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
he open'd it and read this Octavio to Phillander My Lord I Had rather dy then be the ungrateful messenger of news which I am sensible will prove so fatal to you and which will be best exprest in fewest words 't is decreed that you must retire from the United Provinces in Four and Twenty hours if you will save a life that is dear to me and Silvia there being no other security against your being render'd up to the King of France Support it well and hope all things from the assistance of From the Council Wednesday Your Octavio Phillander Phillander having finisht the reading of this remain'd a while wholly without life or motion when coming to himself he sigh'd and cryd Why farewel trifling life If of the two extreames one must be chosen rather then I 'le abandon Silvia I 'le stay and be deliver'd up a Victim to incensed France 'T is but a life At best I never Vallu'd thee And now I scorn to preserve thee at the Price of Silvias teares Then taking a hasty turn or two about his chamber he pawsing cryd But by my stay I ruine both Silvia and my self her life depends on mine and 't is impossible hers can be preserv'd when mine is in danger by retiring I shall shortly again be blest with her sight in a more safe security by staying I resign my self poorly to be made a publick scorn to France and the cruell Murderer of Silvia now 't was after an hundred turns and pawses intermixt which sighs and raveings that he resolv'd for both their safeties to retire and having a while longer debated within himself how and where and a little time ruminated on his hard persuing fate grown to a calm of grief less easy to be born than rage he hastes to Silvia whom he sound something more cheerful than before but dares not aquaint her with the commands he had to depart But silently he views her while teares of Love and grief glide unperceivably fram his fine eyes his soul grows tenderer at every look and pity and compassion joyning to his Love and his despairs set him on the wrack of Liâ—e and now believing it less pain to dy than to leave Silvia resolves to disobey and dare the worst that shall befall him he yet had some glimmering hope as Lovers have that some kind chance will prevent his going or being deliver'd up he trusts much to the Friendship of Octavio whose power joyn'd with that of his Unkle Who was one of the States also and whom he had an ascendant over as his Nephew and his heir might serve him he therefore ventures to move him to compassion by this following Letter Phillander to Octavio I Know my Lord that the Exercise of Vertue and Justice is so innate to your soul and so fixt to the very Principle of a generous Commonwealths man that where those are in competition 't is neither birth wealth or Glorious merit that can render the unfortunate condemn'd by you worthy of your pity or pardon your very Sons and fathers fall before your justice and 't is crime enough to offend tho innocently the least of your wholsom laws to fall under the extremity of their rigor I am not ignorant neither how flourishing this necessary Tyranny this lawful oppression renders your State howsafe and glorious how secure from Enemies at home those worst of foes and how fear'd by those abroad pursue then Sir your justifiable method and still be high and mighty retain your ancient Roman vertue and still be great as Rome her self in her height of glorious Commonwealths rule your stubborn Natives by her excellent examples and let the height of your ambition be only to be as severely just as rigidly good as you please but like her too be pitiful to Strangers and dispence a Noble Charity to the distress'd compassionate a poor wandring young Man who flies to you for refuge lost to his Native home lost to his fame his fortune and his Friends and has only left him the knowledge of his innocence to support him from falling on his own Sword to end an unfortunate life persu'd every where and safe no where a Life whose only refuge is Octavio's goodness nor is it barely to preserve this life that I have recourse to that only as my Sanctuary and like an humble Slave implore your pity Oh Octavio pity my Youth and interceed for my stay yet a little longer Your self makes one of the illustrious Number of the Grave the Wise and mighty Councel your Unkle and Relations make up another considerable part of it and you are too dear to all to find a refusal of your just and compassionate application Oh! what fault have I committed against you that I shou'd not find a safety here as well as those charg'd with the same Crime with me tho of less quality Many I have incounter'd here of our unlucky party who find a safety among you is my birth a Crime Or does the greatness of that augment my guilt Have I broken any of your Laws committed any outrage Do they suspect me for a spie to France Or do I hold any Corrispondence with that ungrateful Nation Does my Religion Principle or Opinion differ from yours Can I design the subversion of your Glorious State Can I plot cabal or mutiny alone Oh charge me with some offence or your selves of injustice Say why I am deny'd my length of â—arth amongst you if I dy