Quality could purchace one so rich for I lov'd the Young Woman who had Beauty and Discretion enough to charm tho' the Parisians of the Royal Party call'd her Nicky Nacky which was given her in derision to me not to her for whom every body for her own sake had a considerable Esteem Besides my Lord I had taken up Money out of the Orphans and Widows Bank from the Chamber of Paris and could very well afford to be Lavish when I spent upon the publick Stock While I was thus ordering all things my Vallet came running out of Breath to tell me that being at the Loovre he saw several persons carried to the Secretaries Office with Messengers and that inquiring who they might be he found they were two Parisians who had offered themselves to the Messengers to be carryed to be Examined about a Plot the Prince Cesario and those of the Reformed Religion had to surprize his Majesty kill Monsieur his Brother and set all Paris in a Flame And as to what particularly related to my self he said That I was named as the person design'd to seize upon the King's Guards and dispatch Monsieur This my own Conscience told me was too true for me to make any doubt but I was discovered I therefore left a Servant in the House and in an Hackney-Coach took my Flight I drove a little out of Paris till Night and then returned again as the surest part of the World where I could conceal my self I was not long in studying who I should trust with my Life and safety but went directly to the Palace of Madam the Countess of who you know my Lord was a Widow and a Woman who had for a year past a most violent Passion for me but she being a Lady who had made many such Gallantries and past her Youth I had had only a very great Respect and Acknowledgment for her and her Quality and being obliged to her for the Effects of her Tenderness shown upon several Occasions I could not but acquit my self like a Cavalier to her whenever I could possible and which tho' I have a thousand times feigned great Business to prevent yet I could not always be ungrateful and when I paid her my Services 't was ever extreamly well received and because of her Quality and seting up for a second Marriage she always took care to make my Approaches to her in as conceal'd a manner as possible and only her Porter one Page and one Woman knew this secret Amour and for the better carrying it on I ever went in a Hackney-Coach least my Livery should be seen at her Gate And as it was my Custom at other times so I now sent the Porter whom by my Bounty and his Ladies was intirely my own Creature for the Page to come to me who immediately did and I desired him to let his Lady know I waited her Commands That was the Word He immediately brought me Answer that by good Fortune his Lady was all alone and infinitely wishing she knew where to send him for me and I immediately at that good News ran up to her Chamber where I was no sooner come but desiring me to sit she ordered her Porter to be call'd and gave him Orders upon pain of Life not to tell of my being in the House whatever Enquiry should be made after me and having given the same Command to her Page she dismiss'd 'em and came to me with all the Fear and Trembling imaginable Ah Monsieur cry'd she falling on my Neck we are undone I not imagining she had heard the News already cry'd Why is my Passion discovered Ah reply'd she in Tears I would to Heaven it were no worse would all the Earth had discovered that which I should esteem my Glory But 't is my charming Monsieur continued she Your Treasons and not Amour whose discovery will be so fatal to me At this I seemed amaz'd and beg'd her to let me understand her She told me what I have said before and moreover That the Council had that very Evening issued out Warrants for me and she admired how I escaped After a little Discourse of this kind I asked her what she would advise me to do for I was very well assured the violent hate the King had particularly for me would make him never consent I should live on any terms And therefore 't was determined I should not surrender my self and she resolved to run the risk of concealing me which in fine she did Three Days furnishing me with Money and Necessaries for my Flight In this time a Proclamation came forth and offered five hundred Crowns for my Head or to Seize me alive or dead This Sum so wrought with the slavish Minds of Men that no Art was left unessay'd to take me They searcht all Houses all Hackney-Coaches that pass'd by Night and did all that Avarice could inspire to take me but all in vain At last this glorious Sum so dazled the Mind of Madam the Countess's Porter that he went to a Captain of the Musquetiers and assured him if the King would give him the aforesaid Sum he would betray me and bring him the following Night to surprize me without any Resistance The Captain who thought if the Porter should have all the Sum he should get none and every one hoping to be the happy Man that should take me and win the Prize could not indure another should have the Glory of both and so never told the King of the Offer the Porter had made But however Secret one may imagine an Amour to be kept yet in so busie a place as Paris and the Apartments of the Court Coquets this of ours had been discoursed and the Intrigue more than suspected Whether this or the Captain before nam'd imagined to find me at the House of the Countess because her Porter had made such an Offer I say however it was the next Morning upon a Sunday the Guards broke into several Chambers and missing me had the Insolence to come to the Door of that of the Countess and she had only time to slip on her Night-Gown and running to the Door besought them to have Respect to her Sex and Quality while I started from my Bed which was the same from whence the Countess rose and not knowing where to hide or what to do concealing my Clothes between the Sheets I mounted from the Table to a great silver Sconce that was faâ—tened to the Wall by the Bed-side and form thence made but one Spring up to the Tester of the Bed which being one of those raised with strong wood-work and Japan I could easily do or rather it was by Miracle I did it and laid myself along on the top while my Back touched the Cieling of the Chamber by this time when no Intreaties could prevail they had burst open the Chamber Door and running directly to the Bed they could not believe their Eyes They saw no Person there but the plain print of two with the
weak alliance of Brother and Sister has render'd so criminal but he that adores Silvia shou'd do it at an uncommon rate 't is not enough to sacrifice a single heart to give you a simple Passion your Beauty shou'd like it self produce wondrous effects it shou'd force all obligations all laws all tyes even of Natures self You my lovely Maid were not born to be obtain'd by the dull methods of ordinary loving and 't is in vain to presâ—ribe me measures and oh much more in vain to urge the nearness of our Relation What Kin my charming Silvia are you to me No tyes of blood forbid my Passion and what 's a Ceremony impos'd on man by custome what is it to my Divine Silvia that the Priest took my hand and gave it to your Sister what Alliance can that create why shou'd a trick devis'd by the wary old only to make provision for posterity tye me to an eternal slavery No no my charming Maid t is nonsense all let us born for mightier joys scorn the dull beaten road but let us love like the first race of men nearest allied to God promiscuously they lov'd and possess'st Father and Daughter Brother and Sister met and reap'd the joys of Love without controul and counted it Religious coupling and 't was encourag'd too by Heav'n it self Therefore start not too nice and lovely Maid at shadows of things that can but frighten fools Put me not off with these delays rather say you but dissembl'd Love all this while than now 't is born to let it dy again with a poor fright of nonsense A fit of Honour a fantome imaginary and no more no no represent me to your soul more favourably think you see me languishing at your feet breathing out my last in sighs and kind reproaches on the pityless Silvia reflect when I am dead which will be the more afflicting object the Ghost as you are pleas'd to call it of your Murder'd Honour or the pale and bleeding one of The lost Philander I have liv'd a whole day and yet no Letter from my Silvia To Philander OH why will you make me own oh too importunate Philander with what regret I made you promise to preferr my Honour before your Love I confess with blushes which you might then see kindling in my face that I was not at all pleas'd with the Vows you made me to endeavour to obey me and I then even wisht you wou'd obstinately have deny'd obedience to my just commands have pursu'd your criminal flame and have left me raving on my undoing For when you were gone and I had leasure to look into my heart alas I â—ound whether you oblig'd or not whether Love or Honour were prefer'd I unhappy I was either way inevitably lost Oh what pityless God fond of his wondrous power made us the objects of his Almighty vanity oh why were we two made the first presidents of his new â—ound revenge for sure no Brother ever lov'd a Sister with so criminal a flame before At least my unexperienc'd innocence ne're met with so fatal a story And 't is in vain my too charming Brother to make me insensible of our Alliance to perswade me I am a stranger to all but your eyes and Soul Alas your fatally kind Industry is all in vain You grew up a Brother with me the title was fixt in my heart when I was too young to understand your subtle distinctions and there it thâ—iv'd and spread and 't is now too late to transplant it or alter its Native Property Who can graâ—t a flower on a contrary stalk The Rose will bear no Tulips nor the Hyacinth the Poppy no more will the Brother the name of Lover O spoil not the natural sweetness and innocence we now retain by an endeavour fruitless and destructive no no Philander dress your self in what Charms you will be powerfull as Love can make you in your soft argument yet oh yet you are my Brother still But why oh cruel and eternal Powers was not Philander my Lover before you destin'd him a Brother or why being a Brother did you malicious and spightful powers destinâ— him a Lover oh take either title from him or from me a life which can 〈…〉 since your cruel laws permit it not for Philander nor his to bless the now Unfortunate Silvia Wednesday Morning To Philander AFter I had dismist my Page this morning with my Letter I walk'd fill'd with sad soft thoughts of my Brother Philander into the Grove and commanding Mâ—linda to retire who only attended me I threw my self down on that bank of grass where we last disputed the dear but fatal business of our souls Where our prints that invited me still remain on the prest greens There with Ten Thousand sighs with remembrance of the tender minutes we past then I drew your last Letter from my Bosome and often kist and often read it over but oh who can conceive my Torment when I came to that fatal part of it where you say you gave your hand to my sister I found my soul agitated with a Thousand different passions but all insupportable all mad and raving sometimes I threw my self with fury on the ground and prest my panting heart to the cold earth then rise in rage and tear my hair and hardly spare that face that taught you first to love then fold my wretched Arms to keep down rising Sighs that almost rend my breast I traverse swiftly the conscious Grove with my distracteâ— show'ring eyes directed in vain to pityless Heaven the lovely â—ilent shade favouring my complaints I cry alowd oh God! Philander's Married the lovely charming thing for whom I languish is Married That fatal word 's enough I need not add to whom Married's enough to make me curse my Birth my Youth my Beauty and my eyes that first betray'd me to the undoing object Curse on the Charms you 've flatter'd for every fancy'd Grace has help'd my ruine on now like flowers that wither unseen and unpossest in shades they must dy and be no more they were to no end created since Philander's Married Married oh fate oh Hell oh torture and confusion tell me not 't is to my Sister that addition's needless and vain To make me eternally wretched there needs no more than that Philander's Married than that the Priest gave your hand away from me to another and not to me tir'd out with life I need no other pasport than this Repetition Philander's Married 't is that alone is sufficient to lay in her cold Tomb The wretched and despairing SILVIA Wednesday night Bellfonâ— To Silvia TWice last night oh unfaithful and unloving Silvia I sent my Page to the old place for Letters but he return'd the object of my rage because without the least remembrance from my fickle Maid In this Torment unable to hide my disorder I suffer'd my self to be laid in bed where the restless torments of the night exceeded those of the day and are not
