THE THIRD AND Last Volume OF ASTREA A ROMANCE WRITTEN IN FRENCH BY Messire Honorè D' Vrfe AND TRANSLATED BY A Person of Quality LONDON Printed for Hum Moseley Tho. Dring and H. Herringman and are to be sold in S. Pauls Church-yard Fleetstreet and in the lower walk in the New Exchange 1658. Reader YOu have in the Epistles to the first and second Volumes of Astrea the design and tendency as also the advantages of it of works of its nature I mean Romances 'T will therefore be unnecessary to use repetition thereof This ensuing being the continuation and conclusion of the work exposeth it self to publick view as necessary to the compleating of its Individuum I can believe it will meet with such only who prefer and industrious and strict Scrutiny before a superficial and easie Censuring such I am sure are nearest the confines of Reason and Civility The floridness of its Discourses will Apologize for your pains in reading and its price in your purchasing Nor needs it other Complement to indulge and ingratiate then its own suavity which being degusted will delight the pallate of the candid and ingenuous for whom it is accommodated ASTREA Volumne III. BOOK I. DORINDE and all those that accompanyed her unto Marselles as soon as Supper was ended were conducted unto their Chambers by Clindor and Leontidas the time of the night and their wearied Limbs inviting them thereunto But before they parted it was resolved amongst them that Periander and Merindor should present themselves unto the grand Druide in the morning and beseech him that he would present them unto the Nymph conceiving the protection which they desir'd to be so just as he would willingly mediate in their behalf And afterwards if the Nymph thought good Dorinde would acquaint her with the cause of their voyage This course being resolved upon every one retired into the Chambers which were prepared for them Dorinde Florice Palanice and Circenea would needs lie all together and Dorinde who was full of perplexities not being able to take any rest she kept all her companions awake by asking a thousand Questions at last Florice asked her this Question Cosin said she from whence do you conceive King Gondebaut's desire of getting you into his hands doth proceed For truly we do not know of any interest that he has in you Oh Florice answered Dorinde and sighed did you but know my miserable fortune you would never have asked this question I had begun to relate it unto you but the surprisal of Gondebauts men interrupted me but let me tell you I am sure that this Country never produced a more unfortunate woman than Dorinde is I conceive it very necessary said Palanice that your friends should be acquainted with the state of your fortune that they may contribute their assistance for your preservation Alass said Dorinde with tears in her eyes had I not some hope in the Justice of Heaven I should never expect any help And yet said Circeusa you ought to help your self as much as you can for the Gods do bestow Prudence unto men to help themselves in such occasions and they will assist such as through courage toward themselves against the blows of fortune either by prudence or strength Therefore said Florice it is very requisite we be acquainted with the state of your fortune that we joyning our assistance unto yours we may be the better able to advise you and you also better enabled to make use of us for beleeve me Cofin two eyes see more then one and I conceive we cannot have a fitter opportunity of privacy then this for perhaps your story contains many passages nor fit to be published and now all ears are asleep but ours Dorinde who saw a necessity of acquainting them with her Story and that a better opportunity could not be then this She began thus The History of Dorinde King Gondebaut and of the Prince Sigismond SOme are such Favorites of Heaven my dear companions that their happiness doth transcend even their very desires Some on the contrary so hated by fortune as she doth blast them with greater disasters then are imaginable I may with too much reason rank my self among the last of these for my misfortunes are much beyond my imagination and of worser strain then any other had And yet as I hope you will judge by the relation of my sad story I am not in any fault unless in that I do not put a period to my days by some violent act Perhaps my kind companions you know as well as I That Gondebaut had three brothers to wit Chilperick Godamar and Godegeseles of whom none remains but Godegesiles the youngest Lord of the higher Burgundy For the other two having gathered together a great body of Germans possessed themselves of the Kingdom by winning of a battle which was fought in the fields of Authunoâ—s which Gondebaut and the young Godoge les lost These two young ones thinking themselves now to be Kings and all quiet in the state they sent away their Auxialiary Troops beyond the Rhine Gondebaut seeing them to be disarmed and living securely without any suspition of hâ—m whom they thought to be dead he presently raâ—ied together all his forces and be sieged them in Vienna pressed so hard upon them as he forced the Inhabitants to render the Town and Chilperick into his hands whose head he chopped off the same hour he entred the Town he threw his Wife into the Rosne with a great stone about her neck and afterwards burned Godomar in a Tower unto which he was retreated Chilperick left two Daughters the elder called Muâ—utuna and the other Clotilda both so young that the innocency of their age obtained their pardon for the offence of the father And yet Mutucana was presently after by the Kings command placed amongst the Vestals there to pass away a retired and solitary life As for