terrors and Perplexities which never disturb the Peace of Poverty of Ignorance
I cannot discover said Arabella how Poverty or Ignorance can be privilegd from Casualty or Violence from the Ravisher the Robber or the Enemy I should hope rather that if Wealth and Knowledge can give nothing else they at least confer Judgment to foresee Danger and Power to oppose it
They are not indeed returnd the Doctor securd against real Misfortunes but they are happily defended from wild Imaginations They do not suspect what cannot happen nor figure Ravishers at a Distance and leap into Rivers to escape them
Do you suppose then said Arabella that I was frighted without Cause
It is certain Madam replyd he that no Injury was intended you
Disingennuity Sir said Arabella does not become a ClergymanÑI think too well of your Understanding to imagine your Fallacy deceives yourself Why then should you hope that it will deceive me
The Laws of Conference require that the Terms of the Question and Answer be the same
I ask if I had not Cause to be frighted Why then am I answerd that no Injury was intended
Human Beings cannot penetrate Intentions nor regulate their Conduct but by exterior Appearances And surely there was sufficient Appearance of intended Injury and that the greatest which my Sex can suffer
Why Madam said the Doctor should you still persist in so wild an Assertion
A coarse Epithet said Arabella is no Confutation It rests upon you to shew That in giving Way to my Fears even supposing them groundless I departed from the Character of a reasonable Person
I am afraid replied the Doctor of a Dispute with your Ladyship not because I think myself in Danger of Defeat but because being accustomd to speak to Scholars with Scholastick Ruggedness I may perhaps depart in the Heat of Argument from that Respect to which you have so great a Right and give Offence to a Person I am really afraid to displease
But if you will promise to excuse my Ardour I will endeavour to prove that you have been frighted without Reason
I should be content replied Arabella to obtain Truth upon harder Terms and therefore intreat you to begin
The Apprehension of any future Evil Madam said the Divine which is called Terror when the Danger is from natural Causes and Suspicion when it proceeds from a moral Agent must always arise from Comparison
We can judge of the Future only by the Past and have therefore only Reason to fear or suspect when we see the same Causes in Motion which have formerly producd Mischief or the same Measures taken as have before been preparatory to a Crime
Thus when the Sailor in certain Latitudes sees the Clouds rise Experience bids him expect a Storm When any Monarch levies Armies his Neighbours prepare to repel an Invasion
This Power of Prognostication may by Reading and Conversation be extended beyond our own Knowledge And the great Use of Books is that of participating without Labour or Hazard the Experience of others
But upon this Principle how can you find any Reason for your late Fright
Has it ever been known that a Lady of your Rank was attackd with such Intentions in a Place so publick without any
Preparations made by the Violator for Defence or Escape
Can it be imagind that any Man would so rashly expose himself to Infamy by Failure and to the Gibbet by Success
Does there in the Records of the World appear a single Instance of such hopeless Villany
It is now Time Sir said Arabella to answer your Questions before they are too many to be remembered
The Dignity of my Birth can very little defend me against an Insult to which the Heiresses of great and powerful Empires the Daughters of valiant Princes and the Wives of renowned Monarchs have been a thousand Times exposed
The Danger which you think so great would hardly repel a determind Mind for in Effect Who would have attempted my Rescue seeing that no Knight or valiant Cavalier was within View
What then should have hinderd him from placing me in a Chariot Driving it into the pathless Desart And immuring me in a Castle among Woods and Mountains Or hiding me perhaps in the Caverns of a Rock Or confining me in some Island of an immense Lake
From all this Madam interrupted the Clergyman he is hinderd by Impossibility
He cannot carry you to any of these dreadful Places because there is no such Castle Desart Cavern or Lake
You will pardon me Sir said Arabella it I recur to your own Principles
You allow that Experience may be gaind by Books And certainly there is no Part of Knowledge in which we are obligd to trust them more than in Descriptive Geography
The most restless Activity in the longest Life can survey but a small Part of the habitable Globe And the rest can only be known from the Report of others
