esteem or value with that Nation Neither is less exploded there this saying of an imprudent Empress That nothing was unlawfull for Kings to act if it but pleased their humor For in that Kingdome whatsoever concerns the Power Family and Function of the Monark it is all so regulated that Hee cannot deviate or out-strip his bounds in the I east without drawing upon himself suddain Rebellions and most formidable Combinations The reason thereof proceeds from this respect that among those People who are as free as fierce and no less generous then haughty the Kings are Elective Succession having no interest in that Crown unless a Son by his vertuous deportments and valorous Actions render himself worthie with the approbation of the Orders to ascend into the Throne of his Progenitors From this libertie which the Polonians have of electing their Monark ariseth this Restriction of the Royall Authoritie within such confined tearms and limitations that it is no more possible than lawfull to exceed them without altering the Harmony of that Direction which hath there been establish'd beyond the reach of humane Memory and exciting in the State Revolutions or rather Convulrions of most dangerous consequence It is to be observed that the Ecclesiasticks and the Nobility only have votes at these Elections the third Order which is the Common People is excluded and must receive for their King him that is lawfully chosen according to the form and custome of the Country by the other two Orders Who after the Election though they leave to the King the honour and prebeminence in all things rendring him the homage and reverence that 's due to a Sovereign and all those whom the hand of Providence hath raised that high Dignity reserve to themselves however the power of governing and administring Justice by which Kings reign and by which they maintein the Regencie of their Kings and Lawes As for the Ecclesiasticall State That hath its Policie apart which particularly regardeth Spirituall Affairs and the Conduct or Cure of Souls And the Secular which concerneth Politicall matters as the exercise of Justice aswell Civill as Criminall and the administration of Government and Military functions is chiefly in the hands of certain great Officers named Castellains Palatines who are little Sovereign Lords or Petty Kings every one in his own Territorie For instance The Castellains are those who have Lands Citties Burroughs Villages and Seignories under their subjection as for matters concerning Justice and their Authority is so great that their Jurisdiction is without Appeal Moreover in case of troubles they have power to levie Forces impose Taxes raise Monie to pay and beare the charges of their Miltitia and do other Actions in this nature which in other Monarchies are reserved only to the Sovereigntie The Palatines are like Governours of Provinces but they are so absolute in their Governments that they command the Castellaines and the People at their pleasure exact Tributes press Souldiers appoint quarters give Commissions in a word they are like petrie Kings in their Palatinates such suddain and exact obedience is rendred them so Supream and uncontroulable is their Power Insomuch that the King to return to the Proverb before mentioned commanding as King over the Palatines and Castellains is in this consideration called KING OF KINGS that is of the Palatines who are in effect petty Kings and LORD OF LORES that is of the Castellains who are like little Princes The History which I am about to relate obligeth me to represent this form of Government as being the Basis and principall foundation thereof by reason of the Power almost Tyrannicall of one of these Palatines who shall appear upon this Scene we are now opening and who would seeme strange nay altogether extraordinary to the Reader that should fancy to himself a Country ordered according to the Rule and Policie of FRANCE or SPAIN where the Monark being more absolute the Authority of Governours is much lesse not unlike to that of the meaner Lights of th' Heaven which have no light or luster before the Sun of Sovereigntie whereas on the contrary in Polonia the Palatines do execute their Charges and exercise their Jurisdiction in the presence of their King as if their Authority depended rather on Monarchie then on the Monark nothing being able to make them be deposed or dispossessed of their Commands but State Crimes which make them lose their Dignities with their Lives Under the Reign of him that preceded MONSIEVR of France then Brother to CHARLES the IX and Duke of Anjou and who was afterwards HENRY the III. of France having forsaken the Crown of Polonia A certain Lord Castellain by name Rosuald who though not descended of very antient Nobility nor much in favour with Fortune for matter of estate was elevated for his valour to the Palatinate of Podolia Governments and great Offices are like Vessells full of liquor whereinto if you cast a spunge though ne're so dry and hard it will presently be filled and pierced through Rosuald was so able and understanding a Man that without oppressing much his Subjects or exacting any thing in his Province that might render him any way odious or blameable by subtile and probably lawfull means he became so rich that Peace by vertue of his mediation and good conduct reigning among all the families where hee introduced Concord Abundance entred within his Territories insomuch that it might be said of him That Glorie and Riches were in his House That his Garners sunk under the burthen of Corn his Cellers were overflowed with Wine That out of the very stones burst Rivulets of Oile That his Coffers were not capacious enough to contein his Treasures In sum That hee was one of the most opulent Palatines in Polonia But the inexorable Parca that pardons no body and who being blinde cut 's the thred of life when she pleases without distinction of Age Condition or Sex stopped the course of this Noble-man's dayes in the full Current of his Prosperitie at such years as but just passing out of Virility hee saluted only the first and freshest time of Old-Age by an unexpected accident which made him bring Death with him home from Hunting His Lady who was then big with Child though otherwise verie chast and vertuous yet a woman that is to say as litle capable of constancie as a Reed of steadiness suffering her self to be transported by the excess of an inconsolable sorrow precipitated her deliverie in the seaventh Month and after a Son which she had brought forth into the World but one yeare before She was made a Mother at this second and last labour of a Daughter which had life but by her death For whether her grief and conceding anguish hastned the birth of the Child or whether because her Body was no less cruelly afflicted with the Pangs of her Travell then her mind for the loss of her Husband the Daughter remaining with the living layed her Mother among the Dead leaving these
