_Henault_ then began again to solicit his Cruel Father, but nothing
would do, he refus’d to see him, or to receive any Letters from him;
but, at last, he prevail’d so far with him, as that he sent a Kinsman to
him, to assure him, if he would leave his Wife, and go into the _French_
Campagn, he would Equip him as well as his Quality requir’d, and that,
according as he behav’d himself, he should gain his Favour; but if he
liv’d Idly at home, giving up his Youth and Glory to lazy Love, he would
have no more to say to him, but race him out of his Heart, and out of
his Memory.
He had setled himself in a very pretty House, furnished with what was
fitting for the Reception of any Body of Quality that would live a
private Life, and they found all the Respect that their Merits deserv’d
from all the World, every body entirely loving and endeavouring to serve
them; and _Isabella_ so perfectly had the Ascendent over her Aunt’s
Heart, that she procur’d from her all that she could desire, and much
more than she could expect. She was perpetually progging and saving all
that she could, to enrich and advance her, and, at last, pardoning and
forgiving _Henault_, lov’d him as her own Child; so that all things
look’d with a better Face than before, and never was so dear and fond a
Couple seen, as _Henault_ and _Isabella_; but, at last, she prov’d with
Child, and the Aunt, who might reasonably believe, so young a Couple
would have a great many Children, and foreseeing there was no Provision
likely to be made them, unless he pleas’d his Father, for if the Aunt
should chance to dye, all their Hope was gone; she therefore daily
solicited him to obey his Father, and go to the Camp; and that having
atchiev’d Fame and Renown, he would return a Favourite to his Father,
and Comfort to his Wife: After she had solicited in vain, for he was not
able to endure the thought of leaving _Isabella_, melancholy as he was
with his ill Fortune; the _Bishop_, kinsman to _Isabella_, took him to
task, and urg’d his Youth and Birth, and that he ought not to wast both
without Action, when all the World was employ’d; and, that since his
Father had so great a desire he should go into a Campagn, either to
serve the _Venetian_ against the _Turks_, or into the _French_ Service,
which he lik’d best; he besought him to think of it; and since he had
satisfy’d his Love, he should and ought to satisfy his Duty, it being
absolutely necessary for the wiping off the Stain of his Sacrilege, and
to gain him the favour of Heaven, which, he found, had hitherto been
averse to all he had undertaken: In fine, all his Friends, and all who
lov’d him, joyn’d in this Design, and all thought it convenient, nor was
he insensible of the Advantage it might bring him; but Love, which every
day grew fonder and fonder in his Heart, oppos’d all their Reasonings,
tho’ he saw all the Brave Youth of the Age preparing to go, either to
one Army, or the other.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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