Page:French convert.pdf/32

32 that to ſecond it with a perſonal addreſs: But, how he ſhould do this with privacy and ſafety, he was at a ſtand for a time; for he feared to truſt any body to deliver it, left his criminal love ſhould take air; and to deliver it himſelf, would look too daſtardly, as if he was not capable, or, at leaſt, durſt not ſpeak for himſelf; however, in a little while, he met with a fit opportunity; for Deidamia accidentally dropping her handkerchief, as ſhe paſſed through a large gallery that led to her apartment, he carefully took it up, and folding up his letter in it, which he had ready ſealed by him, he gave it to her gentlewoman to give it to her lady, telling her he found it in the long gallery. The gentlewoman knowing the handkerchief to be her lady's, immediately carried it to her, who received it from her, without knowing any thing of a letter being in it; and afterwards accidentally taking the handkerchief out of her pocket, the letter dropped out upon the ground, which ſhe taking up, and looking upon the ſuperſcription, was extremely ſurpriſed, to find it directed to herſelf; and, haſtily opening it, was much more ſo, to find the contents thereof as followeth:

ARDON me, moſt lovely Deidamia, if your beauty makes me forget the ſtation I am in, and emboldens me to own a paſſion I have laboured in vain to hide. To be brief: Dear Lady I am ſo captivated by your charms and ſingular perfections, that I am conſtrained to ſay, I love you infinitely above all mortal creatures; and ſince it appears to me unreaſonable, that any one man ſhould monopolize ſo ineſtimable a treaſure, give me leave to hope, and do