ok, fix'd her Eyes upon her,
and holding out her Hand to her, in a most obliging manner, sighing,
cry'd--'You will then, my dear _Agnes_, leave me; and expose me to the
Griefs of seeing you no more? Alas, Madam, (interrupted this lovely
Maid) hide from the unhappy _Agnes_ a Bounty which does but increase her
Misfortunes: It is not I, Madam, that would leave you; it is my Duty,
and my Reason that orders my Fate. And those Days which I shall pass far
from you, promise me nothing to oblige me to this Design, if I did not
see my self absolutely forc'd to it. I am not ignorant of what passes at
_Coimbra_; and I shall be an Accomplice of the Injustice there
committed, if I should stay there any longer.--Ah, I know your Virtue,
(cry'd _Constantia_) and you may remain here in all safety, while I am
your Protectress; and let what will happen, I will accuse you of
nothing. There's no answering for what's to come, (reply'd _Agnes_,
sadly) and I shall be sufficiently guilty, if my Presence cause
Sentiments, which cannot be innocent. Besides, Madam, the Importunities
of _Don Alvaro_ are insupportable to me; and tho' I find nothing but
Aversion to him, since the King protects his Insolence, and he's in a
condition of undertaking any thing, my Flight is absolutely necessary.
But, Madam, tho' he has nothing but what seems odious to me; I call
Heaven to witness, that if I could cure the Prince by marrying _Don
Alvaro_, I would not consider of it a moment; and finding in my
Punishment the Consolation of sacrificing my self to my Princess,
I would support it without murmuring. But if I were the Wife of _Don
Alvaro_, _Don Pedro_ would always look upon me with the same Eyes: So
that I find nothing more reasonable for me, than to hide my self in some
Corner of the World; where, tho' I shall most certainly live without
Pleasure, yet I shall preserve the Repose of my dearest Mistress. All
the Reason you find in this Design, (answered the Princess) cannot
oblige me to approve of your Absence: Will it restore me the Heart of
_Don Pedro_? And will he not fly away with you? His Grief is mine, and
my Life is ty'd to his; do not make him despair then, if you love me.
I know you, I tell you so once more; and let your Power be ever so great
over the Heart of the Prince, I will not suffer you to abandon us.'

Tho' _Agnes_ thought she had perfectly known _Constantia_, yet she did
not expect to find so intire a Virtue in her, which made her think her
sel