'cefs never could.'

'Tis true, reply'd Don Juan, thou hadft seduced her by a falfe Appearance of Vertue; but what Answer 'could fhe return to the faithful Don Garcia, who had fled from thy Tyranny?

6

At the hearing of this Name the Prince fufpected what had happen'd; 'Don Juan, fays he, I fee you are innocent; Don Garcia has betrayed us all; 'twas that Villain who had ufurp'd your Dominions, from whence I drove him, that you might take peaceable Poffeffion of them. I was making towards the Ifle of Gades, when I met Don Pedro feeking you: I offer'd my Service to reprefent you, and I did for you what you would not have done for me: I deprived my felf of the Pleasure of feeing Leonora, to reftore you to your Country. I drove the Ufurper Don Garcia from thence; and, in return for my friendly Affififtance, you have married her whom I loved. I can accufe Fortune only, you are not guilty; and yet Leonora is yours, and I have for ever loft her.'

We may eafily judge of the Thoughts of the listening Pair during this Converfation: Elvira was fure of her Lover's Heart, and he eafily faw by her Eyes that he did him Juftice, and the Joy with which fhe did it. Don Juan was fo fenfibly touched at what he had heard, that he had not Power to answer a Word. At that very Inftant a Servant of Don Garcia's, who was in queft of his Mafter, enter'd the Cottage: And haft thou, cried Don Juan as foon as he faw him, joined with thy Mafter to betray me?' Fernandez (for fo he was called) furprized at the unexpected Question, and at finding the two Princes together, threw himself at the Duke's Feet, and confefs'd the whole Treachery. Gods! what dreadful Secret have you revealed to me! cry'd Don Juan, feized with juft Horror, confounded at his Credulity, and filled with Despair at his Ingratitude: Oh, Sir, continued he, turning towards the Prince, what fhall I fay to appeafe your juft Wrath? I am not Leonora's Husband.' 'Not Leonora's Husband, reply'd the Prince ! why do you endeavour to flatter me? Think you by this means to preferve my Life? No, I die Leonora's unhappy Lover, but Don Juan's faithful Friend.' Wound me not with thefe Words, cry 'd the Duke, but let me die, who am no longer worthy of Life.' 'Live generous Prince, live to poffefs Leonora ; I have other Crimes enough to upbraid my felf with, not to want the additional one of being her Husband. I am not, and the only Comfort that I

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' have

have left is, that I am more unfortunate than guilty.' He then informed the Prince, that their Wedding-Day had been deferr❜d on account of a Fit of Illness Leonora had, and which he believed was occafioned by her Grief for him. At the fame Time, Don Juan promifed never to think on her more; but to employ his good Offices with the Duke of Andalufia, in Favour of his Friend. What fudden Change was this for the Prince of Murcia? Scarce could he believe what he heard; his Heart was divided betwixt the Joy of knowing that Leonora was faithful to him, and the Impatience of feeing her again; and scarce could he be fenfible of all his Happiness.

On the other hand, Elvira and her Lover were enjoying the Felicity of finding each other conftant; and they look'd on themselves as free from all thofe Cares and Difquiets which had fo long interrupted their Loves; and the moving Spectacle before them increased their Tenderness. When they had faid all they could fay to each other on fuch an Occafion, they drew near to the two Princes. As foon as the young Murcian perceived the hofpitable Stranger; You find me, Sir, faid he, in a very different Condition from that ' in which you left me; one Moment, I fee, may put an End to a 'long Series of Misfortunes; and I hope that happy Moment which is to put an End to yours is at no great Distance.' 'Heaven has

made us all meet, reply'd the other, to make us all happy. This Adventure has put an End to all the Misfortunes which feem'd attach'd to our Name."' He then informed him, that he was fprung from a younger Branch of the fame Family, who for fear of giving Umbrage had retired out of Murcia, and fince lived obfcurely in Granada. They then related the Particulars of Elvira's Sufpicions and Leonora's Concern, occafioned by the Conformity of their Names. Alas, cried the Prince, how cruel is Fortune when fhe once begins to perfecute us! This was the only Means of making me fufpected by Leonora ; but I wrong her, that Princess knew my "Heart, and could not do my Love fo much Injustice.'

Mean while Fernandez, who had been Witnels of what had paffed between the two Princes, ran to the Duke's Palace, and related' all he had seen. Leonora was juft coming in from her Walk, and was one of the firft who heard the News. She was fo nearly concerned in the Story, that fhe order'd her felf to be immediately carried to the Cottage. As foon as fhe enter'd, her Prefence occafioned a profound Silence: It was the Prince who had most to say on this Occafion; but notwithstanding that, his exceffive Happiness

would not let him fpeak, but his Joy fparkled in his Eyes; and Leonora, who faw it, by her Looks exprefs'd an equal Pleasure. At length Elvira broke Silence, and fhowing the Stranger to the Princefs, told her his Name, and explained the Mystery which had fo long disturbed both their Quiet.

