To the GODDESS of Ferara, the Beautiful THEODORA.

  Divine Creature,

It is not to be admir’d that I, the meanest of your Servants, should be rejected by your wealthy Parents, and that Heaven should deny me a Happiness which it self only ought to enjoy; Why did Nature make you so Beautiful and Deserving, and me so unworthy of your Affection?  My misery increases with your Happiness, unless you participate my Pains; you are in the Bud of your Beauty, which when full blown, will be like the Sun in the midst of the Horizon, Illuminating the whole World, but its penetrating Rays not to be gaz’d upon.  You are the Lilly and I am the Thorn; you beautify the rich fertile Vale, whilst I retire to the barren Mountains.  I will pass the Alps ’till I approach the most aspiring Mount, and there, in view of_ Ferara, I will lay me down and bid the World Adieu.  When I am gone, remember that you had once a Lover who could sacrifice every thing for our Service, and without you he could enjoy nothing.  I have not only concerted my Journey from Ferara, but likewise to the Elysian Groves; if my grizly Ghost should terrify that sordid Wretch your Father, ’tis no more than he deserves, and if my Shade appears to you, look on that unconcern’d which cannot injure you.  My last Request to you is to take care of your self, who am

  Your despairing Lover,

    But Admirer,

      LEANDER

Theodora receiv’d this moving Letter with a Concern proportion’d to the melancholly Occasion; she communicated it to an intimate Acquaintance, who likewise express’d the utmost Uneasiness; the thoughts of the Catastrophe of the Loves of Theodora and Leander presented a lively Idea to Theodora’s Companion, of the Miseries and Misfortunes attending Mankind.  “Hard is the Case (says she) that Leander, one of the finest young Gentlemen of Naples, should be sacrific’d to a mercenary Wretch, a Wretch, that in the midst of plenty is poor and miserable, and who, tho’ he has all Things to compleat his Happiness, his avaricious Temper will not permit him to enjoy the common Necessaries of Life:  The Pleasures of living he’s a Stranger to, he lives despis’d, and will die unpitied:  But such is the inequality of Fortune’s Favours, that Merit must stoop and Ideots be advanc’d to the highest Pomp and Magnificence.  It is entirely out of your Power to give the pitied Leander the least Relief; your Father’s House is a Nunnery, he has his Locks and Keys to secure you, and his Spies for Intelligence; but I advise you to send the unfortunate Youth an Answer to his mournful Epistle.”  Upon this, Theodora immediately call’d for Pen, Ink and Paper, and wrote the following Answer.

  To the unfortunate LEANDER.