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the prefent Duke upon the Throne which of Right belonged to him; yet to fupport his Family and provide for his Children, he had pitched upon a Prince whofe Alliance might juftly be accounted an Honour to us. The Prince loved me, and I was not indifferent; my Father with Joy beheld my growing Inclinations and 'cherifh'd 'em; and our Marriage was fo near at hand, that I no longer was obliged to lay that violent Restraint upon my felf 'which our Sex, is often forced to, but I dared avow my Flame. Juft at this Juncture my Father died, and his Lofs made us for a long while lay afide all Thoughts of Joy and Happiness. At length Don Pedro, my Brother, who loved the Prince almost as tenderly as I could do, determined to haften our mutual Felicity; but Fate referved dreadful Ills in ftore for me. Don Garcia, the Duke ' of Granada's great Favourite, and who was more Mafter in his Dominions than the Duke himself, unhappily fell in Love with me; and at his Request the Duke of Granada himself demanded me in Marriage for him. You may imagine, Madam, what a Shock this was to us all; but my Brother was refolved not to give me thus eafily up: He perfonally hated Don Garcia, and had a great deal of reafon for fo doing; he therefore haftened to the Duke, and told him that I was already promifed; nor did he conceal mine and my Lover's Flames from him; he urged alfo the un⚫ fuitableness of a Match with Don Garcia, whofe Family was fo inferior to ours. The Duke was naturally very juft; he heard my Brother even against his Favourite, and thought his Plea moft equi'table; he therefore gave up the Pretenfions of Don Garcia, and 'bid my Brother folemnize our Marriage in the Manner he had at • first propofed.

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It is impoffible to tell you, Madam, the Tranfport with which I heard this News; but alas my Joy was fhort-liv'd! The Night before our intended Nuptials, fome Ruffians, who doubtlefs were concealed in the Houfe, enter'd my Chamber, gagg'd me, and carried me away to a Houfe which Don Garcia had privately taken for that purpose in the Country; there was I frequently exposed to his Importunities, and finding these would not avail, he began to threaten Force. His Infolence made me juftly fear he would put his Threats in Execution; ever and anon I refolved to put an End to my Life, but the Fear of making my Prince miserable, and the dear hopes of feeing him again made me lay that Thought afide. Alas! what Miseries did I not fuffer! may the Heavens defend

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you from ever knowing the like! At length one Night I took the Opportunity of stealing out unobferved; the Roads I was an utter Stranger to, but propitious Fortune faved me from the Purfuit which the Villain doubtlefs made, and at length conducted me to this Place, far from the detefted Don Garcia, but farther ftill, I fear, from my beloved Prince.

Whilft Elvira was fpeaking, Leonora's Concern for her visibly appeared, and the different Emotions of her Soul might be read in hier Eyes; which made the other relate her Misfortunes with the greater Pleasure. When fhe had done, the Princefs gaz'd on her, wifhing to hear fomething more, and hoping fhe had forgot fome Circumftance of her Story, that fhe might have the Pleasure of hearing her fpeak again; when, difpleafing Sight! fhe beheld her old Aunt at the other End of the Walk: My dear Elvira, cry'd the Princess, I fhall this Moment lofe the Pleasure of your Company, and that ⚫ when most I coveted it. There are a Thoufand Particulars in your Story that I am yet a Stranger to; you have not told me your Lover's Name, nor what he has done to deferve the Heart of fo charming a Perfon; hafte to inform me whilft yet we may fpeak to each other.' I know nothing of what he has done fince my • Flight, reply'd Elvira; perhaps he has wholly given himfelf up to Defpair; perhaps ignorant of what I have done and fuffer'd for him, he believes me falfe and inconftant: Alas, perhaps, he is in⚫ conftant himself. This, Madam, is all the Account I can at prefent give you of the Prince of Murcia."

