to me, and begg’d my Pardon, and testified to me a great Displeasure at
his own jealousie: He excused himself, as all Lovers do, on the strength
of his Passion. I had so much Weakness as to be willing to forget the
Trouble he had given me: we made up the Matter between us, and he
continued on his Courtship.
‘His Father having understood the Passion he had for me, thought he
could not procure him a more advantageous Marriage: he took notice of it
to him, and came afterwards to my Father, to open to him the Proposal:
they had been long Friends; he was favourably heard, and they easily
agreed on the Matter.
‘Mendez came to inform me of the News, with such Transports as would
have seem’d ridiculous to any other than a Mistress. My Mother order’d
me to look kindly on him, telling me, this Affair would be advantageous
to me: and as soon as the India-Fleet should arrive, wherein he was
greatly concern’d, the Marriage should be concluded.
‘Whilst matters thus past, the Marquess de Los Rios had retired to one
of his Country-Houses, where he scarcely saw any one: He led a
languishing Life; he still lov’d me, but hindred himself from telling me
so, and from comforting himself by this innocent Remedy.
‘In fine, his Body could not resist the Heaviness of his Mind; he fell
dangerously ill, and being told by the Physicians, there was no hope of
his Recovery, he pluckt up his Spirits to write me the most affectionate
Letter imaginable, and sent at the same time to me a Deed of Gift of all
his Estate, in case he dyed. My Mother was in my Chamber, when a
Gentleman presented this Packet from him; she would know what it
contain’d.
‘I could not forbear at the same time, telling her what had past; and we
were both of us in the greatest surprize at the Marquess’s extream
Generosity. She sent him word, that I should go with my Family to thank
him for a Liberality which I had no ways deserv’d: And in particular,
she sharply reprehended me for having made a Mystery of a thing to her
with which I ought to have immediately acquainted her. I threw myself at
her Feet; I excused myself the best I could, and testifi’d such great
Sorrow for having displeas’d her, that she easily pardon’d me. Leaving
my Chamber, she went to my Father, and having learnt him all which had
past, they resolv’d to go the next Morning to see the Marquess, and to
carry me with them.
‘I acquainted Mendez with this in the Evening; and the Fear I had, lest
my Parents should, in fine, make me marry this old Man, if he chanced to
escape out of his Sickness. However sensible I appear’d to him of this,
he was so far transported, and reproacht me so greatly with it, that I
must have lov’d him as much as I did, not to have broke off with him:
But he had such an Ascendant over me, that though he was the Injustest
of all Men, yet I thought him the most Reasonable.
‘We were at the Marquess de Los Rios’s; his Country-house was not above
two Leagues from Seville: Dying, as he was, he receiv’d us with such Joy
as was easily observable. My Father testifi’d to him his Grief, to see
him in so low a Condition, thankt him for the Donation he made me, and
assured him, If he could find a fair and just Pretence, he would break
off with Mendez, to whom he had engaged his Word: That should this
happen, he promist him solemnly I should be no Body’s but his. He
receiv’d this Assurance in the same manner as if he had receiv’d his
perfect Felicity; but he knew well the Dolor I conceiv’d thereat: I
became Pale, my Eyes were covered with Tears; and when we were about
leaving him, he desired me to draw near to him; he told me with a
languishing Tone: “Fear nothing, Mariana; I love you too well to
displease you; you shall have Mendez, seeing your Affections are engaged
to him.” I answer’d him: “I had no particular Inclination for him; but
being commanded to respect him, as a Man who was to be my Husband, I
could do no otherwise; however, I intreated him to be well.”
‘This seem’d to me the least step I could take towards a Person to whom
I had so great Obligations. He appear’d thereat sufficiently satisfy’d,
attempting to take my Hand and kiss it: “Remember,” said he to me, “you
enjoyn me to live; and that my Life being your Work, you will be oblig’d
to conserve it.” We return’d at Night, and the Impatient Mendez waited
for us, to make me new Reproaches: I took ’em as I was wont, as Proofs
of his Passion: and having justified my self, I askt him, What News
there was of the Fleet? “Alas!” said he to me, “my Father has receiv’d
such as drives me to Despair: I dare not inform you.” “Have you any
thing separate from me?” said I to him, looking tenderly on him: “Would
you have me to be as reserv’d to you?” “I am too Happy,” replied he, “in
that you have such favourable Dispositions; and being not able to keep
any Secret from you, I must plainly tell you, That the Galion in which
is our whole Estate, is split and lost, running against a Rock. But I
should be less sensible, how greatly soever I am Interest, did I not
look on the Unhappy Consequences of this Loss: Your Presence will
restore the Marquess de Los Rios to his Health; his Sentiments for you
are known in your Family; he is Rich, and a great Lord: I become
Miserable; and if you forsake me, my dear Mariana, I shall have no more
Hope but in a speedy Death.” I was pierced with Sorrow at this sad News:
I took one of his Hands, and closing it with mine, I said to him, “My
dear Mendez, do not think me capable of loving you, and yet leaving you,
by the Effects of your good or bad Fortune: if you be able to bear up
against it, believe me so too. I call Heaven to witness,” continued I,
“provided you love me, and be faithful to me, that I will never forsake
you; and let it punish me if ever I prove Inconstant.”
