find the cheat: I will come then----and lay myself at thy feet, and seek there that repose, that dear content, which is not to be found in this vast world besides; though much of my heart’s joy thou hast abated; and fixed a sadness in my soul that will not easily vanish----oh _Sylvia_, take care of me, for I am in thy power, my life, my fame, my soul are all in thy hands, be tender of the victims, and remember if any action of thy life should shew a fading love, that very moment I perceive the change, you shall find dead at your feet the abandoned PHILANDER. _Sad as death, I am going towards the meadow, in order to my approach towards_ Sylvia, _the world affording no repose to me, but when I am where the dear charmer is_. * * * * * _To_ Philander _in the Meadow_. And can you be jealous of me, _Philander_? I mean so poorly jealous as to believe me capable of falsehood, of vow-breach, and what is worse, of loving any thing but the adorable _Philander_? I could not once believe so cruel a thought could have entered into the imaginations of a soul so entirely possessed with _Sylvia_, and so great a judge of love. Abandon me, reproach me, hate me, scorn me, whenever I harbour any thing in mind so destructive to my repose and thine. Can I _Philander_, give you a greater proof of my passion; of my faithful, never-dying passion, than being undone for you? Have I any other prospect in all this soft adventure, but shame, dishonour, reproach, eternal infamy and ever-lasting destruction, even of soul and body? I tremble with fear of future punishment; but oh, love will have no devotion (mixed with his ceremonies) to any other deity; and yet, alas, I might have loved another, and have been saved, or any maid but _Sylvia_ might have possessed without damnation. But it is a brother I pursue, it is a sister gives her honour up, and none but _Canace_, that ever I read in story, was ever found so wretched as to love a brother with so criminal a flame, and possibly I may meet her fate. I have a father too as great as _Aeolus_, as angry and revengeful where his honour is concerned; and you found, my dearest brother, how near you were last night to a discovery in the garden. I have some reason too to fear this night’s adventure, for as ill fate would have it (loaded with other thoughts) I told not _Melinda_ of your adventure last night with _Monsieur_ the Count, who meeting her early this morning, had like to have made a discovery, if he have not really so already; she strove to shun him, but he cried out--’_Melinda_, you cannot fly me by light, as you did last night in the dark--’She turned and begged his pardon, for neither coming nor designing to come, since she had resolved never to violate her vows to _Alexis_: ‘Not coming?’ cried he, ‘not returning again, you meant, _Melinda_; secure of my heart and my purse, you fled with both.’ _Melinda_, whose honour was now concerned, and not reminding your escape in her likeness,