so vertuous a friend but constraind his prudence to obey the transports of my youthfull fancies If the gods are resolv'd rather to take my life from me than make me wise by these accidents I submit to their justice praying them to give you another friend as affectionate but more moderate than I Yet if your friendship cannot easily change the subject of it I have another my selfe whom I may well call more deserving than I I leave behind me a sister whom I desire you to love if already as I beleeve you have not esteem'd her worthy your affection I know your merits be above hers but yet I am assur'd she will never give her selfe to any man of lesse worth than you This consolation I shall have at least after my death when I shall know that with the goods I am to leave her she is to possesse the greatest I was able to procure The first words of Palamede had possest with sadnesse the soule of Melintus and his eyes with teares but the last surpriz'd him with astonishment not thinking that Palamede had ever had knowledge of the secret love hee had to the faire Ariana his sister and not willing to avow it seeing shee her selfe would not have it discover'd at all to any he contented himselfe to give him this answer It were not possible for me to have more joy receiving so deare witnesses of your friendship if the occasion thereof were not so unfortunate But I cannot choose but give you thankes for the first and regret the other and I will yet hope that the gods will not so soone separate us but that the occasion of my discontent shall cease and I long time enjoy the affection of so perfect a friend If the estate wherein you are suffer'd me to accuse you I might complaine of you for beleeving that I could ever blame your actions If at any time I have dislik'd them it was rather because my humour was contrary to them than my reason Cure your selfe onely and imagine not of giving me any person that may hold your place I would not conceive the like thought of you that after me you could love any thing Melintus conceal'd so violent and respectfull a passion for Ariana that he durst not pronounce her name nor speake one word of her and so left off his discourse Palamede when he had stayd a while said to him And what say you to my sister This replyed Melintus is a matter that I find so farre above my merits that I cannot thinâ—e upon it without presumption and besides that Aristides your father hath his designes more high in all reason wherefore I content my selfe to honour her with all the respect I may Palamede would have answer'd this but Melintus told him that hee could no longer endure to heare him speake with so much paine and desir'd hee would remit that discourse to another time and rest himselfe for feare of some greater danger I will make but one request to you said Palamede to send into Sicily as speedily as you can to my father it may be I shall be alive yet some dayes in which time hee may be here with my sister or at least render me the last duties of a friend if my death prevent their arrive I have no greater wish than this that I may see them before I dye Melintus tooke that occasion to leave him after telling him that he went instantly to dispatch one of his men and that hee hoped for all that when they should be come to Rome they would have more cause to rejoyce for his cure than to mourne his losse Then studying how hee should write for putting Aristides and Ariana into too much feare he determin'd to dissemble his griefe as much as might be and wrote these Letters Melintus to Aristides I Was not able to refuse Palamede this service he desir'd of mee to advertise you of some wounds he receiv'd in a combat and to beseech you by the affection you beare him to come to Rome to him with his sister The feare he hath to dye without seeing you was stronger than all the prayers I could make that hee would not give you so much apprehension and paine But in satisfying of his desire diminish your owne feares and beleeve that your sonne defying all remedies will not be beholding for his cure but to your sight He put this other apart to be deliver'd in secret to Ariana Melintus to Ariana IT is with sorrow that I make you understand newes that will a little trouble your mind Neverthelesse when you shall know that the brother that is so deare to you feares to dye for any wounds and desires to see you thinke not this misfortune so neere but rather that your happy destiny hath brought forth this accident to have the fairest person of the earth appeare in the chiefe City of the world You are not to thinke it strange that he will have you gaine this glory with the prejudice of a little feare you shall there find men to whom love cannot be favourable farre off from Syracusa and that wait but for your presence to cure them In the meane time I mistrust no ill fortune nor can I judge the cause ill that shall produce so faire an effect as the happinesse to see you Melintus that had not yet dared to make a full discovery of his passion to the faire Ariana had taken this liberty to write to her since his depart from Syracuse and for this reason was he permitted to doe it because Palamede was over negligent and that she might heare often from them so as hee spake but insensibly of his affection to her intermingling covertly that which nearest touch'd him in the things that passed without giving her any cause to accuse him of unadvisednesse And shee her selfe was very well pleas'd to receive testimonies of his passion without the ingaging of her honour by feigning ignorance of his designe and so they did both deceive one another willingly if we may call deceit the secret knowledge they mutually gave of a vertuous and inviolable affection After Melintus had clos'd these Letters hee gave them into the hand of Arcas his faithfull Freeman and instructing him what was to be done gave him charge to make all haste to report Palamedes disaster in such a sort that they might not be too much affrighted and to say that he would have written himselfe but for a hurt in his hand then hee went backe againe to his friend and dispatch'd this bearer in his presence to let him see how he obeyed his request and to give him this content at least Marcellin that had alwayes before made esteeme of Palamede and Melintus because of their merits and had not declar'd himselfe against them his jealousie having not yet burst forth full of despight that they had twice escap'd the death he had prepared them and not thinking that hee was knowne the Author of those treacheries counterfeited himselfe to be
of this accident arose to goe comfort Ariana and after having spent some time in that duty he recommended it to the sage Lepantus with the guard of what they had both most deare in the City while he himselfe thought of nothing but fighting He parted before day to goe finde Palamede whom at the same time he told very sad newes learning him the death of Dicearchus and other as agreeable relating how Epicharis was his sister This intelligence made him lose the griefe for his uncles death and he was so ravish'd with knowing this good fortune for his deare Epicharis wherein he had a great participation that he embrac'd Melintus a thousand times and prayed him to promise him she might be his wife Melintus esteem'd himselfe very happy for having wherewith to acquit himselfe towards him for the assistance he had given him besides Ariana and after some other discourse upon this rejoycing and some regrets for Epicharis losse they gave over that entertainment to think of araying their troops in good order and preparing themselves that day to atchieve actions worthy the great reputation they had acquired ARIANA. The sixth Booke ALready had the Scouts beene sent from all parts to know what countenance the enemy held and they reported how the Scythians look'd as if they expected the combat for not daring to scatter any more into severall troops to goe a foraging because the Romans were now a body of an army they had gather'd all their forces together which appear'd to be of about forty thousand foot without any horse at all The Towne of Larissa is situate betweene two hills the valley whereof inlarging it selfe by degrees towards the Sea ends at last in a spacious campagnia This situation afforded the commodity of chusing the just extent that was necessary to containe the front of an Army and for this cause after they had taken up that space they were resolv'd to goe assaile their enemies by some skirmishes of horse to draw them thiâ—her in feining a flight to the end they might afterwards have such advantage of place to fight in as they desir'd Alcydamas and Polydore were that day armed with the rich Armes those of Larissa had presented them with and had not forgot to dresse them in rich skarfes and to be cover'd with plumes that they might be the more remarkable to those they commanded and in an estate worthy of the brave actions they desir'd to performe The Army presently tooke up the place that was destin'd for the fight and the troops being embattell'd the Chiefs began to walke about the ranks to encourage their souldiers The valiant Alcydamas seem'd that day higher than usually and had a certaine sparkling in his eyes and splendour upon his face that made him appeare like unto some god descended from heaven for the succours of Greece and the Roman Empire They saw waving his white and carnation plumes over the ranks he exceeded by the head and his mine alone seem'd to inspire a part of his great courage into those that were ready to fight under his command At length willing to speake to his men before sending out a party to the skirmish he commanded silence and with an agreeable and assured voyce spake thus to them FEllow Souldiers if I speake to you 't is not that I doubt of your courage nor that I desire to provoke it more but rather to expresse to you the contentment I receive in seeing my selfe assisted with so generous troops I hope this day to make the Romans confesse what their good fortune is to have the Thessalians for guards to the limits of their Empire for I am assured seeing the ardour of fighting which appeares on your faces they will be beholding to us for this dayes victory Remember you that we are in that Thessaly which hath alwayes beene fatall for great exploits of warre which hath seene heretofore decided the quarrell for the Empire of the Vniverse betweene two of the greatest Captaines of the world Let us shew as much valour this day as those famous warriers did in fighting for causes farre more just than theirs They ruin'd the world to remaine Masters of it but your fight is to preserve your Countrey from the fury of Barbarians They were not moved but by a violent ambition but you are animated with a generous piety desirous to conserve your Altars your parents and your dearest Countrey Let us goe then fellowes in Armes let us on to goe swim in the rivers of bloud we shall make these bruitish Nations shed whose number will but serve to augment our trophees and our glory Let us make them feele with our swords a regret for having dared to assault so warlike a province Follow me companions But what is this You will be gone already I will follow you then and labour by imitating you to serve the valiant Thessalians in the acquisition of an immortall glory When Alcydamas had thus spoken all his company lift up their swords on high to expresse to him the desire they had he should lead them on to the combat presently he commanded some of his troops to goe charge the Scythians and feine by little and little to flye that they might draw them to the place where they were The Barbarians received them with great cries and seeing they were so few a number pursued them by shot of arrowes with all the body of their Army that approached the Romans within shot Then Maxentius sent to command Alcydamas and Polydore to goe charge them to the end the Barbarians should not have the honour of the first chocque They both parted in the head of their troops and with such fury rushed upon the Scythians that they brake through the two wings of their Battalion which they had formed in the figure of a Crescent Alcydamas having foreseene that it was necessary for him to make a great slaughter had provided a broad sword of fine mettall that no kinde of Armes was able to resist so as being manag'd by a strong and able arme it cut off all it reached and the field was spread all over with heads armes legs and trunked bodies Polydore also on his side gave no little proofes of his valour and the Thessalians courageously followed so valiant Leaders and cut in peeces whatsoever presented it selfe before them The Romans seeing so happy a beginning avanc'd their point and went to set upon that part of the Scythians Army that was opposite to them for to second the happy successe of the horse Alcydamas in the meane time continued his great blowes and put all the encountred either to the edge of the sword or into disorder in the end with the assistance of his companions he was come to the middest of the enemies left wing from whence he began to perceive somewhat a farre off a troop of Scythians that stood close round about one that surpassed them by the head and had all the marks of being their King There it was he set