At the Prince of Murcia's Name Leonora fhriek'd out, and fell fpeechlefs in Elvira's Arms. Her Aunt came up at that very instant, and was furpriz'd to find her in a Swoon, and a Stranger with her, who appeared in the utmost Confufion: She called her Attendants, and had Leonora carried to her Apartment, but followed her with Reluctance her felf; fhe would much rather have ftaid to talk with this unknown Lady, between whom and her Niece he thought there must be fome important Secret, the diving into which would have been very grateful to her infatiable Curiofity.

But 'tis Time to leave Leonora a while, and to return to the Prince of Murcia, who had fpent a confiderable Time in fearch of her to no purpofe; at length Fame inform'd him, that fhe was with her Father in the Ifle of Gades, and he determined, let what would be the Confequence, to haften thither; for a Lover never can be eafy at fuch a distance from the Object of his Affections. The better to

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conceal himself, he went wholly unattended to the Sea-Shore, and finding a small Fishing-Boat there, he determined to trust himself in that to the Mercy of the Seas. Whilft he was talking to the Fisherman a Stranger came riding towards the Sea-fhore with all poffible fpeed; Sir, faid he to the Prince, as foon as he approached him and faw him entring the Boat, You are depriving me of an Opportunity which I have been long feeking; it is of the utmost Confequence that I fhould immediately be carried into the Isle of Gades.' The Prince told him he was forry he could not oblige him with the Boat, but that his Business too was of the utmost Importance. You appear to be a Man of Honour, replied the Stranger; and if you will promife to let me take the Boat, upon Condition that my Bufi• nefs be more urgent than yours, I'll freely let you know the Cause of my coming hither.' 'With all my Heart, answered the Prince; and though I am a Party concerned my felf, yet on my Honour I'll impartially decide this Difpute.' I thank you, Sir, replied the other, and will affure you, that had the Interefts only of Don Pedro (for fo I am call'd) been concern'd, I would not have been thus troublefome; but 'tis the Caufe of my Sovereign that I am now pleading. Not to trouble you with a long Preface, know, Sir, that the Duke of Granda is dead, his Son Don Juan has been abfent fome confiderable Time, nor do we know in what Part of the World he conceals himself; a treacherous Subject is laying hold of this Opportunity to make himself Mafter of his Dominions: The faithlefs Don Garcia, the late Duke's Favourite, had an Opportunity of preferring his Creatures, and of ingratiating. himfelf with the People; he has already been declared Protector of the Dukedom of Granada; the whole Power is lodged in his Hands, and in a few Days more his Projects will be quite ripe, ⚫ and he'll caufe himself to be proclaimed Duke. It was faid, Don Juan lov'd the beauteous Leonora; perhaps he has followed her incognito into the Ifle of Gades; perhaps the Duke can give me fome Tidings of him; perhaps he will affift him against this encroaching Traytor: Now, Sir, judge whether my Bufinefs be not preffing'. I own your Concern to be juft, reply'd the Prince; if fo, what must mine be? For know, Sir, that the Interefts of Don Juan cannot be dearer to you than they are to me: He is a • Prince who deferves our fincereft Affection; but even fetting this afide, common Juftice calls upon us to revenge his Cause, and in an exemplary manner to punish the Traytor Don Garcia; nor

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do I threaten more than I'll perform: You fee, Sir, the Prince of • Murcia before you; I'll difpeople my Country of Inhabitants, to drive this Ufurper from Granada; but the Voyage you propofed 'would be fruitlefs; let us lofe no Time in feeking Don Juan where I know he is not; let us haften to Granada, and endeavour to reftore Peace and Tranquillity to that Country, and drive the Ufurper from thence, that Don Juan may return thither in Joy and Safety.'

