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
from the most unfornate of men whom you have reduc'd to this miserable Extremity of losing either the Adorable Object of his Soul or his Honour If you can preser a little curiosity that will serve but to afflict you before either that or my repose What esteem ought I to believe you have for the unfortunate Octavio and if you hate me as 't is evident if you compel me to the extremity of losing my repose or honour what reason or argument have I to perfer so careless a Fair One above the last 'T is certain you neither do nor can love me now and how much below that hope shall the expos'd and abandon'd Octavio be when he shall pretend to that Glory without his Honour Believe me Charming Maid I wou'd Sacrifice my life and my intire Fortune at your least command to serve you but to render you a devoyr that must point me out the basest of my Sex is what my temper must resist in spight of all the violence of my Love and I thank my happyer Stars that they have given me resolution enough rather to fall a Sacrifice to the last then be guilty of the breach of the first This is the last and present thought and pleasure of my Soul and least it shou'd by the force of those Divine Ideas which Eternally surround it be sooth'd and slatter'd from its Noble Principles I will to morrow put my self out of the hazard of Temptation and divert if possible by absence to the Compagne those soft importunate betrayers of my Liberty that perpetually solicit in favour of you I dare not so much as bid you adieu one sight of that bright Angels face wou'd undo me unfix my Nobler resolutions and leave me a despicable Slave sighing my unrewarded Treason at your insensible Feet My Fortune I leave to be dispos'd by you but the more useless necessary I will for ever take from those lovely Eyes who can look on nothing with joy but the happy Philander If I have denied you one satisfaction at least I have given you this other of securing you Eternally from the trouble and importunity of Madam your Faithful Octavio This Letter to any other less secure of her own power than was our fair Subject wou'd have made them impatient and angry But she found that there was something yet in her power the dispensation of which cou'd soon recal him from any resolution he was able to make of absenting himself Her Glass stood before her and every glance that way was an assurance and security to her heart she cou'd not see that Beauty and doubt its power of perswasion She therefore took her Pen and writ him this answer being in a moment furnisht with all the Art and subtilty that was necessary on this occasion Silvia to Octavio My Lord THo I have not Beauty enough to command your heart at least allow me sense enough to oblige your belief that I fancy and resent all that the letter contains which you have deny'd me and that I am not of that sort of Women whose want of youth or Beauty renders so constant to pursue the Ghost of a departed Love It is enough to justifie my Honour that I was not the first Agressor I find my self persu'd by too many Charmes of Wit Youth and Gallantry to bury my self beneath the willows or to whine away my youth by murmuring Rivers or betake me to the last refuge of a declining Beauty a Monastary no my Lord when I have reveng'd and recompenc'd my Self for the injuries of one inconstant with the joys a thousand imploring Lovers offer it will be time to be weary of a world which yet every day presents me new joys and I swear to you Octavio that it was more to recompence what I ow'd your passion that I desir'd a convincing proof of Philanders false-hood than for any other reason and you have too much Wit not to know it for what other use cou'd I make of the Secret if he be false he 's gone unworthy of me and impossible to be retriev'd and I wou'd as soon dye my sullied Garments and wear them over again as take to my imbraces a reform'd Lover the Native first Luster of whose passion is quite extinct and is no more the same no my Lord she must be poor in Beauty that has recourse to shifts so mean if I wou'd know the Secret by all that 's good it were to hate him heartily and to dispose of my Person to the best advantage which in honour I cannot do while I am unconvinc'd of the falseness of him with whom I have exchang'd a thousand Vows of fidellity but if he unlink the Chain I am at perfect liberty and why by this delay you shou'd make me lose my time I am not able to conceive unless you fear I shou'd then take you at your word and expect the performance of all the Vows of Love you have made me If that be it My Pride shall be your security or if other recompence you expect set the Price upon your Secret and see at