their Landing they would not find fufficient Accommodation for the whole Court. At the fame Time that the Princefs went on Shipboard at Gades, the Duke of Granada left the adverfe Shore; but whilft he was yet at Sea a dreadful Storm arofe, which made 'em. doubt their Safety: As he thought he had no great reafon to be fond of Life, he look'd upon approaching Death very calmly, and he was obferving fome other Ships at a very fmall Distance from him, which feemed in more Danger than his own; one especially there was, whofe Sailors filled the Air with Cries, which fufficiently fpoke their Danger; but how great was his Surprize, when upon their nearer Approach, he faw in the midst of feveral Women who were fhrieking and wringing their Hands, Leonora ftanding fearless and unmov'd; he had scarce Time to reflect upon her Danger e'er the Ship funk, and the disappeared from before his Eyes. At this Don Juan leap'd over-board, and in fpite of Winds and Waves made the beft of his Way towards the Wreck; but who can exprefs his Joy when he saw his dear Princefs, who had laid hold of one of the Mafts; he gave the Signal to his own Ship, and with their Boat they took him and his Princcfs up, with as many as they could of her Followers and Ship's Crew.

And here 'tis impoffible to forbear reflecting on the Caprice of Fortune: The Prince of Murcia had a long Time been feparated from Leonora; he was upon the Point of failing for Gades where fhe was, when an unexpected Affair, and the only one in the World that could have made him abandon the sweet Hope of feeing his Princess, call'd him away at a greater Distance than ever; whilft he is fignalizing his Courage and Generofity for his Friend; this credulous Friend accufes him of Treachery; he is reinftating Don Juan in his Dominions, and Don Juan is meditating the feverest Vengeance against him; Fortune favours his Designs, and procures him the Opportunity of revenging himfelf; he faves the Life of the Princess whom they both love, and has all the Opportunities of pleading in his own Behalf, and of filling her with Hatred for one whom he is fetting off in the blackeft Colours.

Such were the Hopes of Don Juan, when the Princefs, who did not yet know her Deliverer, opened her Eyes, and faw him at her Feet. Is it poffible, my Lord, faid fhe, that I owe my Life to one who owes all his Misfortunes to me? I did not deferve fo generous a Deliverer; one who knows I never can repay this Obligation." This is a Happiness, reply'd the Prince, far greater than I ever

'could

⚫ could have expected: Long banifh'd from your Prefence, I at last fee you and fave your Life; and at the fame Time have an Op⚫portunity of affuring you, that if you expect a faithful Heart, mine only is worthy of being offer'd to you.'

4

This Infinuation of Don Juan's alarm'd the Princess much more than that Danger which he had fo lately escaped. Since the fatal Time of her meeting Elvira, her Mind had been rack'd with a Thousand Doubts and Difquiets; Elvira had named the Prince of Murcia, and fhe had no way of calming taking her Sufpicions, but in hoping that Elvira was mistaken ; but Don Juan's Boldness in speak-ing of his Love, and the Boaft of his Fidelity, made her apprehend more than ever: But again reflecting that Don Juan had contracted a Friendship with the Prince of Murcia, the determined to upbraid him in an artful manner for his Infidelity to him. I was in hopes, my Lord, fays fhe, that you would have faved me the Trouble of asking, by telling me fome News of the Prince of Murcia, that Friend who is fo dear to you, and for whose Welfare you know I concern my felf.' I understand you, Madam, reply'd Don Juan ; you would damp my prefent Tansport, by putting me mind of a • Prince whom you ftill believe my Friend: But fure, Madam, I never gave you Caufe to entertain fo mean an Opinion of me; I am not false to the Prince of Murcia; 'tis he that has betrayed me; he has ufurp'd my Dominions, and by the fame Action, has made himfelf unworthy of your Love and of my Friendship.' • Heavens! reply'd Leonora, what do you mean? You talk of Impoffibilities; the Prince of Murcia can be no Ufurper, and by your Credulity you injure him beyond Reparation.' 'Tis with Grief, Madam, anfwer'd the Duke, that I tell you a Piece of News fo difagreeable both to you and to me; but the Prince of Murcia's Treachery is no longer a Matter of Doubt, and he has deceived us both with the falfe Appearances of the most heroick Virtues.' Hold Don Juan, cry'd Leonora, in a manner which fufficiently fhew'd she could not bear the Difcourfe, I am not yet fufficiently • fatisfied of the Truth of what you fay, to give Credit to any Story fo injurious to the Glory of that Hero whom you are now afperfing Cruel Man, why did you not rather let me perifh, than fave my Life, to over-whelm me in this manner? And can you then, interrupted Don Juan, think I am inventing a Story to blacken my Rival? No, Madam: Fifty of my Subjects, with the best and most faithful of Men at the Head of them, will all witnefs to

