with which I 've nought to do but dully give a cold consenting affirmative but well considered vows from soft inclining hearts utter'd with love with joy with dear delight when Heaven is call'd to witness She is thy Wife Philander He is my Husband this is the match this Heaven designs and means how then oh how came I to miss Philander or he his Silvia Since I writ this which I design'd not an invective against Marrâ—age when I began but to inform thee of my being where you directed but since I writ this I say the House where I am is broken open with Warrants and Officers for me but being all undrest and ill the Officer has taken my Word for my appearance tomorrow it seems they saw me when I went from my Lodgings and pursued me haste to me for I shall need your Counsel To Silvia MY eternal joy my affliction is inexpressible at the news you send me of your being surpriz'd I am not able to wait on thee yet not being suffer'd to leave the Cabal I only borrow this minute to tell thee the sense of my Advocate in this case which was if thou shod'st be taken there was no way no Law to save thee from being ravisht from my arms but that of marrying thee to some body whom I can trust this we have often discours'd and thou hast often vow'd thou ' lt do any thing rather than kill me with a separation resolve then oh thou charmer of my Soul to do a deed that though the name wou'd fright thee only can preserve both thee and me it is and though it have no other terrour in it than the name I saint to speak it to marry Silvia yes thou must marry though thou art mine as fast as Heaven can make us yet thou must marry I 've pitch'd upon the property 't is Brilljard him I can only trust in this affair it is but joining hands no more my Silvia Brilljard's a Gentleman though a Cadet and may be supposed to pretend to so great a happiness and whose only crime is want of fortune he 's handsome too well made well bred and so much real esteem he has for me and I 've so oblig'd him that I 'm confident he 'll pretend no farther than to the honour of owning thee in Court I 'll tie him from it nay he dares not do 't I 'll trust him with my life but oh Silvia is more think of it and this night we will perform it there being no other way to keep Silvia eternally Philander's To Silvia NOw my adorable Silvia you have truly need of all that heroick bravery of mind I ever thought thee Mistriss of for Silvia coming from thee this morning and riding â—ull speed for Paris â— was met stopt and seiz'd for high Treason by the King's messengers and possibly may fall a sacrifice to the anger of an incens'd Monarch my Silvia bear this last shock of â—ate with a courage worthy thy great and glorious Soul 't is but a little separation Silvia and we shall one day meet again by Heaven I find no other sting in death but parting with my Silvia and every parting wou'd have been thâ— same I might have died by thy 〈◊〉 thou might'st have grown weary of thy Philander have lov'd another and have broke thy vows and tortur'd me to death these crueller ways but fate is kinder to me and I go blest with my Silvia's love for which Heaven may do much for her dear sake to recompence her faith a Maid so innocent and true to sacred love expect thâ— best my lovely dear the worst has this comfort in 't that I shall die my charming Silvia's Philander To Philander I 'LL only say thou dear supporter of â—y Soul that if Philander dies he shall not go to Heaven without his Silvia by Heaven and earth I swear 〈…〉 cannot live without thee nor 〈◊〉 thou die without thy Silvia To Silvia SEE see my adorable Angel what cares the powers above take of divine innocence true love and beauty oh see what they have done for their darling Silvia cou'd they do less Know my dear Maid that after being examined before the King I was found guilty enough to be committed to the Bastile from whence if I had gone I never had return'd but to my death but the Messenger into whose hands I was committed refusing other Guards being alone with me in my own Coach I resolv'd to kill if I cou'd no other way oblige him to favour my escape I tried with Gold before I shew'd my dagger and that prevail'd a way less criminal and I have taken sanctuary in a small Cottage near the Sea shore where I wait for Silvia and though my life depend upon my flight nay more the life of Silvia I cannot go without her dress your self then my dearest in your Boys cloaths and haste with Brilljard whither this Seaman will conduct thee whom I have hir'd to set us on some shore of safety bring what news you can learn of Cesario I wou'd not have him die poorly after all his mighty hopes nor be conducted to a scaffold with shouts of joy by that uncertain beast the Rabble who us'd to stop his Chariot wheels with fickle adorations whene're he look'd abroad by Heaven I pity him but Silvia's presence will chase away all thoughts but those of love from Philander I need not bid thee haste La Fin. Love Letters FROM A NOBLE MAN TO HIS SISTER Mixt With the HISTORY OF THEIR ADVENTURES The Second Part by the same Hand LONDON Printed for the Author and are to be sold by the Booksellers of London 1685. TO Lemuel Kingdon Esq SIR I Beg you will give me leave to express my gratitude in some measure for the favours I have receiv'd of you and to make an acknowledgment where I cannot pay a debt 'T is only what was long since design'd you when possibly it might have found something a better wellcome by its having made as then it must 〈◊〉 done a voyage to have kist your hands and might perhaps then have contributed in some small degree to 〈◊〉 diversion in a place where there is found so little In order to it I sent you the first part by one of your Officers of which this is a continuation But being oblig'd to lay it by for other more material business it has had the misfortune not to approach you till now and to which honour it has nothing to intitle it but that of bearing your Name before it which will put a value upon it to the World And since I never was of a nature to hord any good to my peculiar use 't is with great satisfaction I am by this short character of you distributing a blessing to that part of Mankind who have not that of knowing you For there is an unspeakable pow'r and pleasure in obliging and 't is a pain to the good nâ—tur'd to conceal any thing whose communication may gratify the world
Bed-side and gaz'd a while unable to speak for transports of joy and love You too were silent and remain'd so so long that I ventur'd to press your Lips with mine which all their eager kisses could not put in motion so that I fear'd you fainted a sudden fright that in a moment chang'd my Feaver of Love into a cold Ague fit but you reviv'd me with a Sigh again and fired me anew by pressing my hand and from that silent soft incouragement I by degrees ravisht a thousand Blisses yet still between your tempting charming kisses you would cry Oh my Philander do not injure me Be sure you press me not to the last joys of Love Oh have a care or I am undone for ever restrain your roving hands Oh whether would they wander My Soul my joy my everlasting Charmer Oh whether would you go Thus with a Thousand Cautions more which did but raise what you design'd to calm you made me but the madder to possess not all the Vows you bad me call to mind could now restrain my wild and head-strong passion my raving raging but my soft desire No Silvia No it was not in the power of feeble flesh and blood to find resistance against so many Charms yet still you made me swear still I protested but still burnt on with the same torturing flame till the vast pleasure evâ—â— became a pain To add to this I saw Yes Silvia not all your Art and Modesty could hide it I saw the Ravishing Maid as much inflam'd as I she burnt with equal fire with equal Languishment Not all her care could keep the Sparks concealed but it broke out in every word and look her trembling tongue her feeble fainting voice betray'd it all sighs in terrupting every syllable a Languishment I never saw till then dwelt in her Charming Eyes that contradicted all her little Vows her short and double breathings heav'd her Breast her swelling snowy breast her hands that grasp'd me trembling as they clos'd while she permitted mine unknown unheeded to traverse all her Beauties till quite forgetting all I 'd faintly promised and wholly abandoning my soul to joy I rusht upon her who all fainting lay beneath my useless weight for on a sudden all my power was fled swifter than Lightning hurryed through my infeebled veins and vanisht all Not the dear lovely Beauty which I prest the Dying Charms of that fair face and eyes the Clasps of those soft Arms nor the bewitching accent of her voice that murmur'd Love half smoâ—her'd in her Sighs nor all my Love my vast my mighty passion could call my fugitive vigor back again Oh no the more I look The more I touch'd and saw the more I was undone Oh pity me my too too lovely Maid do not revile the faults which you alone create Consider all your Charms at once expos'd consider every sense about me ravisht o'recome with joys too mighty to be supported No wonder if I fell a shameful sacrifice to the fond Deity consider how I waited how I strove and still burnt on and every tender touch still added fuel to the vigorous Fire which by your delay consum'd it self in burning I want Philosophy to make this out or faith to fix my unhappiness on any chance or natural accident but this my Charming Silvia I am sure that had I lov'd you less I 'd been less wretched Nor had we parted Silvia on so ill terms nor had I left you with an opinion so disadvantagious for Lysander but for that unhappy noise at your Chamber door which alarming your fear occasion'd your recovery from that dear trance to which Love and soft desire had reduc'd you and me from the most tormenting silent Agony that disappointed joy ever possest a fond expecting heart with Oh Heavens to have my Silvia in my power Favour'd by silence night and safe retreat then then to lye a tame cold sigher only as if my Silvia gave that Assignation alone by stealth undrest all loose and languishing fit for the mighty business of the Night only to hear me prattle see me gaze or tell her what a pretty sight it was to see the Moon shine through the dancing Boughs O Damn my harden'd dullness But no more I am all fire and madness at the thought But I was saying Silvia we both recover'd then when the noise alarm'd us I long to know whether you think we were betray'd for on that knowledge rests a mighty part of my destiny I hope we are not by an accident that befell me at my going away which but for my untimely force of leaving my lovely Silvia which gave me pains insupportable would have given me great diversion You know our fear of being discover'd occasioned my disguise for you found it necessary I should depart your fear had so prevail'd and that in Melinda's Night Gown and Head dress thus attir'd with much ado I went and left my soul behind me and finding no body all along the Gallery nor in my passage from your apartment into the Garden I was a thousand times about to return to all my joys when in the midst of this almost ended dispute I saw by the light of the Moon which was by good fortune under a Cloud and could not distinctly direct the sight a man taking towards me with cautious speed which made me advance with the more haste to recover the Grove believing to have escap'd him under the Covert of the Trees for retreat I could not without betraying which way I went but just at the entrance of the Thicket he turning short made up to me and I perceiv'd it Monsieur the Count who taking me for Melinda who it seems he expected caught hold of my Gown as I would have pass'd him and Cry'd Now Melinda I see you are a Maid of Honour Come retire with me into the Grove where I have a present of a heart and something else to make you that will be of more advantage to you than that of Alexis though something younger I all confounded knew not what to reply nor how lest he should find his mistake at least if he he discover'd not who I was Which silence gave him occasion to go on which he did in this manner What not a word Melinda or do you design I shall take your silence for consent If so come my pretty Creature let us not lose the hour Love has given us at this he would have advanc'd leading me by the hand which he prest and kist very amorously Judg my Adorable Silvia in what a fine condition your Lysander was then in What should I do to go had disappointed him worse than I was with thee before not to go betray'd me I had much adoe to hold my Countenance and unwilling to speak while I was thus imployed in thought Monsieur Pulling me eager of joys to come and I holding back he stop'd and cry'd sure Melinda you came not hither to bring me a Denial I then reply'd whispering Softly
yet shoud'st thou tell me truth that thou art false by Heaven I do adore thee so I still shou'd love thee on shou'd I have seen thee clasp him in thy arms print kisses on his cheeks and lips and more so fondly and so doatingly I love I think I shou'd forgive thee for I swear by all the powers that pity frail mortality there is no joy no life no Heaven without thee Be false be cruel perjur'd infamous yet still I must adore thee my soul was form'd of nothing but of love and all that love and all that soul is Silvia's but yet since thou hast fram'd me an excuse be kind and carry it on to be deluded well as thou canst do 't will be the same to innocence as loving I shall not find the cheat I 'll come then and lay my self at thy feet and seek there that repose that dear content which is not to be found in this vast world besides though much of my heart's joy thou hast abated and fixt a sadness in my soul that will not easily vanish Oh Silvia take care of me for I am in thy power my life my fame my soul are in thy hands be tender of the victims and remember if any action of thy life shou'd shew a fading love that very moment I perceive the change you shall find dead at your feet the abandoned Philander Sad as death I am going towards the Meâ—dow in order to my approach to Silvia the World affording no â—â—poâ—e to â—e but when I am where the dear Charmâ—r is To Philander in the Meadow AND can you be jealous of me Philander I mean so poorly jealous as to believe me capable of falshood of vow-breach and what 's worse of loving any thing but the adorable Philander Oh I cou'd not once believe so cruel a thought cou'd have entred into the imaginations of a soul so intirely possest with Silvia and so great a judge of Love Abandon me reproach me hate me scorn me whenever I harbour any thing in mine so destructive to my repose and thine Can I Philander give you a greater proof of my passion of my faithful never-dying passion than being â—nd one for you have I any other prospect in all this soâ—t adventure but Thame dishonour reproach eternal infamy and everlasting destruction even of soul and body I tremble with fear of future punishment but oh Love will have no devotion mixt with his ceremonies to any other Deity and yet alas I might have lov'd another and have been sav'd or any Maid but Silvia might have possess'd without damnation But 't is a Brother I pursue it is a Sister gives her honour up and none but Cannace that ever I read in story was ever found so wretched as to love a Brother with so criminal a flame and possibly I may meet her fate I have a Father too as great as Aeolus as angry and revengefull where his honour is concern'd and you found my dearest Brother how near you were last night to a discovery in the Garden I have some reason too to fear this night's adventure for as ill fate would have it loaded with other thoughts I told not Melinda of your adventure last night with Monsieur the Count who meeting her early this morning had like to have made a discovery if he have not really so already she strove to shun him but he cried out Melinda you cannot fly me by light as you did last night in the dark she turn'd and beg'd his pardon for neither coming nor designing to come since she had resolv'd never to violate her vows to Alexis not coming cried he not returning again you meant Melinda secure of my heart and my purse you fled with both Melinda whose honour was now concern'd and not reminding your escape in her likeness blushing she sharply denied the fact and with a disdain that had laid aside all respect left him nor can iâ— be doubted but he fansied if she spoke truth there was some other intrigue of love carried on at Bellfont Judge my charming Philander if I have not reason to be fearfull of thy safety and my fame and to be jealous that so wise a Man as Monsieur did not take that parly to be held with a spirit last night or that 't was an apparition he courted But if there be no boldness like that of love nor courage like that of a lover sure there never was so great a Heroine as Silvia Undaunted I resolve to stand the shock of all since 't is impossible for me to leave Philander any doubt or jealousie that I can dissipate and Heaven knows how far I was from any thought of seeing Foscatio when I â—â—rg'd Philander to depart I have to clear my innocence sent thee the Letter I received two hours after thy absence which falling into my Mothers hands whose favourite he is he had permission to make his visit which within an hour he did but how received by me be thou the judge whene're it is thy fate to be oblig'd to entertain some Woman to whom thy soul has an intire aversion I forc'd a complaisance against my nature endur'd his wrecking courtship with a fortitude that became the great heart that bears thy sacred image â—s Martyrs do I suffer'd without murmuring or the least sign of the pain I endur'd 't is below the dignity of my mighty passion to justifie it farther let it plead its own cause it has a thousand ways to do 't and those all such as cannot be resisted cannot be doubted especially this last proof of sacrifieing to your repose the never more to be doubted Silvia About an hour hence I shall expect you to advance To the Lady Madam 'T IS not always the divine graces wherewith Heaven has adorn'd your resplendent beauties that can maintain the innumerable conquests they gain without a noble goodness which may make you sensibly compassionate the poor and forlorn captives you have undoneâ— But most fair of your Sex 't is I alone that have a destiny more cruel and severe and find my self wounded from your very frowns and secur'd a slave as well as made one the very scorn from those triumphant stars your eyes have the same effects as if they shin'd with the continual splendour of ravishing smiles and I can no more shun their killing influence than their all-saving aspects and I shall expire contented since I fall by so glorious a Fate if you will vouchsafe to pronounce my doom from that store-house of perfection your mouth from lips that open like the blushing rose strow'd o're with morning dew and from a breath sweeter than holy incense in order to which I approach you most excellent beauty with this most humble petition that you will deign to permit me to throw my unworthy self before the Throne of your mercy there to receive the sentence of my life or death a happiness though incomparably too great for so mean a Vassal yet with that reverence and