what rate I will purchase the liberty it will procure me possibly it may be such as may at once infranchize me and revenge me on the perjur'd ingrate than which nothing can be a greater Satisfaction to Silvia She Seals this Letter with a wafer and giving it to Antonett to give the Page believing she had writ what wou'd not be in vain to the quick sighted Octavio Antonett takes both that and the other which Octavio had sent and left her Lady busie in dressing her head and went to Briljard's Chamber who thought every moment an Age till she came so vigorous he was on his new design That which was sent to Octavio being seal'd with a wet Wafer he neatly opens as 't was easie to do and read and Seal'd again and Antonett deliver'd it to the Page After receiving what pay Briljard cou'd force himself to bestow upon her some flatteries of dissembl'd love and some cold Kisses which even imagination cou'd not render better She return'd to her Lady and he to his Stratagem which was to counterfeit a Letter from Octavio She having in hers given him a hint by bidding him set a price upon the Secret which he had heard was that of a Letter from Philander with all the Circumstances of it from the faithless Antonett whom Love had betray'd and after blotting much paper to try every Letter through the Alphabet and to produce them like those of Octavio which was not hard for a Lover of ingenuity he fell to the business of what he wou'd write and having finisht it to his liking his next trouble was how to convey it to Her for Octavio always sent his by his Page whom he cou'd trust He now was certain of love between ' em For tho he often had perswaded Antonett to bring him Letters yet she cou'd not be wrought on till now to betray her trust And what he long apprehended
in can you secure me my Lover your protestations you may but not the dear Protestor Is it not enough oh Philander for my eternal unquiet and undoing to know you are Married and cannot therefore be intirely mine is not this enough oh cruel Philander but you must espouse a fatal cause too more pernicious than that Matrimony and more destructive to my repose oh give me leave to reason with you and since you have been pleas'd to trust and afflict me with the secret which honest as I am I will never betray yet yet give me leave to urge the danger of it to you and consequently to me if you pursue it when you are with me we can think and talk and argue nothing but the mightier business of Love and 't is â—it I that so fondly and fatally love you shou'd warn you of the danger Consider my Lord you are born Noble from Parents of untainted Loyalty blest with a Fortune few Princes beneath Sovereignty are Masters of blest with all gaining Youth commanding Beauty Wit Courage Bravery of mind and all that renders men esteem'd and ador'd what wou'd you more what is it oh my Charming Brother then that you set up for is it Glory oh mistaken lovely Youth that Glory is but a glittering light that flashes for a moment and then it disappears 't is a false â—â—avery that will bring an eternal blemâ—â— upon your honest â—ame and house render your honourable name hated detested and abominable in story to after Ages a Traytor the worst of Titles the most inglorious and shameful what has the King our good our Gracious Monarch done to Philander how disoblig'd him or indeed what injury to Mankind who has he opprest where play'd the Tyrant or the Ravisher what one cruel or angry thing has he committed in all the time of his fortunate and peaceable Reign over us Whose Ox or whose Ass has he unjustly taken What Orphan wrong'd or Widows Tears neglected but all his Life has been one continu'd Miracle all Good all Gracious Calm and Merciful and this good this Godlike King is mark'd out for slaughter design'd a Sacrifice to the private revenge of a few ambitious Knaves and Rebels whose pretence is the publick good and doom'd to be basely Murder'd A Murder even on the worst of Criminals carries with it a Cowardise so black and infamous as the most abject Wretches the meanest pirited Creature has an abhorrence for what to Murder a Man unthinking unwarn'd unprepar'd and undefendedâ—â— oh barbarous oh poor and most unbrave what Villainâ—â— is there so lost to all humanity to be found upon the face of the Earth that wherâ—â— done dares own so hellish a deed as the Murder of the meanest of his Fellow-Subjects much less the sacreâ—â— Person of the King Thâ—â— Lords Anointed one whose awful face 't is impossible to look without that reverence wherewith one wou'd be hold a God! for 't is mosâ—â— certain that every Glancâ—â— from his piercing wondrâ—â— eyes begets a trembling A do ration for my part I Swâ—â—â— to you Philander I never