you, that the Prince, affifted by that Traytor Don Pedro, has feduced the Inhabitants of Granada, and made himself Master of that Dutchy. At the Name of Don Pedro, Leonora's Colour forfook her Cheeks; and no longer able to bear this Conversation, fhe defired Don Juan to leave her for a while.

And now the Princefs being left alone, began to reflect on Don Juan's laft Words, and gave her felf wholly up to Grief. And is it poffible! cry'd fhe, can the Prince of Murcia be falfe! Alas Elvira's and Don Juan's Stories too plainly confirm each other. The fatal Name of Don Pedro leaves no room for doubt. Don Pedro, in Favour of his Friend, has betray'd his Mafter; the Prince, in Love with Elvira, has ufurp'd Granada, only to make the furer ❝ of her; whilst I, as a Victim to the tendereft and most conftant Love, afhamed and confounded at my Paffion for an ungrateful Traytor, must resolve to die; but dying I deteft the whole Race of Men: for where can Truth or Honour be found amongft Men, when the Prince of Murcia has neither? But wherefore fhould I condemn him? Perhaps the Prince, ignorant of the Snares that are laid for us both, is now bewailing his Misfortune, in not being able to find me out. But where is the Probability of this? In vain I • would endeavour to juftify him: Elvira, Don Pedro, Don Juan, all C your fatal Discoveries confirm his Guilt.' 'Twas thus Leonora, over-whelmed with the moft touching Griefs, condemned her Lover, then retracted her Condemnation in fpite of the Appearances of his Falfhood.

Mean while the Storm being abated, they made towards the Ifle of Gades, near which they had been driven. Already they perceiv'd the Duke of Andalusia on the Sea-fhore, whofe Apprehenfions for his Daughter's Safety had brought thither; but his Sorrow was foon chang'd into Joy when he faw her, and that Joy fenfibly increased when he found to whom the ow'd her Safety; he had always lov'd Don Juan, and on this Occafion gave him the most convincing Proofs of his Gratitude and Friendship; which increased that Prince's Hopes and Leonora's Despair:

Don Juan foon told the Duke what he thought the Prince of Murcia had done, and Don Garcia gave him a long and artful Account of it. The Duke was furprized at fo bafe an Action, and vow'd to Don Juan, that he would either reinftate him in his Dutchy or perish in the Attempt; and at the fame Time he promised him Leonora in Marriage. This done he haften'd to her Apartment..

Daugh

Daughter, faid he, you have been informed of the Prince of "Murcia's Treachery; by this learn never to be furpriz'd by a falfe Appearance of Virtue; banish from your Heart a Paffion of which you must now be afhamed, and prepare your felf for your Marriage with Don Juan, whom I always defigned for your Husband.'

Leonora, thunder-ftruck at her Father's Words, could not return an Answer, and the Duke fancied that in her repectful Countenance he faw the Signs of Obedience; upon which he left her, and haftened to Don Juan, to affure him of her Confent. And now the Prince thought himself amply revenged on his Rival; he began to look upon Leonora as his Wife, and was perpetually talking to her of his Love and approaching Happinefs. The Princefs knew not what to do, and to increase her Misfortunes fhe was obliged to receive him civilly; the owed him her Life, her Father had ordered her to look upon him as her Husband, and fhe thought it abfolutely neceffary to conceal the Love which fhe still bore to the Prince of Murcia.