it was prodigious to consider the unequal numbers and the advantage all on the Princes part it was miraculous to behold the order on his side and surprize on the other which of it self had been sufficient to have confounded them yet notwithstanding all this unpreparedness on this side and the watchfuluess and care on the other so well the General and Officers of the Royal Army managed their scanted Time so bravely disciplin'd and experienced the Souldiers were so resolute and brave and all so well mounted and armed that as I said to a Miracle they fought and 't was a Miracle they won the Field tho that fatal Night Cesario did in his own Person wonders and when his Horse was kill'd under him he took a Partizan and as a common Souldier at the head of his Foot acted the Hero with as much courage and bravery as ever Caesar himself could Boast Yet all this avail'd him nothing he saw himself abandoned on all sides and then under the Covert of the Night he retired from the Battle with his Sword in his hand with only one Page who fought by his side A thousand times he was about to fall on his own Sword and like Brutus have finish'd a life he could no longer sustain with Glory But Love that coward of the Mind and the Image of Divine Hermione as he esteemed her still gave him Love to life and while he could remember she yet lived to charm him he could even look with contempt on the loss of all his Glory at which if the repin'd it was for her sake who expected to behold him return cover'd o'er with Laurels in these sad thoughts he wandered as long as his wearied Legs would bear him into a low Forest far from the Camp where over-prest with Toil all over pain and a Royal Heart even breaking with Anxiety he laid him down under the shelter of a Tree and found but his length of Earth left to support him now who not many hours before beheld himself the greatest Monarch as he imagined in the World Oh who that had seen him thus which of his most mortal Enemies that had view'd the Royal Youth adorn'd with all the Charms of Beauty Heaven ever distributed to Man Born great and but now ador'd by all the crowding World with Hat and Knee now abandon by all but one kind trembling Boy weeping by his side while the Illustrious Hero lay Gazing with melancholy weeping Eyes at those Stars that had lately been so cruel to him Sighing out his great Soul to the Winds that whistled round his uncovered head breathing his Griefs as silently as the sad fatal Night past away Where nothing in nature seemed to pity him but the poor wretched Youth that kneeled by him and the sighing Air I say who that beheld this would not have scorn'd the World and all its fickle Worshipers have curst the Flatteries of vain Ambition and priz'd a Cottage far above a Throne a Garland wreath'd by some fair innocent hand before the restless Glories of a Crown Some Authors in the Relation of this Battle affirm That Philander quitted his Post as soon as the Charge was given and sheer'd off from that Wing he commanded but all Historians agree in this Point that if he did it was not for want of Courage for in a Thousand Incounters he has given sufficient proofs of as much Bravery as a Man can be capable of But he disliked the Cause disapproved of all their Pretenâ—ions and look'd upon the whole Affair and Proceeding to be most unjust and ungenerous And all the fault his greatest Enemies could charge him with was That he did not deal so gratefully with a Prince that loved him and trusted him and that he ought frankly to have told him he would not serve him in this Design and that it had been more Gallant to have quited him that way than this but there are so many Reasons to be given for this more Politick and safe Deceit than are needful in this place and 't is most certain as it is the most justifiable to Heaven and Man to one born a Subject of France and having Sworn Allegiance to his proper King to abandon any other Interest so let the Enemies of this great Man say what they please if a Man be oblig'd to be false to this or that Interest I think no body of common Honesty Sense and Honour will dispute which he ought to abandon and this is most certain that he did not forsake him because Fortune did so as this one Instance may make appear When Cesario was first Proclaimed King and had all the Reason in the World to believe that Fortune would have been wholly partial to him he offer'd Philander his choice of any Principality and Government in France and to have made him of the Order of Sanct Espréet all which he refused tho' he knew his great Fortune was lost and already distributed to Favourites at Court and himself Proscribed and Convicted as a Traytor to France Yet all these refusals did not open the Eyes of this credulous great young Man who still believed it the sullenness and Generosity of his Temper No sooner did the day discover to the World the horrid Business of the preceding Night but a diligent search was made among the infinite number of dead that covered the Face of the Earth for the Body of the Prince or New King as they called him But when they could not find him among the dead they sent out Parties all ways to search the Woods the Forests and the Plains nor was it long they sought in vain for he who had laid himself as I said under the shelter of a Tree had not for any consideration removed him but finding himself seiz'd by a common Hand suffered himself without Resistance to be detained by one single Man till more advanced when he could as easily have kill'd the Rustick as speak or move an Action so below the Character of this truly brave Man that there is no reason to be given to excuse this easie submission but this That he was Stupified with long Watching Grief and the Fatigues of his daily Toyl for so many Weeks before For 't is not to be imagin'd it was carelessness or little regard for Life for if it had been so he would doubtless have lost it Nobly with the Victory and never have retreated while there had been one Sword left advanced against him or if he had disdained the Enemy should have had the Advantage and Glory of so great a Conquest at least when his Sword had been yet left him he should have died like a Roman and have scorn'd to have added to the Triumph of the Enemy But Love had unman'd his great Soul and Hermione pleaded within for Life at any Price even that of all his Glory the thought of her alone blacken'd this last Scene of his Life and for which all his past Triumphs could never atone nor excuse Thus taken he
even by the languisher himself to be exprest but the returning light brought a short slumber on its Wings which was interrupted by my attoneing Boy who brought Two Letters from my adorable Silvia He wak'd me from Dreams more agreeable than all my watchful hours cou'd bring for they are all tortur'd And even the softest mixt with a Thousand despairs difficulties and disappointments but these were all love which gave a loose to joys undeny'd by Honour and this way my charming Silvia you shall be mine in spight of all the Tyrannies of that cruel hinderer Honour appears not my Silvia within the close drawn Curâ—ains in shades and gloomy light the fantôm frights not but when one beholds its blushes when it s attended and adorn'd and the Sun sees its false Beauties in silent Groves and grotto's dark Alcoves and lonely recesses all its formalities are laid aside 't was then and there methought my Silvia yielded with a faint struggle and a soft resistance I heard her broken sighs her tender whispering Voice that trembling cry'd Oh can you be so cruel Have you the heart Will you undo a Maid because she loves you Oh will you ruine me because you may My faithless My unkind then sigh't and yielded and made me happier than a Triumphing God! but this was still a Dream I wak'd and sigh't and found it vanish all But oh my Silvia your Letters were substantial pleasure and pardon your Adorer if he tell you even the disorder you express is infinitly dear to him since he knows it all the effects of Love Love my soul which you in vain oppose pursue it Dear and call it not undoing or else explain your fear tell me what your soft your trembling heart gives that cruel title to is it undoing to Love and love the Man you say has Youth and Beauty to justifie that Love a man that adores you with so submissive and perfect a resignation a man that did not only Love first but is resolv'd to dy in that agreeable flame in my Creation I was form'd for Love and destin'd for my Silvia and she for her Philander And shall we can we disappoint our Fate no my soft Charmer our souls were toucht with the same shafts of Love before they laid a being in our Bodies and can we contradict Divine Decrees Or is 't undoing Dear to bless Philander with what you must some time or other sacrifice to some hated loath'd object for Silvia can never love again and are those Treasures for the dull conjugal Lover to rifle was the beauty of Divine shape created for the cold Matrimonial imbrace and shall the eternal joys that Silvia can dispence be return'd by the clumsey Husband 's careless forc'd insipid duty 's oh my Silvia shall a Husband whose insensibility will call those Raptures of joy those Heavenly Blisses the drudgery of life shall he I say receive ' em While your Philander with the very thought of the excess of pleasure the least possession wou'd afford saints o're the Paper that brings you here his eternal Vows Oh where my Silvia ly's the undoing then my Quality and Fortune are of the highest rank amongst men My Youth gay and fond my Soul all soft all Love and all Silvia's I adore her I languish for her I am sick of Love and sick of Life till she yields she is all mine You say my Silvia I am Married and there my happyness is Shipwreck'd but Silvia I deny it and will not have you think it no my Soul was Married to yours in its first Creation and only Silvia is the Wife of my sacred my everlasting Vows of my solemn considerate thought of my ripen'd Judgment my mature considerations The rest are all repented and forgot like the hasty folly 's of unsteady Youth like Vows breath'd in Anger and dy Perjur'd as soon as vented and unregarded either of Heav'n or Man Oh why shou'd my Soul suffer for ever why eternal pain for the unheedy short-liv'd sin of my unwilling Lips besides this fatal thing call'd Wife this unlucky Sister this Mertilla this stop to all my Heav'n that breeds such breeds such fatal differences in our 〈◊〉 Affairs this Mertilla I say first broke her Marriage Vows to me I blame her not norâ— is it reasonable I shou'd she saw the young Cesario and Lov'd him Cesario whom the envying World in spight of prejudice must own has unresistable Charms that Godlike form that sweetness in his face that softness in his Eyes and delicate Mouth and every Beauty besides that Women 〈…〉 and Men envy That lovely composition of Man and Angel with the addition of his eternal Youth and Illustrious Birth was form'd By Heav'n and Nature for universal Conquest and who can love the charming Hero at a cheaper rate than being undone And she that wou'd not venture Fame Honour and a Marriage Vow for the Glory of the young Cesario's heart merits not the noble Victim oh wou'd I cou'd say so much for the young Philander who wou'd run a Thousand times more hazards of life and Fortune for the Adorable Silvia than that amorous Hero ever did for Mertilla though from that Prince I learn't some of my disguises for my thefts of Love for he like Iove courted in several shapes I saw 'em all and suffer'd the delusion to pass upon me for I had seen the lovely Silvia yes I had seen her and I lov'd her too But Honour kept me yet Master of my Vows but when I knew her false when I was once confirm'd When by my own Soul I found the dissembl'd Passion of â—er's when she cou'd no longer hide the blushes or the paleness that seiz'd at the approaches of my disorder'd â—ival when I saw Love dancing in her eyes and her false heart beat with nimble motions and soft trembling seize every 〈◊〉 at the approach or touch of the Royal Lover then I thought my self no longer oblig'd to conceal my flame for Silvia nay e're I broke silence e're I discover'd the hidden Treasure of my heart I made her falshood plaineâ— yet Even the time and place of the deaâ— assignations I discover'd certainty happy certainty broke the dull heavy chain and I with joy submitted to my shameful freedome and caress'd my generous Rival nay and by Heav'n I lov'd him for 't pleas'd at the resemblance of our Souls for we were secret Lovers both but more pleas'd that he Lov'd Mertilla for that made way to my passion for the adorable Silvia Let the dull hot-brain'd jealous fool upbraid me with cold Patience Let the fond Coxcomb whose Honour depends on the frail Marriage Vow reproach me or tell me that my Reputation depends on the feeble constanâ—y of â— Wife perswade me 't is Honour to fight for 〈◊〉 and unvalâ—â—'d Prize and that because my Rival has taken leave to Cucâ—old me I shall give him leave to kill me too Unreasonable nonsense grown to custome No by Heav'n I had rather 〈◊〉 shou'd be false as she
