LEANDER
Theodora receiv'd this moving Letter with a Concern proportion'd to the melancholly Occasion; she communicated it to an intimate Acquaintance, who likewise express'd the utmost Uneasiness; the thoughts of the Catastrophe of the Loves of Theodora and Leander presented a lively Idea to Theodora's Companion, of the Miseries and Misfortunes attending Mankind. "Hard is the Case (says she) that Leander, one of the finest young Gentlemen of Naples, should be sacrific'd to a mercenary Wretch, a Wretch, that in the midst of plenty is poor and miserable, and who, tho' he has all Things to compleat his Happiness, his avaricious Temper will not permit him to enjoy the common Necessaries of Life: The Pleasures of living he's a Stranger to, he lives despis'd, and will die unpitied: But such is the inequality of Fortune's Favours, that Merit must stoop and Ideots be advanc'd to the highest Pomp and Magnificence. It is entirely out of your Power to give the pitied Leander the least Relief; your Father's House is a Nunnery, he has his Locks and Keys to secure you, and his Spies for Intelligence; but I advise you to send the unfortunate Youth an Answer to his mournful Epistle." Upon this, Theodora immediately call'd for Pen, Ink and Paper, and wrote the following Answer.
To the unfortunate LEANDER.
I am sorry that you had the Misfortune ever to see me, and the more for that in vain I seek your Relief; it is not in my Power to forward either your Happiness or my own, which I confess I should think compleat, if my mercenary Father would consent to my Espousals; but it is so far from this, that I am to see for the future, so that the Lilly you admire now droops its Head, and the whole Vale's enclouded at my sorrowful Fate; I would willingly accompany the Briar to the Mountains. Impute not to me your approaching Calamities, which only increase with Theodora's. Think me no longer handsome, who have so many Imperfections to sully those Trifles you call Beauties; No, range me with Deformity, since other Ideas may increase your Pain. I desire you to forget me, of I am oblig'd to endeavour not to remember you.
Your most disconsolate
Lover,
THEODORA.
Upon receipt of this Letter, Leander quitted Ferara with a Grief inexpressible, but however had Resolution to finish his Journey to the Place of his Nativity without self Violence, but soon after, resign'd a miserable life.
I come now to the Story of Amaryllis. Amaryllis was formerly deeply in Love with a Gentleman of France, (she being originally of that Kingdom) whose Name was Sempronius; his Person was stately and very well proportion'd; his Face was ruddy and inclining to be large; his Eyes full and lively, with Eye-Brows and Beard pretty thick; of a dark brown Colour; and his Skin was clear, his Shoulders were strong and well set, and Limbs rather large than small, but exactly shap'd: He was perfectly good natur'd, complaisant in his Behaviour, and gallant in his Amours, his Dress was easy and genteel, his Approaches sprightly, and his Conversation the most endearing. Amaryllis was extremly fond of Sempronius and Sempronius was fond of Amaryllis, without each other they were equally unhappy; repeated Visits introduc'd each coming Day, and innocent Embraces crown'd the Night: Love and Liberty were their constant Themes, and nothing was wanting but the Marriage Ceremony to compleat their Felicity; but it so fell out, that after a Day was appointed for celebrating their Nuptials, that a young Gentleman of Spain call'd Richardo, envying the Happiness of Sempronius, made several Attempts to disconcert his Measures; and one Night, taking with him an Officer of Justice, whom he brib'd to his Interest, he repair'd to the House of Amaryllis; and knocking with great Violence, Amaryllis was very much alarm'd; but she sent down her Servant to enquire into the Occasion of this uncommon Approach. The Servant no sooner open'd the Door, but Richardo and the Officer of Justice enter'd the House, (beating down the Servant) and immediately ascended the Stairs in pursuit of Sempronius; during this Bustle, Amaryllis suspecting a Design against Sempronius, (Richardo having formerly offer'd his Service to her, and Revenge being the common Consequence of a Disappointment with a Spaniard) lock'd him into a private Closet, which was no sooner done, but Richardo enter'd the Room with his Sword drawn, Amaryllis having but just Time to secure her Lover. Richardo demanded of Amaryllis the gay Sempronius as a Criminal, telling her he had committed a Rape on the Body of the virtuous Maria a Lady celebrated for Beauty, and to whom all Italy could not produce an Equal, the Officer ran about the Room, crying, "Justice, Justice, where is the Villain Sempronius." They search'd the Room very diligently, and not finding Sempronius at last Richardo address'd himself to Amaryllis in these Words: "Madam, I hope you have more Virtue and Honour than to shelter a Criminal, especially where one of your most beautiful Sex is concern'd, and the greatest Innocence has been violated: If you allow your House to to be a Sanctuary for Offenders of this Nature, Justice will require Satisfaction at your Door; you may your self expect the same Injury to your Person, and I am now prepar'd to shew a Resentment that will not be pleasing to Amaryllis, either comply with my Desires in producing the Criminal, or expect to fall my Victim." This Speech very much confounded Amaryllis; the Designs of Richardo she could not easily penetrate, whether against her self or Sempronius the Plot was laid, or whether it extended to both, she could not determine: But at last she summon'd her Courage and her Reason, and with a look of Indignation peculiar to her Sex, she answer'd thus the malicious and designing Richardo: "What Crimes Sempronius has been guilty of, is to me a Secret, but that Richardo deserves the Character now given of Sempronius is very obvious, and needs no Difficulty for me to affirm; your brutal Inclinations are not easily satisfied: When you made your Addresses to me, your Designs were base and dishonourable; you more than once attempted with force to violate my Chastity, and for ought I know you are now come upon the same Errand: What could make you approach me in this hostile manner, but to Ravish Amaryllis, or to Murder Sempronius, under a pretence of Justice? But let the Event be what it will, I'll not deliver up him who is dearer to me than Life, but dare a Villain to his worst." This heroick Speech made by Amaryllis dash'd Richardo for the present; but he being resolv'd to prosecute his Intentions (which indeed were both to Murder Sempronius and ravish Amaryllis, as she had guess'd) he advanc'd nearer to Amaryllis, and took her in his Arms, upon which she cry'd out with violence, whereupon Sempronius, who had heard every thing that had pass'd, open'd the Closet Door, and sallying out Sword in Hand to defend himself and his Mistress, Richardo rush'd from Amaryllis and attack'd Sempronius; they fought sometime without any seeming Advantage on either Side, 'til at length the Officer belonging to Richardo knock'd down Sempronius and Richardo ran him to the Heart, Amaryllis, through the Negligence of the Officer, had an opportunity of escaping to a neighbouring House, where, he acquainted the Inhabitants with the dismal Tragedy; upon this Warrants were issu'd from the next Magistrates for Apprehension of Richard, but took Post for Germany, where secur'd himsef: in a famous Monastery. In great despair and confusion Amaryllis left the Kingdom of France and travell'd into Italy, to to forget this barbarous Treatment of her unfortunate Lover. At first she propos'd to retire to some Country Village, and spend the remainder of her Life in Sighs and Groans, and complaining Sonnets; for this purpose she compos'd the following Lines.