Upon this they made a seizure of both his, and his uncle’s estate, to the use of the _States_. Thus the best and most glorious man, that ever graced that part of the world, was undone by love. While _Sylvia_ with sighs and tears would often say that sure she was born the fate of all that adored her, and no man ever thrived that had a design upon her, or a pretension to her. Thus between excess of grief and excess of love, which indeed lay veiled in the first, they arrived at _Brussels_; where _Octavio_, having news of the proceedings of the _States_ against him, resolving rather to lose his life, than tamely to surrender his right, he went forth in order to take some care about it: and in these extremes of a troubled mind, he had forgot to read _Philander_’. letters, but gave them to _Sylvia_ to peruse, till he returned, beseeching and conjuring her, by all the charms of love, not to suffer herself to be afflicted, but now to consider she was wholly his; and she could not, and ought not to rob him of a sigh, or tear for any other man. For they had concluded to marry, as soon as _Sylvia_ should be delivered from that part of _Philander_, of which she was possessed. Therefore beholding her entirely his own, of whom he was so fondly tender, he could not endure the wind should blow on her, and kiss her lovely face: jealous of even the air she breathed, he was ever putting her in mind, of whose and what she was; and she ever giving him new assurances, that she was only _Octavio_’.. The last part of his ill news he concealed from her; that of the usage of the _States_. He was so entirely careful of her fame, that he had two lodgings, one most magnificent for her, another for himself; and only visited her all the live-long day. And being now retired from her, she whose love and curiosity grew less every day, for the false _Philander_, opened his letter with a sigh of departed love, and read this. Philander _to_ Octavio. Sure of your friendship, my dear _Octavio_, I venture to lay before you the history of my misfortunes, as well as those of my joys, equally extreme.