FRankwit and Wildvill were two young Gentlemen of very considerable For­tunes, both born in Staffordshire, and during their minority, both educated together, by which opportunity they contracted a very inviolable Friendship, a Friendship which grew up with them; and though it was re­markably known to every body else, they knew it not themselves; they never made profession of it in words, but actions; so true a warmth their fires could boast, as needed not the effusion of their breath to make it live. Wildvill was of the richest Family, but Frankwit of the noblest; Wild­vil was admired for outward qualifications, as strength, and manly proportions, Frank­wit for a much softer beauty, for his inward endowments, pleasing in his conversation, of [Page 4] a free, and moving air, humble in his be­haviour, and if he had any pride, it was but just enough to shew that he did not af­fect humility, his mind bowed with a motion as unconstrained as his body, nor did he force this virtue in the least, but he allow­ed it only; so aimable he was, that every Virgin that had Eyes, knew too she had a Heart, and knew as surely she should lose it. His Cupid could not be reputed blind, he never shot for him, but he was sure to wound. As every other Nymph admired him, so he was dear to all the Tuneful Sisters, the Muses were fired with him as much as their own radiant God Apollo; not their loved Springs and Fountains were so grateful to their eyes as he, him they esteemed their Helicon and Parnassus too; in short, when ever he pleased, he could enjoy them all. Thus he ena­mour'd the whole Female Sex, but amongst all the sighing captives of his Eyes, Belvira only boasted charms to move him, her parents lived near his, and even from their Child­hood they felt mutual Love, as if their Eyes at their first meeting had struck out such glances as had kindled into am'rous flame. And now Belvira in her fourteenth year, (when the fresh spring of young virginity began to cast more lively bloomings in her Cheeks, and softer longings in her Eyes) by her indulgent Father's care was sent to London to a Friend, her Mother being lately dead: When, as if fortune ordered it so, Frankwit's Father took a journey to the other [Page 5] World, to let his Son the better enjoy the pleasures and delights of this: the young Lover now with all imaginable haste interred his Father, nor did he shed so many Tears for his loss as might in the least quench the Fires, which he received from his Belvira's Eyes, but (master of seventeen hundred pounds a year, which his Father left him) with all the Wings of Love he flys to London, and sollicits Belvira with such fervency, that it might be thought he meant Deaths Torch should kindle Hymen's; and now as soon as he arrives at his Journeys end, he goes to pay a visit to the fair Mistress of his Soul, and assures her, that tho he was absent from her, yet she was still with him; and that all the Road he Travell'd her beauteous Image danced before him, and like the ra­vished Prophet, he saw his Deity in every Bush; in short, he paid her constant visits, the Sun ne're rose, or set, but still he saw it in her company, and every minute of the day he counted by his sighs so incessantly he importuned her that she could no longer hold out, and was pleased in the surrender of her heart, since it was he was Conqueror, and therefore felt a triumph in her yielding; their Flames now joyned, grew more and more, glowed in their Cheeks, and lightened in their glances; eager they looked, as there were pulses beating in their Eyes; and all endearing, at last she vowed, that Frank­wit living she would ne're be any other mans; thus they past on some time, while every [Page 6] day rowled over fair, Heaven showed an aspect all serene, and the Sun seemed to smile at what was done; he still caressed his charmer with an innocence becoming his sincerity, he lived upon her tender breath, and basked in the bright lustre of her Eyes, with pride, and secret joy.

