to outrage and full of confidence flatters himself with some aiery hope by these words If Heaven on my forsaken head The influence of his Grace shall shed In melting showrs and once more shine Vpon this drooping soul of mine From gray I shall grow green each night shall bring The morn and turn my winter into spring But why do I delay so long to let you see the rock of precipitation the end of scandal and shelf of shipwrack of these souls in effect innocents yet in appearance will become horrible guilty Alas the bird which produces the feather is taken and the Eagle oftentimes furnishes the feather which makes the arrow that wounds her to death After they had long fighed in one anothers ears their griefs and cursed their miserable condition which had hindred their being one anothers after having many times desired that Philippin had been Isabels and Andronico Elise's the laws which are not always conformable to the desires of Lovers were found to contradict these alliances for the knot which God ties cannot be cut but by the axe of death After many reciprocal words of good will followed with a thousand protestations to enjoy one another in marriage if death in punishing the perfidies of Philippin would give way to their loves after many Letters which contained the same language coming so forward falling by little and little into pits which in stead of snaring drew them out at length to strangle them that they made reciprocal promises one to the other which could have no other ground but the death of Philippin which neither the one nor the other had any thought to procure by any way but to attend it by the hand of God Here is all their fault And certainly 't is true vertuous Elise that by a vain assurance of fidelity which will be as strongly tied to your heart as to the paper you put in great hazard both your honour and life This was the highest degree and end of Andronico's designs for he knew too well the humour of Elise to pretend of her any thing which was not honorable nothing passing between them of that which this honest wife ought to her legitimate although barbarous husband for she had her purity in such a recommendation that modesty ruled not only her actions and words but also her thoughts O must she to prevent the title of ingratitude which could not have been given but by the mouth of Andronico fall into such an imprudence which will make her die in the sight of all the world in quality of an infamous adulterer and bloody homicide of her own husband although in effect or in will she was no ways guilty Thus a sparkle sometime blown far increases to a great fire and a small hurt neglected becomes an incurable ulcer a little spring increasing to a flood runs with a large compass into the salt sea But how shall this Promise be discovered which should not see the day but when the sun should leave to see Philippin on earth Yet you will understand it by a means that will force you to cry with the great Apostle O height of riches of the wisdom of God whose judgments are incomprehensible and his wayes unsearchable The whilst Philippin is at Gold-mount in Possession of the body of Isabel with whom he consumes his days in abominable and unlawfull delights gilding his evils with the fair name of marriage and by a false malicious conscience esteeming her his wife Andronico is in the town in possession of the heart of Elise who laments no more the absence of Philippin by enjoying the presence of Andronico their conversations all pure and spiritual have nothing that the most severe censurers can justly blame and living under the eye and discipline of a Sophie who trusted not so much her daughter as that she had not always an eye on her conversation Thus whilst the Process of Philippin for dissolving his marriage is drawn out still longer 't is a web cannot be untangled Pyrrhe enraged by these dalays murmurs and threatens to kill Philippin if he pursues it not to an issue as he had promised him So that the sollicitation of this business calls Philippin to town having many points in his cause which could not be decided but in his presence besides that he could have no better Sollicitor then himself Being thus imployed in all companies wheresoever he came he was still speaking invective words against Scevole and his daughter which made him odious to all that heard him For wronging her whom all held his wife was it not to gather filth to cover his head and to throw hot burning coals in his own face He was then doubly blamed and mocked of those which knew the integrity of the father and worth of the mother of vertuous Elise who attributed all these words to the lightness of his understanding nourished in vice and rotten in his debauches But when many times his wisest friend would reproach him with his inconstancie presenting to him the ill opinion which was spread in the world of this vile life he lived with Isabel in stead of taking these admonitions with the right hand he receives them with the left is displeased with these truths or turns them to laughter rejoicing in his misfortune and vice and glorying in his ills For many time in the company of Ladies where he was for this most persecuted in a vain humour he describes the graces of his Diana and deciphers what shall I say rends the ill form of poor Elise He makes them see that all the precepts of the art of well-speaking have nothing that gives greater eloquence then passion For as love made him fruitfull in one subject hatred makes him as wild in the other having a voice equally strong to praise and blame excessive in both Andronico frequents as well as he these