The CHASTE SERAGLIAN novel.    

The Chaste Seraglian: OR, YOLANDA OF SICILY. A NOVEL.  
IN TWO PARTS.  
Done out of French by T.H. Gent.  
LONDON, Printed for R. Bentley and S. Magnes, in Russel-street near . MDCLXXXV.   

To the Honourable Sir William Kenricke BARONET.  
SIR,  
THe famed Gallantry of Your Family has invited this Lady's Addresses for Your Favour and Protection. Misery proves often, at least gains the Consideration of Merit, and is never baroed Refuge by the Brave and Generous: And since Misery and Merit concur so highly in this Lady, as to make her the Object of the Compassion of those that are the least guilty of Tenderness, no doubt but Your Hereditary Goodness will open her an Asyle. Her Misfortunes and her Charms afford Title sufficient for a Sanctuary; but she has still that of a Stranger to plead on her behalf. She's sensible, so much Good-nature as You are owned to stand possessed of, will not require so many Qualifications for a favourable Reception: For all the noted Advantages of Your several Ancestors seem rendezvoused in Your Person, tho' in each there shined the Qualities that make a Gallant Man. She fancies the Circumstances and Beauties of her Story to be such, as to furnish your Diversion, at the same time they move Your Pity. But having Ushered her into Your Presence, I'll leave her to acquaint You with her Case, and enlarge this Trouble no further than the Assurances of my being with the deepest Zeal and most profound Respect,  
SIR, Your most Humble and 
 most Obedient Servant, 
 THO. HAYES.   

YOLANDA OF SICILY.  
SIcily is a famous Island in the Mediterranean, at the farther end of Italy. It's Extent, the Fertility of its Soil, and the security of its Ports, render it, without contradiction, the most considerable of that Sea. All these Advan●…ges, which ought to make it a hap●y Kingdom, have only served to ●…nder it the Prey of all the Nations 〈◊〉 Africa and Europe, between which too Parts of the World it is situated ●he Greeks, the Carthaginians, the ●omans, and Saracens, made it for a long time the Stage of War. The Kings of Naples of the House of Anjou, and the Kings of Arragon, did afterwards dispute the Possession of it with the highest obstinacy: The Sicilian Vespers rendered the latter the Masters of this Realm, the Partisans of the House of Anjou having been sor the most part exterminated in that fatal Day, and the Spanish Policy having since taken care to extinguish all that remained of that Party.  
The House of Cigala was one of the most considerable of those which bore an affection to the French Name; but the Spaniards being peaceable Possessors of the Island, that Illustrious Family saw itself upon the point of being destroyed, when it was seen to rise again by an Accident altogether extraordinary.  
Some Turkish Corsaires having made a Descent into Sicily, they carried away from thence several Slaves, amongst whom was the Head of the House of Cigala, with an only Son of about seven or eight years of age. The Father being dead in Chains, the Son was by the Turks put into the Seraglio, where he perfected himself in all the Exercises which are taught the Youth. The vivacity of his Wit, which had gained him the good Opinion and Favour of the Grand Signior, obtained him immediately considerable Employments at the Port; and his Merit made him afterwards attain to the principal Charges of the Ottoman Empire. He it was who rendered himself so Famous under the Name of Bashaw Cigala. The remembrance of his Extraction, and the Sentiments of a Religion which the Turks had not been able to extinguish in his Heart, tho' he quitted it in a very tender Age, created in him often a Desire of returning into his own Country: But these Impressions would not have been strong enough to have made him take that Resolution, if he had not been determined to it by an extraordinary Occasion.  
The Custom of the Turks allowing 'em to have several Wives, there happened to be one amongst those of the Bashaw who had been taken upon the Coasts of Italy, being a Person of Quality, and very much wedded to her Religion. She reinflamed in the Bosom of Cigala all that had been left therein of his first Education, which made him at length resolve to return with her into his Native Country. He landed at Messina, with immense Riches, after having escaped with a great deal of difficulty from the Vigilancy of the Turks. Being thus reentered into the Religion of his Forefathers, he quickly reunited to his Family most of the Lands which had been alienated from it. His Riches, and the Splendour of this Life, began to revive the Jealousy of the Spaniards, when that the change of Climate put a period to the Days of this Great Man. He left but one Son by his Marriage; and this Son, who was called Don Bernardin, was brought up by his Mother with all the Care imaginable. No sooner was he out of his Infancy, than that he resolved to court Glory in the Field of War: The emulation he had for that which his Father had acquired therein, made him follow that Noble Calling with a great deal foe Success; and he would without doubt have made great progress in that Career, if the Jealousy of the Spaniards, whom the Father's Merit had given but too much umbrage, had not deprived him of the Means. They would have made sure of Don Bernardin, by engaging him to marry a young Lady of their Nation; but all their Practices were in vain, and Don Bernardin, who had no less aversion for them than his Predecessors, and who sought to gain a considerable Support against 'em, married a Roman Princess of the Noble Family of the Vrsins. The Grandeur of this Alliance, and the Union of Don Bernardin to a House that had ever been wedded to the French Party, already gave umbrage to the Spaniards: But having discovered in several Rencounters their Ill-will, and remarked their Inclination contrary to his Family, he did not doubt but that the same Reasons would make 'em seek out the Means of ruining it a second time; and knowing by experience how dangerous it is to incur the Indignation of his Masters, he resolved to avoid the Occasions of giving them any Jealousy in vain, and to withdraw into a Countryhouse, far from all Commerce, where he spent some Years, waiting till Time should furnish him with the Occasions of showing 'em his Resentment. The Power of the House of Austria being weakened at that time by the happy Success of the Arms of the French, Don Bernardin judged that this might give Occasion to some Motion in the Dominions which the King of Spain possesses in Intaly: He was not mistaken in his Conjectures. The Kingdom of Naples being revolted, and the Malcontents having called in the Duke of Guise to assure themselves of a Head, Don Bernadin thought that time proper for the Designs he had meditated. He took Measures with that Duke, and set Cabals on foot in the Island. The Spaniards had some suspicion of these Practices, and tho' all his Cabals were not come to their knowledge, they discovered enough of 'em to take the Resolution of destroying Cigala. Cardinal Trivulce being then Vice Roy of Sicily, received order from Spain to take him into Custody; and tho' this Enterprise was somewhat difficult, this Cardinal, who was one of the most able Politicians of his time, executed it with so much cunning, that Don Bernardin was taken, and carried to the Castle of S. Sauveur; the Viceroy having had the Precaution to send out of the way part of Cigala's Friends, to engage others in his Interests, and to amuse 'em all, by assuring 'em, that the Court proceed only in that manner to take away all pretext from the Duke of Guise, from publishing in Naples, as he did, That he had a great Party in Sicily, and that all the Kingdom would suddenly declare infavour of him. When Don Bernardin was taken into Custody, he had an only Daughter of about five or six Years of age, called Yolanda: The Duke of Guise, having had the misfortune of falling into the Hands of the Spaniards, was carried into Spain; and the Disorders of Naples were quickly ended by severe Punishments. The Spaniards having no more reason to fear any Rising or Revolt in Sicily, the Friends of the House of Cigala were in hopes that Don Bernardin would be set at liberty; but they expected it in vain.  
The Senate of Messina, that interressed itself in the Preservation of a Man with whose Merit they were so well acquainted, and who besides judged, that a perpetual Imprisonment, upon mere Suspicions, would be of a dangerous Example to the most Considerable Persons of the Kingdom, caused his Releasement to be demanded of the King of Spain: But very far from obtaining this Request, their pressing Solicitations did so exasperate the Council, and the King took it so ill that the Senate should make the Business of a Private Person it's own, that it was resolved from that time to suppress its, Authority. And indeed all the Governors, who have been since sent to Messina, have had secret Memoires to endeavour the Execution of this Design. This is the true beginning and source of the Misfortunes which have oppressed that. City in these latter Times. Don Bernardin was still strictly kept in Prison: His best Friends advised him to dissemble his Resentment, and to comply with Time by making great Submissions to the Spaniards. A Counsel so opposite to his natural. Inclination, and the grandeur of a Courage which knew not how to bend, put him at first to as much pain as his Imprisonment, not being able to promise what he perceived it would be difficult for him to keep, but in short, this Advice was too healing to be neglected, and he was forced to comply with it, after a great many Conflicts. The Duke of Salvonella, who succeeded Cardinal Trivulce in the Viceroy ship of Sicily, and whom the Friends of Don Bernardin had engaged in his Interests, was overjoyed to see him in Sentiments conformable to their Counsels: He wrote into Spain in favour of this Prisoner, and hopes were given him that regard should be had to his Remonstranee. But whether that there still remained some Mistrust in the Minds of the Ministers, or that he had had secret Enemies who opposed his Releasement, he remained still a Prisoner.  
The Spaniards commonly seek to make sure of the Fidelity of Families the most Considerable in the State's subject to their Government; and have not found a more assured Means of bringing that about, than that of having brought up at Madrid Children of the Highest Quality, whom they detain at Court as Hostages of their Parent's Servitude: They engage 'em afterwards in Marriages with Spanish Ladies, who often bring no other Portion into those Families than the Hopes alone of a Government suitable to their Extraction. The Prince of Escaletta, and Don Augustin Gregorio, both of 'em Messineses, were then at Madrid, in quality of Meninos or Children of Honour to the King of Spain. The Duke of Salmonetta, who forgot nothing that might usefully serve Don Bernardin, advised him to send into Spain Yolanda his only Daughter, to be brought up there near the Queen: and that this Mark of Trust might both promote his Liberty, and afterwards procure him several other Favours Don Bernardin resisted a long while the Reasons of the Viceroy; the Tenderness he had for his Daughter, was a great Obstacle to this Separation. But what would he not have done, to see himself free after so long an Imprisonment? He suffered himself to be persuaded, and consented that the Duchess of Salmonetta, who was returning into Spain, should take Yolanda with her thither. This young Lady was about ten years of age; and as she had an extreme repugnance to part from her Parents, who had already inspired into her the Sentiments of their Family against the Spaniards, she did not love 'em at all. Thus was she very loath to go this Voyage; yet they knew so well how to take advantage of the weakness of her Infancy, that she suffered her  at length to be conducted to Madrid, where she was received into the number of the Queen's Maids of Honour, or Damas' the Palacio.  
After such a Sacrifice, Don Bernardin thought he might with right press the Court to grant him his Liberty. He made new Instances, and employed all his Friends, without obtaining any thing more than Words, in which he could not put any confidence, because they had failed him already several times. He was besides afraid, that the Council of Spain had resolved upon his Ruin. Certain it is, that he died in a short while after in the Prison, and without its ever yet being fully known if his Death were Natural. However, as on these occasion's People are ever inclined to believe the worst, no Body but suspected they had hastened his Days; and all the Nobility of Messina had in such abhorrence so barbarous an Action, that since that time they have ever looked upon the Spaniards as downright Enemies, who cannot endure those who are Eminent, either for their Quality, or their Merit. The Wife of Don Bernardin died in a short while after. Thus Yolanda finding herself an Orphan at twelve Years of age, the Queen, who bore her a tender Love, endeavoured to comfort her with fair Promises.  
Yolanda sometimes saw the Prince of Escaletta and Don August in Gregorio. These two young Cavaliers, who spoke to her without constraint, acquainted her with the Rumours which ran of her Father's Death being hastened, and the Indignation which all the Nobility of Messina had conceived upon that account. As she had a great deal of Wit, and more Sagacity than Maidens of that Age usually have, this News did so highly augment her Aversion to the Spaniards, that she could not forbear showing it upon occasion. She durst not however give it vent before the World; but when she found herself alone with the Prince of Escaletta and D. Augustin, she abandoned herself to all her Griefs, and spoke no less than of revenging the Death of her Father, and of giving herself afterwards for a Reward to him who should free her Country from the Government of the Spaniards. They both partook with her in her Resentment; but the Prince of Escaletta, who was the oldest of the two, assured her, That he should esteem himself very happy, if he could contribute to her Revenge; and that he would perish with delight in so glorious a Design. Yolanda took this very kindly at his Hands, and desired him to be mindful of his Engagement. This Gonversation ended by Assurances of a great deal of Acknowledgement in Yolanda, and of an eternal Devotion on the part of the Prince of Escaletta.  
Such like Entertainments created in 'em a great Esteem for one another; and as there is no great distance from this Sentiment to Love, the Prince of Escaletta found himself in a short while passionately enamoured of Yolanda. She was at fourteen years of age the most perfect Beauty of all Spain: She had a delicate and advantageous Shape; her Complexion was of a surprising White and Incarnation; never was there finer Eyes than hers; they were full, black, and passionate to such a point, as it was impossible to look upon 'em without being filled with Wonder and Adoration; her Nose was well proportioned, her Mouth somewhat large, but set off with Lips of a wonderful Colour; her Teeth perfectly fine, the turn of her Face accomplished, her Neck well form for her Age; and besides all this, the Qualities of her Mind much surpassing those of her beautiful Body. The Queen was so satisfied with her Person, and had so much Kindness for her, that she had several times refused to her Relations the Permission for her returning to Messina, and had declared to them, That she did not in the least design to deprive herself so soon of so lovely a Person. And that she Might suffer this kind of Imprisonment with the less impatience, she was allowed little Liberties, which are not used to be granted to the Maids of Honour. The young Prince of Escaletta, and Don Augustin Gregorio, were sometimes allowed to vist her, because they were of the same Country. The first found his Passion to augment every day: Yet as it is a Crime in Spain to speak of Love to one of the Queen's Maids of Honour, and that to be banished away from thence is inevitable, if that one be discovered, every time that the Prince called to mind, that he could not give any Tokens of his Passion to Yolanda, without exposing himself to the being separated from her, he had no longer the power to speak. This Consideration would perhaps for a long while have detained him in silence, if Don Augustin had not one day made known to him, by his Discourses, that Yolanda seemed to him so charming, that he began to entertain for her something more strong than Friendship. The Prince very much surprised at this Account, contented himself at that time with telling his Friend, That it was very dangerous for him to confide in any other less discreet Friend the Sentiments he had for Yolanda, desiring him very earnestly to be reserved upon that Point, for fear they should be both forbid to see her. Don Augustin yielded to these Reasons, and promised to follow his Counsels. The Prince being afraid that his Rival speaking first, might establish himself in the Heart of Yolanda, resolved to declare to her his Passion, whenever he met with her alone.  