him concerning the wayes he was to take in case they were retained by order of justice hee gave him as much money as hee could spare and when the night came they prepar'd to depart Ariana in like manner gave in secret to Epicharis some jewels shee had to serve her turne when she might have need of money and all of them taking their journey in the by-wayes of the Forest under the conduct of Arcas that had taken view of the passages of it in a little time they soone found themselves in the Champaigne from whence they began to see and smell the smoake of the City that still burnt In the midst of this horror they gave not over travelling on towards Ostia and a while after Aristides comming neare his daughter and missing Epicharis ask'd her where she was Ariana answer'd him shee thought she follow'd them they sought for her amongst the company and not finding her at all Aristides imagin'd shee lov'd Hermes and leaving the company had escap'd to follow him Ariana said she had not that opinion of Epicharis but that she was wandred about the wood and making as though she were in gteat trouble for her she desir'd they might goe back againe to seeke her Aristides being in a rage swore he would leave her since she might easily have followed the company if she had would and what ever displeasure Ariana shewed he would no longer delay the time for this maid Some return'd the way they had come but not having found her they did all continue their journey together Being happily arriv'd at Ostia they saw a man that brought newes how two Sicilians were taken and accus'd for setting Rome on fire and that they were now prisoners This a little eas'd their mindes to know they were living and yet they left not to have many feares for them but hoping in their innocency and not able then to give them any other remedy they imbarck't in the ship that had beene staied for them recommending Palamede and Melintus to the gods and passing the straight betwixt Reggium and Messina that separates Sicily from Italy landed safely at Syracuse When they were seene to arrive without Palamede and Melintus and their misfortune was knowne there was a publike mourning for it for they were both of them very well loved of the people and the consideration of Dicearchus Aristides and Telephus with the good will that all in particular bare to these two friends made the chiefe men of the City resolve to send in their favour an Embassie expresse to Nero and the Senate to make a representation of their innocence and obtaine favour at their hands endevouring to restore to Melintus the benefit they had received from him when he procur'd the exemptions Dicearchus desir'd to be chiefe of these Ambassadours and they hastened away because there was no time to lose but when they had passed to Reggium to goe by land to Rome they met there with Hermes that told them these deadly newes how Palamede and Melintus having beene examin'd a few dayes since and seeing how they were ready to be condemn'd by the expresse commandement of Nero were willing to prevent a shamefull death and had cast themselves downe into the Tyber from the top of the tower where they were prisoners This assurance he gave them turn'd their journey back againe and repassing to Messina they arriv'd by the same way they came at Syracuse where they possest all with sadnesse and confusion Aristides tore his haire and accus'd himselfe for having abandoned his sonne and his griefe was such that a very little while after it brought him to his grave Dicearchus resented this calamity in losing the dearest hopes of his house Telephus was touch'd with as great an affliction for Melintus as if he had beene his owne sonne but nothing was able to equall Ariana's griefe who under the pretext of her brothers death lamented besides the death of Melintus with the bitterest teares that love ever caus'd to be shed so as all places ecchoed with her plaints Alas said she now is the time I am certaine of my misery Miserable Rome that servest for a monument to my dearest pledges and must thou againe triumph over us and must the injustice that reignes with thee bring to ruine so vertuous an innocency O gods I how long will you suffer this cruell tyranny why swallow not you up that wicked nation or why these latter dayes did you not let them be devour'd in the flames they had prepar'd for us for to punish them by their owne villany Alas there was left enough of that wretched people to destroy the goodliest friendship that ever was Deare brother I shall never see you more and not seeing you I shall never more see what I held most deare in the world Wofull voyage disastrous counsell I gave my brother to goe see a City that subsists not but for the ruine of all things for since the time he came neere it what a traine of miseries have we had experience of and what blind fury lead us one after another to goe seeke out misfortunes at their fountaine and the place where vice and crimes are reigning with so much power and insolency at least when I was there arriv'd just heavens why did you not let me perish in the fire with them without making me survive the sole person of the world that made my life happy to me and desirable This faire Lady dissembled not such griefes as these in all companies because the cause of them was attributed to the great dearenesse that was betwixt her brother and her but her greatest sorrow was for not having any body to comfort her and discover her most secret griefes to She enjoy'd not now Epicharis nor her sweet consolation yet she had a little hope left still as long as she heard not the certainty of their death from the mouth of that wench She inquir'd privately of Hermes if he had not seene her and he told her how he had help'd to disguise her that they both went into Rome together that he had counsell'd her to goe find out Maximus and the rest of the friends Melintus and Palamede had and since that he had heard no newes of her and this put her into more trouble for Epicharis whose adventure had beene thus Before Aristides and Ariana were gone out of the wood she had acquainted Hermes with her purpose for being well assur'd of him to the end he might wait for her at the same place when she should have withdrawne her selfe from the rest foreseeing what need she might have of him both for getting out of the forest as to get clothes and advise together of the meanes how to helpe Palamede and Melintus she absented her selfe a little from the troope after she had kiss'd her deare Mistresse and embrac'd her then shee went to find Hermes that cut the rest of her haire for her and in the morning when they were at the woods end
you are thus all in mourning clothes Alas brother answered she the teares comming into her eyes must I needs for the succours I have receiv'd of you to day give you so sad newes Sister replide he how I am in feare for my father upon the report of my death Your feares said shee to him are to be turn'd into assurances for hee was not able to resist the displeasures he felt for the newes of your misfortune being chiefly perplex'd with the sorrow for having left you and calling himselfe author of your death since he had abandon'd you Then was some time spent in teares after which they told by course all that had befallen them while they had beene absent from one another Melintus entertaind Erycine too that was rapt for joy to see this brother shee honoured so much and hee learn'd of her what had pass'd at Syracuse after hee had let her know in a few words how he had beene saved And Arcas gave Dicearchus a part of their adventures as he went by his side and thus they arriv'd at his house where seeing themselves safe their spirits were intirely sensible of joy being no longer distress'd with any feares Melintus advis'd that the Ladies should rest them whilest they in the meane time tooke order to goe charge those Souldiers that remain'd to get the baggage out of their hands Dicearchus would by no meanes they should put themselves into that danger for that the men were not worth their paines the Chiefes being slaine and the booty they had was but a small matter Notwithstanding Melintus chang'd not his resolution and hiding his purpose from Dicearchus assembled together with Palamede some Boores of the Countrey whom he made take Armes and taking on him to be their Captaine led them on to goe finde those Souldiers where of some of them being impatient for that their men stayed so long in the wood had gone to see what they did there and having found them dead they came backe againe to advertise their companions of it just when they were assaulted by Melintus and Palamede some of them were slaine and they carried away five or six prisoners in the very Chariot and returned to Dicearchus who receiv'd them as comming in triumph with their captives drawne in their traine Ariana and Erycine rose from their bed to see what it was entred and seeing out at the windowes Melintus and Palamede in the head of that Equipage they admir'd their courage for not enduring that any thing of theirs should remaine in the hands of those souldiers and the prisoners were surely guarded to be carried to Syracuse as soone as they return'd thither Dicearchus acknowledging the obligation he had to Melintus tooke him aside and demanded of him if he could desire nothing of him in recompence of the life he was indebted to him for I have done nothing answered Melintus but what I was oblig'd to but yet I will not dis-esteeme what it pleases you to make me offer of and I aske you no other favour but that you will never wish mee any ill whatever heart-burning you have had against my father I confesse to you answer'd Dicearchus somewhat asham'd that we have heretofore had some difference Telephus and I by reason wee were both of a contrary faction but for the present things are well changed and I am so farre from having a desire to wish you any ill as I promise to employ that you have preserv'd to me in your service to the uttermost of my power I beseech you replide Melintus to take an oath of this in the hands of Palamede That will I surely answers Dicearchus and having call'd him Melintus sayes to him Dicearchus will doe me the grace to promise me that he shall never beare any ill will to me what-ever hee has had to my father I wonder replies Dicearchus you will make any doubt of this after the extreme obligation I have to you but since you are so desirous I take an oath hereof betweene my Nephew's hands and pray the gods to punish me if I ever faile of that I sweare to Palamede added Melintus may be well assured of that you promise him for 't is impossible you should ever wish me any good without loving him too seeing I will never have any good without him and he has too much merit to be refus'd good will After these common assurances of friendship Dicearchus led them into his Neeces chamber where entring in first upon the sudden he was strangely affected to find a young man upon her bed that embrac'd her and seeing him presently came downe off her bed and goe his way towards the bed Erycine was in Dicearchus said to Ariana Ha! what 's this my neece is 't possible this that I have seene Ariana smiled but yet asham'd as this young youth was also Dicearchus wondring why they should laugh so replide What 's the matter Neece Where is become of this honour and this vertue What uncle said she to take away his errour you know not Epicharis then for it was she still disguis'd that embrac'd her deare Mistresse who could not be satisfied with the kindnesses she express'd to her for the agreeable services shee had done her And now Dicearchus regarding her was himselfe asham'd that he had accus'd them and said that another would have beene deceiv'd as well as he After rejoycing to see her againe and learning some of their fortunes he enquir'd of Ariana how she did with her wearinesse and after the fright she had beene in shee assur'd him that her brothers returne had cur'd all her distempers Well sayes he I will leave you with this good brother of yours and Melintus with Erycine that was in a bed on the other side for 't is no small matter you have to tell one another and the same time went his way out Palamede told his sister Wee have had leisure enough of discoursing together by the way as we came and for my part I finde these entertainments of sisters but cold ceremonies It were better we separated and so went away from her to cast himselfe upon Erycine's bed leaving Melintus with his sister Ariana to be even with him sayd Brother I admire your humour to be so soone comforted for what you have heard that remembrance all on the sudden abated his courage and stayed the liberties he began to take with Erycine and Epicharis who had much adoe to defend themselves from him Melintus taking that occasion said to Ariana Madam I understood this losse with a great deale of sorrow you being so sensible of it your selfe I ought not sayes she to have bin exempt from miseries while you and my brother were so cruelly persecuted by fortune but I sweare to you I was sufficiently tormented with the feares I had for you two though this accident had not befallen me I doe not thinke my eyes were ever dry since I left you you see a face that sufficiently shewes the part it hath taken in