approach His Sacred Person but my Heart beats my Blood runs cold about me and my Eyes o'reflow with Tears of joy while an awful confusion seizes me all over and I am certain shou'd the most harden'd of your Bloody Rebels look him in â—â—he face the devilish instrument of Death wou'd drop from his sacrilegious hand and leave him confounded at the feet of the Royal forgiving Sufferer his eyes have in 'em somthing so fierce so Majestick commanding and yet so good and merciful as wou'd soften Rebellion it self into repenting Loyalty and like Cajus Marius seem to say who is 't dares hurt the King They alone like his Guardian Angels defend his Sacred Person oh what pity 't is unhappy young man thy Education was not near the King 'T is plain 't is reasonable 't is honest Great and Glorious to believe what thy own sense if thou wilt but think and consider wilt instruct thee in that Treason Rebellion and Murder are far from the Paths that lead to Glory which are as distant as Hell from Heav'n What is it then to advance since I say 't is plain Glory is never this way to be atchiev'd is it to add more Thousands to those Eâ—â—rtune has already so lavishly bestow'd on you oh my Philander that 's to double the 〈◊〉 crime which reaches already to Damnation wou'd your Honour your Conâ—â—cience your Christianity or â—ommon humanity suffer you to inlâ—â—ge your Fortunes at the price of anothers ruine and make the spoyls of some honest Noble Unfortunate Family the rewards of your Treachery wou'd you build your fame on such a Foundation Perhaps on the destruction of some friend or Kinsman Oh Barbarous and mistaken Greatness Thieves and Robbers wou'd scorn such outrages that had but souls and sense Iâ— iâ— for addition of Titles what elevation can you have much greater than where you now stand fixt if you do not grow giddy with your fancy'd false hopes and fall from that glorious height you are already arriv'd to and which with the honest addition of Loyalty is of far more value and luster than to arrive at Crowns by Blood and Treason This will last to Ages last in story last While t'other will be ridicul'd toâ—â— all posterity short liv'd and reproachful here infamous and accurs'd to all eternity Is it to make Caesario King oh what is Caesario to my Philander If a Monarchy you design then why not this King this great this good this Royal Forgiver This who was born a King and born your King and holds his Crown by right of Nature by right of Law by right of Heav'n it self Heav'n who has preserv'd him and confirm'd him ours by a Thousand miraculous escapes and sufferings and indulg'd him ours by Ten Thousand acts of mercy and indear'd him to us by his wondrous care and conduct by securing of Peace plenty ease and luxurious happiness o're all the fortunate limits of His Blessed Kingdoms and will you wou'd you destroy this wonderous gift of Heaven this Godlike King this real good we now possess for a most uncertain one and with it the repose of all the happy Nation to establish a King without Law without right without consent without Title and indeed without even competent parts for so vast a trust or so Glorious a rule One who never oblig'd the Nation by one single Act of Goodness or Valour in all the course of his Life and who never signaliz'd either to the advantage of one man of all the Kingdom A Prince unfortunate in his Principles and Morals And whose sole single Ingratitude to his Majesty for so many Royal Bounty's Honours and Glories heap'd upon him is of its self enough to set any honest generous heart against him what is it bewitches you so is it his Beauty then Philander has a greater Title than Caesario and not one other merit has he since in Piety Chastity Sobriety
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
lookt pale with anger and disdain and but that she had already given her Honour up it wou'd have been something more surprising But she was us'd to questions of that Nature and therefore receiv'd this with so much the less concern nevertheless 't was sufficient to fill her Soul with a thousand agitations but when she wou'd be angry the consideration of what she had writ to him to incouragâ— him to this boldness stop'd her rage When she wou'd take it ill she consider'd his knowledge of her lost fame and that took off a great part of her resentment on that side and in midst of all she was raving for the knowledge of Philanders secret She rose from the Bed and walk'd about the room in much disorder full of thought and no conclusion she is asham'd to consult of this affair with Antonett and knows not what to fix on The only thing she was certain of and which was fully and undisputably resolv'd in her Soul was never to consent to so