disposing dead bodies is that of burying them and the most honorable that of burning them that the earth is the dregs and ordure of the Elements the sink of the world and mother of Corruption I cannot conceive the reason why Charron should thus abuse the poor Earth nor why he should say we have no parts we ought to be ashamed of unless to shew the inclination he had to assert that Paradox That women ought to go naked The Poets tell us their Mistresses make them dye and that they raise them again and therefore that Lysis should think so is not so extravagant Besides he remembred Aesculapius rais'd up Hippolitus Why should not Charite who is a Sun her self do as much as that son of Apollo Lysis says That Love led his soul into Hell wherein he differs from some of his ancient Masters who affirm'd that death divided a man into three parts the Body return'd to earth the soul went to Heaven or else was united to that of the Universe and there went to Hell but the Shade which what it could consist of I cannot conceive Yet those others that say the fouls go to Hell tell us stories of Shades enough to discover the contradictions of Poetry but why a soul should be call'd a Shade I see not for being a thing of more worth then the body and that in its separation it loses nothing it ought to have a nobler name Nor doth the fiction of the Waterman Charon and his fare hold any more water What need had this fellow of any money in hell where there is nothing to buy Pluto needed not this Poll-money for the earth and all the mines were his Ceres and the other rural Divinities having no more then they necessarily took up Of equal absurdity is that of Cerberus the three-tongu'd Dog Hath Pluto no other guard then that of a Dog but it must be thought there needs none in hell for the Devils need neither Dog nor Cat since they keep no house but live like Philosophers Then is Lysis brought before the three Judges and by their order sent to the Elizian fields where he rips up old Poetry and Fables so exquisitely that if all Books were lost we might have all of this nature from him He saies that the pastimes of the Devils are Cards and Dice 'T is true quarrels oathes and blasphemy are the effects of them and Avarice the Inventor But the impatience is remarkable But at what is a Gamester most impatient Is it for the loss of time in eating or sleeping is 't want of money is 't a years sickness No 't is when the candle is put out in the midst of a game or when the Die falls down and cannot be found Now comes the famous Musardan on the Stage that excellent advancer of Love-stories and Courtier of the Muses who is wellcomest of all to Lysis one that for sport-sake was admitted to some great mens tables But Fontenay continuing his follies give Clarimond occasion really to endeavour Lysis's conviction for that he had said before that Lysis ought to be entertain'd in his extravagance in regard of the Felicity of Fools 't was only for a time and by Paradox But if we will see the impertinences and absurdities of Fabulous Books and Romances more fully discovered we must advance to the Thirteenth BOOK THough there need not much be said on these two Orations the Objections and Answers being so clear yet to draw things to some conclusion I shall where my Authour hath been very liberal contribute somewhat The War of Troy is by most acknowledg'd a fiction and Homer grounded his Poem on some old wives Tales yet Clarimond says nothing of that because truth and Poetry travel not far together But he quarrels at the subject of his Books which is ill and that grand fault of not mentioning the causes of that war for that he had written any thing before is but a conjecture which yet Philiris makes the best of when he says that his subject was well enough known in Greece and that consequently he might begin where he pleas'd But as to Homer's Country which Philiris saies is heaven and that Poetry is the Language of the Gods 't is a little extraordinary though all Oracles were in verse For Homers sentences besides that they are such as it may be were in every mouth in those days all sects of Philosophy have gotten somewhat out of him as if he commend Vertue he is presently a Stoick c. Nor have they been more fortunate that make him Master of all Arts or to say better a Jack of all Trades For to make him a Ship-Carpenter 't is enough that he makes his Vlisses one To shew he was a good Cook he made his Hero's turn the spit and boil the pot and in Vulcan he is an Armourer This was an easie way to be of all Trades but it is to be thought that Ignorance and Pedantry were the Godfathers that gave him that name That any Captains and the like should esteem him as if his works could infuse courage is as improbable and yet this is no great commendation for Amadis hath sharpen'd the courage of some whose unacquaintance with affairs kept them in ignorance of what was truly military And for Alexander and Alcibiades who going into a school and asking the Master for Homer's Iliads gave him a box on the ear when he told him he had none 't is no great credit Alcibiadas was a rash yong fellow that affronted all where he came not sparing the very Images of the Gods the noses whereof he cut off besides that it shews that it was in those days a Book fitter for School-boys then Souldiers and indeed it was fit a Schoolmaster should have it it being their daily-bread as Hieron said to Xenophanes complaining of Poverty That Homer though while he liv'd begg'd his bread yet dead he maintained ten thousand men And hence it came that the Schoolmasters have ever been his greatest celebrators As for Hector's leaving the Army in a fight to go and deliver a message that was unnecessary 't was such an absurdity as Philiris mentions it not As for the fable of Circe 't is justly tax'd for dawb as you will with Mythologies Ulysses's lying with a Sorceress will be a thing of ill example As for the Beauty of Helen and Penelope Clarimond says what he ought and Philiris answers as well but for the chastity of the latter and that evasion of the web 't is such a poor one that so many yong Lovers could not but in so many years discover it But there are that say that those yong men all enjoy'd her and that thence sprang the God Pan you have the credit of the Poets for the one as well as the other Clarimond having spoken of Homer spends not time on the other Greek Poets since it was but repetition and so falls on Virgil the Prince of the Latine Poets That Dido liv'd not in Aeneas's time
goods will be confiscate You that are of his kindred will get neither profit nor eredit thereby All you have of Lysis's in your hands will be taken away and the children will point at you as they goe to school as being of near kin to one that was hanged You must therefore conceal the truth and give out that Lysis dyed a natural death These considerations â—â—silenced Adrian and his wife They had some part in Lysis's inheritance which would have fallen to them very seasonably for they had already two children one tabling abroad and the other at nurse and they were not over-rich As for Carmelin nothing could make him give over his complaints these and the like were alwayes his words I who have so faithfully assisted my master shall now be no more thought on He that hath laboured shall go without his reward and they that have done nothiug shall carry away all Who hath been with Lysis night and day Who hath fasted with him for companys sake when there was a necessitie Who hath broke his sleep to entertain him with love discourse Who made clean his cloaths Who told him fine tales Who taught him sentences taken out of the choicest Common-places Alas It was his faithful Carmelin Yet he shall inherit nothing of his Now he is dead he must be thrust out of dores like a Rogue Had he but made his Will I should have seen whether he had loved me me or no I should have been content with what he would have left me Must the next of kin whom he loved not at all and to avoid whom he is departed the world be his absolute heirs T is as much as the bestowing on the murtherer the goods of him he hath murthered Here are his freinds who pretend to be very sad for his death but they have not the fiftieth part of my affliction 'T is a good author hath taught me that if heirs have tears in their eyes they laugh in their hearts and as for that invention of Close Mourning at the burial it was out of a distrust they might not constantly observe the same sadness in their count-nance and that their joy might not be discovered at their eyes which would be a thing of ill example to the people Thus did Carmelin continue his complaints which I believe he had studied but Hircan told him that he would order things so that his services should not be forgoten and though his Master had ordered him neither wages nor consideration yet should he have what would satisfie him He bid him not trouble himself that his Master made no will for that would have been only a seminary of suits and Lysis's heirs would not have paid what had been bequeathed To give you an example of these inconveniences continues he a rich man making his will left all he had to a company of his fellow Citizens to dispose of it and to let his right heirs have what part thereof pleased them The heir suing the communitie the Judge told them Well if you are desirous to accomplish the Will of the Testator you must let this son have what pleaseth you What division will you make he shall have a tenth part and we will have the other nine replyed the company Take then the tenth part to your selves sayes the Judge and leave the rest to the heir for he is to have what part pleaseth you By this querck the lawful heir was restored to his right but all Judges have not such good judgments as this had so that it would be very doubtful pleading both for the Inheritors and Legataries What ever Lysis had left you Sir Carmelin Adrian would have gotten one half and the Law another What course shall I take then saies Carmelin were it not better be in hazard to get somewhat then to be assured of nothing What shall I stay for wretch that I am fortune never smiled on me in my life Do you wonder Fortune never smiled on you repsies Hircan did you ever see one smile upon the wheele Carmelin understood not this scoffe at the first but at length he remembred that that unconstant Goddess was represented on a wheele He prayed Hircan not to add to his affliction by deriding his misery and though Hircan knew he was not so sad as he pretended yet he swore to