omitted nothing to persuade me to sell my Estate in _France_, and settle
in _Rome_; he told me he had a Daughter, whose Heart had been the aim of
the chiefest Nobility; but that he wou’d buy my Company at that Price and
to keep me here, wou’d give me her. This Proposition was not altogether
so pleasing to me, as perhaps, he imagin’d it wou’d be: I had heard much
Talk or this Lady’s Beauty, but I had never seen her; and at that Time,
Love was little in my Thoughts, especially that sort which was to end in
Marriage. However, I wou’d not absolutely refuse his Offer, but evaded
it, which I had the better pretence for, because _Violetta_, (so was
his Daughter call’d) was gone to _Vitterbo_ to Visit a sick Relation,
and I cou’d not have the opportunity of seeing her. In the mean time,
he made me acquainted with his deepest Secrets; among many other Things
he told me, that tho’ their Family was one of the greatest in _Rome_,
yet by the too great Liberality of his Father, himself and one Sister
was left with very little to Support the Grandeur of their Birth; but
that his Sister who was acknowledg’d a Woman of an uncommon Beauty, had
the good Fortune to appear so, to Seignior _Marcarius Fialasco_: he
was the possessor of immense Riches, but very Old; but the young Lady
found Charms enough in his Wealth to ballance all other Deficiencies;
She Married, and Buried him in a Month’s Time, and he dy’d so full of
fondness to his lovely Bride; that he left her Mistress of all he had
in the World; giving only to a Daughter he had by a former Wife, the
Fortune which her Mother had brought him, and that too, and herself to be
dispos’d of, in Marriage, as this Triumphant Widow should think fit; and
she, like a kind Sister, thought none worthy of that Alliance, but her
Brother; and in a few Days he said, he did not doubt but that I shou’d
see him a Bridegroom. I ask’d him if he was happy enough to have made
an Interest in the young Lady’s Heart; and he very frankly answer’d,
That he was not of a Humour to give himself much uneasiness about it,
since it was wholly in his Sister’s Power to make him Master of her
Person, and she resolv’d to do that, or Confine her in a Monastry for
ever. I cou’d not help feeling a Compassionate concern for this Lady,
tho’ she was a Stranger to me, for I cou’d not believe, so Beautiful
and accomplish’d a Woman, as he had often describ’d her to be, cou’d
find any thing in her design’d Husband which cou’d make this Match
agreeable. Nothing can be more different from Graceful, than the Person
of _Cittolini_; he is of a black swarthy Complexion, hook’d-Nos’d, wall
Ey’d, short of Stature; and tho’ he is very Lean, the worst shap’d Man
I ever saw; then for his Temper, as friendly as he behav’d to me, I
discern’d a great deal of Treachery, and Baseness in it to others; a
perpetual peevishness and Pride appear’d in his Deportment to all those
who had any dependance on him: And I had been told by some who knew him
perfectly well, that his cruel Usage of his first Lady had been the means
of her Death; but this was none of my Business, and tho’ I pity’d the
Lady, yet my gratitude to him engag’d me to wish him Success in all his
Undertakings. ’Till one Day, unluckily both for him and me, as it has
since prov’d; he desir’d me to Accompany him to the House of _Ciamara_,
for so is his Sister call’d, being, willing I suppose, that I shou’d
be a Witness of the extraordinary State she liv’d in; and indeed, in
all the Courts I had been at, I never saw any thing more Magnificent
than her Apartments; the vast quantity of Plate; the Richness of the
Furniture; and the number of Servants attending on Her, might have
made her be taken rather for a Princess, than a private Woman. There
was a very noble Collation, and she sat at Table with us her self, a
particular Favour from an _Italian_ Lady: She is by many Years younger
than her Brother, and extreamly Handsome; but has, I know not what, of
fierceness in her Eyes, which renders her, at least to me, a Beauty,
without a Charm. After the Entertainment, _Cittolini_ took me into
the Gardens, which were answerable to what I had seen within, full of
Curiosities; at one end there was a little Building of Marble, to which
he led me, and entering into it, see here, _Monsieur_, said he, the Place
where my Sister spends the greatest part of her Hours, and tell me if
’tis in this kind of Diversion that the _French_ Ladies take Delight.