The Design which set him on to seek for that Occasion, made his Looks seem to be in some perplexity; which Yolanda perceiving, she asked him the Cause thereof. The Prince, who would never have dared to have told her his Sentiments for her, became more bold through the Curiosity she had showed, and made her Answer, That one of his Friends, who was passionately in love with one of the Queen's Maids of Honour, had happened to speak of his Passion to her who had produced it; that she had threatened to give the Queen notice thereof; and that his Friend was in the greatest Consternation imaginable, fearing to be separated from her he loved; That he desired her to tell him if she approved of such violent Sentiments in a Beautiful Person, for whom his Friend had a Passion full of Respect, which he explained, it being no longer in his power to conceal it. Yolanda, without making him any Answer to his Question, desired him to tell her that Lady's Name. The Prince, pretending not to name it out of discretion for his Friend, drew the Portrait of Yolanda, and thereby made known to her his Passion. As she had a great deal of Wit, she easily knew what he had a mind to give her to understand: I am very glad, said she to him, something disordered, that you yourself have taught me beforehand what my Duty is: I should be afraid you might have an ill Opinion of me, if I did not follow your Counsels, by complaining to the Queen of your Boldness. A troublesome Under-Governess, coming in at that time, deprived them of the means of continuing that Conversation. The Prince before he parted told her in the Sicilian Tongue, That having devoted himself entirely to her Service, he desired her to be mindful that she could not sacrifice him, without losing the Man who endeavoured to revenge her. But the Air wherewith she left him, having given him to understand, that she was not displeased at his Boldness, he withdrew very much satisfied with having discovered to her a Secret which he had found so painful to conceal from her.  
Yolanda, who had never felt any other Desire than that of being revenged, and who was not yet acquainted with Love, was very much surprised at what she had just learned from the Prince of Escaletta, and making Reflection upon all the Care and Pains he had taken to please her, she judged that his Passion must of necessity be very violent. At first the austerity of her Virtue made her repent the having showed so little Anger at their parting; but what she owed her Father, coming to present itself to her Imagination, she resolved not to discourage that Prince. Perhaps she did to satisfy her Inclination, what she thought she afforded to the Hopes of being revenged.  
The Prince on his side courted the Occasions of discoursing her, that he might the more clearly make her explain her Mind: However, fearing he could not be alone with her, he asked her in the presence of Don Augustin, if the Anger of her Companion did still continue. Yolanda, who understood his Thoughts, made him answer, That the Person had upon her desire pardoned the Offence that had been done her; nay, that she allowed his Friend to love her, upon condition he would never tell it her again. Don Augustin, who understood nothing of this Language, was very impatient to be alone with his Friend, to inform himself of the Matter; and having pressed him to acquaint him with the Business, the Prince was obliged to tell him, That one of the Maids of Honour would have complained to the Queen, for that her Lover had entertained her with some Amorous Discourses; and that Yolanda had had the Goodness to hinder her from so doing. I am overjoyed, said Don Augustin immediately, that she is so indulgent; and I mean to morrow to speak to her of my Passion. Have a care of what you do, replied the Prince; People do not always practise the Counsels they give: and tho' Yolanda has blamed the Injustice of her Companion, I know not what she would do if she were in her Place. Don Augustin was a long while before he came to any Determination; but his Love having got the mastery over all his Reasonings, he resolved to speak. He was younger than his Friend: His Birth was not indeed so considerable, but his Beauty was extraordinary; and the great Opinion he had of his good Mien, made him believe he should be heard. Having declared his Resolution to the Prince, who could never divert him from it, he went all alone to see Yolanda. After some moments of Conversation, he owned to her very ingenuously, That he found himself very much puzzled to begin to her a Discourse, which he had resolved to entertain her with. Yolanda, thinking of nothing less than of what Don Augustin meant to tell her, pressed him to speak, Don Augustin having exacted that she should not be angry, declared to her at length his being in love with her. Yolanda not having so seriously conversed with Don Augustin as with the Prince, yet could not forbear blushing a little; however, being quickly recollected, she turned the thing into Raillery, and laughed at him for having used so much Ceremony to tell her so trivial a Matter. They parted in a short while after.  
The Prince of Escaletta being under the greatest impatience imaginable to know the Success of that Visit, began to grow uneasy; when Don Augustin told him all that had passed. On the morrow they went both together to see her; and the Prince desiring to pry into the Sentiment of Yolanda for Don Augustin, told her, after a rallying manner. That Don Augustin was very much concerned to tell her that he loved her, and that he took it very ill she did not take it seriously. You are too obliging to your Friends, answered Yolanda; think only of giving good Counsels to him whom we spoke of last of all: You will have business enough, without concerning yourself in the Affairs of Don Augustin.  
Yolanda spent some Months longer in this manner, not troubling herself about the Passion of Don Augustin, and taking a secret delight in that of the Prince. Don Augustin being discouraged by finding her always insensible, thought of her no more. The Prince of Escaletta applied himself still more and more to please her; she listened to him in the beginning, thinking she might do it without hazarding any thing of her own, and without any Sentiments escaping from her against her will. Her Confidence was not over-well founded: As all yields to any real Love, and that it is a hard matter to think one's self tenderly beloved, without taking a particular Interest in People; Yolanda was prevailed upon by the Addresses of the Prince, and soon perceived thereby how dangerous it is to allow of the Passion of a well-bred Man, when a Woman means not to engage her Heart. The Prince having taken notice of this happy Change, by the Discourses and good Treatments of his Mistress, abandoned himself before her to such Transports as made her acquainted with the excess of his Love.  
The Satisfaction of the two Lovers was too visible, and the pleasure they took in being together, made them seek with too much care the Occasions of discoursing one another, in a Court where People live with so much circumspection. In fine, the Prince was forbid seeing her. This Prohibition, which sensibly afflicted him, did more promote his Affairs, than long Services could have done: For Yolanda being irritated by this Order, which they found so much the more Tyrannical, in that it came from People whom she respected against her will, and whom she ever looked upon as the Persecutors and Disturbers of her Family, and of many others of that ancient and most renowned Kingdom of Sicily, this made her resolve to love him all her Life with an inseparable Love, in spite of all the Obstacles and Impediments that might be brought to hinder her so doing.  
In the mean while, all the Court talked and discoursed daily of this Beauty, extolled even to the first Rank above all others. Her Birth was also very well known by all the Nobility; and tho' she had a vast Estate in the Kingdom of Sicily, the common Rumour made it much more than it really was. Several Grandees of Spain thought of her, as of one of the most considerable Matches of that Illustrious and Numerous Court: And one of the Principal Ministers had several times employed his Credit with the Queen to have her married to the Marquis of Castel-Rodrigo, who was a Person of much Merit and high Quality, and a great Favourite of the Kings; but who, on the other side, had but a very small share in the Blessings of Fortune.  
The Marchioness of Villa Franca, Lady of Honour to the Queen, who was very much beloved in the Court for her fine Qualities, had had the same thoughts for the Duke of Fernandina her Son, and had also spoken thereof to the Queen: But her Majesty not being able to part with a Person she loved from her very Heart, still deferred coming to a Determination. The Marchioness' Place obliging her to be at at Palace, she took advantage of the Conveniency of seeing Yolanda every Hour, did her a thousand Kindnesses. And that young Person not knowing whither all these Caresses tended, made such Returns as spoke a great deal of Acknowledgement. This made the Marchioness conceive such good hopes for the Success of her Son's Marriage, that she spoke thereof one day, as of an Affair without difficulty, to a Lady of Sicily who had been recommended to her, and who at that time solicited some Pretensions at the Court. This Sicilian extolled extremely the Quality and Riches of the House of Cigala; and the Marchioness desired her earnestly to keep the Business secret. Nevertheless, as most of the Sicilians do naturally hate the Spaniards, as soon as the Countess of Castelmara (so is the Lady's Name) found the Prince of Escaletta, she acquainted him with all the Discourse she had had with the Marchioness of Villa-Franca, showing too a great deal of Grief, in that a Spaniard carried away the richest Heiress of her Country.  
The Prince, who had already heard talk confusedly of Castel-Rodrigo's Pretention, was cruelly alarmed to hear moreover of the Practices of the Marchioness of Villa-Franca. Two days after, the Countess of Castelmara told him, That the Marchioness had presented her to Yolanda, and that she had desired her to go see her often, and insinuate into her, That the Marriage of the Duke of Fernandina would be more to her advantage, than all those that could be proposed to her. And what Answer did you make her? interrupted the Prince. I promised to take my time to speak to her thereof, replied the Countess. Is this then, continued he, the Grief which you told me you had to see Yolanda carried away by a Spaniard? And can you disapprove of a thing which you mean to be the Mediatrix in? The Countess finding more Heat in this Discourse of the Prince, than could well proceed from he Interest alone of his Nation, I have already told you my Thoughts, added she; but having occasion for the Marchioness, I could not refuse her what she has exacted from me: However, if you love Yolanda, as it seems to me you do by your Discourses, be assured, that I know how to set the difference I ought between you and a Spaniard. The Prince gave her a thousand thanks, and engaged her, before the Conversation was at an end, to give a Letter from him to Yolanda, which he withdrew to write accordingly.  
The Countess, who was obliged to improve the Marchioness' Favour, upon the account of the Concerns which had brought her to Madrid, began to repent of her Engagement, when that the Prince returned with his Letter; and finding her irresolved, he desired her anew, with so much earnestness, that she promised him at length to keep with him her Word: Whereupon she sought out the Expedients of delivering it to Yolanda after such a manner as might never expose her to the being discovered, and without Yolanda's perceiving she had taken upon her the Commission. This seemed something difficult; yet as there be few Difficulties of that nature, but which the Cunning of a Woman does surmount, when she applies her Mind to the thing, the Countess, after having thought of it for some time, bethought herself of making a Packet of several Letters which she had newly received from Sicily, amongst which she put that from the Prince of Escaletta, and having given this Packet to one of her Servants, with order to pretend he had newly fetched it from the Posthouse, and to bring it to her to the Palace, in the Apartment of the Marchioness of Villa-Franca. The Countess having opened her Packet in the presence of the Marchioness and Yolanda, gave her the Princes, pretending not to know from whom it was, because she had not yet read her own. The Marchioness withdrew, out of discretion, to give them time to read their Letters, being persuaded that her Friend would effectually do her Devoirs, when she found an opportunity of speaking in favour of the Duke of Fernandina. She was not mistaken; for the Countess not being willing to expose Yolanda to the disorder which she easily foresaw the reading of her Lover's Letter would create in her, took that time to extol to her the great Advantages of the Alliance of the Duke of Fernandina, who was then General of the Galleys of Naples, nay, and was in hopes, by the Credit of his Mother, to succeed Don Pedro d' Arragon in the Viceroy-ship of that Kingdom. The Marchioness being returned into her Chamber, was overjoyed to find 'em engaged in this Conversation, and would have gone back, not to interrupt it, pretending not to have taken notice thereof: But Yolanda having perceived her, took occasion to follow her, and so free herself from the troublesome Conversation of the Countess.  
As soon as Yolanda found herself alone, she was impatient to read her Letter, wherein she saw, with a great deal of surprise, the Name of the Prince of Escaletta; and not being able to comprehend by what hazard this Letter had come through the Countess' Hands, whom she thought so opposite to the Interests of her Lover, her Passion made her fear he might have been sent back into Sicily: But these Disquiets were at an end, when that reading the Letter, she found therein these Words.  BEing assured of your Heart, I did not believe I could ever have fallen under any sensible Misfortune: Nevertheless, I find myself the most miserable of all Men. I am forbidden to see you, and I just now learn the fatal News of the Marriage to which they mean to force you. I tremble for fear you should at length yield to the Artifices of those who take over you so unjust an Authority. Give 'em all the Reasons which may divert them from this Design, and if it be possible, take 'em all from your Passion: If it be too weak, remember at lest what you are owing to your Revenge, and never doubt of the Fidelity of the Prince of Escaletta. 
Yolanda was very glad to have seen by this Letter that her Lover was in the Sentiments she desired he might have, tho' the delicacy of her Passion found itself somewhat wounded by the Prince's Distrusts; but not daring to trust any Body, being uncertain if the Countess knew of their Correspondence, she bethought herself at length of another Artifice, and resolved to hazard an Answer by the same way. On the morrow she told the Countess, That the Letter she had delivered her was from the Prince of Escaletta's Sister, and then desired her to deliver the Answer to her Brother, that he might send it to Sicily in his Packet. The Countess admiring the Industry of Yolanda, seemed to believe her in good earnest, and charged herself with this Letter, which she delivered faithfully to the Prince, wherein was written,  I Know not why I am so sensible to the Testimonies of your Remembrance, in a time you let me see you entertain such injurious Distrusts. I should hardly pardon you 'em, if I did not look upon 'em as Effects of your Passion. True it is, that I have offered me considerable Matches: But can you believe, that having a Father to revenge, and having known you, I can confide in any other the Secret of my Vengeance, after having abandoned to you that of my Love? No, never doubt in the least, and be persuaded, that nothing but Death can ravish from you, your Yolanda. 
The Prince was filled with all the Joy imaginable at the reading of so tender a Letter; but having the Indiscretion of most young People, and believing that his Happiness would not be complete if some other had not the knowledge of it, he imparted his Secret to Don Augustin Gregorio, and shown him the Letter he had newly received, well knowing he loved another Lady, and no longer thought of Yolanda. Don Augustin dissembling his true Sentiments, by a piece of Cunning above his Age, tho' most common to People of his Country, testified a great deal of Joy for the Happiness of his Friend; but indeed the Passion he had had for Yolanda being revived at the reading of this Letter, he resolved to make his Addresses to her anew. The small hopes he had had of rendering her sensible, had discouraged him from prosecuting that Amour; but being undeceived by the Experience of his Friend, and having found that no Woman is Proof against a very real Passion, and a long Perseverance, he repent a thousand times his disengaging himself so easily, and took a strong Resolution of putting all in practice to gain a Heart which he fancied he had lost through his impatience. As he was perfectly handsome, and well made, and that it is rare to see in Spain young men of so great a Beauty, he attracted upon him the Eyes of all the Ladies: Nay, and he had observed too, that one of those of the Palace, a little superannuated, whose Name I will conceal under that of Donna Ignes, affected to do him Favours which are not commonly done to indifferent Persons. Love, which is ingenious, inspired him with the Design to make use of the Ministry of this Woman, for the giving Yolanda to understand the Sentiments he had for her; and the Facilities he had already met with in another, made him hope he should easily bring Donna Ignes into his Interest, since she shown him so much .  