the vexations of my soule and doe but consider a little to what I was reduced when by your hands I was deliver'd and what thoughts I could have being in the hands of those robbers After losing of a brother as I beleev'd whose death was followed with my fathers I saw they were gone to cut my uncle's throat the onely support I had left me and my selfe forsaken of all and condemn'd to suffer the rage of those hangmen without your rescue whom I am beholding to for what I have most deare in the world Madam answered Melintus we were first indebted to you for our life and honour and you secured both to us by meanes of Epicharis whom you sent us if since we have assisted you you are wholly to thanke your selfe for your deliverance but I know not how you should ever pardon mee for the feares I put you in going to force you away from among those Souldiers But rather replide she how will you pardon mee the blowes I gave you for so I payed you for all the paines you had taken to save me Ah Madam answer'd he how pleasing were those blowes to me but may I dare to remember you of one you call'd upon to helpe you Ariana blush'd and told him a little after I remember it well enough and give you leave to take those words I spake as much for your advantage as you please Melintus taking her hand in excesse of joy pursues Upon this assurance Madam may I from henceforth without offence tell you my thoughts Hee spake these words in a voyce so trembling and with a face so pale that Ariana well perceiv'd the extreme respect he bare her and the feare he had to tell her of any thing might displease her but to encourage him she answered Melintus I have sufficiently made triall of your friendship by your discretion I will not have you spend so much as one word to assure me any more of it He was so ravish'd that bowing him and putting his mouth to the faire hand he held hee was some time in this posture without any speaking so transported was he with contentment Ariana was very glad to see him so seized but at last he lift up himselfe and said to her What will you thinke of me Madam to see me silent after such a favour and indeed so great it is that there are not words to expresse to you neither the excesse of my joy nor how much I am to rest your servant Ariana answers him If we measure the obligations without doubt those I have to you are farre the greater but you are to be satisfied with mee seeing that to acquit myselfe I give you my soule which is all I am Your soule Madam replies Melintus may I be so bold to beleeve these advantageous words but why should I not beleeve them since they come from your mouth that cannot be but true Will this faire soule then give it selfe to me for to animate a body so unworthy of it and will you indeed receive mine in place of it Melintus said Ariana I doe not meane so this exchange would be too prejudicious for you but at the least I give you a part of my soule which is my will and I must have you dispose of it from henceforth in exchange of yours which I am sure is in my possession Melintus was so rapt for these deare engagements that the commotions of his heart disturb'd his minde and stopp'd the freedome of his thoughts and the knowledge of that disorder gave Ariana a greater assurance of his joy and passion than a thousand words could have done In the end he replies It is impossible Madam I should expresse to you how deare these favours are to my soule for the more I resent them the lesse am I able to tell you but it suffices you to know the greatnesse of my affection by being assured how they replenish me with joy and you shall see with what submission I receive them by the inviolable respect that shall alwayes accompany me in your presence and when I have declar'd what I am I will incessantly call to my remembrance the estate wherein I was when you were so favourable to me Melintus sayes Ariana interrupting him this declaration is the businesse you are to thinke upon at this time and I would advise you to make your selfe knowne to my brother you are not to deferre it any longer if you thinke it fit to be done and then we may consult together concerning the wayes we are to take for since the death of my father there is come from Corinth Pisistratus sonne of Calistenes who was uncle to Acidalia by whose onely meanes my uncle married her after a sute of many yeeres lasting This Pisistratus drawne hither rather by the reputation of some estate than of any beauty he sayes is in me hath brought letters from his father to Dicearchus wherein he desires him to doe the like in his sonnes behalfe with me that he had heretofore done for him with his Neece Acidalia Pisistratus relying upon that favor thinks not he hath made an unprofitable voyage but that with the duties he renders my uncle and the affection he expresses to me he shall presently marry me and carry me away to Corinth in the same ship that brought him hither which still attends him for this purpose On the other side Diocles seekes my uncle more than ever and he entertaines them both with hope not knowing what to resolve on for although he hath great obligations to Calisthenes he is not willing for all that to have me so farre from him by giving me to Pisistratus and againe seeing him to have such faire possessions and comming of a farre more illustrious house than Amyntas he cannot finde in his heart to refuse him Upon these uncertainties it were good you first declar'd your birth and after that your suit Madam replied Melintus you doe me a very great favour to instruct me of all these things and I am very glad your counsell is correspondent to the designe I had but yet I would have wished that it had not prevented the permission I had desired of you to make this declaration I hope it will be well receiv'd for the Syracusians have cause to love me and Dicearchus is oblig'd to me by oath never to wish me ill for my fathers sake The life sayes Ariana you saved him ought much more to oblige him to that and I have reason to take this ill because all that wee shall resolve on from henceforth to your benefit will rather be thought duty and acknowledgement than affection I shall ever take it for pure grace replies Melintus for scarcely could all my services together pretend to hope for so much as one of those words you favour me with This agreeable conversation ended at the arrive of Dicearchus that came to take Melintus and to shew him with his Nephew the beauties of his house before the night obscur'd them and it
not beleeve thee so wicked But what reasons canst thou alleage to colour the usurpation of what was his For if thou hadst no meaning to keepe it why didst thou mocke at Telephus when he advertis'd thee not to aspire to the daughter of Aristides by the support of those riches because Hermocrates sonne was living and if thou wouldst not beleeve that why didst thou not restore those goods to them of the race of Hermocrates since they belong'd not to thee See there then the treasures thou hast acquired without running Fortune either by sea or land see there the excessive gaine thou hast made returne of giving nothing in exchange for so many possessions but thy faith and thy conscience which thou hast forsaken This Trafficke was made within thy selfe and thou hadst nothing to doe but to deliberate whether to get that estate thou wert not to betray thy soule Thy avarice disputed against thy fidelity and the decree thy judgement gave in behalfe of it is the sole title of these new acquisitions But 't is but to abuse the cares of the Iudge and of the people to seeke for other proofes after a case so cleare it stands thee then upon to disavow the writing of Hermocrates and thy owne too and after that to report the titles of all thou art possess'd of and all this being impossible I demand of the Syracusians that they condemne thee to restore the goods thou injustly detain'st from me whereby I might from henceforth sustaine the quality of my birth and that they ordaine for thy infidelity that punishment it hath deserved When Melintus had made an end of his speech all the people began to clap their hands and to cry out Condemne Diocles but the Judges having made the noyse cease commanded him to speake Then he requir'd time for to consider upon his justification and said that hee could not answer in the field to all Melintus his impostures that he well knew how to defend himselfe from them but that he must have some leisure to make the falsnesse of what he had said appeare They gave him the writings that Telephus brought in and demanded of him if he knew them He could not disavow his owne hand-writing nor that of Hermocrates but hee said all this made not against him but that he might have gotten the goods before his depart The Judges enquir'd of him if he had the Contracts of the sale that passed betweene them He answered that they were at his house and that he onely desired time to produce them They order'd that hee should send his sonne Amyntas who was present to goe bring them but then he sayd they were not in place where he could finde them and that he himselfe had need of terme for to put them in order All these answers being but shifts and the people never ceasing to cry out against him the Judges assembled together to deliberate and after a long time speaking what they had to say some excusing Diocles that had to that time beene ignorant who Melintus was others shewing more severity and saying that how-ever the case stood he was willing to retaine what appertain'd not to him In the end the Magistrate pronounc'd this judgement That Diocles was condemn'd not onely to restore into the hands of Melintus all those goods he held of Hermocrates but besides to pay him the revenue for the time he had possessed them and that for the infidelity he had committed he was banish'd for three years The people by their applauses seemed to be well satisfied for this sentence and Melintus making a signe with his hand that he would againe speak all was silent and he said I have hitherto onely demanded justice of you and now I demand a grace at your hands which is to revoke the banishment of Diocles in my favour and for the revenue of my estate for the time that is past I give it to Amyntas whose good qualities I esteeme and will be a friend to him Every one having admired the generousnesse of Melintus towards the father and his liberality towards the sonne he obtained all that he desir'd and this last action brake off the assembly Melintus tooke Ariana's hand who was full of satisfaction for the happy successe of their desires and brought her backe to her house with Palamede and their friends Diocles full of sadnesse and shame retir'd him to his owne house not knowing whether hee were to complaine of Melintus or commend him from whom in so small a time he had receiv'd so many displeasures and so many graces Dicearchus who had not assisted at the playes because of his place which he quitted to his Nephew learn'd this newes of a friend of his that presently went his way to advertise him of it for to advise together how they were to live with Melintus since hee was knowne for the sonne of Hermocrates When they were upon that doubt Melintus comes in bringing Ariana Palamede made the recite to Dicearchus of all had passed and so to Melintus his advantage that he was oblig'd to confesse to him that he rejoyced for that good fortune But after all was retir'd when Palamede said to his uncle that they were to esteeme themselves very happy in this that nothing hereafter could be found wanting in Melintus for giving his sister to him since his birth and estate were as great as he could desire them to be Dicearchus answered how that deserv'd well to be thought of at leisure and for that time could get nothing else from him This acknowledging of Melintus for sonne of Hermocrates was cause of the death of two persons Diocles whether it were that he was seized with griefe for seeing himselfe fallen from so great a fortune or whether hee repented for having committed so great an infidelity was found dead the day after in his bed and Hyperia who till then beleev'd she possessed an inestimable good having a sonne so accomplish'd as Melintus receiv'd a farre greater affliction when she knew she was not his mother than she had done when the newes was brought her of his death and not able to resist this dolour lost her life some dayes after Melintus having much resented the losse of a person that held the place of a very affectionate mother to him could not for all that keepe any long time this displeasure in his minde being too much diverted by his hopes and seeing himselfe restor'd to the possession of all that could appertaine to him he thought nothing could now retard his contentments being assured of the affections of Ariana of Dicearchus and of Palamede He came every day to visit them and had conceiv'd too high an estimation of his felicity receiving every moment new testimonies of Ariana's love had it not beene for some coldnesse that Dicearchus made apparent to him though he endevour'd to hide it with a feined courtesie Pisistratus too rendred many duties to Ariana and Melintus seeing that Dicearchus made more esteem of him than
againe without seeing it and closed as I had received it The same night that I did his affection that outrage and that hee receiv'd that usage so unworthy of him I understood how hee hardly escap'd dying his affliction assailed him in such sort that they thought hee would have beene strangled but for the remedies were brought to ease him I thought I could no more receive his letters since I suffered the sute that Callias renewed I let my selfe goe with the common opinions that all the women that live in the world have not husbands so perfect and yet are no lesse contented with those they have that it were better to obey ones father than satisfie the desires of a person that was before unknowne and if there remain'd in mee any consideration for Lepantus I said that hee having a strong and a constant spirit would learne resolution by the losse of me and with this vile reason I defended that cruelty that sent him death into his bosome I often considered upon the excesse of his respect and love that never suffered him to make so much as one complaint of me and the resolutions hee tooke afterwards made mee plainly see that this silence proceeded of no little resentment hee was affected with In the end I consent to the marriage of Callias and hee is receiv'd at our house Every one wonders at my resolution and how Lepantus had so dis-ingaged me from loving him Callias was not very vicious and had no remarkable imperfection in him but hee was of the number of these middle and indifferent sort for whom those that have wit and courage have so much contempt At first I compared him to the most part of them I knew married and I found that hee might equall them But all on the sudden see my traiterous memory that had sometime concealed Lepantus from mee how it came to represent him with all his perfections and making comparison with Callias to him I found so great a difference that I was asham'd of the fault I went about to make In stead of a right shape and majestuous countenance I saw a heavy body and gracelesse in stead of that exalted spirit that handled rare subjects with so much facility and so pleasingly diverted mee I found a languishing entertainment and that was capable of nothing but the meanest things in stead of that so native courtesie and gentile carriage I saw a man