But she urged, suspicion was no proof; and that they never put to death anyone, but when they had great and certain evidences, who were the offenders. She was sure of her own constancy, that racks and tortures should never get the secret from her breast; and if he were as confident on his part, there was no danger. Yet this preparation she made, towards the laying the fact on others, that she caused several letters to be written from Germany, as from the relations of Van Brune, who threatened Alcidiana with death, for depriving their kinsman (who was a gentleman) of his life, though he had not taken away hers. And it was the report of the town, how this young maid was threatened. And indeed, the death of the page had so afflicted a great many, that Alcidiana had procured herself abundance of enemies upon that account, because she might have saved him if she had pleased; but on the contrary, she was a spectator, and in full health and vigour, at his execution. And people were not so much concerned for her at this report, as they would have been.

The Prince, who now had, by reasoning the matter soberly with Miranda, found it absolutely necessary to dispatch Alcidiana; he resolved himself, and with his own hand, to execute it; not daring to trust to any of his most favourite servants, though he had many who, possibly, would have obeyed him; for they loved him, as he deserved; and so would all the world, had he not been so poorly deluded by this fair enchantress. He therefore, as I said, resolved to keep this great secret to himself; and taking a pistol, charged well with two bullets, he watched an opportunity to shoot her as she should go out, or into her house or coach some evening.

To this end he waited several nights, near her lodgings; but still, either she went not out; or when she returned, she was so guarded with friends, or her lover, and flambeaux, that he could not aim at her, without endangering the life of some other. But one night, above the rest, upon a Sunday, when he knew she would be at the theatre; for she never missed that day, seeing the play; he waited at the corner of the state-house,43 near the theatre, with his cloak cast over his face, and a black periwig, all alone, with his pistol ready cocked; and remained not very long, but he saw her kinsman’s coach come along. ’Twas almost dark; day was just shutting up her beauties, and left such a light to govern the world, as served only just to distinguish one object from another, and a convenient help to mischief. He saw alight out of the coach, only one young lady, the lover, and then the destined victim; which he (drawing near) knew rather by her tongue, than shape. The lady ran into the playhouse, and left Alcidiana to be conducted by her lover into it; who led her to the door, and went to give some order to the coachman; so that the lover was about twenty yards from Alcidiana, when she stood the fairest mark in the world, on the threshold of the entrance of the theatre; there being many coaches about the door, so that hers could not come so near. Tarquin was resolved not to lose so fair an opportunity; and advanced, but went behind the coaches; and when he came over against the door, through a great booted, velvet coach,44 that stood between him and her, he shot; and she having her train of her gown and petticoat on her arm, in great quantity, he missed her body, and shot through her clothes, between her arm, and her body. She, frightened to find something hit her, and to see the smoke, and hear the report of the pistol, running in, cried, ‘I am shot, I am dead.’

This noise quickly alarmed her lover; and all the coachmen and footmen immediately ran, some one way, and some another. One of them seeing a man haste away in a cloak, he being a lusty, bold German, stopped him; and drawing upon him, bade him stand, and deliver his pistol, or he would run him through.

Tarquin being surprised at the boldness of this fellow to demand his pistol, as if he positively knew him to be the murderer (for so he thought himself, since he believed Alcidiana dead), had so much presence of mind, as to consider, if he suffered himself to be taken, he should poorly die a public death; and therefore resolved upon one mischief more, to secure himself from the first. And in the moment that the German bade him deliver his pistol, he cried, ‘Though I have no pistol to deliver, I have a sword to chastise thy insolence.’ And throwing off his cloak, and flinging his pistol from him, he drew, and wounded and disarmed the fellow.

This noise of swords brought everybody to the place; and immediately the bruit45 ran, ‘The murderer was taken, the murderer was taken’; though none knew which was he, nor the cause of the quarrel between the two fighting men, which none yet knew, for it now was darker than before. But at the noise of the murderer being taken, the lover of Alcidiana, who by this time found his lady unhurt, all but the trains of her gown and petticoat, came running to the place, just as Tarquin had disarmed the German, and was ready to have killed him; when laying hold of his arm, they arrested the stroke, and redeemed the footman.