What self-love soever there might be in this thought, the Consequences let him see that he was not mistaken, and Donna Ignes did not suffer him long to make her Advances with Impunity. She endeavoured on her side to embark Don Augustin, and they were quickly in a perfect good Intelligence. She was so satisfied with having at her Age a Lover with so good a Mien, and loved him with so much trasport, that it was no longer in the power of Don Augustin to speak to any Woman, without giving Jealousy to Donna Ignes; and far from daring to make her the Confident of his Passion for Yolanda, he was obliged to conceal it from her with more care than from his Rival. This gave him extreme disquiets; and no longer being able to continue feigning a Passion which he did not feel, he sought out for a Pretext to break off so wearisome a Commerce; when that Donna Ignes, who on her side only thought to make sure of a Lover so worthy of being beloved, and who was afraid a young Person might rob her of her Conquest, proposed to him the putting himself into Woman's Clothes, and to go with her into the Palace, where she would make him pass for her Niece, promising to disguise him so well, that he should never be known again, and assuring him, for to engage him to it, that he should partake in all the Pleasures of the Maids of Honour, and in all the secret Divertisements of the Palace.  
Don Augustin overjoyed at a Proposition which so strongly flattered his Passion for Yolanda, redoubled his feigned Addresses to Ignes; and making a show of not being able to refuse any thing to his Love, he consented to all she desired. Having afterwards given out, that he was going to see one of his Friends, he entered by Night so well travestied into the Palace, that no body doubted but that it was the Niece of Donna Ignes, newly arrived from Sevil, as that pretended Virtuous Lady told all he was. Don Augustin so well maintained his Personage by his Beauty, and counterfeited with so good a grace the Innocence and Modesty of a Lady who gins to appear at Court, that he deceived all the World.  
As Beautiful Persons have a secret Jealousy against all those who may dispute with 'em that Advantage, and that a fair young Lady is rarely seen to come to Court, without incurring the Envy of all the Ladies who pretend to the being handsome; Yolanda, who had heard talk with admiration of the Beauty of this young Lady, went to Donna Ignes Apartment, to know if the Renown which augments every thing, did Justice to the Niece of that Lady; and finding her more beautiful than she had been described to her, (perhaps at the Emotion which appeared in the Face of Don Augustin at the sight of Yolanda) she let her know how overjoyed she should be to contract a Friendship with so lovely a Person. Donna Ignes could not bear without a great deal of pain all these little Engagements, covering her Jealousy with the fear she had of her Lover's being discovered: However, not to make him too uneasy, she could not deny him the taking him along with her to Yolanda's Lodgings, under the pretext of paying her a Visit; but she never left him, and gave not time to the amorous Don Augustin to discover himself to Yolanda. This Constraint augmenting his Impatience, he could no longer support the violence of a Passion which became every day more strong than other, by the Presence of Yolanda.  
One day that Donna Ignes was employed about the Queen, he took that time to enter into Yolanda's Lodgings, and having found her alone, he spoke to her in the Sicilian Tongue, and made himself known to her, exaggerating to her his Love, with Words the most soft and tender imaginable. Yolanda was in so great a surprise to see Don Augustin in such a posture, that she remained for some time without making him any Answer; nut finding herself offended at his Liberty, her Indignation prevailed over all her Motions, and she was going to complain to the Queen, and inform her of his Disguise, for fear People should believe she had any share therein; when that Don Augustin, who had Wit, and knew that Curiosity is the weak side of all Women, told her, to stay her, that Donna Ignes had a much greater part in what he did, than he himself. This Artifice of his had the Success suitable to his Expectations; for Yolanda was so desirous to know the Intrigues of a Woman she had ever looked upon as hypocritically Virtuous, tho' always set as an Example to the Maids of Honour, that she almost forgot her Anger.  
Don Augustin acquainted her with all she desired to know; and she pardoned him, upon condition he would see her no more. In this Conversation Yolanda spoke to him after such a manner, as deprived him of all Hopes from thence forward; and setting before his Eyes his Treachery in this Action to his Friend, she saw in him so much remorse, that she did not think she ran any risk, by ordering him to tell the Prince of Escaletta, That she would ever be faithful to him.  
This Conversation having lasted something too long, Donna Ignes was returned to her Apartment, and not finding Don Augustin, she sought him out on all sides, and surprised him at length in Yolanda's Lodgings. The disorder her presence put those two young persons in, making her judge that they were of intelligence, she could hardly forbear bursting out immediately into a fury: She dissembled her Jealousy, took back with her her pretended Niece, and as soon as they were alone, charged him to some purpose with injurious Language. Don Augustin, wearied out with the Tyranny of this Woman, and having no more hopes as to Yolanda, he began to grow weary of his Disguise, and to show a great deal of uneasiness. Donna Ignes, who observed him with care, and no longer finding in him his first Transports, whether feigned or real, was so strangely concerned, that she grew distracted; she committed a hundred Extravagancies in the Palace, nay, and afterwards went and complained to the Queen of the little Fervency of her Lover. People easily perceived that her Brains were cracked; and as she confounded in her Discourses her Lover with her Niece, and Don Augustin with her faithless Gallant, the Queen had the Curiosity to dive into this Affair; and having sent for that pretended Niece, Don Augustin fell into so great a confusion at the extravagant Discourses of distracted Ignes, that he was easily known to be whom he really was. The Queen being extremely offended at such a piece of Boldness, had him immediately taken into Custody, with design to punish him severely. Poor Ignes was confined, and gave occasion to the Rumour which ran over all Europe at that time, That a Woman of Quality in Spain was become mad through Jealousy.  
Yolanda having heard talk of this unhappy Adventure, was under cruel Disquiets, for fear of being brought into it; and as this was of the highest Consequence for her, especially in a Country where People are very susceptible of Impressions disadvantageous to Women, she carefully inquired into all the Circumstances of this Affair, but was so happy as not to be named.  
The Prince of Escaletta, who had already repent himself more than once of his having shown his Letter to Don Augustin, suspected that Yolanda had more share in this Disguise than Ignes, and the Jealousy of this latter confirmed him in his Error. The Queen in the mean while was very much irritated against against Don Augustin; yet as a Crime of Love does ever meet with Partisans, so many several Persons employed their Credit in his Favour, that they obtained at length his Pardon of the Queen, upon condition, however, that he should be carried back to Messina, in the same Posture he had been surprised in, in the Palace; and that he should be kept a Month in the Castle of S. Sauveur, still in the Garb of a Woman; her Majesty being resolved to punish him with the shame that this Disguise would bring upon him in his own Country. His Friends having had leave to see him before his departure, the Prince of Escaletta went immediately to him, and Don Augustin seeing him come in, embraced him with all the Testimonies of a real Friendship: He owned to him sincerely all that had passed, without concealing from him, that his Passion for Yolanda had engaged him to feign a Love to Ignes; but that he had found her so far from ever listening to any other Passion than that of the P. of Escaletta, that despairing of being ever able to make her change her Sentiment, he contented himself with obtaining for a Favour, that she would not discover him; which Yolanda had granted with some difficulty, upon condition, however, he should never see her more, and that he would go and assure from her the Prince of Escaletta, That she would be faithful to him until death. Judge now, after this, continued he, if you be not the most happy of all Men. The Prince well knowing that Don Augustin spoke to him in good earnest, was very well satisfied with hearing all these Circumstances, and was cured by this faithful Testimony of all the Mistrusts which his Friends Disguise had raised in him.  
New Endeavours were again used to prevail with the Queen to abate of her Severity, and grant an absolute Pardon to Don Augustin; but her Majesty would not hear of any thing more in his favour: He was conducted under Guard to Barcelona, where he was embarked in the first Ship that departed for Sicily, accompanied with a severe Guide, who had express Orders to see the Queen's Pleasure punctually executed. The second Day of their embarquing, they were surprised by a furious Tempest, which cast 'em upon the Coasts of Barbary, where they were upon the point of perishing, the Mainmast of the Ship broken, and most of the Tackling shattered. They spent a whole Night between Death and Life. On the morrow, it was no sooner day, than that they were discovered by a Turkish Ship, who taking notice of the ill Condition the Tempest had reduced them to, attaqued 'em, and took 'em after a weak Resistance. Don Augustin being become a Slave, thought that his Disguise would be to his advantage, well knowing, that amongst the Nations the most Barbarous they have Regards for the Fair Sex. He was not mistaken; for the Corsair who took 'em finding this pretended Maiden very much to his mind, he treated her with more Lenity than is usual to those of his Profession. He was not long without making known to him his Passion; but the Resistance of Don Augustin having but augmented it, he thought he could not free himself from his Importunities, but by declaring to him the truth of his Sex. Nevertheless, this Confession did not produce upon the Spirit of the Corsair the Effect Don Augustin expected it would have done.  
Whilst that Don Augustin was exposed to the Injustice of this Barbarian, the Prince of Escaletta was not without Employ at Madrid. The Countess of Castelmara being gained by the good Offices the Marchioness of Villa-Franca had rendered her at Court, had espoused her Interests, and out of acknowledgement gave her notice of the Passion which the Prince of Escaletta had for Yolanda, and of the perfect Understanding of those two Persons; assuring her however, if she could by her Credit send away the Prince, she might hope in a short time to gain the Consent of Yolanda. The Marchioness approving of this Advice, put all in practice, to oblige the Court to send back the Prince into Sicily. She found therein such Difficulties as she had not foreseen, and perceived that the Chief Minister, who was willing to keep some Measures with a Nobleman of that Quality, was disposed to gratify him with one Employ or other before his departure. The Marchioness fearing the Business might be deferred, laboured for him with the same eagerness she could have done for the Interests of her own Son: She obtained, in favour of him, a Regiment of Foot in Sicily. The Prince very much surprised at a Boon that was granted him, without his having solicited it, had a secret Vexation at this Mark of Esteem which he thought he was honoured with by the Court; and thought this Employment did agreeably flatter his Ambition, he could not resolve to accept a Favour which separated him from the Person in the World he loved with most Passion: But Decency and his Courage not allowing him to refuse an Occasion which would afford him the Means of distinguishing himself from the young Persons of his Age, he resolved to departed, that so he might not render himself unworthy of the kind Dispositions of the Court. Nevertheless, not being able to determine himself to this departure without taking leave of Yolanda, he in vain tried several Means to obtain leave to make her a Visit: The Marchioness of Villa-Franca making it her Business to hinder this Interview, rendered the thing impossible; and the enamoured Prince despairing of bringing it about, addressed himself to the Countess of Castelmara, and in short desired her to deliver one Letter more from him to Yolanda. This perfidious Lady, after having made a great deal ado to excuse her from meddling in that matter, pretending at length to be moved and overcome by the excess of his Passion, promised him to take upon her to do it; and the Prince overjoyed with having gained her, in hopes she would acquit herself of it with the same Fidelity she had done in the former, gave her this Letter.  I Go away in the highest despair. I am forced to accept of an Employment, which I cannot refuse without dishonouring myself, or without discovering the Charm which stays me at the Court. Tho' I saw you not there, I found a sensible pleasure in being in the same Place, and of waiting with some small hopes the Occasions of speaking to you a Moment. I will do all I can to revenge your Quarrel, and my own. I'll never pardon the Spaniards, either the Death of your Father, or the Honour they do me in giving me an Employment which separates me from you. I am not worthy to love you, and I refer all to my Heart. I abandon myself to my Passion with so extreme a Resignation, that I cannot fear you should forget me. I shall think of you every moment of my Life, and shall never have a happy Minute but when I see you. 
As soon as the Prince was departed, the Countess, in stead of carrying his Letter to Yolanda, as she had engaged herself to do, sacrificed it to the Marchioness of Villa-Franca; who judging by the passionate Terms in which it was conceived, that the Prince stood in no ill terms in Yolanda's Breast, applied all her Cares to break off this Commerce: Nay, she was upon the point of showing this Letter to the Queen, to irritate her Majesty against the Prince; but she was diverted from it through the fear she had of giving some disadvantageous Impression of Yolanda's Conduct, whom she already looked upon as her Daughter-in-Law. She was so satisfied with the Offices of the Countess of Castelmara, that she procured her several Occasions of seeing Yolanda, and of contracting a particular Friendship with her; which was easy for her to do, under the colour of discoursing her upon the Affairs of Sicily. One day that they were alone, the Countess cunningly let the Discourse fall upon the Prince's departure: she spoke of his Merit with all the Esteem and Consideration that the best of his Friends could have done. Yolanda, deceived by this Artifice, and overjoyed to see the Countess in Sentiments so conformable to her own, loved her the more for it, and always made her a kind Reception from that time. The Countess acquainted the Marchioness with this happy beginning, and with all the Discourse she had entertained Yolanda with in favour of the Prince, for the gaining her Confidence, and for the being afterwards in a better state to injure her Lover. The Marchioness approved of her Cunning. They had several Conferences to concert the Means for the well-managing of their Project. The experience they both had in such like Affairs, made 'em both judge that Jealousy was an infallible Expedient to alter the good Intelligence of those two Lovers, and that if they could instil it into Yolanda, it would contribute much towards the promoting of their Design. To bring this about the more easily, the Marchioness cast her Eyes upon a Maid of Honour who had been brought up near her, and having persuaded her that the Countess of Castelmara and she had only a mind to put a Shame upon Yolanda, to divert 'emselves thereby afterwards, when they should have discovered her real Sentiments for the Prince of Escaletta, and that it imported 'em, for the bringing this about, to persuade her she had a Rival; this young Lady, being overjoyed to find an occasion of making herself merry, promised the Marchioness to play the Part she desired. After this Engagement, they bethought themselves of changing the Cover of the Letter which the Prince had left for Yolanda, to counterfeit the Superscription the best they were able, and to address it to Donna Theresa Gomes (which is the Name of the pretended Rival.) These two Women having so well disposed all things, the Countess, who had already acquired a great deal of Credit in Yolanda's good Opinion, still pretending of her never having taken notice of the Good will she had for the Prince, told her one day, out of a kind of Confidence, That she was very much mistaken if the Prince of Escaletta had not an Intrigue with one of the Maids of Honour; nay, and that since his departure, she had observed a certain Curiosity, mingled with a great deal of Disquiet, in one of her Companions, which confirmed her in her Opinion. This Artifice had the hoped for Effect; for Yolanda falling into this Snare, showed herself very earnest to know the Name of her Rival, and to be informed of the Circumstances of this Intrigue. The Countess cunningly managing this Affair, told her, That perhaps she made a rash Judgement, and that she would dive into the Truth, before she acquainted her with any thing further. This Reservedness augmenting the impatient Curiosity of Yolanda, she desired her nevertheless to tell her what she knew thereof; but the Countess persisting not to do it, for fear, said she, of wounding her Conscience, by affirming a thing which she was not very sure of; Yolanda, without being so contented, conjured her to acquaint her at least with the Name of the Person. Then the Countess, pretending that she could no longer resist her pressing Importunities, owned to her at length, that it was Donna Theresa, beseeching her that she would rest herself so satisfied, in the assurance that she gave her, carefully to apply herself to discover if she were not mistaken. Thereupon she retired; and Yolanda being alone, was racked with a hundred several Suspicions. After several Conflicts, wherein her Love had much ado to comfort her against her Jealousy, she resolved to suspend her Resentment, and to wait until the Countess, in whom she had an entire Confidence, had sifted into this Affair. Two days after, the Countess having met with Yolanda, told her, That she had wherewith to content her Curiosity, having learned things which she should not dare to tell her, unless she was assured of being secret. Yolanda having passed her word she would, the Countess added, That since she had seen her last, she had insinuated herself further into the Confidence of Donna Theresa, who had owned to her the perfect Intelligence which was between her and the Prince of Escaletta; nay, that she had shown her a Letter which she had received from him. I must own to you, continued the Countess, that I was a little surprised at a Secret of this nature; seeing nevertheless that she did not blush, I thought I might dispense myself from blushing for her. This, my Fair One, is all I have learned of the Affairs of the Prince of Escaletta. Yolanda had much ado to conceal her Jealousy, and forbear exclaiming against the Prince, whom she thought unfaithful. By good luck, other Persons came into the Place where they were talking, which gave Yolanda occasion to withdraw. The Countess observing the great Effect which this forged Secret had produced upon the Mind of the too credulous Yolanda, went to rejoice with the Marchioness for the happy Success of their Artifice, advising her to finish what they had so happily begun, to see the new Donna Theresa, and to put into her Hands the Prince's Letter, that she might oblige her to show the Writing of it to Yolanda, yet without suffering her to read what it contained, not to give her any occasion of suspecting their Cheat. The Marchioness knowing of what Consequence it was to her, for the success of her Designs, to follow the Counsels of the Countess, spoke thereof to Donna Theresa, who promised her to do all she prescribed to her, not distrusting that the Marchioness, who was her great Friend, and who flattered her sometimes with the Hopes that she might be her Daughter-in-Law, would exact any thing from her which could do her any injury.  
