auristella recovers her health, because the jewess leaves off her sorceries, and makes a proposal to periander that they shall not marry.
well pleased was hippolyta to see what the arts of the jewess had done in endangering the life of auristella, for in a week she had become so entirely changed from what she was, as to be only recognizable by the sound of her voice,—a thing which surprised her physicians, and defied their skill. it was the wonder of all who saw her. the french ladies assisted in nursing her with as much care as if she had been their sister, especially felicia flora, who loved her with the warmest affection.
at length the illness of auristella instead of being confined to herself alone, began to affect those who attended her, and as none were so constantly with her as periander, he was the first who suffered, not because the poisons and witcheries of the wicked jewess worked directly upon him, but because the grief and sorrow he felt to see her condition, reduced him nearly to a similar state, and thus he fell away so much, that those who were about him began to fear for his life as well as hers.
hippolyta seeing this, and seeing that her vile practices were turning against herself, guessed at once from whence the sickness of periander had arisen, and tried to find a remedy by giving one to auristella, who, reduced to a shadow, livid and ghastly, seemed hovering on the very verge of death, and every moment expecting that its gates would open to receive her, desired to prepare the way for her soul's departure by receiving the sacrament as she had been instructed in the catholic faith, and therefore taking the proper steps with the utmost devotion in her power, she gave tokens of her good and virtuous way of thinking, and proved the purity of her manners and heart. she showed that she had learned thoroughly the lessons she had been taught since she came to rome, and resigning herself to god's will, she felt calm and composed in spirit, and forgot kingdoms, thrones, and grandeurs.
hippolyta then, having as i before said, seen, that if auristella died, periander would die too, hastened to the jewess to desire that she would moderate the spell which was consuming auristella's life, or cease the charm altogether, for she did not wish to be the cause of destroying three lives with one blow, since auristella dying, periander would die, and periander dying, she also would lose her life. the jewess obeyed, as if the health or sickness of others was in her power, as if all the evils we meet with as chastisement, did not depend on god's will; but god, as a punishment for our own sins, permits the agency of what is called witchcraft, in destroying health, by the use of poisons and mixtures, which in process of time take away life from those they wish to kill, without any remedy to escape the danger, because the cause remains unknown, and no one can guess the reason of such mortal sickness, and so for the cure of such great evils, god's mercy is the only medicine.
auristella began to leave off growing worse, which was a sign she was beginning to be better. the sun of her beauty began to glimmer, and give signs that it would once more dawn upon the heaven of her countenance. once more the roses returned to bloom upon her cheeks, and in her eyes again shone the light of gladness, dispersing the clouds of melancholy. the sweetness of her voice returned; her lips resumed their carmine hue; her teeth, which had seemed like marble, now were pearls again as before; and in a short space of time she appeared all beautiful, lovely and charming as ever, and the good effects of this quickly told upon periander and the rest, croriano and ruperta, antonio and constance; the latter, especially in joy or sorrow, always went along with auristella.
she, giving thanks to heaven for the mercies she had received, both in sickness and in health, one day called periander, and having taken care to be alone, she spoke to him in the following manner:—
"my brother! since it has pleased heaven that i should now for two years have called you by that sweet and endearing name, without ever stepping beyond the bounds of modesty and decorum; i could wish that this happy bond should still continue, and life alone should end it, instead of looking forward to any other tie; for a happiness is good when it is lasting, and it is lasting when it is pure. our souls, as you well know, and as you have always taught me, are for ever moving onward, and have no other end and aim but to be with god, who is their centre; our desires in this life are infinite, and linked together they form a chain, which sometimes reaches heaven, and sometimes leads to hell. if it seems to you, my brother, that this mode of talking is not like myself, and that i am outstepping that which should be expected from my youth and early education, recollect that experience has written much upon the blank paper of my mind. chiefly i have learned that our greatest joy is to know and be with god, and that all the means whereby we can reach this end, are good, holy, and pleasant. such are the ways of charity, modesty, and chastity, and if i think this, you will think the same; and thinking thus together, i believe that the love you bear me is so great that you will wish what i wish. i am the heiress of a kingdom, and you know well the reason why i was sent by my dear mother to your father's court, in order that i might be safe from the dangers of war, which threatened my country. hence resulted my coming here with you, and being obedient to your will, in which i have never once failed in the least degree. you have been to me father and brother; you have been my shelter, my protector, and finally, my guardian angel. you have been my teacher and my master, since you brought me to this city, where i have learned to be a true christian, and now i would fain, if possible, go to heaven without delays, alarms, or anxieties; and that cannot be, unless you release me from the promise i myself have given to you, the promise and the wish to become your wife. give me back, my lord, the promise, and i will try to lose the wish, even though it should be by forcible means; for in order to attain so great a gift as heaven, one must leave all one loves best on earth, even one's parents, and one's husband or wife. i leave you for no other: he for whom i leave you is god, who will reward you himself, which reward far exceeds what you lose in losing me. i have a younger sister quite as beautiful as i am, if we can call anything that is mortal beautiful; you may marry her and succeed to the crown, which is my right, and thus while you are yielding to my wishes you will not be cheated of your own. why hangs your head, my brother? ah! why do your eyes seek the ground? does my discourse displease you? do my wishes seem to you unreasonable? tell me; answer me, at least let me know your will; possibly i may try to moderate mine, and find out some way more to your liking, and which will agree with mine."
periander had listened to every word auristella said in the most profound silence, a thousand suppositions in one brief moment rapidly forming in his imagination, all uniting in picturing the worst that could befall, for he thought that she abhorred him, as this change of life must put an end to his, since she could not but know that if she refused to become his wife, he had no longer anything to live for in this world: and this idea was so earnestly impressed upon his mind, that, without answering her a single word, he rose from his seat, and seeming as if he went to receive felicia flora and constance and antonio, who were entering the apartment, he went out and left auristella, (i know not whether i ought to call it,) repenting, but, at all events, thoughtful, and in some confusion.
