a great part of Anaxanacton's Dominions as is known by the Story of Mahomet Bentivolio perceiving that Antigraphus had made an end replied in these words Though there are many things in Christian Religion for that is but another Name of Anaxanacton's Discipline so Mystical that their full Sense is above the reach of our Apprehension yet nothing can justly be esteem'd unreasonable because we are not able to fathom it since we know that Inferiour Beings cannot adequately comprehend Superiour Though it is very common with foolish men to quarrel with those Methods by which God prosecutes the Design of their Happiness and to cavil at those Notions wherein the most important Truths are contain'd yet I think those which you have impugn'd so agreeable to right Reason and that no Instrument could have been more prudently contriv'd to promote the Salvation of Mankind then the Death of Anaxanacton and that it was not unsuccessefully applied to serve this most noble Design and that the Effects which were produc'd by it were never equall'd by any other Invention is the first thing that I will endeavour to shew you and adde to what I have said already concerning this Matter answers to all your Objections and afterward I will satisfie you as to the Truth of the whole Story of Anaxanacton When Man came first into Being he was God's Creature and so oblig'd by the strongest ties to acknowledge him for his Soveraign Rector He who made all things having an indubitable Right to give them Laws The universal Creator according to his Divine Prudence inscrib'd natural Rules upon Mens Hearts so making them in part Laws to themselves and superadded some Positive Commands as further significations of his Will He knowing that he had to doe with considerative Natures not only engag'd them to observe his Laws by the good Condition into which he put them but added another strong preservative against Disobedience by annexing to his Commands Punishments conditionally threatn'd Which was a rare Expression of the Divine Goodness for God did so take care that the false Hopes of Impunity might not bring into the World first Sin and then Ruine But rash Men slighting their Duty notwithstanding these Obligations to the contrary rendred themselves obnoxious to the Punishment of an Ingrateful Rebellion and it was then just with God who is the Lord of Punishment to inflict the Mulcts which were due upon the contempt of his Precepts But he considering that it was a thing worthy of the benign Creator rather to repair his work by an After-provision of his Wisdom then to desert it to that Ruine which was the effect of its own Folly determin'd to restore the degenerate World and upon Terms which were fit for him to propound to admit Offenders to the benefit of Reconcil'd Favour The Sins of the World being an unspeakable Affront to his just Authority and an open Scorn put upon his most excellent Laws he saw it was reasonable that Men ought not to be pardon'd but in a way by which the Divine Honour might be repair'd his Government acknowledg'd the Righteousness of his Injunctions vindicated Obedience restor'd to its due Estimation Rebellion condemn'd and put to the highest disgrace and Offenders by the assurance of Forgiveness perswaded to return to their Duty and so that base thing Sin be rooted out of the World Now Antigraphus if you will give me leave to use a few words more continued Bentivolio I will demonstrate to you that these noble Designs could not have been accomplish'd any way so well as by the Obedient Life and Holy Death of Anaxanacton You must know that he came into the World at such a time when Wickedness had advanc'd it self to a height scarce parallel'd in any Age and when that Nation which did most of all others pretend and had the greatest reasons to be Examples of Vertue had not only dishonour'd it by Vicious Practices but had slurr'd their Rules with such false Expositions that they had represented the Observation of their genuine Sense as unnecessary Anaxanacton appear'd upon this Stage as the Champion of Obedience and by an unspotted Conversation made a publick Defiance to the prevalence of Vice subdued the Power of bad Example and reveal'd a dear Regard of the Divine Will when all the World slighted it overcame the Temptations of Sin and condemn'd those Customs which by a continu'd repetition of wicked Actions do propagate hurtful Examples and having given all sorts of men a full knowledge of their Duties by his Excellent Discourses and shewn the way to the most noble degree of Vertue of which as I told you before his own Life was the Beautiful Image he reprov'd the disobedient World with such Authority that he amaz'd the most Obstinate and perfectly reclaim'd the Ingenuous who wanting good Information sinn'd only of Ignorance but now reform'd themselves willingly since they knew the danger of their Errours Anaxanacton having proceeded so far his Life was improv'd to the utmost Justification of the Supreme Law-giver and now he laid it down that by his Death he might make a further Reparation of the Divine Honour and a fuller Expression of his Charity to Humane Nature His Death was a common Penance of Mankind in which Divine Justice made the Sins of the World to meet as in an Expiatory Suffering which his Love made him chearfully endure having voluntarily put himself into the place of Sinners and he was not unwilling to bear such shameful Torments as were ever look'd upon as the Punishments of Sin and the visible Effects of God's Displeasure Thus his Cross became a publick Vindication of the Divine Justice to which all the World was obnoxious and it was a great Augmentation of that Disparagement which he had cast upon Sin by his Holy Life For none could receive the true knowledge of this wonderful Action and remain so stupid as to think still that Disobedience is a Trifle which was thus expiated or so unreasonable as not to conclude that the Wound was of a most deadly concernment which could not be cured but by a Balsam made of such precious Bloud How can any man think that it is a cheap thing to sin when the dearest Son of God was buffeted crown'd with Thorns and then nail'd to a Cross for it The Saviour of the World had reason to expect that when some men saw and others heard that the hard Rocks clove and the dull Earth trembled at his Death and that the dead came out of their Graves that they would awake out of their deadly slumbers and not only think of relenting a little but melting themselves into an ingenuous Sorrow for their former Enormities now begin a new Life according to his Directions who died for them and by his Death shew'd them not only the depth of his true Affection but made it the greatest endearment of Obedience letting them see that it was so necessary to their Happiness that it is neither possible nor fit that
doated and I perceiv'd it was counterfeit I understand the meaning of God's declarations now and see that he never meant to compromise with Hypocrifie and to patronize the bare show of Goodness I see that none can be made partakers of eternal Bliss without a holy life which is the proper express and only proof of inward goodness If God had not made it necessary by his declarations yet the nature of the State it self makes it impossible to be otherwise and I find this verified in my self for being void of such Dispositions as are the just preparations of that Incorporeal state I feel my self unfit to live happily out of this Earthly Body I have built upon Quick-sands Colax and now the Wind ariseth and the Land-flouds 〈◊〉 me my house begins to fall I imagin'd my self to be one of God's Elect and thought that to be a sufficient ground of Hope because divers told me who had seen the Eternal Rolls that his choice is Absolute But I doubt now my name was never in the Book of life and if it be I am sure I cannot find it But my misery is the greater because that which hath deluded me all this while is the only Refuge unto which I can betake my self and that is Vain Faith and as I talk'd formerly of believing Contradictions or any thing I see now that I must do so still if I will attempt to comfort my self for I have all the reason in the world to despair Colax was much astonish'd at this talk and perceiving that his company afforded no consolation to his dying friend he went home but they say that the sad condition of Tuphlecon made such a deep impression upon his Soul that he took his bed immediately Colax had no sooner left the Room but a dismal company of gastly attendants who had waited all the while at the door camein the chief of them were Phrictus Odax Thanatus Krimatophobus and 〈◊〉 Tuphlecon had no sooner espied them but he fell into a swoon his spirits returning after a while he cryed out for his old friends Tharraleus Philopseudes Hyperoncus and many others But when he perceiv'd that none answer'd his call a deadly sighing seiz'd upon him and after many deep groans mix'd with horrid Exclamations he dyed much after the manner of those disconsolate people which break their Hearts with Grief As soon as the newes of Tuphlecon's death was bruited abroad and it was known in what a forlorn sort he left this world the Kenapistians began to suspect That Vain Faith will not serve the turn in the other and That such a Confidence as doth not subdue Sin will not suppress Fear and That such as live wickedly will be forc'd to think themselves miserable at their death The Storm approaching they saw that their constitution was only made to endure Fair weather and that they were destitute of a Defence against Afflictions and Death Now they wonder at the folly of their Credulity who believed unreasonably That they should be excus'd for sinning against their Conscience because they felt its remorses when it was abus'd and they find that what they counted Repentance was worse sin and what they thought an alleviation is a great aggravation of their burden both by a greater vileness of the Sin and a proportionable Guilt And now they are all appall'd with a great doubt concerning their Faith and are affraid that a careless life will bring them into such a condition that they shall have much ado to believe themselves wel against the force of such Reasons as are the demonstrations of an unhappy state Here Ontagathus ended his Story and craving pardon for the tediousness of his Relation because they had laid their commands upon him to make the Report he added If you desire to go further to inform your selves more fully concerning the Kenapistians I will attend you No no said they all we have heard enough already and the time of the day requires us to return to our Lodging at Philoxenus his house and if your occasions give you leave to go along with us we shall be glad of your company I will go along with all my heart replyed Ontagathus he is my very near neighbour and to morrow I have purpos'd to spend my time in Agazelus which as I understand you intend to visit before your return It were too long to give an account here of the several discourses which pass'd between Philoxenus and his Guests who were much more welcome because they brought Ontagathus with them whilst they made a review of their Travailes to collect something from the consideration of mens various Tempers and the Events of divers actions to improve their Understandings as also to commit to Memory the more remarkable passages and to entertain themselves by way of recreation with talking of what they had seen therefore I will passe them over and relate what happen'd in Agazelus Ontagathus rising more early in the morning then his usual time because he was loath that those whom he desired to attend should stay for his company came to them a little after they had made themselves ready and though they were pretty well wearied with going up and down and more then sufficiently glutted with Vanasembla yet they were unwilling to go away before they had seen Agazelus which was talk'd of as the Glory of Polyglotta Ontagathus to make the way less tedious and to prepare them for a sight of Agazelus by a previous description of the place gave them as they went along a brief account of the most remarkable things which he had occasion to observe when he was amongst them He began thus Through the midst of the chief Street runs a swift Brook call'd Picrudor the Water is often troubled and alwaies bitter It hath drown'd many for when a man chanceth to fall into the Stream it carries him away with such violent force which it hath by reason of its coming from steep Rocks that his recovery is impossible Upon the banks of this Rivolet is built a large House much after the fashion of a Labyrinth and some call it so because of the resemblance but the true name is Mataeoponus The keeper of it is known by the name of Lerocritus He hath two Servants Antilegon who looks to the doors and to keep out such as he suspects to be no well-willers to Agazelus and Amphisbeton who shows the Rooms It is much frequented by Disputants and I pretending to be one got in As I passed through a narrow Court which had been paved with a rough sort of Pebbles but was then overgrown with sharp Thistles and stinging Nettles I came to a wide Room call'd Logomachia an open space in the middle led to the upper end where stood Lerocritus his Chair many seats being plac'd upon both sides of the Room It was very large for as the times go they are no Christians which cannot dispute and indeed since the practise of Goodness was left among them it is the
into Religion men will be apt to take it for an old-wivestale or a fabulous Superstition invented by brain sick men and those that are initiated into your mysteries being taught to believe any thing will as easily believe nothing and by being religious after this fashion will be effectually disposed to Atheisme for when they examine their Faith they will find that in truth they only believe for fear or professe that they do for worldly regards but that they have no reason for what they hold Ingenuous men are govern'd by the Divine light which shines in their Souls by which they know that God cannot do that which implies a Contradiction and upon the same ground they assure themselves that there was never any such Feast You affirm unreasonably that the Body of your King which is but One may be in divers places at once that it may be a thousand miles remov'd from me and yet but the distance of a hand-bredth at the same time and so you make the same distance greater and less then it self For if he be corporally present with me at his Feast and after the same manner with another at a thousand miles distance from me the same Longitude will be shorter then it self You deny not but his Body is in Heaven and you affirm it to be in a Chappel upon Earth at the same time so that if you draw a line from the same point of my Hand to the same point of the King's Body which is the same line because it is a straight line between the same terms the distance will be but a yard long and yet reach many hundreds of miles which is a plain Contradiction Your Monster hath another head also no lesse deformed then this for your Transubstantiation doth suppose one Body may penetrate another whenas all the world have confess'd it to be the nature of Bodily substance to be Impenetrable and ever since that Propriety was stamp'd upon its Essence by the Creator each Material Substance doth stoutly and irresistibly keep it self from being penetrated by another So that whilst you report that the Viands were transubstantiated into the Flesh and Bloud of your King you would make people believe that either he had no true Body when he made that Feast or at least that he hath not now You say to make the wonder the greater That the whole masse of your King's Bloud is in each drop of Wine and that every Crum of Bread is converted into the whole Body not one Crum into the head and another into the feet and so the Whole is thrust into every Part which doth necessarily infer a Penetration of Matter which can no more reasonably be affirm'd then Contradictions can possibly be reconcil'd This Contradiction is swell'd with another for whilst you allow the Convertiblenesse of one Body into another without the destruction or augmentation of each other you grant leave for an absurd Inference which is That Body may be without Space or which is all one Extension for Space is Extension Since therefore the Essential property of a Body is Extension into Longitude Latitude and Profundity your Transubstantiation and Consubstantiation are confounded with this absurdity That a Body may be without Space and that Extension may be not extended Therefore Gentlemen since our Master's Body is in Heaven and that he hath told us he will not return to Earth till he come to restore this miserable world and hath appointed us to commemorate the love of his death by the renewall of his holy Feast where each dish is a Symbol of better things then any fleshly eye can see let us receive the benefits of his Divine presence by an humble Faith without this quarrelsome dispute for the bold determination of the manner of his being there So shall we who are now divided by that which was appointed to unite us become again a holy Synaxis and in stead of offering a ridiculous sacrifice we shall celebrate an acceptable Eucharist When Erotidius had sate down Lucanius rose up with an intention to speak further concerning Erotidius his Arguments but Therulus netled with the former discourse prevented him saying Hold thy tongue Vain Man thou wilt consent to his silly talk dost thou not see him so ignorant of the Nature of Faith that he will not believe Contradictions After those words he went out of the Room saying I will talk no more with such Asses Bellarmo took the opportunity to wave an answer with pretence of great wrath and went away to the chief Governor of Exosemnon to give him an account of what had pass'd How he reported the discourse I know not but in recompence of his ill-bestow'd Zeal in such a pitiful cause he received a Red Hat As soon as they were gone Erotidius guessing Lucanius to be inwardly vex'd as far as outward Looks are significations of the Mind ask'd him the reason of those immorall passions which had been entertain'd that day by such as boast themselves to be Christians and look down from the high battlements of Spirituality as they call it upon the Holinesse of Morality as a poor low thing pretending in their own more rais'd spirit transcendently to contain whatsoever is good in it as the Reasonable Soul doth the Sensitive Faculties adding withall that such irregular expressions would not be kept secret but be improv'd to the greatest disgrace whilst they were divulg'd by such adversaries as they had who were not so heedlesse as not to make use of such fair pretences of accusation To this Lucanius answer'd not without a fretful peevishnesse that he understood no great reason for such carriage only he knew that by a just though most dismal Judgment they were predestinated to these distempers so rising up with that cholerick haste that he overturn'd his Chair he went away Erotidius sitting still in a posture of extreme grief pull'd his hat over his eyes and wept heartily whilst the teares ran down both his cheeks so fast as if each tear had been pursued by his fellow and that one eye vied drops with the other Urania taking notice of his passion came near and demanded the reason of his sorrow Alas Madam said Erotidius I would gladly with these waters quench the unchristian heates which you saw just now kindled and to these teares I would willingly adde my Bloud if by that I could wash away the guilt of these foul distempers Come Erotidius said Urania grieve no more you have done your best be patient till they repent of their follies Come along with me and I will carry you where you shall hear other matters discours'd after another manner Now she intended to conduct him with her Company to Theoprepia into the sweet vales of Sophrosyne where divers Virtuoso's did daily meet and with most excellent Understanding discourse upon the most profitable things knowable As they were leaving the Room a company of illiterate fellowes but more fierce then the former would needs renew the Disputation and
God which was able to supply more necessities then humane Nature was ever troubled with I went away fully resolv'd in my Mind because I saw it was no disparagement to God to make the world after the forementioned manner since though he had not given them all things immediately or at once yet he had put all necessary additions so far within their reach that the want of more perfect Happiness should not be laid upon him and that he had most justly resolv'd the Condition of men should be Imperfect if they were Slothfull or Malicious I perceiv'd also that Want was requisite to make us understand the Benignity of his Supplies and that without complaining since he had provided them in abundance and created the courteous hands of Charity to bestow them where they were needful I understood 〈◊〉 that God had by this means cast a great honour upon us that he would not so complete every thing which belong'd to the excellency of his work but that he did leave something undone that we might be co-workers with him towards the perfecting of the Universal good and so have a more honourable share in it Whilst by this means I saw a Divine lustre reflected upon the condition of Men yet I could not but take notice that Charity was the great Globe of light where all those beams were fix'd and that whilst it did glorifie Vertuous persons by shining in them that of all the Vertues it self was most glorified Who can consider the Nature of Charity and not see that God hath singled it out of all the rest of his creatures and made it his Vicegerent in the Royal Office of Love and as trusting it above others hath made it the sole Treasurer of those Mercies which he intended mediately to bestow How can I but extoll that Vertue which God hath magnified and which is of such important use that it seems necessary to support the defence of the Supreme Goodness For though that hath prepar'd all Blessings in plentiful measures not only with sufficiency to correspond with Want but also with superabundant fulnesse to administer to Delight yet without this key which unlocks those Repositories where they are laid up the Poor which most need them would never be able to come at them The truth of this is manifest if we look into those parts of the world where Charity is not entertain'd for in those places Ignorance Poverty Sicknesse Complaint Disorder War and all manner of defects ruine the Happiness of Mankind But where she is received there Knowledg Plenty Health Amity Peace and all good things abound for she carries her Treasures with her and doth most freely impart her Stores because she counts not her self a jot the richer for them till they are distributed She plaines all the unevennesses of Fortune with a merciful hand and smooths all the Wrinkles which seem to be in the inequality of worldly 〈◊〉 and so answers those Objections which otherwise would be made against Divine Providence whilst one man hath more then another and makes the Poor content that the Rich should be their Stewards and the Rich much more Rich whilst they make themselves poorer by giving away a considerable part of what they have Upon Hunger and Thirst she bestows her Corn and Wine She would esteem her Wooll good for nothing if the naked did not want Clothes She frustrates the dreadful threatnings of Beggery with her Money and makes the Iron fetters of Captives to fall off with the force of Gold and Silver The Sick want no Visits whilst she can go her self nor Medicines or Attendance as long as she is able to procure them Strangers have not leave to ly in the Streets for she takes them into her House or a convenient Hospitall provided for them with all necessary Accommodations The cold Winter prevailes not against such as have no Fewel because she hath lard up enough for them in warm weather Desperate Debtors are hindred from cursing God and their Creditors in Prisons for she either perswades those to whom they owe to forgive them or payes their Debts She bestows Knowledg upon the Ignorant with meekness formes the rude and composes the disorder'd with prudent instructions She passeth by Offences committed against her self and hides with candid Hope such faults as she cannot presently mend and where any Good is begun she helps it forward toward perfection She reconciles the differences of Mankind with discreet interpositions and having done what good she can to particular persons she seeks out waies to advance the Publick Good And by a divine Fulness would like an inexhaustible Spring send forth Streames continually to replenish all the Wants of men but that they obstruct their passage with unworthy Damms and yet she makes a shift to get over them conquering all Evil with Good The World shall sooner want empty Pitchers then Charity will want Liquor or Affection to fill them up all times being her Opportunity all occasions an Invitation and whosoever pleases her Guests Charity makes her self a great high Priestesse offering up prayers continually for all the World for whose Good she is not unwilling to become also a Sacrifice and having made all that dwell in the same Nature her Children she would gladly like a true Pelican feed them with her bloud And as she lives to no other as her main End but to do good for she esteems it all Glory to be an instrument in Gods hand to further the good of others so she counts it but congruous to her Nature to be willing to dy not only as Pylades for his friend 〈◊〉 but rather as Damon for the more useful Pythias taking it for a sufficient price of death to lose her own to save their lives which will be more beneficial to the world This makes all the World in love with a Charitable person when they see him they behold the true Volto divino drawn upon his face and think that God is come down to them in the shape of Men. This puts an awe upon his presence and makes his Example reverenc'd They cannot think upon him without love and admiration they know he is worth ten thousand Vulgar Souls and strive for him as their common possession expecting as great a darkness to seize upon them by his loss as the Earth would suffer if God should extinguish the Sun and is so endear'd to the Neighbourhood that if any place should endeavour to wooe him from them they would esteem it as great a wrong as to divert a common River This Grace tun'd the Harp of Orpheus and was the life of the Pythagorick Musick which made the dull Stones dance into order and sweetn'd the very Beasts out of their roughnesse There was nothing in those dayes which durst be so ill as to disobey the precepts of one that was so good Finally Being sensible that this was the highest obligation of which humane kind is capable though they are naturally afraid of Death as the