Or why to breath the open Air if I live since I shall neither oppress the one nor infect the other but on the contrary am ready with my sword my youth and Blood to serve you and bring my little aids on all occasions to yours and shou'd be proud of the Glory to dy for you in Battle who wou'd deliver me up a Sacrifice to France Oh! where Octavio is the glory or vertue of this Punctilio for 't is no other There are no Laws that bind you to it no obligatory Article of Nations but an unnecessary complyment made a nemini contradicente of your Senate that argues nothing but ill nature and cannot redound to any one advantage An Ill nature that 's levell'd at me alone for many I found here and many shall leave under the same circumstances with me 't is only me whom you have mark'd out the victime to atone for all Well then my Lord if nothing can move you to a safety for this unfortunate at least be so mercyful to suspend your cruelty a little yet a little and possible I shall render you the body of Phillander tho dead to send into France as the trophy of your fidellity to that Grown Oh yet a little stay your cruel sentence till my lovely Sister who persu'd my hard fortunes declare my Fate by her life or death Oh my Lord if ever the soft passion of Love have touch'd your soul if you have felt the unresistable force of young charms about your heart if ever you have known
a pain and pleasure from fair eyes or the transporting Joyes of Beauty Pity a youth undone by Love and ambition those powerful conquerours of the young Pity oh Pity a youth that dies and will ere long no more complain upon your Rigours Yes my Lord he dies without the force of a terrifying Sentence without the grim reproaches of an angry Judg without the soon consulted Arbitrary Guilty of a severe and hasty Jury without the ceremony of the Scaffol'd Ax and Hang man and the clamours of inconsidering Crowds All which melancholy ceremonies render death so terrible which else wou'd fall like gentle slumbers upon the eye-lids And which in field I wou'd incounter with that joy I wou'd the sacred thing I Love But oh I fear my fate is in the lovely Silvia and in her dying eyes you may read it in her languishing face you 'le see how near it is aproacht Ah! will you not suffer me to attend it there by her dear side I shall fall as calmly as flowers from their stalks without regret or pain Will you by forcing me to dy from her run me to a madness To wild distraction Oh think it sufficient that I dy here before half my race of youth be run before the light be halfâ—burnt out that might have conducted me to a world of Glory Alas she dies The Lovely Silvia clies she is sighing out a soul to which mine is so intirely fixt that they must go upward together Yes yes she breaths it sick into my bosom and kindly gives mine its disease of death let us at least then dy in silent quitted and if it please Heaven to restore the languish'd Charmer I will resign my self up to all your Rigorous honour only let me bear my treasure with me while we wander o're the world to seek us out a safety in some part of it where pity and compassion is no crime Where men have tender hearts and have heard of the God of Love where Politicks are not all the business of the powerful but where civillity and good nature reign Perhaps my Lord you 'l wonder I plead no weightier Argument for my stay than Love or the griefs and tears of a languishing Maid But oh they are such tears as every drop wou'd ransom lives and nothing that proceeds from her charming eyes can be valu'd at a less rate In Pity to her to me and your Amorous youths let me bear her hence For shou'd she look abroad as her own Sex shou'd she appear in her natural and proper beauty alas they were undone Reproach not my Lord the weakness of this confession and which I make with more Glory than cou'd I boast my self Lord of all the Universe if it appear a fault to the more grave and wise I hope my youth will plead something for my excuse Oh say at least 't was Pity that Love had the ascendant over Phillanders soul say 't was his Destiny but say withal that it put no stop to his advance to Glory rather it set an edg upon his Sword and gave wings to his ambition Yes try me in your Councells prove me in your Camps place me in any hazard But give me Love and leave to wait the life or death of Silvia and then dispose as you please My Lord Of Your unfortunate Philander Octavio to Philander My Lord I Am much concern'd that a Request so reasonable as you have made will be of so little force with these arbitrary Tyrants of State and tho you have addrest and appeal'd to me as one of that grave and rigid number tho without one grain of their formalities and I hope age which renders us less Gallant and more envious of the joys and liberties of youth will never reduce me to so dull and thoughtless a member of State yet I have so small and single a portion of their power that I am asham'd of my incapacity of serving you in this great affair I bear the Honour and the name 't is true of Glorious sway but I can boast but of the worst and most impotent part of it the Title only but the busie absolute mischievious Politician finds no room