I presently saw it was full of Books, and guess’d those Words were
design’d as a Satyr on our Ladies, whose disposition to Gallantry seldom
affords much time for Reading; but to make as good a Defence for their
Honour as I was able. _Seignior_, reply’d I, it must be confest, that
there are very few Ladies of any Nation, who think the _Acquisition_ of
Knowledge, worth the Pains it must cost them in the _Search_, but that
ours is not without some Examples, that all are not of that Mind; our
famous _D’anois_, and _D’acier_ may evince. Well, Well, interrupted he
laughing; the propensity which that Sex bears to Learning is so trifling,
that I shall not pretend to hold any Argument on its Praise; nor did
I bring you here so much to engage you to Admire my Sisters manner of
Amusement, as to give you an Opportunity of diverting your self, while
I go to pay a Compliment to my Mistress; who, tho’ I have a very great
Confidence in you, I dare not trust with the sight of so accomplish’d a
_Chevalier_. With these Words he left me, and I, designing to do as he
had desir’d; turn’d to the Shelves to take down what Book I cou’d find
most suitable to my Humour; but good God! As I was tumbling them over,
I saw thro’ a Window which look’d into a Garden behind the Study; tho’
both belonging to one Person: A Woman, or rather Angel, coming down a
Walk directly opposite to where I was, never did I see in one Person
such various Perfections blended, never did any Woman wear so much of
her Soul in her Eyes, as did this Charmer: I saw that moment in her
Looks, all I have since experienc’d of her Genius, and her Humour; Wit,
Judgment, good Nature and Generosity are in her Countenance, conspicuous
as in her Actions; but to go about to make a Description, were to wrong
her; She has Graces so peculiar, that none without knowing her, can be
able to conceive; and tho’ nothing can be finer than her Shape, or more
regular than her Features; yet those, our Fancy or a _Painters_ Art may
Copy: There is something so inexpressibly striking in her Air; such a
delightful Mixture of awful and attractive in every little Motion, that
no Imagination can come up to. But if Language is too poor to paint her
Charms, how shall I make you sensible of the Effects of them on me! The
Surprize---the Love---the Adoration which this fatal View involv’d me
in, but by that which, you say, your self felt at the first Sight of
_Melliora_. I was, methought all Spirit,---I beheld her with Raptures,
such as we imagine Souls enjoy when freed from Earth, they meet each
other in the Realms of Glory; ’twas Heaven to gaze upon her: But Oh! The
Bliss was short, the Envious Trees obscur’d her Lustre from me.---The
Moment I lost Sight of her, I found my _Passion_ by my _Pain_, the _Joy_
was vanish’d, but the _Sting_ remain’d---I was so bury’d in Thought, that
I never so much as stirr’d a Step to endeavour to discover which way she
went; tho’ if I had consider’d the Situation of the Place, it would have
been easy for me to have known, there was a Communication between the two
Gardens, and if I had gone but a few Paces out of the Study, must have
met her; but Love had for the present depriv’d me of my Sences; and it
but just enter’d into my Head that there was a Possibility of renewing
my Happiness, when I perceiv’d _Cittolini_ returning. When he came
pretty near; Dear _Frankville_, said he, pardon my Neglect of you; but
I have been at _Camilla_’s Apartment, and am told she is in the lower
Garden; I will but speak to her, snatch a Kiss and be with you again: He
went hastily by me without staying for any Answer, and it was well he
did so, for the Confusion I was in, had made me little able to reply.
His Words left me no room to hope it was any other than _Camilla_ I had
seen, and the Treachery I was guilty of to my Friend, in but wishing to
invade his Right, gave me a Remorse which I had never known before: But
these Reflections lasted not long; Love generally exerts himself on these
Occasions, and is never at a loss for means to remove all the Scruples
that may be rais’d to oppose him. Why, said I to my self, should I be
thus Tormented? She is not yet married, and ’tis almost impossible she
can with Satisfaction, ever yield to be so, to him. Could I but have
opportunity to Talk to her, to let her know my Passion,---to endeavour
to deliver her from the Captivity she is in, perhaps she would not
condemn my Temerity: I found a great deal of Pleasure in this Thought,
but I was not suffer’d to enjoy it long; _Honour_ suggested to me, that
_Cittolini_ lov’d me, had Oblig’d me, and that to supplant him would be
Base and Treacherous: But would it not be more so, cry’d the Dictates
of my _Love_, to permit the Divine _Camilla_ to fall a Sacrifice to one
so every way undeserving of her; one who ’tis likely she abhors; one
who despises her Heart, so he may but possess her Fortune to support
his Pride, and her Person to gratify a Passion far unworthy of the Name
of _Love_; One! who ’tis probable, when Master of the one, and satiated
with the other, may treat her with the utmost Inhumanity. Thus, for a
time, were my Thoughts at Strife; but Love at length got the Victory,
and I had so well compos’d my self before _Cittolini_’s Return that he
saw nothing of the Disorder I had been in; but it was not so with him,
his Countenance, at the best displeasing enough, was now the perfect
Representative of Ill Nature, Malice, and Discontent. _Camilla_ had
assur’d him, that nothing could be more her Aversion, and that she was
resolv’d, tho’ a Monastick Life was what she had no Inclination to, yet
she would fly to that Shelter, to avoid his Bed. You may imagine, my
Lord, I was Transported with an Excess of Joy, when he told me this; but
Love taught me to dissemble it, ’till I had taken leave of him, which I
made an Excuse to do, as soon as possible.