that observ'd no civilities but those he tooke from the imitation of others I begin to regard him with coldnesse afterwards with disgust and in the end with a contempt that was more cruell to me than to him neverthelesse I had let all things be resolv'd on and could no more goe backe The day that Lepantus knew the agreements were to be signed when I went to the Temple he came neare me unseene and said to me Never will I be brought to make any reproach to you while I live but the death I am going to seeke will never leave you in repose At the same time he with-drew himselfe from mee I had not knowne what to have answered him so much did his sight and words trouble mee and seeing him no more an horrour seized me and so great a shaking withall that I could hardly stand upright Yet recalling all the resolution was left me I thought it had beene the last agony of our dying friendship I estranged therefore as much as I could Lepantus from my imagination and rejected the exact consideration of what I was going to doe but when all was setled and by my hand too and that I had shut my eyes to take this poyson comming to open them againe I perceiv'd that all those that lov'd Lepantus could no more endure the sight of mee the pitty of the sicknesse he could have no cure for made them have mee in detestation and they esteem'd me unworthy to have beene so well loved of him in stead of a common rejoycing there was a generall silence and there was none but the most contemptible persons that express'd any joy All this amazed mee one while Lepantus presented him to my imagination reproaching mee with my infidelity all his faire qualities came to assault mee one after the other and seeing Callias in the place he was wont to hold I turned away my eyes and could not endure him Every one acknowledg'd my phrensies but they imputed them to my humour which they tooke to be something proud and singular At last the day arriv'd that I was led to the Temple betimes in the morning and having knowne that Lepantus was gone out of the City for not being a witnesse of an action so shamefull for mee and so unfortunate for himselfe I never had so great desire to heare newes of him as then to learne what would become of him After I had beene married I perceived at the doore of the Temple a man that was not knowne but I knew he belong'd to Lepantus and ghessing hee was not there but to bring this newes to him I said to him passing by Goe tell thy Master what thou hast seene and at what houre soever it be come againe to tell me what he has done after thy relation Judge faire Ariana what care I could have of him after the action I came from The rest of the day I was so full of trouble that to see my face they thought I had beene sicke It seemed the cruellest of thoughts attempted to assault me all at once for to put mee into the greater disorder and sometimes they provok'd mee with such fury that but for the restraint our sex is obliged to I beleeve I had given up my selfe to desperation My soule was already filled with these confusions when about evening I knew that one ask'd to speake with mee I presently imagined it was newes from Lepantus and went in great haste but trembling withall to know what the matter was I saw it was the very same man that having taken mee apart told mee with the teares in his eyes that having passed in a Squiffe as farre as Naupactum hee found Lepantus that attended him upon the banke of the Sea to whom hee told what he had seene with that hee heard mee say and how â—â—pantus had answered him Stay not a moment to goe tell her againe what thou art about to learne and suddenly hee had got up to the promontory that avances into the Sea and from thence precipitated himselfe into the Gulph he being unable to have come neere to hinder him Hearing this wofull newes I cryed out Oh gods I have made him dye and staying no longer by the man I bade him withdraw himselfe and I went againe into the great Chamber all in trouble and with wandring eyes They enquired what I ailed but presently I fell into a weaknesse My father Callias and the rest astonish'd for this accident laboured to bring mee againe and by force of remedies I opened my eyes then I was carried to my bed where I was
you have more strength of wit than I but above all never perswade your selfe that the affection you have for Melintus can be annihilated whether by resolution or by time for feare you abandon not upon that hope all the prosperity of your life See then Ariana when by a mature knowledge of vertues and deserts two wils are encountred equall 't is now no more a passion but 't is reason that loves We cannot hope that ever such affections should be separate from our soules there arrive many times accidents that may trouble us and make us receive false opinions but when those fancies are dissipated the first impressions that cannot be dissolved appeare as ingraved as ever before and are felt in their whole strength and judge you in what estate one is if during the trouble of judgement one has committed so great a fault as cannot afterwards be repaired We must confesse answered Ariana that men have much more force in resolutions than wee for when they have once conceiv'd a designe that is of importance to the good of their whole life they maintaine it to the very last breath and doe all things possible to put it to effect Contrariwise our spirit slackens to the least obstacle we know not what will become of us and our feeblenesse hinders us from clearing the meanest passage for the attaining of supreme felicities 'T is true pursues Cyllenia but why should not one woman be found amongst us to expresse a resolution and to relieve the honour of our sex Faire Ariana if I have thus failed for want of courage doe not you the like acquire to your selfe with much glory much contentment Nature hath given us secret desires not onely to conserve our lives but also to make them happy for the first she has given us the love of our selves and for the second she will have us love some other thing but because the love of our selves is first the more the thing we love resembles us the more happy are we when we can possesse it So when two soules meet alike in goodnesse sweetnesse and vertue 't is a treasure cannot be esteemed and such a rancounter is made but once in an age and these are to despise all the hinderances they finde of uniting themselves together to the end they may enjoy the perfect contentments of so faire a friendship for after they be once knowne and lov'd one of another if it chances they be divided it cannot be without an insupportable violence and without suffering afterwards as cruell punishments as they had promis'd to themselves pleasures of eternall conversation together We must needs thinke replied Ariana that these felicities are exceeding great since the onely hope I have to live one day with Melintus ravishes mee for to tell you the secret of my thoughts I doe not beleeve that any thing but the death of one of us can ever be able to keepe me from them I thinke the time long till he be here arriv'd with my brother that you may judge whether I have reason to love him and that we may all together take counsell how we are to divert my uncle's designes for the favouring of our owne I shall be very glad answered Cyllenia to give my advice in those conferences and assure your selfe my resolutions shall not be lesse generous These faire Maids entertain'd one another often thus during the absence of Palamede and attending with impatiency his returne and Melintus his sometimes the gentile Epicharis interpos'd her counsels being lov'd of them both as much as her wit and discretion deserv'd Dicearchus many times came to see them and pursued his Neece to consent to his designe whereupon she referr'd her resolution to the returne of her brother Neither did Pisistratus faile of his respects to her hoping to gaine by the expressions of his affection what Melintus had already acquired by so great a number of merits and services that Ariana's dis-acknowledgement had farre surpassed that of her uncle if she should have so much as made a doubt of satisfying the promises shee had so solemnly sworne to him The end of the first Part. ARIANA. The Second Part. The first Booke SInce the cruell depart of Ariana Melintus had banish'd from his soule all kinds of joy and seem'd to have lost by absenting her from his sight so many faire qualities that made him admirable This spirit so generous so sage and courteous now languish'd overwhelm'd with griefe without any appearance of vertue receiving his friends respects without expressing a resentment to them and altogether carelesse of returning any He hated as much as his disease the divertments that might ease him and cherish'd nothing but that profound sadnesse that consumed him He had no contentment but when he redemanded of his memory the deare pledge it had in keeping the divine Idea of his faire Ariana which never presented her to his imagination but with a pomp worthy of her accompanied with lights that rendred her all bright full of charmes and graces and who seemed to send him amorous regards for to comfort him in this absence and assure him of her fidelity But still this pleasure was troubled with many vexations presently was bred a wish to see those beauties otherwise than by Idea then followed an impatient desire if not to possesse them at least to enjoy the favours that were heretofore permitted him but this unfortunate desire being acknowledg'd impotent and destitute of all succours replunged him into the excesse of his afflictions They are but senslesse people that can be happy by phantasie because their judgement nothing operative and unable to discerne the false from the true they receive and resent their imaginary good things as true ones Melintus on the contrary was not miserable but for having too much sense the solidity of his judgement repelled in despight of himselfe these vaine illusions and brought him to see and feele the truth of his disgrace with all the miseries that accompanied it If he sometimes laboured to releeve himselfe by meditations of vertue which teacheth to contemne humane accidents as things that are without us and whereof wee have not the jurisdiction and if his courage made a hard strife to find comfort in this separation considering it was to end and that evils that have a terme prefix'd receive consolation from hope suddenly a thousand cruell suspitions overthrew his resolutions He found that the hasty voyage of Dicearchus had no apparant thing in it that could be to his advantage hee consider'd the prosperity of Pisistratus who seem'd to triumph over him having had the power to carry away in his ship and to hold in his owne disposition his deare Ariana with those that dispos'd of her the advantage of this rivall to be in his owne countrey assisted by his friends favour'd with a thousand meanes having Dicearchus present Ariana and her brother whom hee would endevour to overcome by all the wayes he could invent whilest himselfe in the meane time
that are practis'd among honest Citizens of a Towne A while after a great number of Princes and Lords arriv'd and there was nothing spoken of but sacrifices and rejoycings for the safety of Pasithea The next day was chosen by the King for certaine exercises these Princes renewed often in the publike place for to dispute prizes in emulation of one another their designe being no other in those Countries but to please the Princesse and enter into her good graces I waited on Pasithea to the Temple where the sacrifices were made with much ceremony and joy as for me I lost my selfe in the prease having made signe to my men to follow me and being return'd to my vessell I went away into the plaine Sea The Princesse wondred to see me no more and thought I was gone to finde Araxes The King commanded they should seeke me out and could not know wherefore I had quitted them without any leave-taking In the meane time they gave not over the resolution they had taken to rejoyce and all things were prepared for the playes against next day I came to know since that Tygranes led the Princesse into the publike place and having left her with the King upon a Scaffold he mounted a horsebacke and went to joyne him to his troop among the Princes who would that day shew their addresse in favour of Pasithea After disputing of some prizes they planted in the middest of the place a pillar of wood to which they fastned armes in fashion of a trophey that represented a man armed The Princes came on horsebacke running about it and he did best that strucke the fairest blow into those armes When they had all given different strokes there was heard twenty trumpets at the end of the lists that made all turne sight to that side and the barrier being open'd the Trumpets entred and placed themselves about the field Presently after fifty men appear'd on foot richly clothed each their speare in hand and buckler on the left arme and in the middle of them was a young warrier armed lightly upon a faire Arabian horse who after that his companions had all of them lanc'd their Javelins upon the trophey came on in a gallop and fastned his into the visiere of the helmet Every one clap'd his hands in expression that that was the fairest blow was given but that noyse ceased because of the same Trumpets that sounded againe and those warriers having ranged them round about the field the barrier was open'd and there was seene to avance by degrees a great pavilion of a stuffe very fine and extreme light the base whereof was carried round on all sides by foure and twenty young children very handsome cloathed in Cassaques of Carnation silke embroyder'd with silver with little head-peeces of the same livery from whence hung downe plumes of carnation and white When this engine was brought into the middest of the place two of those children that bare up the borders before open'd the pavilion and at the same time was seene to come out of it a great Eagle that flew