It would be a hard matter to express the dolorous Estate that Yolanda was reduced to, when she no longer doubted of the Infidelity of her Lover. Spite, Anger, and Revenge, did equally rend her Breast. Love, which in such like Occasions always speaks in favour of the absent, in vain endeavoured to represent to her the Prince less culpable; not being able to resolve to banish him from her Heart, tho' being persuaded of his Crime, she sought for at least some Pretext that might help to deceive her. After a thousand different Thoughts, she at length came to this Determination, by a last effort of her Passion, to inform herself with her own Eyes, and to see often Donna Theresa, flattering herself, that she would show her that Criminal Letter, since she had made no difficulty of showing it to the Countess. As soon as she had taken this Resolution, her Thoughts were wholly bend upon putting it in execution. Donna Theresa, on her side, being desirous to please the Countess, by acquitting herself handsomely of the Engagements she was under, watched too for Opportunities of meeting alone with Yolanda. Having both the same Design, it was no hard matter for them to meet. They discoursed for a pretty while upon indifferent things, each endeavouring to cover her Design. Donna Theresa, whose Thoughts were more disengaged, asked her if she had not seen a very fine Song, which was much esteemed by all the Court? Yolanda, whose Heart and Mind were extremely possessed, made her answer coldly, That she was no Lover of Poetry: But a Reflection made her perceive that it became her not to seem so concerned; she asked to see it, and Donna Theresa pretending to take it out of her Pocket, to give it her to read, presented her the Letter of the Prince of Escaletta. Yolanda knowing the Hand again at the first blush, was seized with such Motions, that Donna Theresa, pretending to perceive her Error, by the astonishment of her Companion, snatched the Letter hastily out of her Hands, and gave her the Sonnet in the stead of it, affecting a formal Confusion, in having mistaken the one for the other. There needed no more absolutely to ruin the unfortunate Yolanda; she could hardly hold from giving excessive marks of her Despair, after having seen so convincing a Proof of her Lover's Infidelity; and tho' before hand she had thought she had prepared herself for all the Events of that dangerous Scrutiny, she could not however forbear telling her Rival, That knowing the inconstant Humours of the Cavaliers of her Nation, she was willing to put her in mind not to rely much upon the Fidelity of the Prince of Escaletta, Donna Theresa being willing to push on her Artifice, replied, That she was not at all uneasy upon the matter, and was well assured of the sincerity of his Sentiments. Yolanda being no longer able to support so painful a Conversation, and perceiving that her Tears would betray her, if she delayed withdrawing, desired Donna Theresa to leave with her that Sonnet to copy it, and under that pretence she shut herself up in her Chamber, where she abandoned herself to Grief. She saw no Condition more unhappy than hers, when she represented to herself the aversion she had to the Spaniards, the Reasons she thought obliged her to be revenged on them, and the Promise the Prince of Escaletta had made her, of espousing her Resentment, which had formerly held the first place in her Heart, were incomparably below the Despair which the Inconstancy of her Lover created in her. It is impossible to express the piteous Estate these Considerations reduced her to; deprived of her Parents and Relations, exiled, as I may say, amongst her Enemies, without resource, without hopes: all yielded to the horror of not being beloved, and of seeing herself deceived by a Man whom she thought so worthy of her Affections.  
In the mean while the Marchioness, who had been informed by Donna Theresa, took new measures with the Countess; and as she knew, that when a Lady is fully persuaded that she has been failed, that time is the most proper to speak in favour of another, they resolved to make use of that occasion to propose the Marriage of the Duke of Fernandina. The Countess charged herself with all, and having visited Yolanda, whom she found very sad, she held her a long Discourse upon the State of the Affairs of Sicily, and upon the particular Misfortunes of the House of Cigala, and concluded with the necessity she was in to support it, to marry a Man of Merit, who stood well at Court, and who might by his Credit re-establish it in its former Splendour. Yolanda was so oppressed with grief, that she harkened to this Discourse with as much indifference, as if she had no share therein. The Countess thinking by her silence that she relished her Reasons, continued, extolling the Birth, Personal Merit, and Authority of the Duke of Fernandina, (who perhaps would suddenly be nominated Viceroy of Sicily) adding, That she saw no Man that was a fit Match for her, nor who was more capable of raising up again the Grandeur of her Family. Yolanda being afraid she would never have done, interrupted her with saying. That it was to no purpose to tell her of all those great Advantages, since she had an intention to spend her Life in a Convent. The Countess attributing this Answer to the first Motion of spite which she knew Yolanda must needs have for the pretended Infidelity of her Lover, and Yolanda having declared that she was obliged to be at the Queen's Apartment, an end was put to this Conversation, without the Countess knowing herself what there was to hope or fear.  
While that all this passed at Madrid, the Prince of Escaletta was at Messina, where he was continually thinking on the means of seeing again his Mistress. The Nobility of the City had frequent Conferences at that time with the Senators, to endeavour together the preserving the Authority of the Senate, which the Governor diminished every day. After several Deliberations, they found no means more lawful to prevent the Consequences of it, than that of having recourse to their Sovereign, and resolved to send some one or other into Spain, for the carrying their Complaints to the King, against the Usurpations of the Governor, for to penetrate once for all, if all the Means which the Governors used to debase 'em, proceeded from a particular Hatred which they had against 'em, or from an Order of the Court. The Prince of Escaletta seeing that Disposition, employed all his Friends to obtain that Employment, in hopes that being Ambassador, they could no longer deny to let him see his Mistress; but the remembrance of the ill Treatments the House of Cigala had received from the Spaniards, and the hatred they nourished upon that account in their Hearts, made 'em prefer Don Philip Cigala, Yolanda's Uncle, before the Prince of Escaletta, in an Employment wherein the main Business was to maintain their Liberty, and oppose the Jealousy of the Spaniards. The Prince having notice hereof, comforted himself for the Refusal he had met with, in hopes that Don Philip, who espoused his Interests, and was his particular Friend, would suddenly bring back his Niece. He was the first to congratulate this new Ambassador, and press him forthwith to departed. Don Philip embarked shortly after, and promised the Prince to do his good Offices in his favour with Yolanda. But the Countess of Castelmara having had notice of this Messinese's departure, gave the Marchioness of Villa-Franca to understand, That it was of the greatest consequence to her, to prepossess the Ministers as to this Voyage, and to traverse the Negotiation of Don Philip, because she had received notice, That this Ambassador came away with design to carry back his Niece, which would absolutely ruin the Project of the Duke of Fernandina's Match. The Countess found it no hard matter to persuade the Ministers, the Council of Spain having long before taken the resolution to destroy the Senate of Messina, because of the resistance the Spanish Governors met with in that Community.  
Don Philip being arrived at Madrid, they took the Pretext not to to receive him, by refusing him the Quality of Ambassador. tho' they had never made any difficulty to give that Title to the Deputies of the City of Messina; and far from harkening to the Remonstrances and Submissions, it was taken into deliberation, whether the Ambassador should be taken into custody. Don Philip having had secret notice hereof, gave 'em not time to execute their Designs, and retired in all haste, without so much as having seen his Niece, not daring to venture going to the Palace, for fear of being seized on. The Messineses seeing Don Philip return with so little satisfaction, were so provoked by the Contempt the Spaniards had of their Submissions, that they no longer doubted of the ill-will of the Spaniards, whom they looked upon as Persecutors; and since that time, the Troubles of Messina have ever been augmenting.  
What share soever that the Prince of Escaletta took in the Public Affairs, hearing of the ill success of his Friend's Voyage, the Interest of his Love contributed very much to the making him detest the unjust Proceed of the Spaniards. He complained thereof to all the World, and spoke of it in such Terms as sufficiently gave to understand, that he interested himself in this Business after another manner than what concerned the Public. The fear of seeing a Spaniard Possessor of his Mistress, gave him continual Alarms; and only thinking how to hinder this Misfortune, he had several Conferences with the Relations of the House of Cigala, who gave with delight their Consent to his Marriage with Yolanda. There was now nothing more to do, than to have her brought back from Spain; and this was what troubled the Prince most, upon the Difficulties he foresaw in this Return. He would not have stuck returning to Madrid, and demanding her of the Queen, seconded with the Consent of her Relations, which he could easily have obtained in Writing; but the knowledge he had of the Spanish Policy, made him with reason fear, that his Love would be made in him a Crime of State, and that perhaps it might be laid hold on for an occasion of taking him into custody, for having abandoned without Order the Employment which the Court had confided in him the Year foregoing. All these Reasonings augmented his Disquiets, and his Passion was too strong to permit him to be calm, being separated from what he loved, with so little likelihood of meeting in a good while.  
Don Thomas Caraffo, who had married a Lady of the House of Cigala, by whom he had several Children, and who by his Quality, his Age, and his Credit, was the Person who gave most weight to all the Deliberations of the Family, for the bringing about the Pretensions of the Prince of Escaletta, was of opinion to interpose the Authority of the Prince of Ligne, at that time Viceroy of Sicily, and very much beloved by the Messinese, for the knowledge they had of his Equity, and of his Humour, an Enemy to all Violences. The Sentiment of Don Thomas Caraffo having been approved of, he himself had in charge to go to Palermo, to desire the Viceroy to write to Spain, for the demanding the return of Yolanda. The Prince de Ligne received him very obligingly, and wrote accordingly to the Queen in Terms very pressing, beseeching Her Majesty to send back Yolanda to her Relations, who passionately desired it, looking upon her as the Resource and Comfort of all their Family; and concluded, That if her Majesty thought fitting, Yolanda might repass into Italy with the new Duchess of Ossuna, who was going to her Husband in his Government of Milan. The hopes the Prince had of obtaining some Advantage by the Viceroy's Intercession, gave some kind of Alloy to his corroding Thoughts.  
The Queen having received the Prince of Ligne's Letter, was at first willing to grant him his Demand; nay, she spoke thereof to Yolanda, declaring to her, that she was loath to consent to her departure, out of the affection she had to her Person. But this Business coming to the Ears of the Marchioness of Villa-Franca, she set so many Machines' a going to hinder it, that the Affair was put into deliberation. She infused into the Ministers, That Yolanda being one of the richest Matches, and of one of the Principal Families of Sicily, it did extremely import the King's Interest to have her married to a Spaniard, who might with such considerable Riches render great Services to the State, and dissipate by his Presence, and by his Cares, all the Cabals which began already to be form at Messina against the Service of the King of Spain. The Reasons of the Marchioness were so probable, that she easily persuaded what she desired, and it was resolved in the Council, That the Queen should make answer to the Viceroy of Sicily, and let him know, That she would have agreed to Yolanda's return to her Relations, but that being satisfied with her Services, she thought herself bound, out of acknowledgement, to detain her some time longer, not being able to resolve to suffer her to departed from the Court, without giving her Testimonies of her Esteem; and that she was in hopes to procure her quickly a Husband, who should be worthy of her, and with whom her Relations should have ever reason to be satisfied.  
The Prince de Ligne having received this Answer, sent it to Don Thomas Caraffo, who imparted it to the other Relations; they quickly concluded, that it had been concerted in the Council, and that the Spaniards thought less of giving a grateful Establishment to Yolanda, than of hindering her Riches from falling into a suspected Family. They meant to conceal this ill. News from the Prince of Escaletta; but his Love, which made him fear the worst, had given him secret pre-sentiments of this Answer. He had like to have died of grief, when Yolanda's Relations told him the truth of the matter: They resolved, for his comfort, that Don Philip Cigala should write a Letter to his Niece, in the Name of all the Family, by which he should let her know the extreme desire that all her Family had to see her married to the Prince of Escaletta, and that they hoped, from the goodness of her Disposition, that she would defer to the Choice of her Relations; nay, that she would represent to the Queen this Engagement, if it happened that her Majesty would propose to her any other Match. Tho' all these Paces were feeble enough, the Prince, who could do nothing better in the present state, and who still reckoned upon the Inclination which his Mistress had for him, flattered himself, that this Letter would produce a good Effect, and that at least it might help Yolanda to defend herself, upon this pretext, from engaging herself to any body without the Consent of her Relations, for fear of incurring the anger of Heaven, which the Spaniards never fail of threatening their disobedient Children with, and which they always give for a Pretext to their Designs.  