are like a blank paper or a piece of wax whereon a man may make what impression he desireth At length the Benefice was procured the Gown ready the poor Youth made to put it on by threatnings or by flatteries although with a thousand repugnancies a thousand heavy groans and whole streams of tears Besides his own Tyrannicall authority Mieslas made use of the King's name after the custome of many great Persons who amuse the People with this pretext and cover all their passions under the robe of their Sovereign whose word power they abuse with impunity and insolence Thus the two Wards were bred up with his two youngest Children Iphigenes and Clemencia for the four precedent Daughters like the four monstruous Creatures of Ezechiel he had commanded to be tyed to the Chariot of God's glory that is had thrust them into Monasteries there to draw the Ark where we ill leave them as it were condemned to perpetuall imprisonment to see the successes that arrived upon the theater of the World to the two Wards and Mieslas his two other Children who make the four principall parts in the Musick of this Narration The married Couple such as I have represented them to you loved like Children Liante suffered as well as he could the Yoke which he was forced yet to bear but built a resolution within himself to shake it off and fly our of his Cage as soon as Age had given him wings Clemencia was designed by Mieslas to acquire him a Son in law of some great fortune or at the worst to keep her Sisters company in the Cloyster These four Children being brought up together in one house fed at the same Table playing and spending the time alwaies together lived like Brothers and Sisters with a pretty intelligence correspondent to the innocence of their age and humours Iphigenes by the industry of his Governour Boleslaüs lived untill eleven or twelve years old in such simplicity that he thought really he as a Boy not conceiving that there was any other difference betwixt Male and Female than their manner of cloathing Mieslas fearing that if he should permit his Son too soon to consummate his Marriage that might be prejudiciall to his health seeing him of a complexion and stature more delicate than robust appointed a Governess to overlook Modestina fitly named Perpetua for she was perpetually at her back casting an Argu's eye over all her actions lest Iphigenes at any time should steal those Rights which Husbands have priviledge to challenge But Nature had already provided other obstacles They loved each other however very much whether out of resemblance of their dispositions or whether through that naturall inclination which induceth us to affect those of the same Sex as well as to be passionate for those of the contrary Yet this affection betwixt Iphigenes and Modestina was rather friendship than love But when Nature playing her part which is so difficult a thing to hinder carried Iphigenes fancy to delight in working and such Womanish amusements busying himselfe very eagerly with Modestina and Clemencia then his discreet Governour making him ashamed of such feminine employments reclaimed his thoughts to the practice of Manly actions and conformable to the Sex of which the Innocent Youth yet thought himself whose condition being more free seemed to him far more desirable than that subjection wherein Maids and Women live So that having an excellent wit and a Body very active though not robust in every exercise whereunto he applyed himself he became an admirable proficient It was nothing so in the vocation which Liante was compelled to embrace for it is very difficult to become learned in despight of Minerva and to garnish the Soul with the pretious furniture of knowledge and Sciences if one have not some inclination to study this young Noble-man being wrapped up against his will in an Ecclesiastick's Gown meditated nothing but exercises contrary to that habit Armes Horses Dancing Hunting and Warlike exploits were the onely delicious entertainments of his thoughts all other discourse was irksome to his eares This Constraint under which Hee groaned as if his Soul had been upon the Rack and his Heart under the torture of a press made him so melanchollie and pensive that Hee seemed to traile the houres of his life with regret in an unpleasant Apprentiship During this discontent hee hatched a secret but furious hatred against his inhumane Guardian considering him as the ravisher of his Estate the Tyrant of his liberty and the Oppressor of his free-Birth projecting not onely to escape as soon as hee could but studying notorious revenges for reparation of the injuries hee received As for Clemencia she was yet so young that the innocence of her years exempted her from Care or any passions of the mind but it is with Youth as with a flower It is no sooner budded in a manner but 't is full blown especially in Women and chiefly in the Daughters of great Persons for this Sex being naturally more subtile they sooner do put off their Childishness than Men besides those of high Births are brought up with such care quaintness that their Wits are often ripe before the Season of their years requires it whence it proceeds that they are sooner susceptible of those Touches and Tyes of Affection which make young hearts seem to have past their Childhood In the full ease of this sweet education Modestina modestly longed after the fruition of her beautifull but as yet too young Husband Her flames were so pure and her desires so just that if Aretuza's deceipt had not abused her expâ—ctation me thinks her wishes might without shame appear upon these leaves whose Paper is less white then the Candor of those passions which shall be represented in this Volume Iphigenes in like manner beginning to reflect upon himselfe and who had no other propertie of Marble than the whiteness grew into a pretty kind of indignation that being married hee should be deprived of the possession of his Wife and seeing himselfe passionately beloved of Modestina who gave him all the civill testimonies of affection She could imagine He must not only have renounced all Humanity but have been altogether insensible if hee had not been moved thereat no charm being so powerfull to make one bee beloved as vehemently to love If whiles they were at their innocent childish sports they interchanged any kind embraces or affectionate words their discours was soon broken by the presence of their two Argusses Boleslaüs Perpetua whose thoughts though different arrived both at the same end which was to hinder that which never could be effected the Consummation of their Marriage Perpetua being encharged by Mieslas was very vigilant to oppose it lest his Son's health might be prejudiced thereby and Boleslaüs having received the Command from Aretuza was no less circumspect for feare her deceipt should bee discovered Oh who could imagine any thing but purity in the innocent kisses and tender embracements of these