companies welcomed wheresoever for being full of worthy parts that made him commendable which he accompanied with as much wisdom and staidness as Philippin shewed lightness He hears sometimes recited the indiscreet discourse of this Lord who spake without punishment what he pleased And being pricked in the tendrest part of his affection knowing the vertues of Elise could not suffer they should be so cruelly defamed by the tongue of Philippin But as then fearing to discover his love in sustaining this innocence finds himself reduced into strange agonies Nevertheless at the assault of these reports which took him sometimes on the sudden he could not contain himself from replying as sharp and biting words against Philippin as he received sweet from Elise sometime accusing him of backbiting and indiscretion and often of falshood saying that Scevole wanted not friends to sustain the contrary of that he so unworthily sought to advance sometimes affirming it was a shame for a Cavalier to have to do with one of the Gown and more to tail against a Woman who had no other arms but her tears many times for mirth makes Satyrs
and unnatural as she is to second Philippin against her own father and brother if there be occasion So true it is that one forgetfulness brings on a hundred But Philippin more reserved then she forgetfull being touched with a secret horror of this proposition answers Herman That he pretends not to keep Isabel in his house as a Concubine but as his legitimate wife being resolved to send away Elise and to declare his marriage null with her beseeching Pyrrhe to appease his choler and consider that that which he esteemed a dishonour to his house was the greatest and the highest advantage he could hope for his family and that he would not upon a sudden ligntness bloody his hands in the blood of him which honoured him already as his father-in-law And imbracing Herman in quality of his brother so flatters him as he returns him to Pyrrhe with these protestations Who furious like a Tygre that hath lost her whelps could not at first taste these excuses demands his daughter promising to give him her when the divorce of Elise was authorised by Justice and his marriage declared illegitimate and forced Herman returns to Bellerive but Isabel will not hear of this return so that the fault was all in her her father and brother are forced to mitigate their discontentment against Philippin the rape having been voluntary on his daughters part But whilst they temporise with their Lord what becomes of poor Elise Without attending to be more outragiously commanded she intends to depart For as one cannot serve two masters much less can a man have two wives The Angel and the Dragon cannot endure together The adulterer and the legitimate cannot be associates in the kingdom of the voluptuous Here is the contrary of Jacob and Esau The reproved supplants the rased darkness overcomes light and vice triumphs proudly over innocence Sarah and Isaac are banished his house by insolent Hagar At last Elise by an unheard of cruelty without having leave to give her last farewell to her dear Philippin s aw herself with her daughter Dalimene shamefully sent from Bellerive and conducted roughly by the Officers executors of her husbands passions into the place of her birth where full of grief she flies into the arms of her parents Here we see fulfilled that verse in the Psalm Whilst the proud exalt themselves the poor are in affliction whilst innocence is on the rack the guilty are in their pride and whilst the Dove suffers the Eagle ravished skips in the air of her vanity Isabel as the Queen of Carthage being returned from hunting goes no more meditating with Philippin for their stollen meetings making defence of her confusion she calls this ilformed practice Marriage entituling with the honorable name of Wedding the miserable torch of her impurity Philippin himself would have it so and calls her his wife Marriage that last left refuge justifi'd And former failings did obscure and hide And to accomplish the measure of his insolence and to load with calamities the innocent Elise he strives to cover his doings with a cloak of equity He publishes every where how he was constrained to marry her and by consequence the nullity of the marriage For if will be forced it is nâ—â— free will and if free consent ties this knot of marriage who knows not or who sees not that which seemed marriage and is not These are the apparent reasons with which this young Lord flatters himself injured by this new passion that governs him He imploys Herman's testimony of his first Promises to break the second In which the brother of Isabel seems very carefull who looks not so much to the advantage of the match as to the conservation of the honour of his house for his sister had inconsiderately laid open the way to her shame and permitted that which was neither lawful nor honest but when a marriage is solemnly contracted in the face of the Church But the wise Scevole who hath all prudence and right in his thoughts and is for his sufficiencie of much esteem and great authority in his company understands well how to undo this web in sustaining the honour of his daughter and his house making it appear both by the spiritual and temporal Justice that the first Promises of Philippin and Isabel were unlawfull and of no effect their Restitutions valuable their renouncings authentical and the marriage of Elise and Philippin validly contracted and also the little Dalimene with that she went with legitimate heirs of the one and the other By these sentences irrevocable by these