him that in case the heirs would give him nothing he would satisfie him out of his own About this time comes in a Lacquey from Anselme who said his Master was much troubled about Lysis having heard nothing from him since the last time he had seen him and that he was sent to know whether he had been so ill bred as to return without bidding him adiew or asking whether he would any thing to Paris My friend saies Hircan tell your Master that Lysis is just now departed this world The Lacquey would not have believed it had not Carmelin with a sad countenance confirmed it He therefore returned with this answer to his Master Anselme knew not whether it was only a trick put upon him or that it was true so that however it were he thought best to go immediately to Hircans At the outer gate he met Meliantes who acquainted him with the whole business To comply with the brave Shepherds that were there Anselme counterfeited the disconsolate as much as could be In the mean time Adrian and Pernella asked Hircan what he intended to do with the body and desired it might be buried and put into the ground He shall not be interred to day saies Hircan his fellow Shepherds will not permit it their Custom is to keep the bodies two daies at least and then wash them to see if they are quite dead for there are some who being only fallen into a lethargy have been thought dead and so buried they recovering again have died mad Besides that you are to know that the bodies of Illustrious Shepherds and Heroes such as your Cousin was are never intered that 's a thing was never seen Read all good Authors and you will find it was never done We think it a base thing to be thrust into the earth you cannot do worse with those that die as Malefactors is there any thing more ignominious then to rot and to be eaten of worms Is it not a despicable thing to be bestow'd into the grossest of all the Elements 't is better chuse the purest as a thing more noble and more desirable We persons of quality have our bodies burned after our death The fire which seems to aspire to the highest sphere seems tocarry thither with it our Reliques and that our bodies are conveyed to the Gods as well as our souls Lysis's body shall therefore be burn'd on a heap of fagots in the midst of my Court but there are some necessarie ceremonies to go before Hercules was burnt alive before he went to heaven is there any danger to burn a dead man the bodies of all the Caesars have been so Adrian who understood nothing
consider what we have lost unless it be the reflection of our memory on the content and satisfaction we had to possess the incomparable Lysis for we are rather to continue our thanks to the Gods that we enjoy'd him some time then censure them that they have now taken him from us They are possibly our crimes have caus'd it in that we deserve not to have among us so rare a Masterpiece to whose excellence heaven and nature had contributed equally Whether we consider the features of his countenance and the proportion of his body or represent to our selves the delicacy of his disposition and the excellency of his mind there was nothing the earth could be worthy of Nevertheless this common mother of men being desirous to enjoy him eternally had obtained of Jupiter that he might be received into the quality of Trees which she nourishes by their roots but the sage Hircan opposed the decree and delivered the illustrious Shepherd out of captivity which though it was honourable yet could not but be inconvenient But heaven not being long able to be without its own work hath prevailed so far as that it hath taken him hence and it might be easily judg'd it was resolv'd to have him since it was the decree of fate he should expose himself to all manner of dangers to deliver a Lady out of the Prison of an Enchanter though his principal profession was far from that of a Souldier Notwithstanding all this 't was no violent death snatcht him from us but methinks the first fruits of those delights he now enjoyes should not have been so burdensome to him a natural death came and gently closed up his eyes and hath not broken nor cut the knots which fastned his soul and body together but hath most dexterously and without any violence untyed them These words moved Lysis so far that he almost forgot he was departed He was ready to speak and to tell the Shepherds they were to blame to say his death was natural since it was violent He thought that if it was not said he had poisoned himself his hopes would have been frustrated and he should deserve nothing of Charite He never imagined it would have been ignominious to him if it should be said he had dispatched himself The agitation of his mind was so great that his body moved a little which Meliantes perceiving acquainted the Oratour with it but they perswaded him it was an illusion so that Philiris proceeded in his Oration I should then have told you Pastoral Assembly that it was necessary Lysis should die since it was the pleasure of heaven but yet there was no consideration should oblige us to receive his death otherwise then with the greatest afflictions that men are capable of There 's none among us ought for ten years be guilty of the least smile and if any such thing happen it shall be a forfeit How can we disclaim sadness since love himself though a God is not exempted and I believe he will no more go naked as he was wont to do because he must now put on mourning Nor indeed could he not but be extreamly obliged to this Shepherd as who made it his daily employment the dilatation of his Empire while he lived and at his death commended and consign'd his soul into his hands to be conducted into that place where all faithfull Lovers are eternally rewarded I should not tell you all these things did I not herein obey custom who will have it so for I conceive you are all ready to do Lysis all that is due to him without any excitation from my words However I shall presume to desire you against to morrow to prepare your selves for the solemnity of his Funerals then I shall have more to say then I have now and then I shall make a particular relation of all his perfections and the noblest adventures of his Loves not for your sakes who are acquainted with them but to satisfie such as are strangers to them that may happen to be then present and would be glad to understand the life of the Heroick Shepherd whose designe was to introduce among us the felicity of the first age Philiris here ended his discourse whereof Lysis missed not a word being extreamly elevated with the honour they did him Hircan caused all the Shepherds to leave the Chamber and left Carmelin alone to watch the dead body They dined a while after and they brought him what he wanted but though there was not too much for himself yet was he so charitable as having lockt the dore to present his Master with half who confessed he never had a better stomack then since he was dead Anselme returned to Orontes's there to give an account of Lysis's pleasant adventure and to satisfie all as to the report they might have received of his death In the mean time Adrian and Pernella would needs eat apart and not go any more among the Shepherds whom they took for excommunicated and abominable people Their resolution was not to return till they had seen their Cousins body put into the ground in spight of all Hircans oppositions though they had business that much required their hastening to Paris The day being spent in divers entertainments as every one was pleased to pass it away it was thought fit Carmelin should lie in the Chamber where the dead body lay though he seem'd to be somewhat unwilling and the rest were disposed into their ordinary Chambers Lysis seeing himself alone with his faithfull Carmelin talked with him a good while and would needs know what was generally said of his death Having understood that every one bewailed it he believed it might be some affliction to Charite and as for the consulation was had about the burning of his body it troubled him more then all At last he desired Carmelin to bind a faggot about with cloathes and to put it upon the heap in his stead Carmelin promised to do whatever lay in his power The morning was not far spent but Orontes and all his house came to Hircans being extreamly desirous to see the issue of this feigned departure of Lysis Montenor and Clarimond were also present the report it seems having spread so far All the Shepherds were already entred Lysis's Chamber when Adrian comes thither once more to relate his afflictions telling them they were to blame not to have bestowed Christian burial on the poor deceased party Clarimond comes in just as he was speaking so that having known him to be the man he had spoken with in the fields and finding him more staid and discreet then any of the rest he entreated him to stand his friend Clarimond who was of a very good disposition went and spoke softly to Hircan telling him that he knew not what pleasure they took by persecuting the poor Citizen in that manner and that he was sufficiently abus'd You may perceive well enough saies Hircan that it is his cousin Lysis hath begun we have only