false an Action never to buy the secret at so dear a rate she abhors Octavio whom she regards no more as that fine thing which before she thought him and a thousand times she was about to write her despight and contempt but still the dear secret staid her hand and she was fond of the torment At last Antonett who was afflictted to know the cause of this disorder ask'd her Lady if Octavio wou'd not come No replyed Silvia blushing at the Name nor never shall the ungrateful man dare to behold my face any more Iesu replyed Antonett what has he done Madam to deserve this severity For he was a great benefactor to Antonett and had already by his gifts and presents made her a Fortune for a Burgomaster He has said Silvia câ—mmitted such an impudence as deserves death from my Hand This she spoke in rage and walk'd away cross the Chamber Why Madam cry'd Antonett does he denie to give you the Letter No replyed Silvia but askes me such a price for it as makes me hate my self that am reduc'd by my ill conduct to Addresses of that Nature Heavens Madam what can he ask you to afflict you so the presumptuous man said she in rage has the impudence to ask what never man but Philander was ever possest of At this Antonett laught Good Lord Madam said she and are you angry at such desires in men toward you I believe you are the first Lady in the World that was ever offended for being desirable Can any thing proclaim your Beauty more or your youth or Wit marry Madam I wish I were worthy to be ask'd the question by all the fine dancing dressing Song-making Fops in Town And you wou'd yield replyed Silvia not so neither replyed Antonett but I wou'd spark my self and value my self the more upon 't Oh said Silvia she that is so fond of hearing of Love no doubt but will find some one to practice it with That 's as I shou'd find my self inclin'd replyed Antonett Silvia was not so intent on â—â—tonett's rail'ery but she imploy'd all her thought the while on what she had to do and those last words of Antonett's jogg'd a thought that ran on to one very advantagious at least her present and first apprehension of it was such And she turn'd to Antonett with a face more gay than it was the last minute and cry'd Prithee good Wench tell me what sort of man wou'd soonest incline you to a yielding if you command me Madam to be free with your Lordship reply'd Antonett I must confess there are too sorts of men that wou'd most villainouâ—ly incline me the first is he that wou'd make my fortune best The next he that wou'd make my pleasure the young the handsome or rather the well bread and good humour'd But above all the Man of Wit But what wou'd you say Antonett replyed Silvia if all these made up in one man shou'd make his Addresses to you Why then most certainly Madam replyed Antonett I shou'd yield him my Honour aftâ—r a reasonable siege This tho' the wanton young maid spoke possibly at first more to put her Lady in good humour than from any inclination she had to what she said yet after many arguments upon that subject Silvia cunning enough to pursue her design brought the business more home and told her in plain terms that Octavio was the man who had been so presumptious as to ask so great a reward as the possession of her self for the secret she desir'd and after a thousand little subtilties having made the forward Girle confess with blushes she was not a Maid she insinuated into her an opinion that what she had done already without any other motive than that of Love as she confest in which int'rest had no part wou'd make the trick the easier to do again especially if she brought to her Arms a person of Youth Wit Gallantry Beauty and all the Charming qualities that adorn a man and that besides she shou'd find it turn to good account and for her secresies she might depend upon it since the person to whose imâ—races she shou'd submit her self shou'd not know but that she her self was the Woman so that says Silâ—ia I will have all infamy and you the reward every way with unblemisht Honour while she spoke the willing Mâ—id gave an inward pleasing attention tho at first she made a few faint modest scruples Nor was she less joy'd to hear it shou'd be Octavio whom she knew to be rich and very handsome and she immediately found the humour of inconstancy cease her and Briljard appear'd a very Husband Lover in comparison of this new Brisker man of quality so that after some pro's and Con's the whole matter was thus concluded on between these two young persons who neither wanted Wit nor Beauty and both cro'd over the contrivance as a most diverting piece of little Malice that shou'd serve their present turn and make 'em sport for the future The next thing that was consider'd was