Sir for Heavens sake sweetning my voice as much as possible consider I 'm a Maid and would not be discover'd for the world Who can discover us reply'd my Lover what I take from thee shall never be mist not by Alexis himself upon the Wedding Night Come Sweet Child come With that I pull'd back and whisper'd Heavens would you make a Mistress of me Says he A Mistress what wouldst thou be a Cherubin Then I reply'd as before I am no Whore Sir No crys he but I can quickly make thee one I have my Tools about me Sweet-heart therefore let 's lose no time but fall to work this last raillery from the brisk old Gentleman had in spight of resolution almost made me burst out into loud Laughten when he took more gravity upon him and cry'd Come come Melinda why all this foolish argument at this hour in this place and after so much serious Courtship believe me I 'l be kind to thee for ever with that he clapt fifty Guinnies in a Purse into one hand and something else that shall be nameless into the other presents that had both been worth Melinda's acceptance All this while was I studying an evasion at last to shorten my pleasant adventure looking round I cry'd softly are you sure Sir we are safe For Heavens sake step towards the Garden door and see for I would not be discover'd for the world Nor I cry'd he But do not fear all 's safe However see whisper'd I that my fear may not disturb your joys With that he went toward the House and I slipping into the Grove got immediately into the Meadow where Alexis waited my coming with Brilljard so I left the expecting Lover I suppose ranging the Grove for his fled Nimph and I doubt will fall heavy on poor Melinda who shall have the Guinneys either to restore or keep as she and the angry Count can agree I leave the management of it to her wit and conduct This account I thought necessary to give my Charmer that she might prepare Melinda for the assault who understanding all that passed between us may so dispose of matters that no discovery may happen by mistake and I know my Silvia and she can find a thousand excuses for the suppos'd Melinda's flight But my Adorable Maid my business here was not to give an account of my Adventure only nor of my ravings but to tell my Silvia on what my life depends which is in a permission to wait on her again this insuing night make no excuse for if you do by all I adore in Heaven and Earth I 'll end my life here where I receiv'd it I 'll say no more nor give your Love instructions but wait impatiently here the Life or Death of your LYSANDER 'T is Six a Clock and yet my eys have not clos'd themselves to sleep Alexis and Brilljard give me hopes of a kind return to this and have brought their Plâ—te and Violin to charm me into a slumber If Silvia love as I am sure she docs she 'll wake me with a dear consent to see me if not I only wake to sleep for ever To my fair Charmer WHen I had seal'd the inclos'd my Page whom I had order'd to come to me with an account of any business extraordinary is this Morning arriv'd with a Letter from Cesario which I have sent here inclos'd that my Silvia may see how little I regard the world or the mighty revolution in hand when set in competition with the least hope of beholding her adorable face or hearing her Charming Tongue when it whispers the soft dictates of her tender heart into my ravish'd soul one moments joy like that surmounts an age of dull Empire No let the busy unregarded Rout perish the Cause fall or stand alone for me Give me but Love Love and my Silvia I ask no more of Heaven to which vast joy could you but imagine Oh wondrous Miracle of Beauty how poor and little I esteem the valued trifles of the world you would in return contemn your part of it and live with me in silent Shades for ever Oh! Silvia what hast thou this night to add to the Soul of thy PHILANDER To the Count of I 'Le allow you my Dear to be very fond of so much Beauty as the world must own adorns the Lovely Silvia I 'll permit Love too to Rival me in your heart but not out-rival Glory hast then my Dear to the advance of that make no delay but with the Mornings dawne let me find you in my Arms where I have something that will surprize you to relate to you You were last night expected at It behoves you to give no Umbrage to Persons who 's Interest renders 'em enough jealous We have two new Advancers come in of Youth and Money teach 'em not negligence be careful and let nothing hinder you from taking Horse immediately as you value the repose and fortune of My Dear Your CESARIO I call'd last night on you and your Page following me to my Coach whisper'd me if I had any earnest business with you he knew where to find you I soon imagin'd where and bid him call within an hour for this and post with it immediately though dark To Philander AH what have I done Philander and where shall I hide my guilty blushing face Thou hast undone my eternal quiet Oh thou hast ruin'd my everlasting repose and I must never never look abroad again Curse on my face that first debauch'd my Vertue and taught thee how to Love Curse on my tempting youth my shape my Air my Eyes my Voice my Hands and every charm that did contribute to my fatal love a lasting Curse on all But those of the adorable Philander and those even in this raging Minute my furious passion dares not approach with an indecent thought No they are sacred all Madness it self would spare 'em and shouldst thou now behold me as I sit my Hair dishevel'd Ruffl'd and disorder'd my Eyes bedewing every word I write when for each Letter I let fall a tear then prest with thought starting I dropt my Pen and fall to rave a new and tear those Garments whose loose negligence help'd to betray me to my shameful ruine wounding my breast but want the resolution to wound it as I ought which when I but propose Love stays the thought raging and wild as 't is the Conqueror checks it with whispering only Philander to my soul the dear Name calmes me to an easiness gives me the Pen into my trembling hand and I pursue my silent soft complaint Oh! shouldst thou see me thus in all these sudden different change of Passions thou wouldst say Philander I were mad indeed Madness it self can find no stranger motions And I would calmly ask thee for I am calm again how comes it my adorable Philander that thou canst possess a Maid with so much Madness who art thy self a miracle of softness all sweet and all serene the most of Angel
vein and tells my heart what 't is Philander ailes when he falls sighing on my Bosom oh then I fear I answer every look and every sigh and touch in the same silent but intelligible Language and understood I fear to well by thee 'Till now I never fear'd Love as a Criminal Oh tell me not mistaken Foolish Maids true Love is innocent ye cold ye dull ye unconsidering Lovers though I have often heard it from the Grave and Wise and preacht my self that Doctrine I now renounce it all 't is false by Heaven 't is false for now I Love and know it all a fiction yes and love so as never any Woman can equal me in Love my soul being all compos'd as I have often said of softer Materials Nor is it fancy sets my Rates on Beauty there 's an intrinsick value in thy Charms which surely none but I am able to understand and to those that view thee not with my judging Eyes ugliness facy'd wou'd appear the same and please as well If all could love or judge like me why does Philander pass so unregarded by a thousand Women who never sigh'd for him What makes Mertilla who possesses all looks on thee feels thy Kisses hears thee speak and yet wants sense to know how blest she is 't is want of judgment all and how and how can she that judges ill Love well Granting my passion equal to its object you must allow it infinite and more in me than any other Woman by how much more my Soul is compos'd of tenderness and yet I say I own for I may own it now Heaven and you are Witness of my shame I own with all this love with all this passion so vast so true and so unchangeable that I have Wishes new unwonted Wishes at every thought of thee I find a strange disorder in my blood that pants and burns in every Vein and makes me blush and sigh and grow impatient asham'd and angry but when I know it the effects of Love I 'm reconcil'd and wish and sigh anew but when I sit and Gaze upon thy Eyes thy Languishing thy Lovely dying Eyes play with thy soft white hand and lay my glowing Cheek to thine Oh God! What Language can express my transport all that is tender all that is soft desire seizes every trembling Limb and 't is with pain conceal'd Yes yes Philander 't is the fatal truth since thou hast found it I confess it too and yet I love thee dearly long long it was that I essay'd to hide the guilty flame if Love be guilt for I confess I did dissemble a coldness which I was not Mistress of there lyes a Womans Art there all her boasted Vertue it is but well dissembling and no more But mine alas is gone for over fled this this feable guard that should secure my Honour thou hast betray'd and left it quite defenceless Ah what 's a Womans Honour when 't is so poorly guarded No wonder that you conquer with such ease when we are only safe by the mean arts of base dissimulation an ill as shameful as that to which we fall Oh silly refuge What foolish nonsence fond custom can perswade yet so it is and she that breaks her Laws losâ—â— her fame her honour and esteem Oh Heavens how quickly lost it is Give me ye Powers my fame and let me be a fool let me retain my vertue and my Honour and be a dull insensible But Oh where is it I have lost it all 't is irrecoverably lost yes yes ye charming perjur'd man 't is gone and thou hast quite undone me What though I lay extended on my Bed undrest unapprehensive of my fate my Bosom loose and easie of excess my Garments ready thin and wantonly put on as if they would with little force submit to the fond straying hand What then Philander must you take the advantage Must you be perjur'd because I was tempting 'T is true I let you in by stealth by night whose silent darkness favour'd your Treachery but Oh Philander were not your Vows as binding by a glimmering Taper as if the Sun with all his Awful light had been a looker on I urg'd your Vows as you prest on But Oh I fear it was in such a way so faintly and so feebly I upbraided you as did but more advance your perjuries Your strenght encreas'd but mine alas declin'd till I quite fainted in your Arms left you triumphant Lord of all No more my faint denials do perswade no more my trembling hands resist your force unguarded lay the treasure which you toil'd for betray'd and yielded to the Lovely Conqueror But Oh tormenting When you saw the store and found the Prise no richer with what contempt yes false dear man with what contempt you view'd the â—nvalu'd Trophy What! despis'd was all you call a Heaven of Joy and Beauty expos'd to view and then neglected Were all your Prayers heard your wishes granted and your toiles rewarded the trembling Victim ready for the sacrifice and did you want Devotion to perform it and did you thus receive the expected blessing Oh By Heaven I 'll never see the more and 't will be charity to thee for thou hast no excuse in store that can convince my opinion that I am hated loath'd I cannot bear that thought Or if I do it shall only serve to fortify my fixt resolve never to see thee more And yet I long to hear thy false excuse let it be quickly then 't is my disdain invites thee To strengthen which there needs no more than that you let me hear thy poor defence But 't is a tedious time to that flow hour wherein I dare permit thee but hope not to incline my soul to love No I 'm yet safe if I can stop but here but here be wise resolve and be my self SILVIA To Philander AS my Page was coming with the inclos'd he met Alexis at the gate with yours and who would not depart without an answer to it to go or stay is the Question Ah Philander why do you press a heart too ready to yield to Love and you alas I fear you guess too well my answer and your own Soul might save me the blushing trouble of a reply I am plung'd in past hope of a retreat and since my fate has pointed me out for ruine I cannot fall more gloriously Take then Philander to your dear Arms a Maid that can no longer resist who is disarm'd of all defensive power She yields she yields and does confess it too and sure she must be more than mortal that can hold out against thy charms and vows Since I must be undone and give all away I 'll do it generously and scorn all mean reserves I will be brave in Love and lavish all nor shall Philander think I Love him well unless I do Take charming Victor then what your own merits and what Love has give you take take at last the dear reward of all your sighs and