to our Comedy Jason desirous to obtain the Golden-Fleece which was a Book of Chymistry as some say though the Fable bears other expositions But the Poets know not where the Colchos was for some will have it to be an Island others a Continent nay some say they knew not by what river the Argo got into the sea But that trouble you will say Orpheus sav'd them for he could as well draw after him their ship as other things with his Harp But I wonder that being at sea the Rocks follow'd them not but it is to be thought they heard him not When this Musician descended into hell the Acheron followed him even to the palace of Pluto so that the Shades were like to be drown'd in the midst of the fires 'T was a brave fellow for with one touch on the Harp he could draw the fairest Trees from his neighbours garden into his own and if he chang'd Country he could make his house follow him And yet this was the most beggerly Poet that ever was But I wonder how the Sun and the Stars being more excellent bodies then the Stones Trees were not charm'd by his musick But to pursue the narration When the Argonauts were arrived in the Country of King Phineas Zethes and Calais relieve him against the Harpies These young men were the sons of Boreas and the fair Orithia and had the gift of flying But why the Harpies should hinder King Phineas to eat I see not nor yet how this poor King could live so long without meat But having done their business the Argonauts pursue their voyage and Medea so favour'd Jason that she gave him a charm toset the Dragon asleep What a simple Conquerour is this Jason that does all things by magick The Dragon being asleep 't was easie to take the Fleece And his Companions never drew sword till they came to Thessaly Are not these excellent examples of valour As for the language of some Actors in this Comedy it is enough to say it is fantastick as the rest These two pieces could not be better represented Carmelin and the Harpies did excellently well nor did Hircan who playd Orpheus do less I believe if any of the Country chanc'd to see them they must needs think them mad but they had such a lechery to make sport with Lysis that they cared not and therefore being satisfied with this diversion they find him other adventures in the Tenth BOOK I Cannot but admire Lysis's reading and his judgment in the old Authors His attaque of the Fable of Thetis is excellent but his heroick accoutrements betray him again But that was because he saw some Poets even of his own time so dress'd before their Books That subtilty of Hircan to make Lysis believe that the Coach was drawn by horses as long as it was on firm ground and did not flie till it came to the sea was not ordinary but Lysis helps it by his Philosophie But what he intends to do in heaven is beyond all Astrologie and discovers the Tenets of divers Philosophers and especially those of the Platonicks concerning Reminiscence and that was it made Lysis believe there must be an University in heaven for the souls After he hath spoken of Homer's Tuns of Good and Evil he falls afresh on the Ideas of the Platonicks as if they had been things to be seen in heaven Nor is his holding of solution of continuity in spirits less Philosophical The adventure of the Dragon shews how easie it is to deceive him that deceives himself But for the things that come out of the Dragons belly they are not so strange as what comes from a Gentleman in the History of Lysander that vomited images of wax pieces of Looking-glasses Pen-knives and Ink-horns The Deliverance of Pamphilia must needs be a great honour to Lysis and such as must make him heroick But his relation of his adventure is excellent Because he had seen Birds that could speak at Paris he thought there might be a Country whence they came and where they spoke and did all things as we do But this and what he says of the Diaphonous people is but a dream of Lysis yet not so impertinent as that of Poliphilus who in one night dreamt a book as big as ours As for Lysis's imagination that being invulnerable the Gyants could not force out his soul but through the nose 't is an abuse of Mahomet who in his Alcoran says that Moses having long wandered the desart found a Tomb whereof as he was confidering the length and breadth the Angel of death came to kill him Moses knowing him How wilt thou get my soul out says he to him Not through my mouth for that hath spoke to God not through my ears for those have heard him not through my eyes for those have seen him not by my hands for those have received presents from him not through my feet for those carried me into the Mount The Angel went his way thus baffled but another time he presented Moses with an Apple of Paradice which he smelling at the Angel took him by the nose and drew out his soul so dispos'd him into that Sepulchre which could never since be found That Lysis will be accoutred according to his Authors he still discovers his old humour that makes him believe there 's as much truth in Picture as in Poetry Clarimond's abusing of those Shepherds that grave their amorous speeches and expostulations on Trees is not without reason 't is such an impertinent and an improbable foolery For they must send notice to their Mistresses to go to that tree or all 's lost which if they do they might as well have sent what they writ on the tree some other way The history of Anaximander may well go for canonical with Lysis He had seen in the fables that Medea had taken Aeson by the throat and let out all his old blood and fill'd his body with other by which means he became young again Nor want our present Romances these renewings of age Panurgus had his body mine'd as if it had been to be put into paste which done it was molded anew and made handsome then before and they got life into him by blowing into his fundament Then does he relate stories of the other world But if there be any wit in things of this nature 't is Anaximander claims it As for the God of Sleep whom Clarimond quotes 't is to keep even with the fables Some grant this God a palace some a grot But to what purpose either since all that are about him must be asleep and cannot do this Child of the night any service And since Ovid says he is ever asleep how can he go about the earth to sow poppies That 's a task for the God of Vigilance rather then the God of Sleep Thus shall we never be rid of absurdities The instructions which Lysis gives to his Historiographer are certainly very excellent but the new description of his
Sonnet Roundelay or a Madrigal handsomly sung But it may be thou art of the number of those insensible ones who despise Love and the Moses Can I say thou art happy if thou art of that humour Yes I may for thou art not therefore exposed as I am to the charms of a cruel Deity Alas tell me dost not thou know the fair Charite No indeed answers the Shepherd I do not know those people you name to me What thou hast not seen her then replies Lysis Not that Charite that can no more hide her self then the Sun No no it is apparent For if thou hadst once met her thou wouldst not have been any longer insensible Avoid her still that thou mayst continue happy She is at the present at St. Cloud where with her looks she commits murthers she takes men and chains them up puts them on the rack and plucks their hearts out of their breasts without ever opening them she doth not feed on any thing but Hearts and carrouses in nothing but Tears Alas said the Shepherd making the sign of the Cross it seems you speak to me of a Witch She may well be a Witch answers Lysis seeing one gesture or one word of hers charms all that is near her All those that have seen her languish for her she bewitches the Flocks the Dogs the Wolves nay even the Rocks which she makes follow her the Plants doe not escape her and it is only she that causes the buds of the Roses to shoot forth and afterwards causes them to wither away through the same heat that produced them Ah! how shall I have a care not to appear before her said the Shepherd for I am not such a one as the most part of the Citizens of Paris take me to be They think I am a Wizard as all those Shepherds are that live far hence for I should not have the power to defend my self from the wicked woman you talk of I doe not know how they make Characters I cannot save my self any way but by flight Stupid fellow replies Lysis dost thou think to avoid what all the world must suffer This great Universe which thou seest will not be ruin'd but by Charite Thou knowest how that in the time of Deucalion all the Earth was overwhelmed with water there must shortly happen another end that shall be quite contrary all must be destroyed by fire and this Charite is born to turn all to ashes What! thou wonderest at what I say How knowest thou not that I who am but her slave have so much fire within my breast that with one sigh I could burn up all this grass and that besides that I could drown all this Country by a deluge that should issue out of my eyes were it not that the heat is more predominant in me The Shepherd who saw that Lysis animated his discourse with a serious manner of speaking gave credit to all these miracles and though he was as much confounded as if he had already seen the end of the world yet had he the courage to ask him who he was I am a body without a soul answers Lysis I doe not live since I have seen Charite and shall not rise again untill her favours shall oblige me thereto Thou to whom I have the first of any communicated my secrets go and acquaint the Shepherds of thy village to make their vows and offerings to my Enchantress to the end that if she will doe them no good she may doe them no hurt Farewell friend and make thy profit of my admonitions Having said so he quitted the Shepherd who was so much astonished both at the fashion of the man and his discourse that he certainly believed that it was a spirit had appeared to him and he thought it very long that the time of departing was not come that he might go and communicate this strange news to all of his acquaintance Lysis pursuing his way came somewhat near the side of a Mountain where caling to mind that in the Books he had read the Shepherds did interrogate the Eccho in such places as that his resolution was to imitate them and to consult that Oracle which he thought as infallible as that of Delphos Languishing Nymph sayes he with a shrill voice I have erewhiles discovered my torment to all these desarts hast thou heard it There was presently an Eccho that answered heard it He was so ravished to hear that voice that he continued in this manner What shall I doe for to asswage my misery tell me seeing I have already related my chance The Eccho answered dance Sing then or whistle or play on the Tabor if thou wilt have me dance replies the Shepherd but let us not fall out friendly Nymph How is it that I must take my Mistress that my flames may be slaked Eccho naked What shall I doe if I see one of her breasts uncovered shall I touch it seeing haply she will be angry if I undertake it Eccho take it That I take it that 's very well spoken I will go and see her immediately that my pain may find some allay Eccho away Farewell then my Faithfull one till the next time I 'll go seek Charite where she doth stay Eccho stay Why so thou bidst me be gone and that I should find comfort readily Eccho I ly I think thou art a fool thou assuredst me but now I happiness should ken Eccho when Just now sycophant hast thou forgotten and dost not think Charite's heart and mine the same chain must undergo Eccho No. Thou prophesiest false my Mistress shall give thee the lye and make a fool of thee Eccho of thee Of me I believe not what she will disdain me for such mishaps tell me some remedy Eccho dy What kind of death shall I choose there being no succour if her goodness doth not accord Eccho A cord Ah cruel one thou art deceived or haply thou wouldst speak of the cord of Cupids bow that will send me an arrow will make me dye an easie death Is not that thy meaning Eccho No no I mean a halter to hang thee This answer which was very lively extreamly surprised Lysis Ha! what pleasant Eccho is this says he she repeats not my last syllables but says others As he had spoken these words Anselme came from behind a long wall where he had lurk'd and presented himself to him 'T was he that had all the time playd the Eccho but he did not discover any thing at all to him though the other did somewhat suspect him and question'd him divers times So that Lysis who was perswasible to any thing told him that if it were not he that had answered him he had found a place where the Eccho shewed her self very merry and that in all the Books of Pastorals he had never read of her ever being in such a good humour I do not know says he whence it comes she nothing but jeers now Is there not some impatience troubles her Is she
