‘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.