had been of his Party and was then a Companion of his Fortune at the end of their repast regarding him with a visage that breathed nought but Death Petreius said he 't is fit we dye to preserve our liberty for if we stay on earth but a few days we shall have no power left to put by the shame is prepared us I demand no other proof of thy affection but Death from thy hands and as my Fortune is now stated I cannot receive a greater from thy Friendship Here stab this breast pursu'd he presenting his naked bosom pierce this heart which the Arms of our Enemies have unluckily spared and make a KING fall by thy friendly hand whose courage scorned to bow under the fortune of a puissant Enemy He mingled these words with some others so pressing that Petreius could not refuse the fatal courtesie but without farther delay ran him through with his own sword the King not so much as turning his eye aside nor letting fall the least action unbecomming the grandeur of his spirit Petreius when he had seen him breath his last turned the same point against his own breast and throwing himself upon it with all his force fell dead at his feet thus were the festival Ornaments discoloured with Royal blood and thus did this great King catch up the shield of of death to defend himself from ignominy A few days after the victorious Caesar rendered himself Master of both the Realms and with them of the Queen his spouses liberty whom he designed for one of the principal Ornaments of his Triumph she was gone some months with child when the King her Husband lost his life and was brought to bed of the Prince my Master two days after her arrival at Rome whither Caesar sent her two months before he made his triumphal entry Thus was my Prince begotten free and the Son of a King but born a slave and between his Conception and Birth happen'd that deplorable revolution of his Fortune Some days after his Birth he was carried along as one of the most remarkable Ornaments of Caesar's Triumph happy in his misfortune that as yet he understood not the shame they made him suffer being then of an age incapable of resenting the loss of his Crowns his brave Father or the death of the Queen his Mother who resigned her life a few days after she had disclosed the little Heir of her misfortunes to the World But there wanted not persons that took care of his bringing up for the great Caesar from whom the disastrous fate of his Parents had drawn some compassion caus'd him to be brought up at Rome in the garb of a Kings Son and bestowed such a particular care upon him that scarce any of his neerest kindred in that high swoln prosperity was trained to a braver Education I will yet say further and believe I shall not injure truth in affirming that the losses of his estate were in part repaired by the gallant Education he receiv'd among the Romans wherein that tender age escaping the impression of the Affrican customs and the Company of such persons which falling far short of the Romans politeness might have given him a taste of the Barbarian his excellent nature contributed such marvellous assistance to the care of those that were ordained to form him that before his age could promise it he became as accomplished in all requisites of a Prince as wish could fancy and rarely skil'd in every undertaking to which his vertuous inclination carried him In his earliest Infancy Caesar would often cause him to be brought into his presence and observing that someehing Majestick and Heroical was already risen with that morning of his excellent beauty he let him get ground in his affections to that degree as one day he broke into an earnest protestation that if the little Juba for at his birth they gave him his Father's name seconded those hopes he had already begun he would restore him the Crowns of his Ancestors but he took special care to mould him to the Roman fashion and deface all such unpolished manners as his inclinations might possibly borrow from his Affrican blood Besides to fortifie the friendship he would have him bear to the Republick he gave him a Roman name and because he was brought up in the Martian Family illustrious among the Patricians and derived from the famous Coriolanus whose valour survived him in so glorious a reputation he would have the young Prince called by his name that the appellation of Juba which sounded harsh and barbarous to a Roman ear might be covered with that of Coriolanus In all likelyhood the affection and bounty of that great Dictator would not here have stopped and doubtless the Prince had gathered the fruits of those promises if Death had not robbed him of that Protector or rather that Father before he attained to his fourth year an age that hardly rendered him capable to dream of those hopes were given him That man the greatest that ever liv'd was murder'd in the Senate-house by the ingrateful conspiracy of those that his own generosity and nobleness had rais'd from their knees all the world knew it self interessed in the loss of him who had made himself Master of it with his Sword yet held it in so gentle a subjection After Caesar's death the little Coriolanus for so was always called wanted no protection for the Senate succeeding Caesar in his Patronage took up that care of him which his death had let fall and trained him up with the Sons of divers Kings that were Friends and Alleys to Rome without making the least difference in their Expence or Equipage though their Fathers had still their Crowns in possession Divers children of noble Exteaction and an equal age descended from the families of Roman Knights were placed in his Service of which number I was appointed one and as I was always brought up near his person so his affection did me the honour to take me nearest to his heart During those cruel and dismal disorders of my Country that bloody Civil War which revenge kindled for Caesars murder the prodigious effects of that horrible Triumvirat which overflowed Rome with the blood of her noblest Citizens and that famous contest betwixt Antony and Octavius Coesar the young Prince grew up with a success miraculous Never did Eye behold a youth of those years handle his Arms with so great a grace or perform any Bodily Exercise his Tutors taught him with a dexterity comparable to his his propension led him with so much advantage to the study of Sciences as he became so learnedly vers'd in Astrology and Philosophy so critically skilled in all kind of History as the World could scarce afford another to match him and for Eloquence that famous Orator that lost his life in the heat of the Triumvirat by the cruel command of Antony could hardly challenge preheminence nor had he qualities disproportioned to these rare endowments of body and mind so that
The belief I have that Fame has made you acquainted with this pitiful History the importance of which spread it over the Earth makes me contract it in a small Volume A few dayes after Ptolomee understanding that Caesar was come into Aegypt and hearing he disapprov'd the cruel War he made against his Sister rais'd his Siege from Pelusium and bent his course towards Alexandria where he staid his coming up Cleopatra no sooner saw her City ungirt and her self at liberty but by the counsel of her faithfullest Servants and especially of my Father Apollodorus who had ever much credit with her she resolv'd to throw her self at the feet of Caesar and demand his protection before he arriv'd at Alexandria This design was presently executed and she and her Train wafted over with a winged diligence to the Isle of Farion where Caesar had made some small abode I was of that number that attended her and because of the faithful service which my Father ever render'd her none had freer access nor greater credit than my self The great Caesar being advertiz'd of her arrival came to meet her with much Civility and because I was present at that interview 't is fit I should recount some of the particulars Cleopatra the better to advance her design had that day call'd both Art and Glory to wait upon her Natural Beauty that it might sparkle at the best advantage and though in her habit she had affected a Modesty conform'd to her present estate and therefore concluded Mourning more becoming than Pomp in an action wherein she was to appear a Suppliant yet both her Mourning and her Modesty were set off with what was more great and pompous than the dazling Luxury of Gold Jewels could boast Her Eyes darted Beams more Glorious than the richest Diamond could sparkle and the Majesty of her Port and Visage did more loftily express her quality than could be done by a magnifick and a numerous train of Seruitors If her view put Caesar and his Followers to their wonder I confess too the visage of that brave man the greatest not only of his own but of all the Ages that preceded it stampt a respect in all our Souls that made us regard him as if he had been a God That prodigious reputation he had gained in a hundred Battels against the most valiant people of the World and his last Victory upon the Romans themselves which he came from subduing with a far less number than theirs gave us an astonishment full of veneration Indeed his face did not belie the dignity and grandeur of his actions And though there was something missing there that must needs go away with his vigorous youth yet there appear'd all the marks of a perfect Greatness his Looks so imperious and yet so full of sweetness that it was not easie to take him for less than the Master of the Universe Caesar and Cleopatra before they spake spent some time in gazing at one another making their looks and silence express their mutual admiration but at last Cleopatra considering she was in his presence that had her repose and fortunes in his hands or rather was the Master of her Destiny bowed her haughty Disposition and forcing a more than ordinary humility from the dexterity of her spirit threw her self at the feet of Caesar and resisting his earnest and vehement entreaties to rise You see Great Emperonr said she you see at your feet the Daughter of the Ptolomees that is here to demand that of you against a cruel Brother which from his Arm she might expect against other Enemies Oppressed Innocence and Imbecillity implore your assistance and do proffer a brave employment to your Generous Bounty that cannot shew it self in a more becoming garb than in protecting a Princess persecuted by unnatural Cruelty in her Fortune Repose and Life in the same estate my Ancestors commanded part of which is my Legitimate Inheritance I have now no other Retreat but your Favour and if that be denied me I must render up my self to a Brothers Cruelty in whom neither my Bloud Sex nor Youth can ever ingender pity Let me not embrace your victorious Knees in vain before which all that is great on Earth must learn Obedience and confess thee as great and as much Caesar in generosity as in that triumphant bravery that has made thee Master of Rome and with her of all the World beside The fair Princess had doubtless said more if Caesar no longer able to hear or suffer her upon her Knees though accustom'd to see Kings whole dayes in the same posture had not employ'd after the trial of entreaty the force of Arms to raise her and having placed her in an estate better conform'd to what her Beauty might claim Fear not Cleopatra said he the Roman Arms shall defend thee from thy Brothers threatnings and if he contemns our Prayer we will not leave Aegypt till we have provided for thy Repose and Fortune He pronounc'd these words with a Roman gravity and a Majesty that equall'd his condition but a while after seconding his parlie with the Princess his temper was so softned with the charms he there encountred as he lost all his Gravity and in his following discourses put a submissive behaviour in the place After he had re-assur'd her fears by repeating his promise not to abandon her he told her he would conduct her to Alexandria present her to her Brother and put her in possession of her partage in the Realm Cleopatra's experience of her Brothers ill Nature gave her some difficulty to resolve it but at last she was constrain'd to obey the absolute will of Caesar who presently dispatched one of his chief Commanders to let Ptolomee know that he could not see him as a Friend nor as an Allie to the People of Rome if he refus'd to receive Cleopatra whom he intended to present him with all assurance of Reconciliation Ptolomee entertain'd this imperious Order with a most sensible despight and had much ado to hinder the escape of some passionate folly but he stood in too much awe of the Roman puissance to profess his indignation which made him resolve to dissemble till time should offer him an occasion to shew it at the best advantage He therefore unwillingly forc'd himself to submit to the impos'd Command and in the mean time to render Caesar more favourable he sent him by the wicked Theodorus the head of mighty Pompey but his expectation prov'd so erroneous as that Generous Conquerour instead of bidding the Present welcome refus'd to see it and commanded the wretch that brought it to be chased from his Presence after he had express'd how much he detested his Masters Treachery in terms full of contempt and Choler nevertheless he enter'd Alexandria where Ptolomee receiv'd him with great respect and many feigned demonstrations of good will Cleopatra upon this score was likewise entertain'd with kind embraces Ptolomee protesting before Caesar that he was ready to resign up