decrees of heaven and earth Herman remains confused in this pursuit Philippin deceived of his unjust pretensions Isabel mocked and become the fable of all the Country Pyrrhe seeing that by this lightness of his daughter his house heretofore although not rich in goods of fortune yet rich in pride was now all covered with shame and ignominy not being able to contain his choler by his patience resolves to take out this shamefull spot which dishonours him in the blood of the Complices and calls Philippin the second time to fight but sees himself disdained as his vassal and his quality of Gentleman rejected with an affront altogether insupportable to a great heart as his was The affronted Isabel made hard by impenitence defends her fault and rejoyces in her evil imputing the cause of the loss of her cause not to the justice of Elise but to the favour and authority of Scevole She makes herself be called by the title of the house of Philippin who commands his subjects to esteem and honour her as his wife Thus is verified the word of Truth it self that the impious being arrived at the depth of his malice disdains both honour and laws Pyrrhe outraged cruelly for the disdain of Philippin and for the insolence of his daughter and scorn and mockery of all their neighbours not being able to digest all these indignities falls into a terrible rage and determines rather to lose his life then to draw it out with shame and ignominy Philippin stands upon his guards and being much assisted according to his eminent quality laughs at these poor Gentlemen who do nothing but watch neer about his house to do him some mischief as a great mastiff disdains the barking of little dogs about him But being advised by some of his friends to beware of a surprise or of some treason that being master of the life of the greatest Monarch in the world who will disdain his own not willing to live any longer amongst these thorns and agonies resolves to change the air and to carry Isabel to Gold-mount It is a sure hold a seat far off he thinks to s pend his dayes with more tranquillity But as those that are sick at sea it avails them little to go from one ship to another or he that hath the feaver in his veins changes beds to no purpose even so an ill conscience carries always terror about him fear and defiance follows
removed from his heart But as youth is like soft wax that receives all forts of impressions and keeps not one so Philippin promises what one would have him being resolv'd not to maintain any thing that the apprehension of fear makes him say his love being far stronger then his fear When retired from his fathers sight like a Criminal from the Tribunal of his Judge it was then he blamed himself of weakness and want of courage and giving himself a thousand injurious names accusing his fearfulness and protesting a new loyalty and service to this Idol which swam in his fancy he rubbed his sore and invenomed his wound by this constraint disanuling all he had said in prejudice of his promise he renews his meetings and secret practises with Herman But being sold by his Lacquays in whom he trusted most who for hansel of their treachery put many of his letters and those of Isabels into the hands of Timoleon by which he understood that reciprocal promises had been given on both sides which made him enter into such an extream choler as he had never had the like sometime threatning to ruine Pyrrhe and all his house and then to be revenged on his son for this disobedience as also to publish the shame of Isabella Being transported to these extremities by his choler he calls his son the second time and after having reviled him with all the outragious speeches that could be imagined esteemed this relapse worse then his first fault This young Lyon having taken courage for the shame of his last flight like him which said of himself If I fled at the first encounter it was to return the second time to fight with more resolution setting aside those invective speeches of his father which his duty bound him to endure after some holy protestations of the honour and reverence which he would always give him he told him plainly and in a fashion of that height more then the spirit of Timoleon could endure that he would lose a thousand lives rather then to fail in the least point of his love that his honour was engaged by word and by writing and that his soul should never receive other impression but that of Isabella's the which was a Gentlewoman and of that birth as she could receive no reproach for her Nobility having no other wants but the goods of fortune esteeming rather to chuse a wife which had vertues and perfections in abundance then one with great wealth which should have nothing more unpleasing then herself and that this affection of his was led rather by reason then passion honour and marriage having been the end of his pretensions and if there Were any thing worthy reprehension it was his carriage not any thing in Isabella or Herman and for himself he was resolved never to leave their friendships for all the violence could be used on him chusing rather to suffer the extremity of cruelty and the worst of indignities which should be like flames to purifie his fidelity to the proof And as God lives answered Timoleon we will see whose head is best yours or mine How now Gallant what scarce born and are you at your defiance with me I 'll make thee as supple as glove and to bend to my will and break that stubborn will of yours though it cost me my life and goods and yours too I will teach you the duty of a son and the authority of a father said he And so turning