There happened at that time great Broils between the Spaniards and the Messinese, the Nobility having strongly opposed some Novelty, which the Governor of the City would have introduced, without the participation of the Senate: But this Disorder was quickly appeased by the Care and Vigilance of the Prince de Ligne, who still diverted the Storm, and perhaps that if he had been believed, the affairs of Messina would not have run so counter to the Spaniards, having several times given the Court notice of the Humours of the Sicilians, who are the People in the World the most jealous of the Preservation of their Privileges: But no Ear was given to his Advices, and the Council of Spain, that had for a long while projected the Ruin of the Senate of Messina, as I have already said, taking new Umbrages from the Union of the Senators with the Nobility, thought of executing this Design; and not being willing to employ main Force, lest they should alarm the other Cities of the Kingdom, they thought they might more easily bring it about by Artifice: For that purpose they stood in need of a Man of Wit, who knew well how to dissemble his real Sentiments: And as in all sorts of Nations there are not wanting Persons of that Character, those who were of the Secret proposed several Persons, whom they judged very proper for the bringing about this Design. Don Lewis de Loya, whose Genius was known, and who in such like Occasions had, given Marks of his Ability, was preferred before all the others, and was sent to Messina in Quality of Stratico, (so call they the Governor.) This Charge, which after that of Viceroy is the most considerable of the Kingdom of Sicily, having been confided in Don Lewis de Loya, with secret Memoires of the Intentions of the Court, he departed secure of the Protection of the Ministers, and full of the great Hopes that were given him, in case he compassed the destroying the Senate of Messina by his Cunning. He had given him all the Powers necessary for acting, neither were they sparing of great Sums of Money for the facilitating all things to him. The Viceroy of Sicily had Order not to meddle at all with the particular Affairs of Messina, and to suffer Don Lewis to act as he should think convenient. This new Governor being arrived at Messina, applied himself forthwith to grow well acquainted with the Humour and Inclinations of those with whom he had to do, trusting in that case only to his own knowledge. Having observed, that the People of that Country suffer themselves sometimes to their disadvantage, to be deceived by the Appearances of Piety, he fancied he might easily insinuate himself into their good Opinion, by feigning a great Probity, seconded by an exemplary Devotion. There is no sort of Hypocrisy but which he bethought himself of, for the bringing this about: He often visited the Churches, frequented the Sacraments; in short, exercised such a Piety as altogether resembles that which is practised by People who are really Devout. And to take away all pretext of Detraction, and hold from those who knew him to the bottom, of blaming so holy a Conduct, he maintained his Hypocrisy with several considerable Alms, which he knew how to distribute with more Cunning than Piety, employing for that use the Money that was given him at his Departure. His Artifices had immediately the Effect he had promised to himself; for the People, who never dive into any thing, and judge of all things by the Appearances, looked upon Don Lewis as the Defender of Justice. He knew so well how to behave himself in his Dissimulation, with so much artifice, that in a short while the Public was as fully persuaded of the sincerity of his Intentions, as it was already of his Virtue.  
As soon as Don Lewis found himself in the good Opinion of the Common People to his Heart's desire, he made use of the Credit which his Artifices had acquired him, for to inspire into 'em an Aversion against the Senate, and against the Nobility. The Senators being well informed of the Designs of Don Lewis, neglected nothing for the destroying his ill Intentions. They let those see, who were not prepossessed, that Don Lewis made it his whole Business to disunite the Nobility and the People, only that he might with the more ease crush 'em both afterwards.  
While that the Affairs of Messina were in this ill disposition, Yolanda was in no more tranquillity in the midst of the Court, than her Relations amidst Tumults and Seditions. She had received a Letter from Don Philip Cigala her Uncle, which had given her some Comfort, as much as her Love alarmed was capable of Consolation, in the unhappy Circumstances which the Intrigues of the Marchioness of Villa-Franca, and of the Countess of Castelmara, had reduced her to. Repassing in her Mind all the Circumstances of that Letter, she judged that her Relations were desirous of a Match between her and the Prince of Escaletta, out of Reasons of Interest or Decency, perhaps unknown to the Prince, or at least perhaps without that Love had any share therein. These Reflections augmented her anxiety, and the remembrance of her Lover's Infidelity put her in despair. The Countess was become suspected to her, through the Interest she had seen she took in her Marriage with the Duke of Fernandina. She was surrounded with People whom she hated, and she had not a Person of trust, to whom she could discover the real Sentiments of her Heart, which much contributed to the rendering her Misfortunes the more sensible; nothing in the World being so proper to allay our Evils, and principally Amorous Pains, as imparting 'em to a Confident. The Tears she shed, and the Affliction which almost ever appeared in her Face, were not capable of bringing any great change to her Beauty, which was so perfect, that all the Court spoke of it with admiration. Those who knew her not, were extremely desirous to see her, and she was commonly called The Beautiful Sicilian. Several young Persons of the Court sighed for her, but not any of 'em had ever declared to her his Passion, by reason of the difficulty there was of coming at her, and by the little opportunity she afforded for so doing. In short, never did a Beautiful Person spend more unpleasantly the first Years of her Youth; and those happy Times which two Lovers enjoy, who are not disturbed in their Passion, had only lasted for her as long as was necessary to make her the more lively sensible of the unhappy Estate she was in.  
The End of the First Part.   

YOLANDA OF SICILY A NOVEL.  
THE SECOND PART.  
LONDON, Printed for R. Bentley and S. Magnes, in Russel-street near . MDCLXXXV.   

YOLANDA OF SICILY.  

PART II.  
THe Marchioness of Villa-Franca, whom Yolanda's Contempt neither made to despond, nor cease prosecuting her Design, which she was still in hopes of effecting, either by Cunning or Compulsion, made fresh Instances to the Ministers, to insinuate into their Minds the Marriage of the Duke of Fernandina with Yolanda, as an Affair of State. The favourable Circumstances of the Troubles of Messina, which augmented every day, contributed very much to the engaging on her Side the Count de Pennaranda, Precedent of the Council of Italy. The Count being persuaded, that nothing could be done better for the Service of the King of Spain, and for the common Interest of the Nation, than to make the Spaniards enter into the Alliance of the Principal Families of Sicily, took the liberty to press the Business hard to the Queen; and seeing her Majesty had a repugnance to give her Consent, without consulting the mind of Yolanda, Penneranda represented to her, That Persons of a Great Rank do never marry by their Choice, since that the very Princesses of Sovereign Families are often Sacrifices to the Interests of the State, and become the Wives of those whom they had looked upon as Enemies; so that Yolanda's Inclination ought not to be any Impediment in this Business: That she was perhaps of the humour of most young Women, who propose to 'emselves nothing more in their establishment, than the satisfying their present Passion, and who never fail of being unhappy, when that their Fondness and Transports being cooled and diminished, they come to consider the state they are in, and the state they might have been in, if they had defered to the Sentiments of those who were not prepossessed, as they were. The Count perceiving that the Queen was satisfied with his Reasons, added, That the Duke of Fernandina had so many good Qualities, that he did not doubt but that Yolanda would love him, as soon as that she knew him. There needed no more to persuade the Queen fully. The Marriage was resolved on, and the Queen took upon herself to acquaint Yolanda with this News, who had long expected some such like business. Her Majesty spoke to her thereof, and let her know, that her Affection, and the desire of seeing her well settled, had made her desirous to see her united to the Duke of Fernandina, assuring her, That in favour of this Match, she would give 'em both Testimonies of her Kindness, and of the satisfaction she took therein. Yolanda, dissembling out of respect the Spite which these Tidings created in her, thanked the Queen for her Goodness, and answered, That she had nothing to reply to what her Majesty commanded her; nevertheless, that she most humbly beseeched her to give her time to procure the Consent of her Relations, that so she might not incur the Anger of Heaven by so manifect a neglect. The Queen gave her leave to write to 'em thereof, and ordered her nevertheless to prepare herself to departed within three Months, to go to the Duke of Fernandina at Naples. The Countess of Castelmara, pretending a great surprise at so sudden a Resolution, went to Yolanda, to sift her Mind upon the matter: But she made her answer with so much reservedness, that the Countess found it very difficult to pry into her real Sentiments. Then she used extraordinary Efforts, to make her resolve to obey with a good Grace: But Yolanda, who had prepared herself for these Violences, had at first took her Resolution, and was determined to die, when that she should see there was no more resource, and to conceal in the mean while her Resolution, hoping that Time, her Relations, or perhaps the Prince of Escaletta, might work some Change. Thus she did not vent her Resentment into impertinent Discourses, but made the Countess answer, and all those who made her Compliments upon this Marriage, that she expected with submission the Answer of the Will of her Relations. The Marchioness of Villa-Franca would needs make and give a noble Present to this fair future Bride. Yolanda, without refusing it, desired her to give her leave not to receive it, until the Consent of her Family was arrived. The Marchioness could not take offence at so prudent an Answer, and Yolanda, by so handsome a Conduct, deceived the Vigilance of those who watched her, and found means to give her Relations an Account of the state she was in, and of the Design she had to prefer Death, before the Marriage that was proposed to her.  
As soon as her Relations knew the Resolution that was taken in Spain, they had divers Conferences for the contriving the Means of hindering this Marriage, and of delivering Yolanda. All the Nobility joined with'em, and complained publicly of this Injustice. The Governor, pretending he would appease 'em, went to the Palace where the Senate does assemble, and having caused the Senators to come thither, he caused the Gates to be shut up, with design to have 'em all put to death. Don Antonio Caraffo having notice of the Peril which menaced his Father, went to the Palace, with a Resolution either to free him, or to perish. He was followed with so numerous a Populace, that the Captain of the governor's Guards was afraid that all was upon the point of being lost, and that they were going to set fire to the Palace, if the Senators were not quickly set at liberty. He gave notice thereof to the Governor, who caused the Gates to be opened, and sent 'em all back.  
The Prince of Escaletta, impatient to know what would be the Issue of all these Disorders, knowing that the term of his Mistress' departure did approach, and not being able to imagine a greater Misfortune, than to see her in the Arms of his Rival, was incessantly contriving the means of securing her from this Violence. His Friends and her Relations were so taken up to defend themselves against the Insults of the Spaniards, and to detain the Populace, provoked by the Cheers of the Governor, that they had not time to think of giving succour to Yolanda, nor assist with their Counsels the Prince of Escaletta. Thus this unhappy Lover, having no more prospect of any resource, abandoned himself to all the Expedients which his Despair inspired him with; and having made Provision of Money and Jewels, he went away for Algiers, and put himself into the Hands of the famous Corsair Trik, whom he endeavoured to engage in his Interests, by the Presents which he heaped upon him, and by the Discourses, filled with Flattery, wherewith he accompanied his Liberalities, owning to him sincerely, that the Reputation of his Valour had obliged him to court his Protection, for the delivering his Mistress from the Oppression of the Spaniards. This Corsair immediately promised to serve him, with assurances, that he should quickly know, that he was not deceived in the good Opinion which he had conceived of him.  
Whereupon he armed two good Ships, and put to Sea, with a resolution of waiting for Yolanda, and of taking her when she should pass into Italy. That Lovely Person was in the mean while under inconceivable Disquiets: The hideous Idea she had form to herself of the Prince of Escaletta's Infidelity, had determined her to put herself to death, when she could no longer defer being the Wife of the Duke of Fernandina. Being upon the point of departing from Madrid, she went to take leave of her Companions. Donna Theresa de Gomez, who had long been in love with the Duke of Fernandina, had always flattered herself with marrying him; and seeing Yolanda was ready to departed, vexed that a Stranger was going to frustrate her of her Hopes, by robbing her of the Man she loved; and imagining that the Marchioness of Villa-Franca had joined with Yolanda to deceive her, when that they had engaged her to feign her being beloved by the Prince of Escaletta, the remembrance of this Injury, and the regret of losing her Lover, touched her so to the quick, that she could not forbear declaiming and tearing the Letter of the Prince of Escaletta, reproaching Yolanda with her Perfidiousness, and complaining of her having been betrayed. Yolanda surprised at this action, perceived by this Sally, and by the other Discourses with which Donna Theresa held her, that they had been both deceived. She endeavoured to appease her, by a sincere confession of the Truth. But Donna Theresa, who had her Mind prepossessed, and who regulated the Sentiments of Yolanda for the Duke of Fernandina, by her own, not being able to understand how that any other could hate a Man whom she found so amiable, refused to hear her, and without entering into any further clearing of the Point, she retired in disorder, having not the power to support the presence of a Rival whom she thought happy.  
After this Sally of Donna Theresa, Yolanda did no longer doubt but that her Lover had ever been faithful to her; and this thought gave her the more horror for the Marriage she was threatened with. In the mean while, she was nevertheless forced to resolve on her departure. The Countess of Castelmara was encharged with her Conduct. They embarked at Barcelona, in a Galley of Spain, which had order to carry 'em into Sicily. The Disquiets of Yolanda augmented by the same degrees that she approached her Country; and and tho' she was in great hopes of the Love of the Prince of Escaletta, and of the Kindness of her Relations, the Authority of the Duke of Fernandina made her fear the worst. She was in these agitations when that the Ships of Trik gave the Alarm to the Spanish Galley. The Efforts the Captain made to gain the Shore, were all to no purpose; but the Corsair had taken such exact measures; that it was impossible for the Spaniard to avoid the Combat. The Match at first seemed very unequal, and there seemed to be temerity in resisting two Ships so well armed: Nevertheless, the Captain, without being daunted by the Menaces of Trik, who had declared he would sink him if he delayed yielding up the Galley, defended himself with great Valour, and gave to understand by his vigorous Resistance, that he would not suffer himself to be so easily taken as the Corsair had imagined. The enamoured Prince of Escaletta fearing that the obstinacy of this Captain would prove the destruction of his Mistress, saw not one Broad side given which gave not cruel Alarms to his Love: He represented to himself every moment the Despair he should be reduced to, if by misfortune he was going to be the Cause of Yolanda's Death; and not being willing to expose any longer a Person whom he loved more than his own Life, he resolved at length to perish himself, or to secure her without hazarding the losing her. This obliged him to desire Trik to give him a Pinnace, with some Soldiers, to board the Galley with Sabre in hand. The Corsair, who was irritated by the rash Resistance of the Spaniards, made some difficulty, pretending he would not expose him to so evident a danger, tho' in his Soul he was not sorry for it, in hopes of gaining his Jewels, and perhaps that he might dispose of Yolanda according to his own will and pleasure, of whom he had framed to himself an agreeable Idea, by the Discourses of her Lover. The Prince having insisted in his demand of a Pinnace, the Corsair seemed to be overcome with repugnance, and to yield to his Importunities, and gave it him, with thirty resolute Soldiers, who boarded the Galley in spite of all the firing of the Spaniards. The Prince having fixed upon the Captain, whom he easily distinguished by his Valour, was so happy as to disable him immediately; and imagining the Turks would without pain subdue the others, the impatience he was in to see his Mistress, mingled with the apprehension she might be dead, made him abandon the care of pursuing his Victory, to learn news of her. What aversion soever Yolanda had for the Duke of Fernandina, the Image of Death, and the fear of being in a little time the Prey of a barbarous Corsair, had made her forget her Hatred, especially after the Compassion she had for the Death of the Countess of Castelmara, who had been killed with a Canonshot. She implored the Succours of Heaven with a great Resignation, when that the Prince of Escaletta, who was descended into the bottom of the Hole to see her, presented himself before her eyes. It is easy to judge of Yolanda's surprise, who expected nothing more than Death, seeing in that moment appear the only Person in the World who made her love Life. The Prince finding her in a very deplorable estate, Fear nothing, Madam, said he to her, I am here to deliver you. The surprise she was in at the sight of her Lover, had like to have been more fatal to her than her Fear had been: She fell into a Swoon in the Arms of her Women, and the Prince of Escaletta being reassured at the sight of a Person who was so dear to him, thought of nothing more than of rendering himself Master of the Galley, and returned again above deck in all haste, without so much as perceiving Yolanda's being fallen into a Swoon. He found that the Spaniards defended themselves with an extraordinary Opiniativeness; and animated with that noble Ardour which his Love inspired him with, he rushed in amongst 'em, and was so well seconded by the Turks, that in a short time he found no more Resistance. But he could not gain so considerable Advantage, without being wounded in several Places, tho' somewhat slightly. Trik, who was just come on board the Galley, having perceived that the Prince lost Blood, caused him to be carried away, in spite of his Resistance, and gave order he should be carried into a Ship, where an able Chirurgeon searched his Wounds.  
