Conquerour to be re-instated in your Throne would you accept from his hand that which before you ow'd only to the bounty of Heaven and so become twice a slave to your Enemies force and to his courtesie Would you re-ascend to fall again from that height whence you have already faln What can you enjoy which you have not enjoy'd Can the wit of Fortune or Nature present you any new happiness Would it not pose your most exquisite desires to fancy more Hath not the Sea produc'd new Treasures not only for your ornament but for your luxury Is not Nature weary in distilling strange pleasures for you What kind of honour is there that hath not paid Tribute to your Scepter and are you not cloy'd How many have kill'd themselves being wearied in a tedious repetition of the same happiness He hath liv'd enough that hath perfectly enjoy'd What should we do when we can meet nothing new but Mischiefs You live not now to live but because you have not courage to die And suppose a return of your first good Fortune shall your Antony return again But I flatter you O Queen Nor Antony nor Kingdom or ought of your first estate remains for you only rests those miseries which are not to be allay'd with thoughts of not deserving them for who would not accompany or will not follow Antony merits worse Perhaps you relie on the kind offers of Augustus But reflect upon the vast Treasures you have hid and consider that those feed with hopes who desire possession Perhaps his courteous Visit in your sickness comforts you but the veyl with which he would have shadow'd his Pride was too transparent he was content you should fall at his feet with the tremblings of a sick as well as of an unfortunate person he suffer'd you to imbrace his knees with those hands whose beck once commanded the same petitionary posture in a Kingdom He was slow to raise you up and under a feign'd sweetness cloaking an imperious gravity with scant speech he bid you to hope well But he that would have you hope for what is in his power to give would obtain somewhat himself but means not you should ever obtain what he bid you hope for Consider what cunning that man is master of that could resist your powerful charms and since you could not draw him into the snares of your beauty take heed you fall not into those of his ambition Consider that life cannot be good for you since your Enemy desires it and he bids you live that gives you nothing but hope and could give you what he would You are too fair a Spoil for a Triumph Nor can Augustus better repair his loss seeing Antony hath scap'd his hands by death than by leading you in triumph who have triumphed over Antony Prepare then to grace the Tiber with a new spectacle To shew your selt not as once your Antony design'd to present you but in Servile habit a slave amidst a throng of Slaves your Hair dishevel'd perhaps shav'd Bare-foot going before or following the Chariot of your proud Lord pointed at by Children mock'd by the Licentious Souldier thus scost at by the Roman Matrons There goes the great Queen not of Egypt but of Whores There 's the mighty Amazon who overthrew Emperours upon a Feather-bed See how with down cast eye she is come to teach our Virgins modesty And is all this supportable Have you the heart to expose your self to the outrages of the wrong'd Octavia No breast more true to hatred than a Womans no Woman more cruel than a Rival How often hath she preserr'd her Vows to Heaven that she might with her own hands tear out those eyes of yours whose wounding influence murther'd affection in the heart of her Husband How often hath she covenanted with the gods at the price of her own life to rip up that bosom which hath so long usurp'd possession of her Antony And will she not now use her good Fortune will not her fond Brother Augustus bestow you upon her that she might share in his Victory Unhappy Queen methinks I see those base Services she designs you Those taunts with which she will wound your Soul upbraiding you with dissolv'd Pearl when she appoints you a draught of Wormwood commanding you to put her into that dress which catch'd the heart of Antony In fine I see and with horrour consider the Scorns the Abuses with which a great a provok'd Lady and a Mistress will take revenge of past wrongs Call to mind then what becomes you as a Queen Behold the magnanimous Dido opening her bosom with a generous blow She might by living have reveng'd her self on him that betray'd her you in not dying betray him that lov'd you She remain'd a Queen you have lost your Crown Or if you would take a lesson of freedom out of that Rome whither you are a destin'd Slave consider Lucrece and see if the loss of a Kingdom requires as much as the loss of an opinion If that publick shame which attends you weighs with her secret disgrace But why do I muster Examples when you have before you that of your dead Antony If his memory be not enough to steel you with resolution what Argument is sufficient If this be not enough unhappy Antony thou art deceiv'd Thou didst never believe that the Lady thou esteem'dst worthy to receive Kingdoms in gift from thee whom to follow when she fled thou thought'st no less glory than to pursue a flying Enemy in whose bosom to recover thy self seem'd a sufficient recompence for the loss of half the World thou never thought'st I say that she had a heart capable of Servitude Thou hast not scap'd by death but art still subjected to thy proud Rival who triumphs over thee in Cleopatra See a noble testimony of a grateful heart Cleopatra considers not which is best to live or to die but whether in Chains by the violences of the inrag'd Octavia or whether she should now snatch an Antidote from Death against the malice of her Fortune and unite her self for ever to thy blessed Shade Call to mind your Antony when stain'd with the blood of those Veins his own bold hand had open'd when he threw himself into your imbraces and seem'd to live no other life than what you breath'd into him by your last kisses