with my unwearied passion Love on Philander if thou darst like me let 'em pursue me with their hate and vengeance let Prisons poverty and tortures seiâ—e me it shall noâ— takâ— one grain of love away from my resolv'd heart nor make me shed a tear of penitence for loving thee no Philander since I know what a ravishing pleasure 't is to live thine I will never quit the glory of dying also thy â—esario my dear is coming to be you Bail with Monsâ—eur the Count of I dy to 〈…〉 your suffering so Silvia Silvia To Silvia BElieve me charming Silvia I live not those hours I am absent from thee thou art my life my Soul and my eternal felicity while you believe this truth my Silvia you will not entertain a thousand fears if I but stay a moment beyond my appointed hour especially when Philander who is not able to support the thought that any thing should afflict his lovely Baby takes care from hour to hour to satisfie her tender doubting heart My dearest I am gone into the City to my Advocates my Tryal with Monsieur the Count your Father coming on to morrow and 't will be at least two tedious hours e're I can bring my adorable her Philander To Silvia I Was call'd on my dearest Châ—ld at my Advocates by Cesario there is some great business this evening debated in the Cabal whicâ— is at 〈◊〉 in the City 〈…〉 Count your Father for my Silvia I dy if yoâ— are taken lest the fright shou'd 〈…〉 I would have 〈…〉 this evening from those Lodgings lest the people who are of the Royal party shou'd be induc'd through malice or gain to discover thee I dare not come my self to wait on thee lest my being seen shou'd betray thee but I havâ— sent Brilljard whose zeal for thee shall be rewarded to conduct thee to a little house in the Fauxburgh S. Germans where lives a pretty Woman and Mistress to Chevalier Tomaso call'd Belinda a Woman of wit and discreet enough to understand what ought to be paid to a Maid of the quality and character of Silvia she already knows the stories of our loves thither I 'll come to thee and bring Cesario to supper as soon as the Cabal breaks up oh my Silvia I shall one day recompenso all thy goodness all thy bravery thy love and thy suffering sor thy eternal Lover and Slave Philander To Philander SO hasty I was to obey Philander's commands that by the unwearied care and industry of the faithfull Brilljard I went before three a clock disguis'd away to the place whither you order'd us and was well receiv'd by the very pretty young Woman of the house who has sense and breeding as well as beauty But oh Philander this flight pleases me not alas what have I done my fault is only love and that sure I shouâ—d boast as the most divine passion of the Soul no no Philander 't is not my love 's the criminal no nor the placing it on Philander the crime but 't is thy most unhappy circumstances thy being married and that was no crime to Heaven till man made laws and can laws reach to damnation if so curse on the fatal hour that thou wert married curse on the Priest that joyn'd ye and curst be all that did contribute to the undoing ceremony except Philander's Tongue that answer'd yes oh Heavens was there but one dear man of all your whole Creation that could Charm the Soul of Silvia and cou'd ye oh ye wise allâ— seeing Powers that knew my Soul cou'd ye give him away how had my innoceâ—c offended ye our hearts you did create for mutual love how came the dire mistake another wou'd have pleas'd the indifferent Mertilla's Soul as well but mine was fitted for no other man only Philander the ador'd Philander with that dear form that shape that charming face that hair thosâ— lovely speaking eyes that wounding softness in his tender voice had power to conquer Silvia and can this be a sin Oh Heavens can it must laws which man contriv'd for mere conveniency have power to alter the divine decrees at our Creation perhaps they argue to morrow at the bar that Mertilla was ordain'd by Heaven for Philander no no he mistook the Sister 't was pretty near he came but by a fatal errour was mistaken his hasty Youth made him too negligently stop before his time at the wrong Woman he shou'd have gaz'd a little farther on and then it had been Silvia's lot 't is fine divinity they teach that cry Marriages are made in Heaven folly and madness grown into grave custome shou'd an unheedy youth in heat of blood take up with the first convenient she that offers though he an heir to some grave Politician great and rich and she the outcast of the common stews coupled in height of wine and sudden lust which once allay'd and that the sober morning wakes him to see his errour he quits with shame the Jilt and owns no more the folly shall this be call'd a Heavenly conjunction were I in height of youth as now I am forc'd by my Parents oblig'd by interest and honour to marry the old deform'd diseas'd decrepid Count Antonio whose person qualities and principles I loath and rather than suffer him to consummate his Nuptials suppose I shou'd as sure I shou'd kill myself 't were blasphemy to lay this fatal marriage to Heavens charge curse on your nonâ—ense ye imposing Gown-men curse on your holy cant you may as well call Rapes and Murthers Treason and Robbery the acts of Heaven because Heaven suffers 'em to be committed is it Heavens pleasure therefore Heaven's decree a trick a wise device of Priests no more to make the nauseated tir'd out pair drag on the carefull business of life drudg for the dull got family with greater satisfaction because they 'r taught to think marriage was made in Heaven a mighty comfort that when all the joys of life are lost by it were it not nobler far that honour kept him just and that good nature made him reasonable provision daily experience proves to us no couple live with less content less ease than those they cry Heaven joins who is 't loves less than those that marry and where love is not there is hate and loathing at best disgust disquiet â—oise aâ—d repentance No Philander that 's a heavenly match when two Souls toucht with equal passion meet which is but rarely seen when willing vows with serious consideration are weigh'd and made when a true view is taken of the Soul when no base interest makes the hasty bargain when no conveniency or design of drudge or slave shall find it necessary when equal judgments meet that can esteem the blessings they possess and distinguish the good of eithers love and set a value on each others merits and where both understand to take and pay who find the beauty of each others minds and rate 'em as they ought whom not a formal ceremony binds
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
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
is than wish and languish for the happy occasion the Sin 's the same only the Act 's more generous Believe me my Silvia we have all false notions of Vâ—rtue and Honour and surely this was â—aken up by some despâ—ring Husband in Love with a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wiâ—â— and then I â—ardon him â— shouâ—d have done as much for only 〈◊〉 that has my Soul can only ingage my Sword she that I love and my self only commands and keeps my stock of Honour For Silviâ— the Charming the distracting Silvia I cou'd sight for a glance or smile expose my heart for her dearer fame and wish no recompence but breathing out my last gasp into her soft white delicate bosome But for a Wife that stranger to my Soul and whom we Wed for â—nterest and necessity A Wife a light loose unregarding Property who for a momentary Apetite will expose her fame without the noble end of loving on she that will â—buse my Bed and yet return again to the loath'd conjugal imbrace back to the Armes so hated that even strong fancy of the absent Youth belov'd cannot so much as render supportable Curse on her and yet she kisses fawnes and dissembles on hangs on his Neck and makes the Sot believe Damn her Brute I 'll whistler off and let her down the Wind as Othella says No I adore the Wife that when â—he heart is gone boldly and nobles persues the Conâ—queror and generously owns the Whore Not poorly adds the nauâ—ious sin of Jilting to 't That I cou'd have born at least commended but this can never Pardon at worst then the world had said her Passion had undone her she lov'd and Love at worst is pity No no Meâ—tilla I forgive your Love but never can your poor dissimulation One drives you but from the heart you value not but t'other to my eternal contempt One deprives me but of thee Merâ—illa but t'other intitles me to a Beauty more sâ—â—prâ—sing renders thee no part of me and so leaves the Lover free to Silvia without the Brother Thus my excellent Maid I have sent you the sense and truth of my Soul in an affair you have often hinted to me and I take no pleasure to remember I hope you will at least think my â—version reasonable and that being thus undisputably freed from all obligations to Mertilla as a Husband I may be permitted to lay claim to Silvia as a Lover and marry my self more effectually by my everlasting Vows than the Priest by his common method cou'd do to any other Woman less belov'd there being no other way at present left by Heav'n to render me Silvia's Eternal happy Lover and PHILANDER 〈…〉 To Silvia WHen I had seal'd the inclos'd Brilljard told me you were this Morning come from Belfont and with infinite impatience have expected seeing you here which defer'd my sending this to the old place and I am so vain on Adorable Silvia as to believe my fancy'd silence has given you disquiets but sure my Silvia cou'd not charge me with neglect no she knows my Soul and lays it all 〈…〉 or some strange accident she knows no business cou'd divert me No were the Nation sinking the great Senate of the world confounded our Glorious Designs betray'd and ruin'd and the vast City all in flame like Nero unconcern'd I 'd sing my everlasting Song of Love to Silvia which no time or Fortune shall untune I know my Soul and all its strength and how it 's fortify'd the charming Idea of my young Silvia will for ever remain there the original may fade time may render it less fair less blooming in my Arms but never in my Soul I shall find thee there the same gay glorious creature that first surpris'd and inslav'd me believe me Ravishing Maid I shall Why then oh why my cruel Silvia are my joys delay'd why am I by your rigorous commands kept from the sight of my Heav'n my eternal bliss an Age my fair Tormentor's past Four tedious live long days are numâ—er'd o're since I beheld the â—bject of my lasting Vows my eternal wishes how can â—ou think oh unreasonable Silvia 〈◊〉 I cou'd live so â—ong without you and yet I am live I 〈◊〉 it by my pain by â—â—rments of fears and jealouâ—â—es insupportable I languish 〈◊〉 go downward to the â—â—arth where you will shortly see me lay'd without your recalling mercy 't is true I move about this unregarded world appear every day in the great Senate-House at Clubs Caballs and private consultations for Silvia knows all the business of my Soul even its politicks of State as well as Love I say I appear indeed and give my Voice in publick business but oâ— my Heart more kindly is imploy'd that and my thoughts are Silvia's Ten Thousand times a day I breath that name my busie fingers are eternally tracing ouâ— those Six mystick Letters a Thousand ways on every thing I touch form words and make 'em speak a Thousand things and all are Silvia still my melancholy change is evident to all that see me which they interpret many mistaken ways our Party fancy I repent my League with 'em and doubting I 'le betray the Cause grow jealous of me till by new Oaths new Arguments I confirm 'em then they smile all and cry I am in Love and this they would believe but that they see all Women that I meet or converse with 〈◊〉 indifferent to me and 〈◊〉 can fix it no where 〈…〉 thus while I dare not tell my Soul no not even to Cesario the stifled flame burns inward and torments me so that unlike the thing I was I fear Silvia will lose her Love and Lover too for those few Charmes she said I had will â—ade and this fatal distance will destroy both Soul and Body too my very reason will abandon me and I shall â—ave to see thee restore 〈…〉 restore me then to Bellfont happy Bellfont still best with Silvia's presence permit me oh permit me into those â—acred Shades where I have been so often too innocently blest let me survey again the dear characters of Silvia on the smooth Birch oh when shall I sit beneath those Boughs gazing on the young Goddess of the Grove â—earing her sigh for Love touching her glowing small white hands beholding her killing eyes languish and her Charming bosome rise and fall with short-breath'd uncertain breath breath as soft and sweet as the restoring breeze that glides or the newblown flowers But oh what is it what Heav'n of Perfumes when it inclines to the raviâ—hâ— Philander and whispers Love it dares not name aloud What power withholds me then from rushing on thee from pressing thee with Kisses folding thee in my transported Armes and following all the dictates of Love without respect or Awe What is it oh my Silvia can dâ—tain 〈◊〉 Love so violent and raving and so wild admit me sacred Maid admit me again to those soft delights that I may find if possible what Devinity envious of my bliss checks
fierceness and instead of drawing me on wou'd lessen my esteem if any such deceit were capable to harbour in the Heart of Silvia but she is all Divine and I am mistaken in the meaning of what she say's Oh my adorable think no more on that dull false thing a Wife let her be banisht thy thoughts as she is my Soul let her never appear though but in a Dream to â—right our solid joys our true happiness no let us look forward to Pleasures vast and unconfin'd to coming transports and leave all behind us that contributes not to that Heav'n of Bliss Remember oh Silvia that five tedious days are past since I â—igh't at your dear feet and five days to a Man so madly in Love as your Philander is a tedious Age 't is now â—ix a Clock in the Morning Brilljard will be with you by Eight and by Ten I may have your permission to see you and then I need not say how soon I will present my self before you at Bellfont for Heaven's sake my eternal Blessing if you design me this happiness contrive it so that I may see no body that belongs to Bellfont but the fair the lovely Silvia for I must be more moments with you than will be convenient to be taken notice of leâ—t they suspect our business to be Love and that discovery yet may ruine us Oh I will delay no longer my Soul 's impatient to see you I cannot live another Night without it I dy by Heav'n I languish for the appointed hour you will believe when you see my languid Face and dying Eyes how much and great a sufferer in Love I am My Soul's Delight You may perhaps deny me from your fear but oh do not though I ask a mighty blessing Silvia's Company alone silent and perhaps by Dark Oh though I faint with the thought only of so blest an opportunity yet you shall secure me by what Vows what imprecations or ty's you please bind my busie hands blind my ravish't eyes command my Tongue do what you will but let me hear your Angels Voice and have the transported joy of throwing my self at your feet and if you please give me leave a man condemn'd eternally to Love to plead a little for my Life and passion let me remove your fears and though that mighty Task never make me intirely happy at least 't will be a great satisfaction to me to know that 't is not through my own fault that I am the Most Wretched PHILANDER I have order'd Brilljarâ— to 〈◊〉 your Commands at Dorillus his Cottage that he may not be seen at Bellfont resolve to see me to Night or I shall 〈◊〉 without order and injure both My dear Damn'd Wife is dispos'd of at a Ball Caesario 〈◊〉 to Night the opportunity will be lâ—ckey not that I fear her jealousie but the effects of it To Philander I Tremble with the apprehension of what you ask how shall I comply with your fond desires My Soul bodes some dire effect of this bold enterprise for I must own and blush while I do own it that my Soul yields obedience to your soft request and even whilst I read your Letter was diverted with the contrivance of seeing you For though as my Brother you have all the freedoms imaginable at Bellfont to entertain and walk with me yet 't would be difficult and prejudical to my Honour to receive you alone any where without my Sister and cause a suspicion which all about me now are very far from conceiving except Melinda my faithful confident and too fatal Councellor and but for this fear I know my charming Brother three little Leagues shou'd not five long days separaâ—e Philander from his Silvia But my lovely Brother since you beg it so earnesty and my heart consents so easily I must pronounce my own Doom and say Come my Philander whither Love and soft desire invites you and take this direction in the management of this mighty affair I wou'd have you as soon as this comes to your hands to hast to Dorillus's Cottage without your Equipage only Brilljard whom I believe you may trust both from his own discretion and your vast bounty's to him wait there till you receive my commands and I will retire betimes to my Apartment pretending not to be well and as soon as the Evenings obscurity will permit Melinda shall let you in at the Garden Gate that is next the â—rove unseen and unsuspected but oh thou powerful Charmer have a care I trust you with my all my dear dear my precious Honour guard it well for oh I fear my forces are too weak to stand your shock of Beauties you have Charms enough to justify my yielding but yet by Heav'n I wou'd not for an Empire but what 's dull Empire to Almighty Love the God subdues the Monarch 't is to your strength I trust for I am a feeble Woman a Virgin quite disarm'd by two fair eyes an Angels Voice and form but yet I 'll dy before I 'll yield my Honour no though our unhappy Family have met reproach from the imagin'd levity of my Sister 't is I 'll redeem the bleeding Honour of our Family and my great Parents Vertues shall shine in me I know it for if it passes this Test if I can stand this Temptation I 'm proof against all the World but I conjure you aid me if I need it If I incline but in a Languishing look if but a wish appear in my eyes or I betray consent but in a Sigh take not oh take not the opportunity lest when you 've done I grow raging mad and discover all in the wild fit oh who wou'd venture on an enemy with such unequal force what hardy fool wou'd hazard all at Sea that sees the rising Storm come rouling on who but fond Woman giddy heedless Woman wou'd thus expose her Vertue to Temptation I see I know my danger yet I must permit it Love soft bewitching Love will have it so that cannot deny what my â—eebler Honour forbids and though I tremble with fear yet Love suggests 't will be an Age to Night I long for my undoing for oh I cannot stand the batteries of your eyes and tongue these fears these conflicts I have a Thousand times a day 't is pitiful sometimes to see me on one hand a Thousand Cupids all gay and smiling present Philander with all the Beauties of his sex with all the softness in his looks and Language those Gods of Love can inspire with all the Charms of youth adorn'd bewitching all and all transporting on the other hand a poor lost Virgin languishing and undone sighing her willing rape to the deaf shades and â—â—â—â—tains filling the Woods with cry's swelling the Murmering Rivolets with tears her noble Parents with a generous Rage reviling her and her befray'd Sister loading her bow'd head with curses and reproaches and all about her looking forlorn and sad Judg oh Judg my adorable Brother of the vastness of
