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
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
touch her Breast a Blessing he had never before arriv'd to with any body above the Quality of his own Servant-Maid To all which she makes the best Resistance she can under the Circumstances of one who was to deceive well and while she loaths she seems well pleas'd while the gay Jewels sparkled in her Eyes and Octavio in her Heart so fond is Youth of Vanities and to purchase an addition of Beauty at any Price Thus with her pretty Flatteries she wrought upon his Soul and smil'd and look'd him into Faith loth to depart she sends him pleas'd away and having her Heart the more inclin'd to Octavio by being Persecuted with his Uncles Love for by Comparison she finds the mighty Difference she sets herself to write him the Account of what I have related this Nights Adventure and Agreement between his Uncle and herself She tells him that to Morrow for now 't was almost Day she had promised him to go to his Villa She tells him at what rate she has purchased the Blessing expected and lastly leaves the management of the rest to him who needs not be instructed This Letter he receiv'd the next Night at the old place and Silvia with it lets down a Velvet Night Bag which contain'd all the Jewels and things of Value she had receiv'd of himself his Uncle or any other After which he retired and was pretty well at ease with the imagination he should ere long be made Happy in the Possession of Silvia In order to it the next Morning he was early up and dressing himself in a great course Campagne-Coat of the Gardeners puting up his Hair as well as he could under a Country-Hat he got on a Horse that suited his Habit and rides to the Villa whither they were to come and which he knew perfectly well every Room of for there our Hero was born He went to a little Caberet in the Village from whence he could survey all the great House and see every Body that pass'd in and out He remain'd fix'd at the Window fill'd with a thousand Agitations this he had resolv'd not to set upon the good old Man as a Thief or Robber nor could he find in this Heart or Nature to injure him tho' but in a little afrighting him who had given him so many anxious Hours and who had been so unjust to desire that Blessing himself he would not allow him and to believe that a Vertue in himself which he exclaim'd against as so great a Vice in his Nephew nevertheless he resolv'd to deceive him to save his own Life And he wanted that nice part of Generosity as to satisfy a little unnecessary Lust in an old Man to ruin the eternal Content of a young one so nearly allied to his Soul as was his own dear proper Person While he was thus considering he saw his Uncle's Coach coming and Silvia with that doting Lover in it who was that day dressed in all the Fopperies of Youth and every thing was young and gay about him but his Person that was Winter it self disguised in artificial Spring and he was altogether a meer Contradiction But who can guess the Disorders and Pantings of Octavio's Heart at the Sight and tho' he had resolved before he would not to save his Life lay violent Hands on his old Parent yet at their Approach at their presenting themselves together before his Eyes as two Lovers going to betray him to all the Miseries Pangs and Confusions of Love going to possess her the dear Object and certain Life of his Soul and she the Parent of him to whom she had disposed of herself so intirely already he was provok'd to break from all his Resolutions and with one of those two Pistols he had in his Pockets to have sent unerring Death to his old amorous Heart But that Thought was no sooner born than stifled in his Soul where it met with all the Sence of Gratitude that ever could present the tender Love and dear Care of a Parent there and the Coach passing into the Gate put him upon new Designs and before they were finished he saw Silvia's Page coming from the House after seeing his Lady to her Apartment and being show'd his own where he laid his Vallice and Riding-things and was now come out to look about a Country where he had never been before Octavio goes down and meets him and ventures to make himself known to him And so infinitely glad was the Youth to have an Opportunity to serve him that he vow'd he would not only do it with his Life on Occasion but believ'd he could do it effectually since the old Gentleman had no sort of Jealousie now especially since they had so prudently manag'd Matters in this time of his Ladies remaining at Sebastian's House So that Sir it will not be difficult says the generous Boy for me to convey you to my Lodging when it is dark He told him his Lady cast many a longing Look out towards the Road as she pass'd for you I am sure my Lord for she had told both myself and Antonett of her Design before least our Surprize or Resistance should prevent any Force you might use on the Road to take her from my Lord Sebastian She sigh'd and look'd on me as she alighted with Eyes my Lord that told me her Grief for your Disappointment You may easily imagine how transported the poor Octavio was he kiss'd and imbrac'd the Amiable Boy a thousand times and taking a Ring from his Finger of considerable Value gave it the dear Reviver of his Hopes Octavio already knew the Strength of the House which consisted but of a Gardener whose Wife was House-keeper and their Son who was his Fathers Servant in the Garden and their Daughter who was a sort of Maid-servant And they had brought only the Coach-man and one Foot-man who were likely to be mirrily imploy'd in the Kitchin at Night when all got to Supper together I say Octavio already knew this and there was now nothing that opposed his Wishes So that dismissing the dear Boy he remained the rest of the tedious Day at the Caberet the most impatient of Night of any Man on Earth And when the Boy appear'd it was like the Approach of an Angel He told him his Lady was the most Melancholy Creature that ever Eyes beheld and that to conceal the Cause she had feigned herself Ill and had not stir'd from her Chamber all the day That the old Lover was perpetually with her and the most concern'd Doatard that ever Cupid inslav'd That he had so wholly taken up his Lady with his disagreeable Entertainment that it was impossible either by a Look or Note to inform her of his being so near her whom she considered as her present Defender and her future Happiness But this Evening continued the Youth as I was waiting on her at Supper she spy'd the Ring on my Finger which my Lord your Bounty made me Master of this Morning She