hundred thousand the fifth and sixth two hundred thousand men and five thousand Elephants a beast ordinarily used in wars in those Countryes so that all their Army consisted of sixteen hundred and eighty four thousand men and fifteen thousand Elephants The Queen haveing the absolute dispose of the Militia gave order to the Captaines concerning their pay and rewards In their Wars the Chieftain of the City uses evermore to be Generalissimo and therefore it was conferred on Peomontile one indeed capable of the place the other Chieftains having the leading of those of their several Provinces Araterus not being forgot was made Captain of her life-gard a place of honour and trust Passion indeed alwayes blinds reason and makes the most prudent erre in his judgement The Queen one of the wisest of the East having felt the violent agitations of a growing passion lost her judgement and followed its dictates In all other things she was of a solid judgement and could distinguish right by the light of reason but in those that touched her private interests where she could not keep out passion She knew that she had err'd and yet she could not but erre Araterus was already one more to her than another and she began to shew her partiality in this action She could not resolve to love him and yet she could not hate him or hazard him she loved to see him and therefore she ordained that place to keep him nigh her and to oblige him to her It may be she did not see that this was the dictates of her passion but rather thought it those of her good Genius or titular angel but she could not be ignorant but that this action would be strangely resented and that it would beget Araterus more envy and enemies than love or friends Such sudden favourites are alwayes envied and sometimes ruined especially being strangers Araterus indeed believing the danger to be greater than the honour civilly refused and beg'd her not to make him superbly such immense favours but to reward him according to his merits but she pressing it he could not with safety refuse it his passion pleading for so advantagious a place He being setled in the place according to the orders of the Queen it was presently known throughout the Camp and very odly resented but the authority of the Queen made them but whisper not speak aloud by their ill resentment of it Their wondring and muttering did but very privately arrive at their ears so that she took no notice of it hoping it would soon be husht and the vertue of Araterus would quiet their spirits Things remained awhile in this state Araterus being very sensible of the favours of the Queen and his place obliging him to it he often visited her and had conference with her Amongst such a numerous Army 't was a wonder to see so much order and quietude the City shewed no sign of all these preparations or of War but by a little more vigilancy The soldiers were all kept without the City that they might not annoy it The Queen had word brought her by her Curriors that the army of her enemies was advancing towards the frontiers and that they seemed to take the way of Cherlozth and that besides this Army there appeared a fleet comming from the lower Provinces of Sinana which seem'd to cover the whole gulf of Bengan The Queen calling her Council and having advised together they gave order to one of the Borebassae's to advance with half the Army towards the place where they expected the enemies to enter And the rest to enter the City under Peomontile to secure it half of them entring into the ships under the Alquebuzque or Admiral of the sea Every thing was put into a posture of defence most expecting their enemies with impatiencies The Queen experimenting the wisdome and knowledge of Araterus let never a day pass without discoursing with him concerning one thing or other and finding him so rational in all his answers she began to make him oraculous Being in discourse with her concerning the War and having a longng desire to be bickering with the enemy that he might exhibite his valour believing that the only way to render himself gracious in her eyes and knowing that this place would oblige him not to leave the Queen nor to be present in the Encounter he intreated her to restore her former captain into her favour and to permit him to serve her under Peomontile or if she dared to repose her trust in his skill or fidelity to grant him the defence of the haven where he might be more serviceable to her Majesty than in that place she had honoured him with She was somewhat difficult in granting this both in consideration of his danger and of her peoples murmuring But he pressing her two or three times she was fain to let love overcome reason and to grant what he desired He was no sooner setled in that place by the Queens order with a hundred thousand men under his charge but the rest of the Captains and Soldiers being highly displeased lost their wonted respect and ceased not openly to deprave this action of the Queens some believing him a sâ—ie and that his intentions were to betray them to the enemie others that he was a Coward and not fitting for a place of such consequence and trust They proceeded so far in their disrespect and spake so loud that they had almost mutined had not Peomontile satisfied them by promising to make the Queen acquainted with their councel care and fidelity He presently made the Queen acquainted with it and told her she might incur extream danger by their evil resentments and therefore advised her to recall him and not provoke the Soldiers in this exigent The Queen heard him but being of a humour alwayes resolute would not alter what she had done but told him that she confided very much in Araterus knowing him to be valiant by what he had done at his first coming thither and that his discourse exhibited that he was not ignorant of military affâ—irs but that he had both Judgement Prudence and valour That 't was true she had entrusted him with the Key or strength of her Kingdome but that it would rather encourage him to treachery than stop him to suspect him now That it was not safe to enrage a man from whom she expected much to degrade him now That if he had any intentions to betray her her generosity and goodnesse would oblige him to the contrary That if he had any such intentions he could not effect them not having gained the affections of the souldiers and she knowing that her Captaines would not obey him farther then they might see that it tended to the safety of the Kingdome and lastly That she gave him leave to set a private guard about him to observe his actions which if they tended not to the safety of the Kingdom she remitted him into his hands to do what he pleased with him Peomontile
