The Works of Aphra Behn

Don Antonio,

You have, at last, made Use of the best and only Expedient for my Enlargement; for which I thank you, since I know it is purely the Effect of your Love. Your Agent has a mighty Influence on my Father: And you may assure yourself, that as you have advis’d and desir’d me, he shall have no less on me, who am

Your’s entirely,And only your’s,ARDELIA.

Having respectfully and tenderly kiss’d the Name, he could not chuse but shew the Billet to his Friend; who reading that Part of it which concern’d himself, started and blush’d: Which Antonio observing, was curious to know the Cause of it. Henrique told him, That he was surpriz’d to find her express so little Love, after so long an Absence. To which his Friend reply’d for her, That, doubtless, she had not Time enough to attempt so great a Matter as a perfect Account of her Love; and added, that it was Confirmation enough to him of its Continuance, since she subscrib’d her self his entirely, and only his. – How blind is Love! Don Henrique knew how to make it bear another Meaning; which, however, he had the Discretion to conceal. Antonio, who was as real in his Friendship, as constant in his Love, ask’d him what he thought of her Beauty? To which the other answer’d, that he thought it irresistable to any, but to a Soul preposses’d, and nobly fortify’d with a perfect Friendship: – Such as is thine, my Henrique, (added Antonio;) yet as sincere and perfect as that is, I know you must, nay, I know you do love her. As I ought to do, (reply’d Henrique.) Yes, yes, (return’d his Friend) it must be so; otherwise the Sympathy which unites our Souls would be wanting, and consequently our Friendship were in a State of Imperfection. How industriously you would argue me into a Crime, that would tear and destroy the Foundation of the strongest Ties of Truth and Honour! (said Henrique.) But (he continu’d) I hope within a few Days, to put it out of my Power to be guilty of so great a Sacrilege. I can’t determine (said Antonio) if I knew that you lov’d one another, whether I could easier part with my Friend, or my Mistress. Tho’ what you say, is highly generous, (reply’d Henrique) yet give me Leave to urge, that it looks like a Trial of Friendship, and argues you inclinable to Jealousy: But, pardon me, I know it to be sincerely meant by you; and must therefore own, that ’tis the best, because ’tis the noblest Way of securing both your Friend and Mistress. I need not make use of any Arts to secure me of either, (reply’d Antonio) but expect to enjoy ’em both in a little Time.

Henrique, who was a little uneasy with a Discourse of this Nature, diverted it, by reflecting on what had pass’d at Madrid, between them two and Don Sebastian and his Friends; which caus’d Antonio to bethink himself of the Danger to which he expos’d his Friend, by appearing daily, tho’ in Disguise: For, doubtless, Don Sebastian would pursue his Revenge to the utmost Extremity. These Thoughts put him upon desiring his Friend, for his own Sake, to hasten the Performance of his Attempt; and accordingly, each Day Don Henrique brought Antonio nearer the Hopes of Happiness, while he himself was hourly sinking into the lowest State of Misery. The last Night before the Day in which Antonio expected to be bless’d in her Love, Don Henrique had a long and fatal Conference with her about her Liberty. Being then with her alone in an Arbour of the Garden, which Privilege he had had for some Days; after a long Silence, and observing Don Henrique in much Disorder, by the Motion of his Eyes, which were sometimes stedfastly fix’d on the Ground, then lifted up to her or Heaven, (for he could see nothing more beautiful on Earth) she made use of the Privilege of her Sex, and began the Discourse first, to this Effect: – Has any Thing happened, Sir, since our Retreat hither, to occasion that Disorder which is but too visible in your Face, and too dreadful in your continued Silence? Speak, I beseech you, Sir, and let me know if I have any Way unhappily contributed to it! No, Madam, (replyed he) my Friendship is now likely to be the only Cause of my greatest Misery; for To-morrow I must be guilty of an unpardonable Crime, in betraying the generous Confidence which your noble Father has plac’d in me: To-morrow (added he, with a piteous Sigh) I must deliver you into the