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<lefircd. This prormfe, which was made before Ortiz, her two companions and me detained us all four in the hall after dinner. My miftrefs would have fern us away, but Elvira perceiving that we longed fervently to hear the explanation of the pifture, had the goodnefs to hid us {lav, faying that the (lory which fire was going to relate was none that required fecrefy; and immediately began in thefe words.

O H A P. IVt

The baleful marriage. A navel *.

I T3 OC.ER, king of Sicily, had a brother and a filter ; Xv the firll, called Mainfroy, revolted againlt him, and lighted up a dangerous and bloody war in the kingdom ; but had the misfortune to lole two battles.

I and fall into the hands of the king, who contented I htmfclf with punifhing his rebellion by depriving him of his liberty. This clemency ferved only to make Roger pafs for a barbarian, in the opinion of one part of his fubjeEls, who laid he had only faved his bro. filer’s life, in order to exercifc upon him a (low and inhuman revenge. Hut all the reft, with more foun­dation, imputed the liarlh tieatment that Mainlrov lulfercd in prifon to his filler Mathilda alone : for ihe had, in effeft, always hated the prince, and did not ccafe perfecting him as long as he lived : but (lie I died foon alier him, and her death was looked upon as a juft punifliment of her unnatural difpofition.

Mainfroy having left two fons, as yet in their iu- j fancy, Roger wilhed to get rid of them, fearing that when tiiey (honld arrive at a more advanced age. the delire of revenging their father would indui e them to revive a faftron which was not fo much quelled but that it might occaliou new troubles in the Hate.

This novel is a true fiory, on wbieh the late Mr. Thomfon has founded Ins tragedy ol Tanned and Sigifinunda.

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