no attempts to escape, in order to lull them into the deeper fecurity; and, after fome time, affected an air of frankness and eafinefs, to which she was in reality a stranger.

Lothario, in the mean time, left no arts of infinuation and flattery untried, to win her confent to his defigns; he made her an offer of a confiderable fettlement for life, and a handfame provifion for her brother. She still kept him in fufpenfe; but he began to conceive better hopes from her more foftened appearance, and did not doubt of gaining his point, when he had melted her by his importunities and proteftations of love.

Bufinefs calling Lothario from home, for a day or two, fhe arofe the morning after his departure much earlier than ufual, and having procured the key of the garden, fhe ftole out unperceived by any of the fervants. After croffing the garden, the leaped from the wall, and with difficulty fcrambled up the oppofite fide of the ditch. She paffed over several fields, forcing her way through the hedges. Fear added wings to her fpeed. She went on till the thought herself out of danger, and then fat down by the fide of a hedge, quite tired with fatigue and want of fleep. She now began to reflect on the dangers fhe had run, the trials and infults the had endured, and those more terrible ones fhe had dreaded; but especially the misfortunes which might yet attend her. All these things came crouding into her thoughts, and filled her with a variety of strong emotions. She looked up to heaven for relief, and committed herfelf, and the fuccefs of her escape, to Providence. Na

ture being at last overcharged, and quite spent, fhe funk into fleep on the green turf.

It happened that a company of gentlemen were out that morning a-hunting. The chace had been long, and one of the party being thrown out, chanced to ride by the place where Eliza lay. He started at the fight of a lady fat afleep, and loosely dreffed, with her face and arms ftrangely scratched, and the blood flowing in many places. But amidft all the diforders of her drefs and looks, he was ftruck with the amiableness of her appearance, and the fineness of her fhape, which fpoke ftrongly in her favour, and, in fome measure, confuted the difadvantageous circumftances he faw her in. He alighted, and stood for fome time gazing at her with pleafure and aftonishment, and was afraid to awake her. But how much more was Eliza alarmed, when, on opening her eyes, the faw a gentleman in a hunting-dress gazing upon her, with his horse in his hand! Afhamed to be furprised in fuch diforder, fhe ftarted upon her feet; but feeing it was in vain to fly from a perfon in whose power the was, or to betray an infignificant diftruft, fhe chofe rather to try his generosity. "Sir, faid fhe, I do not wonder at your furprize in finding a woman in this place, and in fuch a strange condition; but I beg you will fufpend your wonder, till I have an opportunity of informing you more particularly of the occafion; for at prefent I can only tell you, that an extraordinary accident has brought me into thefe circumftances; but as you have the appearance of a gentleman, I dʊ not doubt but you have alfo the 4 B z

honour

honour of one. I fhall therefore gladly put myself under your protection, and beg you would conduct me to fome place of fafety." He told her he would chearfully undertake fo agreeable a charge; that a Jady of his acquaintance lived hard by, to whofe house he would conduct her, where the might be fure of a hearty welcome, and be treated with that honour the appeared to deserve, till she was recovered of her fatigue, and in a condition to remove elsewhere. His open countenance and genteel behaviour gave her fome degree of confidence in him, tho' unknown; accordingly the freely accepted his offer, and returned him thanks in fo graceful a manner, as made him think himfelf the debtor. Some of his fervants now coming up, he ordered one of them to take the lady up behind him, and conducted her himself directly to his mother's, who lived but a few miles off. There Eliza found herfelf among a very different fet of people from thofe the had met with at Lothario's, and was entertained in quite another manner. The gentleman informed his mother of the diftrefs he found the lady in, defiring the would lend her friendly aid to recover her of the fright and fatigue fhe had undergone. The ladies, like two kindred fouls, foon diftinguished each other, and no fooner faw than they esteemed; at least, formed the moft pleafing ideas of one another. Eliza being left in good hands, the young gentleman took his leave, and returned to his own houfe, filled with the image of the lovely ftranger, whofe beautiful afpect, and modeft behaviour, raifed in him the highest admiration and de