The Corsair, in the mean while, searched all the Corners and Crannies of the Galley, where he thought any Money might be hid, as often happens in such like Occasions. Yolanda being recovered from her Swoon, and thinking to find the Prince, was terribly frighted to see the Corsair approach, whose Mien alone inspired Terror. Trik, struck with the Lustre of so surprising a Beauty, paused a moment to consider her; and tho' she seemed to him very amiable, his Avarice prevailed over all the Motions of his Heart, and the desire of finding Money, which the Turks are more greedy of than all other Nations, obliged him to ask her if she knew not where the Captain of the Galley had concealed his Treasure. Yolanda, in stead of making him any answer, abandoned herself to Tears, no longer doubting but that she was a Slave, and imagining that the excess of her Love had deceived her, when she fancied, she had seen the Prince of Escaletta.  
The Corsair, for his part, had his thoughts wholly bend on reaping the Spoils of the Spanish Captain, by causing what was most precious in the Galley to be transported into his Ships, the Galley being too much disabled to avoid Shipwreck. He ordered that Yolanda should be carried into his own Ship, as well as several Travellers who had taken that occasion of going into Italy. Yolanda was hardly got into the Pinnace, than that the Galleyslaves were heard to cry out after a lamentable manner. Then they all perceived that the Galley was upon sinking. The Cries redoubled, and there arose a confusion of piteous Voices of Persons who were going to perish, whereof several cast 'emselves into the Sea. Nay, Trik himself ran a great risque, and saved himself by swimming, with some difficulty. They had just done searching the Prince of Escaletta's Wounds, which were found very slight, when that this doleful Noise struck his Ears. His Love making him fear the worst, he crawled towards that side where the Galley was, which he saw disappear in a moment; and not doubting but that his Mistress was swallowed up by the Waves, because he knew not of her having been conveyed into the other Ship, he only gave ear to his Despair, and precipitated himself into the Sea, much less out of hopes of succouring her, than not to survive her. His Men having cast 'emselves in after him, saved him against his will, just in the nick of time he began no longer to be able to resist the violence of the Billows, and carried him again on board, where he recovered his Spirits, by the care they took to make him vomit up the Water he had swallowed. But his Grief was not the less strong, and turning towards the Corsair, from whom he thought he had received the Help he had newly given him, What have I done, too generous Trik, said he to him, for to oblige you to deprive me of the only Comfort I have left, of accompanying in Death that Person who alone rendered Life supportable to me? Trik perceiving by this Discourse that the Prince was prepossessed of Yolanda's being drowned, was not over-sorry at his Error, the Charms of that Beautiful Person having already inspired him with Sentiments of Love. He confirmed to him the Death of his Mistress, giving him to understand, that he had in vain used his Endeavours to save her, but that the Galley sunk so suddenly, that he himself had like to have been buried in the Billows. The Prince finding his Grief renewed by the Discourse of the Corsair, would have stole away the second time to have flounced into the Sea; but he was prevented by his Men, who watched him with all the care imaginable, lest he should make himself away. Trik in the mean while went into the other Ship, under colour of giving there the Orders necessary, covering perhaps with that pretext the pressing desire he had of seeing Yolanda, and of preventing either she or the Prince having any Tidings of one another. He found her more charming than she had seemed to him the first time, and became passionately enamoured. But as he had got a habit of making all his Sentiments submit to those of his Avarice, and judging by the excess of his Passion, of Yolanda's Beauty, he resolved to carry her to Constantinople, where those Women are sold at a dear rate, as are handsome enough to enter into the Seraglio of the Grand Signior. The more he saw her, the more he found her to abound in Charms. Yolanda in the mean while recollected all that had happened to her in the Galley, and not being able to undeceive herself, but that she had seen the Prince of Escaletta, she could not understand how he had disappeared and vanished so soon. Trik accosting her, sound her in a very deplorable condition, and endeavouring to speak to her, he pretended to comfort her, and told her, That her Circumstances were not so unhappy as she imagined, since she was fallen into the hands of a Man who had a great respect for Ladies, and that he should be very sorry to do any thing to displease her. Yolanda being desirous to inform herself whether she had seen the Prince of Escaletta, or a Phantasm, thanked Trik for his Civility, and told him, That the loss of her Liberty was not what afflicted her most, having been long accustomed to Servitude; but that she fancied she had seen, before she was brought on board that Ship, a Cavalier of her own Nation, in whom she took a great deal of Interest, and whom she was afraid did perish in the Galley. If it be the Prince of Escaletta you mean, said the Corsair to her, I partake with you in the affliction for his death: He was my Friend, and I could not save him from the Shipwreck, what Endeavours soever. I used, and what Care and Pains soever I took to free him out of that Peril. He is then dead, and I was not mistaken, cried the sad Yolanda: After which, Tears and Sobs stifled her Voice. This News did so sensibly afflict her, that she would have drawn Compassion from a Heart less hardened than that of a Corsair. This wicked Wretch, after having given his Orders to the Officers, returned to the Ship wherein the Prince was on board, in a condition much like to that of Yolanda, and as cruelly tormented for the loss of his Mistress, as she had been afflicted at the Tidings of her Lover's being cast away. Trik being already impatient to see him gone, represented to him, That it was unbecoming so great a Courage, to abandon himself to Grief; That he ought to resolve upon something without any farther delay; and that he would show his Love much better by revenging his Mistress, and by entertaining an irreconcilable Hatred against the Spaniards, than by suffering himself to be led away by an useless Despair. The Prince had a kind of scorn at the Turk's Remonstrances, and his Wounds not being so considerable as to hinder him from acting, he came of a sudden to a Determination, and resolved to return to Messina, with a design of making there a cruel War upon the Spaniards, whom he looked upon as the Authors of Yolanda's Death. He desired Trik to carry him into some Port where he might embark for Messina; but being told how difficult it was to get thither, by reason of the opposition of some Spanish Ships which guarded the Coasts, to hinder any Victuals or Provisions being carried into Messina, which they pretended to reduce by Hunger, the Prince was obliged to embark in a Ship which he met with by chance, bound for Venice, where he arrived two days after. At Venice he was informed, how that the Disorders of Messina augmented every day, and that the Senate and Nobility, being reduced to extremity, had sent Deputies to Rome, for the beseeching the Ambassador of Spain to implore in favour of 'em the Clemency of the Queen Regent. The Prince extremely surprised at this News, went Post-haste to Rome to hinder this Accommodation, which deprived him of the Means and Occasions of being revenged on the Spaniards. He discovered at his arrival at Rome, that Don Antonio Caraffo was there, with two Senators, and that the Rumour which was spread abroad, of their being upon the point of an Accommodation with the Ambassador of Spain, was an Invention of Caraffo, who had found out that Expedient to make his Voyage with the more security, and to amuse those who were still in the Spanish Party; tho' their Design was to take Measures with the Cardinal and Duke d' Estrees, to sound if the Most Christian King was willing to take the City of Messina into his Protection. The Prince of Escaletta, overjoyed at hearing a Resolution so conformable to his Sentiments, went to the House of the Ambassador of France, and having made himself known, he was admitted to the secret Conferences which the Deputies of Messina had with the Cardinal d' Estrees; but to no purpose, because that the Messinese, who thought less to give 'emselves to the French, than to satisfy their great and continual Hatred against the Spaniards, were still uncertain, the Division being so great among 'em, that some revoked what the others had concluded. Nevertheless, despairing of being reconciled with the Spaniards, Don Antonin Caraffo had order from the Senate to go into France, to beseech his Most Christian Majesty to secure the People of Messina. He found many Difficulties in making his Voyage, because that the Spaniards, who are better served by their Spies than by their Captains, having notice thereof, sent Scouts abroad, and way laid him, for the having him seized. But he travestied himself so well, that he deceived their Vigilance, and got into France, where he laid open the Occasion of his Journey, and the Extremities the People of Messina were reduced to, who were brought to eat Infects, after having consumed their Horses and their Dogs, and could not avoid perishing either by Famine or by Rage, in the Resolution they had taken, of preferring Death before the Spanish Tyranny.  
Lewis the Great, who has no less Compassion for the Miserable, than he has Rigour for those who dare oppose him, was so moved at the Oppression of these poor People, that he gave 'em great Succours in a time when the numerous Armies of the Allies in Flanders, that of the Germans upon the Rhine, the Forces of the Spaniards in Catalonia, and the great Fleet of the Hollanders upon the Coast of Britain, would have made a less courageous King think of the Defence of his Territories, without sending his Troops and his Ships to the further Ends of Europe, for the relieving an oppressed City, especially not being able to foresee at that time, that the Conjuncture of Affairs would oblige him to withdraw 'em.  
In the mean while, News came to Messina of the pretended Shipwreck of Yolanda. All the Nobility were equally concerned at it, some out of Interest of Blood, and others out of the Compassion they had of the Destiny of a Person of her Birth; and if they could have added any thing to the implacable Hatred they had already against the Spaniards, her Death would have very much contributed to augment it. All the Prince of Escaletta's Friends wrote to him to Rome Letters of Consolation, which had the common Success of that sort of Epistles; and his Relations, who had thought him dead, desired him to return to Messina, to comfort 'em for the Affliction the News of his Death had created in 'em. He began his Journey accordingly, but had the misfortune to be taken at Sea by a Majorea Privatier, who having known him for a Messinese, delivered him immediately to the Duke of Fernandina, who was at that time Viceroy of Sicily. This generous Duke, who had formerly known the Prince of Escaletta, and had no share in all the Artifices which his Mother made use of for the constraining Yolanda to accept him for her Husband, was so touched at his Rival's Misfortune, that very far from executing upon him the Order he had received from Spain, to put to death all the Messinese who should fall into his Hands, he went to see him in the Prison, under pretext of questioning him concerning the Affairs of Messina, and comforted him in Terms very civil and obliging, assuring him, that he needed not to be under any fear of his Life, and that he would make known to him, that he had never merited his Hatred, tho' he had been his Rival, adding with a kind of confusion, That he had but lately known the Violence that had been done Yolanda upon his account, and that he would have rather chosen to have lost her Fortune, than to have married her against her will. The Prince of Escaletta, confused to find so much Generosity in a Man whom the Interest of his Love had made him look upon as his most cruel Enemy, was at first something touched by the Duke's obliging Discourses: But representing to himself, that a great Courage finds much more satisfaction in a suchlike Revenge, than in another more bloody, he fancied it would be a poorness of Spirit in him to make shameful Submissions to his Rival, and made him answer after a haughty manner, That it was in vain for him to do himself the Honour to save his Life, which was not in his power, without disobeying the Orders of Spain; That his present Circumstances would make him receive Death as a Favour, having only survived Yolanda to revenge her, in contributing to deliver his Country from the Insults of the Spaniards; and that at present, that the French were entered into Messina, he had nothing more to desire. The Duke of Fernandina, admiring this Generosity, replied, That he ought to have more respectful Sentiments for his Lawful Prince; and then assured him, that his Power was not so limited, but that he could preserve his Life, without disobeying the King. The Consequences justified that he spoke to him with sincerity; and he not only sweetened his Imprisonment, by several little Liberties which he gave him, but he wrote also into Spain, That he had deferred putting him to death, that so the Nobility of Sicily might not be wrought up to perfect Despair, and to prevent the Cabals which his Relations, whose Power was formidable, would have made in the other Cities of the Kingdom, which were already sufficiently staggered by the Example of Messina; adding, That he was in hopes usefully to employ the Ministry of that Prisoner, for the reducing the Messineses to some Accommodation. The Court of Spain, fearing the Consequences of this Revolt, abated of its former Rigour, upon the Viceroy's Remonstrances, and returned him this Answer, That they relied upon his Prudence in that Business, and that since he thought in convenient for the good of the present State of Affairs, they remitted to him the Execution of that Prince. But we must leave the Prince for some time in a Prison which is not overrigorous, to go in the mean while and learn Tidings of Yolanda.  
As soon as the perfidious Trik had parted with the Prince, he thought of nothing but of glutting his Avarice, by drawing a considerable Sum from the Sale of Yolanda, and having carried her to the Port of Constantinople, he had her proposed to the Bashaw who has the Superintendence of the Seraglio, as one of the most Beautiful Persons in the World. This Bashaw having seen her, was satisfied with her Beauty, tho' he could have rather wished she had been perfectly Fair, because the Grand Signior has more inclination to love those who are so, than all others: Nevertheless, he bought her, and put her into the Seraglio. So many several Descriptions have been seen of that House of Pleasure of the Ottoman Emperors, that every one fancies he is perfectly well informed of every Circumstance of the Place: yet the truth is, few have given an exact Account of it, because that extraordinary care has been taken to hinder the Public, and principally Strangers, from coming to the knowledge of what passes therein: But let the Reader be pleased to take the following Relation of it, which I have drawn out of Memoires which were given me for authentic.  