were assured that they had the happiness to entertain one of the bravest persons in the World though they knew not that he 〈◊〉 call'd Alethion The Governour was but young and had either not been in the Wars of Theromachia where Alethion did nobly assist Theosebius or else had forgotten the features of his face and other Characters of his person But the Prince thinking it a necessary piece of just Civility to let him know whom he had obliged told him his Name Alethion resolving to stay here one day both to see the City and to return his acknowledgments to the Philadelphians sent one of his Gentlemen to Theosebius to give notice of his arrival in Theoprepia and to 〈◊〉 that he would wait upon him at his Court when He should please to give him leave This Messenger carried news so unexpectedly good that it was above the faith of those who heard it The King would have punished him as an Impostor if he had not produced a Letter written by Alethion whose hand he very well knew Theosebius immediately communicated this news to Phronesia and Agape who were at that time together lamenting the unfortunate Death of Alethion of which they had heard two dayes before This contrary report brought so sudden an alteration upon their Passions that had not Incredulity stopt the working of their spirits for a while and made this cross motion more gentle it had wrought some such dangerous effect upon their health especially in Agape as frozen people find when they are hastily removed out of cold snow to an hot fire But when they were not only assured that Alethion was alive by reading his Letter but understood also at how small a distance he was absent from them they could not but permit themselves to a pleasing Transport of Affection and antedated the joyes of his Presence with the contentment which they took in the knowledge of his Safety and revenged themselves upon their Grief by increasing the sweetness of their present satisfaction with the remembrance of their former tears Theosebius sent presently for Lysander the General of his Army and having acquainted him that the Prince of Theriagene was arrived at Philadelphia he commanded him to go thither immediately and taking his Coach and Life-Guard to conduct him with all care and honour to Phronesia Alethion having received this noble invitation by Lysander rose up early the next morning and before it was twelve of the clock came to Kepanactus one of the King's Houses which was within a League of Phronesia where Theosebius intended to dine with the Prince of Theriagene When Alethion was now about a quarter of a mile from Kepanactus Lysander's Lieutenant retiring from the head of his Troop came to the Coach side and acquainted his General that Theosebius at a very small distance was upon his march towards them Alethion impatient of any further delay stept out of the Coach and went speedily to the first rank of the Guard where Theosebius seeing him attended by Lysander and his own Servants alighted from his horse hastning to imbrace one who had already opened his arms for him and assoon as he could obtain a power to speak from the vehemency of his passions saluted him in these Words Most Dear Prince the joyes which the sight of you produce in my Soul are so great that I am not able to let you know them they are too big for words That delightful original from whence they are derived is such an unexpected Felicity that I can scarce think you here though I see you Most Excellent Prince replied Alethion I alwayes made my self believe that I had lodged you in the best place of my Soul and I have now received an infallible proof that I was not mistaken since in your own name you have exprest the thoughts which I formed there Although I know I can never equal your noble Love with worthy Affection yet I am sure my joy exceeds all that was ever produced by the encounter of any other friends But is it you Alethion said Theosebius interrupting him My Dearest Brother is it you And are you come from the grave to revive those who were ready to die of grief for your Death You might very truly think that I was not alive replied Alethion for I esteem'd it a cruel death to be so long separated from you my Dearest Theosebius And now I am restor'd to life now I live whilst I see my self so near to the King of Theoprepia We can never be too near said Theosebius and then renewed his imbraces which Alethion receiv'd and made reciprocal with such passionate endearments that all the Company fixt in a delightful amazement were forc'd to shed tears in sympathy with such a moving sight While the Princes were thus lockt in each others arms the Queen's Coach came up and Phronesia with the young Princess perceiving that Theosebius had made a stop alighted to come towards them which put Alethion into new raptures of joy For Theosebius took him by the left hand and presenting him to the Queen and Agape said Dear Mother and Sister receive the best of Princes and our Dearest friend Alethion It is possible to imagine something of those Passions which were rais'd by this second encounter But all that I am able to relate would be so far short of that which was then experimented that I think I can doe them right only by Silence Who can expresse the Ecstatical joyes which possessed the mind of Phronesia when she now receiv'd a Prince from death who saved her Son's life How could she love him too much who thought he did never love Theosebius enough Agape could not but be transported more then the rest because she seem'd to her self to have the greatest share in this happiness How welcome this confirmation of Alethion's life was to that fair Princesse none but she her self can tell who had lamented his supposed death with so many tears that never was any real death deplor'd with more Though her modesty would not give leave that she should make the deep sense of her Soul publick yet she forc'd her self to make those significations of affection which Alethion took for more then ordinary good will And as he was best able to make a judgment of such indications so she the more confidently allowed her self to give them because she was assured of their approbation to whom she was accountable for her carriage The true Friends of both the Princes could not but take their parts in this solemn Joy which flow'd from the happiness of those who were dearer to them then themselves And the felicity which attended this accident was so general that no by-stander thought himself unconcern'd in it As many little rivulets fill'd with a land-floud and meeting in some wider chanel swell the waters which they find there into so great a River that they overflow their usual bounds and uniting those little rills with themselves carry them all along in one mighty stream
such an obliging manner attempted their Freedom They needed now no other Argument to disengage their Minds from the power of their false Apprehensions when they saw themselves invited to the Service of their good God and to abandon the Tyrant who kill'd them at the perswasions of one who to shew how truly he lov'd them died for them Besides all this I could tell you Antigraphus that Anaxanacton might properly enough be call'd a Redeemer that is a Restorer of happy Liberty for another great Reason which is because he did not only out-wit that cunning Serpent by his Prudence but overcame that strong Enemy by his Power and rescu'd captive Humanity and punish'd him for the wrong which he had done in seducing his Father's Subjects from their Obedience which was all the Price due to him for the Slaves whom he first took unjustly and then us'd villanously This is a plain Answer to all those little Cavils which you made against the Notion of Redemption and if it satisfie not you must be forc'd to stay till Metaphorical Expressions be cur'd of their old lameness and so grow able to doe that which they never did yet that is to run upon four Feet The Method of your Demands requires now that I take out your other scruple concerning the Satisfaction which God is said to have receiv'd in the Death of Anaxanacton This Doubt is founded upon a Defect of Knowledge It was most fit that the Supreme Lord being wrong'd should appoint his own Satisfaction and since he made choice of the obedient Death of his dear Son why should he not accept it as a Propitiation for Sinners and give leave to Anaxanacton to nail their Bond to his Cross he having pay'd what was demanded by the Universal Creditor Whereas you phansie it is a Diminution of the Divine Goodness not to pardon the Sins of the World without such a strange kind of Compensation I must tell you that it was not fit that so high a thing as God's Authority which was denied should have no Reparation nor that Men should be tempted to Sin by perpetual Impunity so since the Eternal Father willing to condescend to fit Terms of Reconciliation was careful to find out what we could not have thought on or if we had durst not have propounded it spar'd not his own Son but gave him to suffer so many Reproches and so much Torment for our sakes he testified more love and endear'd himself more to us then if he had contriv'd our Salvation as you suppose he might some other way Whereas you Object that though God might expect Satisfaction yet it was unworthy of him to take it of Anaxanacton after such a cruel fashion I desire you to consider a little better and you will see that it was no Injustice in the Supreme Lord to accept the Payment of the Debt which Sinners ow'd when it was offer'd by Anaxanacton It is a common thing for us to give our Money to those to whom we our selves owe nothing to pay the Debts of others and sometimes though but seldom an Innocent Person hath offer'd his Life to expiate anothers Default and this Action of Anaxanacton is more justifiable since his matchless Charity is not only celebrated throughout all the World with Immortal Praises but he also procur'd by his Death the greatest benefits which were ever bestow'd upon Mankind and improv'd his Sufferings to his own unspeakable Advantage whilst his most just Father who could not permit such a charitable Obedience to want the greatest Reward crown'd his humble Patience with an universal Soveraignty and made him who for a while was the lowest of Servants the Lord of all things By which you cannot but perceive that there is no Reason to parallel the cruel Customs of the Pagan Superstition in which sometimes Men sometimes Virgins were slain against their wills to no purpose but to gratifie the Malice of Devils with the Voluntary Oblation which Anaxanacton made of his own Life which both proceeded from a most noble Principle and was glorified with a happy Conclusion Though you pretend also that Anaxanacton's Oblation could not benefit others because whatsoever he did was a just Duty to his Father I must tell you that though after Anaxanacton was born a Man he ow'd all possible Obedience to his Divine Father in his own name yet his Performances may very rationally be suppos'd capable of reflecting Advantage upon others since he was not necessarily Incarnate but Voluntarily assum'd our Nature on purpose to doe Honour to God This is enough said Eugenius turning himself to Bentivolio to justifie the Reasonableness of Anaxanacton's Death to all Ingenuous Persons but I beseech you for Antigraphus his full Satisfaction to let us see by the Effects which it produc'd that all this was not labour in vain for notwithstanding your former Discourse he fears not to say that the World receiv'd little benefit by it I remember very well what he said replied Bentivolio and since your Patience is not yet spent I will shew you the Falshood of this Calumny for so I must call it There are but two things considerable in Sin the Unreasonableness of enormous Actions and the Punishment to which Sinners are obnoxious and it is easie to convince any rational Person by that which I told you in the former part of this Discourse that Anaxanacton did what was fit for Him that is the best Person in the World to doe to remove them both He re-inforc'd the Commands of Obedience to Almighty God by his Divine Precepts he reveal'd the danger of a wicked Life and declar'd that Holiness i.e. Wisdom and Goodness is an Immoveable Bound-stone which God hath set between a happy and a miserable Estate To prevent Despair he assur'd Delinquents of their Pardon upon Repentance having offer'd himself as a Propitiatory Sacrifice which was a Notion so early known and so universally spread through the World that there was none which understood not the meaning of that most obliging Action He made his Commands so plain that they did not only condemn the Dissolute but reproch all false Pretenders To prevent the hopes of sluggish Endeavours he declar'd the Invalidity of the greatest Knowledge which doth not transform those who possesse it into the Image of Truth He assur'd all false Believers that the Faith which doth not subdue their Sins will never be able to chase away their Fears He put all possible Disgrace upon Hypocrisie having mark'd it with the brand of the most odious Wickedness He hath undone all vain Expectations by linking all his Promises with Conditional Precepts He hath confirm'd the terrible Sentence which is pronounc'd by an Evil Conscience that Sinners might find no Refuge but in true Repentance He hath condemn'd all External shews of Piety and Vertue which are destitute of interiour Correspondencies He told all Good men that they must look upon the Permission of Tentations not as Excuses of Sin but as Continuations of their Trial and
the gallantry of their Assailants threw down their Arms and ask'd for Quarter In this service the Theoprepians lost not many men the most considerable was Aristander's Lieutenant who was slain by the Captain of the Fort at the top of his Ladder Aristander was wounded in the right cheek and Bentivolio besides the blow upon his shoulder receiv'd a thrust in his left arm In the mean while Amyntor Misopseudes and Philalethes attaqued the Bridge Those who were set to guard it perceiving their approach provided to defend themselves and gave fire to their Musquets as if they had intended to make Day with the light which was darted from the Mouths of their Guns But shooting at a venture their first Vollies had no very pernicious effect neither did they hinder the Theoprepians from approaching the Bridge for Amyntor and Misopseudes fastned their Shallops to it with hooks and Philalethes who had the command of the Fire-boats lock'd them to their Barges notwithstanding all that the Enemy could doe to hinder him and leaving the Combustible matter to perform its own office went to another place which was not yet assaulted by his Companions and having mounted the Bridge secur'd an Ascent for two more of his friends and whilst they made their Swords give a dreadful testimony to their Enemies that their coming thither was to their extreme disadvantage a numerous company of bold Souldiers rushing impetuously upon them forc'd him into his Boat and his Companions into the water Misopseudes and Amyntor after many Repulses and some wounds made good their standing upon the Bridge and forc'd many of their Enemies into that side of the River which was next to Hipponyx and repell'd those who endeavour'd to supply their rooms with such irresistible blows that the Theoprepians had opportunity to mount themselves upon the Bridge without much difficulty which when they had ascended they requited those who help'd them up with the effects of such a gallant Courage that they made the Hipponyctians seek defence for themselves by running towards the Forts which were built upon each side of the Haven It fell out unluckily for Philalethes for he having again recover'd the Bridge with some of his men was by the impetuous violence of the affrighted multitude driven a good way along the Bridge and by the irresistibleness of their wild Motion was at last thrust off into the Water being accompanied with many others who having push'd off those who were before them were also carried off themselves by such as were behind them Philalethes and his Companions were forc'd to save their lives by swimming to their Boats But this mischance turn'd to their advantage for they had scarce recover'd their Shallops before the Fire-boats doing the Execution to which they were design'd set on fire that part of the Bridge to which they were fastned and the Granado's breaking destroy'd many of those who were upon it Those who yet kept the Bridge being pursued by the Victorious courage of Amyntor and Misopseudes had only left them the liberty of a miserable choice either to die by their Enemies Swords to stay in the Fire or to leap into the Water And yet they were soon depriv'd of power to make any election for Philalethes joyning with those gallant men who were design'd to loosen the Chains that tied together the parts of the Bridge help'd them to put a speedy end to that undertaking and having with some of his Companions boarded several disunited Vessels they quickly disposses'd the Hipponyctians by throwing them into the water and so made themselves Masters of those scatter'd pieces of the Floating Bridge which notwithstanding they not being able to rule for want of Rudders were forc'd to go as the stream was pleas'd to conduct them and so were in danger to be carried away Captives when they had overcome but that some of their party perceiving the condition in which they were made towards them and took them into their Shallops Panaretus Charistion and Sympathus imploy'd themselves with an equal gallantry in the gaining of the other Fort which was of a larger compass and was fill'd with a desperate company of Antitheus his Mercenaries who when the Theoprepians came near their Trench saluted them with a showre of Stones and Bullets and were requited with Hand-Granado's which the Theoprepians threw into the Fort which though they broke successefully and struck pieces of Iron-shells into the faces of some and the bellies of others and kill'd many yet rather enrag'd then weaken'd the Survivours which made the Access more dangerous to their Enemies and the Victory more doubtful Panaretus signaliz'd his Valour in this Action and as he was upon the top of his Ladder a stout Souldier endeavouring to pull off his Head piece Panaretus took hold of his Arm and flung him into the Trench and having setled himself in his Room upon the Fort defended it against innumerable blows till Sympathus got up to him and then the Valour of these two Valiant Persons easily made way for more to come up by the death of those who endeavour'd to throw them down Christion did things worthy of himself and such Companions for having mounted another part of the Fort and receiv'd a wound in his breast as a welcome upon his first entrance he requited it with the death of him that bestow'd it and fighting with an invincible Courage easily made room for his friends to come to him and place themselves amongst their Enemies Now it was that the Hipponyctians giving fire no longer disputed who should have the Fort with the But-end of their Musquets in which mode of fighting they were imitated by the Theoprepians and both Parties did so heartily endeavour to exceed one another that Victory seem'd to stand a great while in an equal distance between the Assailants and Defendants It was some benefit to the Theoprepians that the Darkness did not give leave to their Enemies to take courage from the knowledge of the less Number of their men but making up that defect with Resolution they had entred so many places at once that they were not able to resist them in all and did so make good the possession which they got though with some loss of their men that they drove the Hipponyctians from the Line and encompass'd them in the middle of the Fort sending death upon them from all sides It was no small discouragement to the Hipponyctians that a little after the appearance of Day they discover'd that which made them believe that the Light was only bestow'd upon them to let them see the Ruines of their friends upon the Chain'd-Bridge and Alethion's Standard plac'd upon the opposite 〈◊〉 whereupon the most Valiant of them having sold their lives as dear as they could the rest yielded themselves to the mercy of the Theoprepians who were now absolute Masters of the Fort. Atheophilus being inform'd of that which had happen'd and sensible of what might probably follow resolv'd to repair his Honour and to