had disclosed to the world that Son of Caesar her attention to the recital was made her of that Tragedy was mingled with a bundance of sighs and awaked in her soul a remembrance full of pity and veneration for the Fortune of so great a Queen Cornelius was ready to leave her to her private repose when he saw a part of those enter that by Candace's intreaty he had sent to the Princes relief who being demanded how they had thriven in their late employment it was replyed they had laid out their pains in vain for being arrived at the place whereto they were guided by the Ladies directions they had only there found the marks of a great and bloudy Combat the Earth covered with bloud and fifteen or twenty men lay stretched upon the ground among which their endeavour to learn the truth had found two still living who related the event of the combat and confest themselves and all those that lay dead about them to be Souldiers belonging to the Pirate Zenodorus that they had been brought into that condition by the invincible valour of four persons and that after their defeat the Victors were gone thence upon the spur as they conceived in pursuit of a Lady whom their Captain had carried away From this Discourse Candace took abundance of comfort or at least her heart was eased of much disquiet by this assurance that her dear Caesar was escaped the danger and upon this pleasing subject her thoughts began to grow busie when Cornelius unwilling to debar her that liberty took his leave and left her alone with Clitie in chamber From that day he took order she should be served as a person whose quality he suspected did much overtop her present garb and appearance and though he was desirous to learn the truth he was not willing to betray an impatient curiosity till time should offer an occasion to do it with a more becoming pretence but if Cornelius had a desire to know the Queen had as great a design to conceal her quality and to that end instructed Clitie for her future demeanour This caution involved no ingratitude for the service Cornelius had rendered her though she could do no less than regard him as a person that usurped the right of her dear Caesario and a Lieutenant to the cruel Enemy that had passed such a bloody sentence on his life besides she had discovered in his face and language some signs of a budding affection and that sole consideration quickly grew fruitful enough to be the Mother of those twins Distrust and Secresie Nor was her suspicion groundless and that Man who possible had past the preceding part of his life without feeling that the Boy had a bow had received so powerful an inclination from the first Rays of Candace's beauty to serve her and that so sensibly augmented by the inchanting sweetness of her garb and language as in a few days time it became strong enough to leave nothing free in the soul of Cornelius his first nights rest was interrupted by the agreeable Idea of his fair guest and almost wholly consumed in the entertainment of such love-sick thoughts and amorous musings as had yet been strangers to his breast At first he made some attempts to defend himself already taking fears from the first inquietudes he had suffered from this incroaching malady but in the sequel all their arguments struck sail to the pleasing flatteries of such hopes as a man so considerable in person and quality might properly conceive If this Lady said he be of an illustrious birth as there is much about her to settle that opinion which takes another proof from so many accidents and effects of Fortune who as we daily see makes it her sport to toss such Tennis balls I may safely raise and own my pretences to her lawful possession without offending my honour but if her veins hold no bloud that will deserve my alliance I will try to find another way to satiate my desires in the mean time I shall leave no stone unrolled by the safe and gentle ways of service that may win me her affections and since the Gods have put her into my hands by an adventure so uncommon I will try to improve that advantage nor shall any consideration perswade me to resign her liberty This was the Praetors resolution whereof the Queens ignorance defended her from a sad resentment In the mean time that tedious night became a witness of her restless apprehensions and the Image of her dear Caesario who wounded as her thoughts had figured him and ranging on all sides in quest of her still returning to her timerous fancy scarce left her one hour of sleep that was not broken by those inquietudes The next day she was visited by Cornelius who endeavoured to divertise by shewing her all the beauties of the Palace and straining his fancy to find out divers other inventions that might offer her delight but all had little power to dispossess or deceive the deep melancholly that oppressed her spirit and though by a discreet complaisance she paid him her regards with a visage serene enough yet it might be easily observed she could not repulse those cruel agitations that her heart sent thither Every single action of hers blew up new flames in the Praetor's brest but whatever violence he felt they inflicted was all close Prisoner to Candace's Majesty which imprinted a respect that imposed his silence and left him no power to set any of those thoughts at liberty After he had passed a part of the day in her company he was called away by some pressing affairs that demanded the rest which the Princess spent onely with Clitie upon the ordinary task her melancholly imposed she thought it required of her affection and civility to send some body to Tyridates house as well to learn if possible what became of Caesario as receive the knowledge of that Princes condition and render him an account of her own to whom she remembred her self so deeply obliged but this resolved she wanted a person proper for that imployment and though she did not doubt but Cornelius would readily furnish her she thought there was more circumspection due to the fear of discovering that by an imprudent confidence which both her desire and discretion devoted to silence It was then the season of the year when the Sun over-warmed that Climate with a prodigality of beams and that Evening the night being well advanced before sleep could fasten any charm upon Candace's eyes to take a cool refreshment by tasting the Evenings dewy breath she went to walk upon a Terasse neer her Chamber where she had already taken some turns before the nights arrival This was a large open gallery supported by Marble Pillars whence the unrestrained eye might freely gather a pleasing variety of objects both from the Sea and all the adjacent places to Alexandria her Chamber was not the onely neighbour to this Terasse but being of the same length with
Princess not unworthy of your affection I shall not scruple to confirm what you have already learn'd from my mouth but will repeat you my purpose that if you can oblige the King to approve your design I will submit my self to his command without the least repugnance to receive you Caesario did not throw himself at my feet to thank me for this promis'd favour for he had not stirr'd from thence since he enter'd the Arbour but my words had committed such a rape of joy upon his senses as it was long before he could get any language at liberty to express it yet at last it brake loose though much out of joint with excess of passion which yet me thought told the tale of his affection better in that disorder'd Elegance than I ever understood it before from its untroubled composure and confirm'd my resolution to prefer him if ever my disposal were released to my self above all the persons in the world Since that day he lived with me not usurping Licence from Success to enlarge his liberty of behaviour for he still kept himself exactly within the bounds of that respect which was born a twinn and had ever since grown up with his passion and had he chanc'd to break beyond them I knew how to reduce him so handsomly as I could leave him more confidence of his happiness a sweeter repose and riper hopes than ever Being yet too young to do it with Decorum he thought it not fit to trust his intentions to the King till some important service might state him so powerfully in his brest to repair the defect of those Crowns he had lost and help him up to that pitch in his opinion which he might have flown at before the disastrous fall of Anthony and Cleopatra In this expectation he passed above a year in our Court and thrived so happily in his design to indear himself to the King as he could not have received more indulgence though all the blood in his Veins had stream'd from no other Fountain but Hydaspes and with me his lovely qualities prevailed so successfully as at last he had got as large a possession in my heart as he could fancy in his forwardest wishes indeed it was no easie task to defend my self from him for Caesario is struck so full of incomparable graces in both the faces and features of body and mind as it is impossible for the severest Judge of worth to see and frequent him and not quickly confess him a person in whom the Divine bounty has treasur'd the marks of an extraordinary grandeur and to these rare endowments were added a complacence and assiduity and a discretion so uncommon as by a sweet violence were able to enforce affection even in those Cynical Souls that are most incapable to take the true height of merit of me he received all the spotless testimonies of affection that innocence would avow and though they were precisely confin'd within the limits of severity enough yet his knowledge of my humour shew'd him cause to content himself with what I was willing to allow him he would sometimes grow very melancholly when his thoughts chanc'd to reflect upon his battered Fortunes and I remember when I asked him the cause of his indisposition he has often answered me to this purpose Madam would he say it does not trouble me to be in debt for all I have to you and yours nor would I lay out one single wish for a fortune that comes not either from you or for you but when I look upon my self as I am dispoil'd by that giddy Deity of all those Grandeurs and Dignities that inviron'd me at my birth and find that I am stript of all at a time when their service was so necessary to prefer me to yours I cannot dissemble my displeasure nor lift my Eyes to you with any assurance when my memory wakes those cruel thoughts that tell me if your generous Father had not given me a Sanctuary I should now be destitute of a retreat among men that I have now no proper estate no rank nor any of those Scepters left me my Ancestors possessed that he who has rob'd me of all that usurps the throne of my Father and the same that took away the Crown and Life from the unfortunate Cleopatra does proudly brood our spoils and peceably sway the better part of the Universe while Fortune fastens me to such a feeble condition as denys me the power of recovering my swoonded honour or my lost estate in revenging my friends by the ruine of my enemies In fine Madam I cannot see you serv'd by a Man whom Fortune has tumbled to so low a condition without blushing with the blood that is nearest my heart and if I had not some sparks of hope in the King your Fathers assistance that are yet unquench'd and a little confidence in the courage of a Prince who cannot want it and be still the Son of Caesar to repair the shame of my life I should despair of comfort Such Discourses as these my Caesar often made me upon this subject but I rais'd all the power of my reason to combat those melancholy thoughts as well because they afflicted him as that they drove him upon the dangerous rock of a resolution which my judgment told me he would never have power to conduct to a happy period Think not said I that the loss of your Crowns has made you less considerable than if you were still vested in that purpl'd prosperity of your Royal house your Vertue may restore you what your blind Enemy has taken nor has she power enough in her whole stock of malice to blot out those Characters which in your person are far more remarkable than all the glittering Crowns whereof she has plunder'd you So long as there are store of those to be adquir'd among men you have still the same right to assert and arm your just pretences but if you only level yours desires at those on purpose to ennoble your amorous claim know you need not the addition of those fading glories since I find that in your self alone which will give you the upper hand in my thoughts of him that commands the Universe besides your Honours has no Interest in your misfortunes for you suffered them at an age so helpless and insensible as allows you no right to go any share in the shame or the glory of good or bad success if the Gods shall one day furnish you with forces to receive the quarrel you may yet dispute the Empire of the world with that Usurper of your right and Persecutor of your life and if they refuse you the means and break down the stairs by which you should remount the throne of your Fathers you may possible ascend another that is large enough to bound a reasonable ambition The Son of Caesar received some comfort from this discourse yet not so clear a satisfaction to hinder him from perplexing me with his daily protestations that
