ABSTRACT
In the time of the Rebellion of the true Protestant Hugonots a in Paris, under the conduct of the Prince of Condy, b (whom we will call Caesario) many illustrious persons were drawn into the Association, amongst which there was one, whose Quality and Fortune (join’d with his Youth and Beauty) rendred him more elevated in the esteem of the gay part of the World than most of that Age. In his tender years (unhappily enough) he chanc’d to fall in Love with a Lady, whom we will call Mertilla, c who had Charms enough to engage any heart, she had all the advantages of Youth and Nature, a Shape excellent, a most agreeable stature, not too tall and far from low, delicately proportion’d, her face a little inclined to round, soft, smooth and white, her Eyes were blew, a little languishing, and full of Love and Wit, a Mouth curiously made, dimpled and full of sweetness; Lips round, soft, plump and red; white teeth, firm and even; her Nose a little Roman; and which gave a noble grace to her lovely Face, her Hair light brown; a Neck and Bosome delicately turn’d, white and rising, her Arms and Hands exactly shap’d; to this a vivacity of Youth ingaging, a Wit quick and flowing, a Humour gay, and an Air unresistably charming, and nothing was wanting to compleat the joys of the young Philander (so we call our amorous Hero) but Mertilla’s heart, which the illustrious Cæsario had before possess’d; however, consulting her Honour and her Interest, and knowing all the arts as Women do to feign a tenderness, she yields to marry him: while Philander, who scorn’d to owe his happiness to the commands of Parents, or to chaffer d for a Beauty, with her consent 10 steals her away, and marries her; but see how transitory is a violent passion, after being satiated, he slights the prize he had so dearly conquer’d; some say the change was occasion’d by her too visibly continued Love to Cæsario; but whatever ’twas, this was most certain, Philander cast his Eyes upon a young Maid, Sister to Mertilla, a Beauty whose early bloom promis’d wonders when come to perfection; but I will spare her Picture here, Philander in the following Epistles will often enough present it to your view: He lov’d and languish’d long before he durst discover his pain; her being Sister to his Wife, nobly born, and of undoubted fame, rendred his passion too criminal to hope for a return, While the young lovely Silvia (so we shall call the noble Maid) sight out her hours in the same pain and languishment for Philander, and knew not that ’twas Love, till she betraying it innocently to the o’erjoy’d Lover and Brother, who soon taught her to understand ’twas Love——he persues it, she permits it, and at last yields; when being discover’d in the criminal intrigue, she flies with him; he absolutely quits Mertilla, lives some time in a Village near Paris, call’d St. Denice, a with this betray’d unfortunate; till being found out and like to be apprehended, (one for the Rape, the other for the flight) she is forc’d to Marry a Cadet, b a creature of Philander’s to bear the name of Husband only to her, while Philander had the intire possession of her, Soul and Body: Still the League c went forward, and all things were ready for a War in Paris; d but ’tis not my business here to mix the rough relation of a War with the soft affairs of Love; let it suffice, the Hugonots were defeated and the King got the day, and every Rebel lay at the mercy of his Sovereign; Philander was taken Prisoner, made his escape to a little Cottage near his own Palace, e not far from Paris, writes to Silvia to come to him, which she does, and in spight of all the industry to reseize him he got away with Silvia.