in my Soul my humour or constitution And Ploding restless power I have made so little the business of my gayer and more careless youth that I have even lost my right of rule my share of Empire amongst them That little power whose unregarded losse I never bemoan'd till it render'd me uncapable of serving Phillander I have stretch'd to the utmost bound for your stay insomuch that I have receiv'd many reproaches from the wiser Coxcombs have had my youths little debauches hinted on and Judgments made of you disadvantagious from my Friendship to you a Friendship which my Lord at first sight of you found a being in my soul and which your wit your goodness your greatness and your misfortunes has improv'd to all the degrees of it Tho I am infinitey unhappy that it proves of no use to you here and that the greatest testimony I can now render of it is to warn you of your aproaching danger And hasten your departure for there is no safety in your stay I just now heard what was decreed against you in councel which no pleading nor Eloquence of Friendship had force enough to evade Alass I had but one single voyce in the number which I sullenly and singly gave and which unregarded past Go then my Lord haste to some place where good breeding and humanity reigns Go and preserve Silvia in providing for your own safety and believe me till she be in a Condition to persue your Fortunes I will take such care that nothing shall be wanting either to recovery here in order to her following after you I am alas but too sensible of all the pains you must indure by such a separation for I am neither insensible nor uncapable of love or any of its violent effects Go then my Lord and preserve the lovely Maid in your flight since your stay and danger will serve but to hasten on her death Go and be satisfied she shall find a protection sutable to her Sex her innocence her Beauty and her quality and that where-ever you fix your stay she shall be resign'd to your Arms by my Lord Your Eternal Friend and humble Servant Octavio Least in this sudden remove you shou'd want Mony I have sent you several Bills of Exchange to what place soever you arrive and what you want more make no scruple to use me as a friend and command After this Letter finding no hopes but on the contrary a dire necessity of departing he told Briljard his misfortune and ask'd his Counsel in this extremity of affairs Brilljard who of a Servant was become a Rival you may believe gave him such advice as might remove him from the object he ador'd But after a great deal of dissembl'd trouble the better to hide his joy he gave his advice for his going with all the arguments
conquered as well as to make a Conquest And she was capable of receiving Impressions as well as to give 'em And it was believed by some who were very near the Prince and knew all his Secrets then that this young Lady pitied the Sighs of the Royal Lover and even then rewarded 'em And tho' this were most credibly whispered yet methinks it seems impossible he should then have been happy and after so many Years after the Possession of so many other Beauties should return to her again and find all the Passions and Pains of a beginning Flame But there is nothing to be wondered at in the Contradictions and Humours of Man's human Nature But however inconstant and wavering he had been Hermione retain'd her first Passion for him and that I less wonder at since you know the Prince has the most charming Person in the World and is the most perfectly Beautiful of all his Sex To this his Youth and Quality adds no little Lustre and I should not wonder if all the softer Sex should languish for him nor that any one should love on who hath once been touch'd with Love for him 'T was this last Assurance the Prince so absolutely depended on that notwithstanding she was far from the Opinion of his Party made him resolve to take Sanctuary in those Arms he was sure would receive him in any Condition and Circumstances But now he makes her new Vows which possibly at first his Safety obliged him to while she return'd 'em with all the Passion of Love He made a thousand Submissions to Madam the Countess who he knew was fond of her Daughter to that degree that for her Repose she was even willing to behold the Sacrifice of her Honour to this Prince whom she knew Hermione loved even to Death so fond so blindly fond is Nature And indeed after a little time that he lay there conceal'd he reap'd all the Satisfaction that Love could give him or his Youth could wish with all the Freedom imaginable He only made Vows of renouncing all other Women what Ties or Obligations soever he had upon him and to resign himself intirely up to Hermione I know not what new Charms he had found by frequent Conversation with her and being uninterrupted by the sight of any other Ladies but 't is most certain my Lord he grew to that excess of Love or rather Doatage if Love in one so young can be call'd so that he languishes for her even while he possessed her all He dy'd if oblig'd by Company to retire from her an Hour at the end of which being again brought to her he would fall at her Feet and sigh and weep and make the most pitious Moan that ever Love