with the pavilion up into the clouds and made sight of it be lost I appear'd then upon a faire white horse marked with red naturall spots I had my head cover'd with plumes of divers colours I was dress'd in a proud Cassaque of embroydery of gold and silver and managed my horse that was in very good equipage The children went to dispose themselves about the Princesse Scaffold and in the meane time after I had given some passada's with my horse I made him take course towards the trophee and I strucke my Javelin into the Casque with so starke a violence that it not onely stayed fastned in it but the pillar also that peradventure had beene shaken before was therewith overthrowne to the ground with the armes My strength was admir'd of all the people and the Princes themselves but much more when I descended from my horse and going towards the Armes I tooke them with the pillar and all upon my shoulder and carried them to the Kings Scaffold I presented them to the Princesse and having laid them at her feer I received of her a bracelet of great pearles that was the prize which I kissed and then passed upon my arme She was filled with a great satisfaction to see me againe and for the honour I had acquir'd in presence of her father who gave me a thousand praises and invited me to appeare againe at the pastimes remain'd Give me leave said Palamede then to interrupt you and let us know if it please you how you were able to finde where withall to make so marvellous an entry I am very glad answered Eurymedon that you have remembred me of it for it may be I should have forgot this I had by good fortune replyed he found all these things in the first ship my souldiers tooke the pavilion the children so adorned that great Eagle the horse on which I rode and the other of my Lieutenant who was a young souldier very valiant and expert he it was that appeared in the middest of those fifty that first entred who were the very choyce of my companions For mee having found this Eagle very big I tyed a cord to her foot the other end whereof was fastned to the top of the pavilion that was sustain'd within by the point of a great speare I held in my hand and I bare it thus my selfe on horsebacke in marching with the children that lift it up by the borders I held the Eagle all that while and when the Pavilion was opened I let her goe and she carried away with her that pavilion that was but of a light stuffe This invention was much approved of Melintus Palamede and the rest then Eurymedon went on The last pastime was that all they that had appeared in the other exercises should joyne them together and strike at one another with Javelins whose point was rebated onely to shew dexterity and grace which was rather a kinde of dance than a combat They gave mee one of those Javelins and remounting upon my horse I went to mingle my selfe with that company but the play was such as greatly troubled the joy of that dayes worke Two Armenians had put themselves into the party with darts that were very sharp and one of them struck Tygranes wounded him to death the other addressed him to me whose blow I happily avoyded rather because 't is naturall to turne away the body from a dart one sees comming to him than for any feare I had cause to have of being hurt therewith but yet I could not hinder the blow from piercing me into the arme Presently Tygranes cried out that he was hurt he that gave the stroke would have run away with his companion and their flight onely accus'd them for it would have beene doubted whence the blow should come if they had stayed amongst us all was in allarme at the instant and in disorder Archelaus came
there is nothing can better perswade than innocence All that the Art of Eloquence can doe for to palliate a crime is to breed a doubt to take away the knowledge of the accusation whether it be true or false then it labours to move compassion in the Iudges to make them incline towards the better part but truth hath no need of artifice or disguisement she discovers her all naked and then produces out of her selfe an infinity of powerfull and invincible proofes This is that truth that comes to my defense and goes so pure out of my mouth as you shall have no trouble to acknowledge it No crime it was most just King that made me depart my owne Countrey neither by any crime have I entred into this One misfortune drove me from the land of my birth and another have I met with in your kingdome The first lost mee the dearest of my hopes and the other will violently take from me the onely things are left mee which are honour and life As for my life I would abandon it willingly as the most unfortunate of the world 't is not the feare of losing it that makes mee speake before you I endevoured to forsake that when it seem'd honourable for me to dye but since the crime they accuse me of is shamefull and the punishment that threatens it this occasion hath fast bound my life unto my honour and I am obliged to defend the one for to preserve the other Since I left Greece I wandred from province to province to give ease to an anguish that afflicts me and passing by a wood to arrive at this City I perceiv'd that I was environed with persons that tooke hold of me without telling me for what cause afterwards I knew there had beene a man slaine in that same place and how the murtherers were brought to the same prison with mee who knowing that I was accus'd of their crime mocked at me when they saw me and sware they would not declare mee innocent But it is easie to verifie whether I be guilty or no. Let them be interrogated apart in what sort they know me and it will appeare that I never saw them before It is but a moneth since I passed into Asia and in that time I traversed Eolida Lydia and Troas I was but two dayes within Galatia and the day I was taken I had come from a place so remote from hence that it was impossible for me to have any acquaintance with them All this may be knowne of those whom I lodged with in my voyages who will not deny to witnesse to that I say See there great King and you the Iudges all the eloquence I will serve my selfe of The truth it is that speakes out of my mouth Shee will have you give her the victory of this dayes worke it 's she pretends the prize and not I she shewes her selfe to you all naked for to shew you that the others eloquence in comparison of her is but an adulterate beauty Iustice that is seated by your sides holds out her armes to her and from under her head-band failes not to know her perfectly This severe goddesse is without doubt for the present well satisfied that the gods have put amongst the accused an innocent for feare she should this day have beene constrained to let goe an offender Great King take pitty of a stranger that has no support with you besides this justice but this stay is very powerfull sine 't is that alone that can maintaine kingdomes I feare not death but infamy If I cannot deserve the prize of eloquence from so many rare wits ordaine me at least from this present to goe employ my life in the defense of your frontiers against the Barbarians I shall esteeme my selfe happy to dye like a man of courage If I cannot avoyd death at leastwise let me avoyd shame or if you will make this day famous by the most memorable judgment that ever was let none of us all beare away the victory but give in my favour the prize of eloquence to truth and life to innocence I made an end thus with some kinde of hope because I was heard with much attention Presently the King rose up and after taking the opinions of all the Judges he sate him downe in his seat againe then hee pronounc'd The Greeke Lepantus is declared by our judgement innocent and victorious By and by they came for me from among the criminals with whom I had placed me againe and making me approach to the Throne where the King was I put one knee upon one of the steps and received from his hand the crowne ordained for the victor The King was not contented with this grace which he had given to my innocence rather than my eloquence but lifting up himselfe he tooke me by the arme and commanded me to accompany him because he would know what I was He did me the favour to leane on mee till we came to his chamber where having enquir'd of me all he had a minde to I satisfied him with the most respect I could then he offered me one of the chiefe places of his judicature if I would stay with him I answered him that being redeuable to him for so many graces hee might dispose of the life he had given me but that finding me uncapable to governe my selfe it would be impossible for me to governe his people that were under his authority That if he would adde an extreme favour to so many others I besought him would give me leave to returne into my owne Countrey He labour'd to retaine me still by some reasons but seeing that if I would have yeelded to him it was for not daring to contradict him and that my desire was altogether bent to depart his Realme he made me some presents and let me goe I put my selfe into some equipage for my returne and providing me of men and horses for not running any more such shamefull fortune I re-passed by the same wayes I came then I crossed the Egean Sea and descended into Macedonia where having stayed some time I went into Epire whither we are now going But because vexations were my most agreeable company I began to be weary of my men and resolved to goe live in some solitude According to this project I left them in Epire with charge to attend mee there untill I had made a voyage into Italy I passed the Sea without any of my people and arriv'd at Brundusium I traversed Apulia never meeting with any place I could delight in from thence I came to Cumae where having found a corner to be alone in as much as I would I tooke some small provision to eat which I carried in with me and there I accused the gods as much as I pleased I tormented my selfe according to my humour with cruell remembrances and the more paine I inflicted on my selfe the more satisfaction I imagin'd to receive That place was the den of the Cumean Sybil and one
what sicknesse soever was upon him he spake no more but of retiring from me to goe to her I knew then he had never lov'd me and was tormented with a cruell jealousie that gave me no repose I saw well that I had no cause to retaine him since he lov'd me not and yet I could not endure he should forsake me Never had I experience of so many troublesome passions as then distracted me but I confesse there cannot be imagin'd a more cruell torment Love hatred the resentments of contempt and jealousie put me into such a disorder that my mind was in 〈◊〉 perpetuall fury There rested for all that in me I know not what hope that beleeving him to be of a great spirit he could not but esteeme himselfe much oblig'd to me for so many duties I had rendred hi 〈…〉 neverthelesse this ingrate this perfidious man prayed me at last to give him leave to retire I expected that blow with a great deale of feare and receiving it I forc'd my selfe some time to perswade him to stay still with me but seeing him resolv'd to be gone I perceiv'd there is nothing so sensible as the contempt and the ingratitude of that one loves I could no longer containe my selfe but gave him all the reproaches an outraged lover could make in calling him traitor villaine ingratefull and all that may be said in a furious anger This artificiall man having given free liberty to my rage to make it lose its force began to pacifie me by little and little by the most flattering words deceit it selfe could have invented He perswaded me to what he would being so weakned by the agitations of my soule that in that estate it was easie for him to vanquish me Then he labour'd to make me beleeve things that were so pleasing to my desires and that in such sort flattered my hopes that I conspir'd also with him for to abuse my selfe Never had he express'd so much passion to me as he did at that time he spared neither protestations nor oaths for to assure me of his love and his fidelity and feining some dayes that he could not be farre from my presence he obtain'd insensibly leave to be gone in making me hope that he would returne to me every houre Being thus escap'd out of my hands he counterfetted himselfe sicke that he might not be oblig'd to see me againe untill hee return'd into Sicily I sent often to heare of him and was advertis'd of all that passed at their house by the meanes of a young boy call'd Damis slave of Maximus who reported to me that nothing was so agreeable to Melintus as the deare assistance of this faire Ariana It consum'd my heart with jealousie and despite that he had thus deceiv'd me to get away I attended still a good while and the more time passed away the more he made me lose hope of seeing him ever againe This outrage seized me in such wise as I became sicke and willing to prove to what degree his ingratitude would proceed or whether pitty might not doe that which love could not obtaine I gave out every where that I was at the extremity to try if he would not render me at least some office in the very last moments of my life But this cruell man this Barbarian was never touch'd for any accident that could arrive to me and had lesse care of me than if he had never knowne me Not content yet with that triall I made it be reported that I was dead to see if he would not come to visit Camilla and to heare being closely hid what he would say to her upon the regret of my death and I will tell you truly what my fury was then I was resolved if he came to come forth of my ambuscado after I had heard him a while and to teare him in peeces with my teeth and with my nailes but all that mov'd him no more than if he had had no soule and I knew beside that he had hindred Palamede from comming to see my sister upon the accident was thought to have befallen me I knew not now in the extreme dolour I was in what artifice to use nor what resolution to take when the passion of others was neare to have succour'd mine and supplied the