to render my life still serviceable to your interests I would not stock it upon so desperate a cast in this unequal Combat whereto I am now marching without any hope of Victory and this incertainty might happily induce me to preserve it if something did noe prompt me with a probability in this attempt of tumbling Tyribasus from the top of his plundered honour Madam if I can sacrifice him to your just resentments and redeem you that pretious liberty and repose of which he has so barbarously bereaved you at the price of his blood and mine I will spill them both to a drop and perish without reluctance but if death cuts me off before I execute the Traitor pardon the failing to my weakness and let pity preserve some remembrance of him who could not part with his life upon terms of more happiness and glory than to die for the rights of his Royal Mistress The perusal of these words laid a greater weight of woe upon my Soul than ever yet it supported and though of late it had been argued with many anxious perplexities yet I now resented so cruel an encrease of my misery as rendered me incapable of company and comfort I spent that day in Tears and Sighs but the next that succeeded it was yet more dolefully employed since it brought me the accomplishment of all my fears in the sad news of Caesario's bloudy defeat with the loss of his whole Army all those that had made me the recital assured me he was seen fall dead from his Horse after he had left some impression of revenge upon his Rival in two dangerous wounds he had given him and done actions besides of so stupendious a nature that they seemed to hold as great a disproportion to Truth as those fictious tales of our ancient Heroes Madam you will easily judge how cruelly the sense of this disaster stretched my heart-strings and to confirm that thought you may please to know that I sunk dead in my womans arms and lay a long time in that condition before the remedies they applyed could bring back my senses that were all fled away from their usual offices and when at last they waked me from my trance I fell a wailing my loss in the dolefullest accents that were ever expressed by the lawfullest and most impetuous grief and all my actions perswaded those about me that I was become an Enemy to my Life My woman durst not stir from me in that estate wherein they saw cause enough to fear that my own hands would dispatch the business of my despair and all that day I was strictly guarded rather as a distracted person than a Princess that in the preceding accidents of her life had given the world so far a Sample of her constancy When my sighs had left me some liberty to speak My dear Caesar cry'd I since thy soul is driven from her sweet habitation for my Interest 't is but reason mine should follow her to the other world and I am very willing to go keep thee Company by resigning that life which thou hast bought too dear at the price of thine would to heaven I could have condition'd with the destinies aforehand to excuse thy thred for mine thou should'st have seen me run into the arms of my pale Executioner with as great a greediness as hurry'd thee to this unequal Combat but since the Deities deny'd me that favour believe it I will do that without repugnance to follow thee which I would have done with joy to save thee there is nothing left upon Earth that has power to stay me here now when thou art gone and my last Act shall tell that monster who thinks he has securely seated his fortunes upon thy ruine that all those flattering hopes will prove Impostours To these succeeded a world of other words to the same purpose and as the kindness I shew'd Cleomedon had been publiquely Authoris'd by the King my Fathers will so I made no scruple to avow the inclinations I had for him to all those that overheard me the force of my imagination still kept his lovely image before my eyes both day and night and my reason was sometimes so giddied with the violence of my grief as talk'd to my poor Prince in such discoursive terms as if I had seen him there in a condition to return me an answer My sorrows were risen to this degree when Tyribasus came back to Meroe or was rather brought back in a Litter with the marks of Cleomedon's valour still about him which had made him run such a manifest hazard of his life He saw me not of divers days after his arrival as well because his wounds confin'd him to his Bed as that he yet fear'd understanding to what desperate estate the violence of my grief had brought me to appear in my presence but so soon as the success of his cure would give him leave to take the air he came to my Chamber My passionate detestation of his last act had still held it self up at the same impetuous height whereto it was risen at his first conception and I no sooner saw him that was the cruel cause of it set his foot in my Chamber but breaking into a furious out-cry against him Barbarous man cry'd I dost thou come to shew me the bloody spoils of Cleomedon and could'st thou not content thy self to rob the world and me of so great a treasure without increasing my horrour by bringing the face of this inhumane butcher in my sight com'st thou to insult upon the miseries of a wretch that is taking care to die since thy cruelty has bereav'd her of him for whose onely sake she lov'd her life and can'st thou not think thy revenge compleat in the murder of him that merited my affection to the prejudice of the unjust pretences but thou must rudely press into my presence to aggravate the weight of woe thou hast to my soul for ever Tyribasus gave way to this Torrent of words which was violently followed by divers others of the same stamp till they had wearied out my weakness to admit from a tumult of sighs and sobs the short interruption of some moments silence in which vacancy striving against the stream of his own thoughts to express some sorrow for what he had done I am too deeply concern'd in your displeasure said he to sing any Io Paean 's in your presence for a thing that immoderately afflicts you and though the death of my Brother with divers of my friends besides the dangerous impediments he strewed in the path of my intentions and his particular design against my life might leave me little cause of regret for the loss of Cleomedon yet truth her self is my witness that his death cannot sink so deep an impression of grief in your spirit without stamping some sensibility of the same nature in mine and were it now in my power to give him his life though I knew it would prove yet a greater foe to my
to throw down our Arms and yield our selves upon pain of death Eteocles and Telemachus both very stout and couragious supposing those Ships were sent in pursuit of ours by Tyribasus resolved to perish in defence of that dear pawn Caesario had trusted to their hands and without regard to the number of their Enemies began to repulse them very valiantly their resistance procured their ruine and those cruel men with whom we disputed our liberty after a very obstinate and bloudy contest which cost the lives of many of their Companions at last they overflowed us with an inundation of number and boarding our vessel on every side put all to the sword without distinction the valiant Telemachus whose fidelity deserved a better destiny was killed with the first all our Soldiers cut in pieces after him only Eteocles still defended himself being recoiled with his back against the top of the Deck though with no other hope than to sell his life something dearer than the rest of his Companions when animated with an extraordinary courage and an eager desire to preserve a man whose grand services had rendered him so dear to Caesario I boldly stept into that scene of danger and demanded his life of him I took for the Captain of our Enemies The barbarous Zenodorus for so the Pirate was called having cost his eyes upon my visage and found something there that obliged him to accord me the life of Eteocles called off his men from the Combat and gave him his life just when the danger was ready to enroll him among Death's Captives he presently took me out of that Vessel defiled with carcasses and blood and caused me to pass into another of his that was next it with all the persons that were now left which were only Eteocles and my three women At these words Elisa regarding the Queen with a fixed eye How Madam said she was it then by the Pirate Zenodorus you were taken The very same reply'd Candace and that famous Rober not content to make his depradations by Sea was come up the Nilus very far into our Provinces where he had taken some rich prizes and rendered himself the most redoubled of all those that ever skimmed this Ocean Alas added the fair Elisa what an infinite of tears has that Monster cost me But Madam pursued she do not interrupt your discourse you shall understand when my story comes to tread the Stage by what sad mark I know the Pirate Zenodorus and how near a conformity and alliance the hand of providence has made between our last adventure You may judge Madam continued the fair Queen to what a lamentable condition I found my self reduced by this strange disaster from the hands of an ambitious and amorous man that I fled I saw my self fallen into the power of a pitiless wretch that knew neither Faith nor Honour of a Barbarian known upon all the Sea by his cruelty and in fine of a Monster from whom I could not expect less than all the inhumanities I was capable of resenting this horrid spectacle crimsoned with the vital blood of all my men struck fresh Ideas of terrour in my memory and the presence of those Tygres that breathed nothing but murder and massacre might well have wrought the same frightful effects upon any other spirit though better fortified than mine to resist them and indeed my courage was brought so low as I let my self fall half dead upon the Deck when the consideration of this last calamity almost set me a swimming in my own tears Eteocles though he had received some slight wounds in several places kept himself near my person and kneeling by me supported my head upon his bosom while Clitie with her two companions were all fallen at my feet and become partners of my woe then it was that all my constancy forsook the Lists I detested my unfortunate birth and upbraided Heaven it self with the cruel series of my miseries a thousand times did I call death to my rescue and condemned my cowardise that I did not first tender my throat to the steel of those Barbarians that butchered our Souldiers The Pirates that had long been habituated to such spectacles of pity melted no more than rocks at my desolation but their Captain found some beauty in my face that a little softned his savage humours and made him capable of some sentiments of humanity at first my sorrow had his silent attention and whether he was not yet moved enough to express any signs of Compassion or thought those first excesses of my grief would strike me deaf to his discourse he sat a pretty while upon a seat he had chosen and saw my tears run from me without so much as offering to come nearer but a little after he came towards me and taking some time to contemplate my face before he spoke and endeavouring to send away as much fierceness from his looks as possible Fair Lady said he do not afflict thy self so exceedingly thy beauty has found favour amongst us and perhaps thou art not so unhappy as thou thinkest thy self I was buried so deep in the consideration of my misery as it would not let me have leisure to regard the Pirates words that carried so little proportion to my dignity and he received neither answer nor so much as one single look that could let him know he was understood This gave him a belief that I had no skill in the Greek Tongue in which he spoke and therefore translating his words into the Aethiopan language I tell thee said he with a look that had put on more mildness than before you may cease your laments and dimisse all your fears since you are in a place where your beauty has given you much power I knew not how to shape an answer to this discourse but Eteocles who was less troubled than I and therefore had more judgement at the helm perceiving my perplexity was willing to spare me the pains and taking his eyes from my visage where they had been long fastned to place them upon the Pirates My Lord said he if you use these advantages you have gotten upon us with moderation the Gods will be engaged to reward your generosity This Lady whom you see is my Daughter we were retiring into Egypt whence we took our first Original from the Civil Wars that troubled Aethiopia when we fell into your hands and if we receive such a treatment as our hopes encourage us to expect from your goodness we are not of so base an extraction nor yet so despoiled of Fortunes favours but we may find a way to acknowledge your courtesie and redeem our Liberties at a considerable ransom Zenodorus smiled at Eteocles words and regarding him with a disdainful look For thy Ransom said he we shall talk at leisure but for thy Daughters thou wilt hardly find treasure enough to pay the price of her liberty If I took some satisfaction from Eteocles words wherein he had cunningly disguised my condition