Hands of one whom your Father hates even to Death, instead of doing myself the Honour of becoming his Son-in-law within a few Days more. – But – I will consider and remind myself, that I give you into the Hands of my Friend; of my Friend, that loves you better than his Life, which he has often expos’d for your Sake; and what is more than all, to my Friend, whom you love more than any Consideration on Earth. – And must this be done? (she ask’d.) Is it inevitable as Fate? – Fix’d as the Laws of Nature, Madam, (reply’d he) don’t you find the Necessity of it, Ardelia? (continued he, by Way of Question:) Does not your Love require it? Think, you are going to your dear Antonio, who alone can merit you, and whom only you can love. Were your last Words true (returned she) I should yet be unhappy in the Displeasure of a dear and tender Father, and infinitely more, in being the Cause of your Infidelity to him: No, Don Henrique (continued she) I could with greater Satisfaction return to my miserable Confinement, than by any Means disturb the Peace of your Mind, or occasion one Moment’s Interruption of your Quiet. – Would to Heaven you did not, (sigh’d he to himself.) Then addressing his Words more distinctly to her, cry’d he, Ah, cruel! ah, unjust Ardelia! these Words belong to none but Antonio; why then would you endeavour to persuade me, that I do, or even can merit the Tenderness of such an Expression? – Have a Care! (pursued he) have a Care, Ardelia! your outward Beauties are too powerful to be resisted; even your Frowns have such a Sweetness that they attract the very Soul that is not strongly prepossessed with the noblest Friendship, and the highest Principles of Honour: Why then, alas! did you add such sweet and Charming Accents? Why – ah, Don Henrique! (she interrupted) why did you appear to me so charming in your Person, so great in your Friendship, and so illustrious in your Reputation? Why did my Father, ever since your first Visit, continually fill my Ears and Thoughts with noble Characters and glorious Ideas, which yet but imperfectly and faintly represent the inimitable Original! – But – (what is most severe and cruel) why, Don Henrique, why will you defeat my Father in his Ambition of your Alliance, and me of those glorious Hopes with which you had bless’d my Soul, by casting me away from you to Antonio! – Ha! (cry’d he, starting) what said you, Madam? What did Ardelia say? That I had bless’d your Soul with Hopes! That I would cast you away to Antonio! – Can they who safely arrive in their wish’d-for Port, be said to be shipwreck’d? Or, can an abject indigent Wretch make a King? – These are more than Riddles, Madam; and I must not think to expound ’em. No, (said she) let it alone, Don Henrique; I’ll ease you of that Trouble, and tell you plainly that I love you. Ah! (cry’d he) now all my Fears are come upon me! – How! (ask’d she) were you afraid I should love you? Is my Love so dreadful then? Yes, when misplac’d (reply’d he;) but ’twas your Falshood that I fear’d: Your Love was what I would have sought with the utmost Hazard of my Life, nay, even of my future Happiness, I fear, had you not been engag’d: strongly oblig’d to love elsewhere, both by your own Choice and Vows, as well as by his dangerous Services, and matchless Constancy. For which (said she) I do not hate him, tho’ his Father kill’d my Uncle: Nay, perhaps (continu’d she) I have a Friendship for him, but no more. No more, said you, Madam? (cry’d he;) – but tell me, did you never love him? Indeed, I did, (reply’d she;) but the Sight of you has better instructed me, both in my Duty to my Father, and in causing my Passion for you, without whom I shall be eternally miserable. Ah, then pursue your honourable Proposal, and make my Father happy in my Marriage! It must not be (return’d Don Henrique) my Honour, my Friendship forbids it. No (she return’d) your Honour requires it; and if your Friendship opposes your Honour, it can have no sure and solid Foundation. Female Sophistry! (cry’d Henrique;) but you need no Art nor Artifice, Ardelia, to make me love you: Love you! (pursu’d he:) By that bright Sun, the Light and Heat of all the World, you are my only Light and Heat – Oh, Friendship! Sacred Friendship, now assist me! – [Here for a Time he paus’d, and then afresh proceeded thus,] – You told me, or my Ears deceiv’d