Clotilda her beauty and discretion was such as got her the esteem of all particularly of the King who loved her as his own child Sigismond his Son was not dearer unto him then this fair Princess This Prince had marryed â—mâ—lberge the Daughter of Thierry King of the â—strogâ—tt by whom though they lived but a little while together for she dyed shortly after he had yet a Son and Daughter The Son named Sigerius and the Daughter Amasinda I do revive your memory of these things least perhaps you should have forgotten them for the memory of them is very necessary and pertinent unto what I am to tell you Now King Gondebaut after many Conquests beyond the Alpes and Victories over the Gallo Lâ—gurians and other Nations thinking he might very well devote some days unto Sports and Pastimes he resolved to shew the grandure of his Majesty as well in Courtly exercises as he had in Martial exploits In order to this design he made choice of the great and rich City of Lions where he proclaimed open house Prepared so many Masques Tiltings
arguments to exasperate those Kings and prompt them to revenge all who remembring their particular injuries which they had received and finding arms ready in their hands they all agreed without more delay to fall into the Dominions of King Policander whom they found sleeping in a dull security all unarmed and never dreaming of such an unexpected invasion A long and drowsie peace had so lulled him asleep that he had lost all his old souldiers and he knew not where to get new ones besides the people were all so drowned in an universal tranquility that they hardly knew what a sword was It was an easie matter for Celiodantes finding him in this condition to foil him at every encounter Now the Queens designe was observe what a strange animosity she had against Policander either to make the son kill the father in this warre or else the father to kill the son and though they knew not themselves to be father and son yet it was a great satisfaction unto her to know that she was so revenged Policander did what he could in this urgent extremity and making a virtue of necessity did muster together some Cavaliers as well of his own Vassals as of his Allies and took the field with the Prince Arionthes his son And though he knew it was full of danger to hazard a battel yet not being able to endure to see what plunder and ravage our Army made in his Dominions although he was the weaker yet he resolved to venture it I will passe over all the circumstances of the battle and only tell you that Celiodantes got the day and Arionthes the only son of Policander was killed and that the father had much ado to save himself by getting into Avarick with some reliques of his broken Army but the inhabitants of that town and those that fled thither were so affrighted that I believe if our Army had pursued close the gates had been opened unto them But it was thought better to forrage the countrey for victuals and so besiege that great City which they foresaw would continue long because it was fortified with great ditches Towers and Ramparts and because of the great abundance of men as well burgers as strangers which fled thither but the main aim was the person of Policander who against the opinion of his councel would needs shut up himself in the Town with a resolution to be buried in the ruines of his Kingdome The Corps of Arionthes was found amongst the dead and with all honour and civility sent unto his father to shew that hatred did not go beyond life nor that any revenge should be taken of the dead Policander received the body of his son with a dry eye and shewed so much constancy and magnanimity in the sad conjuncture of woes that the virtue of this King began to melt the enraged heart of the Queen and in some sort to pity his misfortune Come come Argira said she unto her self canst thou find a heart to see him who once loved thee to be so miserable is the sight of thee so fatal as to bring ruine upon all those that look upon thee Consider that he whose Kingdome thou wouldst now demolish and whose life thou wouldst have is the same person whom once thou didst love above all the world and one who is the father of thy son Is his fault without any excuse and though it be wilt thou remember one single displeasure more then all the services which thou hast received from him These considerations and many more such like did so mollifie her heart that she began to seek for a good pretence of letting him alone in Peace and to withdraw our Army out of his Dominions but not daring to declare her mind unto any lest she should offend the united Kings she laid siege before Avarick her design was when she consented to the siege to make Policander her prisoner and then after she had made him acknowledge his offence to restore him unto his Crown of Kingdomes But things fell out farre otherwise for a while after Rosilion who was following his adventures in Germany and the Macromands he was advertised by common fame how these Kings had invaded the King of the Boyers and how he was blockt up in the City of Avarick which could not long hold out When he first heard this news he could not believe it because he knew Policander to be a King of great equity and Justice and would not give any of his neighbours the least occasion of warre Yet not to slight it he wended his course towards the Boyers and Ambaries And by fortune as he was going out of the Countrey of the Lepontes he met a messenger which the Princess Rosanira had sent unto him who had wandered several dayes all over the Alps after the fame of his exploits he met with him then in this place and because Rosilion han not changed his arms he knew him by the Lion that he wore upon his