He saw his Rivals languish for that bliss, those charms, those rapturous and extatick transports which he engrossed alone. But now some eighteen months (some ages in a lovers Kalendar) winged with delights, and fair Belvira now grown fit for riper joys, knows hardly how she can deny her pressing lover and herself to crown their vows, and joyn their hands as well as hearts. All this while the young Gallant wash'd himself clean of that shining dirt, his Gold; he fancied little of Heaven dwelt in his yellow Angels, but let them fly away as it were on their own Gol­den wings, he only valued the smiling Ba­bies in Belvira's Eyes. His generosity was boundless as his Love, for no man ever truly loved that was not generous. He thought his Estate like his passion, was a sort of a Pontick Ocean, it could never know an Ebb: but now he found it could be fathom'd, and that the Tide was turning, therefore he sollicits with more impatience, the consum­mation of their joy [...] that both might go like Martyrs from the [...]ames immediately to Heaven; and now at last it was agreed be­tween them that they should both be one, but not without some reluctancy on the fe­male [Page 7] side, for 'tis the humour of our Sex, to deny most eagerly those grants to Lovers, for which most tenderly we sigh: so contra­dictory are we to our selves, as if the Deity had made us with a seeming reluctancy to his own designs, placing as much discords in our minds, as there is harmony in our faces. We are a sort of aiery Clouds, whose Light­ning flash out one way, and the Thunder another. Our words and thoughts can ne're agree. So, this young charming Lady thought her desires could live in their own longings, like Misers wealth-devouring Eyes; and e're she consented to her Lover, prepared him first with speaking looks, and then with a fore-running sigh, applyed to the dear charmer thus: Frankwit, I am afraid to venture the Matrimonal bondage, it may make you think your self too much confined, in being only free to one. Ah! my dear Belvira, he replyed, that one, like Manna, has the taste of all, why should I be displeased to be confined to Paradice, when it was the curse of our fore­fathers to be set at large, tho they had the whole World to roam in: You have, my Love, ubiquitary charms, and you are all in all, in every part. Ay but, reply'd Belviria, we are all like perfumes, and too continual smelling makes us seem to have lost our Sweets, I [...]ll be judged by my Cousin Celesia here, if it he not better to live still in mutual love, without the last Enjoy­ment. (I had forgot to tell my Reader that Celesia was an heiress, the only child of a rich Turkey Merchant, who when he dyed left [Page 9] her fifty thousand pound in Money, and some Estate in Land; but, poor creature, she was blind to all these riches, having been born without the use of sight, though in all other respects charming to a wonder.) Indeed, says Celesia, (for she saw clearly in her mind) I admire you should ask my judgment in such a case, where I have never had the least experience; but I believe it is but a sickly soul which cannot nourish its Off-spring of desires without preying upon the body. Believe me, reply'd Frankwit, I be­wail your want of sight, and I could almost wish you my own eyes for a moment, to view your charming Cousin, where you would see such Beauties as are too dazzling to be long beheld; and if too daringly you gazed, you would feel the misfortune of the loss of sight, much greater than the want on't; and you would acknowledge, that in too presumptuously seeing, you would be blinder then, than now unhappily you are.

