He had made several Attempts to take Possession of her; but all prov’d ineffectual; however, he had the good Fortune not to be known, tho’ once or twice he narrowly escap’d with Life, bearing off his Wounds with Difficulty.--(Alas, that the Wounds of Love should cause those of Hate!) Upon which she was strictly confin’d to one Room, whose only Window was towards the Garden, and that too was grated with Iron; and, once a Month, when she went to Church, she was constantly and carefully attended by her Father, and a Mother-in-Law, worse than a _Duegna_. Under this miserable Confinement _Antonio_ understood she still continued, at his Return to _Seville_, with Don _Henrique_, whom he acquainted with his invincible Passion for her; lamenting the Severity of her present Circumstances, that admitted of no Prospect of Relief; which caus’d a generous Concern in Don _Henrique_, both for the Sufferings of his Friend, and of the Lady. He proposed several Ways to Don _Antonio_, for the Release of the fair Prisoner; but none of them was thought practicable, or at least likely to succeed. But _Antonio_, who (you may believe) was then more nearly engag’d, bethought himself of an Expedient that would undoubtedly reward their Endeavours. ’Twas, that Don _Henrique_, who was very well acquainted with _Ardelia’s_ Father, should make him a Visit, with Pretence of begging his Consent and Admission to make his Addresses to his Daughter; which, in all Probability, he could not refuse to Don _Henrique’s_ Quality and Estate; and then this Freedom of Access to her would give him the Opportunity of delivering the Lady to his Friend. This was thought so reasonable, that the very next Day it was put in Practice; and with so good Success, that Don _Henrique_ was received by the Father of _Ardelia_ with the greatest and most respectful Ceremony imaginable: And when he made the Proposal to him of marrying his Daughter, it was embraced with a visible Satisfaction and Joy in the Air of his Face. This their first Conversation ended with all imaginable Content on both Sides; Don _Henrique_ being invited by the Father to Dinner the next Day, when Dona _Ardelia_ was to be present; who, at that Time, was said to be indispos’d, (as ’tis very probable she was, with so close an Imprisonment.) _Henrique_ returned to _Antonio_, and made him happy with the Account of his Reception; which could not but have terminated in the perfect Felicity of _Antonio_, had his Fate been just to the Merits of his Love. The Day and Hour came which brought _Henrique_, with a private Commission from his Friend, to _Ardelia_. He saw her;--(ah! would he had only seen her veil’d!) and, with the first Opportunity, gave her the Letter, which held so much Love, and so much Truth, as ought to have preserved him in the Empire of her Heart. It contained, besides, a Discovery of his whole Design upon her Father, for the compleating of their Happiness; which nothing then could obstruct but her self. But