shield with some strange words which he had taken for his devise which was a cause that many called him the Knight of the Lion Sir said he unto him and presented the Letters from Rosanira I have been in quest of you above this moneth to tell you that you are extremely desired by her that writ this Letter and wish'd for by all the Boyers as the only remedy and hopes they have in all their misfortunes Rosilion gave no answer but opened the Letter and found these words The Princess ROSANIRAS Letter unto ROSILION YOur victories are great but not so great as our misfortunes our Army is defeated all the countrey undone Arionthes dead and Policander and Rosanira lockt up in their lost town Iudge you whether this be not a large field in which Rosilion may imploy his Arms and his Courage I shall not need Madam to relate the astonishment and sorrows of Rosilion when he had read the Letter and heard all the particulars from the mouth of the Messenger But so it was that taking the way towards the Boyens and making all the haste his Horse would give him leave he came into the Territories of King Policander where he found many Cavaliers and Officers already assembled and wanted nothing but a General whom they would obey for the principal of the Boyens and Ambares some were slain with the Prince Arionâ—hes and others were shut up with Policander in Avaricke so as these who wanted no good will but only a General to conduct them received Rosilion with a common consent as well for the love they knew the King bore unto him as for the brave exploits which Fame had reported of him And though the number of these Cavaliers and Souldiers were not above five hundred Horse and three thousand Foot and though our Army consisted of above eight thousand Horse and forty thousand Foot yet Rosilion trusting in the justice of Policanders cause and in the good Fortune which alwaies accompanied him he was not at all dismayed
that considering the good correspondency which hath always been betwixt you he complains exceedingly against you that you should not only receive into your protection a woman called Dorinde who most ignominiously ran away out of the house of the Princess Clotilda his Neece but also have protected all those that murdered Clorintes the Captain of his Guard particularly the Prince Godomar who he now disclaims for his son and takes for his most cruel enemy And because Madam perhaps you do not know how much he is displeased at your harbouring of such as are his enemies he lets you know by me and summons you to deliver into his hands Dorinde as the shame of his house and Prince Godomar as the Ring-leader of Rebels In so doing he offers you all amity and assistance if otherwise you must expect the fury of his Arms. The Nymph not at all daunted she addressed her self unto the Prince Sir said she It belongs unto you to give an answer Though Madam answered he it was your pleasure to confer all authority upon me and so consequently it belongs unto me to answer yet I beseech you to return such a one as you shall please and believe this sword shall maintain whatever you shall say Amasis upon this turned towards Alerantes Cavalier said she I cannot believe that a King so wise as Gondebaut would ever give you any commission to speak so unworthily of so great a Prince as his own Son nor of so wise and well born a woman as Dorinde and therefore without expectance of any answer from me get out of my Dominions as soon as you can or otherwise you shall find such entertainment as your arrogance deserves Madam answered he I came not without my Commission and here are Letters of Credence written unto you by the Kings own hand The Nymph took them and presented them unto the Prince who reading them assured her they were written by the Burgundian King Then said the Nymph I shall talk with you after another fashion Tell therefore unto King Gondebaut that as for Dorinde my Dominions shall be always free unto any that are oppressed And as for Prince Godomar it is not he that is in my Dominions but I that am in his he being the absolute Lord of all the Segusians and of all Forrests As for the war which he threatens upon me tell him that it is men indeed who begins wars but it is the Gods only who gives victories and in that confidence I fear not the injustice of his Arms. Thus spoke the Nymph and all that heard her applauded her courage when Godomar saw she had no more to say for my part said he tell the King that though he dis-own me for his Son yet I will never do any act that shall be unworthy of the Name and to testifie the truth of what I say tell him that as long as this sword will last I will defend the honour of such Ladies as are unjustly oppressed and maliciously aspersed As for Dorinde whom I take into my protection I will defend her with my sword in my hand against any that will offer to wrong her And if there be any that carries the Title of Cavalier who will speak any ill of her or maintain the words which you have spoke against her or against us who have delivered her out of the hands of those who would injuriously have carried her away here is a pawn said he and gave him his Glove which imports a challenge I except against none but the King my Father knowing very well that Prince Sigismond my brother will arm himself with me in the same quarrel if Paternal authority do not oppress him As for war which he threatens upon this great Nymph tell him I beseech one thing from him which is that he will not come himself unless he have a mind to see his Army back'd in pieces before his face but if he have a mind to be rid of any bad servants he may send them hither and we shall quickly discharge him of them Alerantes turning towards the Nymph Madam