of their men into half of their vessells leaving the other in the place with a command to spread wide that their departure might not be perceived by us This was done so silently that we had no notice of it till by the firing of certain beakons we understood that they were in danger presently after the curriors brought word that they had landed their men in a bay where they were notable to resist them Peomontile calling all the chief of the officers together Araterus being among the rest desired their counsells in this case After many had spoken Araterus was of this opinion That delay would be very prejudiciall to their affaires that 't was requisite the whole fleet should advance towards that of their enemies when he was perswaded 't was left but poorly man'd and left on purpose but to amuse them that in the mean time Peomontile should advance by land towards the place where the Sinanans were landed that they might not advantage themselves too much by the use of the country and that they might appear before that they could order so great a body This councill seemed so reasonable that 't was followed and Peomontile leaving enouâ—h to secure that great City drew out most of his forces and advanced towards the enemy Araterus being unwilling to sit still in Sinda got leave of Peomontile that he should add his thirty thousand to the ships and leave the desence of the port to any he should substitute Having joyned then with the sleet they weighed anchor and made to that of their enemies with full saile They knowing their own weaknesse did not dare to hazard a battle but perceiving our intention gained the Point and sled before us We could not fetch them up before they had entred the bay amongst their other ships Believing it best to stay for the appearance of Peomontile on the land we lay at the mouth of the bay wide of one another the sea favouring us with a happy tranquillity Peomontile using all possible expedition and being well accquainted with the ways appeared at the backs of his enemies very unexpectedly some few dayes after our arrivall The enemy were encamped in a very disadvantagious place and where they could make very little use of their great Murtherers which they had but newly unshipped Peomontile being very expert gained a hill which they had neglected to their great disadvantage not expecting them so soon spreading his men he almost inviron'd them most of theirs continuing on the shore fearing an assault from our ships which as it were besieged them The Queen having a dasire to be an eye-witnesse of the actions of her souldiers and I believe especially of Araterus from whom love perswaded her to expect some great action left the City with a guard of sive thousand partizans and drawn in her Royal Chariot made of the fairest Elephants tooth inlaid with gold the wheeles of Ebony with bands and nails of silver covered over with cloth of gold and tissue drawn by two white Elephants the fairest the East ever produced crown'd with golden crownes and covered with silk in which was embroidered the arms of the Queen which was the Sun Orient In this equipage she came to a rock on the left hand of the campe from whence she could perceive both the armies and the navies and distinguish those she knew from the rest presently after her arrivall she sent a small boat to Araterus with an expresse that she desired to conser with him He immediately returning with the messenger presented himself to the Queen with a most proâ—ound obeisance who received him with a grace very pleasant and familiar Peomontile with some of the chief of the army being sent for by the Queen they entred into counsell concerning their affairs the conclusion whereof was that they should adventure a battail having the advantage of the ground although their enemies exceeded them in number that at the same time they should begin it both by sea and land at the firing of a beakon which should be assoon as the Sun appeared the next day and that in the mean time they should rest and prepare their souldiers for it This being concluded they gave Araterus an Order to give the admiral for the execution of what they had concluded Araterus being about to depart was met with by a damosell from the Queen who presented him in the Queens name a crimson scarf embost with the fairest pearls that ever eye beheld which made up the name of Amarillis in great letters the length of the scarf at each end was her armes set with the embossment of diamonds and fring'd with gold and long tassels of Pearls Araterus was amazed at the richnesse and bravery of the scarfe and receiving it with respect desired her to tel the Queen that before the morrow night he hop'd to be a meanes to render her tryumphant over all her enemys or to loose his life in the action That what ever he was able to performe should not be attributed to himself but accounted the effect of a power which inspired him through the immensity of her favours and goodnesse Being returned to the ships he gave the Order of the general to the admirall who thereby knowing his intentions spent the rest of the day in the preparation of his vessels and in incouraging his men to do bravely Araterus being agitated by his love expected the next day with impatiency resolving to signalize his actions and make him selfe worthy of the high favours of the Queen by perpetrating to the utmost whatsomever the immense force of his love and innate valour could carry him to The next day appeared some houres after Araterus had expected it with waking eyes after he had saluted the Gods with his prayers and especially the deity of Love he caused me to help him on with his armes which he had caused to be made in that country They were made of the best steel the umbraces and bucklings of plates of silver his cuirace set out with great bosses of gold and pearl and his caske of a mixt mettal was shaded with a plume of Ostrich feathers tinctur'd with ostrum which imbued it with a purple upon his left arme he tyed the signall of the Queens favour which she sent him the night before In this manner he awaited the signall which was given at the time appointed The ships presently moved towards their enemies who expecting the encounter receiv'd them with resolution and valour Whilst the two fleets were performing all that could be expected from their force and puissance filling every place with horror death blood and confusion Peomontile having divided the army into four battalions moved deliberately and in good order towards the Sinanans The generall of the Sinanans being both valiant and Politick and seconded by the Prince himselfe who led the Van of the cavalrie a Prince valiant enough but withall furious and temerary had notice of our intentions to fight and therefore was fully
