was ſuddenly ſet upon by two whiſſling curs, which upon offering to draw his ſword, ran away barking from him; which he purſuing, came in a little time, to a path, where he could diſcern the footſteps of human creatures, which very much revived his hopes, and encouraged him ſtill to go on. He had not gone far, before he diſcerned ſmoke to iſſue from a ſmall cottage; to which, as he approached nearer and nearer, he was again ſaluted by the furious barking of thoſe dogs whom he had before purſued. This was the cottage where Deidamia reſided; who, upon the barking of the dogs, looking out to ſee what was the matter, eſpied Alanſon coming towards her, and (the idea of his image being continually in her breaſt) ſhe no ſooner ſaw, but knew him, and, running into his arms in an exceſs of joy, was only able to cry out, Ah! my dear Lord Alanſon:' but exceſs of joy proves ſometimes fatal; and it had like to have done ſo to Deidamia, for ſhe immediately ſwooned away in his arms. The dogs ſtill continuing their barking, which alſo cauſed the good old woman of the cottage, to ſee what the cauſe was. She was extremely ſurpriſed to ſee a genteel ſtranger there, and Deidamia fainting in his arms; however, ſhe made what haſte ſhe could, to endeavour her recovery, deſiring Alanſon to bring her into the houſe, which he inmediately did, telling the good woman, that he was Deidamia's huſband, which ſhe (being very well acquainted with Deidamia's ſtory) was very glad to hear. It was a conſiderable time, before Deidamia could be brought to herſelf; which ſo much afflicted the Count, that he was almoſt ready to faint away himſelf. But his lady being again recovered, Alanſon, with
a thou-