many sally-ports as there are W. hee would have said Women but not to discover himself too much hee said Windowes This made Liante believe see how one absurdity drawe's on another that Iphigenes made use of some Magicall charms to purchase himself the King's favour rise to such high Dignities acquire Honour in the War gain the Affections not onely of Ladies but of all the World and make his escape out of Prison either by flying like Dedalus or transforming himself into a Bird. In this Opinion he said That cannot be done without sorcery I will use no other Charms than those which Nature hath placed in my Face replyed Iphigenes nor any other Armes than those of my Tongue Then answered Liante in a fury complaine not against Mee if you get not out of Prison And do what you can I defie all your inchantments White or Black Naturall or Diabolicall for hindering Mee from marrying my Mistris since I have her Father's word on which depend's her Will by the Law of Filiall Obedienoe and Paternall Authority With that hee flung away as full of Anger as hee left Iphigenes opprest with Sadness The Twelveth Book ARGUMENT Iphigenes to content Liante seem's to sollicite Amiclea in his behalf His Speeches to Her Liante standing behinde the Hangings in the same Chamber Her sharp Replies Liante's fury at Her slights Iphigenes and Amiclea's indeavours to appease his Rage Liante transported with Love contracts with Her Parents to marry Amiclea contrary to Her Will or Knowledge Her Sister Oloria informs Her and Shee acquaints Iphigenes with these Proceedings Iphigenes falls desperatly Sick with Griefe for Liante's unkindness to Him and his obstinate Research of Amiclea The Politick Boleslaus under pretence of beeing an Apothecary conveye's himself into the Castle with the King's Physicians that came to attend the Prisoner Iphigenes after a passionate Declaration of his Distemper swounds in Boleslaus Arms. His perplexity and Invention to asswage the Palatine's sorrow To disabuse Liante and withdraw his affection from Amiclea Hee discovers the whole Mystery of Iphigenes Birth Education and Passion for Him Liante's astonishment at this Relation with his Speeches to Boleslaus The Amazement and Joy of Iphigenes upon Boleslaus assurance of Liante's mutuall flames Boleslaus brings Liante to Iphigenes Chamber Their Passionate Deportments at this interview Their perfect Reconciliation Their Plot to cheat the Eyes as well of Amiclea and Oloria as the rest Olavius in hope to match his Daughter to Iphigenes disposes the Lithuaninans to an accommodation Iphigenes receives a Commission from the King to treat with them Mieslas during the Treaty indeavours to intercept Liante at his return into the City The Policy and Resolution of Iphigenes to defend Him Next day Hee is stayed and accused of Treason by his inraged Father Mieslas to break off the Treaty and intrap L'ante if hee sallied gave out that Hee would execute Iphigenes with his own hand as a Traytor Liante with a strong Party of Lithuanians rescues the supposed Iphigenes takes Mieslas Prisoner Amiclea to release or revenge her beloved Iphigenes in a suit of Polemander's Armour sallies among the rest is taken by the Royalists and given by the Generall to Iphigenes Hee returns with his Shee-Champion to Minsce Excuses her disguisement to Olavius and her Mother Receives a Plenipotentiary power from the King to agree with the Lithuanians The Pastimes during the Treaty Liante's Grace and re-establishment is included in the Articles The Peace concluded Iphigenes is sent for to the Court Is magnificently received by the King He obtains Liante's pardon and re-instates him in the King's favour The King offers his Sister Florimunda in Marriage to Iphigenes in satisfaction of his acceptable services His modest refusall The Queen's importunity to effect that Alliance His seeming consent and resignation to their Majesties Commands Iphigenes discovers to the King in private the whole secret of his Birth Education and Affection to Liante Implores his assistance for the accomplishment of his desires Their Plot to stop the Rumour of his Marriage to Florimunda and suppress her Passion by reporting that He was impotent The Princess Respicia's distempers at this Newes and Her indeavours to make good Her Dispensation Modestina and Aretuza are sent for to the Court The fears of the later the Jealousie and passionate Expressions of the other against Respicia The Palatine of Minsce brings his two Daughters to Court challenging Iphigenes and Liante of their promise to marry them The King opposes his authority to their pretentions makes Mieslas condescend to give Liante one of his Daughters Hee produces a concealed one named Virgenia or Iphigenia The contestation of Modestina Respicia and Amiclea for Iphigenes The King appoints a day for hearing and undertakes to content them all by his Award His speech to the Queen and Assembly while Virgenia drest like a Bride is conveyed into a private Gallery and Liante reassumes the form of Almeria Boleslaus by the King's command brings forth Iphigenes sumptuously apparelled in Man's cloaths Leading Liante in a Woman's Their Deportments and Speeches to the Assembly The severall censures of the Spectatours The Archbishop declares Iphigenes Marriage to Modestina void Affiance's him to Almeria The destemper of Mieslas at this sight They retire and change Cloathes The King 's private Discourse with the three Pretendants in mean time Liante by the King's command re-enters the Stage in Man's apparrell with the reall Iphigenes attired like the supposed Iphigenia They are publickly contracted Mieslas is deceived in his own Daughter The Queen's and Infanta's discourse concerning the betrothed Couples His Majestie 's grave Speech to the Assembly unfoulding the secret of Iphigenes Birth The amazement of the Hearers Miesias fury against Liante is turn'd to Joy and Kindness The King appoints a day to celebrate their Marriage with magnificent solemnities Iphigenes more in favour than ever Marries and advances all his Friends and Attendants Liante's Dignities increase proportionably to the favour his Wife procured him Their life at the Court The Moscovians invade Polonia Mieslas by his Daughter's means is made Lieutenant Generall Ambition incites Liante to assist in that Expedition Love and Honour forbid Iphigenia's stay behinde him Their Gallantry in the Battle Mieslas is slaine The Generall dies That Charge is confer'd upon the two Favorites The Triumphs that were made them at their returne to Court Liante is re-instated in his Inheritance made Lord high Marshall of Polonia Cassin Pomeran and the rest are Honorably rewarded by His Majesty for their valorous deportments in his Service THis distance and discontentment having continued for some dayes the inamoured Prisoner desiring to leave nothing unattempted to Conquer Liante's Heart sent to beg a visit of him Courtesie so naturall to persons of Noble birth permitted him not to refuse so small a favour to so great a friend Besides the hope hee had that Iphigenes repenting himself for having thwarted his designe might happily assist him in the purchase of
