_Philander_ having finished the reading of this, remained a while wholly without life or motion, when coming to himself, he sighed and cried,--’Why--farewell trifling life--if of the two extremes one must be chosen, rather than I’ll abandon _Sylvia_, I’ll stay and be delivered up a victim to incensed _France_--It is but a life--at best I never valued thee--and now I scorn to preserve thee at the price of _Sylvia_’. tears!’ Then taking a hasty turn or two about his chamber, he pausing cried,--’But by my stay I ruin both _Sylvia_ and myself, her life depends on mine; and it is impossible hers can be preserved when mine is in danger: by retiring I shall shortly again be blessed with her sight in a more safe security, by staying I resign myself poorly to be made a public scorn to _France_, and the cruel murderer of _Sylvia_.’ Now, it was after an hundred turns and pauses, intermixed with sighs and ravings, that he resolved for both their safeties to retire; and having a while longer debated within himself how, and where, and a little time ruminated on his hard pursuing fate, grown to a calm of grief, (less easy to be borne than rage) he hastes to _Sylvia_, whom he found something more cheerful than before, but dares not acquaint her with the commands he had to depart----But silently he views her, while tears of love and grief glide unperceivably from his fine eyes, his soul grows tenderer at every look, and pity and compassion joining to his love and his despair, set him on the wreck of life; and now believing it less pain to die than to leave _Sylvia_, resolves to disobey, and dare the worst that shall befall him; he had some glimmering hope, as lovers have, that some kind chance will prevent his going, or being delivered up; he trusts much to the friendship of _Octavio_, whose power joined with that of his uncle, (who was one of the _States_ also, and whom he had an ascendant over, as his nephew and his heir) might serve him; he therefore ventures to move him to compassion by this following letter. PHILANDER _to_ OCTAVIO.