studies he would give him leave to follow the exercise of armes that if ever he came to possess that Crown which his father enjoyed and which he wished might sit long upon his head he might know as well how to make use of his arms in war as of his learning in peace that by the one he might quell the rebellious and by the other maintain in peace the disobedient With this letter he dispatched Chiron with hopes of his sudden return The day being come wherein Argelois according to his promise was to meet those forces destined for Armenia we departed from Miletus the Prince using that liberality that evermore accompanieth able and generous spirits Miletus and his wife could not restrain those tears which natural Love extracted at the abrepsion of their son whose vertue indeed every where acquires the Love of the most barbarous When we were come to the place of randezvous the Captain of those Legions made Argelois a Centurion whose authority he equally shared with the Prince being at the height of his contentment in having so dear and noble a Companion If it might be lawfull to commemorate the actions of Fonteus and my self with those of our Masters I would tell you that we sought to imitate them in an affection so cordial and intire Fonteus and my self then began that amity which ever since we have kept inviolably and which cherisht our duties and love to our masters We having the honour to attend on them we marched into Armenia enduring those hardships which are attending on sudden and hard marches We there found a potent enemy to deal with but the courage of the soldiers and I may say the valour and judgement of the Prince and Argelois made us rather victors than else though their number almost trebled ours Tiberius was too slack in sending forces to this war which was maintained a long time with the ordinary Legions but at last perceiving the consequence of it He made Vitellus General of all the forces in the Orient and Lord President of Syria Whilst he was gathering his forces together that he might come to us with a considerable body we gained a notable victory against Artabanes in which conflict my Prince through the heat thar animated him had so far engaged himself that he was surrounded with his adversaries and had undoubtedly lost his life in a Corona of two or three hundred Parthians if his tutular Angel the invincible Argelois had not with a kind of prodigie broke that troop with the force and fury of his arm and made them know by the terror that he brought that there was nothing impossible for him to effect when the life of his friend was in danger Two more scirmishes we had before the Arrival of Vitellus in both which the Prince my master encountred with Arsaâ—es son to the King of Parthia and by the valor that he shewed made himself fear'd of the Parthians and esteemed of the Romans Artabanes supplying the slain with fresh men made up the breaches we had made and had got a very considerable body before Vitellus came to us Assoon as he was come he gain'd in Pharasmanes to assist him King of Hyberia to whose troops those were adjoyned which Argelois led We came at last to a battel with Orodes another son of Artabanus and one whose valor was much esteemed Dardanus that day made himself remarkable by the terror which he carried where ever he went He had cut himself a way through the midst of his enemies and with a lane of dead bodies came where Orodes was animaring his men and both by words and deeds instigateing them not to sink under the force of their enemies To him the Prince buckled who entertained him with courage and skill a long while they fought hemmed in with intermingled troops of Parthians and Romans who for the defence of these two leaders made the greatest conflict of the battle Dardanus at last wounded Orodes in many places who had undoubtedly died by his victorious hand had not a fresh supply thundred in amongst us seeing the danger of their Prince and carried him wounded as he was from under the sword of the Prince It was on him they sent all their fury for sleying those that opposed them they hemmed him in and thought to have triumphed over his life with their numbers I that was bound to follow him accompanied him in that exigent and saw those marvels he did which should I relate they would make you think I hyperbolized his actions or spake more by the rule of my affection than the verity of them So many death-giving weapons which surrounded him were not able to take away his life the boldest sell under his sword and served for Rampers of defence against other invaders he defended himself though wounded in many places and drowned in blood and sweat It was impossible but he must have yielded to their number wounds loss of blood and saintness and at last have fell amongst the extinct if Argelois had not arived who hearing of the danger of the Prince broke thorow with some resolute followers and there doing some of his usual wonders gave life and freedome to Dardanus and an absolute victory to the Romans By these and other exploits Argelois and Dardanus acquired so great fame amongst the Romans that they thought them somewhat more than men and gave them more applauses than their modesties would permit them to take The most noblest sought to acquire their friendship and both the Generals and Souldiers sought to give them testimonies of their common resentments with their applauses and civilities At last the Parthians were beaten and Vitellus with the chief of his Army retired to Artaxata where they made great preparations for the crowning of Tyridates King of Arminia At the same time the Clites a people of Capadocia rebelled against whom Vitellus sent Tribulus with four thousand of the legionary soldiers with the choisest of the Auxilliaries This Tribulus above all the rest had in great estimation the Prince Dardanus and had shewed his affection by his many civilities Dardanus on the other side shewed that his vertue and his valor had won him to a very great familiarity and that he presered him to all the Romans in the Army There being now no longer occasion of shewing their valor in Arminia that being the chiefest cause of their jorney they put themselves amongst the forces of Tribulus who extraemely joyfull of their company told them that he accounted his enemies already slain fince he was accompanied with that valor that was invincible He gave them the cheif command under himself and by many other civilities made it appeare that his love and affection was sincere You must not doubt but that those people we went against were soon over come having to deal with the conquerers of Nations and the two invincible youths my Prince and Argelois We indeed routed them and quieted that nation notwithstanding those scopulosous and nemorosous
