Having writ this, he read it over; not to see whether it were witty or eloquent, or writ up to the sense of so good a judge as _Philander_, but to see whether he had cast it for his purpose; for there his masterpiece was to be shewn; and having read it, he doubted whether the relation of _Sylvia_’. griefs were not too moving, and whether they might not serve to revive his fading love, which were intended only as a demonstration of his own pity and compassion, that from thence the deceived lover might with the more ease entertain a belief in what he hinted of her levity, when he was to make that out, as he now had but touched upon it, for he would not have it thought the business of malice to _Sylvia_, but duty and respect to _Philander_: that thought reconciled him to the first part without alteration; and he fancied he had said enough in the latter, to give any man of love and sense a jealousy which might inspire a young lover in pursuit of a new mistress, with a revenge that might wholly turn to his advantage; for now every ray gave him light enough to conduct him to hope, and he believed nothing too difficult for his love, nor what his invention could not conquer: he fancied himself a very _Machiavel_ already, and almost promised himself the charming _Sylvia_. With these thoughts he seals up his letters, and hastes to _Sylvia_’. chamber for her farther commands, having in his politic transports forgotten he had left _Octavio_ with her. _Octavio_, who no sooner had seen _Brilliard_ quit the chamber all trembling and disordered, after having given him entrance, but the next step was to the feet of the new recovered languishing beauty, who not knowing any thing of the freedom the daring husband lover had taken, was not at all surprised to hear _Octavio_ cry (kneeling before her) ‘Ah madam, I no longer wonder you use _Octavio_ with such rigour;’ then sighing declined his melancholy eyes, where love and jealousy made themselves too apparent; while she believing he had only reproached her want of ceremony at his entrance, checking herself, she started from the bed, and taking him by the hand to raise him, she cried, ‘Rise, my lord, and pardon the omission of that respect which was not wanting but with even life itself.’ _Octavio_ answered, ‘Yes, madam, but you took care, not to make the world absolutely unhappy in your eternal loss, and therefore made choice of such a time to die in, when you were sure of a skilful person at hand to bring you back to life’--’My lord----’ said she (with an innocent wonder in her eyes, and an ignorance that did not apprehend him) ‘I mean, _Brilliard_,’ said he, ‘whom I found sufficiently disordered to make me believe he took no little pains to restore you to the world again.’ This he spoke with such an air, as easily made her imagine he was a lover to the degree of jealousy, and therefore (beholding him with a look that told him her disdain before she spoke) she replied hastily, ‘My lord, if _Brilliard_ have