Universal Negatives are seldom safe and are least to be allowd when the Disputes are about Objects of Sense where one Position cannot be inferrd from another
That there is a Castle any Man who has seen it may safely affirm But you cannot with equal Reason maintain that there is no Castle because you have not seen it
Why should I imagine that the Face of the Earth is alterd since the Time of those Heroines who experiencd so many Changes of uncouth Captivity
Castles indeed are the Works of Art and are therefore subject to Decay But Lakes and Caverns and Desarts must always remain
And why since you call for Instances should I not dread the Misfortunes which happend
to the divine Clelia who was carryd to one of the Isles of the Thrasymenian Lake
Or those which befel the beautiful Candace Queen of Ethiopia whom the Pyrate Zenodonus wanderd with on the Seas
Or the Accidents which imbitterd the Life of the incomparable Cleopatra
Or the Persecutions which made that of the fair Elisa miserable
Or in fine the various Distresses of many other fair and virtuous Princesses Such as those which happend to Olympia Bellamira Parisatis Berenice Amalagantha Agione Albysinda Placidia A¥sinoe Deidamia and a thousand others I could mention
To the Names of many of these illustrious Sufferers I am an absolute Stranger replied the Doctor
The rest I saintly remember some Mention of in those contemptible Volumes with which Children are sometimes injudiciously sufferd to amuse their Imaginations but which I little expected to hear quoted by your Ladyship in a serious Discourse
And though I am very far from catching Occasions of Resentment yet I think myself at Liberty to observe That if I merited your Censure for one indelicate Epithet we have engagd on very unequal Terms if I may not likewise complain of such contemptuous Ridicule as you are pleasd to exercise upon my Opinions by opposing them with the Authority of Scribblers not only of Fictions
but of senseless Fictions which at once vitiate the Mind and pervert the Unstanderstanding and which if they are at any Time read with Safety owe their Innocence only to their Absurdity
From these Books Sir said Arabella which you condemn with so much Ardour though you acknowledge yourself little acquainted with them I have learnt not to recede from the Conditions I have granted and shall not therefore censure the Licence of your Language which glances from the Books upon the Readers
These Books Sir thus corrupt thus obsurd thus dangerous alike to the Intellect and Morals I have read and that I hope without Injury to my Judgment or my Virtue
The Doctor whose Vehemence had hinderd him from discovering all the Consequences of his Position now found himself entangled and replyd in a submissive Tone
I confess Madam my Words imply an Accusation very remote from my Intention
It has always been the Rule of my Life not to justify any Words or Actions because they mine
I am ashamd of my Negligence I am sorry for my Warmth and intreat your Ladyship to pardon a Fault which I hope never to repeat
The Reparation Sir said Arabella smiling overbalances the Offence and by thus daring
to own you have been in the Wrong you have raisd in me a much higher Esteem for you
Yet I will not pardon you added she without enjoining you a Penance for the Fault you own you have committed and this Penance shall be to prove
First That these Histories you condemn are Fictions
Next That they are absurd
And Lastly That they are Criminal
The Doctor was pleasd to find a Reconciliation offerd upon so very easy Terms with a Person whom he beheld at once with Reverence and Affection and could not offend without extreme Regret
He therefore answered with a very chearful Composure
To prove those Narratives to be Fictions Madam is only difficult because the Position is almost too evident for Proof
Your Ladyship knows I suppose to what Authors these Writings are ascribd
To the French Wits of the last Century said Arabella
And at what Distance Madam are the Facts related in them from the Age of the Writer
I was never exact in my Computation replied Arablela but I think most of the Events happend about two thousand Years ago
How then Madam resumd the Doctor could these Events be so minutely known to
Writers so far remote from the Time in which they happend
By Records Monuments Memoirs and Histories answered the Lady
But by what Accident then said the Doctor smiling did it happen these Records and Monuments were kept universally secret to Mankind till the last Century
What brought all the Memoirs of the remotest Nations and earliest Ages only to France
Where were they hidden that none could consult them but a few obscure Authors
And whither are they now vanished again that they can be found no more