inspir'd He would complain upon the Cruelty of a Moments Absence and vow he could not live where she was not All that disturbed his Happiness he reproach'd as Enemies to his Repose and at last made her feign an Illness that no Visits might be made her and that he might possess all her Hours Nor did Hermione perceive all this without making her Advantages of so glorious an Opportunity but with the usual Cunning of her Sex improved every Minute she gave him She now found herself sure of the Heart of the finest Man in the World and of one she believed would prove the greatest being the Head of a most powerful Faction who were resolved the first Opportunity to order Affairs so as to come to an open Rebellion and to make him a King All these things how unlikely soever in Reason her Love and Ambition suggested to her so that she believed she had but one Game more to play to establish herself the greatest and most happy Woman in the World She consults in this weighty Affair with her Mother who had a share of Cunning that could carry on a Design as well as any of her Sex They found but one Obstacle to all Hermione's rising Greatness and that was the Prince's being married and that to a Lady of so considerable Birth and Fortune so eminent for her Vertue and all Perfections of Woman-kind and withal so excellent for Wit and Beauty that 't was impossible to find any Cause of a Separation between ' em So that finding it improbable to remove that Lett to her Glories she grew very Melancholy which was soon perceived by the too Amorous Prince who pleads and sighs and weeps on her Bosom Day and Night to find the Cause But she who found she had a difficult Game to play and that she had need of all her little Aids pretends a thousand little frivillous Reasons before she discovers the true one which serv'd but to oblige him to ask anew as she design'd he should At last one Morning finding him in the softest fit in the World and ready to give her whatever she could ask in return for the Secret of her Disquiet she told him with a Sigh how Unhappy she was in loving so violently a Man who could never be any thing to her more than the Robber of her Honour And at last with abundance of Sighs and Tears bewail'd his Marriage He taking her with all the Joy imaginable in his Arms thank'd her for speaking of the only thing he had a thousand times been going to offer to her but durst not for fear she should Reproach him He told her he look'd upon himself as married to no Woman but herself to whom by a thousand solemn Vows he had contracted himself and that he would never own any other while he liv'd let Fortune do what she pleas'd with him Hermione thriving hitherto so well urged his easy Heart yet farther and told him Tho' she had left no Doubt remaining in her of his Love and Vertue no suspicion of his Vows yet the World would still esteem the Princess his Wife and herself only as a Prostitute to his Youthful Pleasure and as she conceiv'd her Birth and Fortune not to be much inferior to that of the Princess she should die with Indignation and Shame to bear all the Reproach of his Wantonness while his now Wife would live esteem'd and pitied as an injured Innocent To all which he reply'd as mad in Love That the Princess he confess'd was a Lady to whom he had Obligations but that he esteem'd her no more his Wife since he was married to her at the Age of twelve Years an Age wherein he was not capacitated to chuse Good or Evil or to answer for himself or his Inclinations And tho' she were a Lady of absolute Vertue of Youth Wit and Beauty yet Fate had so ordain'd it that he had reserv'd his Heart to this Moment intirely for herself and that he renounc'd all Pretenders to him except herself that he had now possess'd the Princess for the space of twenty Years that Youth had a long Race to run and could not take up at those Years with one single Beauty That hitherto Ravage and Destruction of Hearts had been his Province and
Garden of any in that Province where those things are not much esteem'd in which the Old Gentleman took wonderful Delight and kept a Gardener and his Family in a little House at the farther end of the Garden on purpose to look to it and dress it This Man had a very great Veneration for Octavio whom he call'd his Young Lord. Sure of the Fidelity of this Gardener when it was dark enough to conceal him he wrapt himself in his Cloak and got him thither by a back-way where with Presents he soon won those to his Interest who would before have been Commanded by him in any Service He had a little clean Room and some little French Novels which he brought and there he was as well conceal'd as if he had been at the Indies he left word at home that he was gone out of Town He knew well enough that Silvia's Lodgings look'd that way And when it was dark enough he walk'd under her Window till he saw a Candle lighted in Silvia's Bed-Chamber which was as great a Joy to him as the Star that Guides the Traveller or wandring Seaman or the Lamp at Sestos that Guided the Ravish'd Lover o'er the Hellespont And by that time he could imagine all in Bed he made a little noise with a Key on the Pummel of his Sword but whether Silvia