This bold Answer, which shew’d the Character of _Agnes_, anger’d and astonished the King. _You shall go when we think fit +(reply’d he)+ and without being a Slave at +Coimbra+, you shall attend our order._ _Agnes_ saw she must stay, and was so griev’d at it, that she kept her Chamber several days, without daring to inform herself of the Prince; and this Retirement spared her the Affliction of being visited by _Don Alvaro_. During this, _Don Pedro_ fell sick, and was in so great danger, that there was a general apprehension of his Death. _Agnes_ did not in the least doubt, but it was an effect of his Discontent: she thought at first she had Strength and Resolution enough to see him die, rather than to favour him; but had she reflected a little, she had soon been convinc’d to the contrary. She found not in her Heart that cruel Constancy she thought there so well established: She felt Pains and Inquietude, shed Tears, made Wishes; and, in fine, discover’d that she lov’d. ’Twas impossible to see the Heir of the Crown, a Prince that deserved so well, even at the point of Death, without a general Affliction. The People who loved him, pass’d whole days at the Palace-gate to hear News of him: The Court was all over-whelm’d with Grief. _Don Alvaro_ knew very well how to conceal a malicious Joy, under an Appearance of Sadness. _Elvira_, full of Tenderness, and perhaps of Remorse, suffer’d also on her side. The King, altho’ he condemned the Love of his Son, yet still had a Tenderness for him, and could not resolve to lose him. _Agnes de Castro_, who knew the Cause of his Distemper, expected the End of it with strange Anxieties: In fine, after a Month had pass’d away in Fears, they began to have a little hopes of his Recovery. The Prince and _Don Alvaro_ were the only Persons that were not glad of it: But _Agnes_ rejoic’d enough for all the rest. _Don Pedro_, seeing that he must live whether he wou’d or no, thought of nothing but passing his days in melancholy and discontent: As soon as he was in a condition to walk, he sought out the most solitary Places, and gain’d so much upon his own Weakness, to go every where, where _Agnes_ was not; but her Idea followed him always, and his Memory, faithful to represent her to him with all her Charms, render’d her always dangerous. One day, when they had carry’d him into the Garden, he sought out a Labyrinth which was at the farthest part of it, to hide his Melancholy, during some hours; there he found the sad _Agnes_, whom Grief, little different from his, had brought thither; the sight of her whom he expected not, made him tremble: She saw by his pale and meagre Face the remains of his Distemper; his Eyes full of Languishment troubled her, and tho’ her Desire was so great to have fled from him, an unknown Power stopt her, and ’twas impossible for her to go.