The meſſenger being returned with Alanſon's letter, it adniniſtered freſh grief to Deidamia's parents. For they thereby found, that by their too eaſily yielding to Antonio's deſigns, they had not only loſt their daughter, but the affections of their ſon-in-law.—In this ſtate we will now leave them, and make Deidamia a viſit in her ſorrowful ſolitude.
Deidamia being in that lonely place, each day removed her habitation, until, at laſt, ſhe found a cave to ſecure herſelf from the injuries of the weather; and it was a quiet reſting-place for her in the night ſeaſon, for by ſhutting up the mouth of the cave, ſhe covered herſelf from all danger; which ſhe looked upon, and thanked God for, as a great mercy; and living upon the fruits that grow in the wood, (as I ſaid before) ſhe ſpent her time wholly in prayer and meditation; and though her diet and lodging were extremely changed, yet her health was both continued and increaſed; and ſhe found that promiſe made good unto her, As thy day is, so ſhall thy ſtrength be.
She had now lived almoſt four months in this ſolitude; and, the winter approaching, began to make the woods uncomfortable, and the cold extremely nipping: ſo that Deidamia was forced often to walk apace to get her a heat. One day, as ſhe had walked farther than ordinary, ſhe diſcovered ſome kind of an obſcure path ſhe had not ſeen before; and, tho' ſhe knew not whither it would lead her, ſhe was reſolved to follow the tract She travelled ſo far that day, that it was in vain for her to think of returning to her beloved cave, where the had lain ſo many nights; and therefore, making the beſt ſhift that ſhe could, ſhe ſat down upon the ground, and re
com-
