My Mother told him, that she could not refuse any thing to one whom she ow'd so much to; and that she should think her self happy if she could serve him in a thing which he said concern'd him so nearly. He return'd some Compliments, and then desir'd her to hear him out with Patience, which she promis'd, and he begun, I have a long time had a great Love and Respect for your Daughter, and would have given all the World to have seen her sometimes; but she refus'd it me; and I bore her Rigour without Murmuring, in hopes the time would come when I could tell her I lov'd her without offending her Virtue: But I can't live when I have lost that hope, and therefore am come to beg you not to marry _Olinda_, as I am told you design; and I will make her Fortune greater than what she can expect from _Orontes_. How, my Lord, _interrupted my Mother_, what strange Proposition is this you make me? Be not angry with me, or fear me, _continu'd he_, for the moment you grant what I intreat of you, I will leave you, and never desire to see _Olinda_ again, as long as I continue in the Condition I am in; But 'twill be a great Happiness for me to think, that she may one Day be mine; and to be assur'd she will never be any others; and if she be not chang'd, or that I am not much mistaken in her, she will not be averse to it. He was in the right, for though I was never an Enemy to Marriage, yet I always preferr'd a single Life to it; and I found enough of my stifled Flame revive to make my Wishes comply with his. When my Mother saw me much inclin'd to it, and knowing I had only consented to marry _Orontes_ in compliance of her; she began to think of it as a thing might be done, but that she had given her Word to _Orontes_, and could not go back from it. But _Cloridon_ told her, she need not be in any Fault in that, if she wou'd but make use of the occasion would be given her to break off with _Orontes_ without Examining further. She made some other Objections, but he Answer'd them all, and upon his Knees Swore, that if I Married _Orontes_, neither he nor my Husband would survive it: So partly out of fear of what might happen, and partly out of inclination to oblige him, and willingness to please me, my Mother consented. _Cloridon_ begg'd leave to talk with me, before he took his last leave, which he did, and made me some little tender Reproaches, for having resolv'd to Marry; which I answer'd with a more reserv'd Kindness than I had sometimes done; and that was the Subject of many Letters he sent me since; for he often writes to me. Two Days before we were to be Marry'd, _Orontes_ was to come to Town, which _Cloridon_ knew, and had provided half a dozen Soldiers to seize upon him in the King's Name, (for he was suspected for an Enemy to the Government.) They did so, and told him they were commanded to keep him a close Prisoner in a House hard by, till further Order. He would fain have Writ, but they would not let him, for they said they had Orders to the contrary.