deliberation they walked to the Inne and went to Lysis's chamber-door Adrian opened it with the Key but it was bolted within Anselme spoke and pray'd the amorous Shepherd to let him in Knowing presently the voice of his best friend he opened to him And having bidden good morrow to his Cousin and him he put on his cloaths telling them for excuse for his not being more early that all night he had not put his eyes together and that he began to be sleepy at the break of day However that is not well done Cousin sayes Adrian there is no more Masses to be said and you cannot hear any to day Think you that God hath any need of those fancies wherewith you entertain your self Yet this is past and there is no remedy But what when I think on 't if you went to Church would you go in that masking habit which you put on Think you that there are any Masks or that they act Comedies in a consecrated place Away with it presently I will send for another for you I will never put on any other then this says Lysis And I pray content your self that I do not as I did yesterday desire one all red Then turning him to Anselme he cry'd out O dear friend what have I not done since I saw thee Know then that I have gone through the noblest adventure in the world and that I give checkmate to all the Lovers in Europe The last night I ate nothing but what was red and all my thoughts have been red Am I not as good as my word as to what I boasted to thee 'T is enough to have shewn by one time that it came from my invention to doe it Henceforward I will eat of any thing and will not be any more scrupulous as to colour it shall suffice me to wear always about me some little red Riband in remembrance of Charite But when I think on 't what an ample subject will there be here to exercise the pen that shall write my history where could he have found a more noble matter By this means shall not his discourse have those ornaments which are not seen in other books Having finish'd this discourse he sent to the Mercers for red Ribaning and put some to his shoes instead of the green which he had cast away And when he was all cloath'd he asked Anselme whether he would come along with him into the fields for he was going to lead out his Flock to graze I pray stir not hence says Adrian but let us dine Besides you are out of the story here is no Flock for you I have sold it to the master of the house who causes all to be kill'd and perhaps you shall eat your share of them Lysis thereupon look'd into the Yard and saw a man cutting the throat of one of his sheep which put him into such a choler that he cry'd out presently Ah cruel Cousin what have I done to thee that thou shouldst deal thus with me Thou hast sold my dear Flock to these Barbarians and there they massacre it Ah innocent sheep you will be no more the witnesses of my Loves Alas how was I delighted in your company Yet I should be comforted if they made you dye upon some noble occasion And if they offered you up at the Altar of some God that is the worst could happen to you nay you should have been reserved for a Sacrifice you should have had the honour at least to die within some stately Temple whereas now you die on a dunghill in a filthy yard Ah Butcher ah Executioner stay the fury of thy knife leave me some to comfort me Ah! I see that thou never wert a Shepherd and that thou never readst the Apotegms of Erasmus where it is written That the good Shepherd shears but doth not fley his sheep Ah poor Innocents that I have not here a Chalmia to celebrate your death in sad and Elegiack Verses Cease your complaints sayes Anselme taking him aside You must not afflict your self so much for the death of Beasts We are not Disciples of Pythagoras nor doe we believe as he did that the soul of our Grandfather is in the body of a Calf Why doe Shepherds breed up Sheep but to sell them we may have others in stead of those And if we should have none at all is it a prodigie to see a Shepherd without a Flock it suffices that he sometimes hath had one A Gentleman that hath had Souldiers under his conduct is still called Captain though his Troops be disbanded because he hath shew'd himself capable of being so You speak well says Lysis And when I think on 't I saw you yesterday in the fields that you had no Flock yet I call'd you Shepherd I have always believ'd you to be one for you speak with a Courtezy which is not common but to us Anselme unwilling to humour him then said to him You were mistaken in calling me Shepherd for I am not one and there is no person of quality in the Country that is so unless it be you I doe not desire you should call me otherwise then Anselme and for my qualities there is not any one I more esteem then that of your Friend and Servant Have you not seen that they are only Country-Clowns that keep Sheep all hereabouts I grant what you say courteous Anselme says Lysis but my design should be to restore to its splendor that happy condition and to cause that the most noble and rich personages should not disdain it to the end that men may no longer study how to plead and wage war and that they should speak no more of any thing but Love Would not you willingly second me in it When men shall see us both of an opinion will not every one imitate us Let us now talk a little of this now the time is propitious and that Adrian is gone down to see if dinner be ready That I may conceal nothing from you replies Anselme know that it would be very ill look'd upon to turn Shepherds in a place so neer Paris as this whither all the Parisians ordinarily come We are not far enough from ambition and avarice to lead such an innocent life were it not for that I should be of the design Is there so much to do says Lysis For to shorten the pains which we shall have to perswade a people to receive new customs let us go into a place where those which we would follow have been already practised There are many Countries in the world where men live in a Pastoral way Let us go into Arcadia gentle Anselme it is a Country much esteem'd by the Gods they ordinarily live there among men We must pass the Sea to go thither says Anselme and I doe not love to see ships but in the haven I would not be in a place whence a man cannot come away when he pleases nor get on a horse which a man can lead by the tail
to the custom of this Country Amarillis was very well content with this judgement so that presently the sacred Plate was sent for which was kept among the treasure of the Castle Those which were present spoke of it as a thing that were really so and affirmed that none but chaste persons could tread on it without burning the soles of their feet There was one of the maids would needs go for it but Orontes said to her Trouble not thou thy self I prethee in this business thou knowst too much distimulation I will not be accountable for thee Know that those who are but guilty of the least matter that can be dare not touch this Plate It must be only sent for by little children of whose chastity we are assur'd Let the Gardeners two daughters bring it whereupon the two little children were led where hung the brass Plate whereon the maids dry'd the bands when they starched they brought it away and plac'd it in the middle of the Court Amarillis thought all these things real for she had observed such an other adventure in the Aethiopian history and if they would try her by fire she call'd to minde a certain Melite whereof there is mention made in the Loves of Clitophon and Leucippus who was put to the tryal of water While she was stripping her self for to go upon the Plate a sturdy Groom making as if he were curious touch'd it with the top of his finger But he drew back presently crying out I burn I burn my hand is roasted Thou art well enough served prophane Rascal sayes Orontes thou wouldst not believe a thing that so many others have tryed Couldst thou forget that thou hadst pass'd all thy youth in Bawdy-houses And yet dost thou pretend to Chastity after all Amarillis observing this adventure fell into some amazement and being ready to tread upon the Plate she was a little afraid of burning As for Amarillis sayes she in her self I am sure she is chast but as for Lysis I am not so certain however my feet shall not be burn'd for it is in body and externally that I am Amarillis and am not Lysis but in soul seeing a Magician hath changed my Figure Having by this subtility reassur'd her self she recovers her courage having before examined her whole life past and considered that if the Shepherd Lysis had sinn'd it had been only by desire and that he had never committed folly with any of his members It being at last resolved that Lysis and Amarillis were as clear as when they were born the accused party went bare foot upon the Plate and remained on it a long while without feeling any heat nor indeed was there any reason it should be hot for it was above two days since there had been any fire under it Some that were present cry'd out thereupon Come thence Amarillis you are chast we are satisfied you have been too much persecuted O Amarillis the Queen of fair and chast ones what light you cast from that place There is no other fire on that Plate but that of your eyes She came down infinitely pleas'd at these Exclamations but Orontes crying out louder then any of the rest came and said That this proof was not to be credited and that it was not true as to her particular Amarillis is a Sorceress I know it well enough she hath some charms to save her from burning Let her be strip'd naked that her characters may be taken from her and then let her be