men, is only what you please to make it; for at the same time you think it ungenerous to betray _Philander_, you believe it no breach of honour to betray the eternal repose of _Sylvia_. You have promised _Philander_ your friendship; you have avowed yourself my lover, my slave, my friend, my every thing; and yet not one of these has any tie to oblige you to my interest: pray tell me,’ continued she, ‘when you last writ to him; was it not in order to receive an answer from him? And was not I to see that answer? And here you think it no dishonour to break your word or promise; by which I find your false notions of virtue and honour, with which you serve yourselves, when interest, design, or self-love makes you think it necessary.’ ‘Madam,’ replied _Octavio_, ‘you are pleased to pursue your anger, as if indeed I had disobeyed your command, or refused to shew you what you imagine I have from _Philander_:’ ‘Yes, I do,’ replied she hastily; ‘and wonder why you should have a greater friendship for _Philander_, than for _Sylvia_; especially if it be true that you say, you have joined love to friendship: or are you of the opinion of those that cry, they cannot be a lover and a friend of the same object.’ ‘Ah, madam,’ cried our perplexed lover, ‘I beg you to believe, I think it so much more my duty and inclination to serve and obey _Sylvia_, than I do _Philander_, that I swear to you, oh charming conqueress of my soul, if _Philander_ have betrayed _Sylvia_, he has at the same time betrayed _Octavio_, and that I would revenge it with the loss of my life: in injuring the adorable _Sylvia_, believe me, lovely maid, he injures so much more than a friend, as honour is above the inclinations; if he wrong you, by heaven he cancels all! He wrongs my soul, my honour, mistress, and my sister:’ fearing he had said too much, he stopped and sighed at the word sister, and casting down his eyes, blushing with shame and anger, he continued. ‘Oh give me leave to say a sister, madam, lest mistress had been too daring and presumptuous, and a title that would not justify my quarrel half so well, since it would take the honour from my just resentment, and blast it with the scandal of self-interest or jealous revenge.’ ‘What you say,’ replied she, ‘deserves abundance of acknowledgement; but if you would have me believe you, you ought to hide nothing from me; and he, methinks, that was so daring to confess his passion to _Philander_, may after that, venture on any discovery: in short, _Octavio_, I demand to see the return you have from _Philander_, for possibly--’ said she, sweetening her charming face into a smile designed, ‘I should not be displeased to find I might with more freedom receive your addresses, and on the coldness of _Philander_’. reasoning may depend a great part of your fate, or fortune: come, come, produce your credentials, they may recommend your heart more effectually than all the fine things you can say; you know how the