Tractus de Hermaphrodites | Page 7

I advise you to send the
unfortunate Youth an Answer to his mournful Epistle." Upon this, Theodora immediately
call'd for Pen, Ink and Paper, and wrote the following Answer.
To the unfortunate LEANDER.
_I am sorry that you had the Misfortune ever to see me, and the more for that in vain I
seek your Relief; it is not in my Power to forward either your Happiness or my own,

which I confess I should think compleat, if my mercenary Father would consent to my
Espousals; but it is so far from this, that I am to see for the future, so that the Lilly you
admire now droops its Head, and the whole Vale's enclouded at my sorrowful Fate; I
would willingly accompany the Briar to the Mountains. Impute not to me your
approaching Calamities, which only increase with Theodora's. Think me no longer
handsome, who have so many Imperfections to sully those Trifles you call Beauties; No,
range me with Deformity, since other Ideas may increase your Pain. I desire you to forget
me, of I am oblig'd to endeavour not to remember you._
Your most disconsolate
Lover,
THEODORA.
Upon receipt of this Letter, Leander quitted Ferara with a Grief inexpressible, but
however had Resolution to finish his Journey to the Place of his Nativity without self
Violence, but soon after, resign'd a miserable life.
I come now to the Story of Amaryllis. Amaryllis was formerly deeply in Love with a
Gentleman of France, (she being originally of that Kingdom) whose Name was
Sempronius; his Person was stately and very well proportion'd; his Face was ruddy and
inclining to be large; his Eyes full and lively, with Eye-Brows and Beard pretty thick; of
a dark brown Colour; and his Skin was clear, his Shoulders were strong and well set, and
Limbs rather large than small, but exactly shap'd: He was perfectly good natur'd,
complaisant in his Behaviour, and gallant in his Amours, his Dress was easy and genteel,
his Approaches sprightly, and his Conversation the most endearing. Amaryllis was
extremly fond of Sempronius and Sempronius was fond of Amaryllis, without each other
they were equally unhappy; repeated Visits introduc'd each coming Day, and innocent
Embraces crown'd the Night: Love and Liberty were their constant Themes, and nothing
was wanting but the Marriage Ceremony to compleat their Felicity; but it so fell out, that
after a Day was appointed for celebrating their Nuptials, that a young Gentleman of Spain
call'd Richardo, envying the Happiness of Sempronius, made several Attempts to
disconcert his Measures; and one Night, taking with him an Officer of Justice, whom he
brib'd to his Interest, he repair'd to the House of Amaryllis; and knocking with great
Violence, Amaryllis was very much alarm'd; but she sent down her Servant to enquire
into the Occasion of this uncommon Approach. The Servant no sooner open'd the Door,
but Richardo and the Officer of Justice enter'd the House, (beating down the Servant) and
immediately ascended the Stairs in pursuit of Sempronius; during this Bustle, Amaryllis
suspecting a Design against Sempronius, (
Richardo having formerly offer'd his Service to
her, and Revenge being the common Consequence of a Disappointment with a Spaniard)
lock'd him into a private Closet, which was no sooner done, but Richardo enter'd the
Room with his Sword drawn, Amaryllis having but just Time to secure her Lover.
Richardo demanded of Amaryllis the gay Sempronius as a Criminal, telling her he had
committed a Rape on the Body of the virtuous Maria a Lady celebrated for Beauty, and
to whom all Italy could not produce an Equal, the Officer ran about the Room, crying,
"Justice, Justice, where is the Villain Sempronius." They search'd the Room very

diligently, and not finding Sempronius at last Richardo address'd himself to Amaryllis in
these Words: "Madam, I hope you have more Virtue and Honour than to shelter a
Criminal, especially where one of your most beautiful Sex is concern'd, and the greatest
Innocence has been violated: If you allow your House to to be a Sanctuary for Offenders
of this Nature, Justice will require Satisfaction at your Door; you may your self expect
the same Injury to your Person, and I am now prepar'd to shew a Resentment that will not
be pleasing to Amaryllis, either comply with my Desires in producing the Criminal, or
expect to fall my Victim." This Speech very much confounded Amaryllis; the Designs of
Richardo she could not easily penetrate, whether against her self or Sempronius the Plot
was laid, or whether it extended to both, she could not determine: But at last she
summon'd her Courage and her Reason, and with a look of Indignation peculiar to her
Sex, she answer'd thus the malicious and designing Richardo: "What Crimes Sempronius
has been guilty of, is to me a