this choler he left our house threatning what he would do but the joy for his departure took away the regard of his threats My Parents considering what an irritated spirit might attempt were something troubled at his deportments and blamed me for my temerity I sent for him whose fidelity had attracted my heart to make him acquainted with Subelta's deportments and to enjoy those caresses which the company of Subelta had impedited We met when that silence was spread through the earth and the bright Goddess held the chief Regency in a little grove into which a back door out of my Chamber opened We passed the time in those sweet caresses and pleasances that are enjoyed by Lovers and are delightfull to those that are entred Loves pleasing bondage and servitude When the night began to wear out her sables we parted appointing the time of our next meeting which I believe was heard by Subetla who I suppose might be hid in the grove and heard our discourses for that when he carried me away he uttered some words which I spake concerning him that night My thoughts are grounded on this because this night which is past being the time I appointed my Confident to meet me we had no sooner seated our selves in the grove but that Subelta and the other two disguised entred upon us I knew Subelta by his voice who gave no time for Phineriaz so is he termed to draw his weapon but with his ready drawn thrust it through his body Seeing him fall with a crimson stream slowing from his wound I gave a sudden screek and swounded in Subelta's arms In that condition they abrepted me half an hour expiring e're I came to my self again but when I saw my self in his power whom I hated carried away from him whom I loved I am not able to represent the dolor of my soul but at last breaking the bonds of my silence Wicked Subelta cruel Subelta said I is this the effect of your passion is this the end of your oaths is this the termination of your affections is this love that useth violence Oh heavens pity my estate and aid me against this Ravisher Who would have thought that this treachery could have been acted by him whom love as he said had attracted to my service whom affection had rendred a slave and whom oaths had bound to use me with respect Ah treachery ah falshood ah deceit let not the words of men be credited Let not this force O Nemesis pass without thy just resentment let thy plagues pass upon this Ravisher And O Vitunus inspire a new soul into that muther'd creature whom Love hath exposed to this wretches villany Such exclamations as these I uttered grief making me uncapable to know what I said nor regard the opprobrious speeches Subelta uttered In this condition proceeded I with these Ravishers till the just heavens helped me by your hands At the conclusion of these words said Bruaâ—enor we met certain Gentlemen who were going to seek Artesa but our incounter put an end to their trouble and returning together we soon reached the place from whence she was carried where we met her Parents almost drown'd in grief for her loss The joy they conceived at her return gave them no leasure to consider me till Artesa bid them welcome the happy instrument of her deliverance pointing to me then turning to me they rendred many expressions of thanks for what I had done and immediately applyed things necessary to my wounds I remained with them some small time being respected according to that great service I had done them Phineriaz remained in that house under the Surgions hand being very danâ—erously wounded but they hoped he would recover it They could not understand by him how he came so wounded nor how he came there at that time of the night But I explained the doubt to Artesa's father representing the great love that was betwixt them and so far prevailed with him that he consented to their marriage This Artesa took as the highest piece of service could be rendred her and with innumerable thanks sought to express it Phineriaz conceived no less joy at the knowledge of it which festinated his recovery and when I left them every thing was prepared for their Hymen Assoon as my wounds were healed I urg'd my departure telling them the importunity of my business would admit me no delay They sought on the other side with all the words of invitation could possibly be rendred to keep me there And truly their affability and extaordinary Curtesie had gain'd so great ascendancy over me that it had detained me longer had not the spur of love pricked me forward for my thoughts were on Floria my care was for Floria my fears were for Floria and all my imaginations were taken up in the consideration of Floria so that it was impossible for me to stay without incurring some inconvenience by my passion This broke all bands and made me force my way through their courtesies for I knew not but Floria hearing of Subelta's return might go to effect her resolved purpose which thought made me leave Artesa and the rest loaded with their Courtises Love lent me wings to fly and accelerated my jorney whilst desire sent many precursary thoughts to visit Floria and at last I arrived where long before my imganition had carried me I soon gave an account to my Goddess of all my past evenements which I perceiv'd she heard with some content although she could not but resent the Joy Subelta conceiv'd at her death and thereby she perceiv'd that the unmortalizing her self before him would work no remorse in his conscience I saw the excited passion in her breast and conceiving whence it was suscitated I aggravated their circumstances knowing it made well for my interests and the effect answered my expectations for it shook the foundations of her Love to Subelta and rendred me more acceptable in her sight In the mean time Subelta enraged at the death of one of his companions who was a kinsman of his and at his evil fortune having recovered those wounds which he received at my hands he raised a band of men and began to invade some places under my jurisdiction I soon heard of his practises and for my security began to raise some men for my defence but he so vigorously proceeded that he had taken many places ere I could come to oppose him and arrogantly in the hearing of most of his followers had vowed my utter destruction at last with those whom I had hastily gathered together I gave him battle and by the disfavour of fortune lost most of my men with the victory This loss hightned the arrogancy of my enemy who following his good success won almost all the places of strength from me and followed me so close that I could hardly remuster the dispersed and fill up the bands with more men but at last I had gained a considerable body and was resolved once more to
