do not ſuffer me to languiſh and die, but render the balm of your kindneſs, to cure the wounds which your bright eyes have made in your otherwiſe wretched ſervant,
Fronovius."
The reading of this letter filled her with bluſhes, anger, and amazement, at the unparalleled boldneſs and villainy of the author of it, and at firſt ſhe was reſolved to commit it to the flames, or to tear it to pieces; but upon ſecond thoughts, ſhe laid it up in her cloſet, where ſhe vexed and fretted herſelf, that ſhe was left thus anong ſuch ungrateful wretches, that dared ſo much to ſuſpect her virtues, and meaſure them by their own wicked and filthy inclinations, as to preſume ſhe would defile her marriage-bed; being more grieved for this diſcovery than the former; for ſhe knew the prieſt had ſomething of the libertine in him; but this man ſhe had held to be honeſt and virtuouſly inclined till now, and to him ſhe thought to have diſcovered Antonio's folly, if he perſiſted in it, that by ſhame and reproofs he might have reclaimed him. But now, the ſcarce knew who to truſt; and could not therefore but tremble, at the apprehenſions of ſome violence that might be offered her from thoſe luſtful miſcreants, whoſe fight now very much diſpleaſed her. She thought once or twice of diſplacing them; but found their authority in the family was ſo great, that in her Lord's abſence, ſhe could not do it: whereupon ſhe fell on her knees to implore God's mercy and protection, commending herſelf wholly to his care and providence, and begging of him to be her guardian and protector.
Though Deidamia's mind, on thoſe ſurpriſing
attempts