my courage and passion when even this deplorable prospect cannot defend me from the resolution of giving you admittance into my Apartment this Night nor shall ever drive you from the Soul of your SILVIA To Silvia I Have obey'd my Silvia's dear commands and the dictates of my own impatient Soul as soon as I receiv'd 'em I immediately took Horse for Bellfont though I knew I shou'd not see my Adorable Silvia till Eight or Nine at Night but oh 't is wondrous pleasure to be so much more near my eternal joy I wait at Dorillus his Cottage the tedious approaching Night that must shelter me in its kind shades and conduct me to a pleasure I faint but with imagining 't is now my Lovely Charmer Three a Clock and oh how many tedious hours I am to languish here before the blessed one arrive I know you Love my Silvia and therefore must guess at some part of my to â—ment which yet is mixt with a certain trembling joy not to be imagin'd by any but Silvia who surely loves Philander it there be truth in Beauty â—aith in Youth she surely loves him much and much more above her Sex she 's capable of Love by how much more her Soul 's form'd of a softer and more delicate composition by how much more her Wits refin'd and elevated above her duller Sex and by how much more she is oblig'd if Passion can claim Passion in return sure no Beauty was ever so much indebted to a slave as Silvia to Philander none ever Lov'd like me Judg then my pains of Love my Joys my â—ears my impatience and desires and call me to your sacred presence with all the speed of Love and as soon as ' â—is duskish imagine me 〈◊〉 the Meadow behind the Grove 'till when think me imploy'd in eternal thoughts of Silvia restless and talking to the Trees of Silvia sighing her charming Name circling with foldedâ— Arms my panting heart that beats and trembles the more the nearer it approaches the happy Bellfont and fortifying the â—eeble trembler against a â—ight â—oo Ravishing and surprising I fear to be sustain'd with Life but if I faint in Silvia's Arms it will be happyer far than all the Glories of Life without her Send my Angel something from you to make the Hours less tedious consider me Love me and be as impatient as I that you may the sooner find at your feet your everlasting Lover PHILANDER From Doâ—illus's Cottage To Philander I Have at last recover'd sense enough to tell you I have receiv'd your Letter by Dorillus and which had like to have been discover'd for he prudently enough put it under the Strawbery's he brought me in a Basket fearing he shou'd get no other opportunity to have given it me and my Mother seeing 'em look so fair and fresh snatcht the Basket with a greediness I have not seen in her before while she was calling to her Page for a Porcellane Dish to put 'em out Dorillus had opportunity to hint to me what lay at the bottom â—eaven's had you seen my disorder and confusion what shou'd I do Love had not one invention in store and here it was that all the subtilty of Women abandon'd me Oh Heaven's how cold and pale I grew lest the most imporâ—ant 〈◊〉 of my Life shou'd be betray'd and ruin'd but not to terrâ—fy you longer with feâ—rs of my danger the Dish came and ouâ— the Strawberries were powr'd and the Basket thrown aside on the Bank where my Moâ—her sat for we were in the Garden when we met accidentally Dorillus first with the Basket there were some leaves of Fern put at the bottom between the Basket and the Letter which by good fortune came not out with the strawberries and after a Minute or two I took up the Basket and walkig carelesly up and down the Garden Gather'd here and there a flower Pinks and Jessamine and filling my Basket sat down again till my Mother had eat her fill of the Fruit and gave me an opportunity to retire to my apartment where opening the Letter and finding you so near and waiting to see me I had certainly sunk down on the floor had not Melinda supported me who was only by something so new and till now so strange seiz'd me at the thought of so secret an interview that I lost all my senses and Life wholly departing I rested on Melinda without breath or motion the violent effects of Love and Honour the impetuous meeting tides of the extreams of joy and fear rushing on too suddainly over-whelm'd my senses and 't was a pretty while before I recover'd strength to get to my Cabinet where a second time I open'd your Letter and read it again with a Thousand changes of Countenance my whole mass of Blood was in that moment so discompos'd that I chang'd from Ague to Feaver several times in a Minute oh what will all this bring me to and where will the raging fit end I dy with that thought my guilty pen slackens in my trembling hand and I Languish and fall over the unimploy'd Paper Oh help me some Divinity Or if you did I fear I shou'd be angry Oh Philander a Thousand Passions and distracted thoughts crowd to get out and make their soft complaints to thee but oh they lose themselves with Mixing they are blended in a confusion together and Love nor Art can divide 'em to deal 'em out in order sometimes I wou'd tell you of my Joy at your Arrival and my unspeakable transports at the thought of seeing you so soon that I shall hear your charming Voice and find you at my feet making soft Vows a now With all the Passion of an impatient Lover with all the eloquence that sighs and Cryes and tears from those lovely eyes can express and sure that's enough to conquer any where and to which course vulgar words are dull The Rhetorick of Love is half-breath'd interrupted words languishing Eyes flattering Speeches broken Sighs pressing the â—and and falling Tears Ah how do they not perswade how do they not charm and conquer 't was thus with these soft easie Arts that Silvia first was wonâ— for sure no Arts of speaking cou'd have talk'd my heart away though you can speak like any God! oh whether am I driven what do â— say 't was not my purpose nor my business here to give a character of Philander no not to speak of Love but oh like Cowley's Lute my Soul will found to nothing but to Love talk what you will begin what discourse you please I end it all in Love because my Soul is ever fixt on Philander and insensibly its byas peads to that subject no I did not when I began to Write think of speaking one word of my own weakness but to have told you with what resolv'd Courage Honour and Vertue I expect your coming and sure so sacred a thing as Love was not made to ruine these and therefore in vain my lovely Brother you will attempt it
Charity and Honour he as little excels as in Gratitude Obedience and Loyalty What then my dear Philander is it his weakness Ah there 's the Argument You all propose and think to govern so soft a King But believe me oh unhappy Philander nothing is more ungovernable than a Fool nothing more obstinate willful conceited and cunning and for his gratitude let the world judge what he must prove to his Servants who has dealt so ill with his Lord and Master how he must reward those that present him with a Crown who deals so ungraciously with him who gave him Life and who set him up an happyer object than a Monarch No no Philander he that can cabal and contrive to dethrone a father will find it easie to discard the wicked and hated Instruments that assisted him to mount it decline him then oh fond and deluded Philander decline him early for you of all the â—â—est ought to do so and not to set a helping hand to load him with Honours that chose you out from all the World to load with infamy remember that remember Mertilla and then renounce him do not you contribute to the adoring of his unfit head with a Diadem the most glorious of Ornaments who unadorn'd yours with the most inglorious of all reproaches Think of this oh thou unconsidering Noble Youth lay thy hand upon thy generous heart and tell it all the fears all the reasonings of her that loves thee more than life a Thousand Arguments I cou'd bring but these few unstudyed falling in amongst my softer thoughts I beg thou wilt accept of till I can more at large deliver the Glorious Argument to your Soul let this suffice to tell thee that the like Cassandria I rave and prophesie in vain this Association will be the eternal ruine of Philander for let it succeed or not either way thou art undone if thou pursu'st it and I must infallibly fall with thee if I resolve to follow thy good or ill Fortune for you cannot intend Love and Ambition Silvia and Caesario at once No perswade me not â—he Title to one or t'other must be laid down Silvia or Caesario must be abandon'd this is my fixt resolve if thy too powerful Arguments convince not in spight of reason for they can do 't thou hast the tongue of an Angel and the Eloquence of a God and while I listen to thy Voice I take all thou say'st for wondrous sense Farewell about Two hours hence I shall expect you at the Gate that leads into the Garden Grove Adieu remember SILVIA To Silvia HOw comes my charming Silvia so skill'd in the Mysteries of State where learnt her tender heart the Notions of rigid business where her soft Tongue form'd only for the dear Language of Love to talk â—f the concerns of Nations and Kingdoms 't is true when I gave my Soul away to my dear Councellor I reserv'd nothing to my self not even that secret that so concern'd my Life but laid all at her Mercy my generous Heart cou'd not Love at a less rate than to lavish all and be undone for Silvia 't is Glorious ruine and it pleases me if it advance once single joy or add one demonstration of my Love to Silvia 't is not enough that we tell those we Love all they love to hear but one ought to tell 'em too every secret that we know and conceal no part of that Heart one has made at present to the person one Loves 't is a Treason in Love not to be Pardon'd am sensible that when my story 's told and this happy one of my Love shall make up the greatest part of my History that those that Love not like me will be apt to blame me and charge me with weakness for revealing so great a trust to a Woman and amongst all that I shall do to arrive at Glory that will brand me with seaâ—less but Silvia when Lovers shall read it the men will excuse me and the Maids bless me I shall be a fond admir'd president for them to point but to their remiss reserving Lovers who will be reproached for not persuing my example I know not what opinion Men generally have of the weakness of Women but 't is sure a vulgar error for were they like my adorable Silvia had they her wit her vivacity of spirit her Courage her generous fortitude her command in every graceful look and Action they were most certainly fit to rule and Reign and Man was only born robust and strong to secure 'em on those Thrones they are form'd by Beauty Softness and a Thousand Charms which men want to possess Glorious Woman was born for command and Dominion and though custom has usurpt us the name of Rule over all we from the beginning found our selves in spight of all our boasted prerogative slaves and Vassals to the Almighty Sex Take then my share of Empire ye Gods and give me Love let me toyl to gain but let Silvia Triumph and Reign I ask no more no more than the led slave at her Chariot Wheels to gaze on my Charming Conqueress and wear with joy her Fetters oh how proud I shou'd be to see the dear Victor of my Soul so elevated so adorn'd with Crowns and Scepters at her feet which I had won to see her smiling on the adoring Crown distributing her Glories to young waiting Princes there dealing Provinces and there a Coronet Heavens methinks I see the lovely Virgin in this State her Chariot slowly driving through the multitude that press to gaze upon her she drest like Venus richly gay and loose her Hair and Robe blown by the flying Winds discovering a Thousand Charms to view thus the young Goddess look't then when she drove her Chariot down descending Clouds to meet the Love-sick God in cooling Shades and so wou'd look my Silvia ah my soft lovely Maid such thoughts as these fir'd me with Ambition For me I swear by every power that made me Love and made thee wondrous fair I design no more by this great enterprize than to make thee some glorious thing elevated above what we have seen yet on Earth to raise thee above Fate or Fortune beyond that pity of they duller Sex who understand not thy Soul nor can never each the flights of thy generous Love no my Soul's joy I must not leave thee lyable to their little natural Malice and scorn to the impertinence of their reproaches No my Silvia I must on the great design must move forward though I abandon it 't will advance and 't is already too far to put a stop to it and now I 'm enter'd 'tis in vain to retreat if we are prosperous 't will to all Ages be call'd a Glorious enterprize but if we failâ— 't will be base horrid and infamous for the world judges of nothing but by the success that cause is always good that 's prosperous that is ill that 's unsuccessful Shou'd I now retreat I run many hazards but to go on
for Lovers cannot unless they lov'd like Silvia and her Philander what pains and Pantings my heart sustain'd at every thought that brought me of thy near approach every moment I â—tart and am ready to faint with joy â—ear and something not to be expreâ—t thâ—t sâ—izes me To add to this I have busied my self with dressing my Apartment up with Flowers 〈◊〉 that I â—ancy the Câ—rmonious business of the night looks like the preparations foâ— the dear joy of the Nuptial Bed that too is so adorn'd and deck'd with all that 's sweet and gay all which possesses me with so ravishing and solemn a Confusion that 't is even approaching to the most profound sadness it self Oh Philander I find I am fond of being undone and unless you take a more than mortal care of me I know this night some fâ—tal mischief will befall me what 't is I know not either the loss of Philander my Life or my Honour or all together which a discovery only of your being alone in my Apartment and at such an Hour will most certainly draw upon us Death is the least we must expect by some surprise or other my Father being rash and extreamly jealous and the more so of me by how much more he is fond of me and nothing would inrage him like the discovery of an enterview like this though you â—ave Liberty to range the house of Bâ—llfont as a son and are indeed at home there but when you come by stealth when he shall find his Son and Virgin Daughter the Brother and the Sister so retir'd so entertain'd What but death can insue or what 's worse eternal shame eternal confusion on my honour What Excuse what Evasions Vows and Protestations will convince him or appease Mertila's Jealousy Mertilla my Sister and Philander's Wife Oh God! that cruel thought will put me into ravings I have a thousand streams of killing reflection that flow from that original Fountain Curse on the Alliance that gave you a welcome to Bellfont Ah Philander could you not have stay'd ten short years longer Alas you thought that was an Age in Youth but 't is but a day in Love Ah could not your eager youth have led you to a thousand diversions a thousand times have baited in the long journey of life without hurrying on to the last Stage to the last retreat but the Grave and to me seem as Irrecoverable as impossible to retrieve thee Could no kind Beauty stop thee on thy way in charity or pity Philander saw me then and though Mertila was more â—it for his Careâ—â—es and I but capable to please with Childish prattle Oh could he not have seen a promising â—loom in my Face that might have â—â—retold the future Conquests I was born to make Oh was there no Prophetick Charm that could bespeak your heart ingage it and prevent that fatal Marriage You say my Adorable Brother we were destin'd from our Creation for one another that the Decrees of Heaven or Fate or both design'd us for this mutual passion Why then oh why did not Heaven â—ate or Destiny do the mighty work when first you saw my infant Charms But oh Philander why do I vainly rave why call in vain on time that 's fled and gone why idly wish for Ten years retribution That will not yield a Day an Hour a Minute No no 't is past 't is past and flown for ever as distant as a thousand years to me as irrecoverable Oh Philander what hast thou thrown away Ten glorious years of Raâ—ishing Youth of unmatch'd Heavenly Beauty on one that knew not half the value of it Silvia was only born to 〈◊〉 a Rate upâ—n't was alone capable of Love such love as might deserve it Oh why was that charming face ever laid on any bosom that knew not how to sigh anâ— pant and heave at every â—ouch oâ— so much distracting Bâ—â—uty Oâ— why were those dear Arms whosâ— soft pressings that ravish where they circle destin'd for a Body Cold and Dull that could sleep insensibly there and not so much as dream the while what the transporting pleasure signified but unconcern'd receiv'd the wondrous blessings and never knew its Price or thank'd her stars She has thee all the day to gaze upon and yet she lets thee pass her careless sight as if there were â—o Miracles in view she does not see the little Gods of Love that play eternally in thy Eyes and since she never receiv'd a Dart from thence believes there 's no Artillery there She plays not with thy Hair nor Weaves her snowy fingers in thy Curles of Jett sets it in order or adores its Beauty The Fool with flaxen Wigg had done as well for her a dull white Coxcomb had made as good a Property a Husband is no more at best no more Oh thou Charming object of my eternal wishes why wert thou thus dispos'd Oh save my life and tell me what indifferent impulse oblig'd thee to these Nuptials had Mertila been recommended or forc'd by the Tyranny of a Father into thy Arms or for base Lucre thou hast chosen her this had excus'd thy Youth and Crime obedience or vanity I could have Pardon'd But oh 'T was Love Love my Phiander thy raving Love and that which has undone thee was a Rape rather than a Marriage you fled with her Oh Heavens mad to possess you stole the unloving Prise Yes you lov'd her false as you are you did perjur'd and faithless Lov'd her Hell and confusion on the VVorld 't was so Oh Philander I am lost This Letter was found in pieces torn To Monsieur the Count of My Lord THese Pieces of Paper which I have put together as well as I could were writ by my Lady to have been sent by Dorinda when on a sudden she roâ—e in rage from her seat tore first the Paper and then her Robes and Hair and indeed nothing has escap'd the violence of her Passion nor could my Prayers or Tears retrieve them or calm her 't is however chang'd at last to mighty passions of weeping in which imployment I have left her on her repose being commanded away I thought it my duty to give your Lordship this account and to send the pieces of Paper that your Lordship may guess at the occasion of the sudden storm which ever rises in that fatal quarter but in putting 'em in order I had like to have been surpriz'd by my Lady's Father for my Lord the Count having long sollâ—cited me for favours and taking all opportunities of entertaining me found me alone in my Chamber imployed in serving your Lordship I had only time to hide the Papers and to get rid of him have given him an Assignation to night in the Garden Grove to give him the hearing to what he says he has to propose to me Pray Heaven all things go right to your Lorships wish this Evening for many ominous things happen'd to day Madam the Countess had like to have taken a â—etter writ for
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