light. He imagined to himself a thousand excellencies, concealed under so fair a form, and a demeanour fo fingularly graceful. He was no fooner at home, than rushing into the apartment of his friends, who lodged with him, immediately told them his uncommon adventure; greatly expatiated on the charms, and outward accomplishments of the diftreft stranger; adding, that if her character and merit correfponded with fuch fair appearances, he thought her a treasure worth purchafing at any rate. Next day he returned to enquire after her health; but how troubled and confounded was he when he heard that Eliza was feized with a fever? It was, however, only of the flighter kind, and when it left her, the appeared to him with new charms. She had now recovered her natural colour, and the young gentleman was in raptures at the fight. Eliza renewed her acknowledgments to him for his generous protection. He anfwered, that he was abundantly repaid for what he had done, by the pleafure he felt in having contribut. ed to the eafe and safety of so deferving a lady, and defired the would condescend to inform him of her misfortunes, You have a right, Sir, faid fhe, to know the circumftances of my story, and it is proper I fhould remove any fufpicions, which, my being found in fuch unfavourable circumstances, may have raifed. Upon hearing her story, her folitary condition, and way of life, before he was carried off, and particularly the account of her family and relations, how was he furprised and delighted, to find the young lady the fifter of his friend and fellow-traveller, Eubulus, who

had

had returned with him not above a month before! Joy flowed fo full upon him, that Agathias was going to take Eliza in his arms, and to have made a full discovery: but he checked himself, and only congratulated her upon her happy efcape; adding, that he made no doubt but heaven, which had already appeared very seasonable for her relief, would at laft crown her virtue with a proportional happinefs.

It is now neceffary to inform the reader, that when Agathias and Eubulus returned from their travels, the latter was extremely troubled to find the manfion-house of his family defolate, and his dear fifter gone, no body could tell whither. He was not able to bear the folitude of his own house, where every apartment and field recalled fome mournful idea of his irreparable lofs; and therefore chose to lodge in an apartment of Agathias's houfe, to which he was earnestly invited by that fincere friend.

When Agathias returned, he told Eubulus (who was the friend beforementioned) that the lady's converfation and manners juftified, and even increased the high opinion he had conceived of her; adding, with a kind of tranfport, you, your felf, Eubulus, fhall judge to morrow, whether I have been too hafty in my opinion.

Accordingly, next day, he took Eubulus with him, to fee the unfortunate ftranger. The mother of Agathias had concerted it with her fon, not to reveal any thing to either of them; and had only told Eliza that he was to introduce to her a particular friend of her fon's. As Eubulus had been several years

He

abroad, both his and his fifters's features were greatly altered. could not, however, help feeling fome ftrange fympathies on his first feeing her, which he did not know how, or indeed endeavour, to account for. Eliza's concern was reciprocal, and she was observed to fteal feveral attentive glances at him, which drew fome blushes from her, when the perceived they were taken notice of. Agathias and his mother, in the mean time, were greatly delighted with those kindlings of mutual fympathy, and a growing tendernefs, which they faw flashing from eye to eye. In the afternoon they led them into the garden. where, in a retired arbour, Agathias's mother begged Eliza to repeat her story; for, perhaps, added fhe, the stranger we have introduced to you is more interested in your fortunes than you are aware of. Eliza would gladly have declined this tafk; but as the could not refufe her benefactress so small a request, she, with a modeft air and look, began her story from the time of her firft acquaintance with Lothario, repeating all her misfortunes, till her happy meeting with Agathias, her generous deliverer. She told, her story fo gracefully, reprefented the villainy of Lothario in fuch foft terms, and paffed over her own behaviour with fuch a modeft bashfulness and humility, as wonderfully moved and charmed the whole company. Eubulus felt an uncommon tenderness, mixed with admiration. “Madam, cried he, give me leave to ask you your name and family?" "Alas! Sir, returned fhe, you deûre me to renew my grief. But that part of my story is short: my parents are both.

