rooted in
his Heart, yet could he not Comfort himself with any Hopes when he should
see her: He knew not where she lived, and she had made him no Promise of
a second Conference. Then did he repent his inconsiderate Choice, in
preferring the momentary Vision of her Face, to a certain Intelligence of
her Person. Every thought that succeeded distracted him, and all the
Hopes he could presume upon, were within compass of the Two Days
Merriment yet to come; for which Space he hop'd he might excuse his
remaining conceal'd to his Father.

Hippolito on the other side (though Aurelian thought him in a much better
Way) was no less afflicted for himself. The Difficulties which he saw in
his Friend's Circumstances, put him upon finding out a great many more in
his own, than really there were. But what terrified him most of all, was
his being an utter Stranger to Leonora; she had not the least knowledge
of him but through mistake, and consequently could form no Idea of him to
his Advantage. He look'd upon it as an unlucky thought in Aurelian to
take upon him his Name, since possibly the Two Ladies were acquainted,
and should they communicate to each other their Adventures; they might
both reasonably suffer in their Opinions, and be thought guilty of
Falshood, since it would appear to them as One Person pretending to Two.
Aurelian told him, there was but one Remedy for that, which was for
Hippolito, in the same Manner that he had done, to make use of his Name,
when he writ to Leonora, and use what arguments he could to perswade her
to Secrecy, least his Father should know of the Reason which kept him
concealed in Town. And it was likely, though perhaps she might not
immediately entertain his Passion; yet she would out of Generosity
conceal, what was hidden only for her sake.

Well this was concluded on, after a great many other Reasons used on
either Side, in favour of the Contrivance; they at last argued themselves
into a Belief, that Fortune had befriended them with a better Plot, than
their regular Thinking could have contriv'd. So soon had they convinc'd
themselves, in what they were willing to believe.

Aurelian laid himself down to rest, that is, upon the Bed; for he was a
better Lover than to pretend to sleep that Night, while Hippolito set
himself again to frame his Letter design'd for Leonora. He writ several,
at last pitched upon one, and very probably the worst, as you may guess
when you read it in its proper Pla