said he Is this all the satisfaction I must carry unto the King my Master If King Gondebaut answered she be not contented with these answers tell him he could expect no other from such as he would oppress and who yet fears not the violence of his unjust Arms wherewith he threatens a woman I would not willingly answered Alerantes make this declaration but since you do so little esteem the grandeur of the King my Lord and so much slight the clemency which he offers I must let you know from him that he is your mortal enemy that he does defie you and all that adhere unto you that he declares the Segusians and all Forrests to be an enemies Country and therefore liable to the plunder and inevitable fury of his Army As he spoke these words he broke a staff which he held in his hand in the midst and threw the pieces at the feet of the Nymph Thus said he in the presence of Gods and men be all amity broke of betwixt you for ever The Nymph enraged with anger and setting her foot upon the broken staff and thus said she do I trample upon this emblem of our broken alliance I do not value any of his thundring threats but hope that Tautates will blast them all Then Alerantes without doing any reverence or any action of respect or honour retired when Godomar said unto him what answer do you give unto the challenge which I offered We shall come ere long answered he with an Army of threescore thousand men That said the Prince is either too many or too few Too many for a particular combate and too few to fight against the Justice of the Gods Alerantes returned him no answer but shaking his head in a menacing manner he went out of the Castle and taking horse when he was some twenty paces out of the Town he made a stop and turned about Oh ye titular Gods of the City of Marcelles cryed he out in a loud voice and all ye other Gods and Goddesses who are here adored I beseech you be auspicious unto the Arms of the King my Lord and be pleased to come into the Royal City of Lions where he vows to build you a Temple to erect Altars and adore you with all manner of Reverence and Honour When he had repeated these words thrice over he took a Javelin and ran with all his force against the walls of the Town then setting spurs to his Horse he rid as fast as he could unto the six Troops which waited for him This action incensed the people extreamly and had not Adamas restrained them doubtless they would have done him some displeasure but he told them that Ambassadors were no ways culpable of the message they brought nor deserved any punishment and that by the Law of Nations they were to pass freely And seeing all the City much startled at the noise of this war he
and perfidious Lidias but when I was in greatest despair of ever getting out of that miserable place The Franks one night I know not how became masters of the Town the Gaoler hâ—mself set open the prison doors and unsetterd our feet in hopes that some Franks who were prisoners amongst us would save his life for it But I who extreamly desired to see Lidias that I might in his and Amerinas presence sacrifice my life I was no sooner at liberty but finding some horses which had no owners I took one and got out of Callice having in my company only one young man who conducted me and being prisoners together were become friends with him I went unto Rothomagues where I no sooner entred but I was informed by a reverent Matron of whom I enquired for Lidias that he was at a house of Amerinas his wife not far from thence and beseeching her to tell me the way she told me that it was in the way towards the great city of Paris Judge you whether this news did not sting me to the soul but hasting out of the Town and overtaking the young man who conducted me for he durst not enter in by reason of some enemies And I talked with him but truly I know not what nor which way I parted from him But so it was that presently after I came to this house where they told me that Lidias was gone three days before with Amerina his wife towards Forrests upon some business I presently followed after and by the way heard oft-ten of them At last one day after a large journey and when the heat of the day had almost sweltred my horse I saw a shade by the high way side which I thought would shelter me from the extream heat of the day The weariness of my self and my horse made me alight and I had no sooner tyed him to a Tree but I spied a woman who by what I have heard from you I now think was Amerina I went unto her and asked her if it would be no offence to participate of her shade To which she gave me a very civil answer At the same time you came with some boughs to make the place more shady As soon as ever I cast my eye upon you I took you as I did now for Lidias whom I looked for and thought that woman to be Amerina I must needs confess that I was moved with several passions for once I was in a mind to fall upon Amerina whilst she slept and first to run a ponyard into her breast and then into my own before your face Another time I design'd to let the innocent woman alone and to open my own breast and as I was dying to take some of my blood and throw it in your face upbraiding you with your infidelity But some good genius diverted me from those cruel resolutions and constraining me to go a little further off after a hundred different conceptions I thought it best to die by your own hand and not by my own to the end you might the more lament my death This being my design you know what signs I made unto you to separate you from Amerina and how violently I cast my self upon your sword with which indeed I was wounded in my arm but I know not how it missed my heart for there was my intention to receive it and I had such an