a Letter which was to be sent in answer and that Silvia being to write with her own hand begot a new doubt in so much as the whole business was at a stand For when it came to that point that she her self was to consent she found the project look with a face so foul that she a hundred times resolv'd and unresolv'd But Philander fill'd her Soul revenge was in her view and that one thought put her on new resolves to pursue the design let it be never so base and dishonourable Yes cry'd she at last I can commit no action that is not more just excusable and honourable than that which Octavio has done to me who uses me like a common Mistris of the Town and dares ask me that which he knows he durst not do if he had not mean and abject thoughts of me his buseness deserves death from from my hand if I had courage to give it him and the least I
Last Part of this History shall most Faithfully relate The End of the Second Part. THE AMOURS OF PHILANDER AND SILVIA Being the Third and Last Part OF THE Love-Letters Between a NOBLE-MAN AND HIS SISTER LONDON Printed and are to be Sold by most Book-Sellers 1687. TO THE LORD SPENCER My Lord WHEN a New Book conies into the World the first thing we consider is the Dedication and according to the Quality and Humour of the Patron we are apt to make a Iudgment of the following Subject If to a States-man we belive it Gravâ— and Politick if a Gown-man Law or Divinity if to the Young and Gay Love and Gallantry By this Ride I believe the gentle Reader who finds your Lordship's Name prefix'd before this will make as many various Opinions of it as they do Characters of your Lordship whose youthful Sallies have been the business of so much Discourse and which according to the Relator's Sence or good Nature is either aggravated or excused though the Womans Quarrel to your Lordship has some more reasonable Foundation than that of your own Sex for your Lordsâ—ip being Form'd with all the Beauties and Graces of Man-kind all the Charms of Wit Youth and Sweetness of Disposition derived to you from an Illustrious Race of Hero's adapting you to noblest Love and Softness they cannot but complain on that mistaken Conduct of â—ours that so lavishly deals out those agreeable Attractions Squandering away that Youth and Time on many which might be more advantageously dedicated to some one of the Fair and by a Liberty which they call not being Discreet enough robb 'em of all the Hopes of Conquest over that Heart which they believe can fix no where they cannot carress you into Tameness or if you sometimes appear so they are still upon their Guard with you for like a Young Lyon you are ever apt to leap into your Natural Wildness the Greatness of your Soul disdaining to be conâ—ined to lazy Repose tho the Delicacy of your Person and Constitution so absolutely require it your Lordship not being made for Diversions so rough and fatigueing as those your active Mind would impose upon it Your Lordship is placed in so Glorious a Station the Son of so Great a Father as renders all you do more perspicuous to the World than the Actions of common Men already the advantages of your Birth have drawn all Eyes upon you and yet more on those coming Greatnesses to which you were born if Heaven preserves your Lordship amidst the too vigorous Efforts and too dangerous Adventures which a too brisk Fire in your Noble Blood a too forward desire of gaining Fame daily exposes you to and will unless some force confine your too impatient Bravery shorten those Days which Heaven has surely designed for more Glorious Actions for according to all the Maxims of the Iudging Wise the little Extravagancies of Youth accomplish and perfect the Riper Years 'T is this that makes indulgent Parents permit those Sparks of Fire that are Gleaming in Young Hearts to kindle into a Flame knowing well that the Consideration and Temperament of a few more Years will regulate it to that just degree where the noble and generous Spirit should â—ix it self And for this we have had the Examples of some of the greatest Men that ever adorned History My Lord I presume to lay â—t your Lordship's Feet an Illustrious Youth the unhappy Circumstances of whose Life ought to be Written in lasting Characters of all Languages for a President to succeeding Ages of the Misfortune of â—eedless Love and â— too Early Thirst of Glory for in him your Lordship will find the fatal Effects of great Courage without Conduct Wit without Discretion and a Greatness of Mind without the steady Vertues of it so that from a Prince even ador'd by all by an imprudence that too often attendss the Great and Young and from the most exhalted Height of Glory mis-led by false notions of Honour and falser Friends fell