Now all that troubled me was to find an Opportunity to declare my
Passion; and, I confess, I was so dull in Contrivance, that tho’ it took
up all my Thoughts, none of them were to any purpose: Three or four
Days I spent in fruitless Projections, the last of which I met with a
new Embarrassment; _Cittolini_’s Daughter was return’d, he renew’d his
Desires of making me his Son, and invited me the next Evening to his
House, where I was to be entertain’d with the sight of her; I could not
well avoid giving him my Promise to be there, but resolv’d in my Mind
to behave my self in such a manner as should make her disapprove of me.
While I was thus busied in Contriving how to avoid _Violetta_, and engage
_Camilla_, a Woman wrapt up very closely in her Vail came to my Lodgings,
and brought me a Note, in which I found these Words.
[Illustration]
_To Monsieur_ FRANKVILLE.
_My Father is resolv’d to make me Yours; and if he has your
Consent, mine will not be demanded; he has Commanded me to
receive you to morrow, but I have a particular Reason to desire
to see you sooner; I am to pass this Night with CAMILLA at my
Aunt CIAMARA’s; there is a little Wicket that opens from the
Garden, directly opposite to the Convent of St. FRANCIS, if you
will favour me so far as to come there at Ten a Clock to Night,
and give Seven gentle Knocks at the Gate: You shall know the
Cause of my Entreating this private Interview, which is of more
Moment than the Life of_
Violetta.
Never had I been more pleasingly surpriz’d, than at the Reading these
Lines; I could not imagine the Lady could have any other Reason for
seeing me in private, than to confess that her Heart was pre-engag’d, and
disswade me from taking the Advantage of her Father’s Authority, a secret
Hope too, sprung within my Soul, that my Adorable _Camilla_ might be with
her; and after I had dismiss’d the Woman, with an Assurance that I would
attend her Lady, I spent my Time in vast Idea’s of approaching Happiness
’till the appointed Hour arriv’d.
But how great was my Disappointment, when being admitted, I cou’d
distinguish, tho’ the Place was very dark, that I was receiv’d but
by one, and accosted by her, in a manner very different from what
I expected: I know not, _Monsieur_, said she, how you interpret
this Freedom I have taken; but whatever we pretend, our Sex, of all
Indignities, can the least support those done to our Beauty; I am not
vain enough of mine to assure my self of making a Conquest of your
Heart; and if the World should know you have _seen_, and _refus’d_ me,
my slighted Charms would be the Theme of _Mirth_ to those whose _Envy_
now they are: I therefore beg, that if I am dislik’d, none but my self
may know it; when you have seen my Face, which you shall do immediately,
give me your Opinion freely; and if it is not to my Advantage, make some
pretence to my Father to avoid coming to our House. I protest to you, my
Lord that I was so much surpriz’d at this odd kind of proceeding, that
I knew not presently how to Reply, which she imagining by my Silence:
Come, come, _Monsieur_, said she, I am not yet on even Terms with you,
having often seen _your_ Face, and you wholly a Stranger to _mine_: But
when our Knowledge of each other is Mutual, I hope you will be as free in
your Declaration as I have been in my Request. These Words I thought were
as proper for my purpose as I cou’d wish, and drawing back a little, as
she was about to lead me: Madam, said I, since you have that Advantage,
methinks it were but just, you shou’d reveal what sort of Sentiments the
sight of me has inspir’d, for I have too much Reason from the Knowledge
of my Demerit, to fear, you have no other design in exposing your Charms,
than to Triumph in the Captivating a Heart you have already doom’d to
Misery; I will tell you nothing, answer’d she, of _my_ Sentiments ’till
I have a perfect knowledge of _yours_. As she spoke this, she gave me
her Hand to conduct me out of that Place of Darkness; as we went, I
had all the Concern at the apprehension of being too much approv’d of
by this young Lady, as I shou’d have had for the contrary, if I had
imagin’d who it was I had been talking with, for as soon as we came out
of the Grotto, I saw by the light of the Moon, which shone that Night,
with an uncommon Lustre, the Face which in those Gardens had before so
Charm’d me, and which had never since been absent from my Thoughts. What
Joy, what a mixture of Extacy and Wonder, then fill’d my raptur’d Soul
at this second view, I cou’d not presently trust my Eyes, or think my
Happiness was real: I gaz’d, and gaz’d again, in silent Transport, for
the big Bliss, surpass’d the reach of Words. What _Monsieur_, said she,
observing my Confusion, are you yet Dumb, is there any thing so dreadful
in the form of _Violetta_, to deprive you of your Speech? No Madam,
reply’d I, ’tis not _Violetta_ has that Power, but she, who unknowing
that she did so, caught at first sight the Victory o’re my Soul; she!
