GIL R L A $. 9
la Menbrilla ; that you promifcd to comoly with hi* requoft, and, in fhort, that you was a Have to your ■word. This information I confefs overwhelmed me* and my love, reduced to defpair, infpired me with the ftratagem Lput in pra&ice. I rauft tell you, however, that I fecretly upbraided myfelf with the trick I had put upon you ; but I flattered myfelf, that you would forgive it, when I fliould have difeovered it, and convinced you that I am an Italian prince, who travel incognito; and that my father is fovereign of certain val'ics fituated between the Swifs, the Mila* nefe, and Savoy. I imagined that you would be a- grccably furprized, when I fhould have revealed my birth ; and I felt all the plea Cure of a delicate and paf- fionatc hufband, in the hope of declaring it to Florcn- tina after our marriage. Heaven (added I, changing ■my tone) would not indulge me in fo much joy ; Pedro dc !a Menbrilla appears, and I muft ref lore him his name, how much foever the reftitutidn will coil me. You are engaged by your promife, to chufe him for a fon-in law ; and it is your duty to prefer him to me, without regard to my rank, or compaflion for the cruel fituation to which you are going to reduce me. I will not pretend to reprefent, that your brother was only the uncl^of your daughter, and that you being her father, it is more juft to acquit yourfelf of the obligation you owe me, than to make it a point of honour to to keep a promife which is but flightly binding.”
“ Yes, doubtlefs, it is fo! (cried Jerome de Mov- adas) therefore I do not intend to hefitate between you and Don Pedro de Menbrilla. If my brother Auguftin was Hill alive, he would not blame roc for giving the preference to a man who laved my life, and who is, moreover, a prince, who does not difdain to afk my alliance. I mull be an enemy to my own k ippinefs, and entirely deprived of my underftand- ing, if I did not give you my daughter, and even jpicfs the cc-lcbration of the marriage,” ** Cut, Sig- A 5 inon