'He placed himself on the throne, and the princess fat on his right-hand, in an elbow-chair not quite fo high. 'The grandees of the kingdom took their places, each according to his rank: the ceremony began, and Leontio, as high-chancellor of the ftate, and keeper of the late king's will, opened and read it with an audible and people, and excited thofe general acclamations, which in fecret tortured the monarch's foul. • Conftance, who; both on account of her own glory, and her paffion for Henriquez, enjoyed the publick fatisfaction more than any body, chofe this time to affure him of her gratitude. But the prince, in vain endea voice. This deed contained in fub-vouring to constrain himself, received ftance, that Roger feeing himself ⚫ without iffue, named the eldeft fon of Mainfroy for his fucceffor, on con⚫dition that he should efpoufe the Princefs Conftance; which if he refufed to perform, he should forfeit the crown of Sicily to the infant Don her compliments with great affliction; and was, indeed, in fuch diforder, that he could not even perform what decency required. At laft, yielding to the violence of his paffion, he approached Siffredi, whom the duty of his office obliged to be pretty near 'Pedro, his brother, who fhould en-his perfon, and with a low voice joy it on the fame terms. Henriquez was confounded at these words; the reftriction gave him incredible pain, which became ftill 'more violent, when Leontio, after having read the will, pronounced to the whole affembly, "My lords, "having reported the laft intentions of "the late king to our new monarch, "that generous prince confents to honour his coufin, the Princefs Con"tance, with his hand." At these words, Henriquez interrupted the faid, "What have you done, Leontio? The fubfcription, which I put " into your daughter's hands, was not intended for this ufe. You have betrayed-" "Sir," faid Siffredi, interrupting him in a refolute tone, "confider your own glory; if you re fufe to follow the will of the king "your uncle, you lofe the crown of "Sicily." He had no fooner fpoke in this manner, than he removed at a greater diftance from the king, that he might not have an opportunity to 'chancellor, faying, "Leontio, remem-reply. Henriquez remained in the "ber the writing which Blanche-" "Sir," faid Siffredi with precipitation, before the prince had time to explain himself, "here it is. The grandees "of the realm," added he, fhewing the paper to the affembly, "will here "fee by your majefty's auguft figna"ture, the esteem you have for the princefs, and the deference you pay "to the laft will of the deceafed king ་ utmoft perplexity, and felt himself agitated by contrary emotions. He was incenfed against Siffredi; he could not refolve to abandon Blanche; but, distracted between her and the intereft of his glory, it was fome time before he could come to any refolution. However, he was determined at last, and thought he had fallen upon a method to preferve the daugh ་ your uncle." Having fpoke thefeter of Siffredi, without renouncing ་་ words, be read the deed with which he himself had filled the paper, containing the moft folemn engagement marry Conftance, conformable to the intention of Roger. The hall to the throne. He feigned fubmiffion to the will of Roger, and purposed, while a difpenfation for his marriage with his coufin fhould be foliciting at Rome, to gain the nobles of the rung with repeated fhouts of all pre-realm by his bounty, and establish fent, who cried, "Long live our magnanimous King Henriquez!" for as nobody was ignorant of the averfion which that prince had always manifefted for the princess, it was feared, not without reason, that he would revolt against the condition of the will, and by these means raife commotions in the kingdom. But the reading of this paper entirely compofed the minds of the nobles his power fo well, that he should not be obliged to fulfil it's conditions. As foon as he had formed this defign, he became more tranquil; and turning to Conftance, confirmed to her what the high-chancellor had read before the whole affembly. But in the very moment when he betrayed himfelf fo far as to plight his troth to her, Blanche arrived in the couneil-hall. She came thither by her R • father's father's command, to pay her refpects to the princefs, and her ears were struck with the words of Henriquez, at her first entrance. Besides, Leontio, being defirons that the fhould have no cause to doubt of her misfortune, faid, while he prefented her to Conftance, "Daughter, do "homage to your queen, and with "her all the sweets of a flourish❝ing reign and happy marriage.' in daughter, who has dared to difpofe "of her heart without your confent.' "No, my dear Blanche," replied Leontio; live, and let virtue re"fume it's empire in your breast. "The Constable's paffion does you "honour; he is the most confiderable "match in the kingdom."