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Death 155 Tharraleus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Confident Presuming ibid. Theophila 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Lover of God Theoprepia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a State worthy of God The Title of the IV. Book wherein some things belonging to that State are discours'd as far as the Nature of such a Work as this is would handsomely permit 177 Theorus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one that contemplates from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or one that takes care of Divine things from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I plac'd Agathorryton in this Hill because the Spring of Life doth pour forth its Streams most plentifully upon careful and holy Souls 200 Theosebes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Religious person one that worships God 201 Therodes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Brutish as the Poor frequently are for want of Education 11 Thrasymachus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bold in fight 36 Timautus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one that seeks his own Honour 114 Trimalcio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a very soft and Effeminate person Under this name some think that Petronius Arbiter did describe the Luxuries of Nero. 79 Tuphlecon from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wilfully Blind 150 Tuphlotharson from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 blindly Confident 122 V VAghezza Beauty Loveliness Vanasembla a Vain Shew The Title of the III. Book in which many things which are extoll'd in some places as eminent parts of Religion are discover'd to be no such matters 111 Vendetta Revenge 3 Veneriola from Venus a Wanton 83 Vrania signifies Celestial Light from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heaven or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Light See Bentivolio 18 ERRATA PAge 70. line 12. for wel read real p. 114. l. 13. read Timautus p. 208. l. 5. read 〈◊〉 p. 249. l. 25. for designs read deigns THE FIRST BOOK OR ARGENTORA IT was many years after that time when the Rusty Brasse and baser Iron had given too great an assurance of the full determination of the Golden and Silver Ages when Bentivolio appear'd to the astonishment of the degenerate world which could not remember to have seen any Gentleman equall to him in Complexion or Stature He was so perfectly made up that one might easily perceive Wisdom Goodness and Courage to have done their utmost in his Composure The esteem of his Perfections did not rise by the measure of those disproportions in which the corrupt Age fell below him but by such degrees as the exact rules of Vertue set up for an infallible standard After a full acquaintance with the customs of his own Country by which he arriv'd at great perfection and would have out-done them but that they were such as could not be exceeded for he was born in the higher Theoprepia he had a great desire to see other Countries not to make Experiments by his Travel to satisfie Curiosity which in him was very little but to deserve such Honour as doth naturally accompany vertuous attempts and leave most reall Benefits upon the bestowers of it He had now gone over divers Kingdoms which administred variety of tryalls and match'd variety with difficulty but in each he was so happily successefull that every ones Admiration strove with Love which should do him the most Honour His singular Good-will being the bottom of his Engagements and those ever answer'd with equall performances the people would take notice of him under no meaner Character then a Father to mankind He could go no where but Fame was his Harbinger and took up for him the best Rooms in the Worthiest Expectations and provided all possible welcome in the most Noble Hearts The Report of his atcheivements ran through the world with like speed and the same awfull noise with which the Thunder-claps follow the flashes of Light He subdued severall Bravo's which infested the Regions of Anthropia in particular Eristes who rang'd up and down the Country of Gynopicrene Rhexinous who made his abode in the darksome vallies of Gelosia and Pinodipson who took an unworthy pleasure in afflicting the meaner sort of people he us'd to cut them with a poyson'd sword and those which were wounded seem'd afterward to dye so many deaths as they lived hours and at last dyed indeed cursing He met Bellona in the rough Deserts of Pammachia and she being enrag'd at the presence of her sworn Foe running upon him with a Womanish fury chanc'd to wound her self in her right hand upon the point of Bentivolio's sword whereupon she let her own fall Bentivolio took it up and casting his eyes upon the innocent bloud with which it had been oft besmeared as he was going to break it she fell down upon her knees and beseeching him to hold his hand promis'd if he would restore her beloved Sword she would submit to any conditions which he should appoint Bentivolio knowing that she was provided with other Weapons of as unmercifull effect call'd for the scabbard and having sheath'd the cruell blade he took an oath of her never to draw it more in any Country where he should happen to be and so dismiss'd her to the great joy of the people who could never live in peace for her These and such like accidents caus'd divers conjectures in mens minds concerning Bentivolio who he should be and whil'st some said one thing and others another some stick'd not to affirme with confidence that Hercules was risen from the dead and having chang'd his Lions skin for the Lambs and thrown away his Club did more without it then with it Having passed severall nations he came at last to the forlorn Kingdom of Ate which he judged the most loathsome that ever he saw and did before esteem it impossible that any could be so bad knowing well that God never made any such He was no sooner entred within the Borders but the unhealthfulness of the Aire had almost choaked his Vitall Spirits and being remov'd from the gladsome Sun by a chain of Hills that lifted up their heads so high that they intercepted the least glance of his comfortable beames it was dark and ruefull He happen'd to light upon an obscure path which led to Ate's house which was encompassed with the pitchy shade of Cypresse and Ebon Trees so that it look'd like the Region of Death as he walk'd he perceiv'd the hollow pavement made with the skulls of murdred wretches At the further end of this dismall walk he espied a Court whose gates stand open night and day in the midst whereof was plac'd the Image of Cruelty with a Cup of poyson in one hand and a dagger all wet with reeking bloud in the other her haires crawl'd up and down her neck and sometimes wreath'd themselves about her head in knots of snakes fire all the while sparkling from her mouth and eyes Upon this he returned guessing it to be rather the Temple of some infernall Goddesse then the Palace of a Terrestriall Queen At the
Company of Horsemen rush out of a Wood which was not very far off It seems Inganna seeing her Husband fall not knowing what was the cause but much fearing that of which she saw so bad an effect which she also judg'd worse then it was commanded a Troop of Horse to fall in which she had lay'd in Ambush in the Woods the night before intending by them basely to recover what her Husband had dishonorably lost Bentivolio suspecting some such thing having heard of Inganna heightning his desires of ending with One by the foresight of Villany and Danger which attended him from Many more though they made a stop after they perceiv'd Forzario and Bentivolio both upon their feet and imploring the Divine aid struck Forzario such a blow upon the head that made him bow it a little on one side his Helmet being rais'd withall Bentivolio with such agility as that opportunity required ran his sword into his Throat through his Neck upon which Forzario falling down made such haste out of the world that he took his leave of it without speaking one word Erotocleus plac'd with a select Troop of Horse behind a Hill not far from the place of the Fight to prevent all base attempts by the prudence of Kalobulus who imagin'd what Inganna would do made sufficiently carefull by his love to Bentivolio and now perceiving plainly what was past and coming made speed to his friend and having assisted Thrasymachus to catch his horse the other Second having refus'd to strike in a Cause which he knew to be as unjust as Forzario was unsuccessefull Bentivolio mounted and before the joyfull Erotocleus could expresse his thanks to Bentivolio Inganna's Horse were come up to them And now the single Fight was converted into a bloody Battell where many began to try on one side if they could regain what a single person had lost and the other side to keep what one had won Erotocleus desir'd Bentivolio to retire and look to his Wounds of which Kalobulus would gladly have taken care but he refus'd their entreaties making no question but this would prove a short businesse and finding his spirits hold out still though much wearied resolved to accompany his friends till the work was done Erotocleus perceiving his resolution troubled him no further and having stood idle all this while desiring to go and warm himself a little spurr'd his Horse to charge that forlorn Company so basely engaged and to show them the dreadfull face of just Revenge whose first effects he bestow'd upon the Captain of that Wicked Band who had been a servant to his Father but revolted to Forzario by the perswasions of Inganna and his own ambitious Hopes carrying death in each look he rode up close to him and with the first blow clest his Head in two equall pieces A just punishment for him who had so dishonorably divided his false Heart between two so contrary Masters Thrasymachus making way with his sword into the midst of the Troop where Inganna was having kill'd those which offer'd to guard her took her prisoner Erotocleus hewing down those which made resistance came into the Confirmation of Thrasymachus his safety who was surrounded with Enemies Bentivolio seeing the rest of the Troop follow their Leader couragiously through the Wounds and death of their adversaries thought it was no great matter if he fought a while to shorten the trouble of his friends though it was needlesse to the procurement of Victory which did voluntarily attend them The Forzarians fell so easily before him that by the effects of his Courage one would think he had but now begun to fight Here one might have taken a full notice what Feeblenesse and Fear a guilty Conscience forceth into the actions of men For though Inganna's numbers were so unequall that they judg'd themselves two to one of the other side yet their hearts so fail'd them that by their fighting one would have thought them not one to ten After the first brunt in which some few were slain they soon discovered what would become of the rest These Forzarians having approv'd their Valour in former undertakings show'd that now their Courage wanted a Cause not their Cause a Courage The thoughts which they reflected upon their unworthy engagement which were more piercing by reason of the presence of Erotocleus whom they unjustly oppos'd disanimated them for they were appall'd as people besieged in a Castle use to be when the enemy is not only got within the walls but a great party riseth up against them amongst themselves so that not knowing who is for them who against them they neglect the use of their Arms through a great uncertainty of killing their Friends or their Enemies Bentivolio took speedy notice of it and as soon as a few were punish'd to make Examples of unhappy Wickednesse he being alwaies mercifull where it was not necessary to be severe desired Erotocleus that they might have Quarter given them which was as soon granted as ask'd Inganna was brought before them by Thrasymachus and she had suffered death already in her Expectations which Bentivolio perceiving No Wicked Woman No saith he you shall live a little longer then you think you shall be reserv'd to satisfie Justice by an Exemplary suffering and in the mean time committed her prisoner to Argus one of Kalobulus his servants commanding him to look well to her and to keep her in some safe place of the Castle It were too tedious to report the affectionate Embraces which Erotocleus bestow'd upon Bentivolio the courteous gratulations of Kalobulus and the passionate love of Thrasymachus but they made their Complements the shorter considering that it was necessary to retire to the Castle and take order for the cure of Bentivolio's Wounds which was accomplish'd in a short time by the excellent skill of Kalobulus his Lady The newes of Forzario's death was soon spread over Argentora and put the Court into a great Wonder only Labargurus was observ'd above all others to be possess'd with a particular Grief which was encreas'd as also the Cause of it discovered by an Accident that happen'd One of the Witnesses which had sworn against Philapantas being tormented with the conscience of his Villany upon the newes of Forzario's death which he knew to be inflicted by Divine Vengeance felt his pains so intolerable that he was weary of his life and immediately hang'd himself The Other hearing of it was not able to conceal the Wickednesse any longer but went to the Duke and confess'd to him that by the Instigation of Labargurus he and his Partner had forsworn themselves by which Perjury Philapantas was condemn'd Labargurus being in presence and confounded with the discovery of his Villany fell down upon his knees and begg'd pardon for his Life You shall not die said the Duke till I shall receive such a discovery of your Wickednesse as that by it I may understand to appoint you such a death as you deserve For it is but
it fail'd in the others hands Wickednesse being ever suspicious and they rushing out of a Thicket made a weak essay to perfect what was so ill begun by the other two But being encountred much contrary to their expectation they soon repented of their appearance in such a wicked businesse for Bentivolio ran the first through the belly and as he was falling off his Horse Thrasymachus made a second headless the third betook himself to flight but before Bentivolio could overtake him he had broke his neck having in his fearful haste misguided his Horse into a place which was full of Pits The Lady when they were gone out of sight began to take up her feares again which she had layd aside before and not knowing whither to go went however where she thought she might best be sheltred with the darkest shades They examin'd the lame fellow who was crawling up and down and he did them one more service then they reserv'd him for by telling them which way she was gone Making speed after her to perfect her Deliverance they soon overtook one that could not go very fast though Fear drove her on beyond her ordinary pace and being amaz'd at the first noise of the Horses feet she could scarce believe her self out of danger when she saw the faces of those which rescued her as one that hath been troubled with a perplex'd Dream of Death is ready to think when he awakes that he is but in a new Dream of Life But assured by their words of their Compassion for her Sufferings and offers of their best assistance to carry her where she desired to be and having had as much experience as that small portion of Time could allow of their Vertuous disposition she recovered her spirits and declared at their request the reason of that calamitous state in which they found her and in which she had perished but for their seasonable approch Thanking Heaven and them for her deliverance she began thus I am call'd Orphana my Father was a Gentleman of good Quality in this Country who dyed when I was much younger then I am now My Mother having plac'd her life wholly in his took such a deep impression of his death into her heart that she dyed so soon after him that they were both buryed in one grave My Father by his Will made a kinsman of his my Guardian hoping much by reason of a great Friendship which had been between them and because of many obligations which he had put upon him in his life-time as also thinking that he had such a love to the sacred right of Trust that he would faithfully preserve my Estate and do his best for my happy Education I my self thought so a great while till I found my self deceiv'd with the out-side of a fair Carriage which in time wore off and his in-side then appear'd to be of another Nature He had a Son of Gentile Carriage but unworthy Conditions whom he would have made my Husband for which purpose he had endeavoured for a long time by divers Artifices to gain my affections for him Having us'd many other means to no purpose at last he tried Menaces threatning in generall that it should be worse for me without adding the particular significations of his meaning but I understood them too soon for after I had urg'd him with the performance of his Faith engag'd to my Father by setling my Estate according to his Gift he stoop'd to a most barbarous means of enjoying his will another way and made use of the Villain who had been my servant to perswade me to take the aire in this Forrest What else they intended you know without my relation having been Ey-witnesses of unspeakable Wrong But if you will conduct me to the City where I dwell the Judge who knew my Father and as they say is return'd to an exact care of Justice by reason of some late Accidents which gave him a sad notice of his former Neglects I make no doubt will deliver me from my cruell Gaoler and restore me to my Estate with the enjoyment of my Liberty Though I esteem you not such as do good that you may be requited yet you shall ever be remembred with such Honour as I can possibly give to the Restorers of my Life and the Preservers of my Chastity Bentivolio receiving a Confirmation of her Story from the lam'd Villaines confession saw as he thought a fair opportunity to send Thrasymachus back again for though he took a true delight in his Company yet he knew by this time he began to be expected by such as dismiss'd him only upon condition of his Return so entreating him to perform such a Civility as the Ladies necessity requir'd and as his own affaires would not well permit him to show he pray'd him to accept of this occasion to return to Kalobulus giving him a thousand thanks for his Love Thrasymachus encompass'd with a double necessity both of performing what he had promis'd and of what was fit to be done though it was not promis'd constrain'd himself to leave Bentivolio against his will and to keep his word which did as much grieve him as comfort the Lady seeing the inforcement of his affectionate Teares a means destinated to the perfecting of her Joy Having tyed the lame fellow to his horse that he might give an account of his Errand and mounted the Lady upon her own Beast not brought thither to carry her back again Thrasymachus took his leave of Bentivolio Bentivolio receiving no other content from his stay in a Country which presented him only with new instances of Inganna's Malice except the pleasure of relieving some that were out-witted by her Craft resolved to pursue her a little further though he had sought her in many places to no purpose because those which knew where she lurk'd would not discover her He heard often where she had been but all denyed her presence when he came to enquire for her where she was At last being well wearied he left off his Pursuit and took the nearest way to Vanasembla wishing heartily that he might travaile quietly without the disturbance of such undesirable occurrences though he had some reason to suspect the Event of his Wishes amongst such people as willingly conceal'd Inganna That we do more easily meet the Evils we fear then obtain the Goods we desire he presently found by a new Experience for coming down into a lonesome Dale he spyed a very unequall Fight Three gave so many blowes to One that it was a great wonder he was able to receive them yet having so many more then he desired made him give them some again One of the Three seeing Bentivolio come upon the Gallop and suspecting what he was being taught to fear by his guilty Conscience never asking for what he came he gave him such a Welcome with his Sword that he received not much thanks for it But Bentivolio having drawn his Sword so soon as he began to
