Pronouncing these words in a low and faltering voice, she turned her eyes a second time upon you; then, hastily averting her looks, she hurried to her own chamber, and threw herself into a chair, with all the marks of a very great disturbance.
The affection I have for her, being the person who had brought her up, and most favoured with her confidence, made me behold her in this condition with great concern; and supposing it was her brother that disquieted her, I besought her not to give way to the violence of her grief, but to hope that Heaven would restore him to her prayers.
Alas! my dear Urinoe, said she, I am more culpable than you can imagine; and I grieve less for the condition to which I see Marcomire reduced, than for that moderation wherewith I am constrained, spite of myself, to behold his enemy.
Yes, dear Urinoe, pursued she, blushing, and casting down her eyes, the actions of this unknown appear to me in quite another light since I have seen him; and, instead of looking upon him as the murderer of my brother, I cannot help admiring that rare valour with which he defended himself against so great a number of enemies; and am even ready to condemn the furious Marcomire for oppressing so brave a man.
As I had never approved of those violent transports of grief and rage which she had expressed upon the first news of her brother's misfortune; and as I looked upon your glorious defence with the utmost admiration; so far from condemning the change of her thoughts, I confirmed her in the favourable opinion she began to entertain of you; and, continuing to make remarks upon all the particulars of the combat, which had come to our knowledge, we found nothing in your behaviour, but what increased our admiration.
Sydimiris therefore, following the dictates of her own generosity, as well as my advice, placed two persons about you, whose fidelity we could rely on; and gave them orders to treat you with all imaginable care and respect, but not to inform you of the place in which you was, or to whom you was prisoner.
In the mean time, Marcomire, whose wounds had been again examined, was declared out of danger by the surgeons; and he having understood the excess of his sister's grief, and the revenge she had vowed against you, gave her thanks for those expressions of her tenderness; and also uttered some threats, which intimated a violent hatred against you; and a design of prosecuting his revenge upon you as soon as he was in a condition to leave his chamber.
Sydimiris, who heard him, could with difficulty dissemble her concern.
Ah! Urinoe, said she to me, when we were alone; it is now that I more than ever repent of that excess of rage which transported me against the brave unknown. I have thereby put him entirely into my brother's power, and shall be haply accessary to that death he is meditating for him, or else a perpetual imprisonment.
This reflection gave her so much pain, that I could not choose but pity her; and considering that the only way to preserve you was for her to dissemble a rage equal to Marcomire's against you, in order to prevent being suspected of any design in your favour, I persuaded her to join with him in every thing he said; while, in the mean time, we would endeavour to get you cured of your wounds, that you might at least be in a condition once more to defend yourself with that miraculous valour Heaven has bestowed on you.