Our Two Cavalier-Lovers had rack’d their Invention till it was quite disabled, and could not make discovery of one Contrivance more for their Relief.  Both sat silent, each depending upon his Friend, and still expecting when t’other should speak.  Night came upon them while they sate thus thoughtless, or rather drowned in Thought; but a Servant bringing Lights into the Room awakened them:  And Hippolito’s Speech, usher’d by a profound Sigh, broke Silence.

’Well! (said he) what must we do, Aurelian?  We must suffer, replied Aurelian faintly.  When immediately raising his Voice, he cry’d out, ’Oh ye unequal Powers, why do ye urge us to desire what ye doom us to forbear; give us a Will to chuse, then curb us with a Duty to restrain that Choice!  Cruel Father, Will nothing else suffice!  Am I to be the Sacrifice to expiate your Offences past; past ere I was born?  Were I to lose my Life, I’d gladly Seal your Reconcilement with my Blood.  ’But Oh my Soul is free, you have no Title to my Immortal Being, that has Existence independent of your Power; and must I lose my Love, the Extract of that Being, the Joy, Light, Life, and Darling of my Soul?  No, I’ll own my Flame, and plead my Title too.—­But hold, wretched Aurelian, hold, whither does thy Passion hurry thee?  Alas! the cruel fair Incognita Loves thee not!  She knows not of thy Love!  If she did, what Merit hast thou to pretend?—­Only Love.—­Excess of Love.  And all the World has that.  All that have seen her.  Yet I had only seen her once, and in that once I lov’d above the World; nay, lov’d beyond my self, such vigorous Flame, so strong, so quick she darted at my Breast; it must rebound, and by Reflection, warm her self.  Ah! welcome Thought, lovely deluding Fancy, hang still upon my Soul, let me but think, that once she Loves and perish my Despair.

Here a suddain stop gave a Period also to Hippolito’s Expectation, and he hoped now that his Friend had given his Passion so free a vent, he might recollect and bethink himself of what was convenient to be done; but Aurelia, as if he had mustered up all his Spirits purely to acquit himself of that passionate Harangue, stood mute and insensible like an Alarum Clock, that had spent all its force in one violent Emotion.  Hippolito shook him by the Arm to rouze him from his Lethargy, when his Lacquey coming into the Room, out of Breath, told him there was a Coach just stopp’d at the Door, but he did not take time to who came in it.  Aurelian concluded immediately it was his Father in quest of him; and without saying any more to Hippolito, than that he was Ruined if discovered, took his Sword and slipp’d down a back pair of Stairs into the Garden, from whence he conveyed himself into the Street.  Hippolito had not bethought himself what to do, before he perceiv’d a Lady come into the Chamber close veil’d, and make toward him.  At the first Appearance of a Woman, his Imagination flattered him with a Thought of Leonora;