But still she writes in vain, in vain she varies her style, by a cunning, peculiar to a maid possessed with such a sort of passion.

This cold neglect was still oil to the burning lamp, and she tries yet more arts, which, for want of right thinking, were as fruitless. She has recourse to presents; her letters came loaded with rings of great price, and jewels, which fops of quality had given her. Many of this sort he received, before he knew where to return them, or how; and on this occasion alone he sent her a letter, and restored her trifles, as he called them; but his habit having not made him forget his quality and education, he writ to her with all the profound respect imaginable, believing by her presents, and the liberality with which she parted with them, that she was of quality. But the whole letter, as he told me afterwards, was to persuade her from the honour she did him, by loving him; urging a thousand reasons, solid and pious, and assuring her, he had wholly devoted the rest of his days to Heaven, and had no need of those gay trifles she had sent him, which were only fit to adorn ladies so fair as herself, and who had business with this glittering world, which he disdained, and had for ever abandoned. He sent her a thousand blessings, and told her, she should be ever in his prayers, though not in his heart, as she desired; and abundance of goodness more he expressed, and counsel he gave her, which had the same effect with his silence; it made her love but the more, and the more impatient she grew. She now had a new occasion to write, she now is charmed with his wit; this was the new subject. She rallies his resolution, and endeavours to recall him to the world, by all the arguments that human invention is capable of.

But when she had above four months languished thus in vain, not missing one day, wherein she went not to see him, without discovering herself to him; she resolved, as her last effort, to show her person, and see what that, assisted by her tears, and soft words from her mouth, could do, to prevail upon him.

It happened to be on the eve of that day when she was to receive the sacrament, that she, covering herself with her veil, came to Vespers, purposing to make choice of the conquering friar for her confessor.

She approached him; and as she did so, she trembled with love; at last she cried, ‘Father, my confessor is gone for some time from the town, and I am obliged tomorrow to receive, and beg you will be pleased to take my confession.’

He could not refuse her; and led her into the sacristy,22 where there is a confession-chair, in which he seated himself; and on one side of him she kneeled down, over against a little altar, where the priests’ robes lie, on which was placed some lighted wax candles, that made the little place very light and splendid, which shone full upon Miranda.

After the little preparation usual in Confession, she turned up her veil, and discovered to his view the most wondrous object of beauty he had ever seen, dressed in all the glory of a young bride; her hair and stomacher23 full of diamonds, that gave a lustre all dazzling to her brighter face and eyes. He was surprised at her amazing beauty, and questioned whether he saw a woman or an angel at his feet. Her hands, which were elevated, as if in prayer, seemed to be formed of polished alabaster; and he confessed, he had never seen anything in nature so perfect, and so admirable.

He had some pain to compose himself to hear her confession, and was obliged to turn away his eyes, that his mind might not be perplexed with an object so diverting; when Miranda, opening the finest mouth in the world, and discovering new charms, began her confession.

‘Holy father,’ said she, ‘amongst the number of my vile offences, that which afflicts me to the greatest degree is, that I am in love. Not,’ continued she, ‘that I believe simple and virtuous love a sin when ’tis placed on an object proper and suitable; but, my dear father,’ said she, and wept, ‘I love with a violence which cannot be contained within the bounds of reason, moderation, or virtue. I love a man whom I cannot possess without a crime, and a man who cannot make me happy without becoming perjured.’ ‘Is he married?’ replied the father. ‘No,’ answered Miranda. ‘Are you so?’ continued he. ‘Neither,’ said she. ‘Is he too near allied to you?’ said Francisco, ‘a brother, or relation?’ ‘Neither of these,’ said she, ‘he is unenjoyed, unpromised; and so am I. Nothing opposes our happiness, or makes my love a vice, but you – ’tis you deny me life! ’Tis you that forbids my flame! ’Tis you will have me die, and seek my remedy in my grave, when I complain of tortures, wounds and flames. O cruel charmer, ’tis for you I languish; and here, at your feet, implore that pity which all my addresses have failed of procuring me.’