when with an undaunted courage he fronted his Fate and taught you those steps which the unfortunately Magnanimous ought to tread You then fill'd his breast with mighty hopes imprecated the worst of Roman Slavery if you did not follow him whilst he imbrac'd you as if he had hugg'd Victory in his arms and with an inviting smile bid you hasten alter him and expir'd And will you deceive the honour'd Ashes of that mighty Hero which from their Urne seem thus to summon you There advances but a few minutes O Cleopatra you may die when you will but you cannot die free when you will If you kill your self now you do it to bestow your self on me if afterwards 't is to steal your self from others Give that life up to your Love which shortly will be usurp'd by your impatience But if thou wilt live withal remember when thou shalt be in Rome that the Body of thy Antony is in Egypt Now what remains but that I conjure you by these private walks the Secretaries of both your Fortunes where you have liv'd free and may die free by your Houshould gods and more by the genius of Antony your Sovereign Jove which without doubt hovers in the Air about us that you will not by your weakness make Egypt blush where you have been Queen and may by your Courage be number'd amongst her Deities FINIS The Sublime Character Out of Tasso Lib. 4. THe dreary Trumpet blew a dreadful blast And rumbled through the Lands and Kingdoms under Through Wastness wide it roar'd and hollows vast And fill'd the Deep with horrour fear and wonder Not half so dreadful noise the Tempests cast That fall from Skies with storms of Hail and Thunder Nor half so loud the whistling Winds do sing Broke from the Earthen prisons of their King The Temperate Lib. 14. SO in the Twilight doth sometimes appear A Nymph a Goddess or a Fairy Queen And though no Syrene but a Sprite this were Yet by her Beauty see'md it she had been One of those Sisters false which haunted near The Tyrrhene shores and kept those Waters sheen Like theirs her Face her Voice was and her sound And thus she sung and pleas'd both Skies and Ground Ye Happy Youths whom April fresh and May Attire in flow'ring green of Lusty age For glory Vain and Vertues idle ray Do not your tender Limbs to toyl ingage The Humble Lib. 7. MY Son quoth he this poor estate of ours Is ever safe from storm of Warlike broyl This Wilderness doth us in safety keep No thundring Drum no Trumpet breaks our sleep Haply just Heavens defence and Shield of Right Doth love the innocence of simple Swains The Thunderbolts on highest Mountains light Seldom or never strike the lower Plains So Kings have cause to fear Bellona's might Not they whose sweat and toyl their dinner gains Nor ever greedy Souldier was intic'd By Poverty neglected and despis'd Errata Page 2. line 27. read Pericles p. 3. l. 34. attack p. 12. l. 20. Chamaleon p. 17. l 1. that p. 19. l. 2. toss p. 23. l. 6. Titian p. 29. l. 7. Chapebain p. 58. l. 14. Abydos p. 101. l. 29. Stralsound p. 130. l. 9. Writers who
near her end But that the most mortal thought she had in her present condition was not that of her death and that loving her daughter more than her life she had more regret to leave her than to leave the World She pray'd her then to permit she might manage those few hours that remain'd and that she might employ them in pouring into her bosom the last and most tender Sentiments of her Soul Which were That she should bless Heaven with all her heart for bringing her into a condition to follow the Prince her Spouse to his Grave if before her death she would daign to receive from her hand the Present she was about to make of all which in the World remain'd most dear and precious to her That in all her miseries she could not believe Fortune was absolutely her Enemy seeing she had given her the honour to be known to her that excepting the misfortune of her Husband she esteem'd the Voyage of Aragon a happy one though she easily judg'd 't would cost her life as well as his However she thought she had the good fortune of being belov'd by her at an easie rate which she so esteem'd that if the World had any thing she lost with impatience 't was her Friendship But that she comforted her self with hopes that her Daughter should succeed in the honour of her Favours That she would have the goodness to be her Mother and would do her the favour to have a care of her as of a person she be queath'd in dying That she pray'd her with all her heart to accept the Gift she made and that leaving her with this new quality of Daughter to the Queen she believ'd she left her richer in it than in the two Estates to which she remain'd Heir That she should die content and believe her death would be in some sort happy for Zelide if it procur'd her the honour to be brought up by the wisest Queen in the World The Queen imbracing her said that she receiv'd with much joy the Present she made her on condition she would not revoke it That from that moment she would believe she had two Daughters and that there should be no difference between them but this that Zelide should be always the eldest but that she would take heart and that she hoped she might live long yet to be her self a Witness of the effects of her Promise This extreamly comforted the mind of Camilla but did not diminish her disease She liv'd two days longer at the end whereof she went out of the World with as much satisfaction as men go out of Prison and left all the Court in sadness and the Queen in an affliction which cannot be represented Thus Zelide in less than three Months saw her Father and Mother interr'd in the Tomb of those persons to whom they came to succeed See her now at the Age of six years three hundred Leagues from the place of her Birth in a strange Countrey and which is more to be fear'd by her in the power of a person by whom the Stars threatned her with all the Misfortunes of her life But Fortune is the best Mother in the World and no ill can happen to the Children which she will adopt She took this