tears your vows and sufferings But since Philander 't is an Age to night and till the approach of those dear silent hours thou knowst I dare not give thee admittance I do conjure thee go to Cesario whom I find too pressing not to believe the concerns great and so jealous I am of thy dear safety that every thing alarms my fears oh satisfie 'em then and go 't is early yet and if you take horse immediately you will be there by eight this morning go I conjure you for though 't is an unspeakable satisfaction to know you are so near me yet I prefer your safety and honour to all considerations else You may soon dispatch your affairs and render your self time enough on the place appointed which is where you last night waited and 't will be at least eight at night before 't is possible to bring you to my arms Come in your Chariot and do not heat your self with riding have a care of me and my life in the preservation of all I love Be sure you go and do not my Philander out of a punctilio of Love neglect your dear safety Go then Philander and all the Gods of Love preserve and attend thee on thy way and bring thee safely back to Silvia To Silviaâ— OH thou most charming of the Sex thou lovely dear delight of my transported Soul thou everlasting treasure of my heart what hast thou done given me an over joy that fails but very little of performing what griefs excess had almost finish'd before Eternal blessings on thee for a goodness so divine Oh thou most excellent and dearest of thy sex I know not what to do or what to say I am not what I was I do not speak nor walk nor think as I was wont to do sure the excess of joy is far above dull sense or formal thinking it cannot stay for ceremonious method I rave with pleasure rage with the dear thought of coming exâ—asie Oh Silvia Silvia Silvia my soul my vital bloud and without which I could as well subsist Oh my adorable my Silvia methinks I press thee kiss thee hear thee sigh behold thy eyes and all the wondrous beauty of thy face a solemn joy has spread it self through every vein through every sensible artery of my heart and I can think of nothing but of Silvia the lovely Silvia the blooming flowing Silvia and shall I see thee shall I touch thy hands and press thy dear thy charming body in my arms and taste a Thousand joys a thousand ravishments oh God! shall I oh Silvia say but thou hast said enough to make me mad and I forgetting of thy safety and my own shall bring thy wild adoring slave to Bellfont and throw him at thy feet to pay his humble gratitude for this great condescention this vast bounty Ah Silvia how shall I live till night and you impose too cruelly upon me in conjuring me to go to Cesario alas does Silvia know to what she exposes her Philander whose joy is so transporting great that when he comes into the grave Cabal he must betray the story of his heart and in lieu of the mighty business there in hand be raving still on Silvia telling his joy to all the amazed listeners and answering questions that concern our great affair with something of my love all which will pass for madness and undoe me no give me leave to rave in silence and unseen among the trees they 'll humour my disease answer my murmuring joy and Echo's flatter it repeat thy name repeat that Silvia's mine and never hurt her fame while the Cabals business and noisie Town will add confusion to my present transport and make me mad indeed no let me alone thou sacred lovely creature let me be calm and quiet here and tell all the insensibles I meet in the woods what Silvia has this happy minute destin'd me Oh let me record it on every bark on every Oak and Beech that all the world may wonder at my fortune and bless the generous maid let it grow up to Ages that shall come that they may know the story of our loves and how a happy youth they call'd Philander was once so blest by Heaven as to possess the charming the ador'd and lov'd by all the glorious Silvia a Maid the most divine that ever grac'd a story and when the Nymphs would look for an example of love and constancy let them point out Philander to their doubted Swains and cry ah love but as the young Philander did and then be fortunate and then reap all your wishes and when the Shepherd would upbraid his Nymph let him but cry see here what Silvia did to save the young Philander but oh there never will be such another Nymph as Silvia Heaven form'd but one to shew the world what Angels are and she was form'd for me yes she was in whom I wou'd not quit my glorious interest to reign a monarch here or any bosted gilded thing above take all take all ye Gods and give me but this happy coming night Oh Silvia Silvia by all thy promis'd joys I am undone if any accident should ravish this night form me this night no not for a leaâ—e of years to all eternity would I throw thee away Oh! I am all flame all joyfull fire and softness methinks 't is Heaven wheree'er I look around me air where I tread and ravishing Musick when I speak because 't is all of Silvia let me alone oh let me cool a little or I shall by a too excess of joyfull thought lose all my hop'd for bliss Remove a little from me go my Silvia you 're so excessive sweet so wondrous dazling you press my senses even to pain away let me take air let me recover breath oh let me lay me down beneath some cooling shade near some refreshing crystal murmuring spring and fan the gentle air about me I suffocate I faint with this close loving I must allay my joy or be undone I 'll read thy cruel Letters or I 'll think of some sad melancholy hour wherein thou hast dismiss'd me desparing from thy presence or while you press me now to be gone with so much earnestness you have some Lover to receive and entertain perhaps 't is only for the vanity to hear him tell his nauseous passion to you breath on your lovely face and daub your Garments with his fulsome imbrace but oh by Heaven I cannot think that though and thou hast sworn thou canst not suffer it if I shou'd find thee false but 't is impossible oh shou'd I find Foscario visit thee him whom thy Parents favour I shou'd undo you all by Heaven I shou'd but thou hast sworn what need Philander more yes Silvia thou hast sworn and call'd Heaven's vengeance down whene'er thou gavest a look or a dear smile in love to that pretending Fop yet from his mighty fortune there is danger in him what makes that thought torment me now begon for Silvia loves me
awe I shall receive it as I wou'd the sentence of the Gods and which I will no more resist than I wou'd the Thunderbolts of Iove or the revenge of angry Iuno For Madam my immense passion knows no medium between life and death and as I never had the presumption to aspire to the glory of the first I am not so abject as to fear I am wholly depriv'd of the glory of the last I have too long lain convicted extend your mercy and put me now out of pain You have often wreck'd me to confess my Promethian siâ— spaâ—e the cruel Vâ—lture of despair take him from my heart in pity and either by killing wordâ— or blasting Lightning from those refulgent eyes Pronounce the death of Madam Your admirng slave Foscariâ— To Silvia My everlasting Charmer I Am convinc'd and pleas'd my fears are vanish't and a Heaven of solid joy is open'd to my view and I have nothing now in prospect but Angel-brightness glittering Youth dazling Beauty charming Sounds and ravishing Touches and all around me ecstasies of pleasure unconceivable transports without conclusion Mahomet never fansied such a Heaven not all his Paradise promis'd such lasting felicity or ever provided there the recompense of such a Maid as Silvia such a bewitching Form such soft such glorious Eyes where the Soul speaks and dances and betrays Loves-secrets in every killing glance a Face where every motion every feature sweetly languishes a Neck all-tempting and her lovely Breast inviting presses from the eager Lips such Hands such clasping Arms so white so soft and slender no nor one of all his Heavenly enjoyments though promis'd years of fainting in one continued cestasie can make one moments joy with Charming Silvia Oh I am wrap't with bare imagination with much a vaster pleasure than any other dull appointment can dispence Oh thou blessing sent from Heaven to ease my toâ—ls of life thou sacred dear delight of my fond doating heart oh whither wilt thou lead me to what vast heights of Love into extremes as â—atal and as dangerous as those excesses were that rendred me so cold in your opinion Oh Silvia Silvia have a care of me manage my o'rejoy'd Soul and all its eager passions chide my fond heart be angry if I faint upon thy Bosom and do not with thy tender voice recall me a voice that kills outright and calls my fleeting Soul out of its habitation lay not such charming Lips to my cold Cheeks but let me lie extended at thy feet untouch'd unsigh't upon unpress'd with kisses Oh change those tender trembling words of Love into rough sounds and noises unconcern'd and when you see me dying do not call my Soul to mingle with thy sighs yet shoud'st thou bate one word one look or tear by Heaven I shou'd be mad oh never let me live to see declension in thy love no no my Charmer I cannot bear the least suppos'd decay in those dear fondnesses of thine and sure none e're became a Maid so well nor ever were receiv'd with adorations like to mine Pardon my adorable Silvia the rashness of my passion in this rancounter with Foscario I am satisfied he is too unhappy in your disfavour to merit the being so in mine but 't was â—ufficient I then saw a joy in his face a pleas'd gayety in his looks to make me think my rage reasonable and my quarrel just by the style he writes I dread his Sense less than his Person but you my lovely Maid have said enough to quit me of my sears for both the night comes on I cannot call it envious though it rob me of the light that shou'd assist me to finish this since it will more gloriously repay me in a happier place come on then thou blest retreat of Lovers I forgive thy interruptions here since thou wilt conduct to the Arms of Silvia the adoring Philander If you have any commands for me this Weeder of the Gardens whom I met going in thither will bring it back I wait in the Meadow and date this from the dear Primrose bank where 〈◊〉 have sat with Silvia To Philander After the happy Night 'T IS done yes Philander 't is done and after that what will not Love and grief oblige me to own to you Oh by what insensible degrees a Maid in love may arrive to say any thing to her Lover without blushing I have known the time the blest innocent time when but to think I lov'd Philander wou'd have cover'd my face with shame and to have spoke it wou'd have fill'd me with confusion have made me Tremble Blush and bend my guilty Eyes to Earth not daring to behold my Charming Conquerour while I made that bashfull confession though now I am grown bold in Love and I have known the time when being at Court and coming from the Presence being offer'd some officious hand to lead me to my Coach I have shrunk back with my aversion to your Sex and have conceal'd my hands in my Pockets to prevent their being touch'd a kiss wou'd turn my stomack and amorous looks though they wou'd make me vain gave me a hate to him that sent 'em and never any Mid resolv'd so much as I to tread the paths of honour and I had many precedents before me to make me carefull Thus I was armed with resolution pride and scorn against all Mankind but alas I made no defence against a Brother but innocently lay expos'd to all his attacks of Love and never thought it criminal till it kindled a new desire about me Oh that I shou'd not dy with shame to own it yeâ— see I say how from one soft degree to another I do not only confess the shamefull truth but act it too what with a Brother Oh Heavens a crime so monstrous and so new but by all thy Love by those surprising joys so lately experience'd I never will no no I never can repent it Oh incorrigible passion oh hardned love at least I might have some remorse some sighing after my poor departed honour but why shou'd I dissemble with the Powers divine that know the secrets of a Soul doom'd to eternal Love Yet I am mad I rave and tear my self traverse my guilty chamber in a disorder'd but a soft confusion and often opening the conscious curtains survey the print where thou and I were last night laid surveying it with a thousand tender sighs and kiss and press thy dear forsaken side imagin over all our solemn joys every dear transport all our ravishing repeated blisses then almost fainting languishing cry Philander oh my charming little God! then lay me down in the dear place you press'd still warm and fragrant with the sweet remains that thou hast left behind thee on the Pillow oh my Soul's joy my dear eternal pleasure what softness hast thou added to my heart within a few short hours but oh Philander if as l 've oft been told possession which makes Women fond and doting shou'd make thee cold and grow