the most pityed Object that ever was abandoned by Fortune I hope no One will imagine I intend this as a Parallel between your Lordship and our mistaken brave Vnfortunate since your Lordship hath an unquestioned and hereditary Loyalty which nothing can deface born from a Father who has given the World so evident Proofs that no fear of threatned danger can separate his useful Service and Duties from the Interest of his Royal and God-like Master which he pursues with an undaunted Fortitude in disdain of Phanatical Censures and those that want the Bravery to do a just Action for fear of future Turns of State And such indeed is your true Man of Honour and as such I doubt not but your Lordship will acquit your self in all times and on all occasions Pardon the Liberty my Zeal for your Lordship has here presumed to take since among all those that make Vows and Prayers for your Lordship's Health and Preservation none offers them more devoutly than My LORD Your Lordships Most Humble and Obedient Servant A. B. THE AMOURS OF PHILANDER and SILVIA OCTAVIO the Brave the Generous and the Amorous having left Silvia absolutely resolv'd to give her self to that doting fond Lover or rather to sacrifice her self to her Revenge that unconsidering Unfortunate whose Passion had expos'd him to all the unreasonable Effects of it return'd to his own House wholly transported with his happy Success He thinks on nothing but vast coming Joys Nor did one kind Thought direct him back to the evil Consequences of what he so hastily pursu'd he reflects not on her Circumstances but her Charms not on the Infamy he should espouse with Silvia but of those ravishing Pleasures she was capable of giving him he regards not the Reproaches of his Friends but wholly abandon'd to Love and youthful Imaginations gives a Loose to young Desire and Fancy that deludes him with a thousand soft Ideas He reflects not that his gentle and easy Temper was most unfit to joyn with that of Silvia which was the most haughty and humorous in Nature for tho' she had all the Charms of Youth and Beauty that are conquering in her Sex all the Wit and Insinuation that even surpasses Youth and Beauty yet to render her Character impartially she had also abundance of disagreeing Qualities mixt with her Perfections She was Imperious and Proud even to Insolence Vain and Conceited even to Folly she knew her Vertues and her Graces too well and her Vices too little she was very Opinionated and Obstinate hard to be convinced of the falsest Argument but very positive in her fancied Judgment Abounding in her own Sense and very critical on that of others Censorious and too apt to charge others with those Crimes to which she was her self addicted or had been guilty of Amorously inclin'd and indiscreet in the Management of her Amours and constant rather from Pride and Shame than Inclination fond of catching at every trifling Conquest and lov'd the Triumph tho' she hated the
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
Quality could purchace one so rich for I lov'd the Young Woman who had Beauty and Discretion enough to charm tho' the Parisians of the Royal Party call'd her Nicky Nacky which was given her in derision to me not to her for whom every body for her own sake had a considerable Esteem Besides my Lord I had taken up Money out of the Orphans and Widows Bank from the Chamber of Paris and could very well afford to be Lavish when I spent upon the publick Stock While I was thus ordering all things my Vallet came running out of Breath to tell me that being at the Loovre he saw several persons carried to the Secretaries Office with Messengers and that inquiring who they might be he found they were two Parisians who had offered themselves to the Messengers to be carryed to be Examined about a Plot the Prince Cesario and those of the Reformed Religion had to surprize his Majesty kill Monsieur his Brother and set all Paris in a Flame And as to what particularly related to my self he said That I was named as the person design'd to seize upon the King's Guards and dispatch Monsieur This my own Conscience told me was too true for me to make any doubt but I was discovered I therefore left a Servant in the House and in an Hackney-Coach took my Flight I drove a little out of Paris till Night and then returned again as the surest part of the World where I could conceal my self I was not long in studying who I should trust with my Life and safety but went directly to the Palace of Madam the Countess of who you know my Lord was a Widow and a Woman who had for a year past a most violent Passion for me but she being a Lady who had made many such Gallantries and past her Youth I had had only a very great Respect and