see he should have use of it gave him such a requitall upon his right Arme that he utterly spoyl'd him for that sort of Complement and that he might not be troubled with him when he should have less leisure to attend him he cut off his other Hand too having but a little before seen them both very ill employed So coming in to take part with the wrong'd Gentleman the match was equall though he saw by what was done that the two which oppress'd one had not only a Mind to hurt but also a great Ability to do it ill bestow'd upon them After a short debate Bentivolio decided the Controversie for one of them through a rash haste to do harm not taking sufficient care to prevent it left his body not so well guarded as the greatnesse of his present danger required Bentivolio not slighting such an advantage struck him such a blow under the Ribs that his Guts came forth and disenabled him from fighting any more And refusing to pursue his Victory further when two should fight with one he turn'd toward the wrong'd Gentleman and supposing by the Modesty of his looks that it was no proud fury of a mad Challenge he demanded what strange accident had brought him to such an unequall engagement and who they were that had so unworthily set upon him Good Sir said he be content that I delay to give you an answer so long as till I may secure yonder fellow whom you have justly deprived of his wicked hands from killing himself for though I esteem his life as little as he doth yet I think he may die more seasonably and his death may be us'd to some better purpose then now it can He it seems was running his head forcibly against the ground to have broke his Neck but that failing he was making full butt against a Tree to dash out his Brains The Gentleman having rescued him from himself who came thither to destroy him that saved him began to give an account to Bentivolio of what he ask'd Sir said he it is but just that I should obey whatsoever you command to whom I must ever owe my life This Fellow whose Hands you have cut off is call'd Doulogynes and though he was a Gentleman born I may not falsly call him a Woman's slave for he hath unworthily devoted himself to the unjust pleasure of a cruell Step-mother of mine and I am afraid that 〈◊〉 hither to day by her order to do the last of many disservices which I have received from her by his hands The other whom you have unbowell'd is nam'd Misokalon I never wrong'd him that I know of or gave him any such provocation that requir'd satisfaction by my Ruine only I took notice of a great change in his carriage towards me after I had reprov'd him for his Intemperate life and refus'd to assist him once in a most unrighteous design of betraying an Innocent person This other Gentleman I do not know so well as to be able to tell you who he is having seen him very seldom if more then once in all my life and I cannot but wonder how he came ingaged in this unexpected quarrell with me who never wrong'd him in the least instance Sir said the Gentleman I would you had for ever been ignorant of me for then I should not have been found in this unworthy Action But if you will so far forgive me as to hear the Cause you will more easily pardon the Effect My name is Abulus I have for some time made love to a young Gentlewoman which dwells in a house where you have sometimes visited her Brother One of the servants this Misokalon here pretended a great love to me and would needs take me aside one day to impart something to me which did nearly concern me which was that you were my Rivall but managed your Affections so unhandsomly that when you visited her under pretence of seeing her Brother you had given a Character of my self which fitted none but the Basest of persons laying several things to my charge which I did never so much as think of before He told me if I desired the usuall satisfaction I might have opportunity to ask it in this place for that he knew you had appointed to be here to day upon some other occasions This brought me hither alone but what Misokalon came for or how that man knew of my inrentions I understand not Only after I had engaged they came in barbarously upon some design of their own though I earnestly desired them to desist as you know Doulogynes seeing the truth so far reveal'd and not caring what effects the full discovery might work upon one that was weary of his life confess'd that he and Misokalon had plotted the businesse but that it was wholly to gratifie the Gentlemans Mother-in-Law who had applyed Misokalon's hatred against him to serve her own Revengeful heart upon promise of Rewards they had engag'd Abulus to do that which they durst not undertake of themselves by making him an enemy upon his own score with feign'd Stories Bentivolio being well assured that this Mystery had many considerable pieces not yet related desir'd the wrong'd Gentleman to perfect the report that he might more fully understand the Particulars of that Cause of which he knew so much in the Generall that he was sure he had taken his part justly The Gentleman answer'd I am an unfortunate instance of the unhappinesse of Second Marriages As the World hath so far understood the mischief of Polygamy which ruineth Families with a promiscuous brood of severall Wives and keeps them in the everlasting fire of Emulations and Hatred that it hath wisely turn'd it out of most Nations by severe punishments and usually death enjoyn'd by wholesome Lawes so I should think they did prudently if they took a little more care to prevent the hurt of Second Marriages where the deceased Parent hath left a considerable number of Children For in that case it is accompanied with most of the forementioned mischiefs jealous Feares Suspicions encreas'd by suspicions mutuall Hatreds and cruell undermining of the Interests of the former Brood By which means a Step dame is become a name of Reproach and dishonorable Application being seldom destitute of an ill Nature except in an inconsiderable number who are endued with rare Vertue I did never wonder that the King of Glory requir'd the honorable Ministers of his Kingdom to be such as could govern their own Families well for it was fit they should give a proof of their abilities for his service by the exemplary order of their own Houses but I understood not why he would have them the Husbands of one Wife but when I considered the difficulty of Exemplarinesse in any thing but Disorder in Families which confounded two distinct generations of Children whose interests are much separated by the Second Wife I admired the excellent coherence of his most prudent Rules Pardon Good Sir If I speak more feelingly
where I am too much concern'd for not only this dayes Intentions but the rest of my Misfortunes began in a Step-mother My own Mother having departed this World not many yeares after she had brought into it my self and a Sister my Father in a short space marryed a young Woman of competent Beauty and reported for Vertuous more then our Observation can make good by whom he had divers Children She being as most of them are very covetous endeavoured what she could to advance their Estate above ours and finding that taske something hard unlesse she could remove us out of the way she resolv'd to try what might be done as to that She soon dispatch'd my Sister partly with the abuses of evil Servants which were so far acceptable to her as they were offensive to my Sister and partly by framing malicious Representations of her to my Father by which means she was often reprov'd for no other cause but that my Mother-in-Law hop'd that it would help to break her heart When she was gone there was but one more to dispose of and that was my self Of this Design she made small show by any of her actions which lay open to common Censure her publick Carriage was as affectionate as the naturall love of Mothers useth to put on and something more that the overplus of Appearance might shade the defect of Reality and though she tryed by all means which she thought available to disaffect my Father towards me yet her more publick speeches seem'd wholly to be directed to procure and maintain a very good opinion of me in his mind But she had Servants tutor'd to make him believe that I was a scorner of his Choice and a hater of his Marriage and they made me the Author of Reports against her which he knew to be false that he might believe every thing to be true which was said against me To be short the disaffections which they had planted in him towards me by their incessant improving them with fresh arguments of their reasonablenesse grew to that height that I was disinherited which though it was most afflictive arising from such groundless causes and brought on by a most hatefull person yet upon consideration of my Fathers Innocence abus'd and the relation by which I was taught indispensable Obedience I made a shift to swallow it and having been for a good while accustom'd to such Diet I began more easily to digest it My Adversary enrag'd to see every envenom'd Dart cast in vain by the forementioned hands resolv'd to take another course fearing lest her Plot should be discovered since it was so long before she could put it in act and therefore as I now perceive to dispatch the businesse she had by poysonous insinuations endeavour'd to make this Innocent Gentleman thirsty for my guiltless blood They made a fine Tale indeed of my being his Rival in affections to a Lady with whom I never talk'd privately in my life and indeed by reason of the discouragements which I apprehended from being disinherited I abandon'd all thoughts of Love to her or any else Misokalon to procure this unhappy Meeting invited me to a private Hunting in this place and perceiving this Gentleman whom they had abus'd not come in whose courage it seems they trusted more then their own they pretended to go to a Gentlemans House to hasten his coming and to fetch away the Doggs desiring me to entertain my self in the Valley where from some Stand which they had they had no sooner espied me engag'd but they came in with dishonorable assistance not to help this Gentleman but to ruine me and satisfie my Wicked Mother And was I said the wofull Abulus the only Instrument which this Devilish Woman could single out for her last act of Villany All-knowing Power which art Witnesse of my Innocence take not Vengeance of my Ignorance forgive my Rashnesse and grant me with more sober Prudence to guide my future undertakings And for the wrong which I have through indiscretion done to you said he turning his speech to the Gentleman I offer besides the hearty repentance of my Error such other satisfaction as you shall require Nothing else replyed he but that for the future you would continue to love one whom you would not have hated but for Misinformation I do also beseech you said he to Bentivolio of whom I know nothing but Courage and Pity to accompany me to the Town which is not far off that you may be a means to procure me that Justice which I doubt not may be had easily through the assistance of your Testimonies both because my Father is of so good a Nature that he loves Truth and hath so much reason left as to understand it when it is aptly revealed to him and because the Judge who is lately sent hither is such a true lover of Justice that he will spare no Offender for any Personall Considerations His coming was occasion'd by the removall of his Predecessor who was so over-aw'd by the Interest of a great Courtier call'd 〈◊〉 that no Cause was ever heard till he knew his Opinion of it or if it was and the Evidence never so clear yet they could get no Sentence against Forzario's friends by which means poor men crucified with Expectation car'd not what became of their Causes since they could bring them to no conclusion notwithstanding their most constant endeavours But when his Patron Forzario was gone the wrong'd people procured a Punishment to be appointed for him with some resemblance of his Sin for he was hung up alive with a line run through the Ankles of both his Feet to be tormented between Life and Death as others had been by his means between Hope and Doubt When they were come to the City they went directly to the President accompanied with multitudes of people who were astonish'd at the lamentable sight of persons besprinkled with bloud and the Fellow with his hands cut off The President seeing Bentivolio with the rest received him in most courteous manner as well remembring what kind of Person he had discovered himself in Erotocleus business but he desiring the President to omit all Ceremonies concerning himself pray'd him to take cognisance of an eminent piece of Wickednesse which would require a most severe Castigation So having produced Abulus who related all that he knew and Doulogynes who was willing to say any thing which might help to put him out of his pain having accused Antimater for contriving the businesse and hiring them to do it she was forthwith sent for the people being much startled that one esteem'd very Vertuous should appear by her Actions so contrary to the general opinion Gynicaeus the Gentlemans Father who was present was equally troubled with the Perfidiousnesse of his Wife and the Innocence of his Son Antimater vext with the ill successe of her Design which she now gave for lost took a glasse of Poyson which she had kept as her last remedy for her
the root of a Tree that form'd it self into a natural seat either through weariness of her Journey or that her brains were affected with the sent of soporiferous Herbs which grew hard by her she fell asleep and dream'd That she receiv'd deadly Poison in a Cup of pleasant Liquor which one had given her to quench a violent thirst which had seiz'd upon her and as she had drank part of it Panaretus struck the rest out of her hand and knowing well the Effects which would shortly follow if not timely prevented gave her an Antidote which preserv'd her from all Danger The Dream was too well a representation of her present Case for just as Panaretus return'd a Serpent had crept out of the neighbouring Grasse and was making towards her which Panaretus espying made what haste he might after her calling Urania Urania save your self By that time he had drawn his sword the Serpent well aware of her pursuer turn'd head and contracting her long Neck into a shorter compasse bolted her self at his Face Panaretus defeated that malice and withall bestowed such a blow upon that part of the Neck where the Head is joyn'd immediately to it that he divorc'd one from the other By this praeludium they guess'd to what Key the rest of the Musick was set which they were to expect in Piacenza of which they were more assured by what happen'd to Panaretus Before he could reach the City he came to a beautiful Walk vvhere shady Trees were so decently plac'd that his Eyes stay'd his Feet that he might have more time to behold in a most excellent instance Nature made perfectly obedient to the Orders of Art and both conspiring to make one stand still with the allurements of a Walk As he was entertaining his Fancy vvith the lovely order proportionable growth and vvnderfull height of green Trees he was surpriz'd with a doleful Voice which seem'd to come from one whom Violence made to complain and it was so exquisitely form'd to shovv extremity of Griefe that any which heard it would imagine that one not far off suffer'd something worse then Death The Courteous disposition of Panaretus drew him out of his way to relieve as he intended the distress'd Wight The Bushes through which he was to pass were intricate as a Labyrinth but the Voice serv'd for a Clue and by that direction he arrived where he saw a Woman of more then ordinary Beauty which display'd it self more openly as she seem'd despoil'd of her Garments which were torn off so artificially that one might well perceive those shreds that remain'd on were not intended to hide her body Panaretus was amaz'd at this uncouth Vision for she had scarce so much use of Clothing as even Cruelty doth often leave in pity to Modesty She pretended by tearing her Haire Weeping and many passionate words to continue the former Tragick Lamentation Of which when Panaretus demanded the cause she said a Villain had surpriz'd her as she was in a lonesome Walk and after such usage as he might perceive bestow'd upon her hearing some body come through he bushes he ran away and since he had so happily arriv'd to her succour she pray'd him lest her Enemy had only retreated to watch his advantage that he would accompany her to a Lodge which belong'd to a House of hers not far off Panaretus believing all this to be reall conducts her to the Lodge which he found more like a Palace then such a mean Appurtenance as Lodges use to be to the principal Mansion For it was situate in the midst of a fair Garden adorn'd with rich Statues and watred with pleasant Rivulets which seem'd to have slid into it unawares and went up and down winding to seek their way out again Within there were large Rooms so nobly furnish'd that he thought if this was a Lodge he was utterly ignorant of proportions by which he might guesse at the Palace He had been there but a little while before he was made to understand where he was and to what end he was brought thither which did so rectifie his Apprehensions that he saw plainly now that he had more need to relieve himself then others The Gentlewoman having brought him into her Bed-chamber offered him such uncivil Courtesies that he was fain to tell her he should much rather chuse to die then to receive them She replied And one of the two you must chuse And is it possible said he that any Woman can be so Ingrateful as to threaten to take away life from one who was willing but a little before to have given it for her preservation Can any Woman be so Immodest as to offer Violence to his Chastity who offer'd his service with his own utmost peril as he thought in the defence of hers It cannot be that you should speak these words as an unworthy demand but with an intention of making a trial of my Temper and that I shall further assure you to be much averse from all Unchastity by speedy abandoning the danger of Tentation With which words he hastily turn'd about and went out of the room not doubting but they are the most Wicked of Sinners which do also tempt others Before he could reach the staires he was accosted with two Arm'd men whom she had ca'lld up with the sound of a shrill Whistle which was tied at her wrist and then he was forc'd to produce Arguments of another sort to defend himself Having drawn his Sword he retreated to one side of the Room that he might have both his Enemies before him They being very confident that they had to do with a young Souldier his face bearing yet but very little show of years made more bold with him then was to their Comfort for he guarded himself so well and watch'd their ill-managed Fierceneffe so narrowly that he had opportunity to strike one of the Villains so full over the face that he made both his Eyes uselesse and though he could not see what he did he had a great mind to do something and would needs run in upon his adversary who held his Sword so advantagiously that the Assassinate put his Heart upon the point of it His Companion seeing himself singly engaged despair'd of safety any way but by his Feet and therefore betook himself to them but before he got the second staire Panaretus struck off his Head which was soon at the bottom of the steps and the Body keeping its former pace made what haste it could after it The Gentlewoman something angry that her men were so long about a short work as she esteem'd this came forth to chide them but finding her expectations utterly undone she began to sink with fear lest in a rage Panaretus should send her to Hell after them Though she had little Strength by reason of fear and no Goodnesse she made a shift to light upon her knees and as she was going to beg her life Panaretus desiring to be free from her wicked language
impossible by making it a damnable sin but to talk of it If they should pretend to admit you to a liberty of discourse you will find but small effect of your disputation for propound what Argument you will they have an universal Distinction call'd Distoma Romphaea much akin to that sharp tool with which Alexander dissolv'd the Gordian Knot and though they apply it barbarously yet it will spoile the best argument And it is to as little purpose to answer any Disputants of theirs for the last Opponent is still a Butcher who instead of Syllogismes is arm'd with an Axe It is not safe for you to stay here where Religion is propagated with Subtlety and Violence because they have no confidence of successe from Truth or Charity Since they saw some dislike in your faces at your departure it is probable they will inquire after you and if they once lay hold of you they will force you to stay longer then you desire in this wretched place Upon this seasonable advice they made haste out of Iconium and Eusebia understanding what was their purpose in Pseudenthea went along with them but Euprepon took his leave of them for having been there formerly he had observ'd such unbeseeming carriages among them that he resolv'd never to come there again They were no sooner entred into Pseudenthea but they saw all the inhabitants flocking together like a company of WildGeese towards a broad place in the middle of their Parish and as they drew nearer they perceiv'd a Stage rais'd pretty high much after the manner of that which Mountebanks do use and Three Men walk'd upon it in such a sort as if they had design'd a strife which of them should most expresse to the life the postures of Mad-men They acted their parts not unhandsomely for besides staring eyes and mouths all foaming with froth they had all the Antick gestures of brain-sick persons Their names as the people said were Mantimanes Exorcista and Panstreblus They were all Mutes till one Cacodaemon in the habit of an old Prophet commanded them to speak The first that began to act was Mantimanes who was much disturb'd with an extreme heat of his Braines and he pull'd out of his pocket an Almanack which was scribled over with divers Horoscopes and other Astrological figures some of them he pretended to be the Fates of Kingdoms others were so particular that by them he could make the people understand every thing that had or should befall them from their Nativity to their Death this they did confidently believe though they knew not why After this he shew'd them divers Looking-glasses in which he said they might see what was become of their Friends in the most remote parts of the World that young Women might plainly discern the Complexion and stature of the Husbands which they were to have with many such things Then calling suddenly to his man Planaster to open the little Window of the Retiring room upon the back of the Stage a little Dove flew out and sitting upon his shoulder put her Bill in his Eare whilst he pretended to listen to her with much Devotion After the Dove return'd Planaster open'd the door and let out a white Doe which Mantimanes had kept tame a good while privately in his house and affirm'd to the credulous vulgar blinded with superstition that it was a Messenger sent from God He receiv'd a Letter out of her mouth which Planaster put in and having dismis'd her he open'd the Letter and having read it to himself with all humble Reverence he acquainted the people that he had obtain'd the favour of God to know many strange things which were to be kept secret at present but which he would reveal in due time and that in the mean while he was to prophesie destruction to the World unlesse they did speedily repent Exorcista had now been awake a pretty while and suspecting by the Prologue which he had heard that a long speech was to follow which would both take up the time and for ought he knew either rob him of the Audience or indispose them to attend his pranks to prevent the worst he began to quarrel with Mantimanes and after some words mutter'd again Exorcista commanded him silence with such a thundring voice that he durst not but obey the force of his terrible Charme Exorcista not doubting but he should gain with the fickle Vulgar what reputation he could make the other lose accosted Mantimanes in very rough language beginning after this manner Thou scorn of Inspiration Thou worm-eaten Vizard of Prophesie Thou old rotten Tripos Thou laughing-stock of wanton Spirits who art more Fool then Prophet but much more Knave then Fool. Thou base Jugler dost thou pretend to tell others their Fortunes having no other way left to mend thy own Thou Beggarly Cheater who hast not so much as the possession of a Cottage on earth dost thou make these people believe that thou hast the privilege to know their concernments in the Fabulous houses of thy Astrological Heavens having no other design but to get a little money Did not you prophesie that the World should end five yeares agon and made the frighted people forsake their Houses and climb up into Trees to see how all things would come to their fatal Period just as the old World did when the Deluge threatned them after another manner Was not it your Brother that a good while since us'd to foretel the deaths of such great men as discover'd his knavery and obstructed his designs and when they had almost out-lived the prefixed time was fain to kill them himself with the help of some Assassinates to make his word good Did not you some yeares since to these very people which hearken to your follies affirm that you could discern between the Elect and Reprobate as clearly as a Shepheard can know a black sheep from the white ones and that you saw invisible Characters of Predestination upon the heads of the Elect and the Reprobates encompass'd with black marks of Damnation Do you not still condemn such as you do not like for Sinners that so they may be guilty of the miseries with which you threaten them Rather then your Prophesies should fail who must be the Executioners of your Wrath but your selves Do not you make a wise improvement of doing Justice to send those to Hell whom you judge worthy to go thither that you may quietly enjoy their Rooms on earth when they are gone Go down lest the People having heard of your madness send you to Bedlam Hold your peace and be gone lest I encompasse you in a Circle of this Holy Wand and conjure out of you that Enthusiastical Spirit which makes you so prophetically mad Upon these words Mantimanes tore off his clothes leapt off the Stage and ran stark naked through the affrighted multitude preaching damnation to all good and bad except such as would follow him which two or three silly Women quaking for fear were