opinion of receiving it there that when I felt the point of the sword I fancied that it had reached my heart so as having heard that all wounds of the heart were mortal I fancied my self to be dead and when I returned to my self again I found that I was in the hands of the Governour of Neomague I understood since that he finding me in a swoon he caused me to be taken up as dead but the motion of those who carried me did revive me so setting me upon a horse they carried me away when to my thinking I saw you pass by my horse very well mounted Certainly said Ligdamon and interrupted it was some other for I was on foot and never left Amerina till we were both taken together If so replyed Melander either it was Lidias or some other who resembles him as you do But so it was that I told the Governour with a deep sigh it was he who had put me into that condition and as soon as the Governour heard it he caused him to be pursued and brought to prison When night came I began to think how I should be a cause of punishing Lidias and therefore was very sorry for what I had said And as I was in bed the next morning they brought me a woman in your clothes to see if it was she who hurt me and I said she was not But I was extreamly astonished when they brought him whom I accused for truly I took him for you I mean Lidias And left he should know me I turned my face the other way as I lay in my bed and though I knew I had reason enough to wish him ill yet I could not find in my heart to do him any harm so as altering my voice I declared that it was not he but some other who had taken the habit of that woman Upon this discharge he was released I beseech you said Ligdamon what became of the woman for it was she who saved me The Governours wife said she took her off from all punishment and is so far from all harm that to morrow I believe she will return home But to continue that discourse of my miserable fortune In the night time when I could not sleep by reason of the wound not in my arm but in my heart I made a hundred propositions to my self one while I would write unto Lidias and let him know what wrong he had done me but I was presently off that thinking he would but mock at my Letter and with his Amerina laugh at it Another while I would send for him not telling who I was and in the presence of the Governours wife who was of a sweet and pitiful disposition upbraid him with his persidie and ingratitude as thinking that shame perhapâ— might work more upon him then my love could Upon this design I slept with a resolution to put it in execution the next morning but I was disappointed for that very night as soon as ever he was set at liberty he went privately out of the Town none knowing which way he went When I heard of his departure I was almost even mad against my self for letting such an opportunity so imprudently slip for said I had I accused him doubtless he had been stayed and I might have executed my design in speaking unto him before the Governours wife And as for my fond fears of doing him any harm by way of Justice what greater punishment could he in Justice receive then a while of Imprisonment since my wound was not neer mortal But all this reasoning with my self was in vain and after a long
that to the reparation of a crime repentance is not alwayes sufficient he fled away therefore in a disguise as soon as he had divided the piece of gold with Guyemant and because he could not better commit his safety unto any then those whose fidelity and courage he had tryed he desired although I was extreamly wounded that I would bear him company until he came unto Basin Duke of Turin into whose protection he resolved to fly I who after the death of Clidemant did not at all value my life did consent unto his desire and though I knew unto what danger I exposed my self yet I would go with him And so we departed after he had bid adieu unto Guyemant who shed tears at this sad separation Childerick in this departure did shew the generosity of his courage which was the only good quality he had for without so much as any changing colour dear friend said he unto Guyemant I do depart in pursuance of that councel which you have given me and I would have you believe that my departure is a very great argument of that power which you have over me but for you I had washed away the crime which I committed with my own blood and had not lived a minute after the loss of my Crown But since you promise me to labour for my reestablishment I am resolved to live that you may know I do not despair of that help which I may receive from your prudence After this intreating him afresh to imploy his wisdome in order thereunto and embracing very affectionately we took horse being accompanied with some Segusian Cavaliers which then I had with me and within a few dayes after we came to the city of Rhemois by which Childerick would passe to acquaint the Queen his mother with his exile It is the most lamentable spectacle that is imaginable to this sad encounter for as soon as Childerick entred into the Queens chamber he did cast himself at her feet and that Princesse who knew not the cause of his coming looking upon him with a more joyful aspect then his misfortune required she advanced to embrace him but he gently thrusting her back Madam said he unto her do not prophane your pious hands by touching the sinful corps of him whom the gods do hate and who hath most shamefully dishonoured you How said the Queen and was extreamly astonished are not you Childerick my son the King of the Franks I am indeed Childerick answered he whose crimes have made him unworthy the glory of being called your son as the Franks have already taken from him the quality of King Upon this