They waited the coming of the Night, and the lovely _Agnes_ was in her first Sleep, which was the last of her Life, when these Assassins approach’d her Bed. Nothing made resistance to _Don Alvaro_, who could do every thing, and whom the blackest Furies introduced to _Agnes_; she waken’d, and opening her Curtains, saw, by the Candle burning in her Chamber, the Ponyard with which _Don Alvaro_ was armed; he having his Face not cover’d, she easily knew him, and forgetting herself, to think of nothing but the Prince: _Just Heaven_ (said she, lifting up her fine Eyes) _if you will revenge +Constantia+, satisfy your self with my Blood only, and spare that of_ Don Pedro. The barbarous Man that heard her, gave her not time to say more; and finding he could never (by all he could do by Love) touch the Heart of the fair _Agnes_, he pierc’d it with his Ponyard: his Accomplices gave her several Wounds, tho’ there was no necessity of so many to put an end to an innocent Life. What a sad Spectacle was this for those who approach’d her Bed the next day! And what dismal News was this to the unfortunate Prince of _Portugal_! He returned to _Coimbra_ at the first report of this Adventure, and saw what had certainly cost him his Life, if Men could die of Grief. After having a thousand times embraced the bloody Body of _Agnes_, and said all that a just Despair could inspire him with, he ran like a Mad-man into the Palace, demanding the Murderers of his Wife, of things that could not hear him. In fine, he saw the King, and without observing any respect, he gave a loose to his Resentment: after having rail’d a long time, overwhelm’d with Grief, he fell into a Swoon, which continu’d all that day. They carry’d him into his Apartment: and the King, believing that his Misfortune would prove his Cure, repented not of what he had permitted. _Don Alvaro_, and the two other Assassins, quitted _Coimbra_. This Absence of theirs made ’em appear guilty of the Crime; for which the afflicted Prince vow’d a speedy Vengeance to the Ghost of his lovely _Agnes_, resolving to pursue them to the uttermost part of the Universe; He got a considerable number of Men together, sufficient to have made resistance, even to the King of _Portugal_ himself, if he should yet take the part of the Murderers: with these he ravaged the whole Country, as far as the _Duero_ Waters, and carry’d on a War, even till the Death of the King, continually mixing Tears with Blood, which he gave to the revenge of his dearest _Agnes_. Such was the deplorable End of the unfortunate Love of _Don Pedro_ of _Portugal_, and of the fair _Agnes de Castro_, whose Remembrance he faithfully preserv’d in his Heart, even upon the Throne, to which he mounted by the Right of his Birth, after the Death of the King. * * * * * * * * * THE HISTORY OF THE NUN; OR, THE FAIR VOW-BREAKER. INTRODUCTION.