-"I efteem "his perfon and his merit," said clay-cold and wan, swooned away the arms of her father. He was affect⚫ed with her condition; but, though he fhared her affliction with all the tenderness of a parent, his first refolution ftill remained unshaken. Blanche, at length, recovered her fpirits, more through the exquifité fenfation of her grief, than through the water which Siffredi fprinkled on her face; which perceiving, while This terrible stroke overwhelmed the the opened her languishing eyes, unfortunate Blanche: in vain the "Sir," faid fhe, with a feeble voice, endeavoured to conceal her grief; "I am afhamed that you have feen my the blushed, and grew pale, alter- “weakness; but death, which must nately, and fhook through every "foon end my torments, will in a limb. Nevertheless, the princefs" little time rid you of an unhappy had not the leaft fufpicion of the caufe, but attributed the disorder in which the paid her compliment, to the perplexity of a young creature bred up in folitude, and altogether unaccustomed to the court. It was quite otherwife with the young king: the fight of Blanche abathed him; and the defpair he obferved in her eyes, tranfported him quite befide himself. Blanche, interrupting him; " but, He did not doubt that, judging by "Sir, the king had made me hopeappearances, the believed him un"Daughter," faid Siffredi, cutting her faithful. He would have been lefs 'fhort in his turn, "I know all that uneafy, could he have spoke to her : you can fay on that fubject. I am but how could he find an opportunot ignorant of your tenderness for nity, when all Sicily, as one may "the prince, which at another confay, had it's eyes upon him. Be- "juncture I fhould not disapprove. fides, the cruel Siffredi deprived him "You should even fee me eager to enof that hope: for, reading the "fure you of the hand of Henriquez, thoughts of these two lovers in their" if the intereft of his glory, and that looks, and willing to prevent the . mifchief which the violence of their ⚫ paffion might create in the state, that minifter, in an artful manner, carried his daughter out of the affembly, and fet out with her on his return to Belmont; refolved, for more reasons than one, to have her married as foon as poffible. They were no fooner arrived, than he made her acquainted with all the horror of her fate, by declaring that he had promifed her in marriage to the Constable. "Just Heaven!" cried the, in a tranfport of grief, which her father's prefence could not reprefs; "for what direful pu"nifhent is the unfortunate Blanche "referved!" Her defpair was even fo violent, as to fufpend all the faculties of her foul. She was seized with ⚫an univerfal chilneis, and becoming "of the ftate, did not oblige him to "bestow it on Conftance. It is on "that condition only, that the late "king defigned him for his fucceffor "and would you have him prefer you "to the crown of Sicily? Believe "me, I fympathize with you in the "cruel stroke you fuffer; but fince we "cannot withstand the decrees of defti ny, make one generous effort. Your glory is concerned, in concealing " from the kingdom the vain hope "with which you flattered yourself. "Your fenfibility for the king may "raife reports to your disadvantage; and the only means of preventing "them, will be to marry the Con"itable. In fhort, Blanche, this is "no time to deliberate. The king "yields you for a throne, and mar "ries Conftance. The Constable has "my promife, which I beg you will ་་ per or "perform; and if I must use my • In fuch a fituation did this unhap"authority to bring you to this refopy victim of love and duty país the "lution, I order you to comply." So faying, he left her to reflect upon what he had heard, hoping, that after having maturely confider ed the arguments he had ufed, to night that preceded her marriage with the Conftable; and Siffredi, finding her next day ready to comply with his defire, made hafte to take the advantage of that favourable difpofi fupport her virtue againft her incli-tion. He fent for the Conftable to Belmont that fame day, and married him privately to his daughter, in the chapel of the caftle. It was not enough to renounce a crown, to lofe for ever a perfon whom he loved, and beftow herself upon the object of her hatred; but he was alfo obliged to diffemble her fentiments