heard it or not I cannot tell but she anon came to the Window and putting up the Shash leaned on her Arms and look'd into the Garden Oh! who but he himself that Lov'd so well as Octavio can express the Transports he was in at the Sight which more from the Sight within than that without he saw was the lovely Silvia whom calling softly by her Name answered him as if she knew the welcome Voice and cry'd Whos 's there Octavio She was soon Answer'd you may imagine And they began the most indearing Conversation that ever Love could dictate He complains on his Fate that sets 'em at that distance and she pities him He makes a Thousand Doubts and she undeceives 'em all He Fears and she convinces his Error and is impatient at his Suspicions She will not indure him to question a Heart that has given him so many proofs of its Tenderness and Gratitude She tells him her own Wishes how soft and servent they are and assures him he is extreamly oblig'd to her Since for you my Charming Friend said she to Octavio I have refus'd this Night to Marry your Vncle have a care said she Smiling how you treat me least I revenge my self on you become your Aunt and bring Heirs to the Estate you have a Right to The Writings of all which I have now in my Chamber and which were but just now laid at my Feet and which I cannot yet get him to receive back And to oblige me to a compliance has told me how you have deceived me by giving your self to another and exposing me in Lampoons To this Octavio would have replied but she assured him she needed no Argument to convince her of the Falshhood of all He Sighs and told her all she said tho' Dear and Charming was not sufficient to ease his Heart for he foresaw a World of hazzard to get her from thence and mischiefs if she remained insomuch that he caus'd the Tears to flow from the fair Eyes of Silvia with the Reflections on her rigid Fortune And she cry'd Oh my Octavio what strange Fate or Stars rul'd my Birth that I shou'd be born the ruine of what I Love or of those that Love me At this rate they past the Night sometimes more soft sometimes incouraging one another but the last result was to contrive the means of escaping He fancy'd she might easily do it by the Garden from that Window But that he was not sure he could trust the Gardener so far who in all things would serve him in which his Lord and Master was not Injured and he amongst the rest of the Servants had Order not to suffer Silvia out of the Garden for which reason he kept a strict Guard on that back-Door Some way must be found out which yet was not and was left to time He told her where he was and that he wou'd not stir from thence till he were secur'd of her flight And Day coming on tho' loath yet for fear of Eyes and Ears that might Spy upon 'em he retired to his little Lodging and Silvia to Bed after giving and receiving a Thousand Vows and Farewels The next Night he came to the same place but instead of entertaining her he only saw her softly put up the Shash a little and throw something white out of the Window and retire He was wondring at the meaning but taking up what was thrown down he found and smelt it was Silvia's Handkerchief in which was ty'd up a Billet He went to his little Lodging and read it Silvia to Octavio GO from my Window my adorable Friend and be not afflicted that I do not entertain you as I had the Ioy to do last Night for bath our Voices were heard by some one thaâ— Lodges below and tho' your Vncle could not tell me any part of our Conversation yet he heard I talk'd to somebody I have perswaded him the Fellow dream'd who gave him this Intelligence and he is almost satisfied he did so however hazard not thy dear self any more so but let me lose for a while the greatest Happiness this Earth can afford me in the Circumstances of our Fortunes rather than expose what is dearer to me than Life or Honour Pity the Fate I was born to and expect all things from Your Silvia I will wait at the Window for your Answer and let you down a Ribband by which I will draw it up But as you love me do not speak He had no sooner read this but he went to write an Answer which was this Octavio to Silvia COmplain not thou Goddess of my Vows on the Fate thou wert born to procure to all Mankind but thank Heaven for having received ten thousand Charms that can recompence all the Injuries you so unwillingly do us And who would not implore his Ruine from all the angry Powers if in return they would give him so glorious a Reward Who would not be undone to all the trifling Honours of the mistaken World to find himself in lieu of all possess'd of the Ravishing Silvia But oh where is that presumptious Man that can at the price of all lay claim to so vast a Blessing Alass my Silvia even while I dare call you mine I am not that hoping Slave no not after all the valued dear things you have said and vow'd to me last Night in the Garden welcome to my Soul as Life after a Sentence of Death or Heaven after Life is ended But oh Silvia all this even all you uttered from your dear Mouth is not sufficient to support me Alas I die for Silvia I am not able to bear the cruel Absence longer
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