42 The ADVENTURES of

ftrength forfook him, and he dropt down at the root of a tree that grew behind him.—Pale, trembling, and deprefs’d, he had nothing free but his eyes, which he fixed upon Blanch, in luch a manner as gave her to underfland how deeply affe£ted he was with the unhappy tidings fhe had declared. She, on <

the other hand, looked upon him with an air which J

convinced him, that her emotions were little different 1

from thofe he felt; and thefe two unfortunate lovers <

preferved, between them, a filencethat had lomething 1

terrible in it. At length the prince, recolle&mg him- 1

fclf a little, by an effort of his courage, relumed the <

difeourfe, and faid to Blanch with a figh, “ What (

have you done, madam? Your credulity has ruined 1

me, and undone yourfelf ” J

Blanch, piqued at the prince's Teeming to upbraid 1 her, when fhe thought fhe had much more caufe to ‘ complain of him, replied, “ What, Sir! do you add diftimulation to infidelity? Would you have me dif- 1

credit my own eyes and ears, and believe you inno- 1

cent, in fpite of the evidence of my fenfes ? No, Sir, f

I own myfclf incapable of fuch an effort of reafon.” )

—Ncveithelefs, madam (anfwered the king) you 1

are impofed upon by thefe very witnefles which feem f

To faithful : even they have a (lifted in betraving you ; 1

and that I am innocent and faithful, is no lets true }

than that you are the conftable’s wife.” “ How, i

Sir! (faid fhe) did not I hear you confirm to Conflance a

the prefent of your hand and heart? Have you not V

allured the nobles of the kingdom, that you would f

fulfil the conditions of the late king’s wili ? and has 1

not the princefs received the homage of your new A

fubje&s, in quality of queen and fpoufe of Hcnriquc?.? 9

Were my eyes then bewitched ? Say, fay rather, un- c

faithful prince! that you did not think Blanch ought to balance in your heart the intereft of a throne ; and, ° without (looping to feign a pa (lion that you no longer b feel, and perhaps never felt, confefs that the crown of h Sicily appeared to you more fixed with Conflance than b

with