 chiefest care to glad the gentle bosom of a
fair disconsolate (who kept herself retired and pent up within her own
apartment) with the knowledge that the inhuman monster was no more; and
that henceforth sweet peace and rural innocence might reign in all their
woods and groves. The hearts of all within the castle bounded with
joy, on hearing the report of the inhuman monster's death, and the
deliverance of all his captives, and with speedy steps they hastened
to meet their kind protector; nor did the melancholy fair one, lest
she should seem unthankful for the general blessing, refuse to join the
train.

It was not long after the messenger that Benefico, and those his joyful
friends, arrived: but the faithful Fidus alone, of all this happy
company, was tortured with the inward pangs of a sad grief he could
not conquer, and his fond heart remained still captivated to a melting
sorrow: nor could even the tender friendship of the gentle Mignon quite
remove, though it alleviated, his sadness; but the thoughts of his loved
lost amata embittered every joy, and overwhelmed his generous soul with
sorrow.

When the company from the castle joined Benefico, he declared to them in
what manner their deliverance was effected; and, as a general shout of
joy resounded through the neighbouring mountains, Fidus, lifting up
his eyes, beheld in the midst of the multitude, standing in a pensive
posture, the fair disconsolate. Her tender heart was at the instant
overflowing in soft tears, caused by a kind participation of their
present transport, yet mixed with the deep sad impression of a grief her
bosom was full fraught with. Her face, at first, was almost hid by her
white handkerchief, with which she wiped away the trickling drops, which
falling, had bedewed her beauteous cheeks: but as she turned her lovely
face to view the joyful conquerors, and to speak a welcome to her kind
protector, what words can speak the raptures, the astonishment, that
swelled the bosom of the faithful youth, when in this fair disconsolate
he saw his loved, his constant, his long-lost Amata! Their delighted
eyes in the same instant beheld each other, and, breaking on each
side from their astonished friends, they flew like lightning into each
other's arms.

After they had given a short account of what had passed in their
separation, Fidus presented to his loved Amata the kind, the gentle
Mignon, with lavish praises of his generous friendship, and steady
resolution, in hazarding his life by disobeying the injunctions of the
cruel tyrant. No sooner had Amata heard the name