from him he commanded to put Philippin in a chamber which served for a prison to the end to teach this young bird to sing another tune Philippin goes very joyfully contented to give a testimony of his firmness and constancie of his flames But that which put him in an extream agony was to hear that his father having searched his chamber and his secret Cabinet wherein were his sweetest tyes amongst a thousand Letters seised of the Promise of Isabella at which he made a trophie of mockery and laughter and would have made a sacrifice of it and of his choler to the fire For now as being transported what says he not against his father and his ill fortune and against heaven Truly those things which ought not to be repeated but throughly blamed Yet nevertheless comforting himself upon the word of his Mistress which he esteemed beyond all the writings in the world he resolves upon the common remedy of all the ills of the world Patience Not but that the wearisomness of a prison was extreamly sensible to this stirring spirit active and full of heat yet in this extream youth which is nothing but fire and life the tediousness is redoubled by being deprived of news which served at least in this his constraint of liberty to diminish his flame Before he hoped all and feared nothing now fears all and hath no hope But in the faith of the brother and sister He fears that those Letters should come to the hand of Pyrrhe and Valentine they would not take occasion to ease their childrens ill His thoughts are so troubled as when he rests in this prison he thinks he is invironed with a thousand thorns he suspects all which come near him as he had reason being made so many spies by Timoleon's means He wants wherewith to corrupt them this metal which changes courages fails him and his servants whom his father had made his dare not yield to pitty this young Lord. He thinks to entertain them with discourse yet seeing pitty dead in some and affection in others refused all to entertain himself with his own private thoughts the onely recreation that accompanied him which in stead of diverting him nourished his displeasures 'T is Musick which hath that property to make them merry which are content and those which are sad more melancholy He plays reasonable well on the Lute and sings well enough for a young Cavalier who was more given to violent exercises then to these sweet and peaceable One day for to expell the grief he felt in these words expressing Hopeless and helpless in my sad distress I sink my griefs admitting no redress Thus the imprisoned Philippin comforted himself the best it was possible But at last being not able to bear this weak and melancholy life nor having any with whom he might freely converse his thoughts giving way to the vehemencie of his desires he was constrained to yield himself to the mercy of a sickness which brought him so low as within a foot of his grave had it not been for his youth good temper and strong disposition with the help of the Physitians and good means applied he was even at the last point to lose his life and that most affected the sad father to see at point of death his onely son Knowing the cause which brought him to this pittifull estate he repented a thousand times the cruelties he had used an hundred times he promised him but with words far from the thoughts of heart to give him Isabel to wife
dispatches Scipion to Vaupre with the Promise of Isabel to deliver into into the hands of her father and to demand that of his son who was much astonished to hear this news by the mouth of Scipion with letters of credit from Timoleon For as all this business was practised without his knowledge he was much displeased that his daughter durst proceed so far without his consent fearing some further business but understanding of Scipion that had been an eye-witness of that nights meeting that all their discourse was performed according to laws of honour and in presence of Harman who had received the promises in writing on the one part and the other he had reason to say the same which the despiteful Juno said against the Goddess of Cypres in the greatest of Poets Thou hast acquir'd victory whose fame Shall adde eternal trophies to thy name Fair Venus and thy Son whose powers all do Invoke with honour and with reverence too If powerfull Gods with subtilties do subdue A woman in those arts she never knew For how was it possible that poor Isabella should not yield at the perswasions of a brother proposing the greatness of a Marriage on which said he depends the happiness of our house besides being pressed by his ardent affection to Philippin which in his person wanted not perfections to deserve the love and service of all Now Pyrrhe although poor in the goods of fortune was nevertheless so rich in honour that he would not by any unlawfull means have come to a better Having then promised Scipion to give Timoleon all contentment and to employ his uttermost power for to return the Promise of Philippin he called aside his son and daughter in the presence of their mother and chid them sharply for their proceedings telling them how he had discovered from point to point as he had heard from Scipion though not naming him their nights-meeting their discourse and promises given in writing You never saw any so astonished as Harman and Isabel were who threw herself at her fathers feet asking pardon excusing herself by the permission she had to entertain this seeking of Philippin But Harman more couragious taking all the fault on him besought his father to excuse the innocencie of his sister for whom he thought to procure