ur Rival I hope, Sir.' Said the _Venetian_, 'I can't be angry at the
Lady, because I love her; but my Anger must be levell'd at him, who
after this Declaration dare own a Passion for her.' 'Madam, (said the
_English_ Gentleman turning from the _Venetian_) Honour now must extort
a Confession from me, which the Awfulness of my Passion durst never have
own'd: And I must declare,' added he in a louder Voice, 'to all the
World, that I love you, lest this Gentleman shou'd think his Threats
forc'd me to disown it.' 'O! then (said _Belvideera_) you're his Rival
in Honour, not in Love.' 'In honourable Love I am, Madam,' answer'd the
Stranger. 'I'll try,' (said the _Venetian_, going off in Choler,) he
Whisper'd a little to a Gentleman, that stood at some Distance, and
immediately went out; this was _Gonzago_, a Gentleman of good Reputation
in _Venice_, his Principles were Honour and Gallantry, but the Former
often sway'd by Passions, rais'd by the Latter. All this while, _Maria_
and I were admiring the Stranger, whose Person was indeed wonderfully
Amiable; his Motions were exact, yet free and unconstrain'd; the Tone of
his Voice carried a sweet Air of Modesty in it, yet were all his
Expressions manly; and to summ up all, he was as fine an _English_
Gentleman, as I ever saw Step in the _Mall_.

Poor _Maria_ never before envied her Sister the Advantage of Speech, or
never deplor'd the Loss of her own with more Regret, she found something
so Sweet in the Mien, Person, and Discourse of this Stranger, that her
Eyes felt a dazling Pleasure in beholding him, and like flattering
Mirrours represented every Action and Feature, with some heightning
Advantage to her Imagination: _Belvideera_ also had some secret Impulses
of Spirit, which drew her insensibly into a great Esteem of the
Gentleman; she ask'd him, by what good Genius, propitious to _Venice_,
he was induced to Live so remote from his Country; he said, that he
cou'd not imploy his Sword better than against the common Foe of
Christianity; and besides, there was a peculiar Reason, which prompted
him to serve there, which Time cou'd only make known. I made bold to ask
him some peculiar Questions, about Affairs at Court, to most of which he
gave Answers, that shew'd his Education liberal, and himself no Stranger
to Quality; he call'd himself _Dangerfield_, which was a Name that so
pleas'd me, that being since satisfied it was a Counterfeit, I us'd it
in a Comedy of mine: We had talk'd '