Don Juan exprefs'd the moft fincere Repentance, and yielded all his Pretenfions to the Prince of Murcia: Thefe Lovers faw themfelves freed from their only dangerous Perfecutors; what did they not fay in their first Transports? Ah, Madam, cry'd the Prince, can you ftill love me? and have not the Names of Inconftant and Ufurper changed your Heart? 'Tis now I truly know Leonora.' Yes, my Lord, anfwered the Princefs, I have always loved you, and am ftill the fame Leonora, whofe Sentiments you are fo well acquainted with; all that was faid of your Inconftancy could never make me forget what I had feen of your Vertues: I have fuffer'd much from your Abfence, but much more from that Cruelty with which they endeavoured to blast your Reputation, but I never did condemn you; and as I could not be Yours, I had determined to die rather than be Anothers.'

I will not pretend to relate any more Particulars of their Converfation, which is not to be exprefs'd; there is no Reunion fo moving as that of two Lovers, who have had fo many Difficulties to overcome, and who with Juftice protest, that they have never thought each other falfe, notwithstanding fo many plaufible Reasons feem'd to perfuade it; the great Idea which they had always entertained of each other, had ftill removed the gnawing Jealoufy infeparable from less heroick Love.

Thefe Sentiments, which no adverse Fortune could blot out of their Hearts, were their greatest Glory, and proved their Felicity. Their Conftancy at length moved the Duke of Andalusia, whom fo many new Reasons obliged to love the Prince of Murcia. As foon as he was recover'd from his Wounds, his Marriage with Leonora was folemnized, as was on the fame Day that of the Princely Anchoret with Elvira. Don Juan returned to Granada, where he met every thing quiet, and the faithful Don Pedro was rewarded for his Services: But at Leonora's Requeft, Elvira and her Husband continued at her Court, and their mutual Loves and Friendship became the juft Admiration of all Spain.

PUBLICK

PUBLICK DIVERSIONS.

SINCE our laft the long expected Faustina is arrived, and has performed feveral Times amongst us. The Judges are much divided in their Sentiments about the famous Cuzzoni and this Lady; but All agree, that the Emulation between them is fo evident, that they are in Pain for the Event. Some fear for their Favourite Cuzzoni, while others are no lefs anxious for the Fate of Fauftina. This fine Paffion for excelling, fo difcoverable in these Heroines, is beautifully defcribed by Mr. PHILIPS, in one of his Paftorals with this only Difference, that there the Contention was between the unhappy Bird and the Inftrument; here, the Prize is more equally contended for by two Nightingales.

CUDDY.

try,

IN Rural Strains we firft our Mufick And, bafhful, into Woods and Thickets fly, Diftruftful of our Skill. Yet, if thro' Time Our Voice improving gain a Pitch Sublime, Thy growing Virtues, Sackville, shall engage My riper Verfe, and my more fettled Age.

The Sun now mounted to the Noon of Day,
Began to fhoot direct his burning Ray,

When, with the Flocks, their Feeders fought the Shade,
A Venerable Oak, wide-fpreading, made.
What should they do to pass the loit'ring Time?
As Fancy led, each form'd his Tale in Rhyme
And fome the Joys, and fome the Pains of Love,
And fome to fet out ftrange Adventures ftrove;
The Trade of Wizzards fome, and Merlin's Skill,
And whence to charm fuch Empire o'er the Will.
Then Cuddy laft (who Cuddy can excel
In neat Device?) his Tale began to tell.

When Shepherds flourish'd in Eliza's Reign,
There liv'd in great Efteem a jolly Swain,
Young Colin Clout; who well could pipe and fing,
And by his Notes invite the lagging Spring.
He, as his Custom was, at leisure laid

In filent Shade, without a Rival play'd.
Drawn by the Magick of th' inticing Sound,
What Crouds of mute Admirers flock'd around!

The

The Steerlings left their Food; and Creatures wild
By Nature form'd, infenfibly grew mild.
He makes the Birds in Troops about him throng,
And loads th' neighb'ring Branches with his Song.
Among the reft, a Nightingale of Fame,
Jealous, and fond of Praife, to listen came.
She turn'd her Ear; and emulous, with Pride,
Like Eccho, to the Sheperd's Pipe reply'd.
The Shepherd heard with Wonder; and again,
To try her more, renew'd his various Strain.
To all his various Strain she shapes her Throat,
And adds peculiar Grace to ev'ry Note.
If Colin in complaining Accents grieves,
Or brisker Motion to his Measure gives;
If gentle Sounds he modulates, or strong;
She, not a little vain, repeats his Song:
But fo repeats, that Colin half defpis'd
His Pipe and Skill, fo much by others priz'd,
And, fweetest Songfter of the Winged Kind,
What Thanks, faid he, what Praifes can I find
To equal thy melodious Voice? In thee
The Rudeness of my Rural Life I fee;
From thee I learn to vaunt no more my Skill.
A-loft in Air fhe fate, provoking ftill

The vanquish'd Swain. Provok'd at laft, he ftrove
To fhew the little Minstrel of the Grove
His utmost Art: If fo fome fmall Efteem
He might obtain, and Credit loft, redeem.
He draws in Breath, his rifing Breaft to fill;
Thro' all the Wood his Pipe is heard to fhrill.
From Note to Note in hafte his Fingers fly;
Still more and more his Numbers multiply;
And now they trill, and now they fall and rife,
And swift and flow they change, with fweet Surprize.
Attentive she does scarce the Sounds retain,
But to her felf first cons the puzzling Strain;
And tracing careful Note by Note, repays
The Shepherd, in his own harmonious Lays;
Thro' ev'ry changing Cadence runs at length,

And adds in Sweetnefs, what fhe wants in Strength.

Then