man remained absorbed in thought. At length, conceiving some hopes
from delay, he thought the wisest conduct would be to prevent the
Prince from despairing of recovering Isabella. Her the Friar knew
he could dispose, from her affection to Hippolita, and from the
aversion she had expressed to him for Manfred's addresses, to
second his views, till the censures of the church could be
fulminated against a divorce. With this intention, as if struck
with the Prince's scruples, he at length said:

"My Lord, I have been pondering on what your Highness has said; and
if in truth it is delicacy of conscience that is the real motive of
your repugnance to your virtuous Lady, far be it from me to
endeavour to harden your heart. The church is an indulgent mother:
unfold your griefs to her: she alone can administer comfort to
your soul, either by satisfying your conscience, or upon
examination of your scruples, by setting you at liberty, and
indulging you in the lawful means of continuing your lineage. In
the latter case, if the Lady Isabella can be brought to consent--"

Manfred, who concluded that he had either over-reached the good
man, or that his first warmth had been but a tribute paid to
appearance, was overjoyed at this sudden turn, and repeated the
most magnificent promises, if he should succeed by the Friar's
mediation. The well-meaning priest suffered him to deceive
himself, fully determined to traverse his views, instead of
seconding them.

"Since we now understand one another," resumed the Prince, "I
expect, Father, that you satisfy me in one point. Who is the youth
that I found in the vault? He must have been privy to Isabella's