Arabella having sat silent a while told him That she found his Questions very difficult to be answerd and that though perhaps the Authors themselves could have told whence they borrowed their Materials she should not at present require any other Evidence of the first Assertion
But allowd him to suppose them Fictions and requird now that he should shew them to be absurd
Your Ladyship returnd he has I find too much Understanding to struggle against Demonstration and too much Veracity to deny your Convictions therefore some of the Arguments by which I intended to shew the Falshood of these Narratives may be now used to prove their Absurdity
You grant them Madam to be Fictions
Sir interrupted Arabella eagerly You are again infringing the Laws of Disputation
You are not to confound a Supposition of which I allow you only the present Use with an unlimited and irrevocable Concession
I am too well acquainted with my own Weakness to conclude an Opinion false merely because I find myself unable to defend it
But I am in haste to hear the Proof of the other Positions not only because they may perhaps supply what is deficient in your Evidence of the first but because I think it of more Importance to detect Corruption than Fiction
Though indeed Falshood is a Species of Corruption and what Falshood is more hateful than the Falshood of History
Since you have drawn me back Madam to the first Question returned the Doctor Let me know what Arguments your Ladyship can produce for the Veracity of these Books
That there are many Objections against it you yourself have allowed and the highest moral Evidence of Falshood appears when there are many Arguments against an Assertion and none for it
Sir replied Arabella I shall never think that any Narrative which is not confuted by its own Absurdity is without one Argument at least on its Side there is a Love of Truth in the human Mind if not naturally implanted so easily obtained from Reason and Experience that I should expect it universally to prevail where there is no strong Temptation to Deceit we hate to be deceived we therefore hate those that deceive us we desire not to be hated and therefore know that we are not to deceive Shew me an equal Motive to Falshood or confess that every Relation has some Right to Credit
This may be allowed Madam said the Doctor when we claim to be credited but that seems not to be the Hope or Intention of these Writers
Surely Sir replied Arabella you must mistake their Design he that writes without Intention to be credited must write to little Purpose for what Pleasure or Advantage can arise from Facts that never happened What Examples can be afforded by the Patience of those who never suffered or the Chastity of those who were never solicited The great End of History is to shew how much human Nature can endure or perform When we hear a Story in common Life that raises our Wonder or Compassion the first Confutation stills our Emotions and however we were touched before we then chase it from the Memory with Contempt as a Trifle or with Indignation as an Imposture Prove therefore that the Books which I have hitherto read as
Copies of Life and Models of Conduct are empty Fictions and from this Hour I deliver them to Moths and Mould and from this Time consider their Authors as Wretches who cheated me of those Hours I ought to have dedicated to Application and Improvement and betrayed me to a Waste of those Years in which I might have laid up Knowledge for my future Life
Shakespear said the Doctor calls just Resentment the Child of Integrity and therefore I do not wonder that what Vehemence the Gentleness of your Ladyships Temper allows should be exerted upon this Occasion Yet though I cannot forgive these Authors for having destroyed so much valuable Time yet I cannot think them intentionally culpable because I cannot believe they expected to be credited Truth is not always injured by Fiction An admirable Writer of our own Time has found the Way to convey the most solid Instructions the noblest Sentiments and the most exalted Piety in the pleasing Dress of a Novel and to use the Words of the greatestà Genius in the present Age
Has taught the Passions to move at the Command of Virtue
The Fables of Aesop though never I suppose believed yet have been long considered as Lectures of moral and domestic Wisdom so well adapted to the Faculties of Man that they have been received by all civilized Nations and the Arabs themselves have honoured his Translator with the Appellation of Looman the Wise
The Fables of Aesop said Arabella are among those of which the Absurdity discovers itself and the Truth is comprised in the Application but what can be said of those Tales which are told with the solemn Air of historical Truth and if false convey no Instruction