At length the Duke, fully fatisfy'd that his Daughter's Confent was fure, haftened the Marriage and fix'd the Day. This News fpread throughout the Ifland, and every body rejoiced at it, and bleffed the happy Couple as they thought 'em; whilft Leonora, the melancholy Victim of Duty and of Fortune, was compell'd to obey the Orders of her Father, which were ftill repugnant to her Inclinations. And indeed what else could she do? She muft either marry Don Juan, or lay violent Hands upon her felf. Her Life was too unfortunate to think of preferving it; but to die a Sacrifice to a perfidious Lover, was a Fate unworthy of fo great a Princefs. And The could no longer difobey her Father, without making the whole World accufe her, to whom one of her Rank is always accountable for her Actions. She muft therefore fubmit to her Fate, and Preparations are made for the intended Nuptials. But let us leave her for a while, and return to the Prince of Murcia.

It was very reasonable that after having difplayed his Generofity fo much at the Coft of his Love, he should now again indulge that prevailing Paffion. He therefore gave the neceflary Orders for maintaining the Peace and Tranquillity of Granada; and having lodged the fovereign Power in the Hands of Don Pedro, he fet forward for the Sea-fhore, where he was carried over fafe to the Isle of Gades. He had a Foreft to cross before he reached the Town, and not knowing his Way he fought for fome body to inform him C 2

of

of it. At length he met with one who liv'd an Anchoret's Life in that Foreft; but in whom, notwithstanding his Dress, there appeared a noble and majestick Mien. The Prince rode up to him, and enquired the Road: Sir, reply'd the Anchoret, you are at no great Distance from the Town of Gades, poffeffed by the Duke of Andalufia, who C has for fome Time refided there with the Princefs Leonora his Daughter, whom common Fame has fet above all the reft of her Sex. This Island, reply'd the Prince, must doubtless be the Seat of perfect Gallantry, fince Leonora her felf is fo perfect; and the Number of Princeffes who flock to Court muft, I fuppofe, make ' it a very fplendid one.' Of that I know not, reply'd the other. All the News I can tell you of the Court, (and had the Adventure made lefs Noife, I fhould have been ignorant of that too) is, that the Princefs Leonora returning from Seville was caft away in a 'violent Storm at Sea, and that Don Juan, the Prince of Granada, 'threw himself over-board, and faved her Life.' 'Don Juan fave her Life! cry'd the Prince very warmly; and has Leonora been in fuch Danger?' Yes, Sir, anfwer'd the Anchoret, and the whole Isle of Gades ftill rings with the grateful Acknowledgment of the Princess, ⚫ who within this Week has given her Hand and Heart to Don Juan, and is joined to him in Marriage.' 'Heavens! cry'd the Prince He had not Power to utter a Word more, but fell down without apparent Life, at the Feet of the Anchoret.

By the Care and Means the Stranger ufed, the Prince of Murcia foon came to himself: Had I, Sir, faid he, known what Effe& ⚫ the News I have related would have had upon you, I should have ' endeavoured, if not to conceal, at leaft to foften it a little. I have been fo involved in Adverfity my felf, that I heartily pity the Unfortunate. Why did I not know how nearly you were con<cerned for Leonora? You should not now have upbraided me with 'being the Occafion of this Excefs of Grief. I neither upbraid you, nor Leonora, interrupted the Prince; if he has married Don Juan, the certainly had Reafons for fo doing; and if she has made me the most miferable of Men, I muft doubtlefs fome way or other have deferved it from her. But the moft dreadful Despair fhe can drive me to, fhall never make me accufe her of Infidelity, though I fhall die as miferable as if fhe was unfaithful.'

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If Leonora be not faithless, reply'd the Stranger, I know some Lovers, Sir, that are much more unhappy than you are. Like you, I have loft all Hopes of ever poffeffing her whom I love dearer than

Life;