With that, perceiving he was about to rise from his seat, she held him by his habit, and vowed she would in that posture follow him, wherever he flew from her. She elevated her voice so loud, he was afraid she might be heard, and therefore suffered her to force him into his chair again; where being seated, he began, in the most passionate terms imaginable, to dissuade her; but finding she but the more persisted in eagerness of passion, he used all the tender assurance that he could force from himself, that he would have for her all the respect, esteem and friendship that he was capable of paying; that he had a real compassion for her; and at last, she prevailed so far with him by her sighs and tears, as to own he had a tenderness for her, and that he could not behold so many charms, without being sensibly touched by them, and finding all those effects that a maid so young and fair causes in the souls of men of youth and sense.24 But that, as he was assured he could never be so happy to marry her, and as certain he could not grant anything but honourable passion, he humbly besought her not to expect more from him than such; and then began to tell her how short life was, and transitory its joys; how soon she would grow weary of vice, and how often change to find real repose in it, but never arrive to it. He made an end by new assurance of his eternal friendship, but utterly forbade her to hope.

Behold her now denied, refused and defeated, with all her pleading youth, beauty, tears and knees, imploring, as she lay, holding fast his scapular,25 and embracing his feet. What shall she do? She swells with pride, love, indignation and desire; her burning heart is bursting with despair, her eyes grow fierce, and from grief, she rises to a storm; and in her agony of passion, which looks all disdainful, haughty, and full of rage, she began to revile him, as the poorest of animals: tells him, his soul was dwindled to the meanness of his habit, and his vows of poverty were suited to his degenerate mind. ‘And,’ said she, ‘since all my nobler ways have failed me; and that, for a little hypocritical devotion, you resolve to lose the greatest blessings of life, and to sacrifice me to your religious pride and vanity, I will either force you to abandon that dull dissimulation; or you shall die, to prove your sanctity real. Therefore answer me immediately, answer my flame, my raging fire, which your eyes have kindled; or here, in this very moment, I will ruin thee; and make no scruple of revenging the pains I suffer, by that which shall take away your life and honour.’

The trembling young man, who, all this while, with extreme anguish of mind, and fear of the dire result, had listened to her ravings, full of dread, demanded what she would have him do. When she replied, ‘Do that which thy youth and beauty were ordained to do! – this place is private, a sacred silence reigns here, and no one dares to pry into the secrets of this holy place. We are as secure from fears of interruption, as in deserts uninhabited, or caves forsaken by wild beasts. The tapers too shall veil their lights, and only that glimmering lamp shall be witness of our dear stealths of love. – Come to my arms, my trembling, longing arms; and curse the folly of thy bigotry that has made thee so long lose a blessing, for which so many princes sigh in vain.’

At these words she rose from his feet, and snatching him in her arms, he could not defend himself from receiving a thousand kisses from the lovely mouth of the charming wanton; after which, she ran herself, and in an instant put out the candles. But he cried to her, ‘In vain, O too indiscreet fair one; in vain you put out the light; for Heaven still has eyes, and will look down upon my broken vows. I own your power, I own I have all the sense in the world of your charming touches; I am frail flesh and blood, but yet – yet – yet I can resist; and I prefer my vows to all your powerful temptations. – I will be deaf and blind, and guard my heart with walls of ice, and make you know, that when the flames of true devotion are kindled in a heart, it puts out all other fires; which are as ineffectual, as candles lighted in the face of the sun. – Go, vain wanton, and repent, and mortify that blood which has so shamefully betrayed thee, and which will one day ruin both thy soul and body.’

At these words Miranda, more enraged, the nearer she imagined herself to happiness, made no reply; but throwing herself, in that instant, into the confessing-chair, and violently pulling the young friar into her lap, she elevated her voice to such a degree, in crying out, ‘Help, help! A rape! Help, help,’ that she was heard all over the church, which was full of people at the evening’s devotion; who flocked about the door of the sacristy, which was shut with a spring-lock on the inside, but they durst not open the door.

’Tis easily to be imagined, in what condition our young friar was, at this last devilish stratagem of his wicked mistress.