That they cannot be defended Madam said the Doctor it is my Purpose to prove and if to evince their Falshood be sufficient to procure their Banishment from your Ladyships Closet their Day of Grace is near an end How is any oral or written Testimony confuted or confirmed
By comparing it says the Lady with the Testimony of others or with the natural Effects and standing Evidence of the Facts related and sometimes by comparing it with itself
If then your Ladyship will abide by this last returned he and compare these Books with antient Histories you will not only find innumerable Names of which no Mention was ever made before but Persons who lived in different Ages engaged as the Friends or Rivals of each other You will perceive that your Authors have parcelled out the World at Discretion erected Palaces and established Monarchies wherever the Conveniency of their Narrative required them and set Kings and Queens over imaginary Nations Nor have they considered themselves as invested with less Authority over the Works of Nature than the Institutions of Men for they have distributed Mountains and Desarts Gulphs and Rocks wherever they wanted them and whenever the Course of their Story required an Expedient
raised a gloomy Forest or overflowed the Regions with a rapid Stream
I suppose said Arabella you have no Intention to deceive me and since if what you have asserted be true the Cause is undefensible I shall trouble you no longer to argue on this Topic but desire now to hear why supposing them Fictions and intended to be received as Fictions you censure them as absurd
The only Excellence of Falshood answered he is its Resemblance to Truth as therefore any Narrative is more liable to be confuted by its Inconsistency with known Facts it is at a greater Distance from the Perfection of Fiction for there can be no Difficulty in framing a Tale if we are left at Liberty to invert all History and Nature for our own Conveniency When a Crime is to be concealed it is easy to cover it with an imaginary Word When Virtue is to be rewarded a Nation with a new Name may without any Expence of Invention raise her to the Throne When Ariosto was told of the Magnificence of his Palaces he answered that the Cost of poetical Architecture was very little and still less is the Cost of Building without Art than without Materials But their historical Failures may be easily passed over when we consider their physical or philosophical Absurdities to bring Men together from different Countries does not shock with every inherent or demonstrable Absurdity and therefore when we read only for Amusement such Improprieries may be born But who can forbear to
throw away the Story that gives to one Man the Strength of Thousands that puts Life or Death in a Smile or a Frown that recounts Labours and Sufferings to which the Powers of Humanity are utterly unequal that disfigures the whole Appearance of the World and represents every Thing in a Form different from that which Experience has shewn It is the Fault of the best Fictions that they teach young Minds to expect strange Adventures and sudden Vicissitudes and therefore encourage them often to trust to Chance A long Life may be passed without a single Occurrence that can cause much Surprize or produce any unexpected Consequence of great Importance the Order of the World is so established that all human Affairs proceed in a regular Method and very little Opportunity is left for Sallies or Hazards for Assault or Rescue but the Brave and the Coward the Sprightly and the Dull suffer themselves to be carried alike down the Stream of Custom
Arabella who had for some Time listened with a Wish to interrupt him now took Advantage of a short Pause I cannot imagine Sir said she that you intend to deceive me and therefore I am inclined to believe that you are yourself mistaken and that your Application to Learning has hindered you from that Acquaintance with the World in which these Authors excelled I have not long conversed in Public yet I have found that Life is subject to many Accidents Do you count my late Escape for nothing Is it to be numbered among daily and cursory Transactions that a
Woman flies from a Ravisher into a rapid Stream
You must not Madam said the Doctor urge as an Argument the Fact which is at present the Subject of Dispute
Arabella blushing at the Absurdity she had been guilty of and not attempting any Subterfuge or Excuse the Doctor found himself at Liberty to proceed
