Do not let this cast you down, continued she, I am not easily disheartened; and if your patience does but hold out, I am hopeful I shall compass my end.  To shorten my story, said the young man, this good procuress made several attempts on my behalf with the proud enemy of my rest.  The fret I thereby underwent inflamed my distemper to that degree that my physicians gave me quite over; so that I was looked on as a dead man, when the old woman came to give me life.

That nobody might hear what was said, she whispered in my ear, Remember now you owe me a present for the good news I bring you.  These words produced a marvellous effect; I raised myself to sit up in the bed, and with transports made answer, You shall not be without a present:  but what are the news you bring me?  Dear sir, said she, you shall not die yet:  I shall speedily have the pleasure to see you in perfect health, and very well satisfied with me.  Yesterday being Monday, I went to see the lady you love, and found her in very good humour.  I put on a sad countenance, and fetched many deep sighs, and began to squeeze out some tears:  My good mother, said she, what is the matter with you?  Why are you so cast down?  Alas, my dear and honourable lady, said I, I have been just now with the young gentleman I spoke to you of the other day; his business is done; he is giving up his life for the love of you; it is a great injury, I assure you, and there is a great deal of cruelty on your side.  I am at a loss to know, replied she, how you suppose me to be the cause of his death.  How can I have contributed to it?  How, replied I, did not you tell me the other day that he sat down before your window when you opened it to water your flower-pot?  He then saw that prodigy of beauty, those charms that your looking-glass represents to you every day.  From that moment he languished, and his disease is risen to that height, that he is reduced to the deplorable condition I have mentioned.

You remember well, added I, how rigorously you treated me the last time I was here, when I was offering to speak to you of his illness, and to propose means to rescue him from the danger he was in; when I took leave of you, I went straight to his house, and he no sooner knew by my countenance that I had brought him no favourable answer than his distemper increased.  From that time, madam, he is ready to die, and I do not know whether you can save his life now, though you should take pity on him.  This is just what I said to her, continued the old woman.  The fear of your death shaked her, and I saw her face change colour.  Is it true what you say? said she.  Has he actually no other disease than what is occasioned by the love of me?  Ah, madam, said I, that is too true; would to God it were false!  Do you believe, said she, that the hope of seeing me would contribute any thing to rescue him from the danger he is in?  Perhaps it may, said I, and if you will give me orders, I will try the remedy.  Well, said she, sighing,