Ah! I must confess, reply'd Belvira, my poor dear Cousin is blind, for I fancy she bears too great an esteem for Frankwit, and only longs for sight to look on him. Indeed, reply'd Celesia, I would be glad to see Frankwit, for I fancy he's as dazzling as he but now describ'd his Mistress, and if I fancy I see him, sure I do see him, for sight is fancy, is it not? or do you feel my Cousin with your Eyes? This is indeed, a charming blindness, reply'd Frankwit, and the fancy of your sight excels the certainty of ours; strange! that there should be such glances even in [Page 9] blindness? You, fair Maid, require not Eyes to conquer, if your night has such Stars, what Sun­shine would your day of sight have, if ever you should see? I fear those Stars you talk of, said Belvira, have some influence on you, and by the compass you sail by now, I guess you are steering to my Cousin. She is in­deed charming enough to have been another Off-spring of bright Venus, blind like her Brother Cupid. That Cupid, reply'd Celesia, I am afraid has shot me, for methinks I would not have you marry Frankwit, but rather live as you do without the least Enjoyment, for methinks if he were marry'd, he would be more out of my sight than he already is. Ah! Ma­dam, return'd Frankwit, love is no Cameli­on, it cannot feed on Air alone. No but, rejoyn'd Celesia, you Lovers that are not blind like love itself, have am'rous looks to feed on. Ah! believe it, said Belvira, 'tis better Frank­wit, not to lose Paradice by too much know­ledge; Marriage-enjoyment does but wake you from your sweet golden Dreams: Plea­sure is but a Dream, dear Frankwit, but a Dream, and to be waken'd. Ah! Dearest, but unkind Belvira, answer'd Frankwit, sure there's no waking from delight, in being lull [...]d on those soft Breasts of thine. Alas! (reply'd the Bride to be) it is that very lulling wakes you; Women enjoy'd, are like Romances read, or Raree-shows once seen, meer tricks of the slight of hand, which, when found out, you only wonder at your selves for wondering so before at them. 'Tis expecta­tion [Page 10] endears the blessing; heaven would not be heaven, could we tell what 'tis. When the Plot's out you have done with the Play, and when the last Act's done, you see the Curtain drawn with great indifferency. O my Belvira, answered Frankwit, that expecta­tion were indeed a Monster which enjoyment could not satisfy; I should take no pleasure he rejoin'd, running from hill to hill, like Children chasing that Sun which I could never catch. O thou shalt have it then, that Sun of Love, reply'd Belvira, fir'd by this complaint, and gently rush'd into his arms, (rejoyning,) so Phaebus rushes radiant, and unfullied into a gilded Cloud. Well then, my dear Belvira, answer'd Frankwit, be assured I shall be ever yours, as you are mine; fear not you shall never draw Bills of love upon me so fast as I shall wait in readiness to pay them; but now I talk of Bills, I must retire into Cambridgeshire, where I have a small concern as yet unmortgaged, I will return thence with a brace of thousand pounds within a week at farthest, with which our Nuptials by their celebration shall be worthy of our love. And then, my Life, my Soul, we shall be joyn [...]d, never to part again. This tender expression mov'd Belvira to shed some few tears, and poor Celesia thought herself most unhappy that she had not eyes to weep with too; but if she had, such was the greatness of her grief, that sure she would have soon grown blind with weeping. In short, after a great many soft vows, and promises of an inviolable faith, they parted with a pompous sort of pleasing woe; their [Page 11] concern was of such a mixture of joy and sadness, as the weather seems, when it both rains and shines. And now the last, the very last of last adieu's was over, for the farewels of Lovers hardly ever end, and Frankwit (the time being Summer) reach'd Cambridge that night, about nine a clock; (strange! that he should have make such haste to fly from what so much he lov'd!) and now, tir'd with the fatigue of his Jour­ney, he thought fit to refresh himself by writing some few lines to his belov'd Belvira; for a little Verse after the dull prose compa­ny of his servant, was as great an ease to him, (from whom it flow'd as naturally and unartificially, as his love or his breath) as a pace or hand-gallop, after a hard, uncouth, and rugged trot. He therefore, finding his Pegasus was no way tir'd with his land travel, takes a short journey thro the air, and writes as follows.

This Letter Belvira receiv'd with unspeak­able joy, and laid it up safely in her bosom, laid it, where the dear Author of it lay be­fore, [Page 13] and wonderfully pleas'd with his hu­mour of writing in Verse, resolv'd not to be at all behind-hand with him, and so writ as follows.