me, that you lov’d me, Ardelia. I did, she reply’d; and that I do love you, is as true as that I told you so. ’Tis well; – But would it were not so! Did ever Man receive a Blessing thus? – Why, I could wish I did not love you, Ardelia! But that were impossible – At least unjust, (interrupted she.) Well then (he went on) to shew you that I do sincerely consult your particular Happiness, without any regard to my own, To-morrow I will give you to Don Antonio; and as a Proof of your Love to me, I expect your ready Consent to it. To let you see, Don Henrique, how perfectly and tenderly I love you, I will be sacrificed To-morrow to Don Antonio, and to your Quiet. Oh, strongest, dearest Obligation! – cry’d Henrique: To-morrow then, as I have told your Father, I am to bring you to see the dearest Friend I have on Earth, who dares not appear within this City for some unhappy Reasons, and therefore cannot be present at our Nuptials; for which Cause, I could not but think it my Duty to one so nearly related to my Soul, to make him happy in the Sight of my beautiful Choice, e’er yet she be my Bride. I hope (said she) my loving Obedience may merit your Compassion; and that at last, e’er the Fire is lighted that must consume the Offering, I mean the Marriage-Tapers (alluding to the old Roman Ceremony) that you or some other pitying Angel, will snatch me from the Altar. Ah, no more, Ardelia! say no more (cry’d he) we must be cruel, to be just to our selves. [Here their Discourse ended, and they walked into the House, where they found the good old Gentleman and his Lady, with whom he stay’d till about an Hour after Supper, when he returned to his Friend with joyful News, but a sorrowful Heart.]

Antonio was all Rapture with the Thoughts of the approaching Day; which tho’ it brought Don Henrique and his dear Ardelia to him, about five o’Clock in the Evening, yet at the same Time brought his last and greatest Misfortune. He saw her then at a She Relation’s of his, above three Miles from Seville, which was the Place assigned for their fatal Interview. He saw her, I say; but ah! how strange! how altered from the dear, kind Ardelia she was when last he left her! ’Tis true, he flew to her with Arms expanded, and with so swift and eager a Motion, that she could not avoid, nor get loose from his Embrace, till he had kissed, and sighed, and dropt some Tears, which all the Strength of his Mind could not restrain; whether they were the Effects of Joy, or whether (which rather may be feared) they were the Heat-drops which preceded and threaten’d the Thunder and Tempest that should fall on his Head, I cannot positively say; yet all this she was then forced to endure, e’er she had Liberty to speak, or indeed to breathe. But as soon as she had freed herself from the loving Circle that should have been the dear and lov’d Confinement or Centre of a Faithful Heart, she began to dart whole Showers of Tortures on him from her Eyes; which that Mouth that he had just before so tenderly and sacredly kiss’d, seconded with whole Volleys of Deaths crammed in every Sentence, pointed with the keenest Affliction that ever pierc’d a Soul. Antonio, (she began) you have treated me now as if you were never like to see me more: and would to Heaven you were not! – Ha! (cry’d he, starting and staring wildly on her;) What said you, Madam? What said you, my Ardelia? If you like the Repetition, take it? (reply’d she, unmoved) Would to Heaven you were never like to see me more! Good! very Good! (cry’d he, with a Sigh that threw him trembling into a Chair behind him, and gave her the Opportunity of proceeding thus:) – Yet, Antonio, I must not have my Wish; I must continue with you, not out of Choice, but by Command, by the strictest and severest Obligation that ever bound Humanity; Don Henrique, your Friend, commands it; Don Henrique, the dearest Object of my Soul, enjoins it; Don Henrique, whose only Aversion I am, will have it so. Oh, do not wrong me, Madam! (cry’d Don Henrique.) Lead me, lead me a little more by the Light of your Discourse, I beseech you (said Don Antonio) that I may see your Meaning! for hitherto ’tis Darkness all to me. Attend therefore with your best Faculties (pursu’d Ardelia) and know, That I do most sincerely and most passionately love Don Henrique; and as a Proof of my Love to him, I have this Day consented