continued with such Violence, that it utterly defac’d the Ideas of _Antonio_ and _Henrique_. (No Wonder that she who could resolve to forsake her God for Man, should quit one Lover for another.) In short, she then only wished that he might love her equally, and then she doubted not of contriving the Means of their Happiness betwixt ’em. She had her Wish, and more, if possible; for he lov’d her beyond the Thought of any other present or future Blessing, and fail’d not to let her know it, at the second Interview; when he receiv’d the greatest Pleasure he could have wish’d, next to the Joys of a Bridal Bed: For she confessed her Love to him, and presently put him upon thinking on the Means of her Escape; but not finding his Designs so likely to succeed, as those Measures she had sent to Don _Henrique_, she communicates the very same to Don _Sebastian_, and agreed with him to make use of them on that very Night, wherein she had obliged Don _Henrique_ to attempt her Deliverance: The Hour indeed was different, being determined to be at eleven. _Elvira_, who was present at the Conference, took the Hint; and not being willing to disoblige a Brother who had so hazarded his Life in Vindication of her, either does not, or would not seem to oppose his Inclinations at that Time: However, when he retired with her to talk more particularly of his intended Revenge on Don _Henrique_, who he told her lay somewhere absconded in _Toledo_, and whom he had resolved, as he assured her, to sacrifice to her injur’d Honour, and his Resentments; she oppos’d that his vindictive Resolution with all the forcible Arguments in a virtuous and pious Lady’s Capacity, but in vain: so that immediately upon his Retreat from the Convent, she took the Opportunity of writing to Don _Henrique_ as follows, the fatal Hour not being then seven Nights distant. Don _Henrique_, _My Brother is now in Town, in Pursuit of your Life; nay more, of your Mistress, who has consented to make her Escape from the Convent, at the same Place of it, and by the same Means on which she had agreed to give her self entirely to you, but the Hour is eleven. I know, +Henrique+, your +Ardelia+ is dearer to you than your Life: But your Life, your dear Life, is more desired than any Thing in this World, by_ Your injur’d and forsaken _ELVIRA_. This she delivered to _Richardo’s_ Servant, whom _Henrique_ had gained that Night, as soon as she came to visit _Ardelia_, at her usual Hour, just as she went out of the Cloister. Don _Henrique_ was not a little surprized with this _Billet_; however, he could hardly resolve to forbear his accustom’d Visits to _Ardelia_, at first: But upon more mature Consideration, he only chose to converse with her by Letters, which still press’d her to be mindful of her Promise, and of the Hour, not taking notice of any Caution that he had received of her Treachery. To which she still return’d in Words that might assure him of her Constancy.