You must not imagine Madam continued he that I intend to arrogate any Superiority when I observe that your Ladyship must suffer me to decide in some Measure authoritatively whether Life is truly described in those Books the Likeness of a Picture can only be determined by a Knowledge of the Original You have yet had little Opportunity of knowing the Ways of Mankind which cannot be learned but from Experience and of which the highest Understanding and the lowest must enter the World in equal Ignorance I have lived long in a public Character and have thought it my Duty to study those whom I have undertaken to admonish or instruct I have never been so rich as to affright Men into Disguise and Concealment nor so poor as to be kept at a Distance too great for accurate Observation I therefore presume to tell your Ladyship with great Confidence that your Writers have instituted a World of their own and that nothing is more different from a human Being than Heroes or Heroines
I am afraid Sir said Arabella that the Difference is not in Favour of the present World
That Madam answered he your own Penetration will enable you to judge when it shall have made you equally acquainted with both I have no desire to determine a Question the Solution of which will give so little Pleasure to Purity and Benevolence
The Silence of a Man who loves to praise is a Censure sufficiently severe said the Lady May it never happen that you should be unwilling to mention the Name of Arabella I hope wherever Corruption prevails in the World to live in it with Virtue or if I find myself too much endangerd to retire from it with Innocence But if you can say so little in Commendation of Mankind how will you prove these Histories to be vicious which if they do not describe real Life give us an Idea of a better Race of Beings than now inhabit the World
It is of little Importance Madam replied the Doctor to decide whether in the real or fictitious Life most Wickedness is to be found Books ought to supply an Antidote to Example and if we retire to a contemplation of Crimes and continue in our Closets to inflame our Passions at what time must we rectify our Words or purify our Hearts The immediate Tendency of these Books which your Ladyship must allow me to mention with some Severity is to give new Fire to the Passions of Revenge and Love two Passions which even without such powerful Auxiliaries it is one of the severest Labours of Reason and Piety to suppress and which yet must be suppressed if we hope to be
approved in the Sight of the only Being where Approbation can make us Happy I am afraid your Ladyship will think me too seriousÑI have already learned too much from you said Arabella to presume to instruct you yet suffer me to caution you never to dishonour your sacred Office by the Lowliness of Apologies Then let me again observe resumed he that these Books soften the Heart to Love and harden it to Murder that they teach Women to exact Vengeance and Men to execute it teach Women to expect not only Worship but the dteadful Worship of human Sacrifices Every Page of these Volumes is filled with such extravagance of Praise and expressions of Obedience as one human Being ought not to hear from another or with Accounts of Battles in which thousands are slaughtered for no other Purpose than to gain a Smile from the haughty Beauty who sits a calm Spectatress of the Ruin and Desolation Bloodshed and Misery incited by herself
It is impossible to read these Tales with out lessening part of that Humility which by preserving in us a Sense of our Alliance with all human nature keeps us awake to Tenderness and Sympathy or without impairing that Compassion which is implanted in us as an Incentive to Acts of Kindness If there be any preserved by natural Softness or early Education from learning Pride and Cruelty they are yet in danger of being betrayed to the Vanity of Beauty and taught the Arts of Intrigue
Love Madam is you know the Business the sole Business of Ladies in Romances Arabellas Blushes now hinderd him from proceeding as he had intended I perceive continued he that my Arguments begin to be less agreeable to your Ladyships Delicacy I shall therefore insist no longer upon false Tenderness of Sentiment but proceed to those Outrages of the violent Passions which though not more dangerous are more generally hateful
It is not necessary Sir interrupted Arabella that you strengthen by any new Proof a Position which when calmly considered cannot be denied my Heart yields to the Force of Truth and I now wonder how the Blaze of Enthusiastic Bravery could hinder me from remarking with Abhorrence the Crime of deliberate unnecessary Bloodshed