to be delivered up to you by him; not for your Sake in the least, Antonio, but purely to sacrifice all the Quiet of my Life to his Satisfaction. And now, Sir (continued she, addressing her self to Don Henrique) now, Sir, if you can be so cruel, execute your own most dreadful Decree, and join our Hands, though our Hearts never can meet. All this to try me! It’s too much, Ardelia– (said Antonio:) And then turning to Don Henrique, he went on, Speak thou! if yet thou art not Apostate to our Friendship! Yet speak, however! Speak, though the Devil has been tampering with thee too! Thou art a Man, a Man of Honour once. And when I forfeit my just Title to that (interrupted Don Henrique) may I be made most miserable! – May I lose the Blessings of thy Friendship! – May I lose thee! – Say on then, Henrique! (cry’d Antonio:) And I charge thee, by all the sacred Ties of Friendship, say, Is this a Trial of me? Is’t Illusion, Sport, or shameful murderous Truth? – Oh, my Soul burns within me, and I can bear no longer! – Tell! Speak! Say on! – [Here, with folded Arms, and Eyes fixed stedfastly on Henrique, he stood like a Statue, without Motion; unless sometimes, when his swelling Heart raised his over-charged Breast.] After a little Pause, and a hearty Sigh or two, Henrique began; – Oh, Antonio! Oh my Friend! prepare thy self to hear yet more dreadful Accents! – I am (pursu’d he) unhappily the greatest and most innocent Criminal that e’er till now offended: – I love her, Antonio, – I love Ardelia with a Passion strong and violent as thine! – Oh! summon all that us’d to be more than Man about thee, to suffer to the End of my Discourse, which nothing but a Resolution like thine can bear! I know it by myself. – Tho’ there be Wounds, Horror, and Death in each Syllable (interrupted Antonio) yet prithee now go on, but with all Haste. I will, (returned Don Henrique) tho’ I feel my own Words have the same cruel Effects on me. I say, again, my Soul loves Ardelia: And how can it be otherwise? Have we not both the self-same Appetites, the same Disgusts? How then could I avoid my Destiny, that has decreed that I should love and hate just as you do? Oh, hard Necessity! that obliged you to use me in the Recovery of this Lady! Alas, can you think that any Man of Sense or Passion could have seen, and not have lov’d her! Then how should I, whose Thoughts are Unisons to yours, evade those Charms that had prevail’d on you? – And now, to let you know, ’tis no Illusion, no Sport, but serious and amazing woeful Truth, Ardelia best can tell you whom she loves. What I have already said, is true, by Heaven (cry’d she) ’tis you, Don Henrique, whom I only love, and who alone can give me Happiness: Ah, would you would! – With you, Antonio, I must remain unhappy, wretched, cursed: Thou art my Hell; Don Henrique is my Heaven. And thou art mine, (returned he) which here I part with to my dearest Friend. Then taking her Hand, Pardon me, Antonio, (pursued he) that I thus take my last Farewel of all the Tastes of Bliss from your Ardelia, at this Moment. [At which Words he kiss’d her Hand, and gave it to Don Antonio; who received it, and gently pressed it close to his Heart, as if he would have her feel the Disorders she had caus’d there.] Be happy, Antonio, (cry’d Henrique:) Be very tender of her; To-morrow early I shall hope to see thee. —Ardelia (pursued he) All Happiness and Joy surround thee! May’st thou ne’er want those Blessings thou can’st give Antonio! – Farewel to both! (added he, going out.) Ah (cry’d she) Farewel to all Joys, Blessings, Happiness, if you forsake me. – Yet do not go! – Ah, cruel! (continu’d she, seeing him quit the Room) but you shall take my Soul with you. Here she swooned away in Don Antonio’s Arms; who, though he was happy that he had her fast there, yet was obliged to call in his Cousin, and Ardelia’s Attendants, e’er she could be perfectly recovered. In the mean while Don Henrique had not the Power to go out of Sight of the House, but wandred to and fro about it, distracted in his Soul; and not being able longer to refrain her Sight, her last Words still resounding in his Ears, he came again into the Room where he left her with Don Antonio, just as she revived, and called him, exclaiming on his Cruelty, in leaving her so soon. But when, turning her Eyes towards the Door, she saw him; Oh! with