so propitious to him in his Amorous Distress. The Consideration of that,
together with the Obligation he lay under to the Muses, for sheltering
him also with so large a Crown of Bays, had like to have set him a
Rhyming.

He was, to tell the Truth, naturally addicted to Madrigal, and we should
undoubtedly have had a small desert of Numbers to have pick'd and
Criticiz'd upon, had he not been interrupted just upon his Delivery; nay,
after the Preliminary Sigh had made Way for his Utterance. But so was
his Fortune, Don Mario was coming towards the Door at that very nick of
Time, where he met with a Priest just out of Breath, who told him that
Lorenzo was just breathing his last, and desired to know if he would come
and take his final Leave before they were to administer the Extream
Unction. Don Mario, who had been at some Difference with his Nephew, now
thought it his Duty to be reconciled to him; so calling to Leonora, who
was coming after him, he bid her go to her Devotions in the Chappel, and
told her where he was going.

He went on with the Priest, while Hippolito saw Leonora come forward,
only accompanied by her Woman. She was in an undress, and by reason of a
Melancholy visible in her Face, more Careless than usual in her Attire,
which he thought added as much as was possible to the abundance of her
Charms. He had not much Time to Contemplate this Beauteous Vision, for
she soon passed into the Garden of the Convent, leaving him Confounded
with Love, Admiration, Joy, Hope, Fear, and all the Train of Passions,
which seize upon Men in his Condition, all at once. He was so teazed
with this Variety of Torment, that he never missed the Two Hours that had
slipped away during his Automachy and Intestine Conflict. Leonora's
Return settled his Spirits, at least united them, and he had now no other
Thought but how he should present himself before her. When she calling