of impatience in all his actions to strangle his Rivals design of my reprisal his behaviour was superscribed with such visible contents of meaning as my suspition could no way have wanted nourishment but by the blindnesse of my understanding and though the memory of my debt to what he had done for us shut my eyes upon a part yet I found it impossible to learn an intire ignorance of what his ill-assured and distempered regards his frequent sighs and discourses mingled with a fear that nature never planted in his heart would have forced upon an intellect though shorter and shallower than mine this imperfect knowledge gave me a real displeasure and though Criticism it self could have found out nothing in the person of Artaban that was not very amiable and the importance of his service had made him yet a better title to my esteem than his outward accomplishments could challenge my haughty opinion that as that Man whose birth was so vastly below mine own could not make me the mark of his amorous ambition without the sin of presumption against my quality nor make me fear to be offended in that nature that I could not glance a thought upon his boldness without much disquiet while I floted in these uncertainties instead of these orders we expected from the King he came himsef to Nisa in part perswaded to that voyage by the necessity of his affairs which called him upon the Frontier and partly by the desire he had to see us after so long a Captivity I need not relate the order of his arrival nor trouble you with the account of every single passage to our interview let it suffice you Madam to know that we found in his Caresses all that we could hope from a better nature than his that all his actions and discourse assured us of as much tenderness as a Wife and Daughter could expect but if a Husband and a Fathers love made the apparent impression of themselves in his behaviour he forgot not what he thought was due to the grand service that Artaban had done him and after he had treated him in the presence of his chief Nobility as a person of extraordinary merit as the Tutelar Genius of Parthia and as a young Mars whose unlimitable valour had propped and recruited his reeling Empire he openly protested that he had not a recompence within reach of his power was fit to measure with his merit that the gift of a great part of his Estate would satisfie but a part of the debt that was owing to his admirable vertue with such professions as these he dayly made him the subject of his discourse in our presence and during his residence there he heaped more honours upon him than either he was accustomed to render to the most considerable persons of his Court or the neerest Princes of his blood but he was loth to stop the current and career of his Victories and receiving intelligence that the King of Media was raising Forces with a hasty diligence to re invade his Dominions he gave a loose to the fierce impatience of Artaban and adding a better part of those Troops to his Army that had followed him to Nisa he commissioned him to invade Media openly declaring that he hoped for that Crown by his valour Artaban whose particular interests daily whetted his asperity against Tigranes gladly received this order and prepared for his speedy departure while we did the same for ours to return with the King to the Capital City of Parthia The day of our separation arrived and with it the assurance of what I had so carefully fled the knowledge Artaban who had all this time kept his tongue from blabbing the secrets of his heart was now resolved to throw away the mask and cast the dye his great heart had hatched an opinion of himself that made him believe he needed neither shake nor blush at the declaration however he rouzed all the courage that nature had given him to back his attempt and preparing himself as he since confessed with more resolution than ever he called to his assistance at the assault of the greatest danger he came to take his leave of me with a face that shewed me the contents of something extraordinary I gave him a particular audience in my Chamber and when he saw my Woman withdrawn to such distance as they could not over-hear his discourse Madam said he if I were not now to part upon an expedition from which my return is yet in the bosom of the Deity wherein I shall possible encounter dangers with jaws wide enough to swallow me I would still make the consideration of what you are and my fear to disoblige you a passion that I never felt from any but you to keep those thoughts at home that now are about to break their bridles had I ventured to give them this liberty while yours was under straint you might have conjectured that I borrowed the boldness from your bowed conditino and apprehend that I treated her in some kind like a Captive to whom I ought not to have suffered the escape of one single regard that was not tempered with a profound submission but now Madam that you are free re-instated by the bounty of Heaven in your birth-right glorious safe within the arms of your great Father and that I must leave you in a sad uncertainty of ever seeing you again think it not strange if by a power which I find it impossible to disobey I am forced to declare that Hold Artaban said I intercepting his progress hold for heavens sake hold and do not give me cause to complain against you after the injunction of so many reasons to commend your services I would not prevent you in this manner if I were not prepossessed with a high esteem of your merit and therefore fearful to impair it by any provocation of resentment against you If the presumption of my language said he has made me criminal I will strive to wash away my fault with the blood that I am going to shed for your interest and when I see that proves too little to take out the stain I will amend my enemies defect with my proper hand if there cleaves so great a guilt to my offence in professing my self yours to demand that reparation do not arm your self at this declaration with an anger that cannot be less than fatal to me I know 't is faulty but I know 't is only made so by the meanness of my birth and the weak estate of my fortune Madam my birth is noble 't is all I can say of it and my fortunes are now so low but I hope my sword may one day raise them to an equal pitch with theirs that openly pretend to the glory of your service First Courage and Vertue should lead the way then Crowns must follow to deserve you and Madam I will seek for Crowns before I vow the boldness to demand you To that of Parthia which you are born
advanced thee that puts thee besides the knowledge of thy self but know that I shall find ways to humble thee as much as I have unjustly advanced thee and that I shall lay thee so low if thou dost not cease from provoking me that possibly thou shalt serve for an example to those whom immoderate presumption makes to transgress the limits which their birth hath prescribed them Ending these words full of disdain and outrage to an heart like mine he turned another way without giving me time to reply I should have done it for all that how Tragical soever the reply would have been to me if Artamenes had not opposed it and with divers others of my friends which had been present at this conversation had he not led me to my Tent so inflamed with choler and transported that I was hardly capable of suffering the violence they did me with any moderation When I was in my Tent and that I had made a reflection of some few moments upon my adventure and the unworthy usage I received turning my self to Artamenes and those that were with him My friends said I to them behold me subjected to more outrage and indignity than I ought to expect from my services and besides the injurious words wherewith Artaxus had a mind to humble me I see my self by the death of these two unfortunate men which he is about to sacrifice to his cruelty exposed to the most sensible displeasure that my soul is capable to receive I do little esteem the words and disdain of Artaxus upon whom I never had any design to bottome my Fortune Henceforward the favours of a King is he is shall be less dear and glorious to me and I dis-esteem them too much to purchase them with the least compliance or to receive them when they shall be offered me but in things wherein my honour is engaged I will spend my blood to the last drop to defend it and though I should infallibly lose my life in this design I will leave nothing unattempted to save the two Cilicians whom I have imprudently delivered up to his cruelty All those that heard my words could not condemn my resolution but they saw me in no capacity to execute it and I was able to do it so little alone against Artaxus that all I could devise in this design proved but ridiculous propositions Artamenes endeavoured to represent so much to me and appeared interessed in my displeasure as much as a good and generous friend could be but he could not bend my spirit to an unworthy and base complyance with the intentions of a cruel ingrateful King and I could not conceal from him that I was resolved to arm a party of the Souldiery whose affections I might conceive I had gained and go and free the Prisoners by force from the place where they were detained or of I could not find sufficient courage and affection in the hearts of the Souldiers for so bold an execution I would go and make my self be killed in defence of these infortunate men whose death in my opinion ought eternally to be objected to me as a reproach Artamenes wanted no reasons to oppose against this resolution neither was he forgetful of them but our dispute was as unprofitable as any design and presently after I had quitted Artaxus this cruel man or rather monster of cruelty whether it were that his spirit was more exasperated by the resistance I made against his will or that he feared lest I should attempt and execute something for the safety of the prisoners sent the Executioners who beheaded them in Prison without any further delay The memory hereof makes me tremble as well for the compassion I had of the destinies of these two men and the horrour I have had all my life of cruel actions as for the reproach I might receive from my own conscience though I was innocent for having contributed to their destruction after I had promised them life and usage conformable to their condition Artamenes and the rest of my friends were still in my Tent when I received this news and I confess they saw me break out into discourses and actions wherein there appeared no remainder of reason which made them fear some Tragical event from the grief and choler which transported me In these first emotions I thought and threatned no less than to revenge the blood of those poor wretches upon the person of Artaxus from whose cruelty the remembrance of my services could not free them and if those which were present at these menaces had not been my real Friends upon the least intelligence given to Artaxus I had undoubtedly found the death I despised Artamenes would not abandon me and guarded me all that day as if I had been a mad man doing all he possibly could to quiet my spirit from these violences by his discourses indeed he made me abate the rashness of them and put me into more moderate terms than before but for all our friendship he did in vain oppose the resolution I had taken to quit the service of Artaxus for ever and to go over to the Enemy it the remembrance of the mischief I had done them would permit me to hope for a reception there I will sooner suffer a thousand deaths said I than continue any longer in the service of this Barbarian this blood-thirsty Tigre whom a man cannot serve without rendring himself a complice of his cruelties this ungrateful Prince who requites mens services with disdain rage and unworthy usage The only cause which might make me own his interests ought not any longer to engage me Arsinoe disdains me as much as her Brother and if I cannot cease from loving her yet I ought to cease from seeing and desiring to please her and to seek a cure far from her which possibly I may find in an eternal absence and in other employments than in suffering unprofitably at her feet Although in the complaints which I made against Artaxus I mingled some too against Arsinoe yet I know well how to put a difference between them and I did not confound the ingratitude and inhumanity of the Brother with the severity of the Sister who was really born with all the great qualities which might render a Princess accomplished I was not cured of my passion by the usage she had shown me but I was desirous to be cured and I did so confirm my self by the injuries which I received of her Brother that I not only desired but conceived hope to find repose in my mind by separating my self both from Artaxus and Arsinoe for ever My destinies whereby I was called to something more important than these beginnings of my life which I have related unto you gave birth to this design and it was by my destinies that I was disengaged from Artaxus and Arsinoe to be conducted into places where fortune was as advantageously serviceable to me as I could desire where I found honours and dignities above my
