_Octavio_.’ ‘Softly, dear _Antonet_,’ replied he----’nay, now your tears have calmed me’. and taking her in his arms, sought to appease her by all the arguments of seeming love and tenderness; while she, yet wholly unsatisfied in that cheat of his of going to Sylvia’s bed, remained still pouting and very frumpish. But he that had but one argument left, that on all occasions served to convince her, had at last recourse to that, which put her in good humour, and hanging on his neck, she kindly chid him for putting such a trick upon her lady. He told her, and confirmed it with an oath, that he did it but to try how far she was just to his friend and lord, and not any desire he had for a beauty that was too much of his own complexion to charm him; it was only the brunette and the black, such as herself, that could move him to desire; thus he shams her into perfect peace. ‘And why,’ said she, ‘were you not satisfied that she was false, as well from the assignation, as the trial?’ ‘Oh no,’ said he, ‘you women have a thousand arts of gibing, and no man ought to believe you, but put you to the trial.’ ‘Well,’ said she, ‘when I had brought you to the bed, when you found her arms stretched out to receive you, why did you not retire like an honest man, and leave her to herself?’ ‘Oh fie,’ said he, ‘that had not been to have acted _Octavio_ to the life, but would have made a discovery.’ ‘Ah,’ said she, ‘that was your aim to have acted _Octavio_ to the life, I believe, and not to discover my lady’s constancy to your lord; but I suppose you have been sworn at the Butt of _Heidleburgh_, never to kiss the maid, when you can kiss the mistress.’ But he renewing his caresses and asseverations of love to her, she suffered herself to be convinced of all he had a mind to have her believe. After this she could not contain any secret from him, but told him she had something to say to him, which if he knew, would convince him she had all the passion in the world for him: he presses eagerly to know, and she pursues to tell him, it is as much as her life is worth to discover it, and that she lies under the obligation of an oath not to tell it; but kisses and rhetoric prevail, and she cries--’What will you say now, if my lady may marry one of the greatest and most considerable persons in all this country?’ ‘I should not wonder at her conquest,’ (replied _Brilliard_) ‘but I should wonder if she should marry.’ ‘Then cease your wonder,’ replied she, ’.or she is to-morrow to be married to Count _Octavio_, whom she is to meet at nine in the morning to that end, at a little village a league from this place.’ She spoke, and he believes; and finds it true by the raging of his blood, which he could not conceal from _Antonet_, and for which he feigns a thousand excuses to the amorous maid, and charges his concern on that for his lord: at last (after some more discourse on that subject) he pretends to grow sleepy, and hastens her