Acknowledgment for her and her Quality and being obliged to her for the Effects of her Tenderness shown upon several Occasions I could not but acquit my self like a Cavalier to her whenever I could possible and which tho' I have a thousand times feigned great Business to prevent yet I could not always be ungrateful and when I paid her my Services 't was ever extreamly well received and because of her Quality and seting up for a second Marriage she always took care to make my Approaches to her in as conceal'd a manner as possible and only her Porter one Page and one Woman knew this secret Amour and for the better carrying it on I ever went in a Hackney-Coach least my Livery should be seen at her Gate And as it was my Custom at other times so I now sent the Porter whom by my Bounty and his Ladies was intirely my own Creature for the Page to come to me who immediately did and I desired him to let his Lady know I waited her Commands That was the Word He immediately brought me Answer that by good Fortune his Lady was all alone and infinitely wishing she knew where to send him for me and I immediately at that good News ran up to her Chamber where I was no sooner come but desiring me to sit she ordered her Porter to be call'd and gave him Orders upon pain of Life not to tell of my being in the House whatever Enquiry should be made after me and having given the same Command to her Page she dismiss'd 'em and came to me with all the Fear and Trembling imaginable Ah Monsieur cry'd she falling on my Neck we are undone I not imagining she had heard the News already cry'd Why is my Passion discovered Ah reply'd she in Tears I would to Heaven it were no worse would all the Earth had discovered that which I should esteem my Glory But 't is my charming Monsieur continued she Your Treasons and not Amour whose discovery will be so fatal to me At this I seemed amaz'd and beg'd her to let me understand her She told me what I have said before and moreover That the Council had that very Evening issued out Warrants for me and she admired how I escaped After a little Discourse of this kind I asked her what she would advise me to do for I was very well assured the violent hate the King had particularly for me would make him never consent I should live on any terms And therefore 't was determined I should not surrender my self and she resolved to run the risk of concealing me which in fine she did Three Days furnishing me with Money and Necessaries for my Flight In this time a Proclamation came forth and offered five hundred Crowns for my Head or to Seize me alive or dead This Sum so wrought with the slavish Minds of Men that no Art was left unessay'd to take me They searcht all Houses all Hackney-Coaches that pass'd by Night and did all that Avarice could inspire to take me but all in vain At last this glorious Sum so dazled the Mind of Madam the Countess's Porter that he went to a Captain of the Musquetiers and assured him if the King would give him the aforesaid Sum he would betray me and bring him the following Night to surprize me without any Resistance The Captain who thought if the Porter should have all the Sum he should get none and every one hoping to be the happy Man that should take me and win the Prize could not indure another should have the Glory of both and so never told the King of the Offer the Porter had made But however Secret one may imagine an Amour to be kept yet in so busie a place as Paris and the Apartments of the Court Coquets this of ours had been discoursed and the Intrigue more than suspected Whether this or the Captain before nam'd imagined to find me at the House of the Countess because her Porter had made such an Offer I say however it was the next Morning upon a Sunday the Guards broke into several Chambers and missing me had the Insolence to come to the Door of that of the Countess and she had only time to slip on her Night-Gown and running to the Door besought them to have Respect to her Sex and Quality while I started from my Bed which was the same from whence the Countess rose and not knowing where to hide or what to do concealing my Clothes between the Sheets I mounted from the Table to a great silver Sconce that was faâ—tened to the Wall by the Bed-side and form thence made but one Spring up to the Tester of the Bed which being one of those raised with strong wood-work and Japan I could easily do or rather it was by Miracle I did it and laid myself along on the top while my Back touched the Cieling of the Chamber by this time when no Intreaties could prevail they had burst open the Chamber Door and running directly to the Bed they could not believe their Eyes They saw no Person there but the plain print of two with the