signifying a thankful consent to a motion which contain'd so much Civility they ended the Conferences of that Night In the Morning Phronesia rising something earlier then ordinary though she was never late in bed having prepar'd all things necessary for their Journey conducted her friends towards Sophrosyne with such a convenient Equipage that they easily perceived that true 〈◊〉 extends it self to all things They came in a little time to the borders which were adorn'd with plenty of ancient Trees and having travail'd a little way through the 〈◊〉 Woods they came to old Sophron's Seate His house was built with the plain stone of the Country not adorn'd with Pillars of forreign Marble or rich Columns of Corinthian Brasse nor furnish'd with the over-worn Statues of such as had nothing else by which they could be remembred neither were the Rooms furnish'd with stately beds of Ivory or golden Goblets in stead of the trouble of such dangerous household-stuffe they had plain Utensils and were serv'd in Earthen Vessels were content with a little and form'd their desires according to the proportions of true Necessity One of Sophron's Sons for old Sophron was dead that had in nothing degenerated from his Father met them in one of his Walks and conducted them into his House where they found all things appointed with respect to a decent Soberness and saw that they were as far from Sordidness as from a luxurious Delicacy After usual salutations and civil entertainment perform'd after the manner of Sophrosyne Bentivolio according to his custom enter'd upon discourses sutable unto his design and acquainted Sophron that as amongst the many singular Courtesies done to them by Phronesia they esteem'd it a great honour to be accompanied by her to his house so he desired Sophron to favour him and his Friends with the knowledg of their Manners and the reasons of their Discipline which they had heard to be the most conformable to Humane Nature of any in the World I have nothing to say replied the Modest Sophron in praise of our Customs in comparison of others but what they are you shall soon know Since the Roots of Immortality wither'd in Paradise Life hath not been purchasable in Fee-simple and therefore our Ancestors took thought how they might improve their Time during their Lease and perceiving that they were to enjoy it in joynt-Tenancy with the Body they took what care they could to make it least cumbersome to the Soul that the Spirit might be more content to dwell with it and more able to accomplish its actions without disturbance from such a dull Companion The chief thing which they found advantageous to these purposes was an universal Temperance and this they esteem'd necessary to their Design both because some in a very short time forfeit their Lease of life by the neglect of Moderation and though a longer space was allowed to them they foolishly shorten it and scarce out live the time of a Gourd and others so disenable themselves by the Effects of Intemperance that they live to as small purpose as if they had never been born and in the close die as unwillingly as a Beast catch'd in a snare Health is our Pleasure and our Riches Content with competent Portions We emulate nothing but the Simplicity of our Ancestors we think that we then enjoy our Body as we should when we keep it subservient to a thoughtful Soul We look upon it as an Inne where we are to sojourne a few dayes and provide such accommodations as are proportionable to the stay which we are to make but our principall Employment is to prepare our selves for the estate which awaites us at Home and to do such things here as will prove beneficial to us when we come thither All that we desire by the way is a healthful Chearfullnesse and a serviceable Temper and these we obtain and secure by denying satisfaction to all unreasonable Appetites which as we have observed wheresoever they are indulg'd destroy those who are so foolish as to be in love with them If the Instances be lawful in which men please themselves we wonder why they transgresse their Bounds for then they displease and since God hath commanded us not to passe the limits which he hath set we esteem it most unworthy to offend because he never forbids till the Excess hurt us When men chuse unlawful instances we are astonish'd at their brutishness because the allow'd are better besides that they leave no gall in the Conscience If men pretend a joy in such freedoms as they fancy and then rifle to themselves we think they are sufficiently punish'd for their boldness by the sad dyscrasies of their wrong'd bodies as the Surfets of Gluttony the Vomits of unmeasur'd Drinking the Crudities of indigested Varieties which are the Rootes of afflictive Diseases unclean effects of bestial Lust dishonorable Sickness sleepless nights disturb'd Dreams and untimely Death besides what is to be expected in another World Whilst we see such things to be the necessary consequences of a dissolute life we please our selves in a sober preservation of our bodily Comforts and what we have we enjoy without the checks of a discontented Soul ours must needs be far from reproching the Pleasures which it help'd us to procure we preserve and recover the Body by the Soul a discreet observation of our Constitutions is our chief Physick Whilst a Holy Soul dwells in a healthful Body it hath an Antepast of their future and better Conjunction The Sensitive part is apt to be mistaken and frequently makes the Soul suffer for its Errors and therefore we keep a strict watch upon its Tentations lest it exceed due Proportions in the Quantity of Meats and Drinks or be too curious as to the Qualities of either As we avoid Excesse so we are carefull to use things which administer proper Nourishment and of those we think our selves well provided if we have such as secure our End the End of Eating and Drinking is Health and the End of Health the employment of Soul and Body in worthy actions We are not troubled with the incivility of offering great measures of drink by way of Complement we esteem it no great Courtesie in any man to invite us to drown our selves either in Water or Wine It is a great abuse of good nature to please another with our own hurt and no lesse folly to pretend a regard to some friends Health and at the same time to despise our own We care not for delicate Odours sweet Herbs are enough and in stead of curious Meats and Drinks we chuse those which have a less troublesome preparation and give more natural satisfaction Yet we are not ignorant that there are different Tempers of Body and Uses of Life and therefore we can tell how to allow that to others which we take not to our selves but we are wary also to distinguish between the true Infirmity of a weak Stomach and the Curiosities of a fantastical Palate Hunger
house said Klerotheron you have over-slipt it a League They replied Whether this be your house or no we know not but we are sure that you must land here Whilst they were talking Alopex appear'd not making any great show of sickness now at which Klerotheron wonder'd but much more when Alopex began to advise him with a grave voice not to disobey the young men 〈◊〉 they should throw him over-board Klerotheron not knowing whether that was any great mischief considering his present condition stood musing what to say till Alopex having assured him that all his Lands and Estate except what he had borrow'd in Plutocopia were in Moronesus his men to prevent all further Disputation let down Klerotheron by a rope into a boat which they had call'd from the Shore making what sail they could as Alopex thought for Amphibius but Pirates being the more cunning Fox of the two and loath to lose his Prey after he had got it into possession having devested Alopex and his servants of all the spoils which they had gotten in Plutocopia and following the example which he had but just then seen bestow'd upon them a little old Bisket and moldy Cheese and left them upon a Desert Island call'd Lestocharis Here Theonoe made a pause and begging pardon for the length of her jocular story they granted it with laughing at the just Fate of Klerotheron and the retaliation of his sufferings upon Alopex After they had pleas'd themselves awhile and were now silent Irene told them that if their patience would bear it she would acquaint them with another Accident which happen'd after the former in the same place as she understood from the same Gentleman who for a diversion related it to them one night after supper and at her Request gave it to her in writing It began thus The Plutocopians worship a God call'd Holochrysus whom they have honoured with the solemn Celebration of a publick Feast twice every year and with a Golden Statue set in a most conspicuous place in the midst of their City It was made by Eudaemon esteem'd by them as the best Artist in the World At the desire of the Plutocopians he had shown his utmost Skill in the contriving of a Noble Design to doe honour to their God It was fram'd as far as I can remember after this manner Eudaemon erected a Magnificent Arch in the middle of the South-Front towards the top he put the Image of Holochrysus sitting in a Throne made of Silver which stood upon a high Rock and seem'd to be divided from the lower ground by Precipices naturally abrupt but made of more difficult Ascent with stupendious extuberancies of Ice and Snow insomuch that it was almost inaccessible especially toward the top Notwithstanding that one Ponus did encourage such as climb'd and help'd them with his hand over some difficult places yet the Passages were so dangerously slippery that those which ascended with the most bold Confidence did usually fall down and break their Necks Those which escaped the danger of this rough way came to a small Plot of plainer ground where they seem'd to stand astonish'd their eyes being dazled with the Glory of the Illustrious Image A beautiful Virgin in a glistring Habit call'd Pseudelpis was plac'd on the right side of Holochrysus and becken'd to them to come nearer the God where several Worshippers upon their knees before the Throne received from the Hands of Holochrysus chains of Gold and Jewels They say that Eudaemon upon the North-part of the Arch had drawn the Figure of Apateon who taking the Advantage of a Precipice as they return'd upon the back-side of the Rock for they were not permitted to goe down the same way which they came because of the Multitudes which were still climbing up robb'd most of the Votaries of those rich Gifts which they had received and afterwards threw them head-long from the Rock and if any chanc'd to escape this Death they were met and jeer'd by a scornful Virgin call'd Hybris Most of them were so vext at their disappointment that when they came at the bottom of the Hill they were represented as entreating an old Woman call'd Angerona to strangle them But these Figures are not now to be seen because Chrematophilus a Citizen of great Note in Plutocopia had procur'd them to be obliterated as being a dishonourable Appendage to that Divine Image Before this Arch upon a rising ground stood an Altar at which Pleonectes the High Priest gave attendance and according to their Custom after some Sacrifices he recited a Panegyrick made in the praise of Holochrysus whom he extoll'd as the Patron of their City the Protectour of their Happiness the Founder of their Dignities the Fountain of their Joyes and in short acknowledg'd him to be the Beginning and End of all their Designs The Plutocopians applauded his Oration with an Universal Hum some having heard what he said and others imitating their Neighbours After this they entertain'd themselves with Musick Dances and other sports correspondent to their Festival solemnity Whilst they were in the midst of their Jollity Skeletion a grave Philosopher his Habit resembling those which of old were called Cynicks of a slow pace and looks somewhat cast down being newly arrived in the City went to see the manner of this great Assembly He took the first convenient place which he could find sate down and fell a-weeping The more inconsiderate of those which were next him took his impertinent Teares as an affront to their common Joyes Others which pretended to a little skill in History thought that Heraclitus having taken upon him the Form of Diogenes was risen from the Dead Whilst he continued weeping they began to leave off their Mirth the Multitude flocking about him as boyes use to do about a Stranger Their Curiosity was the greater because they saw a great Glasse in his hand which had such a strange Power that it made most of those which look'd upon it to shed teares He call'd his Glasse Iconecron It was made in a round Figure by one Cranion his Brother who had form'd a Deaths-head so artificially upon it that those which saw it discerning nothing but a rotten Skull without Hair or Skin a few Teeth all uncover'd instead of Eyes empty holes and no Nose were amaz'd being ready to think that since their Image was thus transform'd they had been dead a great while or if they were at present alive yet they fell a crying to perceive what within a little space of time they must of necessity be Skeletion said nothing only wept with them and being unwilling to be too troublesome at this time he retired to his Inne This Accident was 〈◊〉 a showr of Rain to Country-people at a Fair and forc'd so many of the Company to withdraw that it both put an unacceptable Period to the pleasure of their Feast and made 'em forget what they had enjoy'd for when they were gone home they talk'd of nothing now but Skeletion
these Strangers have leave to make their Apology and then you may doe as you see cause Bathypogon grumblod a little at the Interruption but being perswaded by Chrysalides and Pluterastus who whispering in his Ear told him that he might permit them to speak but withall bade him be sure to condemn them as soon as they had done gave his consent and desiring Orthocrinon to sit upon the Bench by him he 〈◊〉 to Skeletion to speak if he had any thing to say for himself Skeletion forbearing his sighs for a while that they might not hinder his Speech began thus I should wonder at it O most unhappy Plutocopians but that I have often seen the same unreasonableness in other places that you should think a man accusable for expressing a Sympathy with the general estate of Mankind that you esteem it a fault in me to cry with so many that weep that is toweep when I see many miserable I might in some happy place if I could have found it have dried up my Tears and I should have embrac'd this as no small good Fortune since it is no great pleasure to weep and I came hither to seek it But I am not only disappointed as I have been in other places but am so far fallen from my hope that I seem to be overwhelm'd in the Infernal Lake of Sorrow where I rather deserve your pity then anger If poor Prometheus fasten'd to a cold Rock was an Object of Compassion whilst the merciless Eagle fed upon his Heart I have reason to expect that you should condole with me who at least in my own apprehension am sunk down to that Centre where all the Calamities which do afflict the whole Circumference of Humane Life do meet yet here am I accused for weeping It were a sufficient Plea for my Lamentation to say that I do but bear a part in that sad Dirge which is sung by all the World It is begun by Infants who when they first live that is begin to be sick of an incurable Disease come crying into the World indeed presaging those Tragical Misfortunes which they are to suffer they prelude to them with Tears This is a common Destiny and so to be met with in all places But here I have seen the new-born wretches wet with Tears and Bloud expos'd so unmercifully that it would soften a Rock if it were able to see their Calamity and make it dissolve it self into Tears But I must not weep You throw the Poor to Hunger and Cold nay their Parents doe it because they have no money to buy them food and cloths and if by some strange chance they out-live this Death yet they are forc'd to learn to speak with crying and to beg as soon as they can speak I cannot but weep for company especially perceiving the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 destitute of Humanity that they see it and yet refuse to relieve them I do not wonder so much at it but I am griev'd nevertheless to see them use their Own not much better It 's true they give them Meat and Drink and use means enough to keep them from dying but when they are grown to the use of Understanding and Choice they prostitute their Youth to Ignorance and Vice For neglecting to bestow upon them that benefit of which they are now capable to assure their Infelicity they carelesly abandon them to two foolish Guides Apeirus and Cacotypus Apeirus is an Obstinate man you are all well acquainted with him and by reason of his extreme Ignorance and high conceit of his Knowledge is scarce capable of being taught himself Cacotypus is utterly devoid of Vertue So that one of them being unexperienc'd in the true Method of Education makes them Fools and the other corrupting them also with bad Example renders them Vicious You might as well put them to suck a He Goat or make a Wolf their Nurse The consideration of this doth often make me say within my self Lord what small hope is there that Goodness should ever grow to any Perfection in this world where it is thus nipt in the Bud And my grief is continued whilst I foresee those sad consequences which must needs proceed from such miserable Beginnings For they no sooner arrive at those years which are esteem'd the confines of Childishness and Manhood but they are captivated with the follies of both States It 's true I have observ'd in your City a low narrow Gate call'd Metanoea which opens towards Orthodus which is the rode that leads to Sophiarete the Region where Wisdom and Vertue are said to dwell and I have taken notice of some Young men which being awaken'd by some courteous Genius who as I suppose had fore-warn'd them of that which would happen to them in their older Life if they continued that course which they had begun have hereupon rush'd out at that difficult passage and made towards Orthodus but the Ascent being steep and the way rugged in that part which lies nearest to your City they made no great haste and being clogg'd with a Cachexy or Habit of sin contracted by long Custom which they are unwilling to shake off and being enfeebled with tempting Remembrances of their former Voluptuousness advanc'd no considerable way till their Companions in sin which hasten'd after them overtook them and having seduc'd them back do so confirm them in their Errours that they are good for nothing but to propagate new Instances of wicked Life and to hinder Vice from decreasing for want of bold examples I confess it grieves me not so much for what these suffer in their single capacities but because the concatenation of like Successions doth perpetuate Folly and seems to make the end of sinning almost unexpectable You their unwise Parents are the chief cause of this mischief for you never minding that the Excellency and Service of our after-life depends upon our early preparations leave your Children an undisciplin'd prey to Uselesnesse and Contempt By which means you not only bestow but entail a Curse upon Mankind whilst you neither cease to be bad your selves nor permit your Children to begin to be good Hence it comes to passe that when they are grown Men and make no doubt but that now it is fit that they should be their own Governours they not knowing of themselves what is best and much more unwilling to be told by others by reason of an irregulated heat they venture upon such rash Actions and do so grosly mistake in the management of their Life that when by the change of their Complexions they understand that they are arrived upon the borders of old Age they desire to go back again and fall into this passionate wish Alas why is it not lawful for us to grow young twice that what hath been done amisse in our first Life might be corrected by our after-thoughts that is having lived foolishly they are vext that they must die when they begin to be wise But before it comes to this I cannot but
saw them resented so compassionately as by Skeletion neither did I ever know any so pleasantly unconcern'd in them as Euphranor seems to be I know that Glycypicron with unaccustomed Tides flow'd lately twice in twelve Hours but who would have thought that it did portend that in a short time you should become the Objects of the deepest Sorrow and highest Mirth Poor Plutocopians your Misery is so great that one of them thinks he needs an ever-running Spring of Tears to bewail it and the other esteems your Folly so ridiculous that he cannot contain himself from perpetual Laughter However Skeletion I do something wonder at you for if there be so many unhappy people in the world as you seem to believe what need you make your self of the number by your calamitous Sorrow If those mischiefs which inevitably await us are too great already why do you make an addition of this voluntary Torment If you think men over-match'd with Adversity or at least very hard put to it why do you so uncharitably endeavour to lessen their Power by Despair or soolishly deplore what you judge incurable Do you mean to open Pandora's Box again It was almost quite emptied before nothing but a little quantity of Hope being left in the Bottom and will you let that out too How should they look upon Humane Life otherwise then as a desperate Case seeing it plung'd in a gulf of endless Sorrow It is an impertinent Humanity to make others more disconsolate by weeping for them If the floud be not passable why do you swell it higher with your Tears If it be why do you discourage them from attempting to go over whilst you sit weeping upon the Bank But let me tell you Skeletion the state of our Life is not so deplorable as you would make it A Man is neither a Contemptible thing in his Constitution for he is adorn'd with Reason by which he is capable of the knowledge of all things and is priviledg'd with Speech by which he is fitted for Conversation with such as are of the same Nature with himself neither are the Pleasures which are allotted for our portion so inconsiderable that it is undesirable to be a Man For since he hath many Faculties and those furnish'd with proportionable Objects he is a rare instrument of Pleasure to himself He hath no Sense but it is abundantly provided for he need not to glut himself with any one Recreation divers present themselves And though the world be full of people God hath provided Room enough for them all without streightning any if they could be content with just Shares And though some things occur which are Inconveniences yet every one hath its Remedy annex'd as there is no Poison which hath not an Antidote The Winter is warm'd with Fire the Summer is cool'd with Shadows There is no Affliction so heavy but it is accompanied with an Alleviation and wise men can easily find it Courteous Time doth alwayes apply one Consolation whether we seek it or no for by the familiarity of long converse it makes any condition tolerable It 's true some things are trouble some for a while and Fools complain more then they need but wise men bear them handsomly and put the best side outward What need we take things by the wrong handle or quarrel with God or his Providence We ought to think that there may be good Reason though we understand it not that things should be as they are when we wish them otherwise and that Mortal condition must be appointed after this manner and that we ought by no means to wonder at our own grievances when we see that all our Neighbours have either the same or others Nay though Death awaits us and so we seem to be in danger of losing All yet we have no reason to complain because it is mere Courtesie that we have lived so long and indeed that we came into Being at all and if we knew our Happiness or would learn to call things by their right Names we should not be so shie of Death for it is the only passage to Immortal Life As for you Euphranor though I think a Man shews some Gnerousness of Mind that laughs at all adverse Accidents and that he doth deserve better of Men then one that weeps at all things which he sees since by being in the Company of one that is so merry they begin to think that the face of Humanity is not so terrible as they were apt to imagine when they were alone yet if I may freely speak my mind I must tell you that as it is an insupportable torment to lodge the Miseries of others in our own Hearts so it is but an inhumane sport to be delighted with them Or if you intend your Mirth more charitably hoping by this means to make Fools ashamed of themselves yet I am afraid you will never reduce them to Wisdom by laughing at their Follies Humane Nature is sometimes willing to be instructed is never content that any should insult over its Imperfections alwayes esteeming such Tutors Enemies not Reprovers of Sinners Sick men would not be jeer'd but cured and really Skeletion your Method is as unreasonable for Physicians do neither laugh nor cry at their Patients If you attempt a Cure this way one of you doth but milk a Bull whilst the other holds under a Sieve or if you both think as you seem to do that they are past Recovery go away and let them die quietly If you judge them out of their Wits doth either of you think to appear Wise among so many Mad-men or will you be mad for Company Have you consider'd the Nature of things and do not remember that no Age brings forth many Wise men Take heed lest you both fall out with Nature and it may be mistake it too What would you have no fools in the world you would have a Picture drawn without any Shadows Should nothing be greater nothing less in the Creation Is it to be esteem'd an Indecorum that Beasts are not Men nor Trees Beasts Is it any greater Indecency that some Men are more Wise then others then to see excellent Fruits grow upon some Trees upon others such as are not so desirable and upon some none Will any Wise man cry because it is not alwayes day or laugh to see people Feverish Is not Folly one of those diseases which Humane Nature is sick of As he which made Men is not to be blam'd for their want of Health because they are voluntarily sick so neither is he to be thought wanting as to their Recovery since he hath given them sufficient means to obtain it and they perish irrecoverably because they will not use them But what is that to you Euphranor Let them alone Your Discourse though never so wise is but lost upon such as are past sense Exhortation is odious to such as are otherwise resolv'd You praise Liberty to abject Souls that can bear any yoke so it
