r surely so I shall) do not triumph o're my languid Looks, and
laugh at my Pale and meager Face; but, Pitying, say, How easily I might
have preserv'd that Face, those Eyes, and all that Youth and Vigour, now
no more, from this total Ruine I now behold it in, and love your Slave
that dyes, and will be daily and visibly dying, as long as my Eyes can
gaze on that fair Object, and my Soul be fed and kept alive with her
Charming Wit and Conversation; if Love can live on such Airy Food, (tho'
rich in it self, yet unfit, alone, to sustain Life) it shall be for ever
dedicated to the lovely _ISABELLA_: But, oh! that time cannot be long!
Fate will not lend her Slave many days, who loves too violently, to be
satisfy'd to enjoy the fair Object of his Desires, no otherwise than at
a _Grate_.'

He ceas'd speaking, for Sighs and Tears stopt his Voice, and he begg'd
the liberty to sit down; and his Looks being quite alter'd, _ISABELLA_
found her self touch'd to the very Soul, with a concern the most tender,
that ever yielding Maid was oppress'd with: She had no power to suffer
him to Languish, while she by one soft word could restore him, and being
about to say a thousand things that would have been agreeable to him,
she saw herself approach'd by some of the _Nuns_, and only had time to
say, 'If you love me, live and hope.' The rest of the _Nuns_ began to
ask _Henault_ of News, for he always brought them all that was Novel in
the Town, and they were glad still of his Visits, above all other, for
they heard, how all Amours and Intrigues pass'd in the World, by this
young Cavalier. These last words of _Isabella's_ were a Cordial to his
Soul, and he, from that, and to conceal the present Affair, endeavour'd
to assume all the Gaity he could, and told 'em all he could either
remember, or invent, to please 'em, tho' he wish'd them a great way off
at that time.

Thus they pass'd the day, till it was a decent hour for him to quit the
_Grate_, and for them to draw the Curtain; all that Night did _Isabella_
dedicate to Love, she went to Bed, with a Resolution, to think over all
she had to do, and to consider, how she should manage this great Affair
of her Life: I have already said, she had try'd all that was possible in
Human Strength to perform, in the design of quitting a Passion so
injurious to her Honour and Virtue, and found no means possible to
accomplish it: She had try'd Fasting long, Praying fervently, rigid
Penances and Pains, severe