and a thousand more were all the same to such a dull insensible no Silvia when you find I can return back to the once lâ—ft matrimonial 〈◊〉 despise me scorn me swear as then thou justly may'st I love not Silvia Let the hot brute drudge on he who is â—â—r'd by Nature not by Love whom any bodies kisses can inspire and â—ase the necessary heats of youth Love's is a nobler fire which nothing can allay but the dear she that rais'd it no no my purer stream shall ne're run back to the fountain whence 't is parâ—ed nay it cannot it were as possible to love again where one has ceas'd to love as carry the desire and wishes back by Heaven to me there 's nothing so unnatural no Silvia it is 〈◊〉 I must possess you have completed my undoing now and I must dy unless you give me all but oh I am going from thee when are we like to meet oh how shall I support my absent hours thought will destroy me for 't will be all on thee and those at such a distance will be insupportable what shall I do without thee if after all the toils of dull insipid life I cou'd return and lay me down by thee Herculean labours wou'd be soft and easie the harsh fatigues of war the dangerous hurries of affairs of state the business and the noise of life I cou'd support with pleasure with wondrous satisfaction cou'd treat Mertilla too with that respect that generous care as wou'd become a Husband I cou'd be easie every where and every one shou'd be at ease with me now I shall go and find no Silvia there but sigh and wander like an unknown thing on some strange foreign shore I shall grow peevish as a new â—wean'd child no toys no bauble of the gaudy world will please my wayward fancy I shall be out of humour rail at every thing in anger shall demand and sullenly reply to every question ask'd and answer'd and when I think to â—ase my Soul by a retreat a Thousand soft desires a Thousand wishes wreck me pain me to raving till beating the senseless floor with my feet I cry aloud my Silvia thus thus my charming dear the poor Philander is employ'd when banish'd from his Heaven if thus it us'd to be when only that bright outside was ador'd judge now my pain now thou hast made known a thousand graces more oh pity me for 't is not in thy power to guess what I shall now endure in absence of thee for thou hast charm'd my Soul to an excess too mighty for a patient suffering Alas I dy already I am yet at Dorillus his Farm lingring on from one swift minute to the other and have not power to go a thousand looks all languishing I 've cast from eyes all drown'd in tears towards Bellfont have sight a thousand wishes to my Angel from a sad breaking heart Love will not let me go and Honour calls me alas I must away when shall we meet again ah when my Silvia oh charming Maid thou'lt see me shortly dead for thus I cannot live thou must be mine or I must be no more I must away farewell may all the softest joys of Heaven attend thee adieu fail not to send a hundred times a day if possible I 've order'd Alexis to do nothing but wait for all that comes and post away with what thou send'st to me again adieu think on me and till thou call'st me to thee imagin nothing upon earth so wretched as Silvia's own Know my Angel that passing through the Garden this Mâ—rning I met Erasâ—o I 〈◊〉 he saw me 〈◊〉 enough to know me and wiâ—l give an acâ—ount of iâ— let me know what happens adieu half dead juâ—t ta king â—orse to go from Silvia Philander To Philander Written in a Leaf of a Table-book I Have only time to say on Thursday I am destin'd a Sacrifice to Foscario which day finishes the life of Silvia To Silvia From Dorillus his Farm RAving and mad at the News your Billet brought me I without considering the effects that wou'd follow am arriv'd at Bellfont I have yet so much patience about me to suffer my self to be conceal'd at Dorillus his Cottage but if I see thee not to night or find no hopes of it by Heaven I 'll set Bellfont all in a flame but I will have my Silvia be sure I 'll do 't What to be married Silvia to be married and given from Philander Oh never think it thou forsworn fair Creature What give Foscario that dear charming Body shall he be grasp'd in those dear naked Arms taste all thy kisses press thy snowy Breasts command thy joys and rifle all thy Heaven Furies and Hell environ me if he do Oh Silvia faithless perjur'd charming Silvia and can'st thou suffer it hear me thou fickle Angel hear my vows oh faithless Ravisher that fatal moment that the daring Priest offers to join your hands and give thee from me I 'll sacrifice your Lover by Heaven I will before the Altar stab him at your feet the holy place nor the numbers that attend ye nor all your prayers nor tears shall save his heart look to 't and be not false yet I 'll not trust thy Faith no she that can think but falsely and she that can so easily be perjur'd for but to suffer it is such a sin such an undoing sin that thou art surely damn'd and yet by Heaven that is not all the ruin shall attend thee no lovely Mischief no you shall not scape till the damnation-day for I will rack thee torture thee and plague thee those few hours I have to live if spightfull Fate prevent my just revenge upon Foscario and when I 'm dead as I shall quickly be kill'd by thy cruelty know thou fair Murtherer I will haunt thy sight be ever with thee and surround thy bed and fright thee from the Ravisher fright all thy loose delights and check thy joys Oh I am mad I cannot think that thought no thou shalt never advance so far in wickedness I 'll save thee if I can Oh my adorable why dost thou torture me how hast thou sworn so often and so loud that Heaven I am sure has heard thee and will punish thee how did'st thou swear that happy blessed night in which I saw thee last clasp'd in my arms weeping with eager love with melting softness on my bosome remember how thou swor'st oh that dear night let me recover strength and then I 'll tell thee more I must repeat the story of that night which thou perhaps oh faithless hast forgot that glorious night when all the Heavens were gay and every favouring power look'd down and smil'd upon our thefâ—s of love that gloomy night the first of all my joys the blessed'st of my life trembling and â—ainting I approachâ— your chambâ—r and while you met and grasp'd me at the door taking my trembling body in your arms remember â—ow I fainted at your feet and what
dear safety which will be as soon as I am able to rise for most fortunately my dear Silvia quitting the Chariot in the thicket for fear of being seen with it and walking down a shaded path that sâ—â—ted with the melancholy and 〈◊〉 of unsuccess in thy adventure I went so far as e're I cou'd return to the place where I left the Chariot 't was gone iâ— seems with thee I know not how you mist me but possess'd my self with a Thousand false fears sometimes that in thy flight thou mightest be puâ—sued and overtakâ—â— seiz'd in the Chariot and return'd back to Bellfont or that the Chariot was found and seiz'd on upon suspicion though the Coach-man and Brilljard were disguis'd pâ—st knowledge or if thou wert gone alas I knew not whither but that was a thought my doubts and fears would not suâ—â—er me to ease my Soul with no I as jealous lovers do imagin'd the most tormenting things for my own repose I imagin'd the Chariot taken or at least so discover'd as to be forc'd away without thee I imagin'd that thou wert false Heaven forgive me false my Silvia and hadst chang'd thy mind mad with this thought which I fansied most reasonable and fixt it in my soul I rav'd about the Wood making a thousand vows to be reveng'd on all in order to it I left the Thicket and betook my self to the high road of the Wood where I laid me down amongst the fern close hid with my Sword ready waiting for the happy Bridegroom whom I knew it being the wedding eve wou'd that way pass that Evening pleas'd with revenge which now had got â—ven the place of love I waited there not above a little hour but heard the trampling of a horse and looking up with mighty joy I found it Foscario's alone he was and unâ—ttended for he 'd ouâ—strip'd his equipage and with a lover's haste and full of joy was making towards Bellfont but I now fir'd with rage leap'd from my covert cried stay Foscario e're you arrive to Silvia we must adjust an odd account between us at which he stopping as nimbly alighted in fine we â—ought and many wounds were given and received on both sides till his people coming up parted us just as we were fainting with loss of blood in each others arms his Coach and Chariot were amongst his equipage into the first his Servants liâ—â—ed him when he cried out with a feeble voice to have me who now lay bleeding on the ground put into the Chariot and to be safely convey'd where ever I commanded and so in haste they drove him towards Bellfont and me who was resolv'd not to stir far from it to the Village within a mile of it from whence I sent to Paris for a Surgeon and dismist the Chariot ordering in the hearing of the Coachman a Litter to be brought me immediately to convey me that night to Paris but the Surgâ—on coming found it not safe for me to be removed and I am now willing to live since Silvia is mine haste to me then my lovely Maid and fear not being discover'd for I have given order here in the Cabaret where I am if any enquiry is made after me to say I went last night for Paris Haste my love haste to my arms as feeble as they are they 'll grasp thee a dear wellcome I 'll say no more nor prescribe rules to thy love that can inform thee best what thou must do to save thâ— life of thy most passionate adorer Philander To Philander I Have sent Brilljard to see if the Coast be clear that we may come with safety he brings you instead of Silvia a young Cavalier that will be altogether as wellcome to Philander and who impatiently waits his return at a little Cottage at the end of the Village To Silvia From the Bastill I Know my Silvia expected me at home with her at dinner to day and wonders how I cou'd live so long as since morning without the eternal joy of my Soul but know my Silvia that a trivial misfortune is now fallen upon me which in the midst of all our Heaven of joys our softest hours of life has so often chang'd thy smiles into fears and sighings and ruffled thy calm Soul with cares Nor let it now seem strange or afflicting since every day for this three months we have been alarm'd with new fears that have made thee uneasie even in Philander's arms we knew some time or other the storm wou'd fall on us though we had for three happy months sheltred our selves from its threatning rage but Love I hope has arm'd us both for me let me be depriv'd of all joys but those my charmer can dispence all the false worlds respect the dull esteem of Fools and formal Coxcombs the grave advice of the censorious wise the kind opinion of ill judging Women no matter so my Silvia remain but mine I am my Silvia arrested at the suit of Monsiâ—ur the Count your Father for a Rape on my lovely Maid I desire my Soul you 〈◊〉 immediately take Coach and go to the Prince Ceâ—ario and he will bail me out I fear not a fair trial and Silvia thefts of mutual love were never counted Felony I may dy for Love my Silvia but not for loving go haste my Silvia that I may be no longer detain'd from the solid pleasure and business of my Soul haste my lov'd deaâ— haste and relieve Come not to me lest there should be an order to detain my dear Philander To Philander I Am not at all surpriz'd my Philander at the accident that has befallen thee because so long expected and love and that has so well fortified my heart that I support our misfortune with a courage worthy of her that loves and is belov'd by the glorious Philander I am arm'd for the worst that can befall me and that is my being rendâ—ed a publick shame who havâ— been so in the private whispers of all the Court for near these happy three months in which I have had the wondrous satisfaction of being retir'd from the World with the charming Philander my Father too knew it long since at least he cou'd not hinder himself from guessing it though his fond indulgence suffer'd his Justice and his anger to sleep and possibly had still slept had not Mertilla's spight and rage I shou'd say just resentment but I cannot rouz'd up his drowsie vengeance I know she has ply'd him with her softning eloquence her prayers and tears to win him to consent to make a publick business of it but I am entred love has arm'd my Soul and I 'll pursue my fortune with that height of fortitude as shall surprise the world yes Philander since I have lost my honour fame and friends my interest and my Parents and all for mightier love I 'll stop at nothing now if there be any hazards more to run I 'le thank the spighâ—full fates that bring 'em on and will even tire them out