‘He testified all the Acknowledgements he ought me for such affectionate
Assurances, and we resolved not to divulge this Accident.
‘I withdrew very melancholly, and shut my self up in my Closet,
ruminating on the Consequences of this sad Disaster. I was still there,
when I heard some Body knocking softly at the Shutters of my Window: I
drew near, and saw Mendez by the Light of the Moon: “What do you here,”
said I to him, “at this time of the Night?” “Alas,” answer’d he to me,
“I was trying whether I could speak with you before I departed: My
Father has again lately received News of the Galion, and will have me
immediately go where she is run aground, to endeavour to save something:
It is a great way thither, and I shall be a great while without seeing
you. Ah, dear Mariana, during all this time will you be as good as your
Word to me? May I hope my dear Mistress will be faithful to me?” “What
Reason have I given you, Mendez,” said I, interrupting him, “to doubt
it? Yes,” continued I, “I will love you were you the most Unfortunate
Man in the World.”
‘It would be to abuse your Patience, Madam, to relate to you whatever we
said in this doleful Separation; and though there appear’d no Danger,
yet our Hearts had a foreboding of what was afterwards to happen to us.
The Day began to appear, and we must bid Adieu: I saw him shed Tears,
which were accompanied with mine.
‘I threw myself on my Bed, rowling a thousand sad Thoughts in my Mind;
and I appear’d the next Morning so out of Order, that my Father and
Mother were afraid I was falling into some dangerous fit of Sickness.
‘Mendez his Father came to make them a Visit, to excuse his Son’s
parting without taking his Leave of them. He added, “He had a Business
which required such haste, as would not suffer him a Minute’s time at
his disposal.” As to myself, Madam, I was comfortless, being insensible
to every thing: And if any thing could ease me, ’twas some hours
Conversation with my dear Henrietta, with whom I freely vented my
thoughts touching the long Absence of Mendez.
‘In the mean time the Marquess de Los Rios was out of Danger, and my
Father went often to see him: I observ’d one day great Alteration on my
Mother’s Countenance, she and my Father having been long shut up with
Religioses, who came to give ’em a Visit; and after a Conference of some
time, they call’d me, without my being able to divine the Cause.
‘I entred into their Apartment in such Disorder, that I knew not what I
did. One of these good Fathers, Venerable by his Age and Habit, spake
much to me about the Resignation we owe to the Divine Will, on his
Providence, in every thing which relates to us: and the Close of his
Discourse was, that Mendez was taken by the Algerines; that he was a
Slave; and by his Misfortune these Pyrates had learnt he was a rich
Merchant’s Son; which had occasion’d the setting him at an extraordinary
Ransom: That they were at Algiers in the time he arriv’d; would have
willingly brought him along with ’em, but the money which they had for
all, was not sufficient for him alone. That at their Return they had
been at his Father’s to inform him of this vexatious Disaster; but found
he had absented himself; and that the loss of a Galion, on which was
embarkt all his Effects without being able to save any thing, had
induced him to avoid his Creditors, who sought him every-where, to throw
him in Prison: That things being in Condition, they saw no Remedy to
poor Mendez his Misfortunes, being in the hands of Meluza the most
famous and covetous of all the Corsaries; and that if I would follow
their Advice, and that of my Parents, I would think of taking another
Party. I had so far heard this dreadful News in so ecstatic a Condition,
that I could only interrupt them by sad Sighs; but when he told me, I
must think of another Party; I burst out with Tears and Shrieks, as made
both my Father and Mother, and these Religioses compassionate me.
‘I was carried into my Chamber as one nearer death than life; and Donna
Henrietta was sent for, and it was not without great Affliction she
beheld me in this sad Condition. I fell into a most deep Melancholly; I
tormented myself day and night, and nothing was able to remove my dear
Mendez out of my Mind.