The Seraglio is a very vast House, wherein there is almost an infinite number of extraordinary fine Apartments, all distinguished by different Gardens. These Lodgings are taken up by the Grand Signior, by the Sultana's, and by several Beautiful Persons, who are chosen out of all Nations in the World, without any distinction of Birth or of Country, Beauty alone being required for their admittance Nevertheless, they perform a kind of Noviceship, before they appear before the Eyes of the Grand Signior, and particular care is taken to teach 'em the Turkish Tongue, in case they understand it not, that if they have the Honour of pleasing his Highness, they may be capable of answering him, without robbing him of the Pleasure of Conversation, which is certainly what commonly affords most delight. They are governed and served by Eunuches, who for the most part have but very little Complaisance, and treat 'em with a great deal of severity. The first Year they enter the Seraglio is spent in learning divers Exercises, and the Salamelek, or the Reverence they are taught to make in extraordinary Ceremonies. They are afterwards admitted, or sent back, according as they have Qualities necessary to please the Grand Signior; and the Stories which have run up and down Europe, of the Resistance his Highness met with in a cruel Beauty, are so far from being true, that never any Lady was introduced to the Emperor, until she had made solemn Protestations that she loved him, and that she would never neglect endeavouring to please him. During the first Year, they are shown every day in a great Hall as many Pourtraicts of the Grand Signior as he has Years, each of which represents how he was made and clothed the first Day of that Year. Those who out of Principles of Virtue, or of Modesty, resist the Cunning and Tricks of the Eunuches, who are proposed to inspire them with Love for the Grand Signior, are shut up in a kind of Monastery consecrated to Mahomet, wherein they observe several Vows, and pricipally that of Chastity. And as the number of 'em is very small, they are had in great veneration, the Turks calling 'em The Wives of their Great Prophet.  
Yolanda having been conducted into the Seraglio, was under extreme Disquiets, upon the consideration of her present Condition; and tho' the Death of her Lover, and her other Misfortunes, had made her look with indifferency upon all that could happen to her, the fear of the Violences which she imagined would be done her, kept her in continual apprehensions, until that an European Eunuch, who was her Master in the Turkish Tongue, had settled her Mind a little at rest, by acquainting her with what was observed in the Seraglio. He assured her, there was no Example of Force ever having been made use of, to constrain any Lady to satisfy the Desires of the Grand Signior; adding, with a kind of Complaint, That the Seraglio was but too much filled up with the Cabals of those who courted the Favour of the Sultana's, or the Protection of the Chief of the Eunuches, for to insinuate into the Emperor the Violence of their Passion, and endeavour by such like Artifices to be preferred before their Companions. Yolanda being insensibly disabused of the Terrors which she had framed to herself of the Seraglio, applied herself very carefully to learn the Turkish Tongue, and spent the time she did not bestow upon her Lessons, in playing upon Instruments, whereof the she acquitted herself to admiration. Having observed several times, that a young Eunuch eyed her attentively, nay, and served her with more application and respect than the others, these Distinctions began to render her uneasy, fearing perhaps that this Eunuch might be an Emissary of the Grand Seignior's Pleasures, that plied about her with some Design: But her Amazement was much greater, when that one day, being alone in her Chamber, this Eunuch came in, with his Face all bathed in Tears, and told her, That he had for a long while hesitated speaking to her, out of the shame he had to make himself known, in the unhappy Estate he was reduced to, which was a thousand times worse to him than Death: Nevertheless, what repugnance soever he had thereto, the desire he had to render her Service, by informing her of the Affairs of the Seraglio, which he had learned by an Experience of three years, had prevailed with him over the shame of his Condition. Yolanda eyed him in the mean while, and had a confused Idea of the Face of that Person, tho' she was entirely unacquainted with his Voice. The Eunuch perceiving that she could not recall him to mind, and that she was in some perplexity, It is not at all extraordinary that you know me not again, pursued he, I am persuaded that there is a very great difference between Don Augustin Gregorio, Yolanda 's Lover, and a sorry Eunuch of the Seraglio, and you. The Tears which trickled from his Eyes in abundance, hindered him from proceeding. At length Yolanda knowing him again for Don Augustin, tho' she found his Countenance very much changed, and his Voice wholly different, immediately declared herself very joyful to see him; and not understanding, perhaps, that there was so great a difference between an Eunuch and another Man, she reproached him with his Despair, telling him, That it became him to have more Christian Sentiments, and hope that Heaven would free him out of that Slavery, by procuring him the Means of returning into Sicily. For your part, you may still flatter yourself with those Hopes, replied Don Augustin; and the only Comfort I have left in my Misfortune, is, to hope that I may perhaps contribute thereto by my Counsels. But for my part, who am only an unhappy Wretch, and have nothing more of a Man than a false appearance, it is long since I resolved upon my Course of Life, and have resigned myself to spend my Days in the Employment you see me officiate. Yolanda, surprised at this Discourse, did imagine that an Eunuch was some hideous sort of thing; but she chose rather to remain in ignorance, than expose herself to the hearing an Explication, as would perhaps have wounded her Modesty. After this first Discovery, Don Augustin desired her to tell him. Tidings of the Prince of Escaletta. This Name having renewed Yolanda's Grief, she let him know, by a Torrent of Tears, which she could not keep in, that something fatal had happened to him; and then told him after what manner she believed he was unhappily cast away. Don Augustin perceived that Yolanda was extremely afflicted; the habit he had got of bewailing, made him find her Tears so reasonable, that he had not the power to comfort her, and withdrew without saying a Word more: But not being willing too to abandon her in her Affliction, he entered into the Apartment of another Lady, whom he knew to be of a very gay and facetious Humour; he let her know, how he came fro leaving Yolanda in a piteous Condition, and desired her to go into her Chamber, to help to dissipate her doleful melancholy Reflections. As Ladies love to be obliging, and as Beautiful Persons have commonly a Complaisance for one another, (when that the Interest of the Jealousy of their Beauties has not yet changed their Temper) Zarabey (so was the Lady's Name) went that very moment into Yolanda's Chamber, and made use of all her good Humour to divert her. Yolanda was so sensibly pleased with this generous Complaisance of Zarabey, that she suspended her Grief, to make Returns to her Civilities. Don Augustin coming back a little while after; was very glad to find the Conversation of Zarabey had produced the Effect he had promised to himself. As he was well acquainted with the Seraglio, and had a great Opinion of Zarabey, he counselled Yolanda to contract a Friendship with her: and Yolanda found her own Inclination so disposed to follow his Counsel, that she willingly made all the necessary Paces for the engaging this Commerce. Zarabey was one of those perfect Beauties who have nothing but what is admirable; she was fair, and just such a Person as was the very Hearts delight of the Grand Signior: Her gay Humour gave new Graces to the Charms which abounded in her Face. She answered with so much acknowledgement the Testimonies of Yolanda's Friendship, that in a little while they came to a perfect good Understanding. The Eunuch, Don Augustin, contributed very much towards the cementing this Union, by the advantageous Accounts he gave of Christendom to Zarabey, and of Turkey to Yolanda. They met almost every Hour; and this great Commerce having instilled into 'em a high esteem for one another, they lived in the most endearing Terms imaginable. The Interest which Zarabey took already in her Friend, made her desirous to learn by what Adventure she was come into the Seraglio, being of so distant a Country. Yolanda, unwilling to refuse this Token of the Confidence she had in her, gave her an exact Relation of all that had happened to her, and not having been able to keep in her tears when that she spoke to her of the loss of her Lover, and of the loss of her Liberty, Zarabey seeming highly surprised to see her shed Tears, told her very ingenuously, That she did not understand how she could complain of Evils which had had so happy an Issue, and had procured her the Means of entering into the Seraglio, which is the highest Flight of the Ambition of Women and the greatest Happiness that can befall a Person of their Sex. Yolanda, much more amazed to see her have such like Sentiments, than the other had been at her Grief, desired she would tell her by what Circumstance the Condition of the Slaves of the Seraglio seemed to her so happy. I perceive, reparteed Zarabey, that you have been brought up amongst the Barbarians, since that being of a Sex which subjects you to the Caprices of Men, who often, notwithstanding what Merit soever you may have, prefer before you a wretched Slave, without Birth or Virtue, and ever confound you with a number of other Women of all Humours, you can still complain of being in the Seraglio, where we live in vast Plenty, and amidst Delights, without any other Care than that of pleasing the Emperor of the World, and the Greatest Man of the Universe. Yolanda judging by this Discourse of the unhappy Condition of the Women of Turkey, where a Husband may have a number of Wives, proportionable to the Estate he has to maintain 'em, would needs undeceive Zarabey, by giving her to understand, that the Circumstances were not altogether alike in Europe, where the Laws are more advantageous to the Ladies, a Man not being allowed to marry more than one Wife, whom he was obliged to consider as his Companion, without being permitted to have another while that was living. This seemed so extraordinary to Zarabey, that she was persuaded Yolanda sought to divert her, and make herself merry, by telling her such like Stories, until that Don Augustin coming in, confirmed it to her very seriously, and added too, That not only the Men of his Country had but one Wife, but that it often happened too, that that Woman was the Mistress of several Men, without her Husband's daring in any wise to complain.  
Don Augustin had been so mingled in the Relation which Yolanda had given her of what had happened to her in Spain, that Zarabey had an extreme Curiosity to learn from him himself the Sequel of his Misfortunes. Yolanda had in vain desired it of him several times; he had still excused himself, not daring to expose himself to the Confusion he was afraid of receiving by a Relation whose end was so Tragical to him. However, those two Beautiful Persons having desired him very earnestly, what aversion soever his Circumstances gave him for Women, the Consideration he had for Yolanda and for Zarabey prevailed over all his other Motions; and being pressed beyond denial, he valued to 'em this Account as the strongest Proof he could give 'em of his Complaisance: and after having acquainted 'em with all that had befallen him until his going out of Spain, You know, said he, addressing his Speech to Yolanda, that the Queen being highly offended at my Audaciousness, was resolved to inflict on me an exemplary Punishment; but was partly diverted from it by the earnest Supplications of my Friends, who could not however hinder my being sent back into Sicily, with order to him who had the Care to conduct me, to detain me a Month in the Castle of S. Sauveur, and to show me there in the Garb and Habit which had disguised me in the Palace, for to punish me in the very thing wherein my Crime consisted. They made me embark at Barcelona, in a Merchant's Ship, freighted with several Goods belonging to Genoveses. Hardly were we part of the way, but that we were attaqued with a violent Tempest, which cast us upon the Coasts of Barbary. A Turkish Corsair which scoured that Sea having discovered us, and perceiving the sad pickle the Storm had reduced us to, attacked our Ship when half in pieces, and easily rendered himself Master of it. The Severity wherewith our Conqueror treated at first several Persons of our Ship, whom he put into Chains, making me fear the like Treatment, determined me not to undeceive him of the Error my Garb might lead him in, hoping he would have the more respect for my Person. I succeeded but too well in this Design: The Corsair having found me very much to his mind, treated me with a great deal of Civility, and insensibly let me know I had made some impression upon his Heart. Shortly after he spoke to me of his Passion, as a great Happiness for me, endeavouring still to persuade me that he was my Slave, tho' by the Right of War I was his. My Answer let him know, that I was very far from making Returns to all these Addresses. But this was so far from making him cease his Pursuit, his Passion augmented by my Resistances; and finding myself pressed by this furious Man, I was constrained to free him out of the Error my Disguise had plunged him in, by letting him know what I was. The Persons who accompanied me, having confirmed to him my Words, I thought I should have been freed from his Persecutions; but the knowledge hereof did put him in that rage against me that he would needs immediately have me punished by fifty Blows of a Cudgel, which he ordered should be given me immediately upon the Sols of my Feet, and which I was only saved from by the arrival of an Officer from the Captain Bashaw, or Admiral, who having heard talk of the Misfortune of our Ship, had sent this Officer to receive the Share which was due to him by his Charge over all the Prizes, before they had embezzled what was most precious, as often happens. The Bashaw 's Envoy, after having visited all things with all possible exactness, chose me, with two other Persons, for his Master's Share. This the Corsair did not oppose, seeing that in consideration of my pretended Sex, and of my good Mien, this Officer took me for a considerable Prize: He nevertheless pretended to complain of his being rob of the best of his Prize, and desired him that he would at least leave the two others who were to accompany me; which was granted him at length. I shall not amuse you with the impertinent Particulars of my Voyage, nor with the Satisfaction which my Guide took in carrying me along. He conducted me to Constantinople, and presented me to the Captain Bashaw. This Turk, who under the appearance of a great deal of Probity, concealed the most Cruel of all Men, seemed to be very well satisfied with me: He told me in the Lingua Franca, (which is a Language mixed with Italian, and very easy to understand) That he easily perceived I was a Person of Quality, and that I might assure myself he would distinguish me from his other Slaves. I made him no other Answer than by a Curtsy; and he then led me into an Apartment, where the Slaves of my new Master received me with great Demonstrations of , and with much more Humanity than I could have hoped for from a Nation that had been represented to me so Barbarous. The next day after my arrival, he had me clothed in Turkish Garments, which were extreme neat, but not rich in the least. The Bashaw would needs I should serve him that day at Dinner; He liked me so well in that Garb, that I began to be afraid, by the satisfaction he let me know he took in me, that some new Disaster would befall me. I was first thinking to prevent him, and had twenty times the Design of laying myself at his Feet, for to declare to him what I was, before that my Disguise had thrown me into new Perplexities; but I was still diverted from it by the remembrance of the Corsairs Menaces, when I made to him the like Confession. This unhappy Reflection created in me such a dread, that I resolved to continue in my Disguise. The Bashaw treated me after such a manner, as confirmed me in my apprehension; but I had not place left to doubt of my Misfortune, when that calling for me one day, he told me, how he had a great Esteem for me, nay, and that he found himself disposed to love me; That it was my part to complete, by my Complaisance and Affection for his Person, what my good Fortune had begun. The Trouble which appeared in my Looks after this Declaration, having quickly let him know that this rendered me uneasy, he continued speaking to me, and told me, That I needed not to stand in fear of any Violence from him, not being of the Humour of other Patrons, who attain to by main Force what is refused 'em out of Kindness; That very far from having the thought of making use of the Authority he had over me as his Slave, he was so nice in Love, he would be convinced I had an Inclination for him, before he could resolve upon loving me. This last Discourse having encouraged me again, he went away without staying for my Answer, and spent several days without saying to me a word more. His Silence made me judge he had always spoke to me with sincerity, until that having presented me with a very rich Robe, and very different from that of the other Slaves, he told me, That he made me that Present, to engage me to please him out of Acknowledgement, since I could not do it out of Inclination. I made him answer, That I relied much upon his Generosity, and that I was persuaded he would not force me to do any thing that was contrary to my Religion and my Duty. Never fear it, replied he to me, my Word is inviolable; I have given it you, and that is sufficient. I was so persuaded of the great Generosity of my Bashaw, that I began to breathe, and find my Condition less unhappy: However, a modest Air which I affected, for the better maintaining my Personage, and the application I had to acquit myself of such thing as were committed to my Care, perfectly inflamed him. The little disposition he saw me have to love him, rendered him very pettish; and I perceived that his Wives, who had all imaginable Complaisance for him, endeavoured to divert him all in vain. One of those whom he loved most, called Salama, having perceived by his Sighs that he had some Passion in his Head, knew so well how to make use of the good Opinion the Bashaw had of her, that he owned to her at length, that I had inspired him with Love. As the Turkish Women are accustomed to such like Infidelities, and that they are not so much as allowed to show the least Jealousy, for fear of irritating their Husbands, by opposing what they desire, Salama had not the least thought of blaming him. On the contrary, she commended him in having made so good a choice, and promised him to speak to me in his favour, for the letting me know of what consequence it was to me to lay hold on my good Fortune. The Bashaw very much satisfied with an Offer which so highly flattered his Desires, desired her to go about it with all possible application, assuring her she could not give him a more sensible Token of her Love. Salama called me into the Garden, where after having cajolled and caressed me very highly, she spoke to me of the Bashaw 's Passions, of his Merit, and of all the great Advantages I might hope for by making Returns thereto. I own, that having been brought up in Europe, where the Women are so nice upon this Matter, I was amazed to see with what Eloquence Salama endeavoured to persuade me to love her Husband; which made me suspect that her Jealousy had inspired her to make use of this Artifice for the discovering my Sentiments. I made her answer, That I thought the Bashaw a Man of too good a Taste, and too much Sense, having so lovely a Wife as she, to entertain any thoughts of an unfortunate Slave. I perceive, replied Salama, that you are afraid of displeasing me, and that you perhaps apprehend that I should trepan you; but that you may no longer have that thought, know, that the Bashaw himself made known to me the Passion he has for you; and as I only seek to satisfy him, I have taken upon me to spare him the trouble your Resistance would have creattd in him. You are a Person of too much Reason, to bring so Great a Man into Despair, out of a Delicacy which commonly proceeds only from a false Principle of Modesty, wedded to our Sex, which ought never to be put in practice, but when it serves to make Men set the greater Value upon us. I knew by so free a Discourse the Sentiments which the Turks infuse into Women upon the Point of Virtue, for the rendering 'em the more submissive to their Wills. Salama did not press me any further; but two days after, having had me called into the same Garden, she made me new Instances, and represented to me more strongly than the first time, how much it did import me to receive a Fortune, which so many others wish for to no purpose.  