They then demanded who this stranger was, at whose mercy the fellow lay; but the prince, who now found himself venturing for his last stake, made no reply; but with two swords in his hands, went to fight his way through the rabble. And though there were above a hundred persons, some with swords, others with long whips (as coachmen), so invincible was the courage of this poor, unfortunate gentleman at that time, that all these were not able to seize him; but he made his way through the ring that encompassed him, and ran away; but was however so closely pursued, the company still gathering as they ran, that toiled with fighting, oppressed with guilt, and fear of being taken, he grew fainter and fainter, and suffered himself, at last, to yield to his pursuers, who soon found him to be Prince Tarquin in disguise. And they carried him directly to prison, being Sunday, to wait the coming day, to go before a magistrate.

In an hour’s time the whole fatal adventure was carried all over the city, and everyone knew that Prince Tarquin was the intended murderer of Alcidiana; and not one but had a real sorrow and compassion for him. They heard how bravely he had defended himself, how many he had wounded before he could be taken, and what numbers he had fought through; and even those that saw his valour and bravery, and who had assisted at his being seized, now repented from the bottom of their hearts, their having any hand in the ruin of so gallant a man; especially, since they knew the lady was not hurt. A thousand addresses were made to her, not to prosecute him; but her lover, a hot-headed fellow, more fierce than brave, would by no means be pacified; but vowed to pursue him to the scaffold.

The Monday came, and the prince being examined, confessed the matter of fact, since there was no harm done; believing a generous confession the best of his game; but he was sent back to closer imprisonment, loaded with irons, to expect the next sessions. All his household goods were seized, and all they could find, for the use of Alcidiana. And the princess, all in rage, tearing her hair, was carried to the same prison, to behold the cruel effects of her hellish designs.

One need not tell here how sad and horrid this meeting appeared between her lord and she; let it suffice it was the most melancholy and mortifying object that ever eyes beheld. On Miranda’s part, ’twas sometimes all rage and fire, and sometimes all tears and groans; but still ’twas sad love, and mournful tenderness on his. Nor could all his sufferings, and the prospect of death itself, drive from his soul one spark of that fire the obstinate god had fatally kindled there. And in the midst of all his sighs, he would recall himself, and cry, ‘I have Miranda still.’

He was eternally visited by his friends and acquaintance; and this last action of bravery had got him more, than all his former conduct had lost. The fathers were perpetually with him; and all joined with one common voice in this, that he ought to abandon a woman so wicked as the princess; and that however Fate dealt with him, he could not show himself a true penitent, while he laid the author of so much evil in his bosom; that Heaven would never bless him, till he had renounced her. And on such conditions, he would find those that would employ their utmost interest to save his life, who else would not stir in his affair. But he was so deaf to all, that he could not so much as dissemble a repentance for having married her.

He lay a long time in prison, and all that time the poor Father Francisco remained there also; and the good fathers, who daily visited these two amorous prisoners, the prince and princess, and who found, by the management of matters, it would go very hard with Tarquin, entertained them often with holy matters relating to the life to come; from which, before his trial, he gathered what his stars had appointed, and that he was destined to die.

This gave an unspeakable torment to the now-repenting beauty, who had reduced him to it; and she began to appear with a more solid grief. Which being perceived by the good fathers, they resolved to attack her on the yielding side; and after some discourse upon the judgment for sin, they came to reflect on the business of Father Francisco; and told her, she had never thrived since her accusing of that father, and laid it very home to her conscience; assuring her, that they would do their utmost in her service, if she would confess that secret sin to all the world; so that she might atone for the crime, by the saving that good man. At first she seemed inclined to yield; but shame of being her own detector in so vile a matter, recalled her goodness, and she faintly persisted in it.

At the end of six months, Prince Tarquin was called to his trial; where I will pass over the circumstances, which are only what is usual in such criminal cases, and tell you, that he, being found guilty of the intent of killing Alcidiana, was condemned to lose his head in the market-place, and the princess to be banished her country.

After sentence pronounced, to the real grief of all the spectators, he was carried back to prison.