I need say no more then to a man who knows so well my soul, but to tell him I am his constant friend. PHILANDER. This came as _Brilliard_’. soul could wish, and had he sent him word he had been chosen King of _Poland_, he could not have received the news with so great joy, and so perfect a welcome. How to manage this to his best advantage was the business he was next to consult, after returning an answer; now he fancied himself sure of the lovely prize, in spite of all other oppositions: ‘For’ (says he, in reasoning the case) ‘if she can by degrees arrive to a coldness to _Philander_, and consider him no longer as a lover, she may perhaps consider me as a husband; or should she receive _Octavio_’. addresses, when once I have found her feeble, I will make her pay me for keeping of every secret.’ So either way he entertained a hope, though never so distant from reason and probability; but all things seem possible to longing lovers, who can on the least hope resolve to out-wait even eternity (if possible) in expectation of a promised blessing; and now with more than usual care he resolved to dress, and set out all his youth and beauty to the best advantage; and being a gentleman well born, he wanted no arts of dressing, nor any advantage of shape or mien, to make it appear well: pleased with this hope, his art was now how to make his advances without appearing to have designed doing so. And first to act the hypocrite with his lord was his business; for he considered rightly, if he should not represent _Sylvia_’. sorrows to the life, and appear to make him sensible of them, he should not be after credited if he related any thing to her disadvantage; for to be the greater enemy, you ought to seem to be the greatest friend. This was the policy of his heart, who in all things was inspired with fanatical notions. In order to this, being alone in his chamber, after the defeat he had in that of _Sylvia_’., he writ this letter. BRILLIARD _to_ PHILANDER. _My Lord,_ You have done me the honour to make me your confidant in an affair that does not a little surprise me; since I believed, after _Sylvia_, no mortal beauty could have touched your heart, and nothing but your own excuses could have sufficed to have made it reasonable; and I only wish, that when the fatal news shall arrive to _Sylvia_’. ear (as for me it never shall) that she may think it as pardonable as I do; but I doubt it will add abundance of grief to what she is already possessed of, if but such a fear should enter in her tender thoughts. But since it is not my business, my lord, to advise or counsel, but to obey, I leave you to all the success of happy love, and will only give you an account how affairs stand here, since your departure.