'cefs never could.' 'Tis true, reply'd Don Juan, thou hadft seduced her by a falfe Appearance of Vertue; but what Answer 'could fhe return to the faithful Don Garcia, who had fled from thy Tyranny? 6 At the hearing of this Name the Prince fufpected what had happen'd; 'Don Juan, fays he, I fee you are innocent; Don Garcia has betrayed us all; 'twas that Villain who had ufurp'd your Dominions, from whence I drove him, that you might take peaceable Poffeffion of them. I was making towards the Ifle of Gades, when I met Don Pedro feeking you: I offer'd my Service to reprefent you, and I did for you what you would not have done for me: I deprived my felf of the Pleasure of feeing Leonora, to reftore you to your Country. I drove the Ufurper Don Garcia from thence; and, in return for my friendly Affififtance, you have married her whom I loved. I can accufe Fortune only, you are not guilty; and yet Leonora is yours, and I have for ever loft her.' We may eafily judge of the Thoughts of the listening Pair during this Converfation: Elvira was fure of her Lover's Heart, and he eafily faw by her Eyes that he did him Juftice, and the Joy with which fhe did it. Don Juan was fo fenfibly touched at what he had heard, that he had not Power to answer a Word. At that very Inftant a Servant of Don Garcia's, who was in queft of his Mafter, enter'd the Cottage: And haft thou, cried Don Juan as foon as he faw him, joined with thy Mafter to betray me?' Fernandez (for fo he was called) furprized at the unexpected Question, and at finding the two Princes together, threw himself at the Duke's Feet, and confefs'd the whole Treachery. Gods! what dreadful Secret have you revealed to me! cry'd Don Juan, feized with juft Horror, confounded at his Credulity, and filled with Despair at his Ingratitude: Oh, Sir, continued he, turning towards the Prince, what fhall I fay to appeafe your juft Wrath? I am not Leonora's Husband.' 'Not Leonora's Husband, reply'd the Prince ! why do you endeavour to flatter me? Think you by this means to preferve my Life? No, I die Leonora's unhappy Lover, but Don Juan's faithful Friend.' Wound me not with thefe Words, cry 'd the Duke, but let me die, who am no longer worthy of Life.' 'Live generous Prince, live to poffefs Leonora ; I have other Crimes enough to upbraid my felf with, not to want the additional one of being her Husband. I am not, and the only Comfort that I ་ ' have have left is, that I am more unfortunate than guilty.' He then informed the Prince, that their Wedding-Day had been deferr❜d on account of a Fit of Illness Leonora had, and which he believed was occafioned by her Grief for him. At the fame Time, Don Juan promifed never to think on her more; but to employ his good Offices with the Duke of Andalufia, in Favour of his Friend. What fudden Change was this for the Prince of Murcia? Scarce could he believe what he heard; his Heart was divided betwixt the Joy of knowing that Leonora was faithful to him, and the Impatience of feeing her again; and scarce could he be fenfible of all his Happiness. On the other hand, Elvira and her Lover were enjoying the Felicity of finding each other conftant; and they look'd on themselves as free from all thofe Cares and Difquiets which had fo long interrupted their Loves; and the moving Spectacle before them increased their Tenderness. When they had faid all they could fay to each other on fuch an Occafion, they drew near to the two Princes. As foon as the young Murcian perceived the hofpitable Stranger; You find me, Sir, faid he, in a very different Condition from that ' in which you left me; one Moment, I fee, may put an End to a 'long Series of Misfortunes; and I hope that happy Moment which is to put an End to yours is at no great Distance.' 