worth they cleare discern By teaching Virtues they can Virtues learn Shew young and old the Male the Female state Their Wills their Actions how to regulate Here Wisdome Valour Chastity discreet Comportment true Civilities strong sweet Rules for each Fortune in varieties Of Friends and Foes Noble Fidelities Their parts with such perswasive Graces act That they best Eyes and Hearts of France attract These Hee whose Love is my lov'd Ornament With equall Grace to England doth present That so in English minds his gen'rous Skill Those Virtues and their Habits might instill Though Hee to us this glorious Theater Of Pleasure and of Profit but transfer His Work with so Victorious Art is wrought The Dignity thereof exceeds thy Thought Yet Muse although I grant you are too weak Of all with a due Elogy to speak You with assurance of applause may say WRIGHT writes best English as best French BELLAY John Chapperline To his Friend the STATIONER on the publishing the Famous Romance CALLED THE INNOCENT IMPOSTOR T Will be expected now that I should raise Some Monument unto the Author's prayse The Work 's or the Translatour's else I feare The Reader'll wonder what I do make here T is grown Apocryphall And by the Wits Quite voted down Who hold it not be fits A true-borne Fancy to be Smithfield-wise Put off with Toll and Vouchers This defyes Such Crutches for 't is of so cleare a Nature T will passe without the Chaplins Imprimatur Or our Certificates Besides I carry Such a dislike to all things Customary I 'le cheate all Expectation and will be Thankfull to them but chiefly unto Thee In these Selfe-ended times we only do Or thank or praise those wee 're beholding to So call our Justice Charity and say We do bestow when we do only pay For though the worke be rare yet should it be Still in its Dress what had it been to me And though Translated by this worthy Pen If not exposed to the view of men I had ne're seen 't perhaps But since all three Have Clubb'd in this Production I must be Gratefull to all and to give all your right Must Prayse and Love and thank Bellay Dod Wright ALEX. BROME Vpon BELLEY'S IPHIGENES better'd into English by the Ingenious Pen of His Dear Brother Major WRIGHT I Need not injure Truth to Blazon thee Wer 't in my pow'r with Wit 's false Heraldrie For but to give thee all thy due would swell Too high and turne the Reader Infidell I 'le onely tell him hee 'll finde nothing here But what is Manly Modest Rich and Cleare No Dropsi'd-Monster-words all sweet and cleane As the smooth Cheeke of bashfull Iphigene Who as thy Pen has made her woo'd and wooe Might passe for Venus and Adonis too Thy melting Language big with nought but sense Delight and Wonder equally dispense Thy words fall from Thee like an April Shower Whose every fruitfull drop awakes a Flower Serpent and Dove first gently greet and kisse Then lend each other their best qualities Contract a conjugall alliance whence Springs thy Impostor's cunning Innocence Such rooted sweetnes growes in every part As if wise Nature taught thee all thy Art But why all this to thee may Criticks say Since what begin's the Page confesse Belley T is true wee owe the ground to him to thee Are Debtours for the rich Imbroiderie And t is but just the World should constru't so Rare Titian here copy'd from Angelo Ro. Loveday To my Learned and Judicious Friend Major WRIGHT Upon this Select Piece Intituled NATURE'S PARADOX Or The INNOCENT IMPOSTER DEar Friend I prize Thee high but now I 'le swear Th' art Metamorphoz'd to an Usurer A Paradox indeed I meane of Tongues Where Art 's the Scribe the Creditors Our Lungs Yet such a one that though the Increment Amount at least to Three times Eight per Cent. Maugre the Act which limits it to Six Wee 'l Plead no Forfeit nor Re-pay with Tricks The Reason's this Thy Treasure 's Beaten Gold Nor Wash'd nor Clipt but truly weight and told Th' Inscription Signall Learning Judgement Wit Not simply GOD WITH US but GOD WITH It Wherein there 's no IMPOSTURE no Offence But what concludes in Soveraigne INNOCENCE Nor do'st thou Covet or Extort at all Wee gaine by th' Use as well as Principall Why then an Usurer Because indeed Like unto Him Th' art alwayes Pleading Need A Need of Languages and yet I 'm sure Th' hast Conquered more than the Grand Signiour The Gulph of Venice Bounds that Monarch's Hand Thou gett'st where e're Thou go'st by Sea or Land The Spanish French Polonian and Dutch Italian Irish Welch and Hungry-Scotch Crow'd all within Thee many more beside I doubt ev'n Babell save the Bricks and Pride Learn but the Language of the Starres and then Th' ast both the Languages of Gods and Men. G. WHARTON NATURE'S PARADOX OR THE INNOCENT IMPOSTOR The First Booke ARGUMENT The manner of Government in the Kingdome of Polonia The Death of Rosuald Palatine of Podolia and his Wife Liante and Modestina their Children made Wards to Mieslas who succeeded Rosuald in the Palatinate Aretuza Wife to Mieslas Her Policie to deceive his Crueltie The Birth and manner of Education of Iphigenes His Marriage to Modestina Iphigenes endeavours to contract an Alliance betwixt his Sister Clemencia and Liante Iphigenes is made to understand his own condition by his Mother and Governour Boleslaus His love turn'd from Modestina to Liante His sorrow for having indeared Liante so much to Clemencia His departure from Podolia to the Court. THe Inhabitants of the Kingdome of Polonia do commonly give their Monark the style of the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS Not that they are so prophane as by too execrable a Blasphemie to ravish that eminent quality from him that beareth it ingraven on the blade of his Almighty Justice who disposeth at his will of the Souls of Princes and who is terrible above all the Kings of the Earth But by reason of the form of Government in that Country which is ballanced with somuch Aristocraticall temperature that it seemes their King is Sovereign only by the benefit of Inventarie as it is tearmed For whereas other Kings are extreamly absolute and have an uncontrouleable Power over the bodies lives and estates of their Subjects disposing of them at their wills and pleasure which is but according to the institution of Royalty determined by Gods own Sacred Mouth and couched in express tearms in the holy Scripture It is nothing so amongst the Sarmatians so were the People of Polonia called where the Sea of Monarchie hath its bounds and what storm soever rises in their King's heart what impetuous Surges or motions of Passion soever agitate his breast hee cannot in any proceedings exceed those limits that are prescribed to his Authority by the Power of his States The opinion of that antient Emperor who said That properly to be a Sovereign was to do whatsoever hee lifted is of no
