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GIL B L A S, 43
with I.contio’s daughter.—You are in the right, Sir: a fhining throne was no more my due than the heart of a prince, fuch as you are. I was too vain to pretend to either; but you ought not to have indulged me in my error.—You know the alarms I felt on account ol lofing you ; a misfortune that then feemed to me almolt inevitable. Why did you encourage me with hope ? Would to heaven my fears had not been diilipated! I Ihould have accufed fortune, not you ; and you would have at leaft preferved my heart, though at the cx pence of a hand which no other Ihould ever have obtained. It is now no time to jultify your, fclf: I am the conitable’s wife : and that I may (pare myfelf the confequenc.e of a converfation, that makes my glory blufh, give me leave, Sir, without failing in that refpedk which I owe you, to quit the prcfcnce of a prince whom I am no longer at liberty to hear.”
So faying, fhe left Hcnriquez with as much hade as her. prelent weak condition would allow. “ Stop, madam! (cried he) and do not drive to dcfpair a prince, who will lather overturn that throne, which you upbraid him with having prelerrcd to you, than fulfil the expectation of his new fubje£ts.” “ That facrifice (laid Blanch) is at prefent vain. While I am mairied to the cdnltable, thele generous tranfports will not avail: fincc I am then no longer at liberty, it is of fmall importance to me that you reduce Sicily to aihes, or to whom you give your hand. If I have been weak enough to let my heart be furprized, I Ihall at leall have fortitude enough to difle its emotions, and let the new king of Sicily fee, that the con- flable’s wife is no longer the lover of prince Henri- quez.” When fhe pronounced ihcfe words, being clofe to the park-gate, lhe entered it of a fudden with Nifa ; and iocking it on the other fide, left the prince overwhelmed with forrow. He could not recover the blow which Blanch had given him, by the account of her marriage. “ Unjult Blanch ! (cried he) you have loA all remembrance of our mutual engagement! in