‘The Marquess de Los Rios, having learnt what had past, conceiv’d such
strong Hopes, that he soon found himself in a Condition to come and
Claim of my Father and me the Effect of the Words we had given him. I
shewed him that mine were not disengaged in respect of Mendez; that he
was Unfortunate, which no ways lessen’d my Engagements to him. He heard
me without being perswaded by me, and told me, I had the same desire of
destroying myself, as others had of saving themselves; that ’twas more
my Interest than his, which made him act as he did. And being ravisht
with having a Pretence which seemed to him plausible, he prest my Father
with such Earnestness, that he at length consented to what he desired.
‘It is impossible for me to represent to you, Madam, in what an Abyss of
Sorrow I was in: “What is become, my Lord,” said I to the Marquess, “of
that scrupulous Tenderness which hinder’d you from taking my Heart from
any other hand than my own? Let me at least have some time to forget
Mendez; Perhaps his Absence and Misfortunes may prevail on me to some
Indifferency towards him. To this cruel Accident, which has snatch’d him
so lately from me, you add new Troubles when you expect I should so
speedily pass over from him to you.”
‘“I know not what I expect or may hope for,” said he to me, “but this I
am sure of, that my Complaisance had like to have cost me my Life; that
if you be not design’d for me, you will be anothers; and as to Mendez,
his Fortune has been such, that he can no longer pretend to you; and
seeing you must be disposed of, I think you are very hard hearted to
refuse me. You cannot be ignorant of what I have done hitherto to please
you, my former Proceeding should serve as a sufficient Testimony of my
future Respects.”
‘The Marquess made a greater progress in my Father’s Mind than mine. In
a Word, my Mother having one day sent for me, told me, ’Twas to no
purpose to use any longer Delays, my Father being resolv’d I should obey
his Orders. Whatever I could say to excuse my self, my Tears, my
Remonstrances, Entreaties were all to no purpose, and serv’d only to
exasperate my Mother.
‘All things necessary were prepared for my Marriage, the Marquess would
have every thing suitable to his Quality; He sent me a Cabinet of Jewels
and Precious Stones, to the value of several thousand Crowns. The fatal
Day for our Wedding was set. Seeing my self reduced to this Extremity. I
took a resolution which will surprize you, Madam, and demonstrate a
great Passion.
‘I went to Donna Henrietta; this Friend had been ever faithful to me,
and threw my self at her feet, surprising her by so extraordinary a
Carriage: “My dear Henrietta,” said I to her, melting in Tears, “there
is no Remedy to my Misfortunes, unless you have pity on me; do not
abandon me, let me conjure you in the sad Condition I am in; to morrow I
must marry the Marquess de Los Rios, I can no longer avoid it. If the
Offers of Friendship you have made me be Proof against all Tryal, and
can make you capable of a generous Resolution, you will not refuse to
follow my Fortune, and to accompany me to Algiers to pay Mendez his
Ransom, to redeem him from the cruel Slavery he is in. You see me at
your Feet,” continued I, “I will never rise till you have given me your
Word, to do what I desire you.” She seem’d so concern’d at my Posture,
that I arose to make her answer me. She immediately embraced me with
great Testimonies of Tenderness: “I will refuse you nothing, my dear
Mariana,” said she to me, “were it my very Life; but you are going to
ruine your self and me with you. How can two Girls execute what you
project. Our Age, our Sex, and your Beauty, will expose us to Accidents,
the bare imagination of which makes me to tremble: this is certain, we
are going to overwhelm our Families with Shame and Confusion; and if you
had made serious Reflections hereon, it is not possible you could have
come to this Resolution.” “Ah, barbarous!” cried I, “and more barbarous
than he that detains my Lover; you forsake me, but tho I am alone, yet
that shall not hinder me from pursuing my Point, neither can the
assistance you should give me stand me in much stead: Remain, remain, I
consent, it is fit I should depart without any Comfort to affront all
Dangers; I confess such an undertaking is fit only for a desperate
Creature.”
‘My Reproaches and Tears moved Henrietta; she told me my Interest had
obliged her as much as her own to speak to me as she had done; but in
short, seeing I persisted in my first Resolution, and nothing could
divert me from it, she resolved I should not go alone; That if I would
be ruled by her, we should disguise ourselves; that she would undertake
to get two Suits of Mens Apparel; and as for the rest, it belong’d to me
to take care of it. I embraced her with a thousand Testimonies of
Thankfulness.
‘I afterwards askt her, Whether she had seen the Jewels which the
Marquess had sent me; “I will bring them,” said I to her, “to purchase
Mendez’s Ransom with them.” We resolved to lose no time, and we neither
of us fail’d in what we had projected.
