Her becoming Tears, her honest Anguish, the wringing of her Hands, and the many Changes of her Posture and Figure in the Vehemence of speaking, were but so many Attitudes in which he beheld her Beauty, and further Incentives of his Desire.  All Humanity was lost in that one Appetite, and he signified to her in so many plain Terms, that he was unhappy till he had possess’d her, and nothing less shou’d be the Price of her Husband’s Life; and she must, before the following Noon, pronounce the Death or Enlargement of Danvelt.  After this Notification, when he saw Sapphira enough again distracted to make the Subject of their Discourse to common Eyes appear different from what it was, he called Servants to conduct her to the Gate.  Loaded with insupportable Affliction, she immediately repairs to her Husband, and having signified to his Gaolers, that she had a Proposal to make to her Husband from the Governor, she was left alone with him, reveal’d to him all that had pass’d, and represented the endless Conflict she was in between Love to his Person, and Fidelity to his Bed.  It is easie to imagine the sharp Affliction this honest Pair was in upon such an Incident, in Lives not us’d to any but ordinary Occurrences.  The Man was bridled by Shame from speaking what his Fear prompted, upon so near an approach of Death; but let fall Words that signify’d to her, he should not think her polluted, though she had not yet confess’d to him that the Governor had violated her Person, since he knew her Will had no part in the Action.  She parted from him with this oblique Permission to save a Life he had not Resolution enough to resign for the safety of his Honour.

The next Morning the unhappy Sapphira attended the Governor, and being led into a remote Apartment, submitted to his Desires. Rhynsault commended her Charms, claim’d a Familiarity after what had pass’d between them, and with an Air of Gaiety in the Language of a Gallant, bid her return, and take her Husband out of Prison:  But, continu’d he, my Fair one must not be offended that I have taken care he should not be an Interruption to our future Assignations.  These last Words foreboded what she found when she came to the Gaol, her Husband executed by the Order of Rhynsault.

It was remarkable that the Woman, who was full of Tears and Lamentations during the whole Course of her Affliction, uttered neither Sigh nor Complaint, but stood fix’d with Grief at this Consummation of her Misfortunes.  She betook herself to her abode, and after having in Solitude paid her Devotions to him who is the Avenger of Innocence, she repair’d privately to Court.  Her Person and a certain Grandeur of Sorrow negligent of Forms gain’d her Passage into the Presence of the Duke her Sovereign.  As soon as she came into the Presence, she broke forth into the following words, Behold, O mighty Charles, a Wretch weary of Life, though it has always been spent with Innocence and Virtue.  It is not in your power to redress my Injuries, but it is to avenge them.  And if the Protection of the Distress’d, and the Punishment of Oppressors, is a Task worthy a Prince, I bring the Duke of Burgundy ample matter for doing Honour to his own great Name, and wiping Infamy off of mine.