When _Villenoys_ found she was resolv’d, he design’d to persue his
Journy, but could not leave the Town, till he had seen the fatal
Ceremony of _Isabella’s_ being made a _Nun_, which was every day
expected; and while he stay’d, he could not forbear writing daily to
her, but receiv’d no more Answers from her, she already accusing her
self of having done too much, for a Maid in her Circumstances; but she
confess’d, of all she had seen, she lik’d _Villenoys_ the best; and if
she ever could have lov’d, she believ’d it would have been _Villenoys_,
for he had all the good Qualities, and grace, that could render him
agreeable to the Fair; besides, that he was only Son to a very rich and
noble Parent, and one that might very well presume to lay claim to a
Maid of _Isabella’s_ Beauty and Fortune.
As the time approach’d, when he must eternally lose all hope, by
_Isabella’s_ taking Orders, he found himself less able to bear the
Efforts of that Despair it possess’d him with, he languished with the
thought, so that it was visible to all his Friends, the decays it
wrought on his Beauty and Gaiety: So that he fell at last into a Feaver;
and ’twas the whole Discourse of the Town, That _Villenoys_ was dying
for the Fair _Isabella_; his Relations, being all of Quality, were
extreamly afflicted at his Misfortune, and joyn’d their Interests yet,
to dissuade this fair young Victoress from an act so cruel, as to
inclose herself in a _Nunnery_, while the finest of all the youths of
Quality was dying for her, and ask’d her, If it would not be more
acceptable to Heaven to save a Life, and perhaps a Soul, than to go and
expose her own to a thousand Tortures? They assur’d her, _Villenoys_ was
dying, and dying Adoring her; that nothing could save his Life, but her
kind Eyes turn’d upon the fainting Lover; a Lover, that could breath
nothing, but her Name in Sighs; and find satisfaction in nothing, but
weeping and crying out, ‘I dye for Isabella!’ This Discourse fetch’d
abundance of Tears from the fair Eyes of this tender Maid; but, at the
same time, she besought them to believe, these Tears ought not to give
them hope, she should ever yield to save his Life, by quitting her
Resolution, of becoming a _Nun_; but, on the contrary, they were Tears,
that only bewail’d her own Misfortune, in having been the occasion of
the death of any Man, especially, a Man, who had so many Excellencies,
as might have render’d him entirely Happy and Glorious for a long race
of Years, had it not been his ill fortune to have seen her unlucky Face.
She believ’d, it was for her Sins of Curiosity, and going beyond the
Walls of the Monastery, to wander after the Vanities of the foolish
World, that had occasion’d this Misfortune to the young Count of
_Villenoys_, and she would put a severe Penance on her Body, for the
Mischiefs her Eyes had done him; she fears she might, by something in
her looks, have intic’d his Heart, for she own’d she saw him, with
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account