imprison'd and either to revenge their Brother's death for he died upon the Rack to gratifie Antitheus or out of hatred to my person as a Lover of Alethion they came hither in hope to have murther'd me They laid their design thus One of my Brother's Servants for what cause I cannot tell remain'd in the City and those Assasinates taking notice of it corrupted him I suppose with Money to come to my house yesternight to tell me that two of my Brother's friends would be in this place to day about the time when I first saw you to impart some Secrets to me which did highly concern us both and therefore did earnestly desire me to give them a meeting I knowing that the Messenger was my Brother's servant and that those whom he nam'd were his most true friends supposing that he brought no Letters because it was not safe to write believed him and came but not without Arms of which I soon found the Necessity As I alighted from my Horse they made towards me with Swords which they had hid under their Coats and gave me a wound for a Salutation Turning upon them for my defence I had the good fortune to kill one of them and wound the other which when I perceiv'd I desir'd him to desist and let me know for what Injury which they had receiv'd from me they sought reparation by this highest sort of Revenge But his Malice had made him so greedy of my Death that by silence and continuing to fight I saw that if he could not kill me he would live no longer Nay then said I you shall be pleas'd and as you came so you shall go together With a very few blows I sent him after his fellow-Murtherer But as these Villains have suffered more punishment for their wicked attempt then I desired to have inflicted upon them if it had pleas'd God otherwise to have delivered me from their Malice so I think my self well appay'd for the hazard I have run and nothing disappointed of my Expectation since the Message is verified in a sense which they never intended by this fortunate Encounter Now let me entreat you to go along with me and when we come to my House I will tell you the story of the Prince and desire your advice concerning the course which we are to take for it is a perplexed season Bentivolio whose Prudence was alwayes awake stopping Philalethes said Sir we are strangers and do not know what Constructions may be made upon any Accident happening at our Arrival in such a Juncture of time therefore if you please our servants shall throw those wretched Carkases into that old Cole-pit lest some Foresters finding the dead Bodies give notice to the Country which will make a general Alarm and it may be trouble us all with an impertinent Hue-and-Cry Philalethes approv'd the Counsel and as soon as they had put it in Execution they betook themselves to their Horses When they came to his house Bentivolio told Philalethes that the first expression of his Regard to them should be to search his own wounds Upon the first inspection he found them not dangerous and having quickly dress'd them his Lady entertain'd her unexpected Guests with a short Collation yet they thought it long because it was some hinderance to the accomplishment of Philalethes his promise to tell them what was become of the Prince which when the cloth was taken away he fulfilled after this manner I understand by the discourse which we had in the Wood that you have heard of the death of Anaxagathus who broke his heart with the Grief which seiz'd upon him when he heard the news of his Son's Death of which he would never be convinc'd but that himself was the principal Author The day after Anaxagathus was dead Antitheus the Venemous Root upon which our Calamity grows sent Dogmapornes one of his Confederates to the Castle where the Prince was imprison'd with order to kill him privately and throw him over the Rock that so his Body being afterward taken out of the River might make good the Report which they had spread abroad before concerning the manner of his Death which by that means they foretold much after the Custom of Evil Spirits which give Intelligence before-hand to Witches and other their Correspondents of such mischiefs as they resolve to doe When Dogmapornes was gone Antitheus and the rest of his Accomplices began to deliberate what was next to be done for the setling of the Kingdom They determin'd presently to proclaim Antitheus King as being apparently the next Heir to the Crown and commanded upon pain of Death that none but the Souldiers of his own Guard should appear in Arms nor that the Citizens should meet in any Assembly upon pain of Treason and secured such as they knew to be Alethion's friends This I learn'd from one of my servants who escap'd out of the City by night Dogmapornes made all possible haste to his Castle to Execute the wicked Commandment of Antitheus and kill'd some horses by the way but when he came there he found himself utterly disappointed for the Prince was gone the day before How it came to pass I will acquaint you for my Brother not being able to conceal from me such happy news longer then the time which the Messenger requir'd for his Journey to bring it sent one of his friends to me who was able to inform me perfectly for he waited upon the Prince during all the time of his Imprisonment heard his Discourses and knew the manner of his Escape You must understand that the Prince was chiefly intrusted to the Custody of two Persons Apronaeus who was Lieutenant of the Castle and Diaporon who commanded a Troop of Horse under Dogmapornes Diaporon attended continually upon the Prince Apronaeus came only sometimes to see that he was in safety Diaporon was of a nature very averse to Malice and though he had not the greatest parts nor could make a perfect judgment of things by his own Ability yet his temper was not impregnably fortified against good Reason As he had at the first no disaffected resentments of the Prince's Person for he had never disobliged him so in a short time he fell into a great Admiration of his Vertues and perceiving him not to be afflicted with what he suffered he concluded in himself that the Prince had no Demerits upon which Punishment could take hold He saw a smooth Serenity in his Looks a great Contentedness in his Speeches an undisturb'd Equality in all his Conversation He heard him often assert his own Innocence but without any other Expressions except of pity for his abus'd Father The affection which this Deportment produc'd in Diaporon's breast possibly augmented with some surmises of unworthy Contrivances against the Prince in a short time grew so strong that it made him heartily with that he might be so happy as to work his Deliverance As he was musing one day how he might accomplish such a hard Attempt
after the same manner by which Men subdue Beasts and we thought we might as soon as we could re-gain our Liberty Right according to his own Law depending merely upon greater Strength It may be so said the Captain and since I have more Power then you I will take punishment of you for the Death of my friend and immediately commanded his Servants to kill them Here Philalethes interrupting his Servant and turning to Bentivolio and Amyntor said I did easily foresee that such as these or worse Mischiefs would soon happen under the forlorn Government of Antitheus and ask'd his Servant if he did not see Antitheus Only once as he pass'd by in a Coach I saw him through the Glass of my Chamber-Window replied his Servant for he doth seldom go abroad and never without a very strong Guard alwayes fearing lest some of Alethion's friends should stab him Philalethes ask'd him how he was reported to spend his time He answer'd Much after that manner which Sardanapalus us'd in 〈◊〉 Who are his usual Companions said Philalethes As I was inform'd I will acquaint you replied his Servant for I durst not venture into the Castle He hath made Pasenantius and Antholkes his Principal Secretaries Dogmapornes is his Favorite Panthnetus is the Steward of his House Philedones his Treasurer Asynetus his Chief Justice Autautus is the Captain of his Guard and his Brother Proselenus is his Lieutenant Psychopannyx Saprobius and Udemellon are of his Bed-chamber Medenarete is his Minion Astromantis with his inseparable Companion Thaumaturgus are his Physicians Scepticus Hypsagoras and Antigraphus are generall Buffoons to them all I hear also that one Hieromimus lately come to town hopes by the Intercession of Hypsagoras to be entertain'd by Antitheus and that Anopheles doth much favour him Gastrimargus Cantharus and Aphrodisius are all preferr'd by Philedones This is all that I could learn in Polistherion Philalethes said nothing only shak'd his head and bade his servant withdraw When he was gone Bentivolio desired Philalethes that besides his pardon for their former troublesomeness he would please to oblige himself and Amyntor with a short Character of the foremention'd Persons adding that upon the hearing of their odde Names he could not but imagine that they were observable for some singular Qualities I shall willingly doe it said Philalethes Pasenantius is a man of a most perverse Disposition and so is Antholkes they both take a great delight in contradicting what others assert and think nothing well said or done but by Antitheus and themselves they are very agreeable to his Humour because they have a rare faculty in minting new Words and Phrases of which Antitheus makes no small use for by expunging all known Terms he hopes to extinguish all receiv'd Opinions and to introduce his new Philosophy into the World But his Expectations have a very weak Foundation for it is observ'd that after he hath taken much pains to divulge some hidden Mystery in strange Sentences he hath been found only to have wrapp'd up a Falshood in unusual Terms or to have obscur'd some common Notion which every Novice understood as soon as he had enter'd the first confines of Study and could have express'd in better Words Shall I give you a taste of his Variations by which he hath advanc'd a Philosophical Ignorance For God he hath put Nature for Providence Chance for Creation Eternal Vicissitude for Prescience Fate for Liberty Omnipotence for Contingency Necessity for Possible Future for History Mystery for Cruelty Justice for Discourse Contradiction for Philosopher Dictator for Hypocrisie Wisdom for Religion Mockery for Theology Atheism Of Dogmapornes you have heard something already and of his Unworthy Opinions concerning the Divine Providence in the story of Apronaeus he hath many more of the same nature for which as being very fit to be entertain'd in Brothel-Houses but worthy to be banish'd from all Civil Societies because they send down a mischievous influence upon Humane Life he was call'd Dogmapornes I have often fansied that his Countenance doth very much resemble the Air of the rebellious Giants and that he is much of that Disposition which did so corrupt the Manners of the old World that Almighty God was provok'd to 〈◊〉 them with a Deluge If ever Apostate Angels begot Children upon Lascivious Women he may well be thought to have come of that Race Autautus would have us believe that the World made it self or at least did of it self Eternally exist in loose Atoms and that after many wild encounters the jumbled particles as if they were playing at the ancient sport of Oscillation did at last luckily throw themselves into that infinite number of rare figures of which this World consists Proselenus is of the same opinion and is usually very troublesome to the Company where he happens to be with strange stories of Men whom he affirms to have been fifty thousand years older then the Moon and hath fram'd many fabulous Tales of Eve's Great Grand-mother whose Father as he says was call'd Praeadamita He affirms also almost in the same words with the Atheist of Florence that we should have certainly known the Customs and Accidents of the former World but that a great Deluge happen'd in Adam's time by which all the Records of the foregoing Ages were destroy'd and no Persons preserv'd but Adam and his Wife two Mountainous Shepherds and that Adam to gain the Glory of being reputed the first Father of a new World a strange Ambition to seize upon the thoughts of a poor Shepherd agreed with his Wife to conceal the knowledge of that which was destroy'd from their Children by which means it came to pass as he guesses that we have only the notice of about five or six thousand years time but supposes that Adam's Posterity did find some Remembrances of another State yet to support the Honour of their Family reckon'd them but Fabulous Devices made by some of their Predecessours Philedones is one wholly devoted to a Voluptuous Life of which he hath made choice as his only Happiness as he saith merely in Imitation of the Exemplary Vertues of the Epicurean Gods who rejecting the troublesome Cares of this lower World doe nothing but feast themselves in Heaven He was inclin'd to Sensuality by his Natural Complexion but when he doubted a Man was made for more noble purposes then those of which a Swine is capable he was confirm'd in his way by two of his Companions Panthnetus and Udemellon who made him believe that Men have no Souls but that as they are born and grow like Beasts so they wax old and die as they do and are not accomptable in another World for what they doe in this When he put this scruple to them But what if the Soul should be Immortal You need not fear that said they for if Souls supposing that there are such things did not perish with their Bodies they would be so thick crowded together in the other World that some of them would have been
they should be sav'd without it Thus was Sin 〈◊〉 by Anaxanacton's Death and when he had discharg'd this Office Men could not doubt of being pardon'd through his Mediation for he told them that his Death was a Propitiatory Sacrifice offer'd in the name of Sinners and that his Bloud was shed as a Federal Rite by which according to the known Custom of the Eastern World who by Bloud did usually ratifie their Leagues of Friendship he confirm'd the Promise of Pardon which he had formerly made in the name of his Father and seal'd his Gospel which was a Covenant of Love and contain'd the Grant of our Peace in stead of the bloud of Beasts with his own But that I may end this part of my Discourse let me tell you also that the Death of Anaxanacton did both naturally augment the pitifulness of our General High-Priest who by the Experience of Afflictions learn'd to compassionate his suffering Friends Anaxanacton also made it a rare Example of that Patience which he knew his Followers would need to support them against those Affronts which he foresaw would be put upon them by such as having no love for Vertue themselves would hate it in others and being more in number would be alwayes able to doe them mischief and be instigated to persecute them with more rage by their own Vices which were perpetually condemn'd by their excellent Lives Thus also Anaxanacton gave his Friends a fair encouragement to suffer chearfully seeing their true Lover to have led them the way and being assured that neither Shame Pain or Death could obstruct their Happiness all of them being hallow'd by the Patience and overcome by the Faith of their Victorious Prince As by this which I have said concerning the rare Use which was made of Anaxanacton's Death you may easily perceive that it was so far from being Impertinent that it demonstrates not only the greatest Love but an equal Wisdom in the Designation of it to the fore-mention'd Purposes so you will see that the great Import of his Death is not improperly express'd in those Notions which you dislike if you will have the Patience to understand the true meaning of those common 〈◊〉 Reconciliation Redemption and Satisfaction when they are applied to this Affair Reconciliation must be explain'd according to the Notion of Displeasure of which God is capable He is then said to be Angry when he Punisheth and as it is natural for men to be afraid when they have transgress'd the Law of their Supreme King so it is just with him to be angry at their Offences that is to punish the Offenders and he may very well be said to be Reconcil'd when he doth not lay their Sins to their charge and to receive them into that Favour which they forfeited when he doth not inflict the Punishment which was deserv'd Thus the Notion of Reconciliation is very proper and not at all the less intelligible though God is not a passionate Being and the Effect of our Saviour's Mediation is equally valuable For whilst the Sinner is liable to an unspeakable Torment his condition is as miserable as if he who is provok'd to inflict it were subject to wrathful Affections since he knows how to doe it with a serene Justice and the Courtesie of the Intercessor is infinitely obliging notwithstanding the indisturb'd temper of the Divine Nature because he saves the Offendor from a dreadful Punishment and since the unpassionate King would have inflicted it without the foremention'd Interposition he which is pardon'd need not scruple to say that his God is reconcil'd to him by the Death of Anaxanacton You will also be satisfied as to the Notion of Redemption if you consider what is meant by that word when it is us'd in this matter For it signifies that Anaxanacton by his Death restor'd Mankind to Liberty that benefit which poor Slaves receive when they are deliver'd from a miserable captivity by the payment of a summe of Money We were enslav'd to the Devil who had tempted us from our Allegiance to God and perswading us to follow his Counsels and the Conduct of our own Lawless Appetites had put upon us by degrees the Shackles of Habitual Sin and expos'd us to the danger of Eternal Death How unmercifully this Tyrant us'd his Captives by the exercise of his usurp'd Power whilst they languish'd under the fear of Revenge to be taken upon them by God from whom they revolted I told you before Now though no Price was paid to the Devil for none was due yet since Men were freed from his intolerable yoke and sav'd from the Miseries which they endur'd and the further dangers which were justly consequent to their Obedience to the Devil for they were willing Slaves and though they were abus'd by him yet they deserv'd to be punish'd severely as voluntary Fugitives from a most Gracious Soveraign God may very well be said to be their Redeemer and Anaxanacton to have paid a Price for them since it pleas'd the Father that his dear Son should be their Deliverer and since Anaxanacton was not unwilling to submit to hard Terms for their Recovery The propriety of this Expression and the fitness of this Means of our Liberty will be yet further apparent if you will take notice that the Bonds which tied us in Slavery were our own Wills engag'd to a course of Disobedience by the prevalence of fleshly Tentations and whilst the Enemy of our Souls gave us leave to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin he made us believe that he lov'd us more then God though by indulging to us our Lusts he did us no other favour but to kill us with sweet Poison and mix'd Delusion with our Ruine over which also he and his malicious Associates devillishly insulted That we might be reclaim'd from such pernicious Folly the Eternal Father and his dear Son made an unparallel'd Demonstration of amazing Love to shame us out of our continuance in that dishonourable Vassallage wherein we foolishly serv'd our own and our Creator's Enemy For Anaxanacton came and perswaded the unhappy Rebels to return to their Loyalty and died upon a Cross before their faces to procure their Pardon after which they saw their Fetters fall off repented of their rebellious Folly return'd to their lawful Prince and could not but look upon him that made them as their Redeemer since he had perswaded them into Liberty by such a charming Argument and they call'd Anaxanacton's Bloud the Price of their Redemption because it was such a potent means of their Recovery Indeed Anaxanacton not doubting but this would be the happy consequent of his undertaking told his Friends as he was going to the Cross that when he should be lifted up there and had thence made manifest his own and his Father 's ardent affections to our Restauration he should draw Sinners up to him that is impress such a deep Sense of grateful Love upon their Souls that they would now willingly obey one who had after