in thy composition that ever mingled with humanity the very words fall so gently from thy tongue are utter'd with a Voice so ravishingly soft a tone so tender and so full of Love 't would charm even frenzy calm rude distraction and wildness wou'd become a silent Listener there 's such a sweet serenity in thy face such innocence and softness in thy eyes should desart Savages but gaze on thee sure they would forget their native forest wildness and be inspir'd with easy-Gentleness Most certainly this God-like power thou hast Why then Oh tell me in the Agony of my soul why must those charms that bring Tranquility and peace to all make me alone a wild unseemly raver Why has it contrary effects on me Oh! all I act and say is perfect madness Yet this is the least unaccountable part of my most wretched Story Oh! I must ner'e behold thy Lovely face again for if I should sure I should blush my soul away no no I must not nor ever more believe thy dear deluding Vows Never thy charming perjur'd Oaths after a violation like to this Oh Heauen what have I done Yet by that Heaven I swear I dâ—re not ask my soul lest it inform me how I was to blame unless that fatal Minute would instruct me how to revenge my wrongs upon my heart my fond betraying heart Despair and Madness seize me darkness and horror hide me from humane sight after an easiness like this What to yield To yield my Honour Betray the secrets of my Virgin wishes My new desires my unknown shameful flame Hell and Death Where got I so much confidence Where learnt the harden'd and unblushing folly To wish was such a fault as is a crime unpardonable to own to shew desire is such a sin in vertue as must deserve reproach from all the world but I unlucky I have not only betray'd all these but with a transport void of sense and shame I yield to thy Armes I 'll not indure the thought By Heaven I cannot there 's something more than rage that animates that thought some Magick Spell that in the midst of all my sense of Shame keeps me from true repentance this angers me and makes me know my Honour but a fantom Now I could curse again my Youth and Love but Oh! when I have done alas Philander I find my self as guilty as before I cannot make one firm resolve against the or if I do when I consider thee they weigh not all one lovely Hair of thine 'T is all in vain the Charming Cause remains Philander's still as lovely as before 't is him I must remove from my fond Eyes and heart him I must banish from my touch my smell and every other sense by Heaven I cannot bear the mighty pressure I cannot see his Eyes and touch his Hands smell the perfume every Pore of his breaths forth tast thy soft kisses hear thy Charming Voice but I am all on flame NO 't is these I must exclaim on not my Youth 't is they debauch my soul no natural propensity in me to yield or to admit of such destructive fires Fain I would put it off but 't will not do I am the Aggressor still else why is not every living Maid undone that does but touch or see thee Tell me why No the fault 's in me and thou art innocent Were but my Soul less delicate were it less sensible of what it loves and likes in thee I yet were dully happy but Oh there is a nicety there so charm'd so apprehensive of thy Beauties as has betray'd me to unrest for ever Yet something I will do to tame this lewd Betrayer of my right and it shall plead no more in thy behalf no more no more disperse the joys which it conceives through every 〈◊〉 cold and insensible by nature to kindle new desires there No more shall fill me with unknown curosity no I will in spight of all the Perfumes that dwell about thee in spight of all the Arts thou hast of Looking of Speaking and of Touching I will I say assume my native temper I will be calm be cold and unconcern'd as I have been to all the world But to Philander The Almighty Power he has is unaccountable By yonder breaking day that opens in the East opens to see my shame I swear By that great ruler of the day the Sun by that Almighty power that rules them both I swear I swear Philander Charming Lovely Youth Thou art the first e're kindl'd soft desires about my soul thou art the first that ever did inform me that there was such a sort of wish about me I thought the vanity of being belov'd made up the greatest parâ— of the satisfaction 't was joy 〈◊〉 see my Lovers sigh about me adore and praise me and increase my Pride by every look by every word and action and him I fancy'd best I favour'd most and he past for the happy fortune him I have suffer'd too to kiss and press me to tell me all his Tale of Love and sigh which I would listen to with Pride and Pleasure permitted it and smil'd him kind returns nay by my life then thought I lov'd him too thought I could have been content to have past my life at this gay rate with this fond hoping Lover and thought no farther than of being great having rich Coaches showing Equipage to pass my hours in dressing in going to the Opera's and the Tower make Visits where hist be seen at Balls and having still the vanity to think the men would Gaze and Languish where I came and all the Women envy me I thought no farther on But thou Philander hast made me take new measures I now can think of nothing but of thee I loath the sound of Love from any other voice and Conversation makes my soul impatient and does not only dull me into Melancholly but perplexes me out of all humour out of all patient sufferance and I am never so well pleas'd when from Philander as when I am retir'd and curse my Character and Figure in the world because it permits me not to prevent being visited one thought of thee is worth the worlds injoyment I hate to dress I hate to be agreable to any Eyes but thine I hate the noise of Equipage and Crowds and would be more content to live with thee in some lone shaded Cottage than be a Queen and hinder'd by that Grandure one moments conversation with Philander Maist thou despise and loath me a Curse the greatest that I can invent if this be any thing but real honest truth No no Philander I find I never lov'd till now I understood it not nor knew not what those Sighs and Pressings meant which others gave me yet every speaking glance thy Eyes put on inform my soul what 't is they plead and languish for If you but touch my hand my breath grows faint and short my blood glows in my face and runs with an unusual warmth through every
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
argu'd someunusual motion in you then cried begon I cannot answer flattery good Heaven what can you mean but e're he got to the farther end of the Grove where still you walk'd a solemn death-like pace he saw Foscario paâ—s him unattended and looking back saw your rancounter saw all that hapned between you then â—an to your assistance just as you parrâ—ed still you were roughly sullen and neither took notice of his proffer'd service nor that you needed it although you bled apace he offer'd you his aid to tie your wounds up but you reply'd begon and do not trouble me Oh cou'd you imagin I cou'd live with this neglect cou'd you my Philander Oh what wou'd you have me do if nothing but my death or ruin can suffice for my attonement I 'll sacrifice either with joy yes I 'll proclaim my passion aloud proclaim it at Bellfont own the dear criminal flame fly to my Philander's aid and be undone for thus I cannot no I will not live I rave I languish â—aint and dy with pain say that you live oh say but that you love say you are coming to the Mâ—adow behind the Garden-grove in order to your approach to my Arms Oh swear that all your Vows are true oh swear that you are Silvia's and in return I 'll swear that I am yours without reserve whatever fate is destin'd for your Silvia I die with impatience either to see or hear from you I fear 't is yet too soon for the first oh therefore save me with the last or I shall rave and wildly betray all by coming to Dorilus his Farm or seeking you where e're you cruelly have hid your self from Silvia To Silvia AH Silvia how have you in one day destroy'd that repose I have been designing so many years oh thou false but wondrous fair creature why did Heaven ordain so much beauty and so much perfidy so much excellent wit and so much cunning things inconsistent in any but in Silvia in one divine frame but to undo Mankind yes Silvia thou wert born to Murther more believing men than the unhappy and undone Philander Tell me thou charming Hypocrite why hast thou thus deluded me why oh why was I made the miserable object of thy fatal Vow breach What have I done thou lovely fickle Maid that thou shoud'st be my murtherer and why dost thou call me from the grave with such dear soft commands as wou'd awake the very quiet dead to torture me anew after my eyes curse on their fatal â—ense were too sure witnesses of thy infidelity Oh fickle Maid how much more kind 't had been to have sent me down to earth with plain heart breaking truthâ—than a mean subtile falshood that has undone thy credit in my soul truth Though 't were cruel had been generous in thee though thou wert perjur'd false for sworn thou shou ' dst not have added to it that yet baser sin of treachery you might have been provok'd to have kill'd your friend but it were base to stab him unawares defenceless and unwarn'd smile in my face and strike me to the heart sooth me with all the tenderest marks of passion â—ay with an invitation too that wou'd have gain'd a credit in one that had been jilted o're the world flatter'd and ruin'd by all thy cozening sex and all to send me vain and pleas'd away only to gain a day to entertain another Lover in Oh fantastick woman destructive glorious thing what needed this deceit had'st thou not with unwoâ—ted industry perswaded me to have hasted to Cesario by Heaven I 'd dully liv'd the tedious day in traversing the flowry Meads and silent Groves laid by some murmurring spring had sigh'd away the often counted hours and thought on Silvia till the blest minute of my ravishing approach to her had been a fond believing and impos'd on Coxcomb and ne're had dreamâ—t the treachery ne're seen the snake that bask'd beneath the gay the smiling flowers securely thou 〈◊〉 cozâ—n'd me reap'd thy new joys and made my Rival sport at the expence of all my happiness Yes yes your hasty importunity first gave me jealousie made me impatient with Cesario and excuse my self to him by a hundred inventions neglected all to hasten back where all my joys where all my killing fears and torments resided but when came how was I welcom'd with your confirming Billet yes Silvia how let Dorillus inform you between whose Arms I fell dead shame on me dead and the first thought my Soul conceiv'd when it return'd was not to dy in jest I answer'd your commands and hastned to the Grove where by all that 's sacred by thy self I swear a dearer oath than heaven and earth can furnish me with I did resolve to die but oh how soon my soft my silent passion turn'd to loud rage rage easier to be born to dire despair to fury and revenge for there I saw Foscario my young my fair my rich and powerfull Rival he hasted through the Grove all warm and glowing from the fair false ones arms the blushes which thy eyes had kindled were fresh upon his cheeks his looks were sparkling with the new blown fire his heart so briskly burnt with a glad a peacefull smile drest all his face trick'd like a Bridegroom while he perfum'd the air as he past through it none but the man that loves and dotes like me is able to express my sense of rage I quickly turn'd the Sword from my own heart to send it to his elevated one giving him only time to draw that was the word and I confess your spark was wondrous ready brisk with success vain with your new-given favours he only cry'd if Silvia 〈◊〉 the quarrel I am prepar'd and he maintain'd your cause with admirable courage I confess though chance or fortune luckily gave me his Sword which I wou'd fain have rendred back and that way wou'd have died but he refused to arm his hand a new against the man that had not took advantage of him and thus we parted Then 't was that malice supported me with life and told me I shou'd scorn to dy for so perfidious and so ruinous a creature but charming and bewitching still 't was then I borrow'd so much calmness of my lessening anger to read the Billet o're your Page had brought me which melted all the rough remaining part of rage away into â—ame languishment Ah Silvia this heart of mine was never form'd by Nature to hold out long in stubborn fullenness I am already on the excusing part and fain wou'd think thee innocent and just deceive me prettily I know thou canst sooth my fond heart and ask how it cou'd harbour a faithless thought of Silvia do flatter me protest a little swear my Rival saw thee not say he was there by chance say any thing or if thou sawst him say with how cold a look he was receiv'd oh Silvia calm my soul deceive it flatter it and I shall still believe and love thee on
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
indifferent if nauseated with repeated joy and having made a full discovery of all that was but once imaginary when fancy rendred every thing much finer than experience oh how were I undone for me by all the inhabitants of Heaven I swear by thy dear charming self and by thy vows thou so transcend'st all fancy all dull imagination all wondring idea's of what Man was to me that I believe thee more than humane some charm divine dwells in thy touches besides all these thy charming look thy love the beauties that adorn thee and thy wit I swear there is a secret in Nature that renders thee more dear and fits thee to my Soul do not ask it me let it suffice 't is so and is not to be told yes by it I know thou art the man created for my Soul and he alone that has the power to touch it my eyes and fancy might have been diverted I might have favour'd this above the other prefer'd that face that wit or shape or air but to concern my Soul to make that capable of something more than love 't was only necessary that Philander shou'd be form'd and form'd just as he is that shape that face that height that dear proportion I wou'd not have a feature not a look not a hair alter'd just as thou art thou art an Angel to me and I without considering what I am what I might be or ought without considering the fatal circumstances of thy being married a thought that shockâ— my Soul when e're it enters or whate're other thought that does concern my happiness or quiet have fixt my Soul to Love and my Philander to love thee with all thy disadvantages and glory in my ruine these are my firm resolves these are my thoughts But thou art gone with all the Trophees of my love and honour gay with the spoils which now perhaps are unregarded The mysâ—ery's now reveal'd the mighty â—ecret's known and now will be no wonder or surprize But here my vows by all on which my life depends â— swear if ever I perceive the least decay of love in thee if eâ—re thou break'st an Oath a vow a word if e're I see repentance in thy face or coldness in thy eyes which Heaven divert by that bright Heav'n I 'll dy you may believe me since I had the courage and durst love thee and after that durst sacrifice my fame lose all to justifie that love will when a change so fatal shall arrive find courage too to die yes dy Philander assure thy self I will and therefore have a care of Silvia To Philander OH where shall I find repose where seek a silent quiet but in my last retreat the Grave I say not this my dearest Philander that I do or ever can repent my love though the fatal source of all For already we are betray'd our race of joys our course of stoln delight is ended e're begun I chid alas at morning's dawn I chid you to begon and yet Heaven knows I grasp'd you fast and rather would have died than parted with you I saw the day came on and curst its busie light and still you cried one blessed minute more before I part with all the joys of life and hours were minutes then and day grew old upon us unawares 't was all abroad and had call'd up all the houshould spies to pry into the secrets of our loves and thou by some tale-bearing flatterer wert seen in passing through the Garden the news was carried to my Father and a mighty consult has been held in my Mother's apartment who now refuses to see me while I possest with Love and full of wonder at my new change lull'd with dear contemplation for I am alter'd much since yesterday however thou hast charm'd me imagining none knew our theft of love but only Heaven and Mâ—linda But oh alas I had no sooner finish'd this inclos'd but my Father enter'd my Cabinet but 't was with such a look as soon inform'd me all was betray'd to him a while he gaz'd on me with fierceness in his eyes which so surpriz'd and frighted me that I â—ll pale and trembling threw my â—â—lf at his feet he seeing my disorder took me up and fixt so stedfast and so sad a look on me as wou'd have broken any heart but mine supported with Philander's image I sigh'd and wept and silently attended when the storm shou'd fall which turn'd into a shower so soft and piercing I almost died to see it at last delivering me a paper here cried he with a sigh and trembling interrupted voice read what I cannot tell thee Oh Silvia cried he thou joy and hope of all my aged years thou object of my Dotage how hast thou brought me to the Grave with sorrow so left me with the Paper in my hand Speechless unmov'd a while I stood till he awak'd me by new sighs and cries for passing through my Chamber by chance or by design he cast hâ—s melancholy eyes towards my Bed and saw the dear disorder there unusual then cried Oh wretched Silvia thou art lost and left me almost fainting the Letter I soon found was one you'd sent from Doriâ—â—â—â— his 〈◊〉 this morning after you had parted from me which has betray'd us all but how it came into their hands I since have understood for as I said you were seen passing through the Garden from thence to be confirm'd they dog'd you to the Farm and waiting there your motions saw Dorillus come forth with a Letter in his hand which though he soon conceal'd yet not so soon but it was taken notice of when hasting to Bellfont the nearest way they gave an account to Monsieur my Father who going out to Dorillus commanded him to deliver him the Letter his Vassal durst not disobey but yielded it with such dispute and reluctancy as he durst maintain with a man so great and powerfull before Dorillus return'd you had taken horse so that you are a stranger to our misfortune What shall I do where shall I seek a refuge from the danger that threatens us a sad and silent grief appears throughout â—eâ—â—font and the face of all things are chang'd yet none knows the unhappy cause but Moâ—sieur my Father and Madam my Mother Melinda and my self Melinda and my Page are both dismist from waiting on me as supposed confidents of this dear secret and strangers creatures of Madam the Countess put about me Oh Philander what can I do thy advice or I am lost but how alas shall I either convey these to thee or receive any thing from thee unless some God of Love in pity of our miseries shou'd offer us his aid I 'll try to corrupt my new Boy I see good nature pity and generosity in his looks he 's well-born too and may be honest Thus far Philander I had writ when Supper was brought me for yet my Parents have not deign'd to let me come into their presence those that serve me tell me Mertilla is this
Afternoon arriv'd at Bellfoâ—t all 's mighty closely carried in the Countesses apartment I tremble with the thought of what will be the result of the great consultation I have been tempting of the Boy but I perceive they are strictly charg'd not to obey me he says against his will he shall betray me for they will have â—im search'd but he has promis'd me to see one of the weeders who working in the Garden into which my Window opens may from thence receive what I shall let down if it be true I shall get this fatal knowledge to you that you may not only prepare for the worst but contrive to set at liberty the unfortunate Silvia This was Writ in the Cover to both the foregoing Letters to Philander PHilander all that I dreaded all that I fear'd is fallen upon me I have been arraign'd and convicted three Judges severe as the three infernal ones â—ate in condemnation on me a Father a Mother and a Sister the fact alas was too clearly prov'd and too many circumstantial truths appear'd against me for me to plead Not guilty But Oh Heavens had you seen the tears and heard the Prayers threats reproaches and upbraâ—dings these from an injur'd Sister those my â—heart-broken Parents a tender Mother here a railing and reviling Sister there an angry Father and a guilty conscience thou woud'st have wondred at my fortitude my courage and my resolution and all from Love For surely I had died had not thy love thy powerfull love supported me through all the accidents of life and fate that can and will support me in the midst of all their clamours and their railings I had from that a secret and a soft repose within that whisper'd me Philander loves me still discarded and renoune'd by my fond Parents Love still replies Philander still will own thee thrown from thy Mother's and thy Sister's arms Philander's still are open to receive thee And though I rave and almost dy to see them grieve to think that I am the fatal cause who makes so sad confusion in our Family for oh 't is pitious to behold my Sister's sighs and tears my Mother's sad despair my Father's raging and his weeping by melancholy turns Yet even these deplorable objects that wou'd move the most obdurate stubborn heart to pity and repentance render not mine relenting and yet I 'm wondrous pitifull by nature and I can weep and faint to see the sad effects of my loose wanton love yet cannot find repentance for the dear charming sin and yet shoud'st thou behold my Mother's languishment no bitter words proceeding from her lips no tears fall from her down-caft eyes but silent and sad as death she sits and will not view the light shoud'st thou I say behold it thou woud'st if not repent yet grieve that thou hadst lov'd me Sure love has quite confounded nature in me I cou'd not else behold this fatal ruine without revenging it upon my stubborn heart a thousand times a-day I make new vows against the God of Love but 't is too late and I 'm as often perjur'd Oh shou'd the Gods revenge the broken vows of Lovers what Love-sick man what maid betray'd like me but wou'd be damn'd a thousand times for every little love-quarrel every kind resentment makes us swear to love no more and every smile and every flattering softness from the dear injurer make