condemned to the fire or be cast into the River with a millstone at her neck Thereupon Leonora bid them see whether she had any Witch-craft about her which command given all the Lacquays that were there fell upon her One took away her coif another her wastcoat but she immediately cover'd her head with her apron that her hair might not be seen which was too short to be a maids Clarimond upon this issuing out of a place where he lay hid came and delivered her out of the hands of those merciless ministers of justice and having carried her into a corner where she might fit her cloathes about her went and cast himself on his knees before the Judges Have pitty on an innocent creature Madam sayes he to Leonora if it be your design to put her to death because you thirst after her blood let me be in her stead and let mine be spilt for her I am so surpris'd with her beauties that I am willing to dye for her You say she hath charms about her it is true she hath those of her eyes that have no other operation but on me and that to hurt me and if she have any other besides to save her from the burning of the sacred Plate I confess it is I that have given them her unknown to her It is I that am the Sorcerer t is I that am guilty let there be made ready a pile of faggots that I may be cast into the fire I shall suffer no more then what I do every day the fire I shall be cast in will not be more ardent then that of the fair eyes of Amarillis If you alledge she is not only guilty of Witchcraft but also of Fornication for which she is nevertheless worthy to dye I will also suffer the punishment for her in that case so she may live nay you shall give me a thousand deaths if you desire it You understand not your self friend replyes Leonora know you not that all crimes are personal and that they who have committed them are onely to be punish'd If you are so desirous to dye you shall both dye together Make haste there and bring some faggots and set them afire Leonora had no sooner pronounc'd that cruel sentence but abundance of Crackers were fired at the gate and Hircan issues out of a flame of Pitch and Rosin like a Ghost in a Play He held in his hand a lighted Torch that made a great smoak and the better to act the part of a Magician he had a long Cassock of black Canvas The whole presence seem'd to be much troubled at his coming and every one ran his way so that it was easie for him to seize on Amarillis whom when he had disposed into a Coach that waited at the gate Fear not fair Shepherd says he to her I am thy friend Hircan who am come to succour thee in thy necessity Those who had design'd thee to death may now seek after thee to little purpose My Chariot is drawn by horses wing'd like Gryphons who in a short time will bring us to my house The adventures past had so surpris'd Amarillis that she knew not where she was but at length coming to her self and knowing Hircan she thank'd him for the favour he had done her She told him that he should have brought Clarimond also away with him because that he being detained as her surety they would put him to death for her Do not trouble your self for that says Hircan
be Rhodogina will be content with it and you will be 〈…〉 shall make her love me ever hereafter You would make us believe that Rhodogina is a Canibal a Crocodile or a Tigress since you say she would have a man cut in pieces and brought to her says Lysis she only spoke to you of a Tree Let 's not fall out says Hircan I 'll presently decide your controversie Let for the present Meliantes speak See you he 's ready to relate his story Whereupon Meliantes having caus'd silence to be made began thus The History of MELIANTES YOu are to know dear Troop that this Euthydemus whom Polidor spoke of is my own father He brought me up after the French mode in the midst of the Persian Court and taught me so many exercises that I thought the fairest Ladies of the world would be too happy to have me their servant Yet was I forc'd to make my addresses to the fair Pamphilia instead of receiving any from her though my submissions could not obtain me her favour so high was her disdain My only comfort was to see that greater persons then my self were no better treated For the King himself who was call'd Siramnes was of the number of her miserable captives because the deformity of his face rendred him very disacceptable He would no more be answered with delayes as he was wont and his design was to make her be brought into his chamber and there to force her Pamphilia having had the news of it was much amaz'd and after she had made her remonstrances of it in particular to some of her Lovers she went and secur'd herself with Chrysotemis her mother in the Castle of Nomasia which her father had built by the sea-side 'T was not long ere Alicantes her brother came thither and Arimaspus Nicanor Hippodamus and I who were Servants to that Beauty went also to the same place to defend her against all enemies We were presently declar'd Traitors and Syramnes sent two thousand men to besiege our Castle in case we should not in time submit Pamphilia was now forc'd to make use of her Servants though against her will For her Brother having slighted the Summons had been sent him there was nothing now to be look'd for but fighting and ruine We were so ill muntion'd that in the very first assault Nicanor having spent all his bullets drew out three or four of his teeth and charg'd his musquet Barzanes Lieutenant to the Kings troops had brought no Canon but not having the patience to stay the coming of any he would needs one day scale the castle His people came off very sadly for we had unpaved all our Court and having beaten the stones to pieces we had made them fiery hot for to cast on our enemies as they came up the walls That being small insensibly got between their shirts and their skins and did them a world of mischief some of it falling into their eyes immediately blinded them so that they were forced to retreat without doing any thing That night we heard a little Bell that rung at a good distance from us We all thought there might be no design in that except Alicantes who made all be silent and told us he was much deceived if it were not some signal that were given us When there is no conveyance of Letters continued he to persons besieged their friends speak to them by other artifices If they come to any eminent place they shew them by lighted torches by the number whereof they signifie the Letters one after another or for want of that they have a Bell whereon they give so many tolls as the discourse they intend requires Letters and so they may speak at a leagues distance This secret I learn'd long since and now it comes very seasonably to mind Alicantes having so said hearkened to the several sounds of the Bell which when he had done he cries out Let 's be merry friends there will relief come very suddenly Cyniphus who seems to be of the Kings party promises me to betray him I am very much given to believe it for he ever profess'd a singular friendship to me All admired to see that Alicantes so well understood the language of Bells and since that we had none he took a Kettle and having gotten on a Turret he beat within it with a stick to answer Cyniphus We had no answer for as I heard since the Kings Sentinels discoverd the plot and acquainted the Generall He imprisoned Cyniphus and having put him to the rack he confess'd that he was in love with Pamphilia and that his design was to have reliev'd her that he might have enjoyed her afterwards at his pleasure This being reported to Siramnes he would seem to appear gracious and considering that Cyniphus only had a design to betray him and enjoy her he had design'd for himself but had effected nothing he thought it enough to punish him in appearance They told him that the King did him the favour to give him the choice of his death He would have his veins opened and when they went to blind him that as they told him he might not be troubled with the sight of his own blood he desired to be at liberty that dying he might behold a picture of Pamphilia The Executioner answered him that it was the Kings pleasure he should not any longer behold his Mistress and that he was commanded to blind him Being in this extremity he said it could not but be permitted him to sweeten the pangs of death some other way He caused to be plac'd neer his nostrils the Perfume he most was taken with he had in his mouth the Sweet-meats he best loved He caused to be read a most pleasant Love-discourse and at the same time had a Mufitian to sing an aire which ravish'd him above the rest And all this that he might dye voluptuously He knew not which of all these pleasures he should most intend when having his eyes blinded they pinch'd somwhat hard the veins of his arm and foot only with their nails and ordered water to fall abundantly into Basons neer him He believ'd his very veins were opened and that it was his blood that ran down so that his imagination was so strong that weakening by little and little he died within half an hour Siramnes was sorry for it because this man had been all his Councel in love-affairs and there was not any of us which he could not have wish'd in his room Some small Field-pieces being come to the besiegers they would batter down our walls but we to strengthen the less fortified places laid over them our Straw-beds and Feather-beds and a many baskets of rags that so the violence of the shot might be smothered and we secure as to the artillery and arrows Yet all could not hinder the making a breach which done the ditch being fill'd the enemy came up to us Whereupon we four that were the servants of Pamphilia took a generous
