concluded ‘twas for my sister all, ‘till I discover’d the cheat by jealousy; for when my sister hung upon your neck, kiss’d, and caress’d that face that I ador’d, oh how I found my colour change, my limbs all trembled, and my blood enrag’d, and I could scarce forbear reproaching you; or crying out, ‘Oh why this fondness, brother? Sometimes you perceiv’d my concern, at which you’d smile; for you who had been before in love, (a curse upon the fatal time) could guess at my disorder; then would you turn the wanton play on me: when sullen with my jealousy and the cause, I fly your soft embrace, yet wish you would pursue and overtake me, which you ne’er fail’d to do, where after a kind quarrel all was pardon’d, and all was well again: while the poor injur’d innocent, my sister, made herself sport at our delusive wars; still I was ignorant, ‘till you in a most fatal hour inform’d me I was a lover. Thus was it with my heart in those blest days of innocence; thus it was won and lost; nor can all my stars in heav’n prevent, I doubt, prevent my ruin. Now you are sure of the fatal conquest, you scorn the trifling glory, you are silent now; oh I am inevitably lost, or with you, or without you: and I find by this little silence and absence of yours, that ‘tis most certain I must either die, or be _Philander_’. SYLVIA. _If_ Dorillus _come not with a letter, or that my page, whom I have sent to this cottage for one, bring it not, I cannot support my life: for oh_, Philander, _I have a thousand wild distracting fears, knowing how you are involv’d in the interest you have espoused with the young_ Cesario: _how danger surrounds you, how your life and glory depend on the frail sacrifice of villains and rebels: oh give me leave to fear eternally your fame and life, if not your love; If_ Sylvia _could command_, Philander _should be loyal as he’s noble; and what generous maid would not suspect his vows to a mistress, who breaks ‘em with his prince and master! Heaven preserve you and your glory_. * * * * * _To_ Philander.