d looking full upon her. She had turned up her Veil, and all her
Face and Shape appear'd such, and so inchanting, as I have described;
and her Beauty heighten'd with Blushes, and her Eyes full of Spirit and
Fire, with Joy, to find the young _Roman_ Monarch so charming, she
appear'd like something more than mortal, and compelled his Eyes to a
fixed gazing on her Face: She never glanc'd that Way, but she met them;
and then would feign so modest a Shame, and cast her Eyes downwards with
such inviting Art, that he was wholly ravished and charmed, and she
over-joy'd to find he was so.
The Ceremony being ended, he sent a Page to follow that Lady Home,
himself pursuing her to the Door of the Church, where he took some holy
Water, and threw upon her, and made her a profound Reverence. She forc'd
an innocent Look, and a modest Gratitude in her Face, and bow'd, and
passed forward, half assur'd of her Conquest; leaving her, to go home to
his Lodging, and impatiently wait the Return of his Page. And all the
Ladies who saw this first Beginning between the Prince and _Miranda_,
began to curse and envy her Charms, who had deprived them of half their
Hopes.
After this, I need not tell you, he made _Miranda_ a Visit; and from
that Day never left her Apartment, but when he went home at Nights, or
unless he had Business; so entirely was he conquer'd by this Fair One.
But the Bishop, and several Men of Quality, in Orders, that profess'd
Friendship to him, advised him from her Company; and spoke several
Things to him, that might (if Love had not made him blind) have
reclaimed him from the Pursuit of his Ruin. But whatever they trusted
him with, she had the Art to wind herself about his Heart, and make him
unravel all his Secrets; and then knew as well, by feign'd Sighs and
Tears, to make him disbelieve all; so that he had no Faith but for her;
and was wholly inchanted and bewitch'd by her. At last, in spite of all
that would have opposed it, he marry'd this famous Woman, possess'd by
so many great Men and Strangers before, while all the World was pitying
his Shame and Misfortunes.
Being marry'd, they took a great House; and as she was indeed a great
Fortune, and now a great Princess, there was nothing wanting that was
agreeable to their Quality; all was splendid and magnificent. But all
this would not acquire them the World's Esteem; they had an Abhorrence
for her former Life, and despised her; and for his espousing a Woman so
infamou
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