‘Never were two Maidens better disguised under the Habit of two
Cavaliers. We parted that Night, and embarkt our selves without the
least Obstacle, but after some days Sail we were overtaken by so violent
a Storm, as made us despair of our Safety. In all this Disorder and
Peril, I was less concerned for my self, than for not having compassed
my dear Mendez’s Liberty, and for having engaged Henrietta to follow my
ill Fortune: “It is I,” said I to her, in embracing her, “it is I, my
dear Companion, that has rais’d this Storm, were I not on the Sea it
would be Calm; my Misfortune follows me wherever I go.” In fine, we
having been a Day and two Nights in continual Alarums, the Weather
chang’d, and we arriv’d at Algiers.
‘I was so glad to see my self in a Condition to deliver Mendez, that I
reckon’d all the Dangers we underwent as nothing: But alas, what became
of me in disembarking, when after all the search which could be made, I
perceiv’d there was no hope of finding the little Cabinet wherein I had
put all I had was most precious: I found my self seiz’d with such
violent Grief, that I thought I should have expired before I got out of
the Vessel. Without doubt this Cabinet, which was little, and of which I
took but small Care during the Tempest, fell into the Sea, or was stole,
which ever of these two it was, I made a considerable Loss, and I had
only remaining Jewels to the value of a thousand Pounds, which I had
kept for all Events about me.
‘I resolv’d with this, to make a Tryal with Mendez’s Patron: As soon as
we were in the Town, we enquired out his House, (for Meluza was well
known) and went thither clad as Gentlemen.
‘I cannot express to you, Madam, the trouble I was in drawing near this
House, where I knew my dear Lover languisht in Chains; what sad
Reflections did I not make; how did I look when I enter’d the Corsary’s
House, and saw Mendez Chain’d, with several others, who were leading out
to work in the Field. I should have fallen at his Feet, had not
Henrietta born me up: I no longer knew where I was, nor what I did; I
would have spoken to him, but Grief had so seiz’d on my Spirits, that my
Tongue could not utter a Word. As to him, he beheld me not; he was so
sad and deprest, that he could look on no body; and one must love him as
much as I did, to know him, so greatly was he changed.
‘After having been some time coming to my self, I went into a low Room,
where I was told Meluza was; I saluted him, and told him the occasion of
my Voyage; that Mendez was my near Relation; that he was undone by the
Loss of a Galion, and his Captivity together; and that ’twas out of my
own Money I would pay his Ransom. The Moor appear’d to me little
concern’d at what I said; and looking scornfully on me, he answer’d, It
was not his business to enquire whence I had my Money; but this he
certainly knew, that Mendez was Rich; and to shew that he would not take
all Advantages, he would therefore set him at twenty thousand Crowns.
‘Alas, what would this have been, had I not lost my Jewels? but this was
too much in the Condition I was in. In fine, after several long
fruitless Disputes, I took on me immediately a resolution which could
only be inspired by an extream Love.
‘“Here’s all I have,” said I to the Pyrate, in giving him my Diamonds,
“they are not worth what thou demandest: take me for thy Slave, and be
perswaded thou wilt not keep me long. I am the only Daughter of a Rich
Banker of Seville; keep me for an Hostage, and let Mendez go; he will
soon return to Redeem me.” The Barbarian was surpriz’d to find me
capable of so generous and affectionate a Resolution. “Thou art worthy,”
said he to me, “of a better Fortune. Be it so; I accept the Condition
you offer me: I will take care of thee, and be a good Patron to thee.
Thou must leave the Habit thou wearest, to put on one agreeable to thy
Sex: thou shalt keep thy Jewels if thou wilt, I can as well stay for the
whole as for a part.”
‘Donna Henrietta was so confused and dismayed at the Bargain I came from
concluding, that she could not sufficiently express her Displeasure to
me; but in fine, maugre all her Remonstrances and Entreaties, I held
firm, and Meluza caus’d a Slave’s Habit to be brought me, which I put
on.
‘He conducted me to his Wives Chamber, to whom he deliver’d me, having
recounted to her what I had done for my Lover’s Liberty.
‘She seem’d to be much affected by it, and promis’d she would shorten
the time of my Servitude by all the good Treatments she could make me.
‘At Night, when Mendez return’d, Meluza caus’d him to be call’d, telling
him, That being of Seville, he would therefore shew him a Slave he had
bought, because perhaps he might know her.