no other service to Anaxanacton But that which his Friends say in defence of his Honour and their own Faith is much more valid and against which his Enemies will never be able to find any thing rationally to oppose The Evidence which is given for the Truth of this Famous History is made of a Series of Witnesses which running through sixteen Centuries hath preserv'd the Records and asserted the Truth of the Divine Life most charitable Death and stupendious Resurrection of Anaxanacton by a successive Attestation Those who first committed his Life to writing were Eye-witnesses of what they reported or intimate Companions of such as had convers'd with him till his Ascension As the Assurance of this Truth confirm'd by such a clear Evidence was the ground of their proper Faith and the only Reason which can be suppos'd to have made them willing to be publishers of it so it is absurd to think that others would have receiv'd them with Faith if the Apostles had not been able by some Infallible Proofs to demonstrate that they witness'd what they knew to be true It is beyond the power of my Phancie to imagine what should induce the first Divulgers of the Gospel to publish such strange news but that they were throughly convinc'd both that it was true that the knowledge of it was so necessary to the Salvation of men that they could not conceal it but with a very great uncharitableness Those who frame Lies propound to themselves some Advantage by Falshood and since that is so unlovely in its own nature that it is abhorr'd of all the World when they make use of it they are forc'd to adorn it with borrow'd colours that by them they may impose upon the credulous and attain their End All Judges do ever esteem it as a rational Assurance of the Goodness of an Evidence when the Witnesses give Testimony without hoping for any oblique Advantage to themselves from the Issue of the Cause What Design could the plain Apostles serve if they had endeavour'd to cheat the World with this Story which was so odious to the Incredulous Jews and so unwelcome to the Idolatrous Gentiles that in an ordinary way it was applicable to no pur pose but to procure the Scorn and Hatred of those to whom they told it If it had not been a Truth it was easie for those who heard it to discover its Falshood for that which they related was done in one of the most illustrious Cities of the World If the Apostles of Anaxanacton could have so far debas'd themselves as to divulge false news yet it is unreasonable to think that they should offer to doe it for the advancement of their Master's Religion which of all things doth most abhor a Lie I know very well that vain Persons use to tell false Stories to make their Auditors laugh at their ridiculous Inventions and that suborn'd Witnesses will sell their Oaths for Money especially when they have so fram'd their Depositions that the Falshood is hard to be discover'd and some Messengers will carry news which is not true in hopes of receiving a Reward before it can be known to be false but were any men ever heard of who were so greatly in love with Death and so passionately desirous of shameful Torments that they madly threw away their Lives for that which they knew to be a Lie It is well enough known that Anaxanacton's Friends died attesting this Story and were put to death for no other reason but because they would not disown it Pray tell me good Antigraphus in what Book did you ever reade of one much less many thousands who embrac'd a real Cross for his sake who was only crucified in a Romance It is easily observable out of the Books of Anaxanacton's Enemies yet extant that when his Disciples were convented before Secular Powers they were not accus'd for telling of Lies or punish'd for Fraudulent dealing but onely censur'd for publishing a New Doctrine which was entertained so readily and spred so far that they were afraid it would subvert their Pagan Religion which indeed it did not with standing all they could doe to support it This is enough to justifie the Veracity of those who first preached the Gospel and it is as easie to vindicate the Prudence of those who first gave credit to their Report As the Primitive Evangelists believed because they saw Anaxanacton's Divine Actions and were Eye-witnesses of his Resurrection so those who heard them tell this News had all good reason to believe them not only because they heard them relate such strange things with a steady Confidence amongst those who dwelt near the place where they were done and because they perceiv'd all the fair signs of Honesty in their Conversations but also saw them doe many such things themselves as they affirm'd their Master to have done How could any wise Spectators but think that Anaxanacton was a Divine Person when they saw his Servants doe Miracles only with the mention of his Name As they could not think that was impossible which they saw done except they thought themselves not bound to believe their own Eyes so they could not but believe that which was reported being made credible by such convincing Evidences of its Truth except they abandon'd their Reason If the Apostles would have put tricks upon the World we know that many of their first Converts cannot be look'd upon as Subjects capable of Delusion being men of great Parts rare Learning inquisitive Tempers unconcern'd as to any thing but Truth engag'd to oppose what was told them it being contrary both to the Opinions which they profess'd and the Laws of the Places where they liv'd Those who consider what they say cannot affirm of the rest who were not of so great Abilities that they at least might be impos'd upon because the A postles devis'd no cunning Fables nor us'd any subtile Arts but made a plain Narrative of Anaxanacton's Life Death and Resurrection justified their Commission to be Divine by the frequent performance of beneficial Miracles commanded men in their Master's name to receive his Gospel and were answer'd with chearful Obedience those who believ'd had so great an Assurance in their Minds of the reasonableness of their Faith that all the Arts of Idolatrous Priests and Terrours of enrag'd Princes could not shake it And can any man think that they would thus strangely subject themselves to the Authority of one that was acknowledg'd to have died upon a Cross and then been buried but that they were assured he was also risen again and both happy himself and able to exalt others to that Paradise to which he ascended Thus the first Age entertain'd the Discipline of Anaxanacton and with a careful Fidelity transmitted it to that which succeeded As that which went before would have hiss'd such strange News out of the World if it had not been apparently true so the next could not but give credit to it as a Report whose
undoubted Truth was generally known The first Believers preserv'd the Authentick Records of Anaxanacton's Story and deliver'd Transcripts of them to so many that the common Evidence of their Faith was universally spred and all Corruption prevented because for some hundreds of Years they had the Original writings and Copies were taken by so many Persons that none could make a Variation but he was liable to a quick Discovery By the Power of this Divine Verity they converted many of their most mortal Enemies among the Jews insomuch that those who had a hand in Anaxanacton's Death repented of the Murther which they committed upon such a Divine Person and testified the truth of their Repentance by venturing their Lives in his Service He was pleas'd to assure his Ascension to one of his zealous Adversaries by appearing to him with a Heavenly Glory and shew'd him the folly of endeavouring to destroy that Church whose Prince was Lord of Heaven and Earth who after he had recover'd the astonishment into which he was struck by the Celestial Vision he tore the Commission which he had receiv'd to disserve Anaxanacton and made Reparation for the wrong which he had done by the constant Zeal wherewith he promoted the Faith of his Gospel throughout his whole Life and then perfected his Love with Martyrdom When the Heathens doubted of the Truth of this holy Story the Servants of Anaxanacton referr'd them to their own Annals and added Miraculous Proofs in so many Places that their Adversaries had nothing left to oppose them being sufficiently vex'd to see such an unparallel'd Attempt succeed in a way which the World never knew before and wonder'd that a few mean men agreeing in one plain Story should have such a potent Influence upon all Kingdoms where they travell'd one single Person and sometimes two converting a whole Nation to that manner of life which was contrary to the general Inclination of Mankind to that Doctrine which contradicted their receiv'd Principles and that Religion which overthrew the Worship which they had deriv'd from many Ancestors and was confirm'd by Penal Laws and which expos'd such as receiv'd it first to Scorn and then to Torments It encreased their Admiration to see them voluntarily offer themselves to suffer in proof of what they said but much more when they perceiv'd the undaunted Courage with which they endur'd the greatest pains and then Death How could it but amaze the Heathens when they saw poor men whom they despis'd challenge their Gods before the Faces of those who ador'd them and make them confess themselves to be Devils They could not but wonder at the strange Alteration which was wrought upon their Companions Tempers who were so chang'd in their Manners that they could scarce know them to be the same men Christian Religion accomplishing that Emendation upon Humane Life which Moral Philosophy had in vain attempted except in a very few Instances it being unable to make its Precepts obey'd for want of sufficient Motives that is could not promise Eternal Rewards to Vertue nor dissuade Vice effectually having no Authority to threaten Disobedience with endless Torments All beholders were rap'd into Admiration when they saw these things and many enquiring into the Reason of such rare Accidents found sufficient cause to conclude that they were the Effects of a Divine Power which accompanied the Apostles and they justly esteem'd them Infallible Proofs of the Truth of the Holy Story knowing that Falshood is unable to equal such Products But O God! said Bentivolio making a passionate Apostrophe what a stupid Incredulity hath seiz'd upon this leaden Age which doth not give Faith to that Divine History which is come safe to our hands being preserv'd in a Holy Book not blemish'd with one material Variation and honour'd with the concurring Testimony of the best men who liv'd in all the Ages since it was written What a strange Lethargy is this which hath so fatally benumb'd our Wills that we cannot be perswaded to think that there is as much reason to believe that the Four Evangelists have given us the true History of our Saviour as that Julius Caesar wrote his Commentaries We pretend to doubt whether the noble Physician penn'd the Acts of the Apostles and yet make no question but Homer wrote the Iliads and that the AEneids are the Works of Virgil. But since there is no Comparison between the reason of that credulous Respect which is given to the fore-mention'd Authors and the validity of that Evidence which I have produc'd for Anaxanacton's Gospel I will tell you added Bentivolio now addressing himself to Eugenius the cause of this strange Infidelity Some fall into it by a lazy neglect of the consideration of those Arguments which would make them give credit to this Story and many are unwilling to believe it because their Faith would disturb the Pleasures of their Sensual Life These though they never heard of any Counter-witnesse produc'd to disprove this Truth for there is none and though they are not able to frame a rational ground of Doubt yet they endeavour to look upon it as a Fiction because it crosseth their Adherence to a base Interest The Dissatisfactions which they pretend to the Holy Gospel arise not at all from the Defect of those Reasons by which its truth is asserted but from the too-much Evidence which against their Wills they find there of the necessity of a Holy Life and too strong proofs of the miserable estate of those unworthy Souls who being favour'd with the Knowledge of its Precepts do not answer it with sincere Obedience It were too long to trouble you with the Enumeration of all those Devices which they contrive to avoid the power of this important Verity Sometimes they pretend that the Doctrines reveal'd are contrary to Reason making God's Understanding no bigger then their own and pronounce those things absurd which they would not have had reveal'd and endeavour that the Gospel might be thought a Fable though they cannot imagine at what time it should be feign'd by whom or for what purpose and deny that it was confirm'd by Miracles though they cannot but acknowledge that if it was entertain'd upon any other Accompt it was the greatest wonder in the World But these men will not let it be possible for God to assure his Creatures of Truth for he hath done so much that they cannot tell what more to ask only when they are urg'd with it they require saucily that he should repeat it But that you may more plainly see that this perverse Incredulity which is the great Fault of the present Age ariseth not from the want of any Credibility in the Object or Defect of clear Evidence in the manner of proposal I must acquaint you that many who convers'd with Anaxanacton when he liv'd upon Earth did not entertain his Gospel with that Faith which was due to his visible Authority The Proofs which he gave were Sufficient but not Compulsive It was highly convincing to
it an hour before Antitheus divided his Army into two Bodies the Mercenaries of Theriagene and his Auxiliary Theomachians Being attended with his Life-Guard he led the Theriagenians himself whom he plac'd in the right Wing having assign'd the chief Commands to Dogmapornes who was his Lieutenant-General Philedones Pasenantius Autautus Antholkes Antigraphus Udemellon and the rest of his Confidents He chose all his under-Officers out of those whom he esteem'd most true to him His Confederate Theomachians being plac'd in the left Wing were led by their General Theostyges Those who were most of Note in the Army and chiefly look'd upon as Persons upon whose Conduct and Valour the Success of the Fight depended were Archicacus Misagathus Anosius Adicus Anaedes Androphonus Asemnus Aneleemon and Anecestus The Theoprepian Army was commanded by Theosebes for after a loving Contention which lasted a good while between the two Kings before they could determine who should give Orders and Command with a single Power each of them offering that Honour to the other and both refusing it with an equal Modesty Alethion conjuring Theosebes by the Love which had brought him into Theriagene to command his own Army and to give him leave to fight by his side Theosebes was forc'd to accept that Authority The Army which consisted of six thousand Foot and four thousand Horse was divided into two Bodies one commanded by Theosebes himself who was accompanied with the Prince of Theriagene Bentivolio and Misopseudes who desir'd the Honour to fight by him The other was put under the Obedience of Lysander to whom Panaretus Philalethes and Nicomachus joyn'd themselves every particular Regiment being led by such Commanders as inspir'd their Followers with Courage As soon as the Day began to appear the Warlike Trumpets sounding from all parts of the Camp rais'd the Souldiers to the Battel of which they were so impatiently desirous that many prevented the rising of the Sun and put on their Arms whilst it was yet dark and rousing that Warlike humour which had lien asleep since the Fight against Theromachia they gave a clear Evidence that they had not forgot the Art which they had not for a long time practis'd When they were drawn up into a regular Order in the place appointed for the Fight Theosebes and Alethion riding by the Head of every Regiment shew'd themselves to the Souldiers whom they found so inflam'd by the sight of their Enemies that they had more need to command them to make a stand then incite them to go forward The Princes said not much to them because they perceiv'd their Courage already heightned infinitely above the necessities of Exhortation However this Action was not in vain for their Hearts were kindled with a more vigorous 〈◊〉 by the Presence of their own King and the sight of the Wrong'd Prince whose Restauration they were now to attempt Those of Theriagene were destitute of a just Cause and so could not have that assistance which Valour never refuseth to take from a serene Conscience yet they appear'd with a desperate Boldness and felt in their Hearts all those Motions which Anger Hatred Hope and Desire could raise Nay they seem'd to encrease their Courage with Fear for knowing what they had done they assured themselves of the greatest Punishments if they should be conquer'd and therefore heightned their Resolutions of killing those who if they liv'd would in a little time become their Judges Both Armies having made themselves ready to march the Trumpets were commanded to give the last Signal and they resounding from the Banks of the River and multiplying their noises with the Echo's of the Wood made a delightful Terrour The two Forlorns of Horse sent from each Party gave the first Charge and laid many Men upon the ground and their Horses by them But Aristander who commanded the Theoprepians with an irresistible Force pressing upon those of Theriagene made them retreat to their Army with the loss of half their men Then the main Bodies of both Armies advanc'd towards each other and seconded what was begun with the Engagement of their whole Forces The Commanders of both sides were the first in this Charge and made a dreadful Salutation with the mutual exchange of Blows and Wounds but being encompast by their Souldiers they were forc'd to leave off their single Combats and oppose the joynt Fury of their numerous Enemies Now it was that Death began to appear with a dismal Face and to shew the awful Greatness of her Mortal Power in the Horrours of Slaughter and Confusion Alethion having espied Dogmapornes thundred upon him with a loud cry saying Now I will requite you for writing Letters for me and riding up to him with an astonishing Presence ran him through the Body and perceiving that Antholkes came up with an eager desire to revenge his Death or else to die with him Yes said the Prince he can have no fitter Companion in his Torments then you who have assisted his Sin and as he spake these words gave Antholkes leave to take his death from the point of his Sword upon which he ran himself precipitantly aiming an ineffectual Blow at Alethion's Head Philedones at the same time was thrown upon the ground by Theosebes Antitheus fought disguis'd the Fears which were created by his guilty Conscience making him flie to that mean sort of Refuge But Bentivolio having discover'd him by some token broke through those who stood in his way and leaving bloudy marks of his Passage rode up to him and gave him a blow upon the Head which would have cleft his Skull if it had not been guarded with an Helmet which was made for a more worthy Person however it made him bow down low upon his Horse's neck and his Body beginning to leave the Saddle Bentivolio prevented his Fall for he pull'd him from his Horse and carrying him before him upon the Bow of his Saddle gave him in Custody to Axiarchus one of Theosebes his Captains who knowing the Importance of his Charge plac'd him disarm'd in the middle of his Troop and watch'd him so diligently that he made his escape impossible Autautus and Proselenus did in vain endeavour his Rescue for they were both kill'd one by Theosebes and the other by Misopseudes who receiv'd a Wound in his Breast by a thrust of Proselenus his Sword Those in the left Wing did things equal to the right Lysander charg'd Theostyges the General of the Theomachians and after a few blows given with an unexpressible Courage Theostyges receiv'd one in his Neck which made it unable to support his Head and as he listed up his Hand to strike again tumbled under his Horse's Feet He was accompanied in his Death by Androphonus and Aneleemon who fell by the same hand Anosius being fiercely charg'd by Kalodoxus lost his Life with his Head which Kalodoxus cut off Sympathus Charistion and Pasiphilus signalized themselves by the Death of Misagathus Adicus Asemnus and some others who seem'd to be
the stoutest men that led the Theomachian Van. Antigraphus who fought with the Theomachians was met by Nicomachus who shot him in the Mouth and lodg'd a brace of Bullets in his Brains and after him dispatch'd Saprobius with his Sword Hieromimus who would needs thrust himself into the Fight though he had no Command being known to a private Souldier who had seen him in Theoprepia was kill'd with the But-end of his Musquet Euphron having charg'd too far into the Enemie's Body was unfortunately slain Aristander having seen him engag'd endeavour'd with all possible speed to hew out a way to his relief but not being able to come where he was soon enough to save his life he fell with an impetuous rage upon those who kill'd him and fetch'd off his dead Body In this Action Aristander receiv'd one Wound in his Thigh and another in his Arm which prov'd mortal to him Whilst the Victorious Arms of the left Wing distress'd the Theomachians in the Front a sudden Ruine hastned upon them in the Rear For Panaretus and Philalethes being inform'd of a private way through the Wood by which fetching a small Compass they might come behind the Theomachians they acquainted Lysander with their desire to surround the Enemy and receiv'd of him four hundred Horse with which they put their Design in Execution and flew in upon them with an appearance which was so much the more dreadful because it was unexpected and made the Theomachians think that Death had hedg'd them in upon all sides However taking a desperate kind of Courage from their Danger they fought stoutly and though they were beaten yet the Theoprepians found such considerable Resistance that it cost many of them their lives At length the Theomachians seeing most of their Leaders slain and so many of their Companions kill'd that they were put out of all hopes of Victory some of those few which surviv'd threw down their Arms and desir'd Quarter others endeavouring to save their Lives by running disorderly to Antitheus his Division which was a very small relief for they were so discourag'd by Theosebes and his Invincible Army that having left their most considerable Officers dead upon the ground and having seen others taken they began to flie hoping at least to delay their Death by retiring to Polistherium Eugenius who was a faithful friend to Alethion and staid in Theriagene to serve his Interest receiv'd a fall from his Horse the day before the Fight and pretending to be much hurt by it he took his bed by which means he gain'd an occasion to remain at home to execute the Design which he had contriv'd against Antitheus which was to surprize the City whilst he was engag'd in the Field and accordingly having given notice of his purpose to Alethion by one of his Servants well known to Bentivolio Amyntor with a select Company of Horse at the hour which was appointed by Eugenius march'd towards Polistherium unseen by the Enemy and carrying Antitheus his Colours which they had taken in the Fight he came to a Gate which Eugenius had secur'd and having let him in they seiz'd upon the Town for Alethion This Action made the attempt of those who hoped to escape by flight of little advantage to their security for being pursued and kill'd by the Theoprepian Horse when they drew near to the Town they were destroy'd by the great Guns and Muskets which play'd upon them from the Walls and this did so confound them with an unexpressible Despair that being neither able to fight nor run away they stood still and cry'd for Mercy which though they did not obtain at first yet it was granted as soon as the Prince of Theriagene and Theosebes could come up For one of them desir'd not to see more of his Subjects slaughter'd and the other could not endure to behold so many men kill'd after they had given over all Resistance They exhorted the Souldiers to be content with their Victory without more bloud which could not make it more acceptable and they were not disobey'd when their Commands were heard Thus did the Justice of Heaven punish the Rebellion of Antitheus and his Accomplices and in a short time utterly frustrate all the Probabilities which he had fram'd to support a saint Hope of escaping Destruction And now the Princes having given order to take care of the Wounded Souldiers and to secure the Prisoners Theosebes went into Alethion's Coach and taking Bentivolio and Panaretus with him sent his Commands to Lysander to lead his men towards the City which they knew to be in their Friends hands both by Alethion's Colours which were plac'd upon that Tower which was over the Gate by which they were to enter as also by a Messenger sent from Amyntor When they were come to the City-walls they were met by Eugenius who being transported by the sight of Alethion alighted off his Horse to perform his Devoir to him and kneel'd down to kiss his Hand but was not able to speak for Joy Rise up rise up my faithful Friend said the Prince taking him into his Arms I shall never forget the Affections which you have alwayes preserv'd for me neither shall any time blot out of my mind those obliging services by which you have demonstrated your Love He had not time to reply for the Princes came out of their Coaches intending to march into the City on Horse-back and then he was interrupted by the Embraces of the Prince of Theoprepia who had much endear'd him to himself for those high Offices which he had perform'd for a Prince whom he lov'd above any man in the World and then signified his Affection in words full of Esteem When Eugenius was got loose from Theosebes Bentivolio passionately affected with the sight of one who had oblig'd him with all the Expressions of a most Generous Friendship ran to him with open Arms saying as he went And is it true my dear Eugenius that God hath given us leave to meet again both so soon and so happily Yes Bentivolio replied Eugenius and I esteem it no small part of this Day 's Felicity to meet one who was never out of my Memory and Desire since we parted The rest of the Company having perform'd their affectionate Salutations to this Excellent Person the Princes entred the City whilst the great Guns sounded from the Walls and the People Echo'd to that joyful noise with their loudest Acclamations in all the Streets through which they passed to the Palace It is not possible for me to express that endearing Welcome which Alethion gave to the Prince of Theoprepia after his Arrival in the House nor to repeat those many passionate Acknowledgments which he made to him for that Generous Love by which God having made it successful he was restor'd to his Throne protesting to Theosebes that the re-enjoyment of his Kingdom was infinitely more acceptable since it was accomplish'd by his means then it could have been any other way Theosebes who so entirely
