that is so fond of hearing of love, no doubt but will find some one to practise it with.’ ‘That is as I should find myself inclined,’ replied _Antonet_. _Sylvia_ was not so intent on _Antonet_’. raillery, but she employed all her thought the while on what she had to do: and those last words of _Antonet_’. jogged a thought that ran on to one very advantageous, at least her present and first apprehension of it was such: and she turned to _Antonet_, with a face more gay than it was the last minute, and cried, ‘Prithee, good wench, tell me what sort of man would soonest incline you to a yielding:’ ‘If you command me, madam, to be free with your ladyship,’ replied _Antonet_, ‘I must confess there are two sorts of men that would most villainously incline me: the first is he that would make my fortune best; the next, he that would make my pleasure; the young, the handsome, or rather the well-bred and good-humoured; but above all, the man of wit.’ ‘But what would you say, _Antonet_,’ replied _Sylvia_, ‘if all these made up in one man should make his addresses to you?’ ‘Why then most certainly, madam,’ replied _Antonet_, ‘I should yield him my honour, after a reasonable siege.’ This though the wanton young maid spoke possibly at first more to put her lady in good humour, than from any inclination she had to what she said; yet after many arguments upon that subject, _Sylvia_, cunning enough to pursue her design, brought the business more home, and told her in plain terms, that _Octavio_ was the man who had been so presumptuous as to ask so great a reward as the possession of herself for the secret she desired; and, after a thousand little subtleties, having made the forward girl confess with blushes she was not a maid, she insinuated into her an opinion, that what she had done already (without any other motive than that of love, as she confessed, in which interest had no part) would make the trick the easier to do again, especially if she brought to her arms a person of youth, wit, gallantry, beauty, and all the charming qualities that adorn a man, and that besides she should find it turn to good account; and for her secrecy she might depend upon it, since the person to whose embraces she should submit herself, should not know but that she herself was the woman: ‘So that,’ says _Sylvia_, ‘I will have all the infamy, and you the reward every way with unblemished honour.’ While she spoke, the willing maid gave an inward pleasing attention, though at first she made a few faint modest scruples: nor was she less joyed to hear it should be _Octavio_, whom she knew to be rich, and very handsome; and she immediately found the humour of inconstancy seize her; and _Brilliard_ appeared a very husband lover in comparison of this new brisker man of quality; so that after some pros and cons the whole matter was thus concluded on between these two young persons, who neither wanted wit nor beauty; and both crowed over the little