him; he absolutely quits _Myrtilla_, lives some time in a village near _Paris_, called St _Denis_, with this betrayed unfortunate, till being found out, and like to be apprehended, (one for the rape, the other for the flight) she is forced to marry a cadet, a creature of _Philander_’., to bear the name of husband only to her, while _Philander_ had the entire possession of her soul and body: still the _League_ went forward, and all things were ready for a war in _Paris_; but it is not my business here to mix the rough relation of a war, with the soft affairs of love; let it suffice, the _Huguenots_ were defeated, and the King got the day, and every rebel lay at the mercy of his sovereign. _Philander_ was taken prisoner, made his escape to a little cottage near his own palace, not far from _Paris_, writes to _Sylvia_ to come to him, which she does, and in spite of all the industry to re-seize him, he got away with _Sylvia_. After their flight these letters were found in their cabinets, at their house at St _Denis_, where they both lived together, for the space of a year; and they are as exactly as possible placed in the order they were sent, and were those supposed to be written towards the latter end of their amours. Love-Letters Part I. _To_ SYLVIA. Though I parted from you resolved to obey your impossible commands, yet know, oh charming _Sylvia_! that after a thousand conflicts between love and honour, I found the god (too mighty for the idol) reign absolute monarch in my soul, and soon banished that tyrant thence. That cruel counsellor that would suggest to you a thousand fond arguments to hinder my noble pursuit; _Sylvia_ came in view! her irresistible _Idea_! With all the charms of blooming youth, with all the attractions of heavenly beauty! Loose, wanton, gay, all flowing her bright hair, and languishing her lovely eyes, her dress all negligent as when I saw her last, discovering a thousand ravishing graces, round, white, small breasts, delicate neck, and rising bosom, heaved with sighs she would in vain conceal; and all besides, that nicest fancy can imagine surprising--Oh I dare not think on, lest my desires grow mad and raving; let it suffice, oh adorable _Sylvia_! I think and know enough to justify that flame in me, which our weak alliance of brother and sister has rendered so criminal; but he that adores _Sylvia_, should do it at an uncommon rate; ‘tis not enough to sacrifice a single heart, to give you a simple passion, your beauty should, like itself, produce wondrous effects; it should force all obligations, all laws, all ties even of nature’s self: you, my lovely maid, were not born to be obtained by the dull methods of ordinary loving; and ‘tis in vain to prescribe me measures; and oh much more in vain to urge the nearness of our relation. What kin, my charming _Sylvia_, are you to me? No ties of blood forbid my passion; and what’s a ceremony imposed on man by custom? What is it to my divine