poor innocent Orphanes to the merciless pitty of Men but under the tuition of that great King of Heaven and Earth who taketh little Ones for his Heritage who taketh care even of young Ravens when abandoned by their Dams and who gives himself the style of Guardian and protector of the Fatherless In the charge of the Palatinate of Podolia succeeded Rosnald a Noble-Man of a middle Age named Mieslas who was born of a very antient noble Family But that falls out in Generations sometimes which is alwaies incident to the most stately structures that is Time with his gentle file doth insensibly waste and diminish them For it is frequently seen that the Nobleness of an Extraction advancing and inlarging its greatness by the long succession of years the Estate is divided into divers branches which so weakneth and lesseneth the stock that in the end it is a shame to be so Noble and so poor to have so great a Heart and such weak Reins that not having faculties sufficient a man cannot maintein the splendor extracted from his Ancesters For this Reason in great Houses the heirs have in a manner all to the end that by this industrie their wealth may serve as nerves and supporters to uphold that magnificence which distinguisheth those of Illustrious Descents from the Vulgar Mieslas being elevated to this eminent Dignity which renders men in Polonia of equall qualitie with the Peers of France Grandees of Spain and Earles of England that is to say the chief and most remarkable Persons of that Country for they are as much as Vice-Kings And seeing himself as mean for matter of Estate as considerable for Honour both by Birth and Qualitie was on a suddain cast into an inconceivable distraction of Mind and pain not much unlike unto that of the fabulous Midas who not being able to feed or nourish himself becaus everie thing hee touched was presently turn'd to Gold poor in his abundance Hee abhorred in a manner what he had aspired to with so much eagerness being angrie with himself that his Abilities would not reach to maintein by a competent and suiteable expence the Pomp and magnificence of his Dignitie The Condition of this ambitious Sarmatian me thinks is very lively represented by the Child in the Emblem whose wing seems to flutter up on one side but the other is depressed to the ground with a heavie stone being pricked one while with the spur of Glory which puff'd him up by reason of his high birth and qualitie another while being inflamed with an extreme desire of having where withall to support the Height of his Dignitie and Extraction He was like an high mettled Hors which feeling two sharp spurrs in his Flank curvets and fling's as if hee disdained a Rider But as the twisting Ivie cannot raise it self from the ground unless it embrace the Trunk of some neighbouring Tree or be back't by some kind Wall so Mieslas deeming Wealth the greatest luster and as it were the main Pillar of Honour resolved to use any means lawfull or unlawfull to purchase it The first that the Power shall I say or the Tyrannie of his new charge put into his greedy minde was to load his shoulders with the sweet burthen of the Gardianship of the two Pupills already mentioned although their Kindred strove to subvert his design perceiving plainly that hee would prove like an Eagle's feather which eats away and consumes the others that is to say That this old Saturn would devoure those pirtifull young Children In a word having by favour obteined the Wardship or tuition of them and being established by Authority in the government or more properly in the injoyment of their most plentifull estates as hee succeeded their Father Rosuald in the Palatinate without scruple hee made use of his riches to maintein the Port and Magnificence of his great Birth and Office But that Eternall Power which resides in Heaven which presides over the designes of Men who sees their thoughts a far off knowes their waies and counts their steps and who hath in his hands the ends of the Earth It is he that dissipates the Counsells of the wicked and reproves their inventions It is Hee that takes into his safe-guard the widow and the Fatherless and confounds the waies of the evill-doers As we shall see in the progress of this Narration which will demonstrate how Providence did by her disposing take the Counter-point in opposition to the purposes of Mieslas and whereas hee intended to swallow Rosuald's Estate and make that Family fall into his Heaven brought to pass the contrary For as the Appetite comes with eating and the desire of having being commonly compared to an Hydropicall humour which the more it drinks the more it thirsts Mieslas not contented with the administration of his Ward 's whole Estate which hee found a very plentifull and almost undreinable Source of Riches whereof hee disposed at his pleasure like one that cuts in the whole Piece and made use of it to maintein the Pomp and State that high degree of honour whereunto Fortune had raised him did require aswell to avoid any Demands or Inquiries and not to be subject to render an account to any as to make this Estate in some manner his own and without inchantment to make the Corn leap from another's ground upon his Hee passionately desired to draw unto himself that mighty Mass of Wealth by some Alliance the ordinary hook that great ones use to catch the fattest Preys But God who meerly by the confusion of Tongues subverted the proud designe of the Children of Nimrod laughing at the vain pretensions of Mieslas gave him no Off-spring but Daughters and every body knowes that sex is far more likely to transport a succession into another family then to continue a name and convey it to Posterity This multiplicity of Daughters put the fierce Sarmatian not only into impatience but transported him into a boundlesse and unheard-of fury For as if his Wife a Lady full of Honour and Vertue had been voluntarily the cause of his discontentment he used her so barbarously that his inhumanity drew upon him the hatred and scorn of the whole World Isaac at the importunity of Rebecca who bad him get her Children if hee would not see her dye with grief answered that hee was not God to give her Progenie implying that as it is not from him that plants or from him that sowes that fruits proceed but from God who gives life and growth to every thing and who opening his hand fills every creature with his blessing and fecundity so Husbands cannot give Issue if God showres not down upon their Marriage the Benediction of his sweetness neither can they have Children according to their own wishes but according to the good pleasure of him who is Creator of both Fathers and Children and from whom proceeds all Paternity in Heaven and on Earth It was by an industry inspired from above that Iacob spotted with white and