Orphan into her tutelage and by so unhappy beginnings undertook to put two Crowns upon her head Zelide was the most perfect piece that the Heavens ever made As her life was to be full of Miracles her person was so also and this History which is every where likely is incredible only in what it recounts of her Since the Sun made his course round this Globe it had never seen a Beauty more accomplish'd than hers and in the fairest body in the World she had a mind which cannot be imagin'd by ours it seem'd to be of those which are not to govern other Bodies than those above and which have been made to conduct the Stars In an age wherein others scarce know how to pronounce words she said things which would have been admir'd in the mouths of Sages There was never known a Birth so happy as hers All the Stars had conspir'd to bestow upon her what was best in them and the Heaven had imparted so many of its excellencies that the least part of her was what she held of the Earth so that she seem'd a Celestial person dropt down here below by miracle Her inclinations carried her so powerfully to good that it seem'd she had not free-will to do amiss and all the Vertues were so natural to her that she must have done violence to her self not to exercise some one of them There never was any combat in her Soul She never was in doubt between good and evil and she always follow'd what was right and handsom in following all her will Besides so many perfections which were known these hidden qualities and secret graces which make us love a person without knowing why were in her to such a degree that she was always the inclination of all the World There was I know not what charm in all her Actions which shed love and delight in the hearts of all that beheld them and the tone of her voice had something which inchanted Souls She had infinite other amiable qualities which cannot be exprest and the least part of her perfections were those which could be See her Madam I think in every thing so like you that there is no body but would take her for your Sister And for my part though I extreamly well consider'd her when you shew'd her to me yet there were so many things to be observ'd that I vow I could not paint her in my memory and should not have drawn her Picture so well if I had not coppied her by you With these Arms Zelide must conquer the Kingdom of Aragon and there needed no other seeing that for this purpose she was only to gain the heart of Alcidalis which all the force in the World could not vanquish She was received into the Palace with such a general joy and affection that an augury might have been drawn from thence that she enter'd as Mistress and that she should one day Command there The Queen who thought she could never have been comforted for the death of the Mother could not be sad as often as she saw her and the King scarce found a difference between the affection he bore her and that which he had for his Son Alcidalis and Zelide were in the age wherein we are wont to paint Cupids and both of them with all the charms and all the graces which the most excellent Painters know how to give them They had a Beauty so equal though extreamly different and men saw Qualities shine in them so extraordinary that there was no body but thought they were born one for the other Each of them had been in the World without an equal if they had not appear'd at the same time in it So that to say the
is the last thing which you consider in my person and I am not To unhappy but you may find in me some qualities which you will esteem more than that which my Birth has given me But if there be any thing worthy of you 't is this Soul which I present to you and which I can say is great enough and noble enough to be receiv'd by yours I would not praise it thus boldly if it were still mine and I speak advantagiously of it as of all things that belong to you Since it hath had any knowledge it hath had but two designs the first and which entertain'd its Infancy was the conquest of the World and since it hath been more bold and more reasonable it hath desir'd Zelide If this adorable Zelide does not oppose me 't will be easie to bring about the other and the Crown of Aragon which I promise her now and which all our Enemies cannot hinder me from giving her shall be but a small part of that which I will one day lay at her feet Alcidalis was silent expecting Zelides answer who in the trouble wherein she was had scarce strength enough to pronounce these few words Sir I am so astonish'd to hear you speak so seriously in a matter of this nature and to see how every body considers our discourse that I know not what to say at present and pray you permit me to defer the Answer till our return In the mean time you may believe I shall be glad they do not give me much time for it During this discourse there was no body who did not fasten their eyes upon Alcidalis and Zelide and who did not take notice that he spake to her with more earnestness than usual The Queen who above all others had minded it and to whom this converse gave much disquiet rose up and approaching them said pleasantly to Alcidalis Sir you speak to Zelide with so much action and such a serious countenance that it seems you have some quarrel with her If it be so complain to me For I will be on your side and before she parts she shall do you right Alcidalis having born the first brunt and taken the boldness to speak of his affection to Zelide was confident enough and being desirous to continue the conversation was in despair seeing it interrupted and scarce looking upon the Queen answer'd fiercely Madam I hold Zelide for so just a person that if she had done me wrong I would have no other Judge but her self There is no occasion that any should mingle themselves in our differences and whatever quarrel we have I cannot be pleas'd with those that think it their duty to part us Every body took notice of this Answer and the Queen who was most sensible of it seem'd least to understand