what eager Haste she flew to him! then clasped him round the Waist, obliging him, with all the tender Expressions that the Soul of a Lover, and a Woman’s too, is capable of uttering, not to leave her in the Possession of Don Antonio. This so amaz’d her slighted Lover, that he knew not, at first, how to proceed in this tormenting Scene; but at last, summoning all his wonted Resolution, and Strength of Mind, he told her, He would put her out of his Power, if she would consent to retreat for some few Hours to a Nunnery that was not above half a Mile distant from thence, till he had discoursed his Friend, Don Henrique something more particularly than hitherto, about this Matter: To which she readily agreed, upon the Promise that Don Henrique made her, of seeing her with the first Opportunity. They waited on her then to the Convent, where she was kindly and respectfully received by the Lady Abbess; but it was not long before her Grief renewing with greater Violence, and more afflicting Circumstances, had obliged them to stay with her till it was almost dark, when they once more begged the Liberty of an Hour’s Absence; and the better to palliate their Design, Henrique told her, that he would make use of her Father Don Richardo’s Coach, in which they came to Don Antonio’s, for so small a Time: which they did, leaving only Eleonora her Attendant with her, with out whom she had been at a Loss, among so many fair Strangers; Strangers, I mean, to her unhappy Circumstances: Whilst they were carry’d near a Mile farther, where, just as ’twas dark, they lighted from the Coach, Don Henrique, ordering the Servants not to stir thence till their Return from their private Walk, which was about a Furlong, in a Field that belong’d to the Convent. Here Don Antonio told Don Henrique, That he had not acted honourably; That he had betray’d him, and robb’d him at once both of a Friend and Mistress. To which t’other returned, That he understood his Meaning, when he proposed a particular Discourse about this Affair, which he now perceived must end in Blood: But you may remind your self (continued he) that I have kept my Promise in delivering her to you. Yes, (cry’d Antonio) after you had practis’d foully and basely on her. Not at all! (returned Henrique) It was her Fate that brought this Mischief on her; for I urged the Shame and Scandal of Inconstancy, but all in vain, to her. But don’t you love her, Henrique? (the other ask’d.) Too well, and cannot live without her, though I fear I may feel the cursed Effects of the same Inconstancy: However, I had quitted her all to you, but you see how she resents it. And you shall see, Sir, (cry’d Antonio, drawing his Sword in a Rage) how I resent it. Here, without more Words, they fell to Action; to bloody Action. (Ah! how wretched are our Sex, in being the unhappy Occasion of so many fatal Mischiefs, even between the dearest Friends!) They fought on each Side with the greatest Animosity of Rivals, forgetting all the sacred Bonds of their former Friendship; till Don Antonio fell, and said, dying, ‘Forgive me, Henrique! I was to blame; I could not live without her: – I fear she will betray thy Life, which haste and preserve, for my sake – Let me not die all at once! – Heaven pardon both of us! – Farewel! Oh, haste! Farewel! (returned Don Henrique) Farewel, thou bravest, truest Friend! Farewel thou noblest Part of me! – And Farewel all the Quiet of my Soul.’ Then stooping, he kissed his Cheek; but, rising, he found he must retire in time, or else must perish through Loss of Blood, for he had received two or three dangerous Wounds, besides others of less Consequence: Wherefore he made all the convenient Haste he could to the Coach, into which, by the Help of the Footmen, he got, and order’d ’em to drive him directly to Don Richardo’s with all imaginable Speed; where he arriv’d in little more than half an Hour’s Time, and was received by Ardelia’s Father with the greatest Confusion and Amazement that is expressible, seeing him return’d without his Daughter, and so desperately wounded. Before he thought it convenient to ask him any Question more than to enquire of his Daughter’s Safety, to which he receiv’d a short but satisfactory Answer, Don Richardo sent for an eminent and able Surgeon, who probed and dress’d Don Henrique’s Wounds, who was immediately put to Bed; not