the Queen suspecting the misfortune which had hapned unto him O Childerick cryed she out what is this you say In saying so she arose up with a stream of tears in her eyes and the Prince being retreated back two or three paces she went unto him and taking his hand she carried him into her closet She then sent presently for me and as soon as I entred I offered to kisse her feet but she embracing me ah Lindamor said she unto me how truly did Merovens Prophecy and how unfortunate am I to see the effects of that which that poor King so much feared Madam said I unto her it is a misfortune which is now come to passe and which none but the gods can now revoke It is true Lindamor answered she but if Childerick had been virtuous it was in his power to prevent it I who knew what just cause she had to accuse him but desired to infuse some consolation unto those sorrows which I saw her suffer Madam said I unto her we are sometimes hurried unto things by such a secret and vehement violence as it is almost impossible we should resist it and it seems there is a kind of fatality in it which is unavoidable But said she and interrupted a man of any sound judgement and that has any respect unto the gods will never obey the unruly fury of a brutish appetite and how vehement and violent soever their inclinations be that push him forward he will still find such arms in his virtue as will be to surmount them but added she and sighed Childerick had ever such an inclination unto vice as he alwayes held those for his mortal enemies who endeavoured to divert him His passion at thee unto Silviana replied I could not absolutely be termed vitious since notwithstanding the inequallity of their conditions it had virtue for its object but indeed after he was out of any hopes to enjoy her he ought to have extinguished the desires of it and not to have endeavoured to dishonour her Did he offer any violence said the Queen unto me unto Silviana I did not well know what answer to return when casting his eyes upon me Nay nay said he go on boldly and satisfie the Queens curiosity make me as enormous as you can you cannot describe me so wicked as my own conscience tells me I am Sir answered I and turned towards him since you are pleased to command me and since the Queen desires to be informed of all passages I will not conceal any thing from her Then I related all unto her yet adding some arguments that might in some sort extenuate his crime and render it pardonable I had no sooner ended my discourse but this afflicted Princesse addressing her self unto her son Now Childerick said she unto him you find a recompence for all your actions now you are without a Crown without a Scepter and in a condition to seek the protection of another now you are deposed from the title of a King to assume that of a Tyrant and I without any other consolation amidst so many calamities but what I receive in admiring the just judgement of the gods in your punishment O ye most just Deities said she lifting up her eyes and hands to heaven I do call you all as witnesses of my innocency and do earnestly beseech you to turn away your anger from our family you only do know the thoughts of my soul and punish mâ— if ever I have neglected any care in the good education of my son either by discourse or example In saying so she begun to shed such abundance of tears that I had much ado to restrain mine Childerick after he had studied a little upon it Madam said he unto her though I had a soul that was altogether insensible of any sorrow for my sins yet your tears are able to inspire me with repentance And believe it my soul is so exceedingly sorry for what I have done that I would most willingly do any pennance in the world to repair it but not knowing any satisfaction that equal the grandure of my sin I do most humbly beg of you Madam a pardon for this offence to the end the gods after your example may cease to pursue me since they have already made me very sensible of the effects of their vengeance The Queen was so full of sorrow that
unto a little rivolet which falling down into the plain does water some pleasant meadows and afterwards empties it self into Lignon and there contemplating upon the cataracts and great falls of this water This said he to himself has a great resemblance unto my misfortune Heaven would never let me take any rest and if ever I hope for it surely it will be when I am ready to enter into my grave like to this little rivolet which is never in quietness until it has lost it self in Lignon which is its grave In such kind of solitary entertainments he passed away the day after which he went unto his sad habitation and never stirred from thence until the Sun had dried up the tears of Aurora he had met with a cave not much unlike that of Laonices which was not far off probably these caves were made by other hands then those of Nature and the Druides in the infancy of Religion not being much conversant amongst men made choice of these retreats so near each other as they might meet and confer about matters of Religion It hapned that the third day after Tircis came thither that he began his customary exercise and went out of his cave as soon as the Sun had cleared the day but not wending his course towards that little rivolet he passed away almost all the day in contemplating the beauties of that place which he had chosen for his last residence On the one side he viewed all the Forrests and saw as far as the farthest part of the Sebusians and on the other side his prospect reached as far as that stately city which the Rhosne and the Arrar do wash with their crystal streams Sometimes he admired the talness of the trees whose leavy branches did shade him from the