Page:French convert.pdf/7

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THE FRENCH CONVERT.
7

deareſt part of himſelf; he had many ſtrugglings and combats in his mind, which ſeemed to be divided between love and honour; he was loth to leave his lady, and yet unwilling to have his reputation ſullied: and theſe different paſſions in the mind cauſed ſuch an alteration in his countenance, that it was taken notice of by his lady, who not knowing the cauſe, was the more troubled at it; and therefore, following him one day into the garden, whether he had retired to conſider with himſelf what he had beft to do, ſhe, earneſtly preſſed him to let her know what it was that troubled him; for ſhe had for ſome time, ſhe ſaid, obſerved he was diſquieted, but could not tell at what; and ſhe was fearful ſhe might, though ſhe knew it not, be the occaſion of it; adding, command me in any thing a wife can juſtly do, and I am ail obedience. This tender carriage of his lady added freſh fuel to the fire of his afflictions, and made him ſtill far more unwilling to leave her. Wherefore cauſing her to ſit down by him, he told her. She was indeed the innocent occaſion of his trouble: for her great love and tenderneſs to him had ſo engaged his heart to her in a reciprocal affection, that he knew not how to think of leaving her, though honour called him loudly to the field. His lady, when he talked of leaving her, was hardly kept from ſwooning in his arms, and could not forbear ſaying, What! muſt we part then? Ah, wretched Deidamia! and ſtraightway ſhe fell a weeping: her tears did ſo prevail upon the Count, that love had now obtained an entire victory, and he reſolved to ſtay at home with Deidamia; and therefore entreated her to dry up her tears, and be comforted: for he had now come to a reſolution, rather to undergo

ſome