dead,

dead, my dear mother laft. I had once two brothers; they went abroad several years ago, but whether they are dead or alive, I have not lately heard. One of them had been very unhappy; with the other I had formed a tender and inviolable friendship: he is now on his travels with a gentleman of fortune and great merit: I wish for nothing to repair the loss of the best of mothers, and render me completely happy, but to fee him again. If my dear Eubulus be ftill alive, and it pleases heaven to restore him to my fight, O how happy"She could proceed no farther; fighs de nied a paffage to her words. Eubulus, whofe mind had, from the beginning, been agitated with a thousand emotions of tenderness and paffion, could contain no longer. He started from his feat, and ran to her in the tendereft tranfports, and, clafping her in his arms, cried out, Then, my dearest fifter, be as happy as your virtue"-Words failed him to fay more; a flood of tears fucceeded, the effect of inexpreffible delight. The unexpected prefence of her brother raised in Eliza's breaft fuch a conflict of agreeable paffions, that the, for fome time, continued fpeechless. Nor were Agathias and his mother lefs melted with so tender a fcene. Eliza, having at length, in a liberal flood of tears, given vent to the joy that overpowered her, broke out: "O, my dearest Eubulus, my brother! is it you? Am I indeed fo happy as to fee you again? has heaven restored you to me again to part no more? Behold there, in the fon of my benefactress, my deliverer and

guardian, to whom I owe more than life, my honour, and my all! You must acknowledge the immense debt I owe him; I have an heart to feel, but want words to exprefs it." "O Madam, replied Agathias, your brother and my friend, as well as fellow-traveller, has already repaid me more fubftantially than by words. To his bravery I owe my life, which heaven has prolonged to give an opportunity of preferving what is infinitely more dearer to me. I am more than fufficiently rewarded, in the pleasure of having contributed to the ease of one fo deferving in herself, and fo dear to him. If you, Madam, think there is any thing yet owing, it is you only who can pay it. It is yourfelf I ask, as the full reward, To poffefs fuch a treafure, is all I wish to crown my happiness. My fortune, indeed, is not equal to your merit, but it will be more than enough, if I can fhare it with you." The great generofity of fuch a propofal, fo furprised and confounded Eliza, that the could make no reply, but her filent blushes fignified her confent, with a modeft and expreffive eloquence, transcending all the pomp of words. marriage was concluded in a few days, with the intire approbation of all their friends. Agathias found that treasure he wished for and deferved, in the poffeffion of one of the most virtuous and accomplished of her fex; and Eliza's tranfient fufferings, which the bore fo nobly, were rewarded with the happiness that still continues undecaying, in conjunction with one of the best of men,

The

COMPER

LE

EWIS the fourth, furnamed the Stranger, in French D'Outremer, that is, from beyond the fea, landed at Boulogne, but without his mother; where he was met by Hugo, duke of France, and many of the nobility, who conducted him to Laon, and there the ceremony of his coronation was performed with great folemnity, on the 20th of June, by Artaud, archbishop of Rheims, in the prefence of twenty other prelates, and most of the great lords. As the young king was but in the feventeenth year of his age, and had been bred up in England, it was prefumed that he could not be fufficiently acquainted with public affairs to direct them without affiftance; and therefore it was judged expedient to affign him a tutor; to which high employment Hugo, duke of France, was unanimously called. By his advice the young king marched with an army into Burgundy, against Hugo the Black, the brother of his predeceffor, who had feized the town of Langres, and fufficiently discovered an inclination to render himself independent. Upon the approach of the king the place was abandoned; and the duke of Burgundy, plainly perceiving that he was in no condition to refift, fubmitted to divide his dominions with the other Hugo. The king, young as he was, difliked this meafure exceedingly, and declared that he would not act by the advice of duke Hugo any longer; which, if we confider his youth, his obligation to him for fetting him on the throne, and the exceffive

power of that potent duke, was a very fingular and brisk attempt. Hugo refigned with a good grace, reconciled himfelf immediately to Herbert, count of Vermandois, and put him upon taking up arms; which he did, and foon after furprised Laon, tho' in the hands of duke Hugo. The king, upon this, found it neceffary to accommodate matters with his old tutor; by which public tranquility was restored. But Lewis, perceiving that he had little more than the title of king, invited over his mother Egiva; and, having formed a good party amongst the lords, refolved to emancipate himself, coft what it would; which, confidering he was scarce twenty, and had already seen how great both the power and influence of Hugo was, muft.certainly appear a bold, if not a rash undertaking; more especially if we remember how flender a domain, and how little authority, this monarch really had; fo that it might be truly faid, there was in this dif pute a great title on one fide, and over-grown power on the other, the people being fqueezed between both.

Hugo, duke of France, was, beyond all controversy, one of the ableft men, as well as one of the greatest lords, in France: he recalled the king out of policy, and very poffibly migt have no intention to depose him: but, however, he let no opportunity flip, either of curtailing that prince's power, or of augmenting his own, It was with this view that he entered into a

league