_Octavio_’. soul so well, and could you imagine it capable of a thought like this? A presumption so daring to the most awful of her sex; this was unkind indeed: and did you answer them?’ ‘Yes,’ replied she, ‘with all the kindness I could force my pen to express.’ So that after canvassing the matter, and relating the whole story again with his being taken ill, they concluded from every circumstance _Brilliard_ was the man; for _Antonet_ was called to council; who now recollecting all things in her mind, and knowing _Brilliard_ but too well, she confessed she verily believed it was he, especially when she told how she stole a letter of _Octavio_’. for him that day, and how he was ill of the same disease still. _Octavio_ then called his page, and sent him home for the note _Brilliard_ had sent him, and all appeared as clear as day: but _Antonet_ met with a great many reproaches for shewing her lady’s letters, which she excused as well as she could: but never was man so ravished with joy as _Octavio_ was at the knowledge of _Sylvia_’. innocence; a thousand times he kneeled and begged her pardon; and her figure encouraging his caresses, a thousand times he embraced her, he smiled, and blushed, and sighed with love and joy, and knew not how to express it most effectually: and _Sylvia_, who had other business than love in her heart and head, suffered all the marks of his eager passion and transport out of design, for she had a farther use to make of _Octavio_; though when she surveyed his person handsome, young, and adorned with all the graces and beauties of the sex, not at all inferior to _Philander_, if not exceeding in every judgement but that of _Sylvia_; when she considered his soul, where wit, love, and honour equally reigned, when she consults the excellence of his nature, his generosity, courage, friendship, and softness, she sighed and cried, it was pity to impose upon him; and make his love for which she should esteem him, a property to draw him to his ruin; for so she fancied it must be if ever he encountered _Philander_; and though good nature was the least ingredient that formed the soul of this fair charmer, yet now she found she had a mixture of it, from her concern for _Octavio_; and that generous lover made her so many soft vows, and tender protestations of the respect and awfulness of his passion, that she was wholly convinced he was her slave; nor could she see the constant languisher pouring out his soul and fortune at her feet, without suffering some warmth about her heart, which she had never felt but for _Philander_; and this day she expressed herself more obligingly than ever she had done, and allows him little freedoms of approaching her with more softness than hitherto she had; and, absolutely charmed, he promises, lavishly and without reserve, all she would ask of him; and in requital she assured him all he could wish or hope, if he would serve her in her revenge against _Philander_: she recounts to him at