a fortune very advantagious nothing having past in all their affections which might any way alter the reputation of their family But where is this Promise of Philippin's quoth Pyrrhe The which Isabel who carried it ordinarily in her bosom gave freely into her fathers hands to dispose of as he thought fit They consuited with themselves if they should deliver it to the hands of Scipion taking that which he brought or if Pyrrhe should go himself and deliver it to Timoleon but found inconveniences in both these propositions yet the most assured was that they resolved For in the first there was bounty and generosity and in the second more certainty of reconciliation between the Lord and his Vassal betwixt whom there was no small hatred and yet to trust Scipion in a business of that importance under a simple writing was not fit That Pyrrhe should go speak himself with Timoleon there was some danger to be feared being both of a stout courage and of a Nation whose heads are very hot falling to words might produce some dangerous effect Harman is appointed to go with Scipion to return this promise to Philippin and to bring back that of Isabel But the brother and sister retired into secret counsel intending other proceedings for Harman resolved to carry the promise to Philippin to summon him to the effecting of it which was not according to the intention of his father See but into what a labyrinth disobedient youth thrusts it self He returns with Scipion to the City leaving his sister to the mercy of a mother which torments and uses her cruelly For Valentine finding this action odious and dishonorable had almost with her extreme chiding brought her to despair But let us leave her between the anvil and the hammer between these assaults fatherly and motherly refining the temper of her patience to understand the good operations of Harman who being arrived instead of exchanging Promises cites Philippin before the Justice to acknowledge his Deed and Seal Philippin received this assault strangely for he would have been very glad not to have denied his hand yet this form of proceeding a little altered him As for Timoleon he was so enraged that if he had met with Harman he had torn him in as many peeces as a furious Lion would a Goat Scipion said this was not the command of Pyrrhe but that he should render the Promise of the son and receive that of his daughter Harman stood obstinately not to give it up desiring the advancement of his sister against the will of his father The displeasure betwixt Philippin and Harman came by reason of the strict watch Timoleon kept of his son so neer as he took away all means of communication or writing This signification was made by Harman so suddenly as it was done without any consultation of Lawyer or other councel for having laid the business on the Table before the grave and wise Judges they told him it was a simple part of him to undertake a business of that contestation Scevole is advertised of it who assures Timoleon to break all this like a glass Yet Harman having spoken with Philippin pursues his cause by the advice he had of him having received assurance if it came to judgment he would not detract either from his word or writing In the mean time Timoleon dispatches another Letter to Pyrrhe in which he tells him That the Gentleman he had sent the other times had brought other testimonies of his worth then his son made now shew of and that if he were a man of his word he should make Harman forbear these proceedings the success whereof would but turn to his confusion desiring him to come himself or to send a testimony of his express will and pleasure that by that he might judge of his intentions and that he would still have him for his friend if he would deal in that sort that his daughter might not pretend any alliance with his son At this news Pyrrhe fell into extreme choler against Harman and getting on hors-back comes presently to Town where no sooner arrived but Harman retires for fear of his displeasure Pyrrhe desires to see the writings of the Process and takes forth Philippin's Promise and with the same speed carries it to Timoleon and in the delivery gives braving words and â—odomontado's usuall with those of that Country The subtile old man puts him off with fair words without any other answer but only that Pyrrhe had just reason to be angry with his son Harman which had passed the command he gave him and had reason like an honourable Gentleman to disprove the proceeding of his daughter who would have seduced Philippin At which word
the sick that have their taste so changed that those meats they held delicate being well go against their stomacks in their indisposition For this sincere affection which you have had to this Gentleman is converted into hatred This change cannot but be extreme the effect being ordinarily compared to its cause She is like the fiâ—s of the Prophet either perfectly good or extreme ill and like delicate bodies which turn sooner to corruption by how much they have been tenderly nourished Andronico retires by this blow with a thousand divers thoughts that troubled his very soul Not able to rest all night being so afflicted with different passions he doth nothing but search in himself and plunge into the secret corners of his soul to find in what he had failed in duty to his Love to be used in this sort And after having turned often in this labyrinth from whence he still came forth by the gate of innocence thought it was for the small assistance he had given to Scevole and Elise in their journey to Bellerive and Gold-mount where he thought he should have