Thoughts, _Miranda_ blush'd; and she finding she did so,
redoubled her Confusion, and she had scarce Courage enough to
say,--_Yes, I did observe him_: And then, forcing herself to smile a
little, continu'd, 'And I wonder'd to see so jolly a young Friar of an
Order so severe and mortify'd.--Madam, (_reply'd +Cornelia+_) when you
know his _Story_, you will not wonder.' _Miranda_, who was impatient to
know all that concern'd her new Conqueror, obliged her to tell his
Story; and _Cornelia_ obey'd, and proceeded.
_The Story of Prince +Henrick+._
'You must know, Madam, that this young Holy Man is a Prince of
_Germany_, of the House of ----, whose Fate it was, to fall most
passionately in Love with a fair young Lady, who lov'd him with an
Ardour equal to what he vow'd her. Sure of her Heart, and wanting only
the Approbation of her Parents, and his own, which her Quality did not
suffer him to despair of, he boasted of his Happiness to a young Prince,
his elder Brother, a Youth amorous and fierce, impatient of Joys, and
sensible of Beauty, taking Fire with all fair Eyes: He was his Father's
Darling, and Delight of his fond Mother; and, by an Ascendant over both
their Hearts, rul'd their Wills.
'This young Prince no sooner saw, but lov'd the fair Mistress of his
Brother; and with an Authority of a Sovereign, rather than the Advice of
a Friend, warn'd his Brother _Henrick_ (this now young Friar) to
approach no more this Lady, whom he had seen; and seeing, lov'd.
'In vain the poor surpriz'd Prince pleads his Right of Love, his
Exchange of Vows, and Assurance of a Heart that could never be but for
himself. In vain he urges his Nearness of Blood, his Friendship, his
Passion, or his Life, which so entirely depended on the Possession of
the charming Maid. All his Pleading serv'd but to blow his Brother's
Flame; and the more he implores, the more the other burns; and while
_Henrick_ follows him, on his Knees, with humble Submissions, the other
flies from him in Rages of transported Love; nor could his Tears, that
pursu'd his Brother's Steps, move him to Pity: Hot-headed,
vain-conceited of his Beauty, and greater Quality as elder Brother, he
doubts not of Success, and resolv'd to sacrifice all to the Violence of
his new-born Passion.
'In short, he speaks of his Design to his Mother, who promis'd him her
Assistance; and accordingly proposing it first to the Prince her
Husband, urging the Languishment of her Son, she soon wr
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