Tearms of Agreement with Mieslas there was no possibility of his receding without offending the Palatine who had given Him his Word and to whom Hee had reciprocally passed His. Besides that His Mother who was entred into some hope of possessing Iphigenes which Shee kept close enough from His knowledge egged Him daily on to finish that Treaty Iphigenes on the other side beeing importuned by Mieslas to the re-search or more properly the Acquisition of Respicia found an expedient for his own respect to procrastinate that busines which was thus His Marriage with Modestina had been celebrated publickly and with Solemnity therefore for his own Justification and the good of his Posterity it was requisite that it should bee declared void by publick Authority for the effecting whereof they must have recourse to Rome Hee beeing of Opinion that in mean time they should proceed to the accomplishment of his Sister's Marriage to Cassin That shall be no hinderance replied Mieslas if that be all And Respicia more glad than if shee had gained an Empire could not hold her Heart from Dancing for joy assoon as Shee heard this news flattering her self that to Demand and Obtain that Dissolution was but one and the same thing Whilest the Messenger was posting to Rome the Parents laboured to effect the Marriage of the Prince and Clemencia But the mutuall consent of the Parties beeing that which fasten ' s the Knot it was traversed by the resistance of Clemencia who refused to subscribe that Contract declaring freely to her Father that her Heart was Liante's and that shee would bee wedded to a Cloister with her Elder Sisters or have him for her Husband Judge you what an impetuous storm of indignation rose in the Palatine's tempestuous Spirit seeing himself contradicted by a simple Girle in two things which were extreamly sensible to him The one that Liante should leave his Ecclesiasticall Vocation which hee had forced him to embrace to Marry his Daughter without making him acquainted The other that shee should deny a Prince who in his Opinion did her too much Honour and to whom hee had ingaged his Promise His Fury grew to such Excess that Hee spake of nothing but dipping his Hands in her Blood to punish her for a Rebellion which hee deemed worthy of no less than Death And in effect if shee had not been withdrawn out of his Presence probably hee would have committed some notorious scandall Hee cursed and fumed against those that hindred him from tearing her in pieces and turning himself with Eyes casting Flames of Rage towards Aretuza Thus sayd hee you bring up your Daughters Go and if you make her not change her Note and crave pardon for her obstinate refusall hope for nothing from mee but most-rigorous usage and to end your Days by some memorable punishment I le teach you to obey mee or I le make you measure the Ground with your extended Corps Thus did the irritated Podolian vent his Choller whilest the Prince Cassin without uttering one Sillable did lose himself in the confusion of his thoughts What sayd hee within himself Am I come so far to receive an Affront to gather the Reliques of a dying Favour and suffer a repulse from a Creature that hath neither Beauty nor Riches capable to attract my Love that surpasseth mee neither in Birth nor Breeding and must I return to serve for a Fable and Laughing-stock to the whole Court Oh Mother In what a business have have you imbarked me Oh Ambition upon what Rocks of ignominy dost thou precipitate mee Respicia on the other side was no less perplexed this presaged no good to her Pretences for as Shee believe That one of these Alliances beeing accomplished might bee a means to further the other So shee feared that the dissolution of This would bee the destruction of That which shee most desired At length Clemencia proved like a Leaf that is moved with every breath of Wind. For Aretuza knowing the secret of Iphigenes and seeing into what Extremities Passion was likely to transport Mieslas if Shee persevered in that Disobedience Prayed her Preached to her and tormented her so much that in the end shee tore a kind of Consent from her like to the second Myrrhe which drops not from the Tree but by violent Scratching and Raking with Teeth of Iron Cassin who would not possess the Body when another injoyed the Heart not to joyn as it were the Living with the Dead carried himself with extream coldness in this Treaty which hee signed onely out of compliance to his Mather's Will who never ceased conjuring him And Clemencia with a thousand Tears witnesses of her unwillingness did the like by the absolute command of her imperious Father These were very discordant Accords and which if no other Tune were added will never make any good Musick But that which ruined all was when Cassin came to the knowledge of his Mother's Affections to Iphigenes and how shee managed the Accomplishment of her own desires under the Name of Simphoroza For judging how ruinous her second Marriage might prove to him according to that Maxime which saith That Shee who re-marrieth declareth War against the Children of her first Bed Hee resolved to return to the Court and use all possible means by his Interest and Credit with His Majesty to hinder that Marriage of Iphigenes and His Mother So leaving Mother Mistress Mieslas and all Podolia hee posted away to the Court without acquainting any of them with his Departure In what confusion Respicia remained you may better Imagine than I Describe when shee saw her Practises Discovered which shee had till then carried on with such circumspection Iphigenes hereupon had a fair pretence to personate the Male-content and defer those Matrimoniall Ceremonies untill better opportunity alledging that during his Exile so hee tearmed his Retirement from Court hee esteemed it not fit to Talk or Think of Marrying no more than to wear Green for mourning besides that his Enemies might take occasion from thence to possess the King that hee made little account of his Disgrace since hee passed the time in Feasting Magnificence and Jollity That which made Iphigenes fullest of Care and Pensiveness was Liante's Imprisonment the inlargement of whom Hee Resolved to procure by some Invention or other or to perish in the attempt What need is there of Strength or Stratagems Gold doth all There 's no Place impregnable to him that shoot's Golden Bullets no Castle so strongly fortified but is Accessible and Penetrable by a Mule loaden with that metall as said a certain King of the Mecedonians With these Suns of Darkness hee dazled the Eyes of Liante's Keepers and made him Escape away so handsomely that it seemed to have been rather by his own Industry than through any Negligence of their's And by the intercourse of Boleslaüs his faithfull Foster-Father underhand hee conveyed to him all things necessary for a Journey into his Palatinate where hee gave him a secret Rendez-vous
