Beauty: And let Possession assure your Repose and mine.
If I have protected you on other Occasions, judge what a Service of so
great an Importance for me, would make me undertake; and without any
reserve, the Forces of this State are in your power, and almost any
thing that I can give shall be assured you, so you render your self
Master of the Destiny of _Agnes_.'

_Don Alvaro_ pleas'd, and vain with his Master's Bounty, made use of all
the Authority he gave him: He passionately lov'd _Agnes_, and would not,
on the sudden, make use of Violence; but resolv'd with himself to employ
all possible Means to win her fairly; yet if that fail'd, to have
recourse to force, if she continued always insensible.

While _Agnes de Castro_ (importun'd by his Assiduities, despairing at
the Grief of _Constantia_, and perhaps made tender by those she had
caus'd in the Prince of _Portugal_) took a Resolution worthy of her
Virtue; yet, amiable as _Don Pedro_ was, she found nothing in him, but
his being Husband to _Constantia_, that was dear to her: And, far from
encouraging the Power she had got over his Heart, she thought of nothing
but of removing from _Coimbra_. The Passion of _Don Alvaro_, which she
had no inclination to favour, served her as a Pretext; and press'd with
the fear of causing, in the end, a cruel Divorce between the Prince and
his Princess, she went to find _Constantia_, with a trouble, which all
her Care was not able to hide from her.

The Princess easily found it out; and their common Misfortunes having
not chang'd their Friendship--'What ails you, _Agnes_? (said the
Princess to her, in a soft Tone, and with her ordinary Sweetness) And
what new Misfortune causes that sadness in thy Looks? Madam (reply'd
_Agnes_, shedding a Rivulet of Tears) the Obligations and Ties I have to
you, put me upon a cruel Tryal; I had bounded the Felicity of my Life in
hope of passing it near your Highness, yet I must carry to some other
part of the World this unlucky Face of mine, which renders me nothing
but ill Offices: And it is to obtain that Liberty, that I am come to
throw my self at your feet; looking upon you as my Sovereign.'

_Constantia_ was so surpriz'd and touch'd with the Proposition of
_Agnes_, that she lost her Speech for some moments; Tears, which were
sincere, express'd her first Sentiments: And after having shed
abundance, to give a new mark of her Tenderness to the fair afflicted
_Agnes_, she with a sad and melancholy Lo