could not detian me from exercising my self in those masks which were performed that night and which deter'd Bruadenor those wished pleasures till almost morning but the better part of the next day made him amends for the nights injury These nuptial joyes being finished and Bruadenor about to return to his Castle with his Floria I renewed my suit for my departure desiring him not to deter me any longer with his intreaties The regret he shewed for my departure manifested the love he bore me but seeing it was impossible to keep me any longer he was constrained to submit to this severation He supply'd my want of a Horse with one of the best he had and for my better defence made me clothe my self with some of his surest harness I had a thousand Eulogies bestowed upon me by this kind friend and his fair bride who distil'd some pearly tears at my departure After I had left them I directed my course towards Spain Amenia's beauty having the Magnetick vertue of attraction for she was the Pole-star to which I turn'd It was now the midst of Summer and Titans Aethon gave his greatest ardout so that I much frequented the shades and made my jorney through the thickest woods being glad of the benefit of the shadow-casting trees I had passed two dayes in my journey without any adventure but the third being entred a wood whose umbrage gave some refrigeration I slackned my pace and seeing a fair tree whose branches being spread with broad leaves and so thick that it denied entrance to Phaebus made an opacous dormitory on the verdant grass Being invited by some desire of rest I descended my horse and tying him to a shrub gave him the liberty to crop the grass whilst sleepy Somnus cast me into a repose I had not slept long under those cooling shades but the sudden neying of my horse awaked me doing me a greater pleasure then that of Dariu's did him when he was chosen King for I found the naked sword of my irritated Roman ready to light upon my undefended head Fear of so sudden danger made me forget my wonted ceremonies for I was forc't to take my adored buckler and hide my head which sustained the blow that else had perpetrated my life I gave him no time to strike a second but rising with that agility which my present danger requir'd I immediately drew for my defence Coward said I unworthy the name of a Roman I had not thought thy degenerated soul would have done so base an action but thy pusillanimous heart feared to see me waking He answered not but with his blows whilst I gave him more than he desired my extream anger at the baseness of his action made me do my best to kill him his skill had not sav'd his life nor had my passion spar'd it had he not being brought to the last exigent begg'd it with many words I was ever apt to forgive and letting him rise I told him the consequencies of such treacherous actions were alwayes contempt infamy scorn disregard and revenge both from gods and men on such as use them He told me how persevering he had been in watching for such an opportunity having vowed to sacrifice my life to his just resentments but he then swore ne're to seek my hurt any more forgiving the injury I had done him in taking away his shield being I had spar'd his life This evenement being past I prosecuted my journey and at last without any other adventure worth our observance I drew near Spain I presently heard of the war that was made against the Austurians Cantabrians and Gallicians which made me hasten my jorney desiring to help them for Amenia's sake For a more speedy passage I cast my self into the arms of the sea and with prosperous gales arrived amongst the Austures I hasted to Austurica hoping to gain a sight of that fair one whose shadow had already made me her captive Enquiring for Lilibilis I understood he was then in Austurica intending with all speed to appear at the Randezvouze with some auxiliary troops that he had raised This Lilibilis was a valiant person and honest enough only he lov'd to rob and spoil his Neighbours with war which was the general fault of those Lusitanians but now joyn'd together against the Romans I resolved to prosecute my intendments and as soon as I came to Austurica I enquired for Lilibilis and being brought before him I told him the great desire I had to do him service in those wars had brought me to Austurica and how that I accounted it as great a glory to oppose the rising power of the Romans as I should have accounted it a shame for me to have oppos'd them in the defence of their just liberties I said I was a stranger and interess'd in neither Nation only a desire of glory and honour made me so voluntarily offer him my service I bid him reward me according to my deserts and make me happy by regarding me as his servant And shewing him the Shield with his daughters portraiture I further told him the impudency of a Roman Captain his enemy in bearing that portraiture had caus'd me to make him surrender it for the save-guard of his life that I might preâ—ent it to the Princesse his daughter avowing none worthy the glory of carrying her â—ffigies without her leave Lilibilis received me with great kindness and civiâ—ity and told me he gathered a happy Augury and hoped the gods would be propitious to his Armies since they had sent strangers to own his Cause which was for the liberty of his Countrey against the pride of a potent enemy And that he should endeavour for encouragement to others to reanswer such merits Many other generous words he uttered which shewed that ability which accompanied his Lordship but at last that which I most lookt for and desired he told me that immediately I should go and present the shield to his daughter which he knew would be welcome in regard of her great hatred to the Romans Immediately a maid of hers who of all others was most deare to Amenia gave her notice of my arrival and of the passages betwixt Lilibilis and I and set me out extraordinarily more than I deserv'd that Amenia prepar'd her self to give me a good reception What I shall tell you says Euripides concerning Amenia of those things which were done unknown to me then she afterwards related to me when the bonds of Hymen had bound us together however I relate it now which otherwise would make the story lame Many beauties desire to captivate although they intend no favours to their slaves and 't is a general humour in women to desire to be esteemed and to see others lives depend upon their wills that they may tyrannize over their captivated hearts and the more a man is esteem'd the more they desire to have him subject to themselves Amenia was not altogether free from this vain-glorious humour for consulting with her glasse she