for whom I have vented so Sighs! she for whom I languish’d and almost
dy’d for; while _Violetta_ was at _Vitterbo_: She! The Divine _Camilla_
only cou’d inspire a Passion such as mine!--Oh Heavens! cry’d she, and
that instant I perceiv’d her lovely Face all crimson’d o’re with Blushes;
is it then possible that you know me, have seen me before, and that I
have been able to make any Impression on you? I then told her of the
Visit I had made to _Ciamara_ with _Cittolini_, and how by his leaving
me in the Marble-Study, I had been blest with the sight of her; and from
his Friend became his Rival: I let her know the Conflicts my Honour and
my Obligations to _Cittolini_ had engag’d me in; the thousand various
Inventions Love had suggested to me, to obtain that Happiness I now
enjoy’d, the opportunity of declaring my self her Slave; and in short,
conceal’d not the least Thought, tending to my Passion, from Her. She,
in requital, acquainted me, that she had often seen me from her Window,
go into the Convent of St. _Francis_, walking in the _Collonade_ at St.
_Peter_’s, and in several other Places, and, prompted by an extravagance
of good Nature, and Generosity, confess’d, that her Heart felt something
at those Views, very prejudicial to her Repose: That _Cittolini_,
always disagreeable, was now grown Odious; that the Discourse she had
heard of my intended Marriage with his Daughter, had given her an alarm
impossible to be express’d, and that, unable longer to support the Pangs
of undiscover’d Passion, she had writ to me in that Ladies Name, who she
knew I had never seen, resolving, if I lik’d her as _Violetta_, to own
her self _Camilla_, if not, to go the next Day to a Monastry, and devote
to Heaven those Charms which wanted force to make a Conquest where alone
she wish’d they shou’d.
I must leave it to your Lordship’s imagination to conceive the wild
tumultuous hurry of disorder’d Joy which fill’d my ravish’d Soul at this
Condescention; for I am now as unable to describe it, as I was then to
thank the Dear, the tender Author of it; but what _Words_ had not Power
to do, _Looks_ and _Actions_ testified: I threw myself at her Feet,
Embrac’d her Knees, and kiss’d the Hand she rais’d me with, with such
a Fervor, as no false Love cou’d feign; while she, all softness, all
divinely Kind, yielded to the pressure of my glowing Lips, and suffer’d
me to take all the freedom which Honour and Modesty wou’d permit. This
interview was too felicitous to be easily broken off, it was almost
broad Day when we parted, and nothing but her Promise, that I shou’d be
admitted the next Night, cou’d have enabled me to take leave of her.
I went away highly satisfy’d, as I had good Reason, with my Condition,
and after recollecting all the tender Passages of our Conversation; I
began to consider after what manner I shou’d proceed with _Cittolini_:
To Visit and Address his Daughter, I thought, wou’d be Treacherous and
Deceitful to the last degree; and how to come off, after the Promise
I made of seeing her that Evening. I cou’d not tell; at last, since
Necessity oblig’d me to one I resolv’d of, the two Evils to chuse
the least, and rather to seem _Rude_, then _Base_, which I must have
been, had I by counterfeiting a Desire to engage _Violetta_, left
room for a possibility of creating one in her. I therefore, writ, to
_Cittolini_ an Excuse for not waiting on Him and his Daughter, as I
had promis’d, telling him that I, on more serious Reflection found it
wholly inconsistent, either with my Circumstances, or Inclinations,
to think of passing all my Life in _Rome_; that I thank’d him for
the Honour he intended me, but that it was my Misfortune, not to be
capable of accepting it. Thus, with all the Artifice I was Master of,
I endeavour’d to sweeten the bitter Pill of Refusal, but in vain; for
he was so much Disgusted at it, that he visited me no more: I cannot
say, I had Gratitude enough to be much concern’d at being compell’d to
use him in this Fashion; for, since I had beheld, and Ador’d _Camilla_,
I cou’d consider him no longer as a Friend, but as the most dangerous
Enemy to my Hopes and me. All this time I spent the best part of the
Nights with _Camilla_; and in one of them, after giving, and receiving
a thousand Vows of everlasting Faith, I snatch’d a lucking Moment, and
obtain’d from the Dear, melting Charmer, all that my Fondest, and most
eager Wishes cou’d aspire to. Yes, my Lord, the soft, the trembling Fair,
