Heaven is my witness, madam, said I, faintly, that nothing is so dear and sacred to me as your commands; and since, out of your superlative goodness, you are pleased to have some care for my life, I would preserve it to obey you, were it in my power; but, alas! madam, I strive in vain to repel the violence of my distemper.
In a few days more, I was reduced to the last extremity. It was then that the fair Philonice discovered that she did not hate me; for she made no scruple to weep before me; and those tears she so liberally shed had so powerful an effect upon my mind, that the contentment I felt communicated itself to my body, and gave such a turn to my distemper, that my recovery was not only hoped, but expected.
The baron expressed his satisfaction at this alteration, by the most affectionate expressions; and though the fair Philonice said very little, yet I perceived by the joy that appeared in her fair eyes, that she was not less interested in my recovery, than her father.
The physicians having declared me out of danger, the baron, who had taken his resolution long before, came one day into my chamber; and ordering those who attended me to leave us alone—
Prince, said he, for in recounting my history to him I had disclosed my true quality, I am not ignorant of that affection you bear my daughter; and am sensible it has occasioned the extremity to which we have seen you reduced. Had you been pleased to acquaint me with your sentiments, you would have avoided those displeasures you have suffered; for though your birth were not so illustrious as it is, yet, preferring virtue to all other advantages, I should have esteemed my daughter honoured by your love, and have freely bestowed her on you: but since to those rare qualities wherewith Heaven has so liberally endowed you, you add also that of a birth so noble, doubt not but I shall think myself highly favoured by your alliance. If therefore your thoughts of my daughter be not changed, and you esteem her worthy to be your bride, I here solemnly promise you to bestow her upon you as soon as you are perfectly recovered.
I leave you to guess, madam, the joy which I felt at this discourse. It was so great, that it would not permit me to thank him, as I should have done, for the inestimable blessing he bestowed on me.
I saw Philonice a few minutes after; and, being commanded by her father to give me her hand, she did so without any marks of reluctance; and, having respectfully kissed it, I vowed to be her slave for ever.
Who would have imagined, continued Sir George, with a profound sigh, that fortune, while she thus seemed to flatter me, was preparing to make me suffer the severest torments? I began now to leave my bed, and was able to walk about my chamber. The baron was making great preparations for our nuptials; when one night I was alarmed with the cries of Philonice's women; and a few moments after the baron came into my chamber with a distracted air.
O! son, cried he, for so he always called me, now Philonice is lost both to you and me. She is carried off by force, and I am preparing to follow and rescue her, if possible; but I fear my endeavours will be fruitless, since I know not which way her ravishers have taken.
Oh! sir, cried I, transported both with grief and rage, you shall not go alone: her rescue belongs to me; and I will effect it, or perish in the attempt.