I think I had not ended here, but that _Octavio_, the bravest and the best of friends, is come to visit me. The only satisfaction I have to support my life in _Philander_’. absence. Pay him those thanks that are due to him from me; pay him for all the generous cares he has taken of me; beyond a friend! Almost _Philander_ in his blooming passion, when it was all new and young, and full of duty, could not have rendered me his service with a more awful industry: sure he was made for love and glorious friendship. Cherish him then, preserve him next your soul, for he is a jewel fit for such a cabinet: his form, his parts, and every noble action, shews us the royal race from whence he sprung, and the victorious _Orange_ confesses him his own in every virtue, and in every grace; nor can the illegitimacy eclipse him: sure he was got in the first heat of love, which formed him so a _hero_--but no more. _Philander_ is as kind a judge as SYLVIA. She had no sooner finished this and sealed it, but _Octavio_ came into the chamber, and with such an air, with such a grace and mien he approached her--with all the languishment of soft trembling love in his face, which with the addition of the dress he was that day in, (which was extremely rich and advantageous, and altogether such as pleases the vanity of women,) I have since heard the charming _Sylvia_ say, in spite of her tenderness for _Philander_, she found a soft emotion in her soul, a kind of pleasure at his approach, which made her blush with some kind of anger at her own easiness. Nor could she have blushed in a more happy season; for _Octavio_ saw it, and it served at once to add a lustre to her paler beauty, and to betray some little kind sentiment, which possessed him with a joy that had the same effects on him: _Sylvia_ saw it; and the care she took to hide her own, served but to increase her blushes, which put her into a confusion she had much ado to reclaim: she cast her eyes to earth, and leaning her cheek on her hand, she continued on her seat without paying him that usual ceremony she was wont to do; while he stood speechless for a moment, gazing on her with infinite satisfaction: when she, to assume a formality as well as she could, rose up and cried, (fearing he had seen too much) ‘_Octavio_, I have been considering after what manner I ought to receive you? And while I was so, I left those civilities unpaid, which your quality and my good manners ought to have rendered you.’ ‘Ah, madam,’ replied he sighing, ’.f you would receive me as I merited, and you ought, at least you would receive me as the most passionate lover that ever adored you.’ ’. was rather believing,’ said _Sylvia_, ‘that I ought to have received you as my foe; since you conceal from me so long what you cannot but believe I am extremely impatient of hearing, and what so nearly concerns my repose.’ At this, he only answering with a sigh, she pursued, ‘Sure, _Octavio_, you understand me: _Philander_’. answer