dissolv’d in Love; yielded without Reserve, and met my Transports with an
equal Ardor; and I truly protest to your Lordship, that what in others,
_palls_ Desire, added fresh _Force_ to mine; the more I knew, the more
I was Inflam’d, and in the highest Raptures of Enjoyment, the Bliss was
dash’d with Fears, which prov’d alas, but too Prophetick, that some curst
Chance might drive me from my Heaven: Therefore, to secure it mine for
ever, I press’d the lovely Partner of my Joys, to give me leave to bring
a Priest with me the next Night; who by giving a Sanction to our Love,
might put it past the Power of Malice to Disunite us: Here, I experienc’d
the greatness of her Soul, and her almost unexampled Generosity; for in
spite of all her Love, her Tenderness, and the unbounded Condescentions
she had made me, it was with all the difficulty in the World, that I
persuaded her to think of Marrying me without a Fortune; which by her
Father’s _Will_, was wholly in the Disposal of _Ciamara_, who it wou’d
have been Madness to Hope, wou’d ever bestow it upon me. However, my
Arguments at last prevail’d; I was to bring a Fryar of the Order of St.
_Francis_, who was my intimate Friend, the next Night to join our Hands;
which done, she told me, she wou’d advise to leave _Rome_ with what speed
we cou’d, for she doubted not but _Cittolini_ wou’d make use of any
means, tho’ never so base or Bloody, to Revenge his Disappointment. This
Proposal infinitely pleas’d me, and after I had taken leave of her, I
spent the remainder of the Night, in contriving the means of our Escape:
Early in the Morning I secur’d Post-Horses, and then went to the Convent
of St. _Francis_; a Purse of _Lewis D’ors_ soon engag’d the Fryar to my
Interest, and I had every thing ready in wonderful Order, considering
the shortness of the Time, for our Design: When returning Home towards
Evening, as well to take a little rest after the Fatigue I had had, as
to give some other necessary Directions, concerning the Affair to my
Servants, when one of them gave me a Letter, which had been just left for
me.
_Monsieur Frankville_ cou’d not come to this Part of his Story, without
some Sighs, but suppressing them as well as he was able, he took some
Papers out of his Pocket, and singling out one, read to the _Count_ as
follows.
[Illustration]
To Monsieur FRANKVILLE.
_With what Words can I represent the greatness of my
Misfortune, or Exclaim against the Perfidy of my Woman?
I was oblig’d to make her the Confidant of my Passion,
because without her Assistance, I cou’d not have enjoy’d the
Happiness of your Conversation, and ’tis by her that I am now
Betray’d----undone,---lost to all hopes of ever seeing you
more---What have I not endur’d this Day, from the upbraidings
of CIAMARA and CITTOLINI, but that I shou’d despise, nay,
my own Ruin too, if you were safe----But Oh! their Malice
aims to wound me most, through you----Bravo’s are hir’d, the
Price of your Blood is paid, and they have sworn to take your
Life---Guard it I conjure you, if you wou’d preserve that of
CAMILLA’s. Attempt not to come near this House, nor walk alone,
when Night may be an Umbrage to their Designs.---I hear my
cruel Enemies returning to renew their Persecutions, and I have
Time to inform you no more, than that ’tis to the Generous
VIOLETTA you are indebted for this Caution: She, in pity of my
Agonies, and to prevent her Father from executing the Crime he
intends; conveys this to you, slight it not, if you wou’d have
me believe you Love,_
Camilla.
What a turn was here (continu’d he, sadly) in my Fortune? How on a sudden
was my Scene of Happiness chang’d to the blackest Despair?---But not
to tire your Lordship, and spin out my Narration, which is already too
long with unavailing Complainings. I every Day expected a Challenge from
_Cittolini_, believing he wou’d, at least, take that Method at first,
but it seems he was for chusing the _surest_, not the _fairest_ way: And
I have since prov’d, that my Dear _Camilla_ had too much Reason for the
Caution she gave me. Ten Days I lingred out without being able to invent
any means, either to see her, or write to Her; at the end of which,
I receiv’d another Letter from Her, which, if I were to tell you the
Substance of, wou’d be to wrong her; since no Words but her own are fit
to Express her Meaning, and ’tis for that Reason only, I shall Read it.
[Illustration]
_To Monsieur_ FRANKVILLE.