this corruptible Body or that if Death had any wedge able to cleave my Soul I should have seen some Chip fall from it yesterday when my Arm was sawn off and have felt my Soul grown less then it was before I did not I am the same I still and I do not doubt but I should be so if the other Arm were cut off and after that my Feet and then the rest of those Parts which constitute this Bodily Frame Having this sensible assurance I take the more Confidence to believe that I shall eternally exist in this Rational Nature which now makes me my self I know some say that Immaterial Beings if there are any may be Mortal though not by Separation of Parts yet some other way unknown to us I suppose they mean Annihilation To which I answer that though I cannot but acknowledge God may if he will destroy what he hath made and at his pleasure take away that Being which is deriv'd from his Power yet I think it Absurd to suppose that he doth Annihilate Souls because it is contrary to that Method which he observes in other parts of the Universe nothing of which doth so perish And I must esteem it too great a Boldness for any man to affirm that we are reduc'd to Nothing by Death because he doth not know whither we go If he say that the Soul is of that nature that it can have no Being out of the Body he falls upon the fore-mention'd Rock and must say that it is Annihilated by Separation for else it will exist out of the Body But because by your Objections you seem rather to imagine that the Soul is nothing really distinct from the Corporeal Substance I will make no further enquiry whether Immaterial things can perish but rather endeavour to shew you sufficient Cause to believe that Humane Souls are Incorporeal You cannot but know Synthnescon that this Word Soul and others correspondent to it in different Languages hath been long us'd in the World and I take it for granted that it signifies something and suppose that none will venture to affirm that those learned Persons who made use of it in their Writings did intend to signifie nothing by it but a Body or though some may judge them highly mistaken in thinking it had any other true meaning yet as I doubt not but the Venerable Ancients knew very well what they said so I think it may easily be prov'd that the Notion of an Immaterial Substance distinct from the Body which they intended to express by it is natural and true That the Soul is not a Temperament of Corporeal Humours is manifest in this that it is neither a Good nor a Bad Contemperation If it be a healthful Temperament only then we have no Soul when we are Sick if an unhealthful then we are dead when we are Well Besides if the Soul were only a Crasis of the Body it would be capable of no Distempers but by a fit of the Gout the pain of the Stone the heat of a Fever or some other sickness depending upon indispos'd Matter Whereas it is manifest that it hath many Diseases which arise not from Dilatation or Compression of the Matter Obstruction or Inflammation of the Humours or Solution of Continuity The Troubles of Conscience which arise from Moral Causes being no more capable of being remov'd by a Physician 's Receipt then the Gout can be cur'd with a Moral Lecture The Soul is not a Contexture of Material Parts for that is nothing really distinct from the whole Body but that the Soul is not the Body Part of it or any Corporeal thing we have many good assurances Those who would know what others are do rationally seek a satisfaction of their Desire by conversing with them and such as would know what they themselves are must converse with themselves It is necessary to observe this Method for there is no other way to come to the Knowledge of our Souls Since the Essences of all things are veil'd we must endeavour to know them by their Operations for the Forms of things are only intelligible by the Properties which are peculiar to their respective Natures and these distinct Properties reveal themselves only by different Operations Whilst we are intent upon this Contemplation we shall find in our selves the Acts of an Intellectual Essence which upon strict Examination will appear to be of such an excellent Nature that they transcend the finest Modifications and exceed the most subtile Motions of Bodies Those who acknowledge nothing but Material Beings in the World and make our Sensation the effect of Motion do also grant that our highest Perceptions rise but to Imagination which operates only by Corporeal Phantasms that is Images fram'd in the Brain according to those various Impressions which are made upon the Organs of Sense by the Impulses of external Objects If therefore we can make it appear that we have in our selves the Notions of things which were never capable of Sensible Representation we may justly conclude that we have a higher Mode of Perception then Imagination and consequently are ennobled with an Immaterial Principle of Knowledge That we are acquainted with many things of which we cannot have notice by the help of any Sensible Images is manifest in that we understand the Logical Notion of Causes Effects other mutual Respects of things and Universality in that we have cognizance of Mathematical Terms as Proportions of Figures Symmetry of Magnitudes Bredth abstracted from Depth Inequality and Distance in that we find also in our Souls the Perception of Moral Congruities and Repugnancies the Knowledge of Good and Evil the Nature of Vertue Principles of Justice the Decencies of Gratitude Deliberation and Liberty of Will To these I might adde the Species of Reason of Infinite Space Eternal Duration and the Notion of Perception it self we discern also Theological Truths shining there as the lively Idea of God pourtrayed in his Divine Attributes and the sense of our Dependence upon him These things have no Signatures in Matter are no Sensible Objects nor Phantasms of Corporeal Beings deriv'd through our Senses or excited in us by the Impresses of Bodily Motion and therefore we ought to conclude that the Incorporeal Idea's by which we know these things are Congenial to our Souls and also to rest assured that they are Immaterial If the Soul were only a few thick Curds inclos'd with a Bony Skull and all things without us be only Bodies it is no more possible that any knock of dull Matter should be able to beat the subtile Notion of a Deity into our Heads then it is to make an Intelligent Posset of Sack and Milk What sort of Glass is that in which you can hope to represent to our Eyes Comparisons Similitudes and Dissimilitudes If the Soul were Corporeal it could no more be sensible by an external Motion that it is a Being which Understands Reasons and Discourses then an Artist can make a Looking-glass
Composition still marching away and other succeeding in their rooms if nothing in us were fix'd and immutable we should not only find it difficult to remember the Observations of our former Life but be apt to forget what we our selves were in time past or if Memory be only fading Motion like that which we discern upon the Surface of Water after a Stone is thrown into it 〈◊〉 is impossible to imagine by what Preservatives this feeble Trembling should continue so long as we know we can remember For many years after this Motion must needs have ceas'd we find the Phantasms of things long before past as fresh as if they had but newly happened I will not trouble you Synthnescon said Aristander continuing his Discourse with any more Arguments concerning this Matter The Actions which I have nam'd do prove the Soul to be an Incorporeal Substance it being evident to any Ingenuous Philosopher that no Contexture of Atoms is capable of such Operations and that it is impossible they should be produc'd only by the Motion of Matter agitated But I would adde this to what I have said already That though I do really believe that the foremention'd Arguments are in themselves certain Truths and do sufficiently prove the Immortality of our Souls yet I think God hath given us a higher assurance concerning this Article of Faith then any thing which I have mention'd I mean that our Immortality is better demonstrated from the Resurrection and Ascension of our Saviour then by any Apodeictical Proofs drawn from other Topicks All are not prepar'd for Philosophical Arguments because many of them are subtile and so above the reach of weak Capacities neither are they of force to uphold a Belief in those who understand them no longer then they do carefully attend to the Coherence of every Demonstration Our Saviour rising from the Grave and appearing in the same Body in which he was Crucified both after his Resurrection to many of his Friends upon Earth and after his Ascension to one of his Apostles from Heaven gave sufficient notice that he had overcome the Power of that Death which he suffer'd upon the Cross and by the truth of his glorious Existence exhibited an evident Testimony of the Soul 's Incorruptibility And I must tell you Synthnescon that the conviction which we receive from this Argument doth so far transcend the satisfaction which we find in all others which have been produc'd for the Determination of this Question that Christian Religion may be truly said to have the Glory of giving a just Demonstration of the Life to come and a clear Assurance of the Immortal Happiness of our future state Here Synthnescon reply'd I cannot but acknowledge it Aristander as a very great Obligation that you are pleas'd to allow us the benefit of your Conversation especially at this time when your Repose is necessary to your Health and if it were not for continuing a disturbance I should beseech you to deliver me by your excellent Discourse from the vexation of some Objections which molest my Faith and with which I find my self more troubled because this Article is very Important I understand very well said Aristander that a freedom from Company would contribute nothing to the Restauration of my Health and I assure you that I do not think that those few Hours of my Life which yet remain can be better imployed then in this sort of Conversation and therefore you have a fair leave to propound your scruples Synthnescon accepting this courteous offer began thus I find it difficult to think that the Soul is any Immaterial Substance because I cannot imagine how it should be joyn'd to this Body I can hardly believe that there is any such strange sort of Glue which is able to fasten together two such different Natures It seems to be an odde Marriage wherein so subtile a Principle as you make the Soul should desire to espouse to it self dull Matter and yet if it would contract such an Union it cannot because it would pass through Matter by reason of its all-penetrating nature and so be unable to take such fast hold as to make a Whole consisting of those two Parts which you call Soul and Body I rather phansie an Identity of things exprest by those two names then an Union of distinct parts and suppose the Soul and Body are rather One then United because the Soul which you magnifie so much for its innate Power is not able to perform those noble Operations for which you pronounce it an Immaterial Substance when the Body is distemper'd by Excess of Meats or Drinks or indispos'd by Diseases and old Age. Who is able to discourse rationally when he is drunk The Extravagancies of Mad-men are notorious the Operations of the Intellect wholly cease in Lethargies and Apoplexies and I am apt to argue that as the Soul suffers an Infancy when the Body is young grows more vigorous in riper years becomes decrepid in old Age and is sick with the Body so it also dies with it This Belief receives Confirmation from that which is observable in the manner by which Death seizeth upon us for dying persons feel themselves perish by Degrees they lose one Faculty after another Speech Memory Sight and Hearing And as the particular Senses which are proper to every Organ are taken away by the Prevalency of a Disease so I suppose that whatsoever it is which you call Soul must needs be destroy'd by Death Besides this if there be a Soul it is Divisible and therefore not Immortal as may be perceiv'd in the Motion which continues in the several Parts of a Body when the Whole is cut into pieces What can be the reason of that Agitation but that the Soul being commensurate with the Whole is divided into every Part and so moves them 〈◊〉 while and after some time perisheth being only a mortal Vigour of warm Spirits If it did escape these dangers as you pretend it doth I know not to what purpose it should then be continued in Being for it cannot act out of the Body and having no Operations it must needs be condemn'd to an unhappy Dulness in a most afflicting Solitude It can neither hear Musical Sounds nor see the Beautiful World nor discourse nor converse with others and therefore it is rational to suppose that it doth not Exist at all I must adde also that what you call Soul in us seems to understand that dark Fate which awaits it in Death and that this sad Presage makes men afraid to die If the Soul were an Immortal Spirit able to subsist of it self it should rejoyce to leave this Body and it would find no reason to be enamour'd with it if it be destinated to an Immortal Happiness as you say it is in the Separate state I have heard some say too that if there be any such state 〈◊〉 seems very strange that none of those Millions of Souls which are gone into the other World should return
who greedily receives money and will doe nothing without it The name of a corrupt Judge 32 Lady A good Lady pictur'd 3 b Lampromeld 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 partly bright partly dark Death represented by a River so call'd Book 4. for it is dark as it obscures the bodily Life and bright as it draws the Curtains of Eternal Light which shines upon Good Souls in the other World 281 Law of Nature See Nature Lerocritus from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Judge of Trifles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one who is zealonsly busie about little things 156 Lestocharis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Charity of Robbers 15 b Lestrygon The Lestrygones were a barbarous sort of people which Thucydides lib. 6. says he knew not whence they came not whether they went They infested Sicily and Campania in Italy Homer in Odyss 10. tells us how they us'd Ulysses and his Companions 25 Leucas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a white Rock or Promontory of Epirus not far from Actium from which vain Lovers us'd to throw themselves that they might be freed from the madness of impotent Passion They seldom fail'd of their Cure for they commonly broke their necks Et de 〈◊〉 saltum Leucate minatur Mascula Lesbiacis Sappho peritura sagittis Auson And Menander in Stobaeus lib. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 87 Logomachia Controversie about words by which Philosophy is made only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a vain noise of words and Divinity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vain talk as St. Paul saith 160 Loxias 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Name bestow'd upon Apollo because his Answers were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oblique double ambiguous 298 b The Love of God defin'd and prais'd in Philothea's Speech 265 A Lover of God describ'd 237 Lunia the Country of the Moon concerning which Lucian makes a pleasant story in his Book de ratione scrib Ver. Hist. 230 b Lusingha Flattery 80 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Destroyer 155 Lysander 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one that delivers men from slavery 288 b M MAngibella a good Eater 83 Mantimanss a mad Prophet 139 Marriage defended 97 * Marriage of 〈◊〉 and Agape c. which I have written in the close of the Sixth Book is not to be understood in a common sense neither would I have any 〈◊〉 think that if I had proceeded further in that Narrative I would have written a story of vulgar Love No no I meant what I have said not of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the common Venus as Plotin calls her but of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Heavenly and intended by the Marriage of Theosebes Vrania to signifie the Union of Wisdom and Piety by that of Alethion and Agape the Conjunction of Truth and Love by that of Nicomachus and Arete the happy 〈◊〉 of Vertue which is the Reward of constant Endeavour by that of Bentivolio and Theonee the charitable sympathy of divine Goodness with the Afflicted by that of Panaretus and Irene the Holy Peace which our Saviour the great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will make when he hath conquer'd all Enmity to his Excellent Rules and destroyed whatsoever doth oppose that happy Tranquillity which his Gospel will bestow upon the World when it is obeyed See Plotin Enn. 6.lib.9 Mataeogenes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Ignoble person who sets his mind onely upon Wealth 9 b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Labour in vain 156 Medenarete 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one who esteems Vertue to be nothing See the opinion explain'd 156 b And confuted 344 b Megabronchus one that hath a great throat from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 105 Megalophron 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly one who hath a Great Mind but here it signifies one who hath high Thoughts concerning himself and doth much rellish his own worth 195 Meleta 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Care 179 Metamelusa from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one who takes thought afterward It signifies in the Second Book late Repentance 91 Metanoea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Change of mind second Thoughts 199 Miasmasarkus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Defilement of the Flesh with bodily sin which the Ranters modern Gnosticks have patroniz'd as a more rais'd strain of Religion as their Predecessours did of old 168 Microcheires from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Smallhanded The old name of Polyglotta which had much Religious Talk but few good Deeds 114 Misagathus an Hater of good men 333 b Misokalon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one who hates Goodness 59 Misoplanus one that hates Cheaters takes pains to discover their Frauds and to unseduce the deceiv'd 305 b Misopseudes a hater of Falshood 67 b Moira 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fate Destiny to which Hypocrites are apt falsly to attribute their wickedness which ariseth from the choice of their own Wills and is confirm'd by many Voluntary Actions 153 Monogrammus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Picture rudely delineated Monogrammi dicuntur homines pertenues decolores Nonius So Lucilius vix vivo homini monogrammo So Gassendus who took so much pains to doe honour to 〈◊〉 Monogrammi dicuntur Dii instar hominum macie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 metaphor a ducta à Pictura qui 〈◊〉 coloribui quasi corporentur lineis quibusdam 〈◊〉 antur conficientibus eam picturae speciem quam prisci Latini dixerunt sublestam c. Tully calls these Gods Deos adumbratos Lib. 1. de Natura Deor. I find not fault with Epicurus so much for that he said they had not Corpora sed quasi corpora which Tully gives us leave to call Nonsense but because he made God with his Description not Deum sed quasi Deum which is rude Blasphemy 112 b Moralazon a proud Fool. 297 b Morogelon one that laughs at the Follies of the World 18 b Moronesus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Island of Fools 14 b Morophila one that loves foolishly as many Parents do their Children whilst they take much care of their Bodily Accomplishments but neglect to perfect their Souls with Vertue 92 Morosophus an Half-witted man one who hath a little wit but makes a foolish use of it 123 Morpheolus from Morpheus the Minister of Sleep an Attendant upon Luxury whom I have describ'd in a particolour'd Mantle according to that form of Habit in which 〈◊〉 in Amphiar saith he was painted of old 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a careless garb having a white garment upon a black one to signifie as he thought the Vicissitudes of Night and Day which follow one another at no great distance for except those who dwell near the Poles that of Homer is applicable to all the World 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 83 N NArcissus one in love with his own shadow It is a common story but too pertinent where I have applied it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