[Page 14]When this Letter was written, it was strait shown to Celesia, who lookt upon any thing that belong'd to Frankwit with re­joycing glances; so eagerly she perus'd it, that her tender eyes beginning to water, she cry'd out, (fancying she saw the words dance before her view) Ah! Cousin, Cou­sin, your Letter is running away, sure it can't go itself to Frankwit? A great deal of other pleasing innocent things she said, but still her eyes flow'd more bright with lu­strous beams, as if they were to shine out; now all that glancing radiancy which had been so long kept secret, and as if, as soon as the cloud of blindness once was broke, nothing but lightnings were to flash for ever after. Thus in mutual discourse they spent their hours, while Frankwit was now ravished with the receipt of this charm­ing answer of Belvira's, and blest his own eyes which discovered to him the much welcome news of fair Celesia's. Often he reads the Letter o're and o're, but there his fate lay hid, for 'twas that very fondness proved his ruin. He lodg'd at a Cousin's House of his, and there, (it being a private family) lodged likewise a Blackamoor Lady, then a Widow; a whimsical Knight had taken a fancy to enjoy her; enjoy her did I say? enjoy the Devil in the flesh at once? I know not how it was, but he would fain have been a bed with her, but she not consenting on unlawful terms, (but sure all terms are with her unlawful) the Knight soon marry'd her, [Page 15] as if there were not hell enough in Matri­mony, but he must wed the Devil too. The Knight a little after died, and left this Lady of his (whom I shall call Moorea) an Estate of six thousand pounds per Ann. Now this Moorea observed the joyous Frankwit with an eager look, her Eyes seemed like Stars of the first magnitude glaring in the night; she greatly importuned him to discover the oc­casion of his transport, but he denying it, (as 'tis the humour of our Sex) made her the more inquisitive; and being jealous that it was from a Mistress, employ'd her Maid to steal it, and if she found it such to bring it her; accordingly it succeeded, for Frankwit having drank hard with some of the Gen­tlemen of that Shire, found himself indis­posed, and soon went to Bed, having put the Letter in his pocket: The Maid there­fore to Moorea contrived that all the other Servants should be out of the way, that she might plausibly officiate in the warming the bed of the indisposed Lover, but likely, had it not been so, she had warmed it by his in­treaties in a more natural manner; he be­ing in bed in an inner Room, she slips out the Letter from his pocket, carries it to her Mistress to read, and so restores it whence she had it; in the morning the poor Lover wakened in a violent Fever, burning with a fire more hot than that of Love. In short, he continued sick a considerable while, all which time the Lady Moorea constantly visit­ed him, and he as unwillingly saw her (poor [Page 14] Gentleman) as he would have seen a Par­son; for as the latter would have per­swaded, so the former scared him to Re­pentance. In the mean while, during his sickness, several Letters were sent to him by his Dear Belvira, and Celesia too, (then learning to write) had made a shift to give him a line or two in Postscript with her Cousin, but all was intercepted by the jea­lousy of the Black Moorea, black in her mind, and dark, as well as in her body. Frankwit too writ several Letters as he was able, com­plaining of her unkindness, those likewise were all stopt by the same Blackmoor Devil. At last, it happened that Wildvill, (who I told my Reader was Frankwit's friend) came to London, his Father likewise dead, and now Master of a very plentiful fortune, he re­solves to marry, and paying a visit to Belvi­ra, enquires of her, concerning Frankwit, she all in mourning for the loss, told him his friend was dead. Ah! Wildvill, he is dead, said she, and died not mine, a Blackmoor Lady had bewitched him from me; I receiv­ed a Letter lately which informed me all▪ there was no name subscribed to it, but it intimated, that it was written at the request of dying Frankwit. Oh! I am sorry at my soul, said Wildvill, for I loved him with the best, the dearest friendship; no doubt then, rejoyned he, 'tis Witchcraft indeed that could make him false to you; what delight could he take in a Blackmoor Lady, tho she had re­ceived him at once with a soul as open as [Page 15] her longing arms, and with her Petticoat put off her modesty. Gods! How could he change a whole Field argent into down­right Sables. 