henceforward to feed on those meats whereof I had forgotten the taste I shall no longer believe that my servants are happier then my self as heretofore when they ate their belly fulls I was always emptie As he had done saying so the children of Boreas return'd victorious so that he spoke these words to them as he read them word for word in his paper Sacred young men you have restor'd me my life since you have restor'd me to eating Assure your selves that this good office shall not be answered with ingratitude I will have a Temple built you as high as the clouds where I will every daie adore you as most favourable Gods At the end of this he cryed out aloud FINIS because Clarimond had written that word at the end of his notes After this he retir'd to the Spectators who applauded him as if he had done wonders because the faults he had committed were so pleasant that if he had observ'd the precepts had been given him he had done nothing near so well As for the children of Boreas they got into their vessel which set sail towards the Isle of Colchos where was a fleece fastned to a tree The Argonauts being all landed Jason who seem'd to be stouter then any of the rest began to speak thus in his galimathias Behold the ground where are the greatest riches in the world and where is a world of riches I alreadie see the shining of that golden fleece which with a ray feeblie radiating wounds the eies and yet doth not hurt them and makes us as much live by hope as we die for fear The other Argonauts answered to that in divers styles and they spoke so loud that those on the other side could hear them A while after appear'd Medea with those temptations that stole away the liberty of Jason He presently courted her in these words Fair soul of my soul desire of my desire the residence of my conceptions will you not believe that my libertie is sacrific'd on the altar of your beauties since I know you I am miraculously fallen in love with an amorous miracle and all I desire is but to die for you a living death which is better then a drying life But if your attracting sweetness be changed into a cruelty so cruel as most cruelly to despise me and that the ability whereby you are able to heal me finde impossibility in its power doubt not but my amorous misfortune and my unfortunate love will principitate me headlong into some precipice All the fine words wherewith you harness your Language replies Metaphorically the Sorceress Medea cannot pour into my minde the belief of your love I will not suffer my self to be lull'd asleep on the soft pillows of your words You come out of a Country which is over glutted with fairer women then I am and I shall never be bound up into so high a presumption as to perswade my self that you are insnared in the lines of my affection And this makes me believe you have set up a shop of dissimulation but my reason stands so well on her guard within the fort of my soul that you need not hope to take it by assault I know well if you were once entered there you would put all to fire and sword and you would sack even my firmest constancy I must not follow the flags of folly nor the cheating allurements which would bring me into the hook I had rather coost along some happy river where I might be sheltered from all misfortunes in the Haure de Grace of Love Jason and Medea who were very able persons continued their discourse a good while being of the same stuff as what we have heard Were they all to be written down with the issue of the play 't were to put one book in another and to trouble and importune the Reader with humors that are already stale and which repeated loose much of the grace they had when first acted It shall then suffice me to tell you that Medea beings as much taken with the merit of Jason as Jason was with her beauty gave him certain drugs for to lay asleep the waking dragon that watch'd the golden fleece He came near the place where it was according to the fable but as he thought to take it the dragon came and frighted him away 'T was an engine made of Pastboard which a man plac'd within made to go Jason cast on it a certain liquor and presently the beast lay along without any motion so that he easily took down the fair fleece which he desired and took Medea by the arm for to embarque her in his vessel and bring her into Greece Lysis having observed all this was not content with the words which he had order to speak but he went and held Jason by the arm Thou shalt not go so says he to him thou hast done but half thy work Doest thou think the golden fleece can be so easily obtain'd Hast thou not read that it is kept by Bulls with brazen feet and iron horns as well as by the waking Dragon Thou must also charm these creatures and make them submit their necks to the yoke for to til this ground wherein thou must sow Serpens teeth This fatal seed shall grow up being water'd with blood and venome and shall produce armed men against whom thou must fight until a mutiny happening amongst them they ruine themselves And it is after these Labours that thou shalt deserve to be recompenc'd Stay therefore here or I swear there shall none of the Argonauts follow thee Come away then let the Bulls be brought We have not any here says Hircan do you think that all things can be so punctually represented There is never any Comedy wherein some things of the history are not passed over in silence or it is made believe that what is most difficult is done behinde the curtain and is afterward related on the stage That way is worth nothing says Lysis I would have all things natural I must have that done which I tell you if you intend to act parts with me Now all our sport is spoiled for want of foresight But another time let those that are charg'd with preparing things forget nothing of what is necessary Lysis having thus spoken got into the boat with all those that were in the Isle for it could not be denyed but the Comedy was handsomely performed This disorder that had hapned in it was more pleasant then any thing of order and 't was good recreation to hear Lysis's complaints who all that day left not quarrelling with Clarimond and Hircan for not having brought bulls into the Isle He was at last appeas'd with promises that all Comedies should be acted very magnificently or else that they would act none at all and his proposition was That when they had caus'd cloathes of all fashions to be made they might represent all Ovids Metamorphoses one after another and then all Virgils Aeneads besides some other
fair that for to commend it I must not imitate their imagination that Love made his residence there for 't is so smooth that that fickle Child could not fix on it 't is on wrinckled foreheads that he hath the opportunity to erect his throne and it must be thought that the several wrinckles are the steps whereby we ascend to his chair of state But when he set his foot there he slid into your Eyes where he found his most certain retreat but so it is that whether with his will or against it he must stay there for he burnt his wings as soon as ever he enter'd in This is the reason that the wounds I receive when you look on me are so dangerous and it may be cleerly seen that a powerful Divinity is become the intelligence of those two bright stars which govern the course of my life But what miracles do I find on your Cheeks the complexion is white but never pale and the redness is never obscure There is the same brightness on the corral upon your fair lips which are the portals of the Temple of Eloquence What shall I say of that neck and breast but that it is a most extravagant imagination to compare them to Ivory and milk since they have a quite different lustre The Poets celebrate their Mount Parnassus whereon there are twins of hills and the tradition is that he that hath slept thereon becomes a consummate Poet but it s to be conceiv'd that he that should enjoy those two little mounts which are on that fair breast would be far more divinely inspir'd either for Poesie or Eloquence As for the rest of the body where though the beauties must be eternally conceal'd yet do I not doubt their perfection And it must needs be great since it is honoured with the burthen of that fair head wherein I finde so many miracles It hath more glory to support that then Atlas to sustain heaven for here are far more divinities then in Jupiters Pallace O how happy then must I esteem thee amiable body to have so fair a face and thou fair face to be so happy in such bright eyes and you bright eyes to be so full of Charms and Attraction But what 's above all how happy art thou fair body in the general to be the lodging of the fairest soul in the world Methinks I have still somewhat to say in thy praise and that I have forgotten one part which I often see I have not mention'd the ears though near neighbors to the cheeks and are umbrag'd by the hair with so much beauty But why should I speak of those unmerciful things 't is from them proceeds the chiefest cause of my torment They wil not hear what I suffer that so they might give an account to that divine spirit which governs all the other senses As long as they shall continue in this severity I cannot but take them for my enemies but if it happen they abate their rigour I promise them to recompence and redeem the time I have not honor'd them I know not whether Philiris had something further to say but there he stuck as it had been to call to minde some other fine imagination to entertain Angelica They were all very attentive to his discourse which he delivered with a sweet accent and a delightful gesture Angelica her self was nothing troubled to hear her self so prais'd though she blushed a little and as for the Shepherd Lysis he was so ravish'd that he went and embrac'd the courteous Orator speaking to him in these words Dear Friend what charms are there in thy discourses how sweet and amorous is thy style I promise thee quite to disengage Clarimond and have no more to do with him thou art far the fitter to compose my history Philiris thank'd the Shepherd for the honor he did him and promis'd him his utmost services As for Clarimond he seeing himself disengag'd made a vow ever to contradict Lysis and that in open Hostility The talk which rise about this broke off the sport and thence they insensibly fell upon the strange exploits of Lysis and Carmelin I have heard saies Leonora the Story of Meliantes whereby that Shepherd had shewn how his Mistress was secur'd in a Fortress and that besides she remembred all the particulars of her deliverance as it had been related to her but she had not been told the true cause of her captivity nor who was the author of it Lysis and Meliantes answered that if she would be satisfied in that she must address her self to Hircan who knows the most secret things The company having entreated him to tell what he knew of that business He began thus without any want of fabulous invention The History of the Magician Anaximander YOu are to know dear Company that in the Isle where Pamphilia was a captive there is a Magician call'd Anaximander who hath liv'd there these thirty years It s no longer since he was born as most believe and yet he boasts himself to be the true Son of the Sorceress Circe As for his father he knew not his name because his mother was somewhat common This is not to make us believe that she liv'd to this