loss of mine own but I beseech you to consider that all Passions are Precipitated all Precipitation is Blinde Blindness is incompatible with Reason What we do through the violence of that Motion is not judicious that which is without Judgement is subject to great Failings those Failings to remarkable Repentance You may do what you please it is my Duty to Obey you and move in the Sphear of your Authority You are past Child-hood now the yoak of Paternall power doth no longer press your neck take heed of imitating the Birds whom Love driveth into the Fowlers Nets and thence to Death or at least into Captivity The Servitude whereunto Marriage obligeth Ladies is not small those Devoirs will seem very strange to you and for a Pleasure which you esteem the more the less you know it you will purchase to your self much Pain Besides what will People say nay what will they not say if you discover your self and be Married in this manner You will lose all your Estate and Honours and you shall be sure to make your Father your Enemy who will pursue you with Fire and Sword your Mother will run the hazard of her Life and not beeing advertised of your proceedings shee will be so perplexed that the fear of Death will perchance make her anticipate the Vengeance of the rigorous Mieslas Clandestine Marriages whatsoever can be objected are alwayes suspicious and bear the Mark of Dishonesty in their Faces What will these Gentlemen think that are in your company At first it may be they will conceit that all this was done by Witchcraft but when Time shall have made appear that there is no other Magick than Naturall if they do not blame your Conduct it will be either for want of judgement or through excess of Friendship Consider moreover that if the secret which we have so long concealed should be disclosed in this manner you will render yourself the Fable of the whole World and the most infamous and dishonoured Creature under the Sun Whereas if moderating your Desires a little you will but follow my former Counsels which you were than pleased to relish and your Mother approved and which are conformable to your Affection and Design for Liante Fame will speak you not onely in Polonia but through the whole Universe the most admirable the most Honourable and the most triumphant Virgin that ever Nature framed the Mouths of Mortalls will not have Tongues sufficient nor their Tongues words nor their Words tearmes elegant enough to express the Greatness of your Name and represent the Splendor of that unspeakable Glory wherewith you shall be crowned and which will one day by the Pen of some eminent Historian convey your Esteem into the Memory of succeeding Ages Marriage Madam is a sacred and indissoluble bond which ought to be treated of with Grave and Serious deliberation not amongst these Facetious Recreations Those that contract Matrimony ought to proceed with great Circumspection and think upon the establishment of their Fortunes and the good of their Progeny rather than the satisfying of their Lusts If you do otherwise the Shadow is not so inseparable from the Body as Repentance will be from your Action And it is far more easie to prevent a Mischief than remedy it when it is hapned I am not against your beeing Married to Liante since from your Infancy it seem's that Heaven where Marriages are made hath destined you for him but I would advise you to deferr your Wedding and of blameable render it glorious of private publick hide not with shamefull obscurity that which ought to be illuminated with the clearest Light that ever produced Day What is but prolonged is not lost and my judgement can foresee no Cause what Venim soever envious Fortune spit's in Vertue 's face capable of hindering so just and so Legitimate an Effect which may Crown your Father's Heart with Satisfaction your Mother 's with Gladness the King with Contentment and the whole World with Wonder These words pronounced with a zealous sincerity conformable to the disposition of him that uttered them were as Water cast upon the Fire of that Passion as a Bridle to that Temptation which began to transport the Reason of the vertuous Serife And immediately a Vermillion colour the livery of Modesty over-spread her Cheeks not without some trickling tears which the vehemency of her distemper extorted from her Eyes Hee that hath ever observed the Pearls that Aurora sprinkle's upon red Roses may fancy something neer the countenance of that Lady scorched with Shame and watered with Tears Thence the prudent Boleslaüs gathered that her Heart was in no ill temper and that Honour gaving gained the victory of Love did render Reason triumphant over Passion At length with no less Sweetness and Modesty than hee had Compassion to see her in that Perplexity shee answered Be assured Father that this assault nor any other Heavens permitting shall ever make me forget my duty neither have I hitherto admitted any thing into my thoughts contrary to what a Virgin of Honour oweth to her Reputation and Vertue The End which I pretend is so Glorious that it is sufficient to justifie all the means I use to atchieve it But since your Prudence ripened by the advantage of Years and much experience make's you judge that the fruit of my desire is not yet come to maturity I will deferr the gathering it untill you shall think it time for mee to cast off my veile This said not to press any farther her Heart big with Sighs Boleslaüs having made his obeisance and wished her good rest left her to retire to his other Companions Then Serife seeing herself alone and thinking shee was unheard having opened the Flood gates of her Eyes and given Air to her sighs shee eased the burthen of her overswollen Heart by the utterance of these dolefull words Wretched Serife how long must thou like a miserable Sisyphus rowle this stone which is no sooner brought to the top of thy pretensions but by a fatall weight in spight of all thy Force and Industry it take's the advantage of the steep descent to precipitate thee into the bottom of Despair Shalt thou never see an end of this Labour no less Vnprofitable than Painfull Shall a clear Day dissipating the foggy Vapors which environ thee never shine upon thy Repose Is it then Registred in the Book of Fate that thou must consume in these comfortless Woods the most flourishing season of thy Years in the Presence but not to the knowledge of him who is the innocent and amiable Cause of thy sufferings must thou then spend and perchance end thy Dayes in these obscurities without informing him who thou art and of the true manner of thy Love Oh Liante Oh Calliante if you could read within my Heart the Torments which you make mee feele as you finde in my Face the subject of your own Disturbances I am confident you would bee moved with the same