testified the fidelity of his courage Sometime he was perswaded that Elise much grieved consolation displeased her being there is nothing that displeases more in tears then musick though in it self most pleasing But to think that she grieved for the death of a man that had so wronged her during his life and of whom she had complained a thousand times to himself it was a thing he could dot admit into his belief VVhat shall he do amongst these perplexities He writes but his Letters heretofore so well received are rejected with a fashion that testified a discontentment and no small one This affront seems very sensible to his honour Many times despight counsels him to rase it as not to the purpose to suffer this indignity if he were to live with her as he desires and hopes He hopes it for his love of more strength then this outrage makes him wave all these punctual considerations He desires it because this Match will be extremely advantagious to him And esteeming it sure being founded on her strong promises not able to resist the fierce assaults of his passion nor the disdain received nor to forget his pursuit or resolve on patience that so soveraign herb in all the troubles of our thoughts he is resolved on what price soever to accost Elise with opportunity or by importunity For to live longer in this incertitude of the cause of his disgrace is impossible and impossible it was for him to find the occasion for what prayers soever he make this favour is denied him without other reason but a furious indignation He prevails so much with Sophie to whom he addresses himself that he obtains permission to speak with Elise but in her presence yet nevertheless apart and in that fashion as she might not heat any thing of importance which he had to communicate to her Sophie according to her promise commands Elise to hear Andronico wondring much from whence this sudden change should proceed towards this Gentleman that had given her so many testimonies of his love and done her those obliging services the conversation of whom had heretofore been so pleasing to her For although this soul report came to her ears of the suspition for the death of Philippin nevertheless she was a woman so wise and so advised that without hearkning to these Town-reports she chose rather to believe her eyes which made her see many vertues in this honest man then to incline too lightly to a flying murmur that entred her ears She had much ado to make Elise yield to this enterview and demanding the reasons of this difficulty she made thinking it had been some one of those gentile repulses or amiable â—iots that ingender ordinarily between those that love dearest Elise besought her not to press any further on that subject which was dangerous and would draw blood of the nose of her child with often blowing Yet nevertheless as she was humble and submissive putting her will under the obedience of the commandment of her mother she consents to this meeting but being in presence one of the other their contrary passions were so vehement that the words they had purposed to say die in the utterance resting a long space without preferring one word An evident sign of the troubles of their thoughts But oh how different were they For Elise's were of hatred and disdain and those of Andronico of love and grief 'T is true a mean grief may be told but an extreme astonishing the understanding surmounts the power to express it At last as the fear of the death of Craesus untied the tongue of his son being born dumb even so the fear to lose this fair occasion that he had purchased with so much pain drew from the mouth of Andronico rather dead then living these words drawn from the essence of the same displeasure Madam My grief is such that if it would but give me the means to present it I should diminish the infinity of it as I advance in terms that will rather offend the greatness then any way decipher the least part thereof it would be too weak if it gave not leave to the sighing of my complaint All that comforts me in this mortal distress is that I suffer for your occasion so that the excellencie of the cause eases the rigor of the effect For it is so much honour for me to suffer for you that for so worthy a subject there is no sort of torment which in stead of offence is not held by me for a recompence At these doubtfull words Elise suddenly judged he was guilty of the death of her husband but the biting of his conscience made him fearfull and therefore strove to cover it with these artificious words searching excuses to make him if not pardonable less odious Which made her return him this sharp answer Content yourself with my silence Andronico and convert not my patience into fury for fear my forbearing lightens not from the just feeling of my wrong Content you to have reduced me by your execrable vileness to the highest period of grief that a soul can feel that loses the half of herself in the loss of her husband Madam replied Andronico I easily pardon the grief your good nature feels for the death of him to whom the law of marriage had tyed you in a strait bond for I know how strongly you loved him notwithstanding the ill usage by which he violated your constancie but I cannot conceive what grief should make you call me vile and execrable accents so far different from so many other sweet names that I have heretofore seen you choose to favour me titles so far from those that your courtesie not long since did oblige not my desert but my fidelity that I am forced to tell you that as the bee which makes the hony is that which stings the most sensibly and as hony so sweet in