age that he expounds otherwise He says that when she was alive two thousand years since he having learned of this good mother all magical secrets desired to live eternally on earth and not go with her to heaven nor yet to the Elizian fields because he took greater pleasure to be here below When he had examin'd all the receipts for renewing of age he found none easier then that of exchanging of Bodies He thought it not fit to desire one of his friends to kill him and to take his body all to pieces to form another stronger out of it he was afraid somewhat should interrupt the operation and that he might be left half made A little Nephew of his being knock'd in the head with a quoit as he look'd on his Comrades at play he found a way to discharge his former body and assume that of the childe which he afterwards animated to the great amazement of all the world who thought him dead Fourscore years after another little childe playing among others who carried him prisoner and made as if they would put him to death it hapned his companions throtl'd him in good earnest Anaximander made use again of that body and so hath he done with divers others to this day having the power to disengage his soul from this terrestrial mass and fasten again as firmly that it is equally fitted for the execution of all its functions as any other He drinks he eats he sleeps he gets children and yet is never sick His soul takes up bodies as travellers do Inns where they are as well accommodated as at home But one great advantage of his immortality is that he hath been of all conditions which he hath freely pass'd through as they had been only parts of a Play and so
own mouth I had a day or two since a certain inspiration which hath given me all the satisfaction I desired Methinks I hear it still in my ear telling me that all those who have offered at any explication of Charites command understood nothing in it and that there is no doubt but to have commanded me not to obey her any more was as much as to bid me dye as soon as I could and not be any longer subject to her laws Let him therefore that is unworthy to serve her dye and in his death will be found the fulfilling of that inviolable Commandement I command you sayes Charite to me that word tells me I ought to obey her and that according to her good pleasure I should dye That is a thing soon doon and as for the other part which will have me to obey her no more that will be executed when my soul and body are separated This argues not but that I must still love Carite even in the other world but because I shall be nothing but an unprofitable shade uncapable to do her any service it may be conceived I shall obey her no more Lysis having ended this discourse began to roll his eyes in his head and to seign tremblings so that Adrian was in a pittiful taking and asked Carmelin whether it were true his Master had put any poison into the wine he had drunk I am sure sayes Carmelin that I having brought this bottle hither last night not knowing what occasion there might be of it Lysis put I know not what into it But wretch that I am I was not so careful as to ask him what it was and yet it will be said that I am partly a cause of his death by reason of my negligence Besides that it breaks my heart when I think he took that mortal draught from my hand O heavens why would you suffer it Thus did Carmelin seem to be extreamly troubled according to the directions of his Master and Adrian amazed as much as possible turned to Hircan entreating him to apply some remedy to his poor Cousin and to send for an Apothecarie that might give him somewhat to make him cast up what he had taken Hircan and all the shepherds who had been acquainted by Polidor of the dissimulation of Lysis made as if they were extremely troubled and one of them tells Adrian that he knew not of any means to give his Cousin an Antidote though the Apothecary had brought any because he being resolved to die would never take it Yet Hircan made as if he would send a Lacquay to the City for that purpose In the mean time Lysis having trembled a great while pronounced these words with a dying voice A certain benummedness begins to seize my noblest parts I am gone my friends Farewel Shepherds choose out one from among you who being the most illustrious may give you lawes If my advice be of any weight with you take Philiris I believe the Parisians that are to come will be much astonished not to find me but there is no remedy I must obey my Mistress one moment that I may obey her no more I will execute her command without command As for your part Cousin you are partly the cause why I embrace death for seeing that you would needs carry me to Paris it should be my endeavour to dye though I received no occasion as being desirous to end my dayes here that I may have the honour to be buried by my companions and in spight of your teeth remain in this happy country This discourse ended Lysis slides down into the bed as if he had fainted and after he had fetched some sighes he turned to the other side and spoke no more He kept himself so much from moving and taking his breath aloud that the shepherds concluded he was dead who was the dearest friend they had in the world Carmelin casting himself on his bed cryed out Alas my poor Master why would you dye in the flower of your age you might have yet a good while enjoyed the pleasures of life Ah! since he is dead that comforted us all in our afflictions sayes Fontenay it is fit I dye too He hath shewed me the way I am not less miserable in my Loves then he I love cruel one whom the relation of my sufferings can make never the more favourable to me Give me poison as thou didst thy Master Carmelin I will take it off presently and lye down by him that I may dye in his company Am I a common Executioner sayes Carmelin Am I an administrer of poison Had I known that the wine I had given my Master had been poisoned do you think I would have suffered him to take it Go seek poison somewhere else there is no more in our bottle I would to God there never had been any If I cannot get poison cryes out Fontenay I will take a knife and cut my throat and if I am denyed weapons I shall find some other shift to dispatch my self I will cast my self out at the window I will hang my self or swallow burning coals and will keep in my breath till I am choaked Take away this desperate person sayes Hircan you Polydor and Meliantes carry him into some chamber where let him be chained up as a mad man O God! how does Love let us see this day the strange effects of his mighty power Hircan having said this Fontenay was conveyed away and Adrian having himself felt his Cousin was so simple as to think him dead He went presently to his wife and told her this sad news They were both extremely troubled considering it would be said generally that they were the cause of this poor lads death for want of having a better care of him and were too blame to let him goe into the Country among strangers who had so confounded his imaginations that he dyed out of despair Their recourse was to discharge their fury on Carmelin telling him he was a Rogue a Traytor and a Mutherer and that it was he had put poison into his Masters wine He reproached them with being the cause of all this unhappiness and that Lysis had confessed at his death that he dyed to avoid going with them to Paris Hircan came and told them it was irreverent to quarrel in the place where the dead body lay and that there was as much respect due to the dead as to things sacred He thereupon causes all to depart the chamber and locked the dore not permitting any to go in and then takes up Adrian after this manner Let us speak a little with reason good friend sayes he to him What do you mean by making such a noise here Will you have all the world take notice that Lysis is poisoned If that be once known his body will be taken hence and justice will proceed against him as a self-homicide He will be hanged at a Gibbet by his feet he will have a brand of infamie and his
soul of a Lover whose fire is as pure and as clear as the Sun it must be plunged into those frozen Rivers wherein we quench the flames of Ambition Avarice and other passions Let it not be sent thither replies Aeacus it deserves far otherwise we were unjust if we did it You have not maturely considered the business Minos was of the same opinion who having a long time consulted with his brethren it was ordered I should be conveyed to the Elysian fields I saw as I passed by Tartarus where the sinfull are so tormented that their cryes are heard a league off Tantalus is there Ixion is also there and a many others that have offended the Gods After I had travelled a great way with a spirit that was my guide I saw the aire grew by little and little more clear and in a moment I found my self in a Countrey which had light enough to discover the excellent things that were in it There was a Medow cheequered with an infinity of flowers which could not be seen otherwise then by travelling over all the Countrys of the world at the end of that there was a Grove which had as many different trees and there I met with a many happy souls who began to receive me with complements for the satisfaction they found in my company I had not left my civility behind me here so that I answered them in as courteous expressions They were all clad in white and their ordinary recreation was to recite Verses to play on the Lute or the Gitarre and not at Cards nor Dice which was the diversion of evil spirits As they were shewing me all their pleasures it came into my mind to ask them why we were called by no other name then Souls and why we were put in the feminine gender since divers among us had been sometimes men There was one going to answer me when I perceived Love hovering over my head who took me in his arms and carryed me so swiftly through the air that the greatness of the agitation soon â—ulled me asleep so that I found my self in this place ere I thought on 't Lysis having thus ended his discourse which was a knot of lyes invented on the sudden all admir'd the fruitfulness of his conceptions Philiris told him that as to the doubt he was in that we were but souls only after our death 〈◊〉 was not because were were women rather then men but that not being of one sex more then another we had been called by a name used in the feminine gender without any designe Be it as it will saies Lysis but I am glad that my soul is feminine for then it shall be of the same sex as the object of its love