defect of my inventions Marcelin as I knew of Damis to be reveng'd of these Sicilians to whom he was enemy attempted to burne them all one night in their house or if they got out to kill Melintus and Palamede and to carry away Ariana in that disorder for to give her to the Emperour This enterprise as I came to know since succeeded not well for Marcelin who was slaine without the City by Melintus and Ariana sav'd her selfe by I know 〈◊〉 what meanes but the day after Palamede and Melintus were taken and brought prisoners to Rome Never pursued Emilia had I so much joy as to learne that they were destin'd to death being accused for having set fire on the City and when I was advertis'd that they were to be brought before the Senate to have judgement I disguis'd me in the same estate as I am now for the present in to see what countenance they had and to what punishment they should be condemned and slipping into the Senate-house among the crowd I so wrought that I got a place whence I could see them at my ease I saw this traitor present himselfe without any amazement and in seeing him I became pale and a shaking horror surpriz'd me that tooke from me all strength The trembling that had seiz'd me quitted me not as long as I beheld him but when he began to speake I felt my selfe even gone so was I taken with the different passions that perplexed me In the end I recollected a little force and courage and seeing in what sort he defended himselfe Ha! said I to my selfe see how this deceiver spake to me when hee would abuse me How well he knowes to disguise the causes of their misery and his love for Ariana He dares not pronounce that name for feare of being troubled And yet I confesse to you that I felt my selfe affected with the things he said and my hatred was not powerfull enough to resist the force of his discourse I would have had them adjudged him to death and yet I well saw that it was impossible to condemne him I attended his judgement with as much trouble as if it had beene my owne and for all I desir'd he should dye I surpris'd my selfe sometimes in the estate of having a feare for his life But yet for all that I saw they were about to absolve him and I was angry and content at the same time but when they came from Nero to command the judgement to be surceased for that he would declare his will upon the matter I cannot expresse in what state I was in I well perceiv'd how the Emperour feared lest they should have beene dismissed and quitted and that this signified
consolation to all the company presently they resolv'd to follow the propositions of Lepantus and to depart that house to goe into that Arcas had reserv'd for himselfe It was done that very night and what ever they had more precious than other was transported into that lodging which was commodious enough the house they were in was left to those it belonged to whom they tooke leave of feining to goe and embarque themselves they left them reasonably well rewarded and obliged them by their presents not to tell that any of them had stayed in that place Arcas went towards the ship which he sent away to that same Bay with a charge that if they were found they should not tell whose men they were but to feine any thing rather ARIANA. The fourth Booke THe next day after that cruell one wherein so many miseries hapned in stead of so many expected joyes Trebatius and Emilia made an exact search throughout all the City except the houses where the Roman souldiers were who had all of them given their faiths that no Citizen was lodged with them Arcas made himselfe the busiest man of all in ferretting all the corners of houses being certaine that they would never goe into his About evening he failed not to appeare there and assure his good Master and all the company that he hoped to keepe them from being discovered and that Epicharis was to be admir'd at for her resolution not to disconceale them especially that she had remov'd the opinion of their being in that Countrey at all shee fear'd onely lest they might not expose her to some punishment That word so transported Palamede as he resolv'd either to dye or save her He enquir'd of Arcas in what part of Trebatius house she was shut up and how many persons were appointed for her guard and when he had learn'd all the particulars he desir'd to know he feined no more thinking of her and went to bed But when he thought every body asleepe he descended downe the window by his sheets into the street having no other armes but his sword He went to Trebatius lodging at the gate whereof was a Corps de guard where being entred without any trouble because they tooke him for one of the souldiers he went on towards the descent of the obscure place where Epicharis was enclos'd and finding a souldier that kept the entry he threw his cloake about his head for feare he should cry out and at the same time stabbed him twice or thrice into the body and went not from thence till the souldier had expir'd He went downe afterwards without feare into that obscurity and was come even to the doore of the dungeon where was another souldier with the keyes and a little light about him This souldier surpriz'd ask'd him who he was but Palamede not willing to give him the leisure of knowing him assail'd him with good blowes of his sword and presently laid him dead at his feet Then he tooke the keyes and with the helpe of the little light he had open'd the dungeon doore Epicharis beleev'd that they came for her to propound more questions or else to make her confesse something by torment but when she felt her selfe embrac'd by Palamede she tooke him for some indiscreet souldier and repuls'd him rudely But for all that Palamede making him knowne to her and expressing a thousand joyes for seeing her againe she was exceedingly amaz'd and ask'd him how he was able to come thither He related to her all he had done then he said how they were to lose no time and prayed her to make haste to goe out with him I am fast sayes she by the feet and I am much afraid that all your paines have prov'd unusefull and that you be not here in great danger for having slaine my guards Neverthelesse searching among the keyes they were so fortunate as to finde those of her irons Palamede open'd the locke and full of rapture for delivering his Mistresse kissed her faire feet and cursed a thousand times those that had made so delicate a person endure such misery At last Epicharis after having tried a while if she could goe well resolv'd to be gone Palamede was of opinion she should goe out alone as he had entred alone and that he would follow her presently after and for feare she should be knowne he made her take the Coat-armour and the Casque of one of the two souldiers he had kill'd to the end they might let her passe without difficulty She would have had him goe first alone but it became her to give way to the love of Palamede She passed therefore without feare so disguis'd through the Corps de guard and being escap'd she stayed some time in a place for to goe along with Palamede whose fortune had beene very different from hers for having delayed the time a while he was going out also after he had taken the Casque and Coat-armour of the other dead souldier but when he was very neare out a souldier stayed him by the arme and ask'd him whither he went He answer'd him in the Roman language that he was going out by the command of Trebatius but when he was demanded the word he could not tell it and though he tooke his sword in hand to escape by valour yet they fail'd not to encompasse and seize upon him By and by after the dead souldiers were found and they knew that Epicharis was escaped Palamede was kept till the next day attending the waking of Trebatius and betimes in the morning he was brought before him but when Dicearchus was sent for to know him there cannot be describ'd an astonishment like to that of this old man who prosecuted the death of Melintus never thinking his Nephew had beene with him but that he was still at Athens whither he thought he had gone In the end being come to himselfe againe he intreated Trebatius to save his Nephew's life who was in no sort guilty of what Melintus had done but Trebatius willing to satisfie the command he had receiv'd of the Emperour and revenge the death of his souldiers by punishing the hardy enterprise of Palamede commanded him to be set in the place of Epicharis and if he would not tell where Melintus was that within two dayes they should put him to death Palamede said it was a long time agoe ere he had seene Melintus and that his uncle could witnesse for him with whom he parted from Syracuse to goe to Corinth and after that had taken leave of him to goe to Athens that he had a desire to see in order all the Cities of Greece and Epire and being arriv'd at this he had learn'd that Epicharis was retain'd prisoner whom he lov'd sufficiently for to undertake her deliverance that since he had beene so happy as to effect it he tooke no more care for any thing could happen to himselfe Trebatius said how this encounter of him and Epicharis made him beleeve it was not true he told
mother as from him a supposititious letter and without any more delay he comes to our house and intreated my mother to shew it him and told her it must have beene sent by some spirit that was very neare to have ruin'd his sonnes life When he had seene it he express'd in such sort that he was innocent of this letter and made her so many satisfactions that she could have no suspition at all of him and made it appeare that shee had much sorrow for Hermocrates sicknesse whom she greatly esteemed her selfe And for this cause they concluded together our marriage before they parted and imagining from whence this letter should come they conceiv'd it must be from Dicearchus who since that time had express'd a greater passion to me than ever before See then how Dicearchus willing to hinder our marriage advanc'd it assembling together by his owne invention those that otherwise would have had much adoe to have effected it As soone as Hermocrates learn'd this good newes it seem'd they had restor'd him his life and we went oft to visit him untill he was perfectly recovered Then were wee married together with a thousand rejoycings and passed away three or foure yeeres with all the contentments can be imagined without having yet any children In the meane time Dicearchus not able to endure that our marriage should be made while he were at Syracuse was gone to Corinth where he stayed about two yeares at the end whereof he return'd into Sicily with Acidalia whom he had married Presently after he declar'd himselfe enemy to Hermocrates who having then lost his father seem'd to hold the first place in the City he practis'd the factious men on all sides to make a league against him and seem'd to have no other end in all his actions than to displease and ruine him if it were possible At last hee sought out so many meanes to attaine his designe that there was one that succeeded to his wish You know it may be pursues Euphrosyne how he made armes be carried by night over the wals of our house and ranged them as in a readinesse for an occasion at the same time he went to advertise the chiefe of the City that Hermocrates projected to make himselfe a Tyrant and that it would appeare at his house They came to our house that very night and ravish'd from my armes my deare Hermocrates for to carry him away prisoner You may judge what trouble I was then surpriz'd in neverthelesse in this calamity I receiv'd some consolation for the innocency of my husband and when Dicearchus friends solicited on that side to have him condemn'd to dye I did all I could to make the villany of that artifice appeare and what appearance there could be that a private man would make himselfe Tyrant over a Citie that was of the Roman Empire But all I could obtaine was to moderate the condemnation to a banishment for five yeares and to have fifteene dayes given us to order our affaires in Neverthelesse that time serv'd but to increase our misery for Dicearchus having knowne that we were to retire to Carthage the place of my originall and not content with our banishment had leisure to practise certaine Pyrats who covenanted with him for a great summe of money that they would surprize us in our passage from Lylibeum to Carthage and after that they would goe and sell us apart to some Barbarians for feare we should ever see one another againe or returne into our Countrey and because I was very big with childe at the same time hee made them promise him to put to death whatever should be borne of mee untill wee came to be sold After wee had committed the managing of our estate to Diocles our friend for to administer it during the five yeares banishment wee departed accompanied with Telephus not knowing the miseries Dicearchus had prepar'd for us but I was so happy as to be brought to bed of you at Lylibeum said Euphrosyne to Melintus where I stayed more than fifteene dayes till I could endure the Sea and it seemed you were willing to be borne at that time to retard as much as you could possibly the miseries that were to happen to your parents We happily advis'd to leave you secretly in Sicily and give you to Telephus for if we had carried you away with us you had not beene alive at this houre then tooke we leave of our Countrey all in teares and went to goe aboard the Vessell But there befell me a mischance that was an augury that this voyage should prove very deadly to us for thinking to enter into the ship my foot slipt and I fell into the Sea the affection of Hermocrates was such as hee threw himselfe presently after me ind by swimming saved me and brought me aboard againe After we had dried us a while we stayed not our departing and because the passage is but short wee soone perceiv'd a light vessell that had parted from the coasts which in a small time set upon us Hermocrates judged them to be Sea-coursers and intreated those that were with him to take armes and defend themselves as well as they might But their number was but small and besides they were not in state to fight never expecting they should have beene fought with in the small way they had to passe Yet for all that they were not wanting to defend themselves courageously and Hermocrates was not taken untill he had laid six of them at his feet His valour was esteemed of the Pyrats who in consideration of him pardon'd those that were with us and taking what they found best out of our ship made us enter into theirs After they had passed us a good way on the Sea they brought us to a place of their owne retreat and it was strange to see what fidelity these Pyrats kept with Dicearchus in that they had promised him because they might have expected a greater ransome from us than that they had receiv'd of him and yet in the meane time they failed not in what they had sworne to him Neverthelesse they shewed us some favour for we liv'd in honour among them and accommodated with all things necessary They delayed three whole yeares to sell us during which I was brought to bed of two children whom they put to death as they had resolved afterwards they went to sell my husband into a Countrey very farre remov'd As for me they were minded to keepe me still by them what request soever I made not to be separate from Hermocrates because they had brought me a Kings sonne very young to breed up whom they had taken in some place or other and on whom all my affection was placed being comforted by the nurture was committed to me for our cruell captivity and dead children attending the change of fortune These cruell people were never touched neither with the supplications and advantageous promises of Hermocrates nor yet with my teares but in spight of mee