scorching heat of the Sun Otherwhiles looking upon the ground in which his eyes took deep root he was astonished to see it so clean and neat and so even that there was not so much as one shrub to hinder his walk Being thus taken up in these little ravishments he took no notice that night surprized him So as being a good distance from his cave and not well knowing the passages the night also growing dark he could not hit the way unto his habitation He laid him down therefore under the first tree he came unto where it was long before sleep came upon him yet at last after he had spent a good part of the night in his ordinary contemplations his wearied limbs received that pleasing refreshment Laonice on the other side who thought that help which the gods had promised unto her long in coming she wakened very early to go according to her custome and talk of her sorrows unto the flowers and the winds yet she walked not long before she found some engravements upon the barks of trees which being freshly done did easily discover themselves She went presently unto them and her thoughts being alwayes upon Tircis as Tircis was upon Cleon jealousie which opened her eyes and judgement made her know that there they were both together This did extreamly astonish her and not being able to imagine what Demon it should be that did her this ill office she was more and more amazed and to compleat her amazement she perceived Tircis himself lying all along under an oak some ten or twelve paces from the place where she was Amidst her joyes to see him she was seized with an extream fear to appear before him because at that instant all the contempts slights and rigours of that Shepherd against her did come into her memory Remembring then principally his last words as being the most bitter that ever his tongue uttered against her This Shepherd said she to her self does measure his hatred according to my love and takes delight in seeing both extream he thinks he has banished me out of Forrests and perhaps would drive me out of the world if he should see me again I will not therefore shew my self unto him but said she upon a sudden why should the gods promise me a cure unlesse that Tircis be the remedy Perhaps those kind Dieties have disposed his spirit to pardon me and his soul to receive me in lieu of her for whose love he rejected me Upon this consideration she went gently nearer him and finding his eyes closed I with O love said she that his heart were not as fast asleep towards me permit O heavens that the desires of this Shepherd may not any longer be contrary to my happinesse but that my soul may share with him in that rest which his body now enjoyes In saying so she observed that the Sun made so much entrance through the leaves as with his Rayes to kisse him whereat she appearing a little jealous she kneeled down Those kisses lovely Tircis said she would be better imployed if thou wouldst give them unto me in recompence of those miseries which thy cruelty hath made me suffer Why why is my passion so full of crime as it takes away from thee all desires of enjoying me O good gods continued she and sighed can loving thee perfectly merit thy hatred this is most cruel and barbarous Upon this she bended her self to kisse him but fearing to waken him she arose up without stealing that contentment yet wondering at her want of courage but why said she should I not have as much courage as love Alas continued she what could this Shepherd do if he were awake if he can make himself thus feared when he is in the arms of death or at least of sleep which is the image of death Upon these last words she stopt and Tircis began to groan at which Laonice was so surprized that she got further off lest he should perceive her yet hiding her self behind a great tree some twelve or fifteen paces from him she put forth her head as softly as she could and observing that he still slept Perhaps said she he was not asleep when â— spoke and when he groaned it was out of compassion but if so why then should he sleep on and why does he not give unto my passion better testimonies of his No no Laonice said she never flatter thy self with these pleasing imaginations Tircis does hate thee as much as he loves Cleon he does abhor thy memory as much as he does adore hers and thou mayest well believe that if he would die for the love of her he will never live for any love of thee Upon this she would have gone away but casting her eye once more upon Tircis she saw him awake stretching out his arms and rubbing his eyes This made her lurk close behind the tree make no noise and by Fortune the Shepherd rising up and seeing the Sun a good hight he went the other way thinking upon nothing else but how to find out his cave Laonice seeing him go away she felt no lesse pain then if her heart had been pulling out and never thinking what she did nor losing the