before a her prefages of the infidelity of Hen-hufband who was inflamed with the riquez changed into certainty, and moft ardent paffion for her, and naturally of a jealous difpofition. Her fpoufe, charmed with the poffeffion of what he held moft dear, was con tinually in her company, and did not tion, that every moment was attend-even allow her the fad confolation of ed with new torture. "If my mis-bewailing her misfortune in fecret. "fortune is certain," cried the, "how When night approached, the daugh"can I refift it without dying? Cruelter of Leontio felt her affliction re "deftiny! why was I fed with the "most delicious hope, when I was "doomed to fuch an abyss of mifery "And thou, perfidious lover! how " durft thou betroth thyself to another, "after thou had it promifed eternal fide double but what were her pangs, when her women, after having un dressed, left her alone with the Conftable! He afked, in a refpectful manner, the caufe of that forrow with which fhe feemed to be depreff "lity to me? halt thou fo foon forgoted; and Blanche, perplexed by the “the faith which thou hadft fworn? "As a punishment for having fo cruelly deceived me, may Heaven make “the nuptial bed, which thou art question, feigned herfelf indifpofed. This deceived her husband at first, but he did not long continue in his mistake: for, as he was really con cerned at the condition in which he faw her, and preffed her to go to bed, his intreaties, which the mifinterpreted, prefented fuch a cruel image to her imagination, that, being unable to contain herself any longer, fhe gave free vent to her fighs and tears. What a fight was this for a man, who believed himself at the very fummit of his happiness! He no longer doubted that the af fliction of his wife portended fome thing finifter to his love. Neverthe lefs, though the knowledge of it threw him into a fituation almost as deplorable as that of Blanche, he had fuch command of himself, that ⚫he concealed his fufpicions. He redoubled his intreaties, and continued to prefs his fpoufe to go to reft; affuring her, that he would not interrupt the repofe which the feemed fo much to want. He even offered to call her women, if the thought their affiftance could alleviate her indifpofition. Blanche, encouraged by this promife, told him, that her prefent weakness only required a little sleep. He pretended to believe her; and going to bed together, they paffed a night very different from thofe which Cupid and Hymen beftow on two lovers infpired by mutual paffion. While Siffredi's daughter indulged her forrow, the Conftable endeavoured, within himself, to divine the caufe that rendered his marriage fo ⚫ unhappy. He concluded there was a rival in the cafe; but was bewildered in his own imagination, when he attempted to discover who that rival was; and the fole refult of his conjectures was, that he was the most unhappy of all mankind. He had already spent two thirds of the night in thefe agitations, when his ⚫ears were ftruck with a hollow noise; venture, he called thofe of his people ⚫ who were nearest, and as he opened the door for that purpose, ftood in the paffage, and kept himself on his guard, that the perfon whom he fought might not escape. • Some fervants hearing his repeated cries, came running with lights; upon which, he took a candle, and 'made a new fearch in the chamber, fword in hand; but found nobody, nor the leaft mark of any perfon's having been there. He did not even perceive the private door, nor the opening, through which there was a paffage. He could not, however, blindfold himself, with regard to the 'circumstances of his misfortune, but remained in a strange confufion of thoughts. Should he have recourse to Blanche, fhe was too much concerned in the truth, for him to expect an explanation from her. He therefore, refolved to go and open his heart to Leontio, after having difmiffed his fervants; telling them, that he thought he had heard a noise in his chamber, but was mistaken. He met his father-in-law coming out of his apartment, at the disturbance he had heard, and recounted to him what had happened, with all the • marks of extréme agitation and pro⚫ found grief." and he was not a little furprized to hear fomebody walking foftly in the chamber. He believed himself mistaken; for he remembered that he himself had locked the door, after Blanche's women were gone, and drew back the curtain to discover, by the evidence of his eyes, the cause of the noife which he heard: but the light, which had been left in the chimney, was extinguished; and in Siffredi was furprized at the advena little time