without some Despondency of his Recovery; but (thanks to his kind Stars, and kinder Constitution!) he rested pretty well for some Hours that Night, and early in the Morning, Ardelia’s Father, who had scarce taken any Rest all that Night, came to visit him, as soon as he understood from the Servants who watched with him, that he was in a Condition to suffer a short Discourse; which, you may be sure, was to learn the Circumstances of the past Night’s Adventure; of which Don Henrique gave him a perfect and pleasant Account, since he heard that Don Antonio, his mortal Enemy, was killed; the Assurance of whose Death was the more delightful to him, since, by this Relation, he found that Antonio was the Man, whom his Care of his Daughter had so often frustrated. Don Henrique had hardly made an End of his Narration, e’er a Servant came hastily to give Richardo Notice, that the Officers were come to search for his Son-in-Law that should have been; whom the Old Gentleman’s wise Precaution had secured in a Room so unsuspected, that they might as reasonably have imagined the entire Walls of his House had a Door made of Stones, as that there should have been one to that close Apartment: He went therefore boldly to the Officers, and gave them all the Keys of his House, with free Liberty to examine every Room and Chamber; which they did, but to no Purpose; and Don Henrique lay there undiscover’d, till his Cure was perfected.

In the mean time Ardelia, who that fatal Night but too rightly guess’d that the Death of one or both her Lovers was the Cause that they did not return to their Promise, the next Day fell into a high Fever, in which her Father found her soon after he had clear’d himself of those who come to search for a Lover. The Assurance which her Father gave her of Henrique’s Life, seemed a little to revive her; but the Severity of Antonio’s Fate was no Way obliging to her, since she could not but retain the Memory of his Love and Constancy; which added to her Afflictions, and heightned her Distemper, insomuch that Richardo was constrain’d to leave her under the Care of the good Lady Abbess, and to the diligent Attendance of Eleonora, not daring to hazard her Life in a Removal to his own House. All their Care and Diligence was however ineffectual; for she languished even to the least Hope of Recovery, till immediately after the first Visit of Don Henrique, which was the first he made in a Month’s Time, and that by Night incognito, with her Father, her Distemper visibly retreated each Day: Yet when at last she enjoy’d a perfect Health of Body, her Mind grew sick, and she plunged into a deep Melancholy; which made her entertain a positive Resolution of taking the Veil at the End of her Novitiate; which accordingly she did, notwithstanding all the Intreaties, Prayers, and Tears both of her Father and Lover. But she soon repented her Vow, and often wish’d that she might by any Means see and speak to Don Henrique, by whose Help she promised to her self a Deliverance out of her voluntary Imprisonment: Nor were his Wishes wanting to the same Effect, tho’ he was forced to fly into Italy, to avoid the Prosecution of Antonio’s Friends. Thither she pursu’d him; nor could he any way shun her, unless he could have left his Heart at a Distance from his Body: Which made him take a fatal Resolution of returning to Seville in Disguise, where he wander’d about the Convent every Night like a Ghost (for indeed his Soul was within, while his inanimate Trunk was without) till at last he found Means to convey a Letter to her, which both surprized and delighted her. The Messenger that brought it her was one of her Mother-in-Law’s Maids, whom he had known before, and met accidentally one Night as he was going his Rounds, and she coming out from Ardelia; with her he prevail’d, and with Gold obliged her to Secrecy and Assistance: Which proved so successful, that he understood from Ardelia her strong Desire of Liberty, and the Continuance of her Passion for him, together with the Means and Time most convenient and likely to succeed for her Enlargement. The Time was the fourteenth Night following, at twelve o’Clock, which just compleated a Month since his Return thither; at which Time they both promised themselves the greatest Happiness on Earth. But you may observe the Justice of Heaven, in their Disappointment.