hoping that if I satisfied my passion thus to revenge me on all sides I should not at least be depriv'd of all pleasure I practised all sorts of meanes to ruine him and having made a league against him I possessed my minde with all the designes I could thinke of upon this subject to the end it might be entirely busied with those considerations and I the lesse thoughtfull of my domesticke miseries This league made me powerfull and I found my selfe in estate to resist whatsoever hee propos'd in the publike assemblies and to overthrow all his designes but finding againe that he sometimes over-ruled it by the authority he had acquired and the love was shewne him I let my selfe be carried away more than ever with a desire to ruine him intirely To this purpose I made use of craft to make the Syracusians beleeve he affected tyranny and by the Armes I made be found at his house gave a colour to my accusation which notwithstanding had easily beene discovered false but for the artifices I employed to make the Roman Pretor judge of this cause but the Syracusians that loved him prevented me and yet not daring to absolve him altogether they banish'd him onely for five yeares according to their ancient law I was not content with this judgement but contrariwise I esteem'd it advantageous for Hermocrates whom the Syracusians had exprest so much affection to I feared lest they recalled him not very soone from his exile to place him in greater authority than ever By fortune a little before certaine Pyrats had beene taken upon the coasts and Hermocrates pursuing their punishment I attemted to save them onely in contradiction to him I was visited secretly by some Sea courses of their company that labour'd to corrupt the Judges and who having had intelligence of the designe I had to oblige them offered me all I could desire of them for the safety of those were taken I refused all their presents but at the same time Hermocrates being condemned to banishment and knowing how he was resolved to goe to Carthage I sent for them and bound them by oath faithfully to execute what I desir'd of them and I would returne into their hands their companions They promised to serve me against all the world and presently I made be delivered by my sole authority those that had beene taken because I governed all at that time and having them all at my house together I intreated them to joyne their quarrels to mine and so to order the matter as they might take Hermocrates their enemy and mine as he went to Carthage and carry him away with his wife so farre off that no more should be heard of him within Sicily that for this cause they were to sell them to some Barbarians and I desired too of them it might be done separately to the end I might thus dis-unite those whose union had given me so much jealousie and torment They all receiv'd this intreaty with much joy as well for having occasion to expresse in what sort they desired to serve me as to be reueng'd upon Hermocrates for having prosecuted their death and all of them sware to mee they would inviolably execute my desire I prayed them beside that if Euphrosyne who was very big should be brought to bed in the time she were with them they would throw into the Sea what should be borne of her to extinguish for ever this race After they had promised to performe exactly all I recommended to them I made them yet some presents I received also some of them for not shewing a contempt of them and after many mutuall protestations they went their way to attend Hermocrates in the passage neare the Port of Lylibeum They fail'd not to accomplish faithfully what they had promised me for they tooke away Hermocrates and Euphrosyne but they were wanting onely in this that they sold not Hermocrates so soone as they had assured me but kept him some time with his wife amongst them I had no newes what they were all become of but about foure yeares after during which time being rid of Hermocrates that before wholly possesed my spirit I relapsed into the lively resentment of the evils of my house and to ease them in some sort I enterpris'd to build a stately house in the Countrey and at the same time made a Tower be erected with an intention there to inclose Acidalia the remainder of her dayes But at the end of those foure yeares I heard that certaine men demanded to speake with me I sent for them and knew them to be the very same Pyrats that came to give me an account of what they had done They told me they had taken Hermocrates and Euphrosyne whom they had not yet beene able to sell in place whence they might not returne againe that when they had Euphrosyne she was already deliver'd of the childe she had beene big with but that since being with them she was brought to bed of a daughter that seem'd so faire to them as they could not resolve to put it to death neverthelesse for not failing in that they promised me they had brought it me to dispose of as I should thinke good Then they presented me this young girle of about two yeares of age whose beauty surpriz'd me but when she open'd her little armes to embrace me in saluting I was touch'd with love and pitty for her sake and resolv'd with my selfe rather to nourish it than be so cruell as I had resolv'd I am very sorry pursued Dicearchus addressing him to Euphrosyne and Melintus that I cannot at this time present you with this nurse childe of my bringing up 't is the gentile and courageous Epicharis who is the daughter of Euphrosyne and your sister said he to Melintus Euphrosyne knew not who this Epicharis was yet she rejoyc'd that her child had beene preserved but Melintus and Ariana cried out at the same time Melintus said What is Epicharis my sister And Ariana Alas Melintus my deare Epicharis is she then your sister Ah! what joy will this newes bring my brother that loves her so passionately and what griefe too will he receive by it for not knowing where she is Dicearchus caus'd a little ceasing to all these admirations and joyes in continuing thus 'T is true this young childe made her selfe alwayes so agreeable as I was constrain'd to love her maugre the hatred I had against those that brought her into the world She had a wit so gentile and quicke that she forc'd me many times to laugh when I had but small cause in Acidalla's presence and when she was more advanc'd in age I was pressed by some of my friends to marry her thinking she had bin a slave to one call'd Asylas a servant borne in my house but I had in horror that proposition comparing the noblenesse of her bloud with the basenesse of Asylas and could not hinder my selfe from saying how the gods would never pardon me for mingling
out upon them Then they made no doubt at all but I was a goddesse thinking the arrow I had shot had bin chang'd into a Serpent to devoure them They cast themselves at my feet to adore me and exprest to me in their language which I understood not how they desir'd I should pardon them and keepe the Serpent from hurting them It happened by chance that the Serpent went away from them at the same time to hide her selfe in the hedges they signified by their actions how much beholding to me they were But when I would make use of this opinion I had produced in them of my being a goddesse to get away from them I found it no easie businesse for they came round about me upon their knees and prayed me not to forsake them On the other side I was rather willing to stay with them that were possest with this errour than fall into the hands of some others who might not be so mistaken as they were So I was resolv'd because I could doe no other to goe along with them and serve my selfe of their company for my defence against others I went in a stately pace and one while I threatned them with my bow another while I look'd with a more pleasing face upon them to give them hope of my assistance At last they brought me into a tent and presently made it be noysed among the Scythians that they had found the goddesse tutelary of Greece because I saw many of them come and open the tent borders and to looke upon me in great admiration I was much troubled how to demeane my selfe that they might not be disabused and fearing that having knowne me for one that had abus'd them they would make me suffer many indignities I resolv'd with my selfe since I could not escape from them to dye by hunger and this resolution serv'd to confirme their opinion the more for still refusing them when they offered me any thing to eat they beleev'd I had no need of the ordinary sustenance of mans life and I was in hope to dye in this fashion when they never perceived any thing So I passed away the night and yesterday too without taking any nourishment but in the evening seeing how they drank more than ordinary I had some hope to save my selfe I provok'd them my selfe to drinke and be merry and in the end they were so drunke that of seven or eight that were in the tent there were but two of them yet awake though their eyes shewed they would soone be laid upon the ground with their fellowes Then I still offer'd them wine which they receiv'd with respect being very proud I beleeve to have a goddesse their Cup-bearer and a while after they fell backward as well as the rest So was I left alone in that tent with open eyes and I resolv'd to save my selfe but being as much pressed with hunger as desire to be gone I confesse I tooke some peeces of bread and meat before I went out and as I made my escape I could not refraine from putting to my mouth instantly what provision I had But I was no sooner twenty paces out of the Camp but I heard Trumpets sounding on all sides I was affrighted at them and knew not if I should goe forward or else returne into the Campe but choosing all sorts of ill adventures rather than to come among the Barbarians againe I went onward and found a cave whereinto I had the assurance to enter having the bow in my hand and the quiver on my shoulders with an arrow in readinesse to defend me either against men or beasts I kept close a while within this place but hearing so much noyse I was curious to see what the matter was and went up to the top of the cave from whence I perceiv'd all the Scythians running away and so terrible a fray amongst them as they thought themselves pursued by those very men that fled I rejoyc'd at their defeat with a conceit I had that Alcydamas was chiefe in so bold an enterprize I spent above three houres in considering that sight which was not unpleasing to me and I began to wonder that all the field over there appear'd not a Scythian any more for now the day began to breake I was lifting up my hands to heaven for so great a victory acquired by the Greeks when I heard a noyse and perceiv'd two Barbarians that sought where to save themselves I was afraid they would have seene me and done me some mischiefe so as I entred the cave againe and a little while after perceived them comming into the same place with an intention to hide themselves there Then being unable to avoyd their finding me if they came any further I resolved because I saw them and they were not aware of me to shoot my arrowes and drive them away by striking a terror into them The first strucke one of them into the throat and laid him dead upon the earth the other Scythian hearing it whizze and beleeving some enemies were hidden there within began to flye His cowardise made me courageous and I felt my selfe carried away with a certaine ardour of glory to have the honour of killing the last Scythian So I set my selfe to pursue him with shot of arrowes and in the chace I was so happy as to incounter you And this my deare Alcydamas continued Ariana hath beene my fortune since I lost you whereby you could neither finde me nor I heare you when you called me in the Campe and I doubt not but you have had feare enough for my sake and that your enterprise was attempted onely for my deliverance Then they embrac'd againe and Amyntas related to the faire Ariana what he had heard of the two victories of Alcydamas in the day of the battell the death of the King of the Scythians by his hand his regrets afterwards for having lost her and the strange resolution he tooke with five hundred men to fight with the rest of the Barbarians Army that he might deliver her before they departed When they recited their adventures together the Thessalians that were scattered on all sides rallied in that place when they knew their Captaine to be there and they told him there was not a Scythian left alive in all the coast and that the few that remain'd had fled gained the plaine Sea in their shipping These Gentlemen were so well pleased at this glorious victory that they could not containe their joy for never did so few men defeat so great a number and Alcydamas having seene some of them too busie in pillaging prayed them to leave the booty because they were rich enough in honour but to make it appeare at their returne into the Towne how great a defeat was given and how many men they alone had slaine that they would load themselves with as many bows as each of them could beare to astonish Arimin the people with these very spoyles in their entry Every one