a pain and pleasure from fair eyes or the transporting Joyes of Beauty Pity a youth undone by Love and ambition those powerful conquerours of the young Pity oh Pity a youth that dies and will ere long no more complain upon your Rigours Yes my Lord he dies without the force of a terrifying Sentence without the grim reproaches of an angry Judg without the soon consulted Arbitrary Guilty of a severe and hasty Jury without the ceremony of the Scaffol'd Ax and Hang man and the clamours of inconsidering Crowds All which melancholy ceremonies render death so terrible which else wou'd fall like gentle slumbers upon the eye-lids And which in field I wou'd incounter with that joy I wou'd the sacred thing I Love But oh I fear my fate is in the lovely Silvia and in her dying eyes you may read it in her languishing face you 'le see how near it is aproacht Ah! will you not suffer me to attend it there by her dear side I shall fall as calmly as flowers from their stalks without regret or pain Will you by forcing me to dy from her run me to a madness To wild distraction Oh think it sufficient that I dy here before half my race of youth be run before the light be halfâ—burnt out that might have conducted me to a world of Glory Alas she dies The Lovely Silvia clies she is sighing out a soul to which mine is so intirely fixt that they must go upward together Yes yes she breaths it sick into my bosom and kindly gives mine its disease of death let us at least then dy in silent quitted and if it please Heaven to restore the languish'd Charmer I will resign my self up to all your Rigorous honour only let me bear my treasure with me while we wander o're the world to seek us out a safety in some part of it where pity and compassion is no crime Where men have tender hearts and have heard of the God of Love where Politicks are not all the business of the powerful but where civillity and good nature reign Perhaps my Lord you 'l wonder I plead no weightier Argument for my stay than Love or the griefs and tears of a languishing Maid But oh they are such tears as every drop wou'd ransom lives and nothing that proceeds from her charming eyes can be valu'd at a less rate In Pity to her to me and your Amorous youths let me bear her hence For shou'd she look abroad as her own Sex shou'd she appear in her natural and proper beauty alas they were undone Reproach not my Lord the weakness of this confession and which I make with more Glory than cou'd I boast my self Lord of all the Universe if it appear a fault to the more grave and wise I hope my youth will plead something for my excuse Oh say at least 't was Pity that Love had the ascendant over Phillanders soul say 't was his Destiny but say withal that it put no stop to his advance to Glory rather it set an edg upon his Sword and gave wings to his ambition Yes try me in your Councells prove me in your Camps place me in any hazard But give me Love and leave to wait the life or death of Silvia and then dispose as you please My Lord Of Your unfortunate Philander Octavio to Philander My Lord I Am much concern'd that a Request so reasonable as you have made will be of so little force with these arbitrary Tyrants of State and tho you have addrest and appeal'd to me as one of that grave and rigid number tho without one grain of their formalities and I hope age which renders us less Gallant and more envious of the joys and liberties of youth will never reduce me to so dull and thoughtless a member of State yet I have so small and single a portion of their power that I am asham'd of my incapacity of serving you in this great affair I bear the Honour and the name 't is true of Glorious sway but I can boast but of the worst and most impotent part of it the Title only but the busie absolute mischievious Politician finds no room in my Soul my humour or constitution And Ploding restless power I have made so little the business of my gayer and more careless youth that I have even lost my right of rule my share of Empire amongst them That little power whose unregarded losse I never bemoan'd till it render'd me uncapable of serving Phillander I have stretch'd to the utmost bound for your stay insomuch that I have receiv'd many reproaches from the wiser Coxcombs have had my youths little debauches hinted on and Judgments made of you disadvantagious from my Friendship to you a Friendship which my Lord at first sight of you found a being in my soul and which your wit your goodness your greatness and your misfortunes has improv'd to all the degrees of it Tho I am infinitey unhappy that it proves of no use to you here and that the greatest testimony I can now render of it is to warn you of your aproaching danger And hasten your departure for there is no safety in your stay I just now heard what was decreed against you in councel which no pleading nor Eloquence of Friendship had force enough to evade Alass I had but one single voyce in the number which I sullenly and singly gave and which unregarded past Go then my Lord haste to some place where good breeding and humanity reigns Go and preserve Silvia in providing for your own safety and believe me till she be in a Condition to persue your Fortunes I will take such care that nothing shall be wanting either to recovery here in order to her following after you I am alas but too sensible of all the pains you must indure by such a separation for I am neither insensible nor uncapable of love or any of its violent effects Go then my Lord and preserve the lovely Maid in your flight since your stay and danger will serve but to hasten on her death Go and be satisfied she shall find a protection sutable to her Sex her innocence her Beauty and her quality and that where-ever you fix your stay she shall be resign'd to your Arms by my Lord Your Eternal Friend and humble Servant Octavio Least in this sudden remove you shou'd want Mony I have sent you several Bills of Exchange to what place soever you arrive and what you want more make no scruple to use me as a friend and command After this Letter finding no hopes but on the contrary a dire necessity of departing he told Briljard his misfortune and ask'd his Counsel in this extremity of affairs Brilljard who of a Servant was become a Rival you may believe gave him such advice as might remove him from the object he ador'd But after a great deal of dissembl'd trouble the better to hide his joy he gave his advice for his going with all the arguments
till she were brought to Bed before he wou'd demand the glorious recompence he aspir'd to so that Silvia being opprest with Obligation finding yet in her Soul a violent passion fo◠〈◊〉 â—hilander she knew not how to take or how to refuse the Blessing offer'd since Octavio was a man whom in her height of innocence and youth she might have been vain and proud of ingaging to this degree He saw her pain and irresolution and being absolutely undone with love delivers her Philanders last Letter to him with what he had sent her inclos'd the sight of the very outside of it made her grow pale as Death and a feebleness seiz'd her all over that made her unable for a moment to open it all which confusion Octavio saw with pain which she perceiving recollected her thoughts as well as she cou'd and open'd it and read it that Octavio first as being fondest of the continuation of the History of his falshood she reâ—â— and often paus'd to recover her Spirits that were fainting at every period and having finisht it she fell down on the Bed where they sate Octavio caught her in her fall in his Arms where she remain'd â—ead some moments While he just on the point of being so himself ravingly call'd for help and Antonett being in the dressing Room ranto 'em and by degrees Silvia recover'd and ask'd Octavio a thousand pâ—rdons for exposing a weakness to him which was but the effects of the last blaze of Love And taking a Cordial which Aâ—tonett brought her she rous'd resolv'd and took Octavio by the hand Now said she shew youâ— self that generous Loâ—er you have profest and give me your Vows of revenge on Philander and after that by all that 's Holy kneeling as she spoke and holding him fast by all my injur'd innocence by all my Noble Fathers wrong and my dear Mothers grief by all my Sisters sufferings I swear I le marry you love you and give you all this she spoke without considering Antonett was by and spoke it with all the rage and blushes in her Face that injâ—r'd Love and revenge cou'd inspire And on the other side the sense of his Sisters Honour soâ—t and that of the tender paâ—sion he had for Silvia made him sweâ—r by all that was sacred and by all the Vows of Eternal Love and Honour he had made to Silvia to go and revenge himself and her on the falâ—e Friend and Lover and confest the second motive which was his Sisters Fame For cry'd he that foul Adultress that false Calista is so allâ—ed to me But still he urg'd that wou'd add to the juâ—â—ness of his cause if he might depart her Husband as well as Lover and revenge an Injur'd wife as well as Sister and now hâ— cou'd ask nothing she did not easily grant and because 't was late in the day they conclude that the Morning shall consumate all his desires And now she gives him her Letter to read For â— said she I shall esteem my self henceforth so absolutely Octavio's that I will not so much as read a Line from that perjur'd ruiner of my Honour he took the Letter with smiles and bows of gratitude and read it Philander to Silvia THere are a thousand reasons dearest Silvia at this time that prevents my writing to you reasons that will be convincing enough to oblige my pardon and plead my Cause with her that Loves me all which I will lay before you when I have the happiness to see you I have met with some affairs since my arival to this place that wholly takes up my time affairs of state whose fatigues have put my heart extreamly out of Tune and if not carefully manag'd may turn tomy perpetual ruin so that I have not an hour in a day to spare for Silâ—ia which believe me is the greatest affliction of my Life and I have no prospect of Ease in the endless toyls of Life but that of reposing in the Arms of Silvia Some short interâ—als Pardon my hast for you cannot guess the weighty business that at present robs you of Your Philander You lie false Viâ—â—ain reply'd Silvia in mighty rage I can guess your business and can revenge it too curse on thee Slave to think me grown as poor in sense as Honour To be cajâ—l'd with this Stuff that wou'd neâ—er sham a Chamber Maid Death am I so forlorn so despicable I am not worth the pains of being well dissembl'd with Confusion overtake him misery seize him may I become his plague while life remains or publique tortures end him This with all the madness that ever inspir'd a Lunatick she utter'd with Tears and Violent Actions When Octaâ—io besought her not to afflict her self and almost wisht he did not love a temper so contrary to his own He told her he was sorry extreamly sorry to find she still retain'd so violent a passion for a mâ—n unworthy of her least concern when she reply'd Do not mistake my soul by Heav'n 't is Pride disdain despight and haâ—e to think he shou'd believe this dull excuse couâ—d pass upon my judgment had the false Traytor told me that he hated me or that his faithleâ—s date of Love was out I had been tame with all my injuries but poorly thus to impose upon my Wit By Heav'n he shall not bear the affront to Hell in Triumph no more I 've vow'd he shall not My Soul has fixt and now will be at ease Forgive me oh Octavio and letting her self fall into his Arms she soon obtain'd what she ask'd for one touch of the fair Charmer cou'd calm him into Love and softness Thus after a thousand transports of passion on his side and all the seeming tenderness on hers the Night being far advanc'd and new Confirmations given and taken on either side of pursuing the happy Agreement in the Morning which they had again resolv'd they appointed that Silvia and Antonett shou'd go three Miles out of Town to a little Village where there was a Church and that Octavio shou'd meet 'em there to be Confirm'd and secur'd of all the happiness he propos'd to himself in this World Silvia being so wholly bent upon revenge for the accomplishment of which alone she accepted of Octavio that she had lost all remembrance of her former Marriage with Briljard Or if it ever enter'd into her thought 't was only consider'd as a sham nothing design'd but to secure her from being taken from Philander by her Parents And without any respect to the Sacred tie to be regarded no more nor did she design this with Octavio from any respect she had to the Holy State of Matrimony but from a Lust of Vengeance which she wou'd buy at any price and which she found no Man so well able to satisfie as Octavio But what wretched changes of Fortune she met with after this and a miserable Portion of Fate was destin'd to this unhappy Wanderer the last Part of Philanders Life and the Third and