'Twas done, returned Celesia, with no small blot, I fancy to the Female Scutcheon. In short, after some more dis­course, but very sorrowful, Wildvill takes his leave, extreamly taken with the fair Bel­vira, more beauteous in her cloud of woe; he paid her afterwards frequent visits, and found her wonder for the odd inconstancy of Frankwit, greater than her sorrow, since he dy'd so unworthy of her. Wildvill at­tack'd her with all the force of vig'rous love, and she (as she thought) fully convinc'd of Frankwit's death, urg'd by the fury and im­patience of her new ardent Lover, soon surrender'd, and the day of their Nuptials now arriv'd, their hands were joyn'd. In the mean time Frankwit, (for he still liv'd) knew nothing of the injury the base Moorea practic'd, knew not that 'twas thro her pri­vate order, that the fore-mention'd account of his falshood and his death was sent; but impatient to see his Dear Bolvira, tho yet extremely weak, rid post to London, and that very day arriv'd there, immediately after the Nuptials of his Mistress and his Friend were celebrated. I was at this time in Cambridge, and having some small ac­quaintance with this Blackamoor Lady, and sitting in her Room that evening, after Frankwit's departure thence, in Moorea's ab­sence, saw inadvertently a bundle of Papers, [Page 16] which she had gathered up, as I suppose, to burn, since now they grew but useless, she having no further hopes of him; I fancy'd I knew the hand, and thence my curiosity only led me to see the name, and finding Belvira subscrib'd, I began to guess there was some foul play in hand, Belvira being my particularly intimate acquaintance: I read one of them, and finding the contents, convey'd them all secretly out with me, as I thought, in point of justice I was bound, and sent them to Belvira by that night's Post; so that they came to her hands soon after the minute of her Marriage, with an ac­count how, and by what means I came to light on them. No doubt but they exceed­ingly surpriz'd her: but Oh! Much more she grew amaz'd immediately after, to see the poor, and now unhappy Frankwit ▪ who privately had enquir'd for her below, being received as a stranger, who said he had some urgent business with her in a back Chamber below stairs. What Tongue, what Pen can express the mournful sorrow of this Scene: At first they both stood dumb, and almost senseless; she took him for the Ghost of Frankwit; he looked so pale, new risen from his sickness, he (for he had heard at his entrance in the House, that his Belvira mar­ry'd Wildvil) stood in a maze, and like a Ghost indeed, wanted the power to speak, till spoken to the first. At last, he draws his Sword, designing there to fall upon it in her presence; she then imagining it his [Page 17] Ghost too sure, and come to kill her, shrieks out and swoons; he ran immediately to her, and catch'd her in his arms, and while he strove to revive and bring her to herself, tho that he thought could never now be done, since she was marry'd, Wildvill mis­sing his Bride, and hearing the loud shriek, came running down, and entring the Room, sees his Bride lye claspt in Frankwit's arms, Ha! Traytor! He crys out, drawing his Sword with an impatient fury, have you kept that Strumpet all this while, curst Frank­wit, and now think fit to put your damn'd cast Mistress upon me; could not you for­bear her neither ev'n on my wedding day? Abominable Wretch! Thus saying, he made awfull pass at Frankwit, and run him thro the left arm, and quite thro the Body of the poor Belvira; that thrust immediately made her start, tho Frankwit's endeavours all be­fore were useless. Strange! that her death reviv'd her! for ah! she felt that now she only liv'd to dye! striving thro wild amaze­ment to run from such a Scene of horror, as her apprehensions-shew'd her; down she dropt, and Frankwit seeing her fall, (all friendship disannull'd by such a chain of in­juries) draws, fights with, and stabs his own lov'd Wildvill. Ah! who can express the horror and distraction of this fatal misunder­standing! the House was alarm'd, and in came poor Celesia, running in confusion just as Frankwit was off'ring to kill himself, to dye with a false friend, and perjur'd Mistress, [Page 18] for he suppos'd them such. Poor Celesia now bemoan'd her unhappiness of sight, and wish'd she again were blind. Wildvill dy'd immediately, and Belvira only surviv'd him long enough to unfold all their most unhap­py fate, desiring Frankwit with her dying breath, if ever he lov'd her, (and now she said that she deserv'd his love, since she had convinc'd him that she was not false) to marry her poor dear Celesia, and love her tenderly for her Belvira's sake; leaving her, being her nearest Relation, all her fortune, and he, much dearer than it all, to be added to her own; so joyning his and Celesia's Hands, she pour'd her last breath upon his Lips, and said, Dear Frankwit, Frankwit, I dye yours. With tears and wondrous sorrow he promis'd to obey her Will, and in some months after her interrment, he perform'd his promise.