it and presently chang'd the discourse In the Morning Zelide departed and left the Prince in a mortal heaviness but she was in this more unhappy than he for besides that she felt the like she had moreover the pain of concealing it and to be obliged to laugh before the World when her Soul wept tears of blood Amongst all the displeasures which Love draws along with it Absence is one of the most sensible There are some sharp griefs as Jealousie which pierce and wound more but there is none so weighty and so hard to support and which overwhelms all sort of vigour as this The first thing which Alcidalis did was to retire alone to his Chamber there he cast himself upon his Bed and melting into Tears aad Sighs suffer'd the same regrets as if Zelide had been dead and not absent Why do you complain Alcidalis you have all your life peaceably enjoy'd the fight of Zelide and do you not know how to endure a few days absence Love is wont to lend all his Joys at gross usury He makes his Subjects pay for all at last And it is not his ordinary course to leave those that owe him any thing so long at repose You are one of those he hath treated most favourably Reserve then these Tears to another occasion wherein they shall be better employ'd The time will shortly come when you shall have more reason to lament and the day approaches that Zelide and you shall be more cruelly parted without hopes of ever meeting again He pass'd all that day without seeing any body and the following without speaking except when he went to see the King and could not avoid to answer him At last having past eight days in all the sadness and impatience imaginable he thought he was at the end of his life and that it was a thousand years since he had seen Zelide So that one Evening being alone in his Chamber to entertain his thoughts without taking Counsel of any but his desires and inquietudes he resolv'd to go where Zelide was And seeing that in this absence he foresaw an infallible death he concluded there could not worse happen to him from his attempting to see her After that the Heber which is one of the most celebrated Rivers of Spain hath pass'd along the Walls of Saragosa as if there were nothing more worthy of him in Aragon he takes the way of Catalogna where having receiv'd in his passage many small Rivolets to enter more magnificently into the Sea at last he renders himself to it half a League from Tortosa All the ground which he waters is extreamly fertile and cover'd with Trees and by so much the more pleasant as the rest of the Countrey consists in dry and naked Plains or in Mountains black and scorch'd with a fervent Sun Fifteen Leagues from its mouth it passes by a Valley of two Leagues in length and two in breadth and which is incompass'd on one side and on the other with Mountains In this place the River glides very peaceably by the incounter of certain Rocks which four Leagues further oppose its course and makes many doublings in the Plain as doubtful of the way it ought to take through those Mountains Its Banks are extreamly shady and flowry And its Waters so clear and neat that there is not a Tree near it nor scarce a Flower which is not seen twice and which does not appear in the Water as fair and distinct as upon the ground The ordinary Plants of this Countrey are Oaks Olives and Pines and besides that it is not cold there are none of these Trees that fear it The Mountains of Catalogna defend the Valley from the North-wind so that at all times 't is cover'd with green and the Winter which they always see on the Neighbour Mountains is not felt there 'T was in this Paradise that Zelide made her Hell and where the House to which the Queen had carried her stood One would have said that the River Flowers and Plants were imbellish'd by her presence She only was sad amidst so many objects of Pleasure and lost daily that lustre and beauty which she seem'd to impart to all
savage Animal the other to give the Queen a visit in a time she so little expected it Madam answer'd Alcidalis it had been a greater boldness for me to have staid in Saragosa For that had been with a firm foot to attend that death I could not shun if I had remain'd longer without seeing you So that what seems to you a rashness is rather want of Courage seeing I am come hither to avoid a greater peril than either of those you say I have engag'd in I could not have imagin'd that says she to him And for my part I vow to you I durst not have fought the Bear and I durst as little have displeas'd the Queen But I think I have courage enough to suffer an Absence To know what an absence is replies Alcidalis we must know what affection is and you cannot suffer here you Madam who ought to love none but your self and who carry always with you whatever is amiable in the World Alcidalis answer'd Zelide you do not believe what you say and if you thought me so ungrateful and so vain as not to love any but my self you would not have so much impatience to see me But to the end that you may be better inform'd give me the hearing and leasure to make that answer I promis'd you at our parting And because in saying this she felt she blush'd extreamly and saw that he took notice of it she began thus The colour which mounts up to my Cheeks proceeds rather from my being about to speak something which I am not wont to speak than from an apprehension of doing any thing in it contrary to my duty I know not if it be always a shame for a Virgin to confess she Loves but I know if any may be excus'd 't is I more than another I will not say that the Stars have done me violence or that your qualities have obliged me to it 't is a cloak and pretence under which all others may shrow'd themselves I will only alledge what is particular for my defence Before I knew that 't was not lawful to love I knew you to be amiable and I received your affection in a time when I did not know those Laws which forbid our Sex to entertain any I cannot be blam'd for indulging a passion which I may say I found in my Soul rather than let it in and which hath been so long its Guest that I can no more remember its birth than my own The first Sentiment I had in the World was that which concern'd me for you and Self-love which we feel betimes and which is so natural to all the World enter'd my mind later than that Friendship I bear you My Reason which appear'd long after found it so well establish'd that it took it for a part of my self Besides it seem'd so innocent and so just that she hath rather strove to fortifie than to destroy it I say all this to excuse me with you and with my self and to let you see that a mind the most strong and most just in the World had been taken as mine If you are glad then that I love you do not thank me for it but thank the gods that will'd it And if you are oblig'd to me in any thing 't is for that I have been willing to confess it For if I had not strength enough to extinguish the affection I bore you I had enough to hide it and it was in my power to dissemble it all my life or as some do to drop out a confession after you had long attended it But if it be unreasonable and unworthy of you and me it would never be time to discover it and if on the contrary 't is such as I ought to have to be worthy of Alcidalis and Zelide why should I not give you now the content of knowing and being assur'd of it I tell you then Alcidalis I love you and though I speak it with a blush yet I speak it without shame I accept of that heart which you say you give me For what concerns the Crown you promise me with it Fortune shall dispose thereof I esteem more what you have given me than any thing she can offer and I prize your heart more than your Kingdom I am glad to see there is not a quality in you which is not Royal. But I wish your Birth were not This Crown which you promise me as the Crown of my selicity will be the cause of all my misfortune and to get from me that which I least esteem in you they will use all ways to ravish from me the rest I see at this hour but with an assured Brow all the evils that threaten me I know your Love will procure me all mens hatred and because you wish me well I shall suffer much ill But she who with the heart of Zelide has also that of Alcidalis ought to fear nothing I will resist all with a resolution shall astonish you and seeing the Heavens will have me bear an affection I will accompany it with so much Constancy Courage and Vertue that what is ordinarily blam'd in our Sex shall be in me a subject of esteem and praise Alcidalis who at the beginning was dead with fear as a man who was to hear the Sentence of his life or death perceiving after what manner she spake and that it was much more favourable than he durst wish could scarce believe his ears But at last seeing he was not deceiv'd he found himself in such a ravishment that he was a long time without saying any thing and could not find words to thank her Indeed there were none to be found and his seeking for them was an effect of the present perplexity He answer'd better by Silence and tears of Joy But having turn'd into another Alley and seeing himself out of the sight of her which followed them he put one knee to the ground and as he began to speak he spied the Queen at the other end who knowing of Alcidalis arrival came to receive him The Alley was not so long but what was done in it might be seen distinctly from one end to the other Alcidalis rose up as speedily as he could and Zelide extreamly troubled at this encounter told him Sir your undue humility will cost you dear and see a beginning of my Prophesies Madam answer'd Alcidalis I can fear nothing seeing you are for me and we shall be too strong for all the rest of the World so long as we are of a side Therefore replies she they will soon find ways to part us They said all this with an action wherewith we speak things indifferent still having an eye upon the Troop which came towards them The Queen was now advanc'd and Alcidalis being near her she receiv'd him with a face so open and pleasant that Zelide could not have done more When the first Complements were finish'd and that the Prince had told her his Sport having led him
thee for many years In a few days the Sea shall be between thee and her The Wind hurries away all thy Joys and all thy Hopes and is about to put into the power of another the only good thou desirest in the World and the only one that is worthy of thee in it Fear and Hope are the two Winds of our Soul which never cease and there are no Tempests in it which are not made by one of them The present being only a point would not be considerable to us if one of these two passions did not make us feel the future Zelide believ'd that Fortune had put her in a condition wherein it was not in her power to hurt or succour her So that she was in that fatal tranquillity in which those are who neither fear nor hope and who only expect the end of their miseries in the end of their life And amidst so many miseries at least she had not that of seeking remedies which is one of the greatest torments to wretched persons Being well resolv'd of what she had to do and knowing within a little how long her Misfortunes could last she past the night in thinking of Alcidalis and flatter'd her self with some content when she confider'd that signal proof she was about to give him of her affection and courage Though the Queens last words whereby she would have made her believe that the Prince betray'd her caus'd in her some violent transports When the Captain and his Wife thought she was awake they enter'd the Cabin and asking her if she would not eat she reply'd that not only she would not eat now but that she would eat no more They were startled at the Answer and thought she was relaps'd to her first sadness and that it requir'd more time to digest it But some hours after seeing she did not call they return'd and us'd all Arguments to perswade her to eat To all which she did not answer but by an obstinate silence and by so cold and resolv'd a look that she did not seem to hear them They went out the second time extraordinarily troubled and began to fear some tragick end of this strange resolution At night they return'd and with a Neece they had of the age of Zelide they kneel'd about the Bed conjuring her by all things to have a care of her life They could not for all this obtain an Answer but withdrew at last that they might not rob her of her repose which seem'd to be the only benefit left her Three days past in which they were not able to change her mind by prayers tears and remonstrances or draw one word from her The fourth day they came again to try their utmost and getting about her upon their knees melting into tears offering her every thing conjur'd her to have pity of her self and of them When Zelide had hearkned to them setching a sigh with much pain she sate up in her Bed Then they knew the extremity to which she was reduc'd In the fairest face of the World they saw an affrighting image of despair and approaching death and something which struck them with fear and pity at once When they had look'd upon one another for some time at last she broke that Silence which she had so long kept and spake to them after this manner My Friends you ask me a thing which none but you can give me You pray me to live I pray you that I may And 't is in your power not in mine I have resolv'd I will not be carried alive to the shore of Italy and I swear it again by the gods above by the Fire and by the Light by those below and by the shades of my Parents It is not then in me to dispose otherwise of my self And seeing you can carry me or not carry me thither you must pronounce the sentence of my life or death Can you now refuse me that which you have beg'd of me with so many tears And will you be my Murtherers that were chosen for my Conducters The Duke of Tarant expects me but hath never seen me Here 's your Neece of my age my stature and not much unlike me You may put her in my place and procure her this good Fortune and deliver me from the greatest misfortune in the World 'T is true you will deceive the Duke by another person than he expects but if you could conduct me in the condition wherein I am would it be Zelide And is not this Maid more like to what I was than I am to my self Will not the Duke be more happy to have a Wife that will be content and who wishes for him than one that long consider'd whether she should choose death or him and which at last prefer'd death to his person But 't is not mine he loves seeing it is unknown to him 't is my Fortunes which I now make over to your Neece with the name of Zelide and call the gods to witness that for me no person alive shall know of it and that I will never repent of it 'T is true the Queen hath commanded you to convey me where I am expected but are not you bound to follow her will rather than her words And don't you think that if she were now present and saw the danger in which I am she would not rather provide for my safety in any place than send me dead for Italy Did she bid you put me into the hands of the Duke alive or dead Don't you think she intends this Marriage for my good and advancement and that she who hath had a care of my Fortune would have a care of my life When all the World shall reproach her with this cruelty will she not discharge her self upon you But who can oblige you except you will to return to Barcelona and give her account of what you have done With this Ship you may go any where where the Winds go and you have all the World before you Then drawing out a small Cabinet the Queen had left her containing her Mothers Jewels she told them These Jewels are of infinite value The Queen would not give you more if she presented you Barcelona I present them all to you for the ransom of my life and liberty and as these two surpass in value what I present and that Liberty alone is worth all the Riches in the World you may give me more than I give you and I shall still be your Debtor With these you will find Friends Kindred and Countrey any where Many would be tempted to take away my life with what I offer you to save it and I incite you to a good action by a reward capable of purchasing others for a bad one If you are touch'd with a scruple of obeying the Queen are you not more afraid of murthering an Innocent Can you more easily resolve to kill one of her Friends than to break one of her commands Are you not more afraid of provoking the
and Restorer of Liberty will build his Glories upon your ruines The gratitude of the Genoueses will raise up a Statue to him to accompay that of Andrea in whose Inscription shall be inserted the Name of Gio. Luigi Fieschi the publick Enemy o'rethrown by Giannettin Doria the publick Benefactour Do not then suffer your self to be hurried by the impetuousness of your Youth or resentments to such dangerous Attempts Be content to be restrain'd by a pity to your Self Family and Subjects Compassionate the infelicity of your Mother and Wife Deliver those that love you from so just and necessary Fears This your Youth accompanied with so much worth does not deserve to be prodigally cast into the hands of Fortune Enjoy enjoy those Riches which in such abundance your Father left you for you are plac'd in a degree every way so eminent that you may live envy'd by Giannettin These words were not heard by Fieschi without some trouble of mind for having receiv'd other proofs of the tender affection of Calcagno he saw it now accompanied with so many and so powerful Reasons that he remain'd not a little alter'd which Verrina observing and considering that if he let his Thoughts gather force all was in danger handsomly but with a detestable Impiety he thus oppos'd Calcagno's Arguments I would to God that the Affairs of the Common-wealth were reduc'd to such terms that the Citizens might quietly enjoy their own you could not then wish your self in a better condition for as Calcagno hath well consider'd for largeness of Territory Nobility of Birth and for Riches you have not your equal in Genoua nor ought a Wise man in the height of his felicity to provoke his Fortune which cannot suffer change but for the worse But Destiny the Enemy of your welfare hath so intangled matters that you must attempt great things or perish Giannettin Doria who for so many years hath destin'd to his Covetousness the Command of Genoua will never endure you If you do not plainly read in his Forehead the implacable Hatred he bears you if in his Behaviour you do not discover his Pride the Gallies bought by you speak loud enough that you are a Thorn in his side That Insolent man does ambition the free and absolute Dominion of these Seas nor will he endure that any body should dare to disturb or divide it with him How can you imagine he will long suffer you to share with him in that Power when the Jealousie of Rule does not spare the Blood of Brothers Sons or Parents Either you must then by a shameful flight retire to your Castles and leaving your Gallies leave the Field or else you must awaken that Courage which shall be sufficient to oppose him If you resolve to redeem your self from the approaching danger with your Infamy and lead your life as receiv'd in gift from him go I will not stop you a more wretched condition the hate of Giannettin could not wish you But your Vertue bids me hope something more generous and that I shall see the vain Pride of that rash man broken by your Valour You are then to embrace such an Enterprize as Giannettin himself shall envy Fortune hath plac'd between you two the Empire of Liguria nor can one of you attain it without making way for the wheels of his Triumph over the breast of the other He can best secure himself of Victory that knows how by prevention to cut off his Enemies way the necessity of securing your own safety is common to both he will appear wisest who by the celerity of a resolute execution shall be beforehand with tardy and immature Counsels Either assault or expect to be assaulted Either prevent him or fall into his Nets or kill or die Perhaps my words may appear too sharp but Necessity which in desperate cases is the Whetstone of Fortitude is likewise the Shield of Innocence Let the folly of Giannettiu be accus'd the Cowardice of your Countrey and the iniquity of Fortune which have reduc'd you to such inevitable straits You are not injurious to any whilst to defend your self you follow the order of Nature It is part of prudence to divert that Tempest upon the head of our Enemy which threatens our own and if this cannot be done without appearance of evil it is not your fault but Destiny 's which left no way to maintain your life but anothers death and grants no other defence for your Vertue than Vice But why do I say Vice this is your word Calcagno and you have learn'd it in the School of the Vulgar Strangers to the doctrine of Rule The Actions of Private persons are styl'd by this name not the Enterprizes of Princes If your Rule were right all Empire should be wicked for it all proceeds from the force of the stronger over the weaker Nature produc'd Mankind in a perfect equality and left it to Vertue to attain Supremacy Whence those are call'd Princes who by their Wit and Force knew how to compass a Command over others I deny not but some will joyn with Calcagno to chide your Resolution before it be conducted to its end for dangerous and bold Actions are not celebrated till they have attain'd their effect but when the Fortune of the execution shall have authenticated the nobleness of the Attempt that blaming shall be converted into wonder and what was first call'd Rashness shall be honour'd with the Title of Valour Whilst Caesar himself had his Arms in his hand and fought for the Empire of Rome not only Pompey but the greatest part of the Nobility obstinately oppos'd him but when he had overthrown his Enemy in the Pharsalian Field and master'd the Commonwealth Civil hatred ceas'd and he was so sincerely belov'd by the Romans that they severely reveng'd his death Let the Genoueses for a time call you Tyrant and don 't think that Name injurious but imagine only that dying Liberty talks idly They will by degrees be brought to acknowledge you a legitimate Prince You see how I confide in your Fortunes designing you Empire before you are prepar'd to fight for it But such is the disposition of Affairs that you may rather be wanting to your self than Empire to you For if the difficulties are great in the opinion of Calcagno you have Force enough to master greater And grant that 't is a hard and knotty Enterprize what Famous Action do you meet with in Ancient or Modern story that was conducted by smooth and flowry ways Great Enterprizes were ever accompanied with great Dangers and the greatest heights confine upon Precipices A man of elevated thoughts will not for all that let an uncertain fear of eminent Calamity deliver him a prey to certain Misery In a Private condition 't is prudent Counsel to stick to Mediocrities but in occurrences of State middle ways are most pernicious especially when the business must begin at execution For not being able to put bounds to things that are once a foot and out