Tho' Salama was a perfect Beauty, and that the Bashaw distinguished her from all his Wives; as she alone could not fulfil his Desires, she complied like a Woman of Sense with his Inconstancy, and rendering herself complaisant to all his Passions, she thereby preserved an Empire which her Beauty alone could not have given her. These Reasons engaged her to solicit me with so much zeal and fervency, as produced in me Motions very different from those she meant to inspire. I began to have for Salama what she endeavoured to instil into me for her Husband. She exaggerated to me the Bashaw 's Love in such touching, melting Terms, that I could not defend myself against all the Charms which she displayed in that moment for to persuade me: Whereupon I determined to acquaint her with what I was, without being able to unravel whether I did it to avoid falling into the Inconveniencies whereof I have already spoken, or out of hopes of drawing some Advantage from the Discovery I made her. Never was Person more surprised than Salama seemed to be, at her hearing so extraordinary a piece of News. She was for some time without making me any Answer, and pretending not to believe what I had told her, I made use of her affected Ignorance, and took Liberties with her which are allowed of in Persons of the same Sex. Having succeeded in this Trial, and believing to find in her all the Correspondence I could desire, whether she found in me something she liked, or that she was tempted by the easiness of a Commerce which could never be suspected, she made tender Returns to my Transports, and I nicked the Occasion.  
Now our whole thoughts were only how to keep the Bashaw in his Error, and seek the Means of seeing one another often. The Pretext she took to speak to me in favour of her Husband, furnished her with Occasions enough; yet she was now and then forced to give Reasons for my Resistance, sometimes making my Modesty the Impediment, and at others my bad Health. We amused the Bashaw for above three Months with such like Artifices, and I began to be pretty well satisfied with my Captivity, by the Care Salama took to sweeten it, and by the Promise she made me, That as soon as the Bashaw was put to Sea for to command the Ships which were to departed in a short time for Meccha, she would find the means of flying away with me into my own Country.  
Full of these Hopes, I redoubled my Transports and Addresses to Salama; when that the Bashaw, impatient in his Love, would needs inquire himself into what he was to hope from me; and suspecting perhaps his Wife did not use her Efforts to prevail with me to comply with his Desires, he resolved to watch us narrowly. The most usual Place of our Conversations was a Grotto at the end of a Garden, whither People could not come without being perceived by those who were in it. The Bashaw having stole cunningly into that Place, hid himself there before that we came. The Impatience of seeing one another without Witnesses, did not allow us to take any long Walk. As soon as we were got into that Grotto, we abandoned ourselves to our Love with all the Confidence of two Lovers, who think they have nothing to fear; and the Bashaw surprised us in a Condition as cleared all Doubts of what I was, and laid open the Treachery of his Wife. His Rage inspired him forthwith with what Course he was to take; and having called for a Slave whom he knew proper for executing the Design which his Jealousy suggested to him, he rendered me uncapable of ever making any one jealous for the future.  
The Tears which the remembrance of so barbarous an Action drew from poor Don Augustin, stifled his Voice, and hindered him from being able to continue. What Compassion soever so piteous a Story did create in Yolanda and Zarabey, they could not refuse their Sex feeling a Contempt for Don Augustin, nor laughing at the State this cruel Accident had reduced that unhappy Person to. The Disorder he was in, hindered him from perceiving it; and they were so earnest with him to tell 'em the Destiny of Salama, that he was obliged to continue his Discourse in these Terms.  
The unfortunate Salama, who was forced by her Husband to assist at the execution of his Orders, resolved to prevent the Reproaches and Cruelties of that Barbarian, by seizing a Poniard which the Bashaw wore by his Side, with which she endeavoured to kill herself; but her Hand having too weakly seconded her despair, she only gave herself a slight Wound; and the Bashaw surprised at her Resolution, had her carried away. I was for above eight days in hopes Death would deliver me from my Ignominy; however, my Youth, and the Care that was taken to please the Bashaw, who had recommended that nothing should be spared for my Health and Recovery (perhaps out of the pleasure he proposed to himself in insulting over my Misfortune) contributed so much to my Cure, that in a short time I was in good Health, notwithstanding the regret I had to live. My Despair did not hinder me from interessing myself in the Fortune of Salama, and I had a kind of Consolation to learn, that the Bashaw, touched with her Repentance, and compassionating the Weakness of her Sex, had pardoned her at length.  
The Bashaw having bethought himself of diverting the Grand Vizier by the Account of his Cruelties and my Misfortunes, this Minister had the Curiosity to see me; and having found in me all the Lines and Features of that Beauty which had been so fatal to me, he made known to the Bashaw that the Grand Signior would be glad to hear this Story, and advised him to present me to his Highness, for to serve him in the Seraglio, which the Bashaw promised him to do in my presence; nay, and I looked upon this Employment as a Blessing, since it would free me from the sight of my Executioner. But before I had that feeble Comfort, he would needs give a new Regale to his Revenge, having called me to serve him at Supper in my Garb of an Eunuch. I was extremely surprised to see Salama, who was eating with him, and diverted him with a very gay and facetious Conversation. The pleasure which I observed she took in doing it, confirmed to me what I had often heard say of the Levity of Persons of her Sex, who are easily comforted for the loss of those whom they have loved with most Affection. But when that, of her own Motion, I saw that s; he excited the Bashaw to look upon me, and to laugh, I perceived I had been all my Life long mistaken in the good Opinion I had had of the feigned tenderness of such like Persons: For my State was so far from raising her Compassion, that she insulted over me with several Railleries', The Bashaw was so satisfied with her Complaisance, that he desired her to relate to him what Artifices I had made use of to seduce her. She obeyed him without repugnance, and affected so much Contempt for me, that I cannot remember you are of the Sex of that perfidious Person, without having some resentment against you.  
This last Circumstance caused so much Grief in Don Augustin, that he went away in haste, without listening to the Prayers of Yolanda and of Zarabey, who would have still detained him.  
Don Augustin was hardly gone out, when that a Black Eunuch came in, to give those two beautiful Persons notice to be at a Sarao, or Dance, which was held in the Apartment of the Chief of the Eunuches. Yolanda, who was no longer sensible to Pleasures, would willingly have dispensed herself from going thither; but she had the Complaisance of accompanying Zarabey, who loved those Divertisements, and who besides was overjoyed to be at those kind of Assemblies, to observe if there was any Lady who could dispute with her the Advantages wherewith she was so liberally gifted by Nature. She came also away from thence very well satisfied, having either had the Happiness or Cunning to gain a rich Necklace of Pearl, which was the Reward appointed for her who should acquit herself of that Dance with the best Grace. Yolanda was none of the last to congratulate her upon this Occasion; and as she had not any design to please in the Seraglio, she was very glad to see that her Friend distinguished herself. They lived in a strict Union; and Don Augustin, contrary to the Custom of other Eunuches, had so much Complaisance for 'em, that he facilitated to 'em the means of seeing and entertaining one another very often, tho' that these Conversations be not allowed 'em but certain Days of the Week. Yolanda had so great an Affection for Zarabey, as made her desirous to be acquainted with her Circumstances, of which she one day took occasion to speak to her, and desired her to acquaint her how she came into the Seraglio, and if her Relations had given their Consent thereto, or if she had been taken by violence from their House. I should pardon any other Person so gross an Error, interrupted Zarabey, laughing; but you who have so much Wit, may easily believe, that there be such unjust Parents as to oppose the Happiness of their Children, when that they are chosen to enter into the Seraglio. I did not remember, replied Yolanda, that you had already called me Barbarian in the like Conversation; nay, I will own, since you will needs have it so, that I was in the wrong, to ask you a Question so foreign to good sense; but in revenge no longer defer acquainting me by what extraordinary good luck you have attained to a Felicity which you so highly prize. The Eunuch, Don Augustin, has already made me the same Request, said Zarabey; I'll pass my word to satisfy your Curiosity, as soon as we are all together. Happily Don Augustin came in in that very moment, and Zarabey began her Story in this manner.  
The Name of my Grandfather has made so much noise in the East, that I may without shame own to you my Extraction, if the last Action he did, in renouncing our Great Prophet, had not defaced all his Glory. He was an European, and of Christian Race: Nevertheless, he had been brought up at the Port, and with so much happiness, that he had merited the Esteem of the Grand Signior, who gave him Testimonies thereof in all Occasions, The Worth and Valour he had showed in several Employments he was trusted with, had caused his Birth to be forgotten: He was treated as if he had been born a Mussulman, and enjoyed the same Privileges with those who had that Advantage. I will not give you here the Particulars of the Life of that Great Man, all the Histories of his Time speak thereof sufficiently: It is enough, I tell you, that after having spent forty years in the Emperor's Service, he had the Weakness so usual to most Men, and wished to see again his Native Country. Yet as he was much above the common rate of Persons, I can hardly believe he suffered himself to be led away by such ordinary Sentiments; and it is much more probable, that a Christian Slave whom he loved passionately in the declension of his Age, had the Art to revive a Desire he had always had, of returning into the Religion of his Forefathers, and determined him by her Importunities to a shameful Flight: For having disposed his Affairs with great secrecy, he fitted out two good Ships, and after having given part of his Riches to one of his Wives whom he had ever loved, he embarked with that unhappy Slave, upon I know not what pretext. A Rumour ran a long while after, that he was entered into a Port of the Christians: This was confirmed from so many several Places, that the Truth of it was no longer doubted of. You may judge with what surprise his Wives heard these sad Tidings, and principally she whom he had ever distinguished, who expected his Return with Impatience, which will be easy for you to imagine, when you shall know, that she proved with Child, (and from that Great Belly came my Father.) She represented to herself every moment the Joy her Husband would receive, by learning, that at a time when he was almost out of hopes of having Children, she was upon the point, perhaps, of bringing him a Successor, who might one day maintain the Reputation of his Name, so noted in the Ottoman Empire. But that which ought to have proved her Joy, did only serve to make her the more dolefully sensible of his departure, or to say rather, the loss of her Husband. This grieved her to such a degree, that she was brought to Bed before her time. People talked variously of my Grandfather's Departure: His Friends, who were very numerous, having an abhorrence of an Action so unworthy that Great Captain, took care to give out he had been take by the Galleys of Malta: And as the Truth is never well known of what passes at Sea, this Artifice, which gave People occasion to doubt whether his Absence was voluntary, has rendered his Memory less odious: And his Son, or my Father, if you please, who in a tender Age was already strong and robust, was brought up at the Grand Signior 's Court. People were incessantly speaking to him of the Glory which his Father had acquired; and before he was at an Age of going to the War, he was already full of that noble Boldness so natural to Great Warriors. As soon as he was allowed to be in Occasions wherein he could show his Courage, he gained the Esteem of all those who saw him fight. As I do not design to give you here his History, I'll content myself with telling you, That after having had considerable Advantages over the Enemies of the Grand Signior, Love, that Tyrant, which particularly applies itself to the subduing of Great Men, triumphed over him in his turn: He saw my Mother at his passing through Adrianople; she was a Georgian, and one of the most beautiful Persons of the World. He liked her so extremely well, that he made his Addresses to her, and resolved to marry her. I will not give you an Account of the Circumstances of their Amours, tho' attended with very singular Particularities. At length, after abundance of Difficulties, which he vanquished by his Perseverance, his Love was rewarded, and you see in me the Fruit of the first Year of their Marriage. The Persians having at that time brought on foot a numerous Army, which seemed to menace all the Ottoman Empire, my Father was one of the first on the March for the opposing their unjust Designs, having ever before his Eyes the Examples of his Father. He had the misfortune to be killed in endeavouring to make appear that he was the Worthy Son of the Famous Bashaw Cigala. Zarabey had no sooner named the Bashaw Cigala, than that she observed a great change in the Faces of those who heard her; but particularly in that of Yolanda, who perceiving by the Relation she had newly heard, that Zarabey was of her Family, embraced her, without giving her time to continue.  
THE END.