Albert having married her, and deserted her on the wedding-night. Our
poetess took the opportunity of her acquaintance with this lady to put
an honest trick upon her lover, and at the same time do justice to an
injured woman. Accordingly she made an appointment with Albert, and
contrived that the lady whose name was Catalina, should meet him in
her stead. The plot succeeded and Catalina infinitely pleased with the
adventure, appointed the next night, and the following, till at last
he discovered the cheat, and resolved to gratify both his love and
resentment, by enjoying Astæa even against her will. To this purpose he
bribed an elderly gentlewoman, whom Mrs. Behn kept out of charity, to
put him to bed drest in her night-cloaths in her place, when Astræa was
passing the evening in a merchant's house in the town. The merchant's
son and his two daughters waited on Astræa home; and to conclude the
evening's mirth with a frolick, the young gentleman proposed going to
bed to the old woman, and that they should all come in with candles and
surprize them together. As it was agreed so they did, but no sooner was
the young spark put to bed, but he found himself accosted with ardour,
and a man's voice, saying, 'have I now caught thee, thou malicious
charmer! now I'll not let thee go till thou hast done me justice for all
the wrongs thou hast offered my dealing love.' The rest of the company
were extremely surprized to find Albert in Astraea's bed instead of the
old woman, and Albert no less surprized to find the young spark instead
of Astræa. In the conclusion, the old woman was discarded, and Albert's
fury at his disappointment appeased by a promise from Mrs. Behn, of
marrying him at his arrival in England; but Albert returning to Holland
to make preparations for his voyage to England, died of a Fever
at Amsterdam[3]. From this adventure it plainly appears, that the
observation of a Dutchman's not being capable to love is false; for both
Albert, and the Nestorian wooer, seem to have been warm enough in their
addresses.