‘What shall I say to you, Madam, of our Separation? It was so dolorous, that Words cannot express what we felt. I obliged Henrietta to part with him, to sollicite and press my Parents to do their part in my behalf.
‘In the mean time my Father and Mother were in an unconceivable Affliction; and when they perceiv’dmy flight they thought to die with Grief.
‘They blamed themselves infinitely for forcing me to marry the Marquess de Los Rios. He was for his part in no less Despair; they caused me to be searcht for in vain, in all places where they thought I might have hid my self.
‘Two whole Years were past without my receiving any News or Succors from Mendez; which made me believe with great likelihood, that both he and Henrietta were cast away on the Sea: I had given them all the Jewels which Meluza had left me; but it was not their Loss, nor that of my Liberty, which I regretted: It was of my dear Lover and faithful Friend, whose Remembrance continually possest me, and caus’d me an unparallel’d Affliction; I could get no Rest nor Health; I wept Day and Night; I refused to come out of my Slavery in neglecting to signifie to my Father my present Condition. I wishtonly for a speedy Death, which I would have willingly met with, to put an end to my Troubles and Misfortunes.
‘Meluza and his Wife began to pity me: they did not doubt but Mendez was cast away: they treated me less cruelly than these sort of People are wont to use those Unhappy Wretches who fall into their Hands.
‘One Day, as Meluza came from Pyrating, he brought with him several Persons of both Sexes which he had taken, and among the rest a Young Woman of some Quality of Seville, and whom I knew. This sight renewed my Grief: she was much surpriz’d to find me in this sad place. We affectionately embraced one another, and observing a deep silence; “How now, Beautiful Mariana,” said she to me, “are you so indifferent towards your Relations and Country, that you have no Curiosity to make any Enquiries about them?” I lifted upmine Eyes to Heaven in uttering a deep Sigh; I entreated her to tell me, If ’twere known where Mendez and Henrietta were lost? “Who has told you they are lost?” replied she. “They are at Seville, where they lead a very happy Life. Mendez has re-establisht his Affairs, and makes it his great Delight and Honour to publish in all places the Extream Obligations he has to Henrietta. Perhaps you are ignorant,” continued she, “that Mendez was taken and made a Slave by the Algerines; this generous young Woman disguised her self, and came hither to redeem him, but he has not been ungrateful, for he has married her. There is a most charming Union between them. Hymen has not banisht Love in their particular.”
‘As she was yet speaking, she perceiv’d my Countenance to alter on a sudden, and that I was ready to faint; my Strength fail’d me, mine Eyes closed, and I sunk down betweenher Arms; she was greatly troubled at this; she called my Companions, who put me to Bed, and endeavour’d to recover me from this pitious Condition.
‘This young Woman greatly concern’d her self for me; and when I came to my self, I began to complain; I uttered Sighs and Groans able to move a Rock.
‘Meluza was affected at the Recital of such a worse than barbarous Instance of Treachery, and without any notice to me, he inform’d himself, by his new Slave of my Father’s Name, and immediately wrote to him what he knew of my Misfortunes.
‘These Letters were like to have been the Death of my Mother; she could not imagine I could be in Chains at eighteen Years of Age, without shedding a torrent of Tears: But that which augmented her Grief, was, the Disorder of my Father’s Affairs; several considerable Bankrupts had ruined him; his Credit was gone, and it wasimpossible for him to procure the 20000 Crowns which Meluza demanded for my Ransom.
‘The Generous Marquess de Los Rios heard this News, came to my Father, and offered him what lay in his Power: “I do not do this,” said he, “in design to force your Daughter’s Inclinations when she shall be here; I shall love her always, but I will never displease her.” My Father having no other way of Relief, thankfully accepted of what was offered him; and in a word, embarkt himself, and happily arriv’d at Algiers, in the time when I thought only of dying.
‘He forbore all those Reproaches I deserv’d; he redeem’d me, and at my Intreaty, this young Woman of Seville, for a moderate Ransom. We return’d together, and my Mother receiv’d me with such joy as is impossible to be exprest. I answer’d hereto as much as was possible; but I carried alwaysin my Heart, Madam, the fatal Stroke which had wounded me: Whatever my Reason could represent to me, was not sufficient to Eface out of my Remembrance the Image of the Traitor Mendez.
‘I saw the Marquess de Los Rios: he dared not mention the Inclinations he still had towards me; but I had such pressing Obligations to him, that Gratitude made me do for him, what my Inclinations would have made me do for another.
‘I gave him my Hand, and he his to me, with such Affection, as if he had had no solid Matter of Complaint against me.
‘In fine, I married him, and apprehending lest I should see Mendez, that Ungrateful Wretch, to whom I owe such Horrour, and for whom I had so little, I pray’d the Marquess we might dwell in the Country-house he had near Seville.
‘He ever approv’d of what I liked;he would have my Father and Mother retire; he less’ned the sad Condition of their Fortune, by considerable Liberalities: and I may truly say, there never was a greater Soul. Judge, Madam, of all the Reproaches I made my Heart for its not being so tender to him as it ought to have been: It was not in my power to forget Mendez, and I always felt new Regrets, when I learnt his Felicity with the Unfaithful Henrietta.
