Now her majesty proved no
exception to this rule regarding the unreasonableness of her sex
in placing their affections most on those who regard them least;
for she was devoted to the king. Therefore the evidence of his
grief at prospect of her loss touched her deeper than all words
can say, and with much sweetness she sought to soothe and console
him.
She told him she had no desire to live, and no sorrow to die,
save, indeed, that caused by parting from him. She hoped he
would soon wed a consort more worthy of his love than she had
been; one who would contribute more to his happiness and the
satisfaction of the nation than she had. And now they were about
to part, she had two requests to make: that he would never
separate his interests from those of the king her brother, or
cease to protect her distressed nation; and that her body might
be sent back to Portugal and laid in the tomb of her ancestors.
At this the king, yet on his knees beside her, interrupted her
only by his sobs, hearing which she wept likewise; and so
overcome was he by grief that he was obliged to be led from her
room,
The court was saddened by her majesty's illness, for she had won
the goodwill of all by the kindness of her disposition and
gentleness of her manner; the city was likewise afflicted, for
the people thought so good a queen could not fail in time to
reclaim even so erratic a husband; and trade became suddenly
depressed. Crowds gathered by night and by day outside the
palace to learn the most recent change in her majesty's condition
many thinking her death inevitable, because the doctors had
pronounced her recovery impossible.
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