us perjur'd Let all the force of vertue honour interest joyn with my suffering Parents to perswade me to cease to love Philander yet let him but appear let him but look on me with those dear charming eyes let him but sigh or press me to his fragrant cheek fold me and cry ah Silvia can you quit me no you must not you shall not nay I know you cannot remember you are mine there is such eloquence in those dear words when utter'd with a voice so tender and so passionate that I believe 'em irresistable alas I find 'em so and easily break all the feebler vows I make against thee yes I must be undone perjur'd forsworn incorrigible unnatural disobedient and any thing rather than not Philander's turn then my Soul from these domestick melancholy objects and look abroad look for forward for a while on charming prospects look on Philander the dear the young the amorous Philander whose very looks infuse a tender joy throughout the Soul and chase all cares all sorrows and anxious thoughts from thence whose wanton play is softer than that of young fledg'd Angels and when he looks and sighs and speaks and touches he is a very God Where art thou oh thou miracle of youth thou charming dear undoer now thou hast gain'd the glory of the conquest thou slightest the rifled captive What not a line two tedious days are past and no kind power relieves me with a word or any tidings of Philander and yet thou mayst have sent but I shall never see it till they raise up fresh witnesses against me I cannot think thee wavering or forgetfull for if I did surely thou knowst my heart so well thou canst not think 't wou'd live to think another thought Confirm my kind belief and send to me There is a Gate well known to thee through which thou passest to Bellfont 't is in the road about half a league from hence an old Man opens it his Daughter weeds in the Garden and will convey this to thee as I have order'd her by the same messenger thou may'st return thine and early as she comes I 'll let her down a string by which way unperceiv'd I shall receive 'em from her I 'll say no more nor instruct you how you shall preserve your Silvia To Silvia That which was left in her hands by Monsieur her Father in her Cabinet My adorable Silvia I Can no more describe to thee the torment with which I part from Bellfont than I can that Heaven of joy I was rais'd to last night by the transporting effects of thy wondrous love both are to excess and both killing but in different kinds Oh Silvia by all my unspeakable raptures in thy arms by all thy charms of beauty too numerous and too ravishing for fancy to imagin I swear by this last night by this dear new discovery thou hast increas'd my love to that vast height it has undone my peace all my repose is gone this dear dear night has ruin'd me it has confirm'd me now I must have Silvia and cannot live without her no not a day an hour to save the world unlesâ— I had the intire possession of my lovely Maid Ah Silvia I am not that indifferent dull Lover that can be rais'd by one beauty to an appetite and satisfie it with another I cannot carry the dear flame you kindle to quench it in the imbraces of Mertilla no by the eternal powers he that preâ—ends to love and loves at that course rate needs fear no danger from that passion he ne're was born to live or by for love Silvia Mertilla
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
than death What accident thou dear dear man has hapned to prevent thee from pursuing my directions and staying for me at the gate where have I miss'd thee thou joy of my soul by what dire mistake have I lost thee and where oh where art thou my â—harming Lover I sought thee every where but like the languishing abandon'd Mistress in the Canticles I sought thee but I found thee not no bed of Roses wou'd discover thee I saw no print of thy dear shape nor heard no amorous sigh that cou'd direct me I ask'd the wood and springs complain'd and call'd on thee through all the Groves but they confess'd thee not nothing but Echo's answer'd me and when I cried Philander cried Philander thus search'd I till the coming night and my increasing fears made me resolve for flight which soon we did and soon arriv'd at Paris but whither then to go Heaven knows I cou'd not tell for I was almost naked friendless and â—orlorn at last consulting Brilljard what to do after a thousand revolutions he concluded to trust me with a sister he had who was Married to a 〈◊〉 of the Guard de Core he chang'd my name and made mepass for a â—ortune he had stolâ— but oh no welcomes nor my saâ—e retreat were sufficient to repoâ—e me all the insuing night for I had no news of Philander no not a dream inform'd me a thousand fears and jealousies have kept me waking and Brilljard who has been all night in pursuit of thee is now returnâ—d succesless and distracted as thy Silvia for duty and generosity has almost the same effects in him with love and tenderness and jeâ—lousie in me and since 〈◊〉 affords no news of thee which sure it wou'd if thou wert in it for oh the Sun might hide himself with as 〈◊〉 ease as great Philander he is râ—solv'd to search St. 〈◊〉 Wood and all the adjacent Cottages and Groves he thinks that you not knowing of my escape may yâ—t be waiting thereabouts since quitting the Chaâ—â—ot for fear of being seen you might be so far advanc'd into the Wood as not to â—â—nd the way back to the Thickeâ— where thâ— Charioâ— waited 't is thus 〈…〉 and flatters my poor 〈◊〉 that fain wou'd think 〈…〉 or if thou be'st not but curst be all such thoughts and far from Silvia's Soul no no thou art not false it cannot be thou art a God and art unchâ—ngeable I know by some mistake thou art attending me as wild and impatient as I perhaps thou think'st me false and think'st I have not courage to pursue my love and fly and thou perhaps art waiting for the hour wherein thou think'st I 'll give my self away to Foscâ—rio Oh cruel and unkind to think I lov'd so lightly to think I wou'd attend that fatal hour no Philander no faithless dear inchanter Last night the Eve to my intended Wedding-day having repos'd my Soul by my resolves for flight and only waiting the lucky minute for escape I set a willing hand to every thing that was preparing for the ceremony of the ensuing morning with that pretence I got me early to my Chamber tried on a thousand dresses and ask'd a thousand questions all impertinent which wou'd do best which look'd most gay and rich then drest my Gown with Jewels deck'd my apartment up and left nothing undone that might secure 'em both of my being pleas'd and of my stay nay and to give the less suspiâ—ion I undress'd my self even to my under Peticoat and Night-gown I wou'd not take a Jewel not a Pistol but left my Women finishing my work and carelesly and thus undrest walkâ—d towards the Garden and while every one was busie in their office getting my self out of sight I posted o're the Meadow to the Wood as swift as Dapâ—ne from the God of day till I arriv'd most luckily where I found the Chariot waiting attended by Brilljard of whom when I all fainting and breathless with my swift flight demanded his Lord he lifted me into the Chariot and cried a little farther Madam you will find him for he for fear of making a discovery took yonder shaded path towards which we went but no dear vision of my Love appear'd and thus my charming Lover you have my kind adventure send me some tidings back that you are found that you are well and lastly that you are mine or this that shou'd have been my wedding day will see it self that of the death of Silvia Paris Thursday from my Bed for want of Cloaths or rather news from Philander To Silvia MY life my Silvia my eternal joy art thou then safe and art thou reserv'd for Philander am I so blest by Heaven by love and my dear charming Maid then leâ— me dy in peace since I have liv'd to see all that my Soul desires â—n Silvia's being mine perplex not thy soft heart with fears or jealousies nor think so basely so poorly of my love to need more oaths or vows yet to confirm thee I wou'd swear my breath away but oh it needs not here take then no carâ— my lovely dear turn not thy charming eyes or thoughts back on afflicting objects oh think not on what thou hast abandoned but what thou art arriv'd to look forward on the joys of love and Youth for I will dedicate all my remaining life to render thine serene and glad and yet my Silvia thou art so dear to me so wondrous pretious to my Soul that I in my extravagance of love I fear shall grow a troublesome and wearying Coxcomb shall dread every look thou givest away from me a smile will make me rave a sigh 〈◊〉 touch make me commit a murtheâ— on the happy slave or my own jealous heart but all the world besides is Silvia's all but another Lover but I rave and run too fast away ages must pass a tedious term of years before I can be jealous or â—onceive thou canst be weary of Philander I 'll be so fond so doating and so playing thou shalt not have an idle minute to throw away a look in or a thought on any other no no I have thee now and will maintain my right by dint and force of love oh I am wild to see thee but Silvia I am wounded do not be frighted though for 't is not much or dangerous buâ— very troublesome since it permits me not to fly to Silvia but she must come to me in order to it Brilljard has a Bill on my Goldsmith in Paris for a thousand Pistols to buy thee something to put on any thing that 's ready and he will conduct thee to me for I shall rave my self into a â—eaver if I see thee not to day I cannot live without thee now for thou' rt my life my everlasting charmer I have order'd Brilljard to get a Chariot and some unknown Livery for thee and I think the continuance of passing for what he has already rendred thee will do very well till I have taken farther care of thy
be false If the dear Man be perjur'd take take kind Heaven the life you have preserv'd but for a greater proof of your revenge And at that word she sunk into his Arms which he hastily extended as she was falling both to save her from harm and to give himself the pleasure of grasping the lovely'st body in the World to his Bosome on which her fair face declin'd cold dead and pale but so transporting was the pleasure of that dear burden that he forgot to call for or to use any aid to bring her back to life but trembling with his love and eager passion he took a thousand joys he kist a thousand times her Luke-warm lips suckt her short sighs and ravisht all the sweets her Bosome which but guarded with a loose Night Gown yielded his impatient touches Oh Heaven who can express the pleasures he receiv'd because no other way he ever cou'd arrive to so much dareing 't was all beyond his hope loose were her Robes insensible the Maid and love had made him insolent he rov'd he kist he gaz'd without controul forgetting all respect of persons or of place and quite despairing by fair means to win her resolves to take this luckey opportunity the door he knew was fast for the Counsel she had to ask him admitted of no lookers on so that at his enterance she had secur'd that pass for him her self and being near her Bed when she fell into his Arms at this last daring thought he lifts her thither and lays her gently down and while he did so in one Minute ran o're all the killing joys he had been witness to which she had given Philander on which he never paws'd but urg'd by a Cupid altogether malicious and wicked he resolves his cowardly Conquest when some kinder God awaken'd Silvia and brought Octavio to the Chamber door who having been us'd to a freedom which was permitted to none but himself with Antonett her woman waiting for admittance after having knockt twice softly Brilljard heard it and redoubl'd his disorder which from that of Love grew to that of surprise he knew not what to do whether to resuse answering or to re-establish the reviveing sense of Silvia in this moment of perplexing thought he fail'd not however to set his hair in order and ajust him tho there were no need of it and steping to the door after having rais'd Silvia leaning her head on her hand on her bed side he gave admittance to Octavio but oh Heaven how was he surpriz'd when he saw it was Octavio his heart with more force than before redoubl'd its beats that one might easily perceive every stroke by the motion of his Cravate he blusht which to a complexion perfectly fair as that of Briljard who wants no Beauty either in face or person was the more discoverable add to this his trembling and you may easily imagine what a suger he represented himself to Octavio Who almost as much surpriz'd as himself to find the Goddess of his Vows and Devotions with a young Endimion a lone a door shut too her Gown loose which from the late fit she was in and Briljards rape upon her Bosom was still open and discover'd a World of unguarded Beauty which she knew not was in view with some other disorders of her head Cloaths gave him in a moment a thousand false apprehensions Antonett was no less surpriz'd so that all had their part of amazement but the innocent Silvia whose Eyes were beautifi'd with a melancholly calm which almost fet the generous Lover at ease and took away his new fears however he cou'd not chuse but ask Briljard what the matter was with him he look so out of countenance and trembled so he told him how Silvia had been and what extream frights she had possest him with and told him the occasion which the lovely Silvia with her eyes and sighs assented to and Brilljard departed how well pleas'd you may imagine or with what gusto he left her with the lovely Octavio whom he perceiv'd too well was a Lover in the disguise of a Friend But there are in lovethose wonderful Lovers who can quench the Fire one Beauty kindles with some other Object and as much in Love as Brilljard was he found Antonett an Antidote that dispell'd the grosser part of it for she was in Love with our Amorous friend and courted him with that passion those of that Country do almost all handsom Strangers and one convenient principle of the Religion of that Country is to think it no sin to be kind while they are single Women tho otherwise when Wives they are just enough nor does a Woman that manages her affairs thus discreetly meet with any reproach of this humour was our Attonett who persu'd her Lover out half jealous there might be some amarous intrigue between her Lady and him which she sought in vain by all the feable Arts of her Countries Sex to get from him while on the other side he believing she might be of use in the farther discovery he desir'd to make between Octavio and Silvia not only told her she her self was the Object of his wishes but gave her a substantial proof on 't and told her his design after having her Honour for security that she wou'd be secret the best Pledge a man can take of a Woman After she had promis'd to betray all things to him she departed to her affairs and he to giving his Lord an account of Silvia as he desir'd in a Letter which came to him with that of Silvia and which was thus Philander to Briljard I Doubt not but you will wonder that all this time you have not heard of me nor indeed can I well excuse it since I have been in a place whence with ease I cou'd have sent every Post but a new affair of Gallantry has engag'd my thoughtful hours not that I find any passion there that has abated one sigh for Silvia but a mans hours are very dull when undiverted by an intrigue of some kind or other especially to a heart young and gay as mine is and which would not if possible bend under the fatigues of more serious thought and business I shou'd not tell you this but that I wou'd have you feign all the dilatory excuses that possible you can to hinder Silvia's coming to me while I remain in this Town where I design to make my abode but a short time and had not staid at all but for this stop to my journey and I scorn to be vanquish'd without taking my revenge 't is a sally of Youth no more a flash that blazes for a while and will go out with enjoyment I need not bid you keep this knowledge to your self for I have had too good a confirmation of your faith and friendship to doubt you now and believe you have too much respect for Silvia to occasion her any disquiet I long to know how she takes my absence send me at large of all that
was a Husband but that was a secret to Octavio but she continu'd speaking And cry'd no cou'd I be brought to yield to any but Philander I own I find Charms enough in Octavio to make a conquest but since the possession of that dear man is all I aâ—k of Heaven I charge my Soul with a Crime when I but hear love from any other therefore I conjure you if you have any satisfaction in my conversation never to speak of Love more to me for if you do Honour will oblige me to make vows against seeing you All the freedoms of friendship I 'le allow Give you the Liberties of a Brother admit you alone by Night or any way but that of Love but that 's a reâ—erve of my Soul which is only for Philander and the only one that ever shall be kept from Octavio She ended speaking and rais'd him with a smile and he with a sigh told her she must command then she fell to telling him how she had sent for Briljard and all the Discourse that past with the reason of her falling into a swound in which she continu'd a moment or two and while she told it she blusht with a secret fear that in that Trance some freedoms might be taken which she durst not confess but while she spoke our still more passionate Lover devour'd her with his eyes fixt his very Soul upon her Charms of speaking and looking and was a thousand times urg'd by transporting passion ready to break all her dictates and vow himself her Eternal Slave but he fear'd the result and therefore kept himself within the bounds of seeming friendship so that after a thousand things she said of Philander he took his leave to go to Dinâ—er but as he was going out he saw Brilljard enter who as I said had forgot he left Octavio with her but in a moment recollecting himself he blusht at the apprehension that they might make his disorder the subject of their Discourse so what with that and the sight of the dear object of his late disappointed pleasures he had much ado to assume an assurance to approach But Octavio past out and gave him a little release Silvia's confusion was almost equal to his for she lookt on him as a Ravisher but how to find that Truth which she was very curious to know she call'd up all the Arts of Women to instruct her in by threats she knew 't was vain therefore she assum'd an Artifice which indeed was almost a stranger to her heart that of gilting him out of a secret which she knew he wanted generosity to give handsomely and meeting him with a smile which she forc'd she cry'd How now Briljard are yon so â—aint hearted a Souldier you cannot see a Lady dye without being terrified Rather Madam replyed he blushing a new so soft hearted I cannot see the loveliest person in the World â—ainting in my Arms without being disorder'd with grief and fear beyond the power of many days to resettle again At which she approacht him who stood near the door and shutting it she took him by the hand and smiling cry'd And had you no other business for your heart but grief and fear when a fair Lady throws her self into your Arms it ought to have had some kinder effect on a person of Brilljards youth and complexion And while she spoke this she held him by the wrist and found on the suddain his pulse to beat more high and his heart to heave his bosom with sighs which now he no longer took care to hide but with a transported joy he cry'd Oh Madam do not urge me to a confession that must undo me without making it criminal by my discovery of it you know I am your slave when she with a pretty wonâ— dering smile cry'd what a Lover too and yet so dull Oh Charming Silvia says he and falling on his knees give my profound respect a kinder Name to which she answer'd You that know your sentiments may best instruct â—e by what Name to call em and you Brilljard may do it without fear You saw I did not struggle in your Arms nor strove I to defend the kisses which you gave Oh Heavens cry'd he transported with what she said is it possible that you cou'd know of my presumption and favour it too I will no longer then curse those unlucky Stars that sent Octavio just in the blessed Minute to snatch me from my Heav'n the lovely Victim lay ready for the Sacrifice all prepared to offer my hands my eyes my Lips were tir'd with pleasure but yet they were not fatisâ—iâ—d oh there was joys beyond those ravishments of which one kind Minute more had made me absolute Lord Yes and the next said she had sent this to your heart Snatching a Pen-knife that lay on her â—oylite where she had been writing which she offerâ—d so near to his bosome that he believ'd himself already pierc'd so sensibly killing were her words her motion and her look he started from her and she threw away the Knife and walking a turn or two about the Chamber while he stood immovable with his eyes â—ixt to earth and his thoughts on nothing but a wild confusion of which he vow'd afterwards he cou'd give no account of But as she turn'd she beheld him with some compassion and remembering how he had it in his power to expose her in a strange Country and own her for a wife she believ'd it necessary to hide her resentments and cry'd Brilljard for tâ—e friendship your Lord has for you I forgive you but have a care yon never raise your thoughts to a presumption of that Nature more Do not hope I will ever fall below Philanders Love go and repent your Crime and expect all things else from my favour At this he leâ—t her with a bow that had some mallice in it and she return'd into her dressing Room After dinner Octavio writes her this Letter which his Page brought Octavio to Silvia Madam T Is true that in obedience to your commands I begg'd your pardon for the confession I made you of my passion But since you cou'd not but see the contradiction of my tongue in my eyes and hear it but too well confim'd by my sighs why will you confine me to the formalities of a silent languishment unless to increase my flame with my pain You conjure me to see you often and at the same time forbid me speaking of my passion and this bold intruder comes to tell you now that 't is impossible to obey the first without disobliging the last and since the crime of adoring you exceeds my disobedience in not waiting on you be pleas'd at least to pardon that fault which my profound respect to the lovely Sylvia compells me to commit for 't is impossible to see you and not give you an occasion of reproaching me If I cou'd make a truce with my eyes and like amortifi'd Capuchion look alwayes downwards not daring to behold the