I begin to perceive that I have hitherto at least trifled away my Time and fear that I have already made some Approaches to the Crime of encouraging Violence and Revenge I hope Madam said the good Man with Horror in his Looks that no Life was ever lost by your Incitement Arabella seeing him thus moved burst into Tears and could not immediately answer Is it possible cried the Doctor that such Gentleness and Elegance should be stained with Blood Be not too hasty in your Censure said Arabella recovering herself I tremble indeed to think how nearly I have apprroached the Brink of Murder when I thought myself only consulting my own Glory but whatever I suffer I will never more demand or instigate Vengeance nor consider my Punctilios as
important enough to be ballanced against Life
The Doctor confirmed her in her new Resolutions and thinking Solitude was necessary to compose her Spirits after the Fatigue of so long a Conversation be retired to acquaint Mr Glanville with his Success who in the Transport of his Joy was almost ready to throw himself at his Feet to thank him for the Miracle as he called it that he had performed
In which the History is concluded
MR Glanville who fancied to himself the most ravishing Delight from conversing with his lovely Cousin now recovered to the free Use of all her noble Powers of Reason would have paid her a Visit that afternoon had not a moments Reflection convinced him that now was the Time when her Mind was labouring under the force of Conviction to introduce the repentant Sir George to her who by confessing the ridiculous Farce he had invented to deceive her might restore him to her good Opinion and add to the Doctors solid Arguments the poignant Sting of Ridicule which she would then perceive she had incurred
Sir George being now able to leave his Chamber and Arabella well enough recovered to admit a Visit in hers Mr Glanville intreated his Father to wait on her and get Permission
for Sir George to attend her upon a Business of some Consequence Sir Charles no sooner mentioned this Request than Arabella after a little Hesitation complied with it As she had been kept a Stranger to all the Particulars of Mr Glanvilles Quarrels with the young Baronet her Thoughts were a little perplexd concerning the Occasion of this Visit and her Embarrassment was considerably increased by the Confusion which she perceived in the Countenance of Sir George It was not without some Tokens of a painfully supprest Reluctance that Sir George consented to perform his Promise when Mr Glanville claimd it but the Disadvantages that would attend his Breach of it dejected and humbled as he now was presenting themselves in a forcible manner to his Imagination confirmed his wavering Resolutions And since he found himself obliged to be his own Accuser he endeavoured to do it with the best Grace he could Acknowledging therefore to Lady Bella all the Artifices her Deception by Romances had given him Encouragement to use upon her and explaining very explicitly the last with relation to the pretended Princess of Gaul he submissively asked her Pardon for the Offence it would now give her as well as for the Trouble it had formerly
Arabella struck with inconceivable Cnfusion having only bowed her Head to his Apology desired to be left alone and continued for near two Hours afterwards wholly absorbd in the most disagreeable Reflections on the Absurdity of her past Behaviour and the Contempt and Ridicule
to which she now saw plainly she had exposed herself The Violence of these first Emotions having at length subsided she sent for Sir Charles and Mr Glanville and having with a noble Ingenuity expatiated upon the Follies her vitiated Judgment had led her into she apologized to the first for the frequent Causes she had given him of Uneasiness and turning to Mr Glanville whom she beheld with a Look of mingled Tenderness and Modesty To give you myself with all my remaining Imperfections is making you but a poor Present in return for the Obligations your generous Affection has laid me under to you yet since I am so happy as to be desired for a Partner for Life by a Man of your Sense and Honour I will endeavour to make myself as worthy as I am able of such a favourable Distinction
Mr Glanville kissed the Hand she gave him with an emphatic Silence while Sir Charles in the most obliging Manner imaginable thanked her for the Honour she conferred both on himself and Son by this Alliance
Sir George entangled in his own Artifices saw himself under a Necessity of confirming the Promises he had made to Miss Glanville during his Fit of Penitence and was accordingly married to that young Lady at the same Time that Mr Glanville and Arabella were united
We chuse Reader to express this Circumstance though the same in different Words as well to avoid Repetition as to intimate that the first mentioned Pair were indeed only married
in the common Acceptation of the Word that is they were privileged to join Fortunes Equipages Titles and Expence while Mr Glanville and Arabella were united as well in these as in every Virtue and laudable Affection of the Mind.