he heard the name of ture, which, tho' it did not seem naBlanche repeated feveral times, in à tural, he nevertheless believed; and foft and languishing tone. Then his thinking that the king's love was cajealous fufpicions were inflamed topable of any thing, was very much fury, and his honour alarmed, obligafflicted with that confideration. But ing him to rife, in order to prevent an affront, or take vengeance for it; he feized his fword, and moved to far from flattering the jealous fufpi⚫cions of his fon-in-law, he reprefented to him, with an air of affu wards that fide whence the voicerance, that the voice, which he feemed to come. Feeling a naked fword oppofed. to his own, he advanced, the other retired; he pur fued, and the other vanished from his purfuit. In vain did he search for him, who feemed to fly, through all the corners of the room, as much ⚫ as the darkness would allow; he • could not find him; he stopped, liften! ed, and heard nothing. All seemed to be inchantment! he went to the door, which he imagined had fa voured the flight of the fecret enemy of his honour, but he found it faft ⚫ locked as before. Not being able to comprehend any thing of this ad thought he heard, and the fword that was oppofed to his, could be no other than phantoms of an imagination, mifled by jealoufy; for it was impoffible that any body could have gone into his daughter's chamber; that with regard to the melancholy which he had obferved in his wife, it might be occafioned by fome indifpofition; that honour ought not to be answerable for the viciffitudes of temper; that the change of condition in a girl used to live in folitude, who fees herself in a sudden delivered to a man, whom the has not had time to know and to love, ་ might be the caufe of thofe tears, fighs, and that fharp affliction, of which the complained; that love was not to be kindled in maidens of a noble birth, by any other means than time and affiduity; for which reafons he exhorted him to calm his difquiet, redouble his tenderness and care, in order to difpofe Blanche to castle; and he still kept the key of a private door that belonged to the garden, through which he got into his old apartment, from whence he " paffed into the chamber of Blanche. You may imagine the aftonishment of that prince, when he found a man there, and felt a fword opposed to his own. He had well nigh difco become more fenfible of his merit;vered himself, and punished on the and intreated him to return to his chamber, being perfuaded that his uneafinefs and diftruft were injuries ⚫ done to the virtue of his wife. The Conftable made no answer to 'the remonftrances of his father-inlaw: whether he really began to think that he might have been impofed upon by the diforder of his mind, or judged it a wifer course to diffemble, than to undertake, in ' vain, to convince the old man of an event fo void of all probability, he ' returned to his apartment, lay down by his wife, and tried to obtain, by fleep, fome refpite from his difquiet. Blanche, on her fide, was no lefs uneafy than he; fhe had but too well fpot the audacious wretch, who durft cruel adventure. "It was no fooner day than he com heard that which alarmed her hufmanded his hunting equipage to be ♦ band, and could not confider as an illufion, an adventure, the fecret and motives of which the knew. Sur ་ prized that Henriquez should seek to < got ready; and, under pretence of introduce himself into her apart-He followed the chace fome time, ment, after having fo folemnly pledged his faith to Conftance, inRead of approving or feeling the leaft glimpfe of joy at this step, the looked upon it as a new outrage, and her heart was incenfed against him. the better to conceal his defign; and While the daughter of Siffredi,himfelf; and his impatience not per prejudiced against the young king,mitting him to fpare his horfe, he in 'believed him the most unfaithful of men, that unhappy prince, more in 'love than ever, wished for an inter'view with Blanche, in order to encourage her against the appearances 'that condemned him. He would ⚫ have come fooner to Belmont for that purpose, had he been permitted by the multiplicity of business in a little time over-run the distance which he was neceffarily engaged;tion at the root of a tree. As he ' but he could not steal away from court before that night. He was too well acquainted with all the prirate corners of a place where he had did not doubt that these perfons be- ⚫ been educated, to be under any diffi-fported, when the women, turning culty of getting unfeen into Siffredi's towards him, at the noife of his |