it was that pleas'd him in me but he shewed a liking to me that was too suddenly bred to be founded upon any good designe therefore to take from him the hope he seem'd to conceive of obtaining something of me against my honour I resolv'd to expresse a great courage and I spake thus to him I well know this disguisement is held a crime because there have beene of my sex that under this habit have conceal'd their infamy and made use thereof to continue with more liberty the actions that were unworthy of them but it ought to be esteem'd commendable when one serves her selfe of it for an effect quite contrary as I that have beene constrain'd to take it for the conservation of my honour and escaping the hands of those that would have spoiled me of it and if this meane had failed me I was resolved to lose my life rather This discourse hindred him from making appeare to me then any unlawfull desire and he onely intreated me to tell him who they were that would have offered me displeasure I could not in a moment invent a continuation of falsities with many names and circumstances so as having nothing more present in my minde than Trebatius and the resentment of the injuries I had received I told him how being at Nicopolis I fell by misfortune into the hands of Trebatius Tribune of the Emperours guards who from Nero sought to put to death certaine persons with whom I was that Trebatius after he had a long time kept mee in irons had threatned me with death if I declar'd not to him where they were he sought but in the end seeing so great resolution in me he had converted his rage into a dishonest affection which I now feared more than the purpose he had before to have me dye and having found meanes to escape his hands by this disguise I had beene in no place since where I could accommodate my selfe with other clothes Proculus willing to oblige me and being himselfe not satisfied with Nero sayes to me O gods how long will this Tyrant finde executioners for all his massacres See how he is forc'd to serve himselfe of wicked men to exterminate all the world Offices are now the reward of crimes and none is advanc'd to honour but according to the greatnesse of the villanies he hath committed or of those he is capable to commit A few dayes since we had for Generall of these Gallies one Anicetus who never had come to this charge but for killing the mother of Nero. This infamous Emperour willing afterwards to rid himselfe of his wife Octavia that was of the Caesars race to marry Sabina drew that murtherer from hence for to goe before the Senate and name himselfe falsly the adulterer of the chaste Princesse And during the reigne of so abominable a monster can it be hoped that vertuous men should attaine any honour I have a long time serv'd in the charge I have here over some vessels and was never yet able to obtaine any favour for my services but that they still suffer me to serve Comfort your selfe faire Maid goes he on you resent not alone the cruelties of this tyranny and be assur'd that if you have suffered some torment there be an infinite number of persons that groane and expect but a man that has the courage to take upon him to be their Chiefe and deliver the world of so many miseries I was very well pleas'd proceeds Epicharis to heare him speake after that fashion for I had no lesse resentment than he against Nero for the rage hee express'd against Melintus and Palamede and considering with my selfe how they would never be in safety as long as so wicked an Emperour lived I would encourage him further to cause him to attempt something and deliver us of so puissant an enemy I told him that if there wanted but a person to awaken the rest I offer'd my selfe to goe into Rome and make a powerfull conspiracy against Nero and that I would willingly sacrifice my owne life for the safety of all the world Courage said he to mee generous Maid begin but so faire a designe and be assured I shall second you well enough If the Emperour comes hither shortly as he oftentimes takes his pleasure upon the Sea I will employ no other man but my selfe for the worlds deliverance If you will goe to Rome endevour to draw him hither by the meanes of some you may practise for the purpose and then you shall see that I can execute what I have attempted We had besides some other such like discourse together whereby we emboldned one another in the enterprise I tooke a resolution to be gone the very next day to Rome that I might draw into our conjuration the men that were of most power there not doubting but there were many of them full of courage who desir'd nothing so much as Nero's death but durst not trust another with so hardy a designe and who would not faile to joyne their forces together if they might but communicate their grievances Proculus who at the beginning had not dared to signifie the lewd desire he had to me because I had spoken with such a boldnesse to him thought then that binding my selfe to him by this confidence in a secret of that importance he might have some greater familiarity with me and said to me Faire Maid those that desire to run a hazard together have ordinarily a friendship one to another whether there be in them a sympathy that carries them to like designes or by reason of the mutuall assistance they are to give each other to make an enterprise successefull I pray you let us joyne in affection to the end that if our project happily takes effect we may enjoy together the repose we shall obtaine for all the world I answer'd him that I refus'd not to binde my selfe to him in a friendship that were necessary for those that had the same designe and that I promis'd him all kinds of fidelity and succours Adde hereunto said he that after we shall have executed our desire you will promise to live with me and we shall never be separate I return'd that I could not as yet determine of what I was to doe after delivering the world of that tyrant and intreated him to leave me at my liberty untill that time Then he express'd much passion and urged me with many words to shew a little more affection towards him than so but I would give him no other assurance yet I spake to him in a fashion that depriv'd him not of all hope for feare of angring him or making him alter his resolution The next day I drest me in womans clothes not willing to goe to Rome otherwise for feare of being knowne in a mans habit by those I had deceived in the prison and to avoyd a second apprehension Proculus would have given me money but because I had still about me that I tooke to gaine the Porter of
Pisistratus all armed on horsebacke and sent another horse to Melintus The Priest and Ariana ascended the scaffold and sate them downe upon two seats that were on each side of the Altar and Melintus after he had promised Ariana to returne presently to her took his leave of her and when he had put on his head-peece mounted on horsebacke Arimin caus'd the souldiers that were at the ports and in the streets to come thither and re-inforce the guards of the place for feare of an insurrection seeing the wills of the people hotly inclin'd towards Melintus who was placed at one of the ends of the Camp and Pisistratus at the other having each of them but one great Javelin in their hand and their swords by their side Ariana unseene had seized one of the knives that were upon the Altar for to kill her selfe with it if Melintus dyed in the combat and full of feare and horror regarded what the issue would be The trumpets sounded and instantly Melintus and Pisistratus rode one against the other as they approached they darted their javelins that of Pisistratus lightly strucke against Melintus Armes but Melintus his parting from a more dextrous and puissant arme pierced thorow his Armour and fastened it selfe very deep into his left shoulder Presently they tooke their swords in hand Pisistratus enflam'd with fury against Melintus and with despight that he spared him not and Melintus mov'd with his owne great courage and a desire to punish the villany of Pisistratus Melintus in a moment showr'd his blowes as thicke as haile upon the Armes of Pisistratus without scarcely giving him leisure to lift an arme up and after hee had made flye about the place the peeces of his armour and casque in the end opened his stomacke with a large wound then seeing he was going to fall he cut off his head at one blow and so punished him with the same death he had prepar'd for him This combat ended the people began to clap their hands and cry out Save the brave Melintus but he never staying for these acclamations and hoping for no grace return'd of himselfe towards the scaffold whereupon he mounted and bade they should disarme him to finish what was ordain'd for him only he intreated that he might not be bound In the meane time he comforted Ariana and prayed her not to envy him by her teares so glorious a death that nothing but her griefe lessened the contentment he went to dye in after having sav'd her out of the hands of the Barbarians after having acquir'd so many victories and punished his principall enemy Well Ariana said he what could we more have desired of the gods but to let us enjoy our affection with repose If they refuse me an idle life and ordaine mee to dye now there remaines no more honour for me to acquire ought I to complaine of them for retiring me in the most illustrious period of my life No Ariana I well see you doe not complaine for me contrarily you envy my death but yet peradventure you mourne for this to be abandon'd by me Ah! my deare Ariana comfort your selfe and live without that feare I wil be the happy Genius that shall assist you incessantly untill the gods have dispos'd of you I will remove all misfortunes from you I will conduct your wayes and your actions that you may incounter nothing but happinesse and you ought to be assur'd to have me alwayes at your side by day I will invisibly assist you and by night communicate with you in pleasing dreams Prevent not my deare Ariana the Destinies that are ordain'd you you are to shew as much constancy for life as I ought to have for death Adieu my deare Ariana be comforted and live for my sake as from my heart I am going to dye for yours Then he came nearer her to give his last kisse but she not able to endure that cruell farewell in the middest of her sighings at last let escape these words O gods O heaven ah Melintus I dye and fell downe thus in a swoone upon the scaffold Neverthelesse they brought her againe with water they threw upon her face and opening her eyes she knew what fault she made to let Melintus dye on that fashion without assisting him then taking courage she look'd whether she had still the knife about her which she had hidden and when shee found it she made a shew of resolution At that time Melintus being undrest to the girdle and seeing the honorable pile they had prepared of the enemies arrowes for to burne his heart in he turned him towards Ariana and said to her Deare Ariana I demand yet one grace of you after my death 't is that this heart which hath lov'd you so well when it shall be taken out of my brest may be receiv'd into your faire hands and carried by you to be burned upon this pile Permit not faire Ariana that this heart that feeles it selfe so noble for loving you be touched by other hands than yours and see that having never burnt but for you it be not also burnt but by you What joy think you will it receive when after having adored you so much without knowing you but by desire it shall feele it selfe carried by these hands so faire and so belov'd Ariana promise me this favour have no horror to touch a thing that hath ador'd you and despise not after my death this part of my selfe which in its little space contain'd so much love and affection to you I give it you to be sacrific'd by you to your selfe and be assur'd there never was an offering purer or presented with more ardour Ariana having other resolutions in her minde promis'd the constant Melintus that she would obey all his desires and after they had a long time embraced one another to give their last adieu the old Priest with teares in his eyes bade Melintus overthrow himselfe upon the Altar that hee might open his brest And then this brave and generous courage quitting at last his deare Ariana though never letting goe her hand laid himselfe downe backwards upon the Altar having his stomack all naked and bade the Priest dispatch When Ariana saw he had taken the sacred knife and bent himselfe downe upon Melintus she could not support the cruelty of that sight but turning her head tooke out the knife she had hid then she stretch'd out her hand as farre as she was able to strike it with more force into her bosome But the cry which at that time the Priest gave troubled her and made her turne her head to see what had befallen him The good old man that very unwillingly lent his hand to so cruell an office comming nearer with his eyes to Melintus brest and seeing the marke of the heart which he had from his birth fell a crying out Ah my sonne ah Melintus the true bloud of Pyrrhus and Achilles never will I be your executioner Then having let fall the knife he fell