tell you my hearts sad Story But she reply'd with a sigh it is not generously done Octavio thus to pursue a poor unguarded Maid left to your Care your promises of Friendship Ah will you use Philander with such treachery Silvia said he my Flame 's so just and reasonable that I dare even to him pronounce I love you and after that dare love you on And wouâ—d you said she to satisfie a little short liv'd passion forfeit those vows you 've made of Friendship to Philander That heart that loves you Silvia he replyed cannot be guilty of so base a thought Philander is my Friend and as he is so shall know the dearest secrets of my Soul I shou'd believe my self indeed ungrateful continued he where eâ—re I lov'd shou'd I not tell Philander he told me frankly all his Soul his loves his griefs his Treasons and escapes and in return I 'le pay him back with mine and do you Imagine said she that he wou'd permit your love how shou'd he hinder me reply'd he I do believe said she he 'd forfeit all his safety and his friendship and fight ye then I 'd defend my self said he if he were so ungrateful While they thus argued Silvia had her thoughts a part on the little stratagems that Women in love sometimes make use of and Octavio no sooner told her he would send Philander word of his Love but she imagin'd that such a knowledge might retrieve the heart of her Lover if indeed it were on the wing and revive the dying Embers in his Soul as usually it does from such occasions and on the otherside she thought that she might more allowably receive Octavio's addresses when they were with be perâ—mission of Philander if he â—ou'd love so ill as to permit it and if he cou'd not she shou'd have the joy to undeceive her fears of his inconstancy tho she banisht for ever the agreeable Octavio so that on Octavio's farther urging the necessity of his giving Philander that sure mark of his friendship she permitted him to write which he immediately did on her Table where there stood a little Silver Scrutore which contain'd all things for his purpose Octavio to Philander My Lord SInce I have vow'd you my Eternal friendship and that I absolutely believe my self honour'd with that of yours I think my self oblig'd by those powerful tyes to let you know my heart not only now as that friend from whom I ought to conceal nothing but as a Rival too whom in honour I ought to treat as a generous one perhaps you will be so unkind as to say I cannot be a friend and a Rival at the same time and that almighty love that sets the world at odds chases all things from the heart where that reigns to establish it self the more absolutely there but my Lord Iavow mine a Love of that good Nature that can indure the equalsway of friendship where like two perfect Friends they support each others Empire there nor can the glory of one Eclipse that of the other but both like the notion we have of the Deity tho two distinct passions make but one in my Soul and tho friendship first enter'd 't was in vain I call'd it to my aid at the first soft invasion of Silvia's power and you my charming friend are the most oblig'd to pitty me who already knows so well the force of her beauty I wou'd fain have you think I strove at first with all my reason against the irrisistible lustre of her eyes And at the first assaults of Love I gave him not a welcome to my bosome but like slaves unus'd to fetters I grew sullen with my chains and wore 'em for your sake uneasily I thought it base to look upon the Mistress of my friend with wishing eyes but softer Love soon furnisht me with arguments to justifie my claim since Love is not the choice but the face of the Soul who seldom regards the object lov'd as 't is but as it wishes to have it be and then kindfancy makes it soon the same Love that Almighty Creator of something from nothing forms a Wit a Hero or a Beauty Vertue good Humour Honour any excellence when oftenimes there 's neither in the Object but where the agreeing world has fixt all these and 't is by all resolv'd whether they love or not that this is she you ought no more Philander to upbraid my Flame than to wonder at it it is enough I tell you that 't is Silvia to justifie my passion nor is 't a Crime that I confess I love since it can never rob Philander of the least part of what I 've vow'd him or if his nicer Honour will believe me guilty of a fault let this attone for all that if I wrong my friend in loving Silvia I right him in despairing for oh I am repuls'd with all the Rigour of the coy and fair with all the little Malice of the wity Sex and all the Love of Silvia to Philander There there 's the stop to all my hopes and happiness and yet by Heaven I love thee oh thou favour'd Rival After this frank Confession my Philander I shou'd be glad to hear your sentiment since yet in spight of Love in spight of Beauty I am resolv'd To dy Philanders Constant Friend Octavio After he had writ this he gave it 〈◊〉 Silvia See Charming Creature said he in delivering it if after this you either doubt my Love or what I dare for Silvia I neither receive it said she as a proof of the one or the other but rather that you believe by this frank Confession to render it as a piece of Gallantry and diversion to Philander for no Man of sense will imagine that love true or arriv'd to any height that makes a publique confession of it to his Rival Ah Silvia answer'd he how malicious is your Wit and how active to turn its pointed mischief on me had I not writ you wou'd have said I durst not and when I make a declaration of it you call it only a slight piece of Gallantry but Silvia you have wit enough to try it a thousand ways and power enough to make me obey use the extremity of both so you recompence me at last with a confession that I was at least found worthy to be numbred in the crow'd of your adorers Silvia reply'd he were a dull Lover indeed that wou'd need instructions from the Wit of his Mistress to give her proofs of his passion what ever opinion you have of my sense I have too good a one of Octavio's to believe that when he 's a Lover he 'le want aids to make it appear till then we 'le let that argument alone and consider his address to Philander She then read over the Letter he had writ which she lik'd very well for her purpose for at this time our young Dutch Hero was made a property of in order to her revenge on Philander She told him he had
new desire Sometimes I even overtook her and fearing to fright her and cause her to make some noise that might alarm the sleeping Dormina I slackt my pace till in a Walk at the end of which she was oblig'd to turn back I remain'd and suffer'd her to go on 't was a Walk of Grass broad and at the end of it a little Arbour of Greens into which she went and sate down looking towards me and methought she look't full at me so that finding she made no noise I softly approach'd the door of the Arbour at a convenient distance she then stood up in great amaze as she after said and I kneeling down in an humble posture cry'd Wonder not oh Sacred Charmer of my Soul to see me at your Feet at this late hour and in a place so inaccessible for what attempt is there so hazardous despairing Lovers dare not undertake and what impossibility almost can they not overcome remove your fears oh Conqueress of my Soul for I am an humble Mortal that Adores you I have a thousand Wounds a thousand pains that proves me flesh and Blood if you wou'd hear my story Oh give me leave to approach you with that Awe you do the sacred Altars for my Devotion is as pure as that which from your Charming Lips ascends the Heavens With such Canâ—and stuff as this which Lovers serve themselves with on occasion I lessen'd the terrors of the frighted Beauty and she soonâ— saw with Joy in her Eyes that I was both a mortal and the same â—he had before seen in the outward Garden I rose from my knees then and with a Joy that wander'd all over my body trembling and panting I approach'd her and took her hand and kâ—â—t it with a transport that was almost ready to lay me fainting at her Feet nor did she answer any thing to what I had said but with sighs suffer'd her hand to remain in mine her Eyes she cast to Earth her Breast heav'd with nimble motions and we both unable to support our selves sate down together on a Green Bank in the Arbour where by that Light we had we gaz'd at each other unable to utter a syllable on either side I confess my dear Octavio I have felt Love before but do not know that ever I was possest with such pleasing pain such agreeable languishment in all my life as in those happy moments with the fair Calista And on the other I dare answer tor the soft Fair One she felt a passion as tender as mine which when she â—ou'd recover her first transpâ—rt the exprâ—st in such a manner as has wholly Charm'd me For with all the Eloquence of young Angels and all their innocence to â—â— she said she whisper'd she â—ight the soâ—test things that ever Lover heard I told you before she had from her infancy been bred in a Monastery kept from the fight of men and knew no one art or subtilty of her Sex But in the very purity of her innocence she appear'd like the first born Maid in Paradice generously giving her Soul away to the great Lord of all the new form'd man and nothing of her hearts dear thoughts did she reserve but such as modest Nature shou'd conceal yet if I touch't but on that tender part where Honour dwelt she had a sense to nice as 't was a Wonder to find so vast a store of that mixt with so soft a passion Oh what an excellent thing a perfect Women is e're man has taught her Arts to keep her Empire by being himself inconstant all I cou'd ask of Love she freely gave and told me every sentiment of her heart but 't was in such a way so innocently she conâ—est her passion that every word added new flames to mine and made me raging mad at last she sufferr'd me to kiss with caution but one begaâ— another that a Number And every one was an advance to happiness and I who knew my advantage lost no time but put each Ninute to the properest use now I imbrace Clasp her Fair Lovely Body close to mine which nothing parted but her shiâ—t and Gown my busie hands find passage to her Breasts and give and take a thousand nameless Joys all but the last I reapt that heaven was still deny'd tho she were fainting in my trembling Arms still she had watching sense to guard that Treasure Yet in spight of all a thousand times I brought her to the very point of yielding but oh she begs and pleads with all the Eloquence of love tells me that what she had to give she gave but wou'd not violate her Marriage Vow No not to save that life she found in danger with too much Love and too extream desire she told me that I had undone her quite she sight and wisht that she had seen me sooner e're Fate had render'd her a Sacrifice to the imbraces of old Clarinau she weept with Love and answer'd with sob to every Vow I made thus by degrees she wrought me to undoing and made me mad in Love 'T was thus we past the Night we told the hasty hours and curst their coming we told from ten to three and all that time seem'd but a little Minute Nor wou'd I let her go who was as loath to part till she had given me leave to see her often there I told her all my story of her Conquest and how I came into the Garden She ask'd me pleasantly if I were not afraid of old Clarinau I told her no of nothing but of his being happy with her which thought I cou'd not bear she assur'd me I had so little reason to envy him that he rather deserv'd my compassion for that her aversion was so extream to him his person years his temper and his diseases were so disagreeable to her that she cou'd not dissemble her disgust but gave him most evident proofs of it too frequently ever since she had the misfortune of being his Wife but that since she had seen the Charming Philander for so we must let her call him too his Company and Conversation was wholly insupportable to her and but that he had ever us'd to let her have four Nights in the Week her own wherein he never disturb'd her repose she shou'd have been dead with his nasty entertainment She vow'd she never knew a soft desire but for Philander she never had the least concern for any of his Sex besides and till she felt his touches took in his kisses and suffer'd his dear imbraces she never knew that Woman was ordain'd for any Joy with man but fancy'd it design'd in its Creation for a poor Slave to be opprest at pleasure by the Husband dully to yield obedience and no more But I had taught her now she said to her Eternal ruin that there was more in Nature than she knew or ever shou'd had she not seen Philander she knew not what dear name to call it by but something in her Blood something that panted in
him all the Vows that could secure an Inâ—idel in Love she made him all the indearing Advances a Heart could wish wholly given up to tender Passion insomuch that he believes and is the gayest Man that ever was blest by Love And the Messenger who was present all this while found that this Caballing with the French Spies was only an innocent Design to give himself away to a fine young Lady And therefore fully convinc'd he was guilty of no other Crime he gave them all the Freedom they desired and which they made use of to the most Advantage Love could direct or Youth inspire This Suffering with Octavio begot a Pity and Compassion in the Heart of Silvia and that grew up to Love for he had all the Charms that could inspire it and every Hour was adding new Fire to her Heart which at last burnt into a Flame such Power has mighty Obligation on a Heart that has any grateful Sentiments And yet when she was absent anights from Octavio and thought on Philander's Passion for Calista she would Rage and Rave and find the Effects of wondrous Love and wondrous Pride and be even ready to make Vows against Octavio But those were Fits that seldomer seiz'd her now and every Fit was like a departing Ague still weaker than the former and at the sight of Octavio all would vanish her Blushes would rise and discover the soft Thoughts her Heart conceived for the approaching Lover and she soon found that vulgar Error of the Impossibility of Loving more than once It was four days they thus remained without being call'd to the Councel and every day brought its new Joys along with it They were never asunder never interrupted with any Visit but once for a few Moments in a day by Octavio's Uncle and then he would go into his own Apartment to receive him He offered to baile him out but Octavio who had found more real Joy there than in any part of the Earth besides evaâ—â—d the Obligation by telling his Uncle he would be oblig'd to nothing but his Innocence for his Liberty So would get rid of the fond old Gentleman who never knew a Passion but for his darling Nephew and return with as much Joy to the Lodgings of Silvia as if he had been absent a Week which is an Age to a Lover there they sometimes would play at Cards where he would lose considerable Summs to her or at Hazard or be studying what they should do next to pass the Hours most to her Content not but he had rather have lain eternally at her Feet gazing doating and saying a thousand fond things which at every View he took were conceived in his Soul And tho' but this last Minute he had finish'd saying all that Love could Dictate he found his Heart oppress'd with a vast store of new Softness which he languish'd to unload in her ravishing Bosom But she who was not arrived to his pitch of Loving diverts his softer Hours with Play sometimes and otherwhile with making him follow her into the Gallery which was adorn'd with pleasant Pictures all of Hempskerk's hand which afforded great Variety of Objects very Drole and Antique Octavio finding something to say of every one that might be of Advantage to his own Heart for whatever Argument was in dispute he would be sure to bring it home to the Passion he had for Silvia it should end in Love however remotely begun So strange an Art has Love to turn all things to the Advantage of a Lover 'T was thus they pass'd their time and nothing was wanting that lavish Expence could procure and every Minute he advances to new Freedoms and unspeakable Delights but still such as might hitherto be allow'd with Honour he sighs and wishes he languishes and dies for more but dares not utter the Meaning of one Motion of Breath for he lov'd so very much that every Look from those fair Eyes that charm'd him aw'd him to a Respect that rob'd him of many happy Moments a bolder Lover would have turn'd to his Advantage and he treated her as if she had been an unspotted Maid with Caution of Offending he had forgot that general Rule That where the sacred Laws of Honour are once invaded Love makes the easier Conquest All this while you may imagine Brilljard indured no little Torment he could not on the one side determine what the States would do with him when once they should find him a false Accuser of so great a Man and on the other side he suffered a thousand Pains and Jealousies from Love he knew too well the Charms and Power of Octavio and what Effects Importunity and Opportunity have on the Temper of feeble Woman He found the States did not make so considerable a matter of his being Impeach'd as to confine him strictly and he dies with the Fears of those happy Moments he might possibly enjoy with Silvia where there might be no Spies about her to give him any kind Intelligence and all that could afford him any glimps of Consolation was That while they were thus confin'd he was out of Fear of their being married Octavio's Uncle this while was not Idle but taking it for a high Indignity his Nephew should remain so long without being heard he mov'd it to the Councel and accordingly they sent for him to the State-House the next Morning where Brilljard was brought to confront him whom as soon as Octavio saw with a scornful Smile he cry'd 'T is well Brilljard that you who durst not fight me fairly should find out this nobler way of ridding your self of a Rival I am glad at least that I have no more honourable a Witness against me Brilljard who never before wanted Assurance at this Reproach was wholly Confounded for it was not from any Villainy in his Nature but the absolute Effects of mad and desperate Passion which put him on the only Remedy that could relieve him and looking on Octavio with modest Blushes that half pleaded for him he cry'd Yes my Lord I am your Accuser and come to charge your Innocence with the greatest of Crimes and you ought to thank me for my Accusation when you shall know 't is regard to my own Honour violent Love for Silvia and extream Respect to your Lordship has made me thus sawcy with your unspotted Fame How reply'd Octavio shall I thank you for accusing me with a Plot upon the State Yes my Lord reply'd Brilljard and yet you had a Plot to betray the State and by so new a way as could be found out by none but so great and brave a Man Heavens reply'd Octavio inrag'd this is an Impudence that nothing but a Traytor to his own King and one bred up in Plots and Mischiefs could have invented I betray my own Country Yes my Lord cry'd he more briskly than before seeing Octavio colour so at him to all the Loosness of unthinking Youth to all the Breach of Laws both Human and Divine if all the Youth
