to Philenia, and seizing a lucky moment to surprise her on her daily
walk, half by persuasion, half by force, carries his point. But before
they can meet a second time she is carried off by a gang of villains,
who mistake her for another woman. The languishing Misimene, who has
pursued Fillamour into the country in man's clothes, consoles him for
the loss of his first love. Upon his return to town he finds that his
wife has fled to join her lover. Meanwhile Philenia's honor is preserved
by timely shipwreck of the vessel in which the ravishers are carrying
her off. Washed ashore on the inevitable plank, she supports herself
among the fisher folk by weaving nets until after a year's toil she is
relieved by Antonia and Coeurdemont, now happily married. The relation
of their adventures occupies some pages. Philenia comes back to town to
find her lover weltering in his blood, stabbed by the jealous Misimene.
Believing him dead, she seizes the same sword, plunges it into her
bosom, and instantly expires. Misimene goes into frenzies, and Fillamour
alone recovers to live out a life of undying grief.

"Thus was the crime of giving way to an unwarrantable passion,
punish'd in the persons of Philenia and Misimene, and that of perjury
and ingratitude in Fillamour; while the constancy of Antonia, and the
honour of Coeurdemont, receiv'd the reward their virtues merited, and
they continued, to their lives end, great and shining examples of
conjugal affection."

Apparently Philenia's adventures were somewhat too improbable even for
the taste of readers steeped in melodramatic romances, for if we may
judge by the few copies that have survived, these effusions did not
enjoy a wide popularity. But not to be discouraged by failure, Mrs.
Haywood soon produced another extravagant and complicated romance,
entitled "Cleomelia: or, the Generous Mistress. Being the Secret History