Thefe Words, which the Prince uttered with Warmth and Courage, infufed a Joy into the Heart of Don Pedro which cannot easily be exprefs'd; he thought that Fortune, which for fome Time had feem'd to abandon his Caufe, was now reconciled to him, and offer'd him one of the most powerful Aids imaginable, and he was big with a Project, which had he been lefs fanguine or lefs zealous, would have appeared impracticable; and therefore turning about with the Prince of Murcia, they made the best of their way towards Granada. The Prince, being within himself perfuaded that its Inhabitants could not be fincerely attached to a Man whofe Treachery was fo confpicuous, thought fome fecret Measures might be taken which would effectually make them return to the Duty they owed their Prince.

They reached Granada the very Day before Don Garcia was to be proclaimed, and in the Dusk of the Evening they enter'd the City, and haften'd to a Friend of Don Pedro's; but their Surprize was great when they found even the best of the Citizens going with the Tide, and ready to acknowledge Don Garcia. At first the Prince thought it impoffible to prevent the Evil, but yet he was refolved not tamely to give up his beloved Don Juan's Caufe; he therefore defired Don Pedro to fummon all his Friends together. As the Ufurper thought this young Nobleman fled out of his Dominions, he flept fecure from every Fear. Don Pedro's Friends met in the Dead of the Night; the Prince of Murcia with his ufual Eloquence, warm'd their Hearts, and filled them with Sentiments of Glory and Allegiance; they vow'd to restore their Prince, or to facrifice their Lives in the Attempt: Their Interest was not fmall, they all ran to their feveral Friends and Acquaintance and brought what Numbers they could with them; by Morning's Dawn the Prince of Murcia found himself at the Head of a strong Party. Their Number and Example drew many more to their Side, who either out of Fear or Indolence `before feem'd Friends to the Ufurper; in this manner they marched towards

towards the Palace. Don Garcia, frighten'd at their Approach, fled away with a few of his Creatures, who were too far concerned in his Villany to hope for a Pardon : The Prince of Murcia, with a fufficient Party, purfued him, but in vain: He had chofen the most fecret and impracticable Roads, and made the best of his way towards the Sea-fhore, with an intent to leave Spain, in no Part of which he thought himself secure.

Mean while Don Juan, having by common Fame been informed. of his Father's Death, was returning Home; and in his way he met the treacherous Don Garcia: The Traytor, long practifed in the Art of Diffembling, concealed his Surprize at fo unexpected a Sight, and with feigned Tears throwing himself at his Feet; O my Prince, cry'd he, fly, fly from this deteftable Place; there's no Safety at Granada for its Sovereign; your Subjects are become your greatest Enemies; a perfidious Neighbour has made himself Mafter of your Dominions, and we are the only faithful Subjects, who rather chofe to fly our Country than fubmit to the tyrannical Sway of the Prince of Murcia.' Of the Prince of Murcia! cry'd Don Juan in the utmoft Surprize? Sure you are mistaken; the Prince of Murica an Enemy! the Prince of Murria an Ufurper! You may doubt my Words, reply'd Don Garcia, but the Grief of these your faithful Subjects do but too fully confirm what I fay.

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Don Juan would willingly have doubted on, but the Traytor's. Followers joining with their Mafter, made him believe every thing he had advanced. O Heavens, cry'd the credulous Prince, whom fhall we henceforth truft? The Prince of Murcia falfe! The Prince of Murcia an Ufurper! O Traytor, do not expect to go unpunish'd,, all Spain fhall affert my Caufe. But there is ftill another fweeter Revenge; Leonora, fill'd with Indignation at thy Baseness, and afhamed of ever having lov'd thee, fhall now bear thee a deadly Hatred; come thou trufty Don Garcia, let us haften to the Duke of Andalufia, he is my Friend and will be my Protector; and at his Court I fhall find the sweetest Means of revenging my felf upon our common Enemy; he is now in the Ifle of Gades, let us haften • thither.'

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Mean while the Duke of Andalufia was preparing to return to Seville; he knew that the Sovereign's Prefence was neceffary to remind the Subject of his Allegiance; every Thing was made ready for his Departure, and it was order'd, that the Princefs fhould fail firft, and the Duke follow in a few Days, it being feared that after

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