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
Lodgings to know if any Accident had prevented her coming but that when he came tho' he had been with her but an Hour before she was gone away with Philander never more to return The Youth not being able to carry this sad news to his Lord when he came home offered at a hundred things to conceal the right but the impatient Lover would not be so answered but all inraged commanded him to tell that Truth which he found already but too apparently in his Eyes The Lad so commanded could no longer defer telling him Silvia was gone and being asked again and again what he meant with a Face and Voice that every Moment altered to dying the Page assured him she was gone out of Bruxells with Philander never more to return which was no sooner told him but he sunk on the Couch where he lay and fainted He farther told him how long it was and with what Difficulty he was recovered to Life and that after he was so he refused to speak or see any Visitors could for a long time be neither perswaded to eat nor sleep but that he had spoke to no body ever since and did now believe he could not procure him the Favour he beg'd That nevertheless he would go and see what the very Name of any that had but a relation to the Family of Silvia would produce in him whether a storm of Passion or a calm of Grief Either would be better than a Dulness all silent and sad in which there was no understanding what he meant by it Whoever spoke he only made a short sign and turn'd away as much as to say Speak no more to me But now resolv'd to try his Temper hasted to his Lord and told him that Brilljard full of Penitence for his past Fault and Grief for the ill Condition he heard he was in was come to pay his humble Respects to him and gain his Pardon before he went to his Lord and Silvia without which he had nor could have any peace of Mind he being too sensible of the baseness of the Injury he had done him At the Name of Philander and Silvia Octavio show'd some signs of listening but to the rest no regard and starting from the Bed where he was laid Ah! what hast thou said cry'd he The Page then repeated the Message and was commanded to bring him up who accordingly with all the signs of Submission cast himself at his Feet and Mercy and tho' he were an Enemy the very thought that he belonged to Silvia made Octavio caress him as the dearest of Friends He kept him with him two or three days and would not suffer him to stir from him but all their Discourse was of the faithless Silvia of whom the deceived Lover spoke the softest unheard tender things that ever Passion utter'd He made the amorous Brilljard weep a hundred times a-day and ever when he would have sooth'd his Heart with Hopes of seeing her and one day injoying her intirely to himself he would with so much peace of Mind renounce her as Brilljard no longer doubted but he would indeed not more trust her fickle Sex At last the News arrived that Cesario was in Bruxells and Brillijard was obliged the next Morning to take Horse and to go to his Lord And to make himself the more acceptable to Silvia he humbly besought Octavio to write some part of his Resentment to her that he might oblige her to a Reason for what she had so inhumanly done This flattered him a little and he was not long before he was overcome by Brilljard's Intreaties who having his Ends in every thing believed this Letter might contain at least something to asist in his Design by giving him Authority over her by so great a Secret The next Morning before he took Horse he waited on Octavio for his Letter and promised him an Answer at his Return which would be in a few days The Letter was open and Octavio suffered Brilljard to read it making him an absolute Confident in his Amour which having done he besought him to add one thing more to it and that was to beg her to forgive Brilljard which for his sake he knew she would do He told him he was obliged as a good Christian and a dying Man one resolved for Heaven to do that good Office and accordingly did Brilljard taking Post immediately arrived to Philander where he found every thing as he wished all out of Humour still on the Fret and ever peevish He had not seen Silvia as I said since she went from Holland and now knew not which way to approach her Philander was abroad on some of his usual Gallantries when Brilljard arrived and having discoursed a while of the Affairs of his Lord and Silvia he told Antonett he had a great desire to speak with that dissatisfied fair one assuring her he believed his Visit would be welcome from what he had to say to her concerning Octavio She told him with infinite Joy that she did not doubt of his Pardon from her Lady if he brought any News from that gallant injured Man and in all hast tho' her Lady saw no body but refused to rise from her Couch she ran to her and besought her to see Brilljard for he came with a Message from Octavio the Person who was the Subject of their Discourse Night and Day when alone She immediately sent for Brilljard who approach'd his Goddess with a trembling Devotion he kneel'd before her and humbly besought her Pardon for all that was past But she who with the very Thought that he had something to say from Octavio forgot all but that and hastily bid him rise and take all he ask'd and hope for what he wished In this Transport she imbraced his Head and kiss'd his Cheek and took him up That Madam said Brilljard which your divine Bounty alone has given me without any Merit in me I durst not have had the Confidence to have hop'd without my Credential from a nobler Hand This Madam said he And gives her a Letter from Octavio The dear hand she knew and kiss'd a hundred times as she opened it and having increated Brilljard to withdraw for a Moment that he might not see her Concern at the reading it she sate her down and found it this Octavio to Silvia I Confess oh faithless Silvia that I shall appear in writing to you to show a Weakness ever below that of your Infidelity nor durst I have trusted myself to have spoken so many sad soft things as I shall do in this Letter had I not try'd the Strength of my Heart and found I could upbraid you without talking myself out of that Resolution I have taken but because I would dy in perfect Charity with thee as with all the World I should be glad to know I could forgive thee for yet thy Sins appear too black for Mercy Ah! why charming Ingrate have you left me no one Excuse for all your Ills to me Why have
that for Silvia if he were assur'd her possession could make him happy and call him to the World again he assur'd him he wou'd quit her to him were she Ten times dearer to him than she was This he confirm'd with so many protestations of Friendship that Octavio oblig'd to the last degree believ'd and return'd him this Answer Sir I must confess you have found out the only way to disarm me of my resentment against you if I were not oblig'd by those Vows I am going to take to pardon and be at peace with all the World However these Vows cannot hinder me from conserving intirely that Friendship in my Heart which your good qualities and beauties at first sight ingag'd there and from esteeming you more than perhaps I ought to do the Man whom I must yet own my Rival and the undoer of my Sisters Honour But Oh no more of that a Friend 's above a Sister or a Mistriss At this he hung down his Eyes and sigh'd Philander told him he was too much concern'd in him not to be extreamly afflicted at the resolution he had taken and besought him to quit a design so injurious to his Youth and the glorious things that Heaven had destin'd him to he urg'd all that could be said to diswade him and after all could not believe he would quit the World at this Age when it would be sufficient Forty Years hence so to do Octavio only answer'd with a Smile but when he saw Philander still persist he endeavour'd to convince him by speaking and lifting up his Eyes to Heaven he Vow'd by all the Holy Powers there he never would look down to Earth again nor more consider fickle faithless Beauty All the Gay Vanities of Youth said he for ever I renounce and leave 'em all to those that find a Pleasure or a Constancy in 'em for the fair faithless Maid that has undone me I leave to you the Empire of her Heart but have a care said he and Sighing laid his Arms about his Neck for even you with all that stock of Charms she will at last betray I wish her well so well as to repent of all her Wrongs to me 'T is all I have to say What Philander could urge being impossible to prevail with him And beging his Pardon and Friendship which was granted by Octavio and implor'd on his side from Philander he took a ring of a great value from his Finger and presented it to Philander and beg'd him to keep it for his Sake and to remember him while he did so They Kist and Sighing parted Philander was no sooner gone but Brilljard came to wait on Octavio whom he found at his Devotion and beg'd his Pardon for disturbing him He receiv'd him with a very good Grace and a chearful Countenance imbracing him and after some Discourse of the Condition he was going to reduce himself to and his Admiration that one so young should think of Devoting himself so early to Heaven and things of that nature as the time and occasion requir'd he told him the extream Affliction Silvia was seiz'd with at the News of the Resolution he had taken and deliver'd him her Letter which he read without any Emotions in his Heart or Face as at other times us'd to be visible at the very mention of her Name or approach of her Letters At the finishing of which he only smiling Cry'd Alass I pity her and gave him back the Letter Brilljard ask'd if he would not please to write her some Answer or condescend to see her No replyed Octavio I have done with all the gilded Vanities of Life now I shall think of Silvia but as Some Heavenly thing fit for Diviner Contemplations but neverwith the Youthful thoughts of Love What he should send her now he said would have a different Stile to those she us'd to receive from him it would be Pious Counsel Grave Advice unfit for Ladies so Young and Gay as Silvia and would scarce find a welcome He wish'd he could convert her from the World and save her from the dangers that pursu'd her To this purpose was all he said of her and all that could be got from him by the earnest Solliciter of Love who perhaps was glad his Negotiation succeeded no better and took his leave of him with a promise to visit him often which Octavio besought him to do and told him he would take some care that for the good of Silvia's better part she should not be reduced by want of Necessaries for her Life and little Equipage to prostitute her self to vile inconstant Man he yet had so much respect for her and be sought Brilljard to come and take care of it with him and to intreat Silvia to accept of it from him and if it contributed to her future happiness he should be more pleas'd than to have possest her intirely You may imagine how this News pleas'd Silvia who trembling with fear every Moment had expected Brilljard's coming and found no other Benefit by his Negotiation but she must bear what she cannot avoid but 't was rather with the Fury of a Bacchanal than a Woman of common Sense and Prudence all about her pleaded some days in vain and she hated Brilljard for not doing impossibilities and it was sometime before he could bring her to permit him to speak to her or visit her Philander having left Octavio went immediately to wait on Cesario who was extreamly pleas'd to meet him there and they exchang'd their Souls to each other and all the Secrets of ' em After they had discours'd of all that they had a mind to hear and know on both sides Cesario inquir'd of him of Silvia's Health and Philander gave him an account of the uneasiness of her Temper and the occasions of their Quarrels in which Octavio had his part as being the subject of some of 'em From this he falls to give a Character of that Rival and came to this part of it where he had put himself into the Orders of the Bernardines resolving to leave the World and all its Charms and Temptations As they were speaking some Gentlemen who came to make their Court to the Prince finding 'em speaking of Octavio told them that to morrow he was to be initiated without the Years Tryal the Prince would needs go and see the Ceremony having heard so much of the Man and accordingly next day accompanied with the Governour Philander Thomaso and abundance of Persons of Quality and Officers he went to the great Church where were present all the Ladies of the Court and all that were in the Town The Noise of it was so great that Silvia all languishing and ill as she was would not be perswaded from going but so muffl'd in her Hoods as she was not to be known by any Never was any thing so magnificent as this Ceremony the Church was on no occasion so richly adorn'd Silvia chanc'd to be seated near the Prince of Michlenburgh who was then in
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
her he was Sound and Heart-hole She reply'd 'T is very well you are so but all the young do not thus escape from Beauty and you may some time or other be Intrapt Oh cry'd he I defy the power of one while Heaven has distributed Variety to all Were you never in Love replyed Silvia Never said he that they call Love I have burnt and rav'd an Hour or two or so pursu'd and gaz'd and laid Sieges till I had overcome but what 's this to Love Did I ever make a second visit unless upon Necessity or Gratitude And yet and there he sigh'd and yet said he I saw a Beauty once upon the Tower that has ever since given me Torment At Bruxells said Silvia There replyed he she was the fairest Creature Heaven e're made such White and Read by Nature such a Hair such Eyes and such a Mouth all Youth and ravishing sweetness I pursu'd her to her Lodgings and all I could get was that she belonged to a young Noble Man who since has taken Orders From the Night I saw her I never left her Window but had Spies of all sorts who brought me in intelligence and a little after I found she had quitted the place with a new Lover which made me love and rave for her ten times more when I knew assuredly she was a Whore and how fine a one I had mist This call'd all the Blood to Silvia's Face and so confounded her she could not answer she knew it was her self of whom he spoke and that course word tho' innocently spoken or rather gayly express'd put her quite out of Countenance however she recover'd again when she considered they were not meant as rudenesses to her She lov'd him and was easie to pardon With such discourse they past the Evening till towards Bed-time and the young Spaniara who had took but little rest in three Nights before was for some repose and calling for his Chamber the Host besought him since they had the happiness the young French Gentleman and himself to be so good Friends that they would share a Bed together for intruth said he Sir you must sit up all Night else he replyed with all his Soul it was the most grateful proposal had been ever made him and Addressing himself to Silvia asked him if he would alow him that Blessing She blush'd extreamly at the question and hung down her Eyes and he laugh'd to see it Sir said Silvia I will give you my Bed for 't is all one to me to lye on a Bed or on the Chairs Why Sir said Alonzo I am too passionate an adorer of the Female Sex to incommode any of my own with Addresses nor am I so Nice but I can suffer a Man to lye by me especially so dear a Youth as your selffe at which he Embraced him in his Arms which did but the more raise Silva's Blushes who wish'd for what she dreaded With you Sir said she I could methinks be content to do what I do not use to do and fearing to betray her Sex forced a consent for either one or the other she was compell'd to do and with the assurance that he thought her what she seemed she chose to give her consent and they both went to Bed together to add to her deceit she being forced in her Sickness to cut off her Hair when she put off her Perriwig she discovered nothing of the Woman nor feared she any thing but her Breasts which were the roundest and the whitest in the World but she was long in undressing which to colour the Matter she suffered her Page to do who poor Lad was never in so trembling a condition as in that manner to be obliged to serve her where she discovered so many Charms he never before had seen but all such as might be seen with Modesty By that time she came to Bed Alonzo was fast asleep being so long kept waking and never so much as dreamt he had a Woman with him but she whose fears kept her waking had a thousand Agitations and Wishes so natural it is when Virtue has broke the bounds of Modesty to plunge in past all retreat and I believe there are very few who retire after the first Sin She considers her condition in a strange Country her Splendor declining her Love for Philander quite reduced to Friendship or hardly that she was young and eat and drank well had a World of Vanity that Food of desire that Fuel to Vice She saw this the Beautifullest Youth she imagin'd ever to have seen of Quality and Fortune able to serve her all these made her rave with a desire to gain him for a Lover and she imagined as all the vain and young do that tho no Charms had yet been able to hold him she alone had those that would her Glass had a thousand times told her so she compares him to Octavio and finds him in her opinion handsomer she was possest with some Love for Philander when he first Address'd to her and Octavio shar'd at best but half a Heart but now that she had lost all for Philander and Octavio and had a Heart to cast away or give to a new Lover it was like her Money she hated to keep to it and lavish'd it on any Trifle rather than hoard it or let it lie by 'T was a loss of time her Youth could not spare she after reflection resolved and when she had resolved she believ'd it done By a Candle she had by her to read a little Novel she had brought she Surveyed him often as curiously as Psyche did her Cupid and tho he slept like a meer Mortal he appeared as Charming to her Eyes as the wing'd God himself and 't is believed she wish'd he would awake and find by her Curiosity her Sex For this I know she durst no longer trust her self a Bed with him but got up and all the last part of the Night walk'd about the Room her Page lay in the Room with her by her order on the Table with a little Vallice under his Head which he carryed Silvia's Linen in she waked him and told him all her fears in a pleasant manner In the Morning Alonzo awakes and wonders to find her up so soon and reproach'd her for the unkindness new Protestations on both sides passing of eternal Friendship they both resolved for Bruxells but lest she should incounter Philander on the way who possible might be on visiting his Dutch Countess she desired him to ride on before and to suâ—fer him to lose the happiness of his Company till they met in Bruxells With much ado he consents and taking the Ring the Countess gave him from of his Finger Sir said he be pleas'd to wear this and if ever you need my Fortune or my Sword send it and in what part of the World soever I am I will fly to your Service Silvia returned him a little Ring set round with Diamonds that Philander in his woing time had given her