advised the chief Magistrates to appease this Tumult wisely and because it was now too late to assemble the whole Corporation of the Town together the Nymph would to morrow acquaint them with the causes of all these rumors These prudent promises of the Druide did a little calm their spirits and doubling the Guards he went unto the Castle to advise with the Nymph and Prince Godomar He came thither just as Adrastes was upon his knees before that Prince to kiss his hand in gratitude for the favour he received from him Godomar took him up and carried him unto Damon and Alcidon Cavalier said he unto Damon Here is the Shepherd unto whom the Gods have been so favourable It was a blessed act answered Damon and a thousand pities so honest a Shepherd should be reduced unto such a condition upon so noble a cause If all those that commit the same fault he did should be as harshly treated as he was I believe Sir you would have work enough in driving of Nails Every one did laugh at this Afterwards he went on and spoke unto Celidea Shepherdess said he I wonder you should not tax me with my promise that the Gods may restore that which they once gave unto you Sir answered she I am so far from putting you in memory that I most earnestly beseech you to forget it It does amaze me said Godomar to hear you say so I cannot believe any woman in the world is of your mind for as strength and prudence have given men the priviledge to be Lords of the Universe so the gods have given beauty unto women to be the Ladies and Mistresses of men Sir answered she I should prize this beauty whereof you speak as much as any other if I did not consider the recovery of it may cost me that which is dearer then my life for it is a very death unto me to be absent from Thamires No no answered Thamires I beseech you set your heart at rest for since you deprived your self of that which is most dear unto your sex only to become mine I am resolved rather then it should not be restored unto you to lose my life and therefore Sir said he unto Damon I beseech you perform your promise and be not hindred by the tears of this Shepherdess whose passion does blind her reason appoint some to be my guide and tell me what I shall do before I go I should be very sorry to displeasure this wife shepherdess answered Damon but the obligation of my promise may excuse me and therefore Halladine my servant shall be your guide I will write a Letter unto the learned Operatour and all that you have to do here is to make the skars in her face bleed and wet in the bloud as many little staves as there is wounds in the blood then when they are dry lap them up in linnen clothes and carry them away as soon as may be in the mean time care must be had of keeping the wounds very clean washing them every day with warm wine and covering them close lest any dust get in then doubtless you will find her recovered at your return O heavens cryed out Celedâ—a must this trâ—fle of Nature which they call beauty cause a separation so long betwixt Thamires and me Ah my dearest Thamires said she are you not contented with me as I am For my part I am and if you be also why should you seek it with so much danger to your self and sorrow to me Can you be better then contented Take heed lest the gods seeing you so insatiable should deprive you of those contentments which you now enjoy upon this she hung about his neck with such a stream of tears as moved every one to pity her and admire her except Thamires who being peremptorily resolved upon the journey was very earnest with Damon to perform his promise Whereupon Damon calling for Halladine he commanded him to make himself ready and wait upon Thamires unto the great master of natures secrets in Carthage called Olicarsis and because Thamires intended to go home that night and make all ready for his journey in the morning Halladine went to prepare himself according to his masters commands though something against his mind to leave him before he was perfectly recovered In the interim Damon writ a Letter and gave it unto Halladine Celidea seeing there was no way to divert Thamires from this voyage since neither prayers nor tears would prevail she called to mind Palemons vow of granting the first request that was made unto him O Palemon said she unto him I conjure you by your solemn vow which you made to grant the first thing which was asked you after the obtaining your desires to undertake this journey in lieu of Thamires Palemon was a little surpized but presently recollecting himself O Celidea said he I will never break my vow though the journey should cost me my life and therefore am ready to perform it Ah me cried out the Shepherdess Doris what a fool I was not to make the first request that Palemon should never leave me Must I now lose him to content another O most cruel Shepherdess worse against me then thy own face What offence have I done thee that thou shouldest thus grieve me to death Companion replied Celidea with a more satisfied countenance I must confess I am very sorry to do you this displeasure but you see I used all means possible to prevent it and since all will not prevail I beseech you sweet Shepherdesse to pardon me since what I did was by force and constraint Doris having no hopes of altering Celidea nor in making Palemon to break his vow she broke out into a Torrent of tears and went out of the chamber complaining against Celidea and against heaven for consenting unto her sad Fortune Halladine by this time being ready Thamires with a thousand thanks took his leave of Damon and afterwards of the Nymph and the Prince So likewise did Celidea Licidas Palemon Adrastes and also Hylas who notwithstanding all the prayers of Dorinde Cercinea Palanice and Florice would stay no longer from Stella What Hylas said Leonide unto him has Stella more power to draw you from us then all we together have to stay you Madam answered he every one must follow their Destiny Why replied she is not your Destiny the same it was wont to be for I have heard you say it was by Destiny you loved beauty wheresoever you met with it if so you must needs confesse that all these fair Ladies have more beauty then Stella alone Madam answered Hylas I call nothing beauty but what pleaseth me and if Stella alone do please me more then all these you speak of is not she her self more beauty unto me then all they Upon this say what they could he went away in the company of those Shepherds and Shepherdesses amongst which was Halladine who never in his life undertook a journey more against his mind then this