sigh) ‘No, _Sylvia_, no rigid power on earth shall ever be able to deprive you of my eternal adoration, or to separate me one moment from _Sylvia_, after she is compelled to leave this ungrateful place; and whose departure I will hasten all that I can, since the land is not worthy of so great a blessing.’ So leaving her for a little space, he hasted to his uncle, whom he found very much discontented: he throws himself at his feet, and assails him with all the moving eloquence of sighs and tears; in vain was all, in vain alas he pleads. From this he flies to rage--and says all a distracted lover could pour forth to ease a tortured heart; what divinity did he not provoke? Wholly regardless even of heaven and man, he made a public confession of his passion, denied her being married to _Brilliard_, and weeps as he protests her innocence: he kneels again, implores and begs anew, and made the movingest moan that ever touched a heart, but could receive no other return but threats and frowns: the old gentleman had never been in love since he was born, no not enough to marry, but bore an unaccountable hate to the whole sex, and therefore was pitiless to all he could say on the score of love; though he endeavours to soften him by a thousand things more dear to him. ‘For my sake, sir,’ said he, ’.f ever my lost plea were grateful to you, when all your joy was in the young _Octavio_; release, release the charming _Sylvia_; regard her tender youth, her blooming beauty, her timorous helpless sex, her noble quality, and save her from rude assaults of power----Oh save the lovely maid!’ Thus he uttered with interrupting sighs and tears, which fell upon the floor as he pursued the obdurate on his knees: at last pity touched his heart, and he said--’Spare, sir, the character of your enchanting _Circe_; for I have heard too much of her, and what mischief she has bred in _France_, abandoning her honour, betraying a virtuous sister, defaming her noble parents, and ruining an illustrious young nobleman, who was both her brother and her lover. This, sir, in short, is the character of your beauteous innocent.’ ’.las, sir,’ replied _Octavio_, ‘you never saw this maid; or if you had, you would not be so cruel.’ ‘Go to, sir,’ replied the old gentleman, ‘I am not so soon softened at the sight of beauty.’ ‘But do but see her, sir,’ replied _Octavio_, ‘and then perhaps you will be charmed like me----’ ‘You are a fop, sir,’ replied _Sebastian_, ‘and if you would have me allow any favour to your enchanting lady, you must promise me first to abandon her, and marry the widow of Monsieur ---- who is vastly rich, and whom I have so often recommended to you; she loves you too, and though she be not fair, she has the best fortune of any lady in the _Netherlands_. On these terms, sir, I am for a reconciliation with you, and will immediately go and deliver the fair prisoner; and she shall have her liberty to go or stay, or do what she please--and now, sir, you know my will and