therefore without Delay assist me to contrive your Escape or I shall die and leave you to the Ravage of his Love who holds thee from me the very Thoughts of that is worse than Death I die alas I die for an intire Possession of thee Oh let me grasp my Treasure let me ingross it all here in my longing Arms. I can no longer languish at this Distance from my eternal Ioy my Life my Soul But oh I Rave and while I should be speaking a thousand useful things I am telling you my Pain a Pain that you may guess and confounding myself between those and their Remedies am able to fix on nothing Help me to think oh my dear charming Creature help me to think how I shall bear thee off Take your own Measures flatter him with Love sooth him to Faith and Confidence and then oh pardon me if there be Baseness in the Action then Cozen him Deceive him any thing for he deserves it all that thinks that lovely Body was form'd for his Imbraces whom Age has rendered fitter for a Grave Form any Plots use every Stratagem to save the Life of Your Octavio He writ this in Hast and Disorder as you may plainly see by the Stile and went to the Window with it where he found Silvia leaning expecting him The Shashes were up and he toss'd it in the Haâ—â—kerchief into her Window She read it and writ an Answer back as soft as Love could form to send him pleased to Bed wherein she commanded him to hope all things form her Wit and industrious Love This had partly the Effects she wished and after kissing his Hand and throwing it up towards Silvia they parted as silent as the Night from Day which was now just dividing so long they stay'd tho' but to look at each other so that all the Morning was pass'd in Bed to make the Day seem shorter which was too tedious to both This Pleasure he had after Noon towards the Evening that when Silvia walked as she alwaies did in the Garden he could see her thorow the Glass of his Window but durst not open it for the old Gentleman was ever with her In this time Octavio fail'd not however to essay the good Nature of the Gardener in order to Silvia's Flight but â—ound there was no dealing with him in this Affair and therefore durst not come right down to the Point The next Night he came under the beloved Window again and found the sacred Object of his Wishes leaning in the Window expecting him To whom as soon as she heard his Tread on the Gravel she threw down a Handkerchief again which he took up and toss'd his own with a soft complaining Letter to entertain her till his Return for he hasted to read hers and swep'd the Garden as he pass'd as swift as Wind so impatient he was to see the Inside which he found thus Silvia to Octavio I Beg my charming Friend you will be assur'd of all I have promised you and to believe that but for the Pleasure of those dear Billets I receive from you I could as little support this cruel Confinement as you my Absence I have but one Game to play and I beseech you not to be surpriz'd at it 't is to promise to marry Sebastian He is eternally at my Feet and either I must give him my Vow to become his Wife or give him hope of other Favours I am so intirely yours that I will be guided by you which I shall Flatter him in to gain my Liberty for if I grant either he has proposed to carry me to his Country-House two Leagues from the Town and there Consummate whatever I design to bless him with and this is it that has wrought my Consent that we being to go alone only my own Servants you may easily take me thence by Force upon the Road or after our Arrival where he will not guard me perhaps so strictly as he does here For that I leave it to your Conduct and expect your Answer to Your Impatient Silvia He immediately sate down and writ this Octavio to Silvia HAVE a Care my Charming Fair how you play with Vows and however you are forc'd for that Religious End of saving your Honour to deceive the poor old Lover whom by Heaven I pity yet rather let me die than know you can be guilty of Vow-Brâ—ach tho' made in jest I am well pleased at the Glimpse of Hope you give me that I shall see you at his Villa and doubt not but to find a way to secure you to myself Say any thing promise to sacrifice all to his Desire but oh do not give away thy dear thy precious self by Vow to any but the Languishing Octavio After he had writ this he hast'd and throws it into her Window and return'd to Bed without seeing her which was no small Affliction to his Soul He had an ill Night of it and fancied a thousand tormenting things That the old Gentleman might thâ—â— be with her and if alone what might he not perswade by force of rich Presents of which his Uncle was well stored And so he guess'd and as he guess'd it proved as by his next Nights Letter he was inform'd that the old Lover no sooner saw Silvia retire but having a mind to try his Fortune in some Critical Minute for such a Minute he had heard there was that favoured Lovers but he goes to his Closet and taking out some Jewels of great Value to make himself the more welcome he goes directly to Silvia's Chamber and entered just as she had taken up Octavio's Letter and clap'd it in her Bosom as she heard some body at the Door but was not in a little Confusion when she saw who it was which she excused by telling him she was surpriz'd to find herself with a Man in her Chamber That there he fell to pleading his cause of Love and offered her again to settle his Estate upon her and implor'd she would be his Wife After a thousand faint Denials she told him she could not possibly receive that Honour but if she could she would have look'd upon it as a great Favour from Heaven at that he was Thunder-struck and look'd as gastly as if his Mothers Ghost had frighten'd him and after much Debate Love and Grief on his side Design and Dissimulation on hers she gave him Hopes that Aton'd for all she had before said insomuch that before they parted an absolute Bargain was struck up and he was to settle part of his Estate upon her as also that Villa to which he had resolved in two days to carry her in earnest to this he presents her a Necklace of Pearl of good Value and other Jewels which was the best Rhetorick he had yet spoke to her and now she appear'd the most Complaisant Lady in the World she suffers him to talk wantonly to her nay even to kiss her and rub his grizly Beard on her divine Face grasp her Hands and
any hand in his Death but on the contrary all Circumstances and the Coroner's Verdict brought it in as a thing done by Accident and through his own Fault they were obliged to release to Octavio all his Fortune with that of his Uncle which was this day brought to him by those he was obliged to dine and make up some Accompts withal He therefore told her he fear'd he should be absent all that Afternoon which she was the more pleased at because if Philander should return before she had ordered the Method of their Visit so as not to meet with each other which was her only Contrivance now she should be sure he would not see or be seen by Octavio who had no sooner taken his Leave but Philander returns who being now fully bent upon some Adventure to see Calista if possible and which Intrigue would take up his whole Time to excuse his Absence to the jealous Silvia he feign'd that he was sent to by Cesario to meet him upon the Frontiers of France and conduct him into Flanders and that he should be absent some Days This was as Silvia could have wished and after forcing herself to take as kind a Leave of him as she could whose Head was wholly possess'd with a Million of Gold she sent him away both Parties being very well pleased with the Artifices with which they gilted each other At Philander's going into his Chair he was seen by the old Count of Clarinau who cur'd perfectly of his Wound was come thither to seek Philander in order to take the Revenge of a Man of Honour as he call'd it which in Spanish is the private Stab for private Injuries and indeed more reasonable than base French Duelling where the Injured is as likely to suffer as the Injurer But Clarinau durst not attack him by Day-light in the open Street nor durst he indeed appear in his own Figure in the King of Spain's Dominions standing already there convicted of the Murder of his first Wife but in a Disguise came to Bruxells The Chair with Philander was no sooner gone from the Lodgings but he inquired of some of the House who lodged there that that Gentleman came to visit and they told him A great Bellied Lady who was a Woman of Quality and a Stranger This was sufficient you may believe for him to think it Madam the Countess of Clarinau With this Assurance he repairs to his Lodging which was but hard by and sets a Footman that attended him to watch the Return of Philander to those Lodgings which he believed would not be long The Footman who had not seen Philander only asked a Discription of him he told him he was a pretty tall Man in black Clothes for the Court was then in Mourning with a long black Hair fine black Eyes very handsome and well made This was enough for the Lad he thought he should know him from a thousand by these Marks and Tokens A way goes the Footman and waited till the shuting in of the Evening and then runing to his Lord told him Philander was come to those Lodgings that he saw him alight out of the Chair and took perfect Notice of him that he was sure it was that Philander he look'd for Clarinau overjoy'd that his Revenge was at hand took his Dagger Sword and Pistol and hasted to Silvia's Lodgings where he found the Chair still waiting and the Doors all open he made no more ado but goes in and ascends the Stairs and passes on without any Opposition to the very Chamber where they sate Silvia in the Arms of her Lover not Philander but Octavio who being also in black tall long brown Hair and handsome and by a Sight that might very well deceive he made no more to do not doubting but it was Philander and Calista but steps to him and offering to stab him was prevented by his starting at the suddeness of his Approach however the Dagger did not absolutely miss him but wounded him in the left Arm but Octavio's Youth too nimble for Clarinau's Age snatching at the Dagger as it wounded him at once prevented the Hurt being much and return'd a home Blow at Clarinau so that he fell at Silvia's Feet whose Shreeks alarm'd the House to their Aid where they found by the light of a Candle that was brought that the Man was not dead but lay gazing on Octavio who said to him Tell me thou unfortunate Wretch what miserable Fate brought thee to this place to disturb the Repose of those who neither know thee nor had done thee Injury Ah Sir reply'd Clarinau you have Reason for what you say and I ask Heaven that unknown Lady and your self a thousand Pardons for my Mistake and Crime Too late I see my Error pity and forgive me and let me have a Priest for I believe I am a dead Man Octavio was extreamly mov'd with Compassion at these Words and immediately sent his Page who was alarm'd up in the Crowd for a Father and a Surgeon and he declar'd before the rest that he forgave that Stranger meaning Octavio since he had by a Mistake of his Footman pull'd on his own Death and had deserved it And thereupon as well as he could he told them for whom he had mistaken Octavio who having injured his Honour he had vow'd Revenge upon and that he took the fair Lady meaning Silvia for a faithless Wife of his who had been the Authoress of all this Octavio soon divin'd this to be his Brother-in-Law Clarinau whom yet he had never seen and stooping down to him he cry'd 'T is I Sir that ought to demand a thousand Pardons of you for letting the Revenge of Calista 's Honour alone so long Clarinau wondered who he should be that named Calista and asking him his Name he told him he was the unhappy Brother to that fair Waâ—ton whose Story was but too well known to him This while Clarinau viewing his Face found him the very Picture of that false Charmer while Octavio went on and assured him if it were his Unhappiness to die that he would revenge the Honour of him and his Sister on the Betrayer of both By this time the Surgeon came who found not his Wound to be mortal as was feared and ventured to remove him to his own Lodgings whither Octavio would accompany him and leaving Silvia inclin'd after her Fright to be repos'd he took his Leave of her for that Evening not daring out of Respect to her to visit her any more that Night He was no sooner gone but Philander who never us'd to go without two very good pocket Pistols about him having left 'em under his Pillow last Night at Silvia's Lodgings and being upon Love Adventures he knew not what Occasion he might have for 'em return'd back to her Lodgings When he came she was a little surprized at first to see him but after reflecting on what Revenge was threatened him she exposed Octavio's Secret to him and told him the whole