shee had acquired upon that generous Spirit by her sallying out of the City in her Brother's Cloaths and Armour to succour him And then consulting often with her Looking glass to remarke the great advantages Nature had given her over her two Rivalls could not perswade herself if the fair Palatine had any Love that it could bee for any but her Imagine you if the Queen and the Infanta laughed not at these vanities and if they had not occasion to say that there was a great Process for a barren ground All stood in expectation of the voyce of the Oracle which was the sentence of the Arch-bishop who beeing informed by the King of the reality of the Story and rendered participant of the Stratagem after some usuall formalities pronounced the Marriage betwixt Modestina and Iphigenes void by default of Consentment given in an age incapable of determining Wills It would bee hard to represent the resentments of the poor Modestina when shee heard this Sentence which seemed no less cruell to her than if it had condemned her to Death Nevertheless shee held yet by one thred of Hope the word of Iphigenes In this World the one's loss is another's gain This Decree opened the Heavens to Respicia and made her sing the Triumph before a perfect Victory For this Marriage beeing dissolved shee believed there would bee no further obstacle to her pretensions when Amiclea opposing herself to Her Designes summoned Iphigenes to performe his promise to Her It were impossible to relate the Discourses that Jealousie which is an inraged Fury put into the mouths of these Rivalls Which had made diverse Quarrells and Combats but that the King by his Prudence knew how to calm those storms Modestina indeavoured to excite her Brother to fight with Iphigenes Consider you to whom shee addresst herself and what pleasure the King took to hear her perswasions which Liante repeated to him Respicia pressed her Son the Prince Cassin to challenge Olavius or Polemander to revenge her of Amiclea Oloria conjured Polemander to ingage in single Combat with Liante And Amiclea was so transported with rage that shee was almost resolved to re-arm herself to take Prince Cassin's Life in revenge of Respicia's opposing her desires At last beeing not able to ingage any others in their quarrells Passion so bemadded them that had they not been hindered they would have ended their differences with Poniard and Pistoll wherewith they had each armed themselves unfit instruments for the use of such delicate Hands In what contentment did His Majestie 's fancy swim seeing the Cards thus shuffled to his own desire At length beeing willing to terminate all these differences whereof hee reserved the knowledge to himself in as gracious as marvellous a manner hee promised to content them all by his Judgement without commanding like the Hebrew King that Iphigenes should bee divided Hereupon Hee prefix't a certain day to pronounce the decision of this controversie which according to the opinion of the Pretendants for one Happy was to make two Miserable The whole Design beeing conducted with an admirable secrecy the Queen and the Infanta Florimunda accompanied with onely foure or five of the principall Ladies of the Court seated themselves in the King's Chamber by his command Then were called in the most part of those whom wee have named in this History and those who had most frequently been in Iphigenes company for hee suggested to the King the contrivance of all this Design Especially the three Rivalls Modestina Respicia and Amiclea the Palatine's three Principall friends Pomeran Pifides and Argal The Palatines of Minsce and Troc with their Wives Oloria followed her Mother and Melindra her's Polemander accompanied his Sisters Perpetua was introduced as Governess to Modestina Aretuza entred with Mieslas as those who next to their Son and Ward had the principall interest in this business Of Boleslaüs beeing there you need not doubt the Prince Cassin accompanied his Mother and Clemencia attended on the Queen The Arch-bishop beeing instructed what hee was to do was admitted as hee that should give a blessing to the Feast with other Prelates and Ecclesiasticks of note who knew nothing of the Designe Mean time the King had commanded that Virgenia naturall Daughter to Mieslas should bee conducted into his Closet dresst like a Bride and as if shee had been then to bee contracted to Liante who with Iphigenes sumptuously apparelled was brought into the same closet where in Coffers whereof Iphigenes had the Keys were Garments necessary for the representation of the Comicall Action wee are now relating The King having left them in his closet returned into his Chamber where during that grand Assembly having briefly but with much gravity represented That God having created Man free there was nothing that he abhorred more than to see Wills constrained That beeing by the Providence of Heaven elevated to the Throne to represent on Earth the Image of God in Heaven he would never indure that the person whom hee honoured with his Favour should bee forced in his inclinations especially in that which of all things in the World ought to bee most free that is Marriage That hee had under-hand intimated to the three Contendants a secret Cause which ought without further dispute make them quit their pretentions But that their Passion beeing stronger than their Reason they flattered themselves with a Belief that his Information was onely an artificiall Pretence to make them desist from an Enterprise wherein they could reap nothing but Shame That by the mouth of the Church Iphigenes having been declared free from his first Bonds his Will was that hee should not bee fettered a second time contrary to his own desire That it was sufficient that against the Motions of his own Minde hee had already once testified his Obedience to his Parents by tying himself to Modestina without submitting again his Will to their's for an Alliance disproportionable That the Age of the Princess Respicia did oblige him rather to reverence her as a Mother than cherish and research her as a Wife That her Daughter Simphoroza was yet too young for an Husband That Amiclea might bee dispensed from Marriage for the same Reason besides that the promise of a Prisoner is never held to proceed from any other motion than Compulsion And in sum as well against that as the paternall authority of Mieslas hee opposed his Royall and Soveraign Power to remit purely and freely Iphigenes in the Liberty of his own Choyce That hee had sounded his Intentions and beeing fully informed thereof by his ingenious Confession hee had besides alleadged very pertinent Reasons that hindered him from Marrying any of those three that desired him Which made him ingage his thoughts elsewhere and contract a Marriage in private which was then to bee made evident and confirmed by the Church with a simple Shepherdess named Almeria whom hee found according to his own Heart and who possessed as much ingenuity Vertues and Graces as shee