it and entering at the instant of my falling clapt both his hands about â—y midle and so upholding me withheld me from the death I was about to receive neverthelesse the poynt of the sword declining and my striving to force my selfe upon it made a large wound in my thigh Being at last overcome through the implorations of my servants I gave over my intended purpose and gave them liberty to cure that wound I had given my self whilst I lay in the curation of that wound being full of unexpressable grief I received letters from Lascaris who remained in Cilicia which signified how that my other uncle was dead and how that Epamondas had seiz'd on my whole estate giving out that I was dead and himself being the next heir entred upon his right This I confesse nothing troubled me being wholy taken up with my former trouble nothing could give accretion to that which was before unincreaseable besides I doubted not but at my returning he would soon relinquish his pretensions The wound in my thigh being cured not that in my heart to satisfie the rigor of Cynthia I left Thessalonica being denied by an expresse order from her self the favour of seeing her before I went for she was not Ignorant of what hapned to me yet her more then Adamantine heart could not be mollified by my blood When I came into Cilicia I repaired to Lascaris who certyfied me at large hoâ— Epamondas had possest my estate and what danger it would be for me to go and demand my own However being no way solicitous of my life I went with Lascaris and those few servants I had with me to Epamondas who with the greatest hypocrifie in the world embraceing me craved pardon for his usurpation vowing he had heard it spoken of a certaine that I had been dead With a great deale of blandiloquie he entertain'd me proffering to have remov'd out of my house that moment would I have permitted him His glozing and grievous calliditie playing the Doctor in the art of Hypocrisie would have deceiv'd one more suspitious than my self I gave him no supercilious look but my self endeavoured to excuse his temerity seeing him seem to be so much asham'd at what he had done O grievous Hypocrite before that it was night when that I had unarm'd my self and had taken some refection not mistrusting his treachery I went forâ—h into the Garden adjoyning to the house with Lascaris But before I had walked one turn Lascaris being a little behind me gave a great screach I turning my head at the same instant saw six armed men depriving him of that life which had done me so much service Oh how miserably tortured was I at that instant to see my self without weapons not so much to defend my own life as to have saâ—d that of my faithfull Lascaris I ran to his succour without armes but before I came they had left him but breath enough to desire me to have regard to my own life and not endeavour to revenge his with danger to my self all their swords points were immediately turn'd against me that was weaponless I was then in great straights I was unwilling to let those villanies triumph over my life I was asham'd to fly and I had no weapon to fight looking about in this exigent I could find nothing wherewith I might help my self but retiring as handsomely as I could before those Pursuers I gain'd the end of the Alley in which place stood many Alvearies Necessity the mother of invention taught me a new experiment for being weaponless I suddenly rais'd thousands for my defence who effected more than I could expect By the instinct sure of my good Genius being hardly pursued by these assasinates I assumed for my defence one of the stocks of bees and casting it against the face of the first approacher it very luckely cover'd all his head who feeling the stings of those apicula's cast off that terrible cap but the little hony-slies cleaving to his head and face furious for being disturb'd made him feel the force of their little weapons which were so terrible and plagu'd him so shrodely that he was faine to foâ—ego his own weapon as being uselesse against them and as if he had been pursued by the Euminedes ran his head against the trees and knockt it against the ground to atter those little but fierce creatures his Comarades pressing in his place found the like enemies to fight against for making use of that defence I bestowed one after another all the domiciles in the apiary in their faces which did such execution those creatures covering them all over thrust their little sharp-poynted-needles into their flesh in a thousand places together which inspir'd them with such sury against themselves that I could not but take some pleasure in beholding their mad actions though I also was sensible of some pricks which I received among those humming creatures Being thus rid of my assasins and having viewed their furibund postures till I heard the noyse of other voyces approaching I thought it not best to tempt the Gods nor neglect that favour of escaping since they had done it miraculously I then takeing one of those weapons for my defence which but now were bent against my breast I departed at a back dore and so escaped from those treacherous and impious men but allmost overcharg'd with trouble and grief for the losse of Lascaris Having escaped the hands of those assasins I went to Nicopolis where I had many friends who were extremely affected to see me in that condition all proffering to the utmost of their power to reestablish me in the estate that Epamondas had so unjustly usurped though what by gifts and flattery he had made himself very powerfull Would I have endeavoured to have regain'd my right at that time I beleeve I might have effected it with the help of my friends or had I complained to King Tarcondemus I question not but that he would have done me right but so much did Love agitate me that I thought on nothing but Cynthia rejecting all the councell of my friends I thought all company troublesome which made me to affect my former solitude After a little while oppressed by my own thoughts of the cruel banishment Cynthia had impos'd upon me contrary to the mind of all my friends I left that famous Issicus accompanied only with one servant resolving to lead the life of an Eremite I stayed no where till I came into the Province of Pamphilia where under the shadow of the mountain Taurus I caus'd a little cottage to be built wherein I intended to pass the remainder of my dayes In this place I setled having first caus'd my servant to depart from me being not willing that he should partake of my self-imposed miseries where I spent my time in recounting the accidents of my life the vicissitudes of my fortune and my alternate loves with condoling my banishment and striving to banish Cynthia the confines of my
to deprive me of my life not thinking her selfe safe whilst there remained a witnesse of her cruelty I was forc'd for my owne safety to write to her not to persist in seeking my life unlesse she would force me to discover her and to rest contented that the child being dead I intended not to discover but only to detest her cruelty and inhumanity I believe those few lines I sent her gave her satisfaction especially when she understood that Palemedon was dead for after that I heard no more from her but remained free from her assasinous attempts Long it was not before I was once more constrained to leave the happy sorte of Content pleasure and quietude being forced thence by the Shaftes of that sworne enemie of my rest Cupid My age nor all my former miseries were bulwarks sufficient to keep off his fires nor free me from those passions which had ever been my ruine Alas as if I had been born onely to love or as if it had been my naturall element wherein I was only to live I could not have had a more propensitie to it I once more found my frozen years melted away with loves ardors and that over youthfull