‘Immediately I was brought before him; Mendez at this sight, losing all
Countenance, came and cast himself at my Feet, and taking my Hands,
which he bathed with his Tears, he said every thing which was most
tender and affectionate to me. Meluza and his Wife diverted themselves,
in seeing the different Motions of Joy and Grief with which we were
agitated: in fine, they inform’d Mendez of the Obligations he had to me;
that he was free, and that I would remain in his place. He did whatever
could be done to disswade me from taking this Task on me: “Alas,” said
he to me, “you would have me load you with my Chains, my dear Mistress;
Shall I be free, when you are not? I go then to do for you what you come
from doing for me; I will sell my self, and Redeem you with this Money:
for in fine, consider, that should I as soon as I arrive at Seville,
find Assistance, and return again to bring you back, yet how is it
possible for me in the mean time to leave you; judge how I can do this
in a time wherein my Fortune promises me nothing, and am the most
Unhappy of all Men.” I offered against all his Reasons, the Tenderness
of my Father, who would soon Redeem me when he knew where I was. In
fine, I made use of all the Power I had over his Mind, to make his
Advantage of what I had done in his Favour.
‘What shall I say to you, Madam, of our Separation? It was so dolorous,
that Words cannot express what we felt. I obliged Henrietta to part with
him, to sollicite and press my Parents to do their part in my behalf.
‘In the mean time my Father and Mother were in an unconceivable
Affliction; and when they perceiv’d my flight they thought to die with
Grief.
‘They blamed themselves infinitely for forcing me to marry the Marquess
de Los Rios. He was for his part in no less Despair; they caused me to
be searcht for in vain, in all places where they thought I might have
hid my self.
‘Two whole Years were past without my receiving any News or Succors from
Mendez; which made me believe with great likelihood, that both he and
Henrietta were cast away on the Sea: I had given them all the Jewels
which Meluza had left me; but it was not their Loss, nor that of my
Liberty, which I regretted: It was of my dear Lover and faithful Friend,
whose Remembrance continually possest me, and caus’d me an unparallel’d
Affliction; I could get no Rest nor Health; I wept Day and Night; I
refused to come out of my Slavery in neglecting to signifie to my Father
my present Condition. I wisht only for a speedy Death, which I would
have willingly met with, to put an end to my Troubles and Misfortunes.
‘Meluza and his Wife began to pity me: they did not doubt but Mendez was
cast away: they treated me less cruelly than these sort of People are
wont to use those Unhappy Wretches who fall into their Hands.
‘One Day, as Meluza came from Pyrating, he brought with him several
Persons of both Sexes which he had taken, and among the rest a Young
Woman of some Quality of Seville, and whom I knew. This sight renewed my
Grief: she was much surpriz’d to find me in this sad place. We
affectionately embraced one another, and observing a deep silence; “How
now, Beautiful Mariana,” said she to me, “are you so indifferent towards
your Relations and Country, that you have no Curiosity to make any
Enquiries about them?” I lifted up mine Eyes to Heaven in uttering a
deep Sigh; I entreated her to tell me, If ’twere known where Mendez and
Henrietta were lost? “Who has told you they are lost?” replied she.
“They are at Seville, where they lead a very happy Life. Mendez has
re-establisht his Affairs, and makes it his great Delight and Honour to
publish in all places the Extream Obligations he has to Henrietta.
Perhaps you are ignorant,” continued she, “that Mendez was taken and
made a Slave by the Algerines; this generous young Woman disguised her
self, and came hither to redeem him, but he has not been ungrateful, for
he has married her. There is a most charming Union between them. Hymen
has not banisht Love in their particular.”
‘As she was yet speaking, she perceiv’d my Countenance to alter on a
sudden, and that I was ready to faint; my Strength fail’d me, mine Eyes
closed, and I sunk down between her Arms; she was greatly troubled at
this; she called my Companions, who put me to Bed, and endeavour’d to
recover me from this pitious Condition.
‘This young Woman greatly concern’d her self for me; and when I came to
my self, I began to complain; I uttered Sighs and Groans able to move a
Rock.
‘Meluza was affected at the Recital of such a worse than barbarous
Instance of Treachery, and without any notice to me, he inform’d
himself, by his new Slave of my Father’s Name, and immediately wrote to
him what he knew of my Misfortunes.
‘These Letters were like to have been the Death of my Mother; she could
not imagine I could be in Chains at eighteen Years of Age, without
shedding a torrent of Tears: But that which augmented her Grief, was,
the Disorder of my Father’s Affairs; several considerable Bankrupts had
ruined him; his Credit was gone, and it was impossible for him to
procure the 20000 Crowns which Meluza demanded for my Ransom.