of the children she left in the World as so tender an age that they were not yet capable to understand the loss they received Her cruel Enemies fearing lest that Herod should return to his right mind and making a rational reflection upon what was done should recall the inhumane sentence which he had pronounced hastened all things against all forms and gave no time to love and reason to produce the effects they feared Poor Sohemus and the miserable Eunuch were first sacrificed and Salome sent Executioners to strangle them in the Prison They say Sohemus died like a man of courage and protested the Queens Vertue and Innocence to his last gasp for whose death he expressed more sorrow than for his own Those which went into the Prison with the Queen to prepare her to die reported afterwards that she scarcely changed her countenance at their sad discourse and that she received news capable to daunt the most hardy spirits with such an assurance as shamed her Enemies and confirmed them to their confusion in the opinion they themselves had of her Vertue Nothing of passion appeared either in her countenance or discourse she never spâ—ke better sense or with more temper and there proceeded out of her mouth neither complaint nor word which might make one judge that she went to die unwillingly nay they who sometimes saw her passionate against Herods inhumanity when she was provoked by the death of her near kindred found her much more moderate as to her own and observed no new resentment in her for this last effect of his cruelty She only said to those who were present at her last actions Tell Herod that 't is this day that I begin to receive a good office from him and that I accept the present which he hath pleased to send me and with more joy and acknowledgment than ever I did all the testimonies of his love I can nevertheless protest before the God which we adore and I owe this justification to my memory and the blood from which I am descended that the repugnance which his cruelties have caused in me either to his manners or person never inclined me to the least thought of offending against my own honour or the duty of a Wife Tell him that the blood of Joseph and Sohemus which he hath shed will cry for vengeance against him and that if I be culpable at my death it is because that by my imprudence I have caused the ruine of those innocent persons As for Tyridates I thank God I feel no remorse of conscience that can accuse me of the least fault against my Husband and I hold no other thoughts for his person but of acknowledgment and esteem as due to his vertue Tell him that I beseech him if I may beseech him at my death that he would stop the current of his cruelties with me and look with more affection and pity upon the Children which Heaven hath bestowed upon us upon whom the rage of our Enemies may extend it self if he do not remedy it After this supplication I pardon him for my death with all my heart and I pardon Salome too for it though she might have contented her self to hasten the end of my dayes without blasting my reputation and I go without regret to render an account to God for my actions whether criminal or innocent After these words which drew streams of tears from them who heard them she gave some small orders for the recompence of those persons which had served her and having setled her mind in that respect she kneeled down in a little Oratory which she had in her Chamber where she prayed with an action nothing relishing of the world After she had bestowed a quarter of an hour in this pious employment she returned with a much more chearful countenance than before and after she had given the last embrace to her inconsolate Maids who melted into tears at her knees turning her self towards them who waited to conduct her to her death Let us go my friends said she 't is time to part Hyrcanus and Aristobulus call for me and I must go to find out those Illustrious Asmoneans who through the care which Herod hath taken preserve a place in Heaven for me With these words she gave her hand her self to him who was to lead her and having again with a look full or sweetness and Majesty taken her last leave of those who were about her she went out of the Chamber and passed into the Court where the Tragical preparation was made for her death Dispence with me Sir from telling you the last particulars it may be enough and more than enough for you to know that upon that mortal Scaffold the most beautifull head was separated from the fairest body in the world and the most vertuous the most innocent and the most couragious of all Women lost her life by the horrid command of a Monster thirsty after Illustrious Blood whereof he sacrificed the fair remains to the rage of its Enemies The Sun being at the latter end of his course gave light unwillingly as I believe to this sad adventure and the universal nature would have put on mourning if it had been capable of sense for the greatest loss it could ever suffer These last words of Arsanes were interrupted with sighs and sobs and not being able to go farther to finish what he had to relate concerning the remorse of Herod and some accidents which followed Mariamne's death he cast his eyes upon Tyridates to see what effect the conclusion of this pitiful narration had wrought upon him He was amazed and Marcellus too that there proceeded not one word from his mouth nor sigh from his breast but their amazement ceased when after they had looked near upon him they saw that he was fallen into a second swoon much deeper than the former Marcellus being touched to the quick with grief both by the pitiful relation of Mariamne's death whose eminent vertue and admirable beauty he had heard a thousand times highly extolled and at the condition wherein he saw the unfortunate Tyridates was hardly capable of giving him either succour or consolation and whilst Arsanes with the rest of Tyridates his Servants that were left in the house took care by all possible remedies to fetch the Prince out of his swoon he sate by him with his arms across and lifting up his eyes to Heaven as it were to accuse Fortune for the misâ—haps to which she exposes vertuous persons he made sad reflections upon the misery of men Tyridates came not to himself again a long time and the greatest part of the night was past before he recovered his senses Marcellus seeing himself very far from the repose and comfort that was promised him did not so much as seek for any in that desolate house and out of the excellency of his nature did so far interess himself in Tyridates misfortune that for a while he lost the memory of his own At last
to his love that I gave it way to encrease to conceive hopes and to form designs which offended Heaven and Nature But when with a little more Age I had gained a little more knowledge I observed in his affection and in his caresses some things that did not please me and I began to distinguish the transports of a violent passion from the effects of a pure and innocent amity I hardly began to doubt but that I received assurances from his own mouth and one day after he had continued a good part of it expressing his thoughts with more ardor than I desired at his hands finding my humor more repugnant to his kindnesses than he had observed before he took notice of my sighs What is the matter Sister said he and what have I done that can have diminished your affection as much as mine is augmented Is it because I love you too well that you cease to love me Brother said I I shall never cease to love you neither is it necessary that you should love me too much for all excesses are to be condemned and I shall alwayes content my self with a moderate and rational amity such as a good Brother may have for his Sister Ah! Olympia said he for the name of a Sister is cruel and cross to me how far is that moderate friendship which you require from that which I have for You and how contrary is Heaven to me in not causing you to be descended from the greatest stranger in the World rather than from the King our Father You wish me ill replyed I dissembling my thoughts and making as if I knew not his and if I were born of any other Parents I should not be your Sister That would be my greatest felicity answered Adallus the nearest of blood is the greatest obstacle that hinders the repose of my mind and the peservation of my Life Yes Olympia I love you I do not love you as a Brother with a weak and languishing amity but as an inflamed Lover and as a man so desperately in Love that if your pity doth abandon me I shall abandon my self to despair Be not amazed Olympia at this Declaration my passion is not without example even in our own family the laws of Love are stronger then those of blood and those that may retain common persons are not powerful enough to bridle Kings and oppose themselves to the repose and lives of Soveraign Princes upon a weak and slight consideration This discourse the understanding whereof I could no longer dissemble stroke me with an an unparallelled astonishment and troubled me in such a manner that for a long time I was not in a condition to reply You terrifie your self added the Prince seeing me in that confusion but if your affection doth but a little correspond with mine You will find nothing strange either in my discourse or my designs Juno was the Sister and the Wise of Jupiter amonstg our ancestors a like proximity did not hinder a more particular alliance and at this day amongst divers nations of the World brotherhood is no impediment to marriage To these words he added divers others upon the same subject at the close whereof having had time to compose my self a little and looking upon him with an eye that sufficiently signified the repugnance I had against his horrid propositions Adallus said I to him for the name of Brother in you is as little conformable to your discourse and designs as the name of Sister in me you fill me with so much shame and confusion that I know not how to behave my self one moment in your presence since I heard the words you pronounced but now Heaven Nature you and I are offended by them in such a manner that I would willingly give the best part of my blood that I could give my ears the lie and restore innocence to the most criminal thoughts that ever fell into the mind of a Prince Ah! Sir if you have any sense of vertue left oppose the motions of a horrid passion and do not dis-dis-honour your life with a stain so black that all your blood can never wash out I find no shame replyed Adallus interrupting me in loving that which the Gods have made most amiable in the World and beauty in the person of my Sister is as powerful upon my Soul as in a Stranger Princesse we have so many examples of a passion like to mine that I shall but little fear the reproaches of men for a love which I feel no regret in my conscience which would be the first to accuse if there were any thing of criminal in it and in fine though it were a crime and a shame to love you I am carried to it by a power which I am not able to resist and engaged by a necessity which will force me to love you to my Grave without any consideration of reproaches or all the obstacles that you can oppose me with And for my part replyed I I am obliged by vertue and the nearness of blood which makes me look upon your intentions with horror and detesttation to fly from You henceforth as from a monster that would devour me and to offer violence to that amity which the relations of blood and reason had wrought in me to a Brother by the aversion I ought to have even to my Grave against Your detestable thoughts You may do it added the Prince and you may behold my death with the same eye that You look upon my passion and I do not know in which of these two actions you will be the less criminal either for having loved you brother or for having caused your Brothers death You will not dye said I when you shall render your self Master of this horrible passion which causes all the shame of your life and though you should dye upon that account I should be very innocent of a death to which I shall have contributed nothing but what I owe to my honour which is dearer to me than Your life or mine own I believe replyed Adallus that You will easily comfort Your self for it I shall comfort my self better for that answered I very briskly than I should do for the crime which you propose to me and though together with the loss of your Life I mustconsent to part with mine own I should more easily resolve upon itthan upon a detestable action the only proposition whereof makes me to tremble I did not believe replyed he I should have found you of so bad a nature possibly time may alter it and make you to consider that it is not so bad a crime as you imagine to throw a Brother and a lover into his Grave I must part with my life for my Brother said I I will do it without repugnance but as for a Lover in the person of a Brother I will avoid him as long as I live if it be possible as my most dangerous Enemy We had more discourse besides by which with as much