God inspired me with his youthfull flames and with Medean art brought back the spring of my age makeing it finde a repulluation under the heate of his fires The object of this last love was a widow in whom beauty and wit equally strove for mastership her birth was noble but her fortune meane which made her exercise her wit to maintaine her state being also touched with that plague Ambition the mother of all mischief and the wicked Daemon's eldest daughter The Gods thwarted my other loves and made me lose that which I sought to obtain for which I rendered them a thousand reproaches accounting them enemies to my happinesse therefore it was Just that I should acknowledge the plagues of my own acquirements and see that the Gods in denying were friends to my happinesse I obtained what I ardently desired being she whom I Sought desired it no lesse not out of love but ambition and avarice hopeing to make a Son that she had heire of that estate I possest Content cannot last long where mutuall love tyeth not the affections the love I bore her serv'd but to extinguish my reason and blinde my eyes from Seeing her projects and the respect she bore me was but forc'd for her own interest and till she had made her selfe master of what I held The first appearing of her enmity was at my denial of certaine unreasonable demands for her son Wherein she exhibited that her desire was for nothing more then my death and that the advancement of her son was the scope of all her projects however though it was too apparent not to be seen yet could I not use any remedy against it Five yeares having consumed themselves since our marriage her desires being growne too bigg to be contained within its limits and her projects being fully ripned she suddenly effected them for having great friends among the Romans through their aide she possessed her selfe of all I had and by force maintained her selfe in it useing me as her profest foe and would could she have effected it have put a period to my dayes Love that before appeared to me as the most beautifull goddesse and with a luster that begat her adoration now seemed to be converted into a most ugly Erinnrs worthy of all detestation the scales began to fall from my eyes and I began to see my folly and to recount those enormities it had made me run into and finaly recovering my reason I profest my selfe a foe to that passion which before I so much observed Endeavouring to recuperate that which was violently withheld from me I in some time effected it with the aide of my friends where I spent some more years but being subject to the complotting of my wife and her Sonne having a desire to spend the rest of my dayes in contemplation in a place free from the accesse of men I sould my estate and leaving my ungracious persecutresse taking with me the two Sons of Lascaris and very few servants else I repaired to this place being known to me to be a place as full of pleasure as Solitude and where I might be free from the perquisitions of my friends and plotts of my enemies By the way to this place I happily met with Lonoxia and understanding each others fortunes being tyed with a mutual Love and friendship we resolved to spend the remainder of our dayes together This place being designed for our habitation we added art to perfect nature and by the help of both we compleated this domicile as you see in which we have spent some yeares without any evenement or seeing any stranger but your selfe beeing a place so unfrequented and this adjoyning grove being the utmost of our ambulations Here neither the troubles of Love or armes assolt us here neither the envies or plots of our enemies annoy us here quietude and peace accompany us and here being sequestred from the world the knowledge of its affairs doth not deturb us but being naruralized to this solitude we finde a pleasure which all the Empires of the world cannot give us I have now concluded my narration wherein you cannot but perspiciously see if that passion wherewith you are so inbued hath not already exoculated you that Love hath been the cause of my miseries made me the Sport of Fortune and tyraniously triumphed over my Liberty and who lastly with so many vicissitudes hath made me an abject to my self Here Euâ—ipedâ—s absolved his narration and Argelois beholding him some time in silence till having collocated his thoughts he in few words display'd them thus Give me leave to represent in briefe those Speculations which I have observ'd in your narration where you so satyrically inveigh against love which indeed if we retroâ—pect into the often vicissitudes of your fortune and into those Hurricanes of passions and dangers into which you have been driven by love we cannot but in Justice excuse you But as I conceive we are not to increpate a passion for the irregularities of others or of our selves for if virtue be adjoyned to it its effects are glorious if vice abominable So that the passion produceth effects according to the virtuous or vicious disposiof the person it agitates This distinguisheth Lust from Love for Love without virtue is Lust and Lust concatinated to virtue is Love This distinction it may be may be thought too grosse for the stricter and more refined Lovers will not admit of Lust though as I conceive it is the same which they call desire which being involved in the actions of virtue and as it were chain'd to it it cannot be perceiv'd to have a being and therefore so refined Lust is imperceivable and wholly converted to love Love some distinguish thus undetermined is Lust Lust determined to one Love This cannot be to those who as
prepared for us He saw the disadvantages that they had in the ground but being supernumerary in men he hoped to overwhelme ours Besides they had the advantage in weapons half of their men carrying those hand-murtherers He had divided his army into 6. battalions every battallion equalling ours if not exceeding It will be needlesse to describe this battle to you though it were one of the bloodiest and greatest that ever was fought in the East both for that your self have been in many and therefore know the heat and Mars-full Enthusiasme that then agitates generous and couragious spirits and that I may not terrifie these Ladies with the relation of nothing but horror blood and death Besides should you desire it I could not give it you exactly as it was because I had no time to observe that congression on the land being ingaged so hotly in that on the Sea The Queen with the most considerable Ladies in the Kingdome was mounted on the utmost summit of the Rock that they might the better assault Heaven with their prayers and that they might behold a battel that made the strongest amongst them yield themselves to fears and fainting As for the Queen believe me she could not permit her eyes to behold whether her army weâ—e like to prove victorious or not although on it depended her crown riches