‘Having past two Years in a continual watching over myself, that I might do nothing but what was agreeable to my Husband, Heaven depriv’d me of him, of this Generous Husband; and he did for me in these last Moments, what he had already heretofore done, giving me all he had, with such Testimonies of Esteem and Affection, as much enhanced the Price of the Gift: He made me the richest Widow of Andalousia, but he could not make me the Happiest.
‘I would not return to Seville, where my Parents would have had me been; and to avoid it, I pretended a Journey farther into the Country, to look after some part of my Estate. I set out; but there being a particular Fatality in whatever relates to me, in arriving at an Inn, the first Object which struck my sight, was the Unfaithful Mendez: he was in deep Mourning, and had lost nothing of whatever made me heretofore fancy him too Lovely. It is impossible to express the Condition I was in, for endeavouring to get speedily from him, I found myself so weak and trembling, that I fell at his Feet. Although he knew me not that instant, yet he earnestly endeavour’d to raise me up; but the great Veil under which I was conceal’d, flying open, what became of him in seeing me? He remain’d no less confused than I was: he would have drawn near to me, but casting a furious Look on him: “Darest thou, Perjured Wretch!” said I tohim, “darest thou approach me! Art thou not afraid of the just Punishment of thy Perfidiousness?” He was some time without answering me, and I was about leaving him when he stopt me: “Confound and overwhelm me with Reproaches, Madam,” said he to me: “Give me the worst and most perfidious Names as is possible; they cannot be more than I deserve: but my Death shall soon revenge your Quarrel: I ought to die with Sorrow for having betray’d you; and if I regret any thing in dying, it is only the having one Life to lose, to expiate all the Crimes you can justly accuse me of.” He appear’d to me much affected in ending these words; and would to Heavens his Repentance were really sufficient and true! I would not hazard a longer Conversation with him: I left him, disdaining to return him an Answer. And this Mark of Contempt and Slighting, was, without doubt, more sensible to him,than all the Reproaches I might have made him.
‘He had some time since lost his Wife, that Unfaithful Creature, who had helpt him to Revolt against all the Offices of Love, Honour, and Gratitude. And from that time he follow’d me every-where: he was like a Complaining Shadow, ever fastened to my Feet; for he became so lean, pale, and chang’d, that he was no longer discernable. Heavens! Madam, what Violence did I not offer myself, in continuing to ill Treat him: I found at last I wanted Strength to resist the Weakness of my Heart, and the Ascendant this Wretch had over me. Rather than to commit so shameful an offence, and to Forgive him, I parted for Madrid, where I have Relations, and sought among them a Shelter against the Violence of mine own Inclinations.
‘I was not there long but Mendez found me out: I must confess to you,I was not heartily displeas’d at his Attendance on me; but maugre my Inclinations towards him, I put on a firm Resolution to avoid him, seeing I could not sincerely hate him; and unknown to every Body, I took the Road to Burgos, where I am going to Cloyster myself with a Religious there, my Friend. I flatter myself, Madam, with the Hopes of finding more Rest there, than I have hitherto met with.’
The Beautiful Marchioness here held her peace; and I testified to her my particular Acknowledgments for the Favour she had done me: I assured her of the part I took in her Adventures: I conjured her to write to me, and let me hear from her at Madrid; and she promised it me in the most obliging Manner as is possible.
We found the next Morning we could not set out, it having snow’d all the Night, and no Path appearing on the Ground; but we wanted not Company to pass the time in Play andDiscourse. Having been three days with the Marchioness de Los Rios, without any Weariness at the length of the Time, through the pleasure I had of seeing and hearing her talk (for she is one of the most lovely Women in the World.) We parted with a mutual Regret, and it was not without doubling our Promises of writing to, and seeing one another hereafter.
The Weather mended, and I continued on my Journey to Lerma: We had traverst dreadful Mountains, which bear the Name of Sierra de Cogollos, and it was not without great trouble we got thither: This Town is small; she has given her name to the famous Cardinal de Lerma, Chief Minister to Philip III: it is from him that Philip IV. took the great Revenues he had receiv’d from the King his Master. Here is a Castle which I will see to Morrow, and of which I shall give you an Account in my next. I am told an Extraordinary Express is arriv’d, andwill set out to Night: I will lay hold of this Opportunity of sending to you, and ending this long Letter; for in truth I am tired both with the Way, and with Writing, but I shall never be weary of Loving you.
From Lerma,Mar. 5, 1679.
From Lerma,Mar. 5, 1679.
From Lerma,Mar. 5, 1679.
From Lerma,
Mar. 5, 1679.
FINIS.
FINIS.
FINIS.
3.This happened in 714, after the Battle of St. Martin, wherein D. Rodrigue lost his Life; others say, he fled into Portugal, and died in a Town there call’d Viscii.
3.This happened in 714, after the Battle of St. Martin, wherein D. Rodrigue lost his Life; others say, he fled into Portugal, and died in a Town there call’d Viscii.
Reprinted forArcher M. HuntingtonAt the Knickerbocker PressG. P. Putnam’s Sons1899
Reprinted forArcher M. HuntingtonAt the Knickerbocker PressG. P. Putnam’s Sons1899
Reprinted for
Archer M. Huntington
At the Knickerbocker Press
G. P. Putnam’s Sons
1899