desires and vertuous inclinations About this time as you know the King my Brother prompted by a very just desire of revenge made war upon the King of the Medes your Allie and in the first year he had some advantages which made him hope the absolute ruine of his enemies 'T is true by what we could understand he dishonoured them by his crueltie and the Gods likewise to punish him for it stopt the course of his good fortune by the succours you gave Tygranes which changed his fortune and forced him to be gone out of the Dominions of your Allies 'T was at that time that he committed that action which hath been so much condemned by all vertuous persons to cut the throats of two Princes of your bloud prisoners in a just war and against whom he could have no lawful resentment This was that which made him lose the valiant Britomarus whose valour had been so favourable to him in the first year of the war and upon the relation which was made me of the generous quarrel he had with the King for the safetie of his prisoners what cause soever I had otherwise to blame the presumption of that young warrior I could not but have his vertue and greatness of courage in admiration and that esteem made me forget some part of the resentment I had against him Ariobarzanes who by the Kings command continued at Artaxata as well because of his Youth which as yet was not capable of bearing arms as to keep the Armenians in obedience whilst the King made war in forreign Countries wept for regret and grief at the relation of this crueltie and made all those judge who saw him at that time that his inclinations would be very different from those of the King his Brother I enlarge my self particularly upon this action of Artaxus because it was upon this account that the hatred of the King your Father was so violently exasperated both against him and his and it was upon the resentment of this action that he made an oath never to pardon any person of the bloud or Alliance of Artaxus whom fortune should cause to fall into his hands and it was upon this knowledge and out of the fear of this choler that I obstinately resolved upon so long a disguise in Cilicia You know better than I what were the last successes of that War and how at last it was ended by Augustus's authority who by the terror of his power made these Kings who were cruelly bent to ruine each other to lay down their arms and forced them to peace when the weakness of them both might sufficiently have disposed them to it if their hatred had not maintained the war rather than their forces 'T is true said Philadelph interrupting the Princesses discourse that the King my Father retired with so much grief and resentment against Artaxus for the death of Ariston and Theomedes his Nephews that to revenge himself of that cruelty there was no cruelty but he would have exercised and I believe if fortune had made you your self fall into his hands with this miraculous beauty and these divine graces which might have disarmed the rage of a hunger-starved Tygre he would have made you to have felt the effects of his indignation without any respect Do not think it strange then if I was afraid of him replied Arsinoe and do me the favour to believe still that the consideration of my life was not the cause of the greatest fears and I had not thought it due to my honour which in his indignation an implacable enemy might possibly have exposed to ignominy to take the more severe revenge upon Artaxus's cruelty I should not possibly have had this fear of a man born of a Royal bloud and of one that was your Father if it had not been confirmed in my Spirit by the knowledge he gave me of it as you shall understand in the sequel of my discourse You know that a little while after this forced peace Augustus sent to demand Ariobarzanes and my self to be brought up at Rome near him with divers Kings Children which were educated there in the same manner and were kept by Augustus near himself either to testifie his affection to their Parents or to have a greater assurance of their fidelity by means of those hostage Artaxus knew not presently what to judge of it but he durst not disobey Augustus's will of which in all probability this was an obliging effect on his part and having communicated to us the order which he had received he found us not unwilling to go the voyages Ariobarzanes being naturally amorous of great things joyfully received the proposition which was made him of going to that stately City Mistris of the greatest part of the Universe to pass some years in that pompous Court where almost all the Kings in the world came to pay their homage and besides he had small inclination to the severe dealings of Artaxus but being of a sweet and pitiful disposition he could not live without repugnance with a man so cruel and in exorable towards those who had offended him These were the reasons which obliged Ariobarzanes willingly to undertake the voyage to Rome and his good will easily gained mine without him I should hardly have ventured upon this enterprise but ever since we were little ones there was contracted so near an amitie between us that we could hardly live one without the other and I did more easily resolve to go all the world over with Ariobarzanes who was as dear to me as my self than to stay at Artaxata without him It would be to no purpose to relate to you the preparations for our Voyage and regrets which Artaxus and Artemisa expressed at our departure it will suffice me to tell you that all things were ordered as they should be with an equipage beseeming our birth we departed from Artaxata upon the way towards Italy and marched as far as the Egean Sea where we embarqued after we had crossed a good part of Armenia and coasted Licia and Pamphilia by land without any memorable accident From the Egean Sea in stead of passing over the Streight to descend into Macedonia and to take Shipping again upon the Adriatique Gulph as that was our most direct way fearing the tediousness of those long Voyages by land and wherewith we were already tired we turned upon the left hand towards Peloponnesus and descended into the Mediterranean Sea believing that though it would be the longer yet it would be the easier way not being obliiged to embark and disembark so often It was rather our destinies that would have it thus and the Gods who reserved Ariobarzanes and I for other adventures had not ordained that we should see the banks of Tyber We had been but a small time upon this Sea when we were seized upon by that furious tempest wherein we suffered that shipwrack which you have heard spoken of and lost our lives in the opinion of so many persons
careless of all things Having had this account from Arsanes we suffered him to pursue his voyage and quitting our course towards Lybia made for Alexandria where after a dangerous voyage by reason of foul weather wherein we were like to have been lost I am at last safely arrived and as happily as I could have wish'd since I find my Daughter and with her Prince Artaban both in a condition to pass away your lives according to my wishes and inclinations and to go and satisfie the desires of the Parthians who impatiently expects you to put upon your heads the Crown of their Monarchs This was the closure of the Queens discourse and she had no sooner given over speaking but Artaban cast himself at her feet and embrac'd her knees with all the discoveries of the greatest and humblest acknowledgement which she could have expected from the meanest of her subjects The Queen embraced him as a Son and looking on him as the person who within a few days was to be King of Parthia she could not receive those submissions from him but forced him to rise and seat himself as before He obey'd her not till he had done the same homage to the Princess with greater expressions of love and respect then he had ever discovered before But though he saw her in countenance the marks of a joy she could not well dissemble yet was there not the least appearance of any in his and instead of entertaining with any excess of gladness the discovery of a happiness to which he aspired but with very doubtful hopes he continued in the same posture he was in before the Queen's discourse nay seemed rather to be somewhat less chearful Elisa and the Queen were not a little dissatisfied thereat insomuch that the Queen having a greater confidence then her Daughter upon that occasion asked him Whether he found any thing in the discourse she had entertained him with whence he might derive any sadness Artaban knew wll enough what had given the Queen occasion to put that question to him and making her answer with certain sighs which forc'd their way out Madam said he to her the Fortune you bring me tidings of is such as whereof there is not any among men nay not among the Gods lif may presume so highly can entertain the discovery with moderation but with all this I can conceive no other joy thereat then what might proceed from a pleasant Dream or rather being built upon a Foundation I shall my self presently shake I cannot rejoice thereat I might Madam said he to the Queen and I might Madam continued he addressing himself to the Princess suffer you to continue in an errour which for ought I perceive you are much satisfi'd in nay an errour which makes infinitely for my advantage But may it not please the Gods how great soever the Fortune may be whereto you would raise me that I should purchase it by a Cheat and may all my hopes be defeated with my life before I put any Trick upon my Princess If Artaban descended onely of Noble Bloud or rather if Britomarius whose Fortune consists in his Sword be worthy the glory to serve you dispose of his life and make his condition such as you desire it but if to merit the Honour you would do me I must be a Prince descended from Arsaces reserve it for some other whose Birth hath been happier than mine Not but that I feel something stirring in my heart as great as if I were a Prince of that Bloud but in fine Madam I must disclaim it Artanez is not my Father and I were too unworthy the Fortune you offer me should I be won to endeavour it by falshood and an unjust pretence These words of Artaban which he uttered with a courage wholly admirable struck a paleness into the Princess 's countenance and fill'd her heart with a sudden grief She cast her eyes on Artaban but with a look such as wherein he could not but observe her displeasure through her grief and presently after fastened them on the ground out of an astonishment that suffer'd her not to speak But the Queen was not in a like distraction and after she had a while looked very earnestly on him Artaban said she to him do you think the Present made you so inconsiderable that to avoid it you will disclaim a glorious birth and prefer the condition of a private person before that of a Prince of the Bloud of Arsaces together with Elisa and the Parthian Crown I prefer replies Artaban the Glory to serve Elisa before the bloud of the Gods and the Empire of the Universe but if that glory be reserv'd for a Prince descended from Arsaces it is not for the unfortunate Britomarius to pretend thereto Britomarius is the name I receiv'd at my birth under that name of Britomarius I passed away my younger years in the service of the Queen of Ethiopia under that name I first serv'd in the Wars under the King of Armenia and I have had the happiness to make it remarkable therein by some advantages I derived from my Sword and Fortune And I will discover to you in few words if you will give me leave how I came to that of Artaban which I have continu'd out of a respect to the honour I have had to serve the Princess Elisa under that name and which for that very reason I have preferr'd before that of Britomarius This discourse shall not take up many words and as I looked on this particular of my life as that of least importance so is it that onely which my Princess hath not had an account of After I had rendred some considerable services to the King of Armenia in the War he was engag'd in against the King of Media and which made the name of Britomarius known in his Armies and Dominions by some fortunate successes having not been able to disswade him from a cruelty he exercised on certain Princes I had taken prisoners and having dis-engag'd my self from him upon the opposition I would have made of a most injurious and ungrateful treatment I much dissatisfi'd quitted his service and left his Dominions with a design to follow the Wars elsewhere and fasten on the occasions of acquiring Fame which I preferred before all things With these thoughts I took my way having not many persons about me as being unwilling to make any advantage of the services I had done that cruel King when coming to the Frontiers between that Kingdome and Media and crossing a thick Wood I at first heard a confused noise accompany'd with certain cries and soon after coming up to see what the matter was I found several persons engaged in an unequal combat or rather in a base and villanous assassinate Divers men arm'd all over and well mounted had set upon a single man who without any other arms then his Sword was Hunting in the Wood with some Servants no better furnished than himself and being a person of much valour