state honour and it may be life such a power had love above fear in her soul Her eyes were inseparable to the navie and you may believe that 't was for Araterus's sake that she was so partiall as to regard that battle on the sea more than that on the Land Indeed her eyes sought for Araterus 't was a very easie matter for love to make her finde him he rendering himself so signall and remarkable She saw him do wonders and miracles and as if victory still attended him she could not withdraw her eyes from observing him and indeed his actions were so immense that they chain'd her eyes to him with a kind of pleasinng charm and inchantment They followed him thorow the thickest presse and accompanyed him amongst blood wounds arms I need not tell you that every time she saw him in danger she was struck with fear of loosing him which presently made her change colour a thousand times and which would have been observed by others had not so generall a congression attracted all their eyes with an intensity on their actions Araterus after he had brought terrour wounds and death to all that opposed him and begat an admiration in all that beheld with an undaunted courage being grapled with the admiral entred his ship and there giving death and mortall wounds to all that withstood him made the rest fly whom he pursued into the hold where finding a great deal of combustible matter he flung some of their black powder amongst it and after that some fire which he had got in the ship This incontinently taking fire set the ship into a light conslagration which being drove with a gale of wind amongst the rest caught hold of all that came a near it and the ships lying so close grapled together took it with such futy and so immense a flame that there needed then no other enemy to contest with Our admirall caused as many ships as possibly could to be saved of ours and turning their prows about got forth of the bay and left those flames the victory which gained a very absolute on over them for their ships being so numerous and conjoyned so thick one to another 't was impossible to hinder the progresse of the flame which running from one ship to another at last consum'd the whole navy to ashes with thousands of their men For some flying the fire perish'd in the water and others thinking to escape drowning got into the ships and were burnt Then it was that the flames smoke and consusion had obscured Araterus from the eyes of the Queen she fear'd that she had utterly lost him and that he had perished with thousand others this made her as if the victory depended wholy on his life or death to turn away her head from that fatal place with dispairing eyes as if the combustion of her enemies ships had been to her losse and detriment And if it be true as she said from whom I learn't this afterwards she could not abstain from shedding some teares at the conceited losse of Araterus But her eyes were soon reclear'd for she had no sooner cast them on the midst of the battell but she saw him victorious and conquering and doing his ordinary wonders at the Head of her army He but narrowly escaped the danger of being drowned or burnt but when he had set the ship on fire he gain'd a little boat by my help and sled to the shore amongst the rest â—hâ—t 〈…〉 nothing but the saving their own lives Bâ—ing gâ—t to the shore 〈…〉 our selves amongst the multitude and finding some 〈…〉 and rode to the two armies who were now in the miâ—st of all 〈…〉 The battle there was no lesse blody than that had been on the Sâ—â— and the whole place was become a Sea of blood wherein â—ailed nothing bâ—t Death and Horror At the beginning our men had the worst loosing four to one but Peomontile perceiving the odds in their weapons knew that to overcome them 't was necessary to conjoyn anâ— to come to handy-strokes with them which they knowing the advantage they had declinâ—d with dexterity enough After he had endeavoured it for some houâ—s in vaine he caused about fifty thousand Elephants to advance from the top of whose Castles the Sornaleans did gallant execution and under whose shelter the right wing of the army advanced The Sinanans endeavouring to shun the close siâ—ht had like to have disordered themselves and have given away the victory with a kind of runing retreate At last perceiving 't was inevitable and that their enemies were too pressing they met with a fury that caus'd thousands to dye on either side The valour of our first battell had declared them the victory when they received the shock of the second and being augmented by ours they opposed them with a continued violence Theirs beginning to shrink their third battell advanc'd led by the Prince himselfe which was met by ours with a shout that equalized the noyse that their instruments of death made After many houres dispute the fourth battell in which were both the generalls met and that instant 't was when we came to the army Araterus placing himself in the head of them led them on with a courage that inspired the most cowardly with a desire to do bravely 'T was then indeed that he rendered himself so signall that all that beheld his actions cry'd out miracles and wonders Desiâ—ing nothing so much as glory he was ever tyred with shedding common blood he finds them too weak and unable to resist him and pressing in amongst the thickest he makes his sword tast the flesh of those whom he
perceives to be most daring and valiant At last he espies the generall of the Siranans doing actions that presently made him envious of his glory Not examining the danger he made way thâ—row the opposing troops and comming to handy stroaks with him might have given him a satall testimony of his courage had not his horse to his great misfortune fell dead between his leggs through the wounds that he had received Then it was that fear and griefe depainted it selfe most virely in the eyes and face of the Queen Who not able to see him in that exigent fell into a sowne in the armes of her Ladies who attributed it to the working of her immagination on these dreadfull and dying objects This made her loose the sight of the bravest actions in the world for he despairing of life resolved to sacrifice as many as he could to love his actions were incredible and he soon made him a rampart of dead bodies still defending his life from the most daring till the generall loth to loose a man of such importance rescued him out of that danger and mauger the opposition of the enemies mounted him on another horse Ours began to get the better when their last battails joyned with so great impetuosity that it rendered the victory doubtfull and made them make use of the utmost of their courage and force to withstand them I shall not lye if I say that the actions of Araterus disposed the victory on our side for they were so signal and daring that they both encouraged the Sornaleans and made desperate our adversaries Whilst Araterus gave hