‘Immediately I was brought before him; Mendez at this sight, losing all Countenance, came and cast himself at my Feet, and taking my Hands, which he bathed with his Tears, he said every thing which was most tender and affectionate to me. Meluza and his Wife diverted themselves, in seeing the different Motions of Joy and Grief with which we were agitated: in fine, they inform’d Mendez of the Obligations he had to me; that he was free, and that I would remain in his place. He did whatever could be done to disswade me from taking this Task on me: “Alas,” said he to me, “you would have me load you with my Chains, my dear Mistress; Shall I be free, when you are not? I go then to do for you what you come from doing for me; I will sell my self, and Redeem you with this Money: for in fine, consider, that should I as soon as I arrive at Seville, find Assistance, and return again to bring you back, yet how is it possible for me in the mean time to leave you; judge how I can do this in a time wherein my Fortune promises me nothing, and am the most Unhappy of all Men.” I offered against all his Reasons, the Tenderness of my Father, who would soon Redeem me when he knew where I was. In fine, I made use of all the Power I had over his Mind, to make his Advantage of what I had done in his Favour.
‘What shall I say to you, Madam, of our Separation? It was so dolorous, that Words cannot express what we felt. I obliged Henrietta to part with him, to sollicite and press my Parents to do their part in my behalf.
‘In the mean time my Father and Mother were in an unconceivable Affliction; and when they perceiv’d my flight they thought to die with Grief.
‘They blamed themselves infinitely for forcing me to marry the Marquess de Los Rios. He was for his part in no less Despair; they caused me to be searcht for in vain, in all places where they thought I might have hid my self.
‘Two whole Years were past without my receiving any News or Succors from Mendez; which made me believe with great likelihood, that both he and Henrietta were cast away on the Sea: I had given them all the Jewels which Meluza had left me; but it was not their Loss, nor that of my Liberty, which I regretted: It was of my dear Lover and faithful Friend, whose Remembrance continually possest me, and caus’d me an unparallel’d Affliction; I could get no Rest nor Health; I wept Day and Night; I refused to come out of my Slavery in neglecting to signifie to my Father my present Condition. I wisht only for a speedy Death, which I would have willingly met with, to put an end to my Troubles and Misfortunes.
‘Meluza and his Wife began to pity me: they did not doubt but Mendez was cast away: they treated me less cruelly than these sort of People are wont to use those Unhappy Wretches who fall into their Hands.
‘One Day, as Meluza came from Pyrating, he brought with him several Persons of both Sexes which he had taken, and among the rest a Young Woman of some Quality of Seville, and whom I knew. This sight renewed my Grief: she was much surpriz’d to find me in this sad place. We affectionately embraced one another, and observing a deep silence; “How now, Beautiful Mariana,” said she to me, “are you so indifferent towards your Relations and Country, that you have no Curiosity to make any Enquiries about them?” I lifted up mine Eyes to Heaven in uttering a deep Sigh; I entreated her to tell me, If ’twere known where Mendez and Henrietta were lost? “Who has told you they are lost?” replied she. “They are at Seville, where they lead a very happy Life. Mendez has re-establisht his Affairs, and makes it his great Delight and Honour to publish in all places the Extream Obligations he has to Henrietta. Perhaps you are ignorant,” continued she, “that Mendez was taken and made a Slave by the Algerines; this generous young Woman disguised her self, and came hither to redeem him, but he has not been ungrateful, for he has married her. There is a most charming Union between them. Hymen has not banisht Love in their particular.”
‘As she was yet speaking, she perceiv’d my Countenance to alter on a sudden, and that I was ready to faint; my Strength fail’d me, mine Eyes closed, and I sunk down between her Arms; she was greatly troubled at this; she called my Companions, who put me to Bed, and endeavour’d to recover me from this pitious Condition.
‘This young Woman greatly concern’d her self for me; and when I came to my self, I began to complain; I uttered Sighs and Groans able to move a Rock.
‘Meluza was affected at the Recital of such a worse than barbarous Instance of Treachery, and without any notice to me, he inform’d himself, by his new Slave of my Father’s Name, and immediately wrote to him what he knew of my Misfortunes.