complains reproaches and commands He tells her he was to wait on the Governour about his most urgent affairs and was late as it was to consult with him She ask'd him what affairs he was to negotiate of which she was not to bear her part he refuses to tell her and she replyed she had sense and courage for any Enterprize and should resent it very ill if she were not made acquainted with it But he swore to her she should know all the whole truth as soon as he returned This pacifyed her in some measure and at the hour appointed she suffered him to go and in a Chair was carryed to a little House Fergusano had taken without the Town to which belong'd a large Garden at the farther end of which was a Thicket of unordered Trees that surrounded a Grotto which pass'd a good way under the ground It had had some rareties of Water-work formerly belonging to it but now they were decay'd only here and there a broken Rock let out a little Stream that murmur'd and dash'd upon the Earth below and ran away in a little Rivolet which served to add a Melancholy to the dismal place Into this the Prince was conducted by the old German who assisted in the Charm they had only one Torch to light the way which at the entrance of the Cave they put out and within was only one Glimmering Lamp that rather served to add to the horror of the Vault discovering its hollowness and ruins At his entrance he was saluted with a noise like the rushing of Wind which whiz'd and whistled in the mighty Concave Anon a more silent whispering surrounded him without being able to behold any Creature save the old German Anon came in Fergusano who rowling a great Stone that lay at one corner of the Cave he desired the Prince to place himself on it and not be surpriz'd at any thing he should behold nor to stir from that inchanted Ground he nodding assented to obey while Fergusano and the German with each a Wand in their Hands struck against the unformed Rocks that finish'd the end of the Cave Muttering a thousand Incantations with Voices dreadful and motions Antick and after a mighty stroke of Thunder that shook the Earth the rude Rock divided and opened a space that discovered a most magnificent Apartment in which was presented a young Hero attended with Military Officers his Pages dressing him for the Field all in gilded Armour The Prince began to doubt himself and to swear in his thought that the Apparition was himself so very like he was to himself as if he had seen his proper Figure in a Glass After this several Persons seemed to address to this great Man of all sorts and conditions from the Prince to the Peasant with whom he seemed to discourse with great confidence and affability they offered him the League which he took and Signed and gave them back they attend him to the Door with great Joy and respect but as soon as he was gone they laugh'd and pointed after him at which the Prince infinitely incens'd rose and cryed out What means all this s' Death am I become the Scorn and Mockery of the Crowd Fergusano besought him to sit and have patience and he obey'd and check'd himself The Scene of the Apartment being changed to an Arbour of Flowers and the prospect of a noble and ravishing Garden the Hero is presented Arm'd as he was only without his Plume-Head-peece kneeling at the Feet of a fair Woman in loose Robes and Hair and attended with abundance of little Loves who disarm him by degrees of those Ornaments of War While she Caresses him with all the signs of Love the Cupid's make Garlands of Flowers and wreath around his Arms and Neck Crowning his Head and fettering him all over in these sweet soft Chains They Curle his Hair and adorn him with all Effeminacy while he lies smiling and pleas'd the wanton Boys disposing of his Instruments of War as they think fit putting them to ridiculous uses and Laughing at ' em While thus he lay there enters to him a great many States-men and Politicians grave-Men in Furs and Chains attended by the common Crowd and opening a Scene farther off in prospect show him Crowns Scepters Globes Ensigns Arms and Trophies promiscuously shuffel'd together with heaps of Gold Jewels Parchments Records Charters and Seals at which sight he starts from the Arms of the fair Medea and strove to have approach'd those who waited for him but she held him fast and with abundance of Tears and signs of moving Flattery brought him back to her Arms again and all dissatisfy'd the promiscuous Crowd depart some looking back with Scorn others with signs of Rage and all the Scene of Glory of Arms and Crowns disappear'd with the Crowd Cesario wholly forgeting cryed out again Ha lost all for a Trifling Woman lost all those Trophies of thy Conquest for a Mistress By Heaven I 'll shake the Charmer from my Soul if both I cannot have When Fergusano advancing to him cryed See Sir how Supinely the young Hero's laid upon her downy Breast and smil'd as he spoke which angered the Prince who replyed with Scorn Now by my Life a Plot upon my Love but they protested it was not so and beg'd he would be silent while thus the Hero lay regardless of his Glory all deck'd with Flowers and Braclets the Drums beat and the Trumpets were heard or seemed to be heard to sound and a vast opening space was fill'd with armed Wariers who offer him their Swords and seem to point at Crowns that were born behind them a while they plead in vain and point to Crowns in vain at which he only casts a scornful smile and lays him down in the soft Arms of Love They urge again but with one amorous look the Circe more prevails than all their reasonings At last by force they divested him of his Rosy-Garlands in which there lay a Charm and he assumes new life while others bore the Inchantress out of his sight and then he suffering himself to be conducted where they pleas'd who lead him forth showing him all the way a prospect of Crowns At this Cesario sigh'd and the Ceremony continued The Scene chang'd discovering a Sea-shore where the Hero is represented Landed but with a very Melancholy Air attended with several Officers and Gentlemen the Earth seems to ring with Joy and loud Acclamations at his approach vast Multitudes thronging to behold him and striving who first should kiss his Hand and bearing him aloft in the Air carry him out of sight with Peals of Welcome and Joy He is represented next in Council and deep debate and so disappears Then soft Musick is heard and he enters in the royal Robe with a Crown presented him on the Knee which he receives and bows to all the Rabble and the Numbers to give them thanks He having in his Hand blew Garters with the order of St. Espéret which he distributes to
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
give him she found him charming without having a tenderness for him she found him young and amorous without desire towards him she found him great rich powerful and generous without designing on him and tho she knew her Soul free from all Passion but that for Philander nevertheless she blusht and was angry that he had thoughts no more advantagious to the power of those charmes which she wisht might appear to him above her Sex It being natural to Women to desire Conquests tho they hate the conquer'd to glory in the tryumph tho they despise the Slave And believ'd while Octavio had so poor a sense of her beauty as to believe it cou'd be forsaken he would adore it less And first to satisfie her pride she left the softer business of her heart to the next tormenting hour and sent him this careless answer by his Page believing if she appear'd too angry it might look as if she valu'd his opinion and therefore dissembled her thoughts as women in those cases ever do who when most angry seem the most Galliard especially when they have need of the friendship of those they flatter Silvia to Octavio IS it indeed Octavio that you believe Philander cold or wou'd you make that a pretext to the declaration of your own passion we French Ladies are not so nicely ty'd up to the formalities of vertue but we can hear Love at both ears and if we receive not the addresses of both at least we are perhaps vain enough not to be displeas'd to find we make new conquests But you have made your attacque with so ill conduct that I shall find force enough without more aids to repulse you Alas my Lord did you believe my heart was left unguarded when Philander departed No the careful charming Lover left a thousand litgods to defend it of no less power than himself Young Deities who laugh at all your little arts and treacheries and scorn to resign their Empire to any feable Cupids you can draw up against ' em Your thick foggy air breeds Loves too dull and heavy for noble slights nor can I stoop to them The Flemish Boy wants arrows keen enough for hearts like mine and is a Bungler in his Art too lasie and remiss rather a heavy Bacchus than a Cupid a Bottle sends him to his Bed of Moss where he sleeps hard and never dreams of Venus How poorly have you paid your self my Lord by this pursuit of your discover'd Love for all the little friendship you have rendred me How well you have explain'd you can be no more a Lover than a Friend if one may judg the first by the last Had you been thus obstinate in your passion before Philander went or you had believ'd me abandon'd I should perhaps have thought that you had lov'd indeed because I should have seen you durst and should have believ'd it true because it ran some hazards for me the resolution of it would have reconcil'd me then to the temerity of it and the greatest demonstration you cou'd have given of it woud have been the danger you wou'd have ran and contemned and the preferance of your passion above any other consideration This my Lord had been generous and like a Lover but poorly thus to set upon a single Woman in the disguise of a Friend in the dark silent melancholy hour of absence from Philander then to surprise me then to bid me deliver to pad for hearts it was not like Octavio That Octavio Philander made his Friend and for whose dear sake my Lord I will no further reproach you but from a goodness which I hope you will merit I will forgive an offence which your ill timing has render'd almost inexcusable and expect you will for the future consider better how you ought to treat SYLVIA As soon as she had dismist the Page she hasted to her business of Love and again read over Philanders Letter and finds still new occasion for fear she had recourse to pen and paper for a relief of that heart which no other way cou'd find it and after having wip'd the tears from her eyes she writ this following Letter Silvia to Philander YEs Philander I have received your Letter and but I found my name there shou'd have hop'd it was not meant for Silvia Oh! 't is all cold Short Short and cold as a dead Winters day It chill'd my blood it shiver'd every vein Where oh where hast thou lavish'd out all those soft words so natural to thy Soul with which thou us'd to charm so tun'd to the dear musick of thy voice What is become of all the tender things which as I us'd to read made little nimble pantings in my heart my blushes rise and tremblings in my bloud adding new fire to the poor burning Victim Oh where are all thy pretty flatteries of Love that made me fond and vain and set a value on this trifling Beauty Hast thou forgot thy wondrous Art of loving Thy pretty cunings and thy soft deceivings Hast thou forgot 'em all Or hast forgot indeed to love at all Has thy industrious passion gather'd all the sweets and left the rifled flower to hang its wither'd head and die in shades neglected for who will prize it now now when all its perfumes fled Oh my Philander oh my charming Fugitive wa st not enough you left me like false Theseus on the shore on the forsaken shore departed from my fond my clasping Arms where I believ'd you safe secure and pleas'd when sleep and night that favour'd you and fuin'd me had render'd 'em incapable of their dear loss Oh was it not enough that when I found 'em empty and abandon'd and the place cold where you had lain and my poor trembling bosom unpossest of that I dear load it bore that almost expired with my first fears Oh if Philander lov'd he wou'd have thought that cruelty enough without the sad addition of a growing coldness I wak'd I mist thee and I call'd aloud Philander my Philander But no Philander heard then drew the close drawn Curtains and with a hasty and busie veiw survey'd the Chamber over but Oh! in vain I veiw'd and call'd yet louder but none appear'd to my assistance but Antonet and Briljard to torture me with dull excuses urging a thousand feign'd and frivolous reasons to satisfie my fears But I who lov'd who doated even to madness by nature soft and timerous as a Dove and fearful as a Criminal escap'd that dreads each little noise fancy'd their eyes and guilty looks confest the treasons of their hearts and tongues while they more kind than true strove to convince my killing doubts Protested that you would return by night and feign'd a likely story to deceive Thus between hope and fear I languisht out a day Oh Heavens a tedious day without Philander who wou'd have thought that such a dismal day shou'd not with the end of its reign have finish'd that of my life but then Octavio came to visit me
and who till then I never wisht to see but now I was impatient for his coming who by degrees told me that you were gone I never ask'd him where or how or why that you where gone was enough to possess me of all I fear'd your being apprehended and sent into France your delivering your self up your abandoning me all all I had an easie faith for without consulting more than That Thou wert gone that very word yet strikes a terrour to my Soul disables my trembling hand and I must wait for reinforcements from some kinder thoughts But Oh! from whence shou'd they arrive from what dear present felicity or prospect of a future tho never so distant and all those past ones serve but to increase my pain they favour me no more they charm and please no more and only present themselves to my memory to compleat the number of my sighs and tears and make me wish that they had never been tho even with Philander Oh say thou Monarch of my panting Soul How hast thou treated Silvia to make her wish that she had never known a tender joy with thee Is 't possible she shou'd repent her loving thee and thou shou'dst give her cause Say dear false Charmer is it But O there is no lasting Faith in sin Ah What have I done How dreadful is the Scene of my first debauch and how glorious that never to be regain'd prospect of my Virgin innocence where I fate inthron'd in awful vertue crown'd with shining honour and adorn'd with unsullied reputation till thou O Tyrant Love with a charming usurpation invaded all my glories and which I resign'd with greater pride and joy than a young Monarch puts 'em on Oh why then do I repent as if the vast the dear expence of pleasures past were not enough to recompence for all the pains of Love to come But why O why do I treat thee as a Lover lost already Thou art not canst not no I le not believe it till thou thy self confess it Nor shall the omission of a tender word or two make me believe thou hast forgot thy vows Alas it may be I mistake thy cares thy hard fatigues of Life thy presant ill circumstances and all the melancholy effects of thine and my misfortunes for coldness and declining Love Alas I had forgot my poor my dear Philander is now oblig'd to contrive for Life as well as Love thou perhaps fearing the worst art preparing Eloquence for a Council Table and in thy busie and guilty imaginations haranguing it to the grave Judges defending thy innocence or evading thy guilt Feeing Advocates excepting Juries and confronting Witnesses when thou shou'dst be giving satisfaction to my fainting love-sick heart Sometimes in thy labouring fancy the horrour of a dreadful Sentence for an ignominious death strikes upon thy tender Soul with a force that frights the little God from thence and I am perswaded there are some moments of this melancholy nature wherein your Silvia is even quite forgotten and this too she can think just and reasonable without reproaching thy heart with a declining passion especially when I am not by to call thy fondness up and divert thy more tormenting hours But Oh for those soft minutes thou hast design'd for Love and hast dedicated to Silvia Philander shou'd dismiss the dull formalities of rigid business the pressing cares of dangers and have given a loose to softness Cou'd my Philander imagine this short and unloving Letter sufficient to atone for such an absence And has Philander then forgotten the pain with which I languish'd when but absent from him an hour how then can he imagine I can live when distant from him so many Leagues and so many days while all the scanty comfort I have for life is that one day we might meet again but where or when or how thou hast not love enough so much as to divine but poorly leavest me to be satisfied by Octavio committing the business of thy heart the once great importance of thy Soul the most necessary devoires of thy life to be supply'd by another Oh Philander I have known a blessed time in our reign of Love when thou wou'dst have thought even all thy own power of too little force to satisfie the doubting Soul of Silvia Tell me Philadner hast thou forgot that time I dare not think thou hast and yet O God I find an alteration but Heaven divert the Omen Yet something whispers to my Soul I am undone Oh where art thou my Philander Where 's thy heart And what has it been doing since it begun my Fate How can it justifie thy coldness and thou this cruel absence without accounting with me for every parting hour My Charming Dear was wont to find me business for all my lonely absent ones and writ the softest Letters Loading the Paper with fond Vows and Wishes which e're I had read o're another wou'd arrive to keep Eternal warmth about my Soul nor â—wert thou ever wearied more with writing than I with reading or with sighing after thee but now Oh! there 's some Mystery in 't I dare not understand Be kind at least and satisfie my fears for 't is a wonderous pain to live in doubt if thou still lov'st me swear it o're a new and curse me if I do not credit thee But if thou art declining or shou'dst be sent a shameful Victim into France Oh thou deceiving Charmer yet be just and let me know my Doom By Heaven this last will find a welcome to me for it will end the torment of my doubts and fears of losing thee another way and I shall have the Joy to dye with thee dye belov'd and dye Thy SILVIA Having read over this Letter she fear'd she had said too much of her doubts and apprehensions of a change in him for now she flies to all the little Stratagems and artifices of Lovers she begins to consider the worst and to make her best of that but quite abandon'd she cou'd not believe her self without flying into all the rage that disappointed Women cou'd be possest with she calls Briljard shews him his Lords Letters and told him while he read her doubts and fears he being thus instructed by her self in the way how to deceive her on like Fortunetellers who gather peoples Fortune from themselves and then return it back for their own Divinity tells her he saw indeed a change glad to improve her fear and feigns a sorrow almost equal to hers 'T is evident says he 'T is evident that he 's the most ungrateful of his Sex Pardon Madam continued he bowing If my Zeal for the most Charming Creature on Earth make me forget my duty to the best of Masters and Friends Ah Brilljard cry'd she with an Air of languishment that more inflam'd him have a care least that mistaken Zeal for me shou'd make you prophane a Vertue which has not but on this occasion shew'd that it wanted Angels for its guard Oh Brilljard if he