us in Alexandria is more then needed since that you bring design'd a Husband for my Daughter and content upon our intreaty to pass for a Prince of the Royal Bloud of Parthia he could not imagine we should depart hence without having you along with us Artaban was going to make some reply to this obliging discourse with all the acknowledgement he could express upon the like occasion when casting his eye towards the Closet door he observes the person who was come in with the Queen and whom he thought of her retinue as the Queen had thought him one of his servants The first Idea he took of him obliged him to take a more particular notice then before and he had not looked long upon his countenance but notwithstanding the change which several years and accidents had brought upon it he immediately knew him by the memory he had dearly preserved of him He rose of a sudden forgetting at that instant the place where he was and the persons that were about him Oh Father said he oh Briton is it possible I see you again And thereupon going up to him with his arms spread he would have embraced him with a filial tenderness had he not just then remembred himself that he was before the Queen that the respect he ow'd her permitted not those endearments Upon that recollection of himself he onely took him be the hand with all the marks of an earnest affection and turning towards the Queen Pardon me Madam said he to her pardon me I beseech you an offence which so unexpected an accident hath caused me to commit speaking somewhat lower out of a fear of being heard by those in the next room since that with all the favours you have done me you restore me my Father give me leave to present him to you not for a Prince such as he who would have acknowledged me for his Son but for a person of Noble Bloud and one who makes vertue over-ballance all advantages You would have me of the Bloud of Arsaces and I was unwilling to discover then from whom I came or disclaim a Father worthy for his great courage of a better Fortune The condition which you see him in though it speaks no great eminency I am not at all ashamed of and whatever he may appear in your sight if I have any thing of vertue if any thing great in my soul it is from his bloud and from his inspiration that I derive it To be short Madam you now see Briton the true Father of Britomarus and not Artanez the imaginary Father of Artaban If the Son hath deserved any thing from you you will have a kindness for the Father and if as Son of such a Father you think me unworthy of the favour you would have done me consider withal that I have not pressed it and that it is yet in your power to deprive me of all hopes of it While Artaban spoke to this purpose Briton whom a respect to the Queens presence had also kept from the open discovery of himself wrung him by the hand with an earnestness not inferiour to his and though he kept silence made his affections articulate by those tears of joy and tenderness which fell from his eyes The Queen who was much astonished and it may be not a little troubled at that accident discovered her amazement in her countenance and the Princess though she continued constant in the design she had upon Artaban yet was she not able to oppose a certain grief at the sight of a Father so unsuitable to the greatness and fortune of her Artaban They both discovered their confusion by their silence and Artaban himself notwithstanding the transcendency of his soul felt some trouble rising in his mind from that which he thought he observed in the countenance of his Princess Briton overcoming that which till then had hindred him from speaking looking on Artaban with eyes inflamed with some extraordinary liveliness Oh Britomarus said he to him Oh Artaban Oh man great as my desire and much greater then my hopes you are now such as I have made it my suit to the merciful Gods to make you and now also am I at liberty to do you the justice I owe you and to restore you what with reason I have taken away from you and which you your self will out of your own generosity take away Notwithstanding your Greatnesse notwithstanding your arrival to the highest Dignity in the World you acknowledg Briton to be your Father it is then but just that Briton should find you a Father worthy of you and divest himself of an honour which is not due to him to render you that which he cannot without injustice any longer detain from you No Madam continued he turning to the Queen Artaban comes not of the Bloud of Arsaces but is of a Bloud which may be allied to that of Arsaces and to that of the Gods without any injury to them as being born of a Father who was the glory of the Universe whom all the Earth acknowledged its Conquerour and to whose memory all the world owes a respect and veneration If you desire Scepters and Crowns of him he cannot give you any but by his Sword it is all the Fortune of his Father and his own hath left him though his Father hath disposed of Crowns and seen a thousand Kings at his feet but if to make him worthy the greatness to which you design him it suffice that he is born of a Father and come from a Bloud that is illustrious the World is hardly able to afford a more glorious extraction or more consonant to the greatness of his Soul and that of his Fortune To this effect was Britons discourse when Artaban looking on him with a countenance which discovered the small credit he gave to what he said Give over Father said he to him give over flattering my ambition by an imaginary birth and a glory which as it is not my due so I cannot receive I should heartily wish to be the more worthy to serve my Princess that I were born of no other Father then your self but that you were such a one as he whom you would give me but since it hath been the pleasure of the Gods it should be so it satisfieth me that I am born of a Father in whom Vertue is more remarkable then all other advantages and though I could make all the World believe what you would now perswade me to yet should it be far from my thoughts to be guilty of such unworthiness towards the Queen and Princess Imagine not replies Briton that I would celebrate you by a discourse contrary to truth and remember your self you have ever known me much an enemy to falshood and artifice besides it were but too glorious for me to be Father of such a Son to disclaim you and there were but few Fathers in World who willingly would divest themselves of such an advantage if they might with justice
have for Elisa This desire of the Queens is so just added the Princess that I cannot imagine you will make any difficulty to satisfie it and my confidence in the affection you have for me is such as I dare hope greater demonstrations of it Artahan all submission for the commands of Elisa immediately smothered all the repugnances he had to conceal the glorious name of Pompey And though his thoughts were already upon such designs as would make it more known in the world than haply it had been in the triumphs of his Father nay to make it a terrour even to those who had ruin'd him yet finding much reason and likelihood in the Queens discourse and reflecting how highly he had been obliged by the Princesses who had not slighted him for a husband and son in law while he was yet but son to Briton he thought he could not without ingratitude but comply with their desires and thereupon assured them that how glorious soever it were to him to make the world sensible of his being son to Pompey yet all gave way to the obedience he had for the advice of a Queen and Princess to whom he both was and would be obliged for all things and that what condition soever they might out of their goodness raise him to he should never forget the generosity they had exprest towards a person who had received nothing from Fortune but his sword nor to the last gasp quit that happy name of Artaban under which he had the glory to serve the Princess Elisa After such expressions of himself and that resolution taken the Queen dismiss'd him to the caresses of Briton who was so transported with joy that he could hardly contain himself Artaban on the other side satisfying him that though he ceased to be his son yet was the affection he had for him no less than if he had been his true father as finding greater reasons to love him upon the account of his education and his faithful and generous deportment towards him then upon the obligation of birth The Queen and Princess entertained him with great demonstrations of their esteem and all put him into hopes that his last days should be more happy and more glorious then all the precedent part of his life had been Mean time Sempronius had acquainted Caesar with Cleopatra's resolution concerning the way proposed to her to save Coriolanus's life by a marriage with Tiberius upon an assurance from Coriolanus's own mouth that he would accept of his life upon those terms Augustus Livia nay Tiberius himself conceived little hope from that answer of Cleopatra's as concluding from the knowledge they had of the great courage of Juba's son that questionless he would prefer death before the loss of Cleopatra and so they imagined it was only to have the opportunity to see the Prince that she had sent Sempronus back with that message They were a good while in consulting whether they should permit that interview it being Tiberius's fear it might destroy all that had been done in order to his satisfaction but at last they thought it should be granted though but to oblige Cleopatra to make an absolute discovery of her intentions that it could not be prejudicial as things stood with her and the Prince nay that it was not impossible but that the fear of present death and that such as appears with a much different face from that which it hath in combats might shake Coriolanus's constancy It was therefore resolved that Cleopatra should visit Coriolanus in the Castle where he was in restraint that Sempronius should attend her thither and that she should not speak to the Prince but in the presence of Sempronius and Levinus Sempronius was the person employed to bring her this order She received him in her chamber where she was with her brothers Queen Candace Antonia and Artemisa She hearkned to Sempronius with much patience and moderation And when he had delivered his message I am content Sempronius said she to him to go along with you to the Prison where Coriolanus is I shall speak to him in your presence as having nothing in my thoughts which I dare not discover and do any thing he shall desire me to save a life which I value much beyond my own With those words she immediately prepared for her departure inflamed with impatience to see her beloved Prince whom she had so little seen since the discovery of his fidelity had set him right in her thoughts The Princesses her Brothers would have accompanied her and Antonia and Artemisa would have gone along but Sempronius told them the Emperour had given him order to the contrary The two Princesses were extremely troubled at it and the three Princesses loudly exprest their sentiment of the rigorous treatment they received in a City which brought into their memory all the old injuries and might put them upon a design to shake off the unjust yoke imposed upon them Candace who was no less desirous to see Caesario then Cleopatra was to see Coriolanus sent to the Emperour to desire his permission to do it but it would not be granted upon which cruel refusal almost out of her self with grief after she had detested the inflexibility and injustice of Augustus she out of the greatness of her courage sought out the means to oppose his Tyrannie and deliver her Caesario out of the captivity and danger he was in by other ways than intreaties and tears The incomparable daughter of Anthony went out of the Palace alone attended by her women and Sempronius with some of the Emperours Guard and taking leave of her Brothers and the Princesses she left in her chamber she embraced them and bid them adieu as if she had been to go a long and dangerous journey The old Castle of Alexandria where the Princes were secured was at an extremity of the City that had on one side the sea and was fortified towards the City with a deep and broad moat having been the seat of the ancient Kings of Egypt before the late Ptolomies built the sumptuous Palace which Queen Cleopatra had finished it was commodious enough to serve for other uses than what it was then put to there being in it some Lodgings not only convenient but magnificent There were the sons of Juba and Caesar in restraint both with little hope of deliverance thence other than that of death as having learnt either by experience or the reputation spread abroad of him that Augustus was no less implacable towards his enemies and those whom upon consideration of policy he was jealous of then kinde and obliging towards his friends and those whom no concernment of State put him into any fear of Upon this reflection they both had present death in their thoughts yet how cruel soever it might be to persons in the height of blood and youth all its terrours troubled not their mindes so much as the remembrance of their Princesses Notwithstanding the danger they were in the lively