of his death perish'd unfortunately in the Water The Revenge issuing from the hand of God at the same instant the Crime was perpetrated by the order of the Earl It was a thing that did beget wonder that the Murtherers did not go presently to Andrea's House conform to their first resolution to secure themselves at the same time of his life who might once more give life to the Publick Liberty and from whose wrath they might justly expect a signal Revenge not only for his private Injuries but their publick Rebellion But they abstain'd perhaps by reason of the Confusion which a wicked Action is wont to cause in the minds of Bad men or perhaps hindred by Girolamo the Brother of Gio. Luigi who having thus dispatch'd Giannettin a young Gentleman fierce and of resolute Counsels and his Companions having as he believ'd seized the Galleys and subdued the City did not much fear Andrea a man of Eighty years infirm of Body and stript of his Forces nor perhaps on the other side was he willing the Souldiers greedy of Rapine and altogether intent upon the prey should dissipate and spoil those precious Moveables which he would reserve intire for the needs and covetousness of his Brother In the mean time the Rumour increasing more and more and Andrea not knowing whence it might arise enquir'd often for Giannettin At last he was told by a Servant that the City was fallen into the Power of Gio. Luigi de Fieschi that the Commonwealth was in extream danger the Galleys in the Power of the Conspiratours the People seditiously crying out Liberty and calling upon the name of Fieschi nothing any where to be seen but Slaughter or heard but threatnings of the Nobility and his own life Andrea not astonish'd but overcome by a pity to his falling Countrey resolv'd to remain a voluntary prey to those Furies saying It was not fit he should live after the ruine of his Countrey but readily sacrifice the poor Remains of his years to the last gaspings of Genoua's Liberty But his Wife with vehement Prayers accompanied with Tears and with the loving violence of his Domesticks hastned his flight telling him 'T was necessary he should withdraw that he ought to reserve the last act of his Honour'd life for the Common Service that he should therefore be content to live to get new Glory by renewing his Service to the Commonwealth which again might be delivered by him That now 't was a time to authenticate his past Valour by Constancy and to take Counsel of his own Vertue That he ought to consider that upon the safety of his Person did depend the Hopes of his Countrey which oppress'd for a while by the Fury of Bad men could not despair of rising again as long as their Deliverer was free That he should go elsewhere to prepare Remedies for the Publick wounds which he could not hope to do now in Genoua And that it was not a flight but a charge his afflicted Countrey laid upon him for iâ—s own Relief So much was said and done that he at last was carried to Massoni a Castle fifteen miles from Genoua Amidst these many and fortunate Atchievments of the Conspiratours Gio. Luigi being missing every one call'd upon him but through the obstinate Silence of every body in giving Tidings of him there enter'd into their minds a necessary suspicion of the fatal Accident But for all this they did not abandon the course of their Victory for leaving a good Guard at the Gates and upon the Galleys two hundred of the stoutest among them joyn'd with Girolamo and went up and down the City stirring up the People to take Arms but with little fruit for though at the first the name of Gio. Luigi did invite a great number of the Meanest sort to follow yet those of any Account did not stir Whether it were that desirous of the Common quiet they abhorr'd that disorderly Insurrection or whether they did not like that a Nobleman backt by the Common people should promote his own particular ends or that they held themselves ill treated by Gio. Luigi who without their participation had put his hand to such an important Enterprize or lastly remembring the continued and grievous Excesses lately committed they hated that manner of Plebeian Government which casting the Supream Dignities upon the Vilest of the People the Publick business was manag'd with small Decorum and the most difficult matters falling into the hands of persons rough and uncapable Resolutions were form'd upon them always violent and precipitous The City in the mean time was all in disorder every one madly running about not knowing whither enquiring mutually what might be the occasion of such a terrible uproar without finding any body to answer The Women at the Windows with Cries and Tears calling back their Husbands Brothers and Sons The amaz'd Nobility would have run to the Palace but fear'd the plundring of their own Houses Caesars Embassadour would have left Genoua lest he should in his own person expose the Dignity of his Prince to some outrage but being perswaded to stay and assist the Commonwealth so devoted to Caesar with his utmost Forces he went presently to the Palace where he found divers of the Senatours and concluded with them to send fifty Souldiers to secure the Gate St. Tomaso which they valiantly attempted but were beaten back All this while G. Luigi could not be heard of and Verrina who saw the plot hitherto well conducted was in danger without him betook himself to the Galley resolving if he saw things miscarry as 't was to be fear'd to withdraw himself from the danger by flying to Marseille The rest of the Conspiratours seeing neither him nor G. Luigi one the Head the other the Heart of the Conspiracy were not entirely satisfied of Girolamo who unexperienc'd and foolishly heady guided the matter rather with Impetuousness than by sound Advice Nor did they find in themselves that motive to Reverence which is ordinarily born to persons of great Valour and who for long time have been in possession of a good opinion whence they began not only to cool in their first fervencies but to look out for an opportunity to flie Of so much moment is that good conceit which a Captain acquires amongst his Souldiers But an Accident which in reason ought to have mortified the rashness of Girolamo extreamly heightned it though not long after having inspir'd him with an inconsiderate Ambition it serv'd t ruine him The certain News of Gio. Luigi's death was spread amongst the Conspiratours and Girolamo considering he was left the absolute Head of that Faction would be likewise Heir to the Earls projects and devouring in his imagination that Principality for himself for which hitherto he had sought in the behalf of Gio. Luigi with so much the more vehemency he attended to mature the fruits of his Victory by how much he was flatter'd at hand with unexpected hopes and by how much sharper the Spur is that