Bruxells and at the Ceremony sad as she was while the soft Musick was playing she discours'd to him tho' she knew him not of the business of the day He told her she was to see a Sight that ought to make her Sex less cruel a Man extreamly Beautiful and Young whose Fortune could command almost all the pleasures of the World yet for the Love of the most Amiable Creature in the World who has treated him with Rigor he abandons this Youth and Beauty to all the Severities of rigid Devotion This relation with a great deal he said of Octavio's Vertues and Bravery had like to have discovered her by putting her into a Swoon and she had much ado to support her self in her Seat I my self went among the rest to this Ceremony having in all the time I lived in Flanders never been so curious to see any such thing The Order of St. Bernard is one of the neatest of any of 'em and there is a Monastery of that Order which are oblig'd to be all Noble Mens Sons of which I have seen fifteen hundred at a time in one House all handsome and most of 'em Young their Habit adds a Grace to their Person for of all the Religious that is the most becoming Long white Vests of fine Cloth ty'd about with White Silk Sashes or Cord of White Silk over this a long Cloak without a Cape of the same fine white Broad-Cloth their Hair of a pretty Length as that of our Parsons in England and a White Beaver they have very fine Apartments fit for their quality and above all every one his Library They have Attendance and Equipage according to their Rank and have nothing of the Inconveniences and Slovenliness of some of the Religious but served in as good order as can be and they have nothing of the Monastick but the Name the Vow of Chastity and the Opportunity of gaining Heaven by the sweetest Retreat in the World fine House excellent Air and delicate Gardens Grotto's and Groves 'T was this Oader that Octavio had chosen as too delicate to undertake the Austerity of any other and in my opinion 't is here a Man may hope to become a Saint sooner than in any other more perplext with Want Cold and all the necessaries of Life which takes the thought too much from Heaven and afflicts it with the Cares of this World with Pain and too much Abstinence and I rather think 't is Necessity than Choice that makes a Man a Cordelier that may be a Iesuit or a Bernardine two the best of the Holy Orders But to return 't was upon a Thursday this Ceremony began and as I said there was never any thing beheld so fine as the Church that day was and all the Fathers that officiated at the High-Altar behind which a most magnificent Scene of Glory was opened with Clouds most rarely and Artificially set off behind which appear'd new onesmore bright and dazling till from one degree to another their lustre was hardly able to be look'd on and in which sat an hundred little Angels so rarely dress'd such shining Robes such Charming Faces such flowing bright Hair Crown'd with Roses of White and Red with such Artificial Wings as one would have said they had born the Body up in the Splendid Sky and these to soft Musick Tun 〈◊〉 soft Voices with such sweetness of Harmony that for my part I confess I thought my self no longer on Earth and sure there is nothing gives us an Idea of real Heaven like a Church all adorn'd with rare Pictures and the other Ornaments of it with what ever can Charm the Eyes and Musick and Voices to Ravish the Ear both which inspire the Soul with unresistable Devotion and I can Swear for my own part in those Moments a thousand times I have wish'd to Die so absolutely I have forgot the World and all its Vanities and fixt my thoughts on Heaven While this Musick continued and the Anthems were Singing Fifty Boys all in White bearing Silver Censers Cast Incense all round and perfum'd the Place with the richest and most agreeable Smells while two hundred Silver Lamps were burning about the Altar to give a greater Glory to the open'd Scene while other Boys strow'd Flowers upon the inlaid Pavement where the gay Victim was to tread for no Crowd of Gazers fill'd the empty Space but those that were Spectators were so placed as rather served to adorn than disorder the awful Ceremony where all were silent and as still as Death as awful as Mourners that attend the Hearse of some lov'd Monarch While we were thus listening the soft Musick playing and the Angels singing the whole Fraternity of the Order of St. Bernard came in two by two in very graceful Order and going up to the shining Altar whose Furniture that day was Embroidered with Diamonds Pearls and Stones of great Value they bow'd and retired to their Places into little gilded Stalls like our Knights of the Garter at Windsor After them fifty Boys that sang approach in order to the Altar bow'd and divided on each side they were dressed in white Cloth of Silver with golden Wings and rosy Chaplets After these the Bishop in his pontifick Robes set with Diamonds of great Price and his Mitre richly adorn'd ascended the Altar where after a short Anthem he turn'd to receive the young Devotee who was just entered the Church while all Eyes were fixed on him He was led or rather on each side attended with two young Noble-men his Relations and I never saw any thing more rich in Dress but that of Octavio exceeded all Imagination for the gayety and fineness of the Work It was white Cloth of Silver embroidered with Gold and Buttons of Diamonds lin'd with rich Cloth of Gold and Silver Flowers his Breeches of the same trim'd with a pale Pinck Garniture rich Linen and a white Plume in his white Hat His Hair which was long and black was that day in the finest order that could be imagined but for his Face and Eyes I am not able to describe the Charms that adorn'd 'em no Fancy no Imagination can paint the Beauties there He look'd indeed as if he were maid for Heaven no Mortal ever had such Grace He look'd methought as if the Gods of Love had met in Council to dress him up that day for everlasting Conquest for to his usual Beauties he seem'd to have the Addition of a thousand more he bore new Lustre in his Face and Eyes Smiles on his Cheeks and Dimples on his Lips He moved he trode with nobler Motions as if some supernatural Influence had took a peculiar Care of him Ten thousand Sighs from all sides were sent him as he passed along which mix'd with the soft Musick made such a murmuring as gentle Breezes moving yielding Boughs I am assured he won that day more Hearts without Design than ever he had gain'd with all his Toils of Love and Youth before when Industry assisted him to
subtlety than all the rest of her Sex thought it best to see Philander and part with him on as good terms as she could and that it was better he should think he yet had the absolute possession of her than that he should return to France with an ill opinion of her Vertue as yet he had known no guilt of that kind nor did he ever more than fear it with Octavio so that it would be easie for her to cajole him yet a little longer and when he was gone she should have the World to range in and possess this new Lover to whom she had promised all things and received from him all assurances imaginable of inviolable Love In order to this then she consulted with Brilljard and they resolved she should for a few days leave Antonett with her Equipage at that House where she was and retire herself to the Village where Philander had left her and where he still imagined she was She desired Brilljard to give her a days time for this preparation and it should be so He left her and going to Hermione's meets Philander who immediately gave him order to go to Silvia the next Morning and let her know how all things went and to tell her he would be with her in two days In the mean time Silvia sent for Alonzo who was but that Evening gone from her He flies on the Wings of Love and she tells him she is oblig'd to go to a place six or seven days Journey off whither he could not conduct her for reasons she would tell him at her return whatever he could plead with all the force of love to the contrary she gets his consent with a promise wholly to devote herself to him at her return and pleas'd she sent him from her when Brilljard returning told her the commands he had and 't was concluded they should both depart next Morning accompanied only by her Page I am well assur'd she was very kind to Brilljard all that Journey and which was but too visible to the amorous Youth who attended them so absolutely had she deprav'd her reason from one degree of Sin and Shame to another and he was happy above any imagination while even her Heart was given to another and when she could propose no other interest in this looseness but security that Philander should not know how ill she had treated him In four days Philander came and finding Silvia more â—air than ever was anew pleas'd for she pretended to receive him with all the joy imaginable and the deceived Lover believed and express'd abundance of Grief at the being obliged to part from her a great many Vows and Tears were lost on both sides and both believed true But the Grief of Brilljard was not to be conceived he could not perswade himself he could live when absent from her Some Bills Philander left her and was so plain with her and open-hearted he told her that he went indeed with Cesario but it was in order to serve the King that he was weary of their Actions and foresaw nothing but ruin would attend 'em that he never repented him of any thing so much as his being drawn into that Faction in which he found himself so greatly involved he could not retire with any credit but since Self-Preservation was the first principle to Nature he had resolved to make that his aim and rather prove false to a party who had no Justice and Honour on their Side than to a King whom all the Laws of Heaven and Earth obliged him to serve however he was so far in the power of these People that he could not disingage himself without utter ruin to himself but that as soon as he was got into France he would abandon their Interest Let the censuring World say what it would who never had right notions of things or ever made true Judgments of mens Actions He lived five or six days with Silvia there in which time she fail'd not to assure him of her constant Fidelity a thousand ways especially by Vows that left no doubt upon his Heart and it was now that they both indeed found there was a very great Friendship still remaining at the bottom of their Hearts for each other nor did they part without manifest proofs of it Brilljard took a sad and melancholy leave of her and had not the freedom to tell it aloud but obliged to depart with his Lord they left Silvia and posted to Bruxells where they found the Prince ready to depart having left Hermione to her Women more than half dead I have heard there never was so sad a parting between Two Lovers a Hundred times they swounded with the apprehension of the separation in each other's Arms and at last the Prince was forced from her while he left her dead and was little better himself He would have returned but the Officers and People about him who had espous'd his Quarrel would by no means suffer him And he has a Thousand times told a person very near him That he had rather have forfeited all his hop'd for Glory than have left that Charmer of his Soul After he had taken all care imaginable for Hermione for that name so dear to him was scarce ever out of his Mouth he suffer'd himself with a heavy Heart and Pace to be conducted to the Vessel And I have heard he was hardly seen to smile all that little Voyage or his whole Life after or do any thing but sigh and sometimes weep which was a very great discouragement to all that followed him they were a great while at Sea tost to and fro by stress of Weather and often driven back to the Shore where they first took Shiping and not being able to Land where they first designed they got a-shore in a little Harbour where no Ship of any bigness could Anchor so that with much ado getting all their Arms and Men on shore they sunk the Ship both to secure any from flying and that it might not fall into the Hands of the French Cesario was no sooner on the French shore but numbers came to him of the Hugonot Party for whom he had Arms and who wanted them he furnish'd as far as he could and immediately Proclaimed himself King of France and Navarr while the dirty Croud rang him Peals of Joy But tho' the under World came in great Crowds to his Aid he wanted still the main supporters of his Cause the men of more substantial Quality If the Ladies could have compos'd an Army he would not have wanted one for his Beauty had got them all on his side and he Charm'd the fair wheresoever he rode He march'd from Town to Town without any opposition Proclaiming himself a King in all the places he came to still gathering as he march'd till he had compos'd a very formidable Army He made Officers of the Kingdom Fergusano was to have been a Cardinal and several Lords and Dukes were nominated and he found no opposition