held the reins of his passions as he could not so well contain himself but I discover'd much coldness and change in the discourse and entertainment he made me indeed I should have apprehended all these things with such a spirit as his and doubtless had so if the powerful love of Mariamne had not stifled that in my Soul which nature places there for our proper safety and forc'd a neglect of all that care I should have carried about me for the preservation of my life The Queen perceiv'd this which she always suspected as soon as I and though her conscience witnessed to her self the innocence of her carriage yet she was desirous to avoid the danger she apprehended by treating me with a more reserv'd behaviour if possible than she had done formerly I studied a more specious dissimulation but it was too late the tempest was already risen and at last made it self known by most dangerous flashes One day the remembrance of which I must preserve as the most remarkable of my life the very same whereon the Jems celebrate that which they call the Feast of Tabernacles being desirous through curiosity though of different Religion to assist at their Ceremonies I accompany'd the King to that famous Temple which from the Name of its Founder they call the Temple of Solomon and which for Riches and admirable structure may pass with more justice than that of Diana at Ephesus or that of Jupiter the Olympian for one of the Worlds wonders at first the Ceremonies borrowed my attention for methought they were very specious but in fine no longer able to keep them off I transported all my thoughts to Mariamne and with those tyed my eyes to her face with so attentive a regard as though Arsanes who stood behind me often endeavour'd to call me to my self and made me mark in what manner the King observ'd me I had much ado to retire them for a few moments while the Sacrifice lasted nor was I ignorant of the fault I committed but I believe the Gods struck my Reason blind to punish my offence of assisting at the Sacrifices of a Religion which was enemy to theirs whatever the cause was that was the day wherein the King abandon'd himself to his Jealousie though possibly he had not yet determin'd upon the resolution he was to take Coming back from the Temple he went to visit the Queens Lodging full of furious thoughts his Face carried the Copy of his troubled Soul and his eyes sparkled Messages of Death Yet they were no sooner encountred by the Queens but all their storms clear'd up and those tempests which rage had rais'd against her by that marvellous ascendent she had upon his Spirit did homage to the charms of her beauty and grew calm in a moment of one terrible as a Lion in a few minutes he became mild and tractable and in stead of uttering the threats he had prepar'd his disarmed Anger gave place to Kindness which rendred his Spirit pliable to Caresses and Flatteries He made the Queen a discourse full of Affection which she receiv'd with her usual modesty but then offering to take some liberties with her which he might have lawfully believ'd his due if by so many cruelties inflicted upon her and hers he had not violated the Rights and lost all those advantages of which Marriage had possest him that couragious Princess who could never tamely hide her resentment in a disguise disdainfully repulst him Herod that was not ignorant of the true cause of this though he suspected others would not take a denyal from her first coldness but perceiving she resisted with an invincible resolution and being no way able to obtain these favours from her which his desires were greedy of he recall'd that Choler that had so lately shook him and beholding her with Eyes that sparkled fury Ingrateful Woman said he do not longer think to abuse me by thy specious pretences but know I am not ignorant that it is the love of Tyridates and not the memory of Hircanus or Aristobulus that renders thee inflexible to thy Husband's Kindness Though the Queen had ever fear'd these things from Herod's humour yet she could not be less than surpriz'd at this language and appear'd as if she had been struck with a Thunderbolt her Tongue remain'd mute her Visage chang'd colour and from the profound astonishment which Herod there observed he received cruel confirmations of his Jealous thoughts This apprehension redoubled his fury and now not doubting but the Queens powerfull surprisal rose from the reproaches of her Conscience and the shame or fear she might have to see her Passion discovered he gave himself up to the most furious transports that rage could inspire and had much ado to keep it from committing outrage upon her Person but he upbraided her with the most injurious words that Choler could invent How now Traitress said he must I then be rob'd by a Barbarian's witchcraft of what is only due to my self And thou that wouldst fain pass for a demure Zealot does it suit with the Law of thy God or the repute of the World that thou findest more sweetness in the shameful embraces of an Infidel than the Legitimate affections of a Husband Ah! disloyal Woman unworthy of a Love which has preserved thee in a rank from whence thou hast deserved to fall with thy Family a Love that hath exposed me too to the Contempt of my People is it by these infamous passions thou makest good thy claim to the Macchabean blood of which thou hast so often boasted Thinkest thou those illustrious Asmoneans with whose glory thou hast still reproached me should they return to the World could approve of the ignominious preference thou makest of an exiled Parthian to a King whom the latest of thy Ancestors gave thee for a Husband or rather who honoured thee with the Title of his Spouse when he might have used thee as his subject He accompanied these words with a torrent of others more cruel and injurious during which the fair Queen having had time to restore her self from her first astonishment began to regard with all the assurance that innocence could give her and neither able to make her spirit flexible to his Flatteries nor her own justification of which she believ'd him unworthy after that he had given some truce to his invectives Finish said she thou cruel Man finish thy rage and believe that after the exercise of so much brutish cruelty upon mine thou may'st give it leave to let fall its last effects upon my self there only remains the last part of it to be acted upon me for having had by the murther of my dearest friends by a miserable Captivity and the bloudy orders thou gavest for my own my repose so often tortured there rests no more but to assault my Honour which by the favour of Heaven I have till now defended from thy horrid persecutions do tear my Reputation which hath maintained it self pure and spotless in
my misfortunes and still persecute the Asmonean memory by the shame thou preparest for the last of its Illustrious bloud which thou hast spilt so brutishly Hope not I will assert my innocence no that account must only be rendred to him that knows it and by his goodness will defend it against the calumny of my Enemies believe all of the unfortunate Mariamne wherewith her envious detractors have inspir'd thee Thy cruelties have given me but too much cause to dispence with the justification which I owe to him whom Heaven in its anger gave me for a Husband but do not involve such persons in my misery as have no part in the crime thou imposest and if thy rage demands a victim to appease it seek no other than her whom thou hast taught to desire Death by rendring her Life calamitous The last words of the Queen transported Herod to the farthest degrees of fury and now more than believing the care she took of my justification while she disdained her own could spring from no other root but that of Love he concluded the proof clear enough to convince her and not able so far to over-rule this belief to dissemble his intention Yes perfidious Creature cryed he I will credit all that my eyes and ears and not the envious detractors have told me I will credit all that will convince thee of the most shamefull and blackest of all Treasons and in fine believe that of thee which thou wouldest I should do and disdainst to disavow The care thou takest of that ingratefull wretch which has so basely betrayed me to the prejudice of thy own safety shall suffice for his and thy Condemnation the ruin of that thou holdest so dear shall begin the punishment ofthy disloyalty and the choice of victims due to my just anger shall not be at thy disposal for before thou learnest what to resolve upon thy self prepare to know what I shall execute upon the person of thy Adulterer At these words he flung out of the Chamber with a Countenance so furious as those that met him in the passage could not behold him without trembling Alas how erroneous was the opinion he had of my fortune how remote was I from that Soveraign degree of happiness and how worthy my condition had been of envie had his suspitions been true In the mean time I was at my Lodging wholly ignorant of what had passed at the Palace and employed the rest of that day upon my ordinary diversions The hour of Supper being come I was serv'd after the usual manner and sitting at the Table with some friends of the Court which were come to visit me we had done part of our repast when calling for drink one of the Kings Cup-bearers that was accustomed to serve me presented the Cup with a troubled look and discompos'd countenance I observed this change in his Visage but made no reflection upon it only contented my self to ask him if he was not well and in the mean time taking the Cup from his hands I was carrying it to my mouth when Arsanes enter'd the Chamber and hastily running up to me just as I touched the Cup with my lips he rushed against my arm so rudely as he made me let fall the Cup and spill the Liquor part on the Table and part upon my Cloths this action of Arsanes was so little respectful that knowing his disposition I concluded he had not done it without some powerful motive but he stayed not till I should ask the reason and desirous to hide his intent from those were with me Sir said he I beseech you to pardon the offence which my rash haste made me commit and be pleased to vouchsafe me the liberty of your ear for one moment This said he drew me by the Arm with an action so earnest as I perceived he had some advice of importance to communicate I rose from the Table making a bad excuse to those that supp'd with me and followed Arsanes into my Cabinet which he first entred We were no sooner there but Sir said he nothing but a speedy flight can save your life the Gods in good time conducted me hither to spill the Poyson was prepar'd you but if we stay longer here it will not be possible with the same facility to put by those other dangers that menace you Read this Note which just now I received of the Queens chief Eunuch it is written with her own hand and if the Gods consent that we escape t is to her alone you owe your safety I was amazed at the words and actions of Arsanes and without reply to his Discourse I took the Letter where I found these words written with the hand of my Divine Queen Mariamne to Prince Tyridates THE peril to which I expose my self in writing to you cannot hinder an advice which I owe to your vertue and the proofs of your affection Tyridates if it be possible save your self and stay no longer in a place where Poyson and Sword are employed to give you Death I read over the Billet twice or thrice kiss'd those amiable Characters which that adorable hand had traced and after the perusal I was much to seek whether the cruelty of Herod that sought to destroy me after he had given me shelter or the goodness of Mariamne who took such noble pains to preserve my life with the peril of her own touch'd me deepest I knew not to which of these resentments my soul was to give preheminence but I know well the death that was threatned could not put on so rude a shape as that departure to which I saw my self condemn'd by the hand of Mariamne The grief I felt was too prodigious to be wrap'd in words I stood a long time silent and immoveable which Arsanes who had ballanced the estate of my Affairs disapproving after he had often urged me to resolve What would you I should do said I what Resolution can you wish me to take in so cruel a proposition think you this life which through your care I have miserably drag'd from Court to Court is so dear to divorce me from Mariamne do you believe this separation more easie than that of my Soul from my Body Shall I abandon her for ever whom I can scarce leave for a moment without dying And to avoid one single death shall I carry a thousand in my Brest through all those places where my pitiless Fortune shall lead me Ah! Let us die first continued I walking a great pace without listening to the Reasons Arsanes pressed for departure let us die a ready death since a slow one is much more sensible leave the Body cold and pale in that place which the Soul cannot abandon and since we must die one way let us seek to die in the eyes of Mariamne and if that glory be refused at least give up that Spirit which neither was nor ever shall be but to her as near her as is possible I pronounc'd these words with an