in the young
Years of the Prince, had made a deep Impression on _Elvira_, who
flatter'd her Ambition with the Infirmities of _Bianca_. She saw, with a
secret Rage, _Constantia_ take her place, who was possest with such
Charms, that quite divested her of all Hopes.

Her Jealousy left her not idle, she examined all the Actions of the
Prince, and easily discover'd the little Regard he had for the Princess;
but this brought him not back to her. And it was upon very good grounds
that she suspected him to be in love with some other Person, and
possessed with a new Passion; and which she promised herself, she would
destroy as soon as she could find it out. She had a Spirit altogether
proper for bold and hazardous Enterprizes; and the Credit of her Brother
gave her so much Vanity, as all the Indifference of the Prince was not
capable of humbling.

The Prince languished, and concealed the Cause with so much Care, that
'twas impossible for any to find it out. No publick Pleasures were
agreeable to him, and all Conversations were tedious; and it was
Solitude alone that was able to give him any ease.

This Change surprized all the World. The King, who loved his Son very
tenderly, earnestly pressed him to know the Reason of his Melancholy;
but the Prince made no answer, but only this, That it was the effect of
his Temper.

But Time ran on, and the Princess was brought to bed of a second Son,
who liv'd, and was called _Fernando_. _Don Pedro_ forc'd himself a
little to take part in the publick Joy, so that they believ'd his Humour
was changing; but this Appearance of a Calm endur'd not long, and he
fell back again into his black Melancholy.

The artful _Elvira_ was incessantly agitated in searching out the
Knowledge of this Secret. Chance wrought for her; and, as she was
walking, full of Indignation and Anger, in the Garden of the Palace of
_Coimbra_, she found the Prince of _Portugal_ sleeping in an obscure
Grotto.

Her Fury could not contain it self at the sight of this loved Object,
she roll'd her Eyes upon him, and perceived in spite of Sleep, that some
Tears escaped his Eyes; the Flame which burnt yet in her Heart, soon
grew soft and tender there: But oh! she heard him sigh, and after that
utter these words, _Yes, Divine +Agnes+, I will sooner die than let you
know it: +Constantia+ shall have nothing to reproach me with._ _Elvira_
was enraged at this Discourse, which represented to her immediately, the
same moment, _Agnes