8
The History of
Book IV.
But to conclude soon the Relation of these Misfortunes, which have no Conclusion, I will over-flip in Silence the Diligences and Practices of Don Ferdinando, used to declare unto me his Affection: He suborned all the Folk of the House; he bellowed Gifts and Favours on my Parents; every Day was a Holiday, and a Day of Sports in the Streets where I dwelled; at Night no Man could sleep for Musick; the Letters were innumerable that came to my Hands, without knowing who brought them, farced too full of amorous Conceits and Offers, and containing more Promises and Protestations, than they had Characters: All which not only could not mollify my Mind, but rather hardened it as much as if he were my mortal Enemy; and therefore did construe all the Endeavours he used to gain my Good-will to be practised to a contrary End; which I did not as accounting Don Ferdinando ungentle, or that I esteemed him too importunate; for I took a kind of Delight to see myself so highly esteemed and beloved of so noble a Gentleman; nor was I any thing offended to fee his Papers written in my Praise; for if I be not deceived in this Point, be we Women ever so foul, we love to hear Men call us beautiful: But mine Honestly was that which opposed itself unto all these Things, and the continual Admonitions of my Parents, which had by this plainly perceived Don Ferdinando's Pretence, as one that cared not all the World should know it. They would often say unto me, that they had deposited their Honours and Reputation in my Virtue alone, and Discretion, and bade me confider the Inequality that was between Don Ferdinando and me; and that I might collect by it how his Thoughts (did he ever so much affirm the contrary) were more addressed to compass his Pleasures than any Profit; and that if I feared any Inconvenience, might befall, to the end they might cross it, and cause him to abandon his so unjust a Pursuit, they would match me where I most liked, either to the best of that Town, or any other Town adjoining saying, they might easily compass it, both by reason of their great Wealth, and my good Report. I for-
tified
