At first she fancy’d her self deceiv’d, but time having confirmed her in what she fear’d, she sighed in secret; yet had that Consideration for the Prince, as not to let him see her Disorder: and which nevertheless she could not conceal from _Agnes de Castro_, who lived with her, rather as a Companion, than a Maid of Honour, and whom her Friendship made her infinitely distinguish from the rest. This Maid, so dear to the Princess, very well merited the Preference her Mistress gave her; she was beautiful to excess, wise, discreet, witty, and had more Tenderness for _Constantia_ than she had for her self, having quitted her Family, which was illustrious, to give her self wholly to the Service of the Princess, and to follow her into _Portugal_. It was into the Bosom of this Maid, that the Princess unladed her first Moans; and the charming _Agnes_ forgot nothing that might give ease to her afflicted Heart. Nor was _Constantia_ the only Person who complained of _Don Pedro_: Before his Divorce from _Bianca_, he had expressed some Care and Tenderness for _Elvira Gonzales_, Sister to Don _Alvaro Gonzales_, Favourite to the King of _Portugal_; and this Amusement in the young Years of the Prince, had made a deep Impression on _Elvira_, who flatter’d her Ambition with the Infirmities of _Bianca_. She saw, with a secret Rage, _Constantia_ take her place, who was possest with such Charms, that quite divested her of all Hopes. Her Jealousy left her not idle, she examined all the Actions of the Prince, and easily discover’d the little Regard he had for the Princess; but this brought him not back to her. And it was upon very good grounds that she suspected him to be in love with some other Person, and possessed with a new Passion; and which she promised herself, she would destroy as soon as she could find it out. She had a Spirit altogether proper for bold and hazardous Enterprizes; and the Credit of her Brother gave her so much Vanity, as all the Indifference of the Prince was not capable of humbling. The Prince languished, and concealed the Cause with so much Care, that ’twas impossible for any to find it out. No publick Pleasures were agreeable to him, and all Conversations were tedious; and it was Solitude alone that was able to give him any ease. This Change surprized all the World. The King, who loved his Son very tenderly, earnestly pressed him to know the Reason of his Melancholy; but the Prince made no answer, but only this, That it was the effect of his Temper. But Time ran on, and the Princess was brought to bed of a second Son, who liv’d, and was called _Fernando_. _Don Pedro_ forc’d himself a little to take part in the publick Joy, so that they believ’d his Humour was changing; but this Appearance of a Calm endur’d not long, and he fell back again into his black Melancholy.