since it is the only desire of the Lover to be changed into the thing loved See fair Charite how great the affection I bear you is continued he nay when I was in the other world I had no other regret but that I had left this too soon and had not staid to see you that you might not have doubted but that you were the cause of my death But fate hath laid this obligation on me that if I dyed not in your presence it was in your presence that I was raised up again Charite knew not what answer to make to these fine words so that when she perceived Hircan loosen his hold somewhat she made but one stride of the chamber into the gallery and as she went down being followed by no body she considered of her returning to Orontes's to avoid further abuse Adrian in the mean time was extremely comforced at the arrival of those who were come in last who seemed to him to be of more staid minds then the Shepherds He therefore approaches his Cousin and asked him whether he would not return to Paris whereat the Shepheard was extreamely troubled imagining his dissimulation had been all to no purpose and had not lasted long enough to send away that troublesome Guardian As he was studying what to answer Hircan prevented him saying he was too importunate in disturbing a poor man who was but newly returned to life and that it was sufficient if Lysis had so much strength as to get up and walk about the house This check roughly delivered made Adrian retire and Hircan having promis'd Lysis on his word that his Cousin should not dispose of him as he pleased entreated him to rise and come to dinner with the company He was at that time in so good an humour that he suffered Carmelin to help him put on his cloaths Hircan had retained to dine with him all that were in the house As they were ready to sit down Lysis was like to make an ill meal of it because he saw not Charite whom he had sought all over the house He thought the expressions of Love he had made to her were come to nothing but Angelica having over-heard some of her complaints would give him some comfort making him believe that the reason he found not Charite there was not because that she had left him out of disdain but that Leonora had sent her to Orontes's about some business On the other side Adrian who imagined his Cousin would be no better then he was before had not quitted his desire to carry him away and his recourse was to Anselm though he had quarrelled with him but a little before He asked if he might not be permitted to be gone to which Anselm replyed if you are in such hast you may go your wayes presently but as for Lysis I promise you that as I brought him hither so I will bring him hence Within 15 dayes at farthest I must be at Paris there being some occasions that call me thither It is not so long that there can happen any great alterations in your Cousins mind that you should much fear Adrian was loath to subscribe to this but Clarimond interposing advised him to accept what was proposed He was forced to it out of the good opinion he had of that Gentlemans faithfulness and sinceritie However since it was too late to get to Paris that night he deferred his journey till the next day and Hircan being acquainted with his resolution made him very welcom because he gave him that further time to make sport with Lysis While all this was working Carmelin knew not whether he ought to be merry or sad As soon as his Master was gotten up he went to see Lysetta to whom he had not proffered his service since he had Lysis's permission His Masters death had taken away all such thoughts The first proposition he made thereof to her she only laughed at him for his pains so that he was very ill satisfied The worst on 't was that he durst not declare it to Lysis because he would have given him no other advice then to play the mad Lover like Fontenay He could not sing to entertain her with Serenades and could play upon no other Instrument then a Flute
the reasons you alledg'd to your Gardian to perswade him that you ought to be a Shepherd and that he should be one too if he had any design to be happy There hath been laughing enough at that impertinence already I shall only mention that simplicity of yours to go and speak to a country Lobcock in Poetical and Romantick terms The poweâ— you attributed to Charite put him into such a fright that he and all his acquaintance were alarm'd all that night imagining the end of the world to be at hand I know not whether any dyed upon that fright If any such thing had happened you had been the cause of their death and you would have been punish'd as a murtherer You would also needs interrogate the Eccho but you were neatly cheated for whereas you imagin'd it was the Eccho of the Poets that had answered you it was this Anselme whom you see who cannot deny it You might have perceiv'd then how much he slighted and laught at the extravagances of the Poets by the stories he told you about that repetition of the voyce and concerning the three Destinies He also laugh'd at that opinion of yours about the Sun taking what is said of it litterally You are to know there is but one and if we finde it in the morning in another quarter though he hath been hidden from us yet it did only pass under us to enlighten the other Hemisphere and did not rest in the sea as your impertinent Authors tell you Yet Anselme comply'd with you so far as to make you another promise of Charites picture I pass by your extravagance in the Inn of not eating ought but what was red This you would needs do and your humor was satisfied You perceived well enough that you had already deceiv'd your self when Anselme told you that it was not handsome to play the Shepherd at St. Clou and it was a great argument he told you the truth when such a rout bore you company with stones You were also pittifully abus'd when you took a Country fellow for a Satyre for who hath ever seen any in France unless it be in picture or only by disguise in Pastorals and Masks Nay where were there ever any seen in the world There 's mention only of two or three but they were monsters things extraordinary in nature As for the picture which Anselme gave you do you not see he did it only to abuse those descriptions of beauty which are in the Poets Do you think your self that the features of that Metaphorical face are like those of the Natural face of your Mistress Though that were possible amidst so many several colours 't is not Anselme hath done it for he is not so good a painter as that there can any excellent things come from him he can only shadow Copper-pieces I stick not to say this before him because his reputation lies another way 'T was also out of abuse that he permitted you to be Judge in the difference between him and Montenor and though you had not given judgement on his side Geneura had nevertheless been frustated of her expectation He seem'd to attribute great authority to your words your Serenade and your Love-letters were in his opinion ridiculous enough but you abus'd your self more egregiously when you kiss'd the clapper of Leonora's door while you perceiv'd not you were sprinkled with Urine instead of Rose-water I omit many little particulars as the Garlands wherewith you would adorn the portalls of Charites pallace and the meeting with the Merchants of Paris whom you took for Pirates In all these were you as strangely deluded as could be imagin'd When you were one evening at Charite's 't was pleasantly imagin'd of you that the candle could have been lighted at her eyes If the Poets finde out so many conceptions upon the flames which issue out of their Mistresses eyes they must be esteem'd no other then Poetical impertinences I cannot but laugh at your extravagant jealousie the day following when you found Charite asleep in the garden You were jealous of your own shadow nay of the very Atoms and therefore with much more reason of any thing that touch'd her as the grass whereon she lay You imagin'd the Sun made a noise as he went through the heaven and that the plants did the like in growing You afterwards committed a world of fooleries and the perfection of your extravagance was that being near Charite in the Court you believed the fire of her eyes had burnt your hat when it was one of Anselmes Lacqueys had done it with a Burning-glass In consequence of this opinion you imagin'd the next day that you were all afire and went and cast your self into a fountain where you had been drown'd had not sudden relief come Being after this at Paris you went to Burgundy-house where you took the Comedy for a truth making better sport to all the world then any play 'T was another good humor of yours when you believed that the picture of an imaginary Shepherd was your own and when you astonish'd the Stationer in St. James street with your words and actions The discourse you held with Cecilia when you lay at her house were very pleasant and 't was pretty to see you come into this Country when you thought you had gone into Forrests This cheat you are convinc'd of you can say nothing to it Here 's Anselme present that can Witness it and not only this but all the rest in case you will deny them Anselme upon this advanc'd and very seriously confirm'd all that Clarimond had said whereat Lysis was so dash'd that he suffered the other to proceed in his reproaches Do you not also remember saies Clarimond that I began to discover you by another error of yours at my house You took my mother for the sage Felicia 't is true she is sage but not Felicia You were afterward mightily deceived when you thought I would have taken your part and again when you gave your Mistress a Serenade you thought it was an Hamadryad that answered you on the Lute for it was our friend Hircan whom I had given notice to of your enterprise The good Hermit here present can also witness that you spoke to him as if he had been a Druid or some Magician because you had read in your books that the Hermites did sometimes practise Magick and thought there was no sin in it The most matchless delusion was that when you afterwards met Hircan you took him for a Magician and thought the Gentlewoman whom you called Synopa a Nymph of the waters 'T was as good a trick when you imagined that this cunning man had changed you so perfectly into a maid that you were taken for no other Being a servant in that sex at Orontes's you were accused of incontinence and for tryal they made you get up on a brass plate which could not hurt you there being no fire under I came and proffered to dye for you and when