'Heaven has made us all meet, reply'd the other, to make us all happy. This Adventure has put an End to all the Misfortunes which feem'd attach'd to our Name."' He then informed him, that he was fprung from a younger Branch of the fame Family, who for fear of giving Umbrage had retired out of Murcia, and fince lived obfcurely in Granada. They then related the Particulars of Elvira's Sufpicions and Leonora's Concern, occafioned by the Conformity of their Names. Alas, cried the Prince, how cruel is Fortune when fhe once begins to perfecute us! This was the only Means of making me fufpected by Leonora ; but I wrong her, that Princess knew my "Heart, and could not do my Love fo much Injustice.' Mean while Fernandez, who had been Witnels of what had paffed between the two Princes, ran to the Duke's Palace, and related' all he had seen. Leonora was juft coming in from her Walk, and was one of the firft who heard the News. She was fo nearly concerned in the Story, that fhe order'd her felf to be immediately carried to the Cottage. As foon as fhe enter'd, her Prefence occafioned a profound Silence: It was the Prince who had most to say on this Occafion; but notwithstanding that, his exceffive Happiness would not let him fpeak, but his Joy fparkled in his Eyes; and Leonora, who faw it, by her Looks exprefs'd an equal Pleasure. At length Elvira broke Silence, and fhowing the Stranger to the Princefs, told her his Name, and explained the Mystery which had fo long disturbed both their Quiet. Don Juan exprefs'd the moft fincere Repentance, and yielded all his Pretenfions to the Prince of Murcia: Thefe Lovers faw themfelves freed from their only dangerous Perfecutors; what did they not fay in their first Transports? Ah, Madam, cry'd the Prince, can you ftill love me? and have not the Names of Inconftant and Ufurper changed your Heart? 'Tis now I truly know Leonora.' Yes, my Lord, anfwered the Princefs, I have always loved you, and am ftill the fame Leonora, whofe Sentiments you are fo well acquainted with; all that was faid of your Inconftancy could never make me forget what I had feen of your Vertues: I have fuffer'd much from your Abfence, but much more from that Cruelty with which they endeavoured to blast your Reputation, but I never did condemn you; and as I could not be Yours, I had determined to die rather than be Anothers.' I will not pretend to relate any more Particulars of their Converfation, which is not to be exprefs'd; there is no Reunion fo moving as that of two Lovers, who have had fo many Difficulties to overcome, and who with Juftice protest, that they have never thought each other falfe, notwithstanding fo many plaufible Reasons feem'd to perfuade it; the great Idea which they had always entertained of each other, had ftill removed the gnawing Jealoufy infeparable from less heroick Love. Thefe Sentiments, which no adverse Fortune could blot out of their Hearts, were their greatest Glory, and proved their Felicity. Their Conftancy at length moved the Duke of Andalusia, whom fo many new Reasons obliged to love the Prince of Murcia. As foon as he was recover'd from his Wounds, his Marriage with Leonora was folemnized, as was on the fame Day that of the Princely Anchoret with Elvira. Don Juan returned to Granada, where he met every thing quiet, and the faithful Don Pedro was rewarded for his Services: But at Leonora's Requeft, Elvira and her Husband continued at her Court, and their mutual Loves and Friendship became the juft Admiration of all Spain. PUBLICK PUBLICK DIVERSIONS. SINCE our laft the long expected Faustina is arrived, and has performed feveral Times amongst us. The Judges are much divided in their Sentiments about the famous Cuzzoni and this Lady; but All agree, that the Emulation between them is fo evident, that they are in Pain for the Event. Some fear for their Favourite Cuzzoni, while others are no lefs anxious for the Fate of Fauftina. This fine Paffion for excelling, fo difcoverable in these Heroines, is beautifully defcribed by Mr. PHILIPS, in one of his Paftorals with this only Difference, that there the Contention was between the unhappy Bird and the Inftrument; here, the Prize is more equally contended for by two Nightingales. CUDDY. try, IN Rural Strains we firft our Mufick And, bafhful, into Woods and Thickets fly, Diftruftful of our Skill. Yet, if thro' Time Our Voice improving gain a Pitch Sublime, Thy growing Virtues, Sackville, shall engage My riper Verfe, and my more fettled Age. The Sun now mounted to the Noon of Day, When, with the Flocks, their Feeders fought the Shade, When Shepherds flourish'd in Eliza's Reign, In filent Shade, without a Rival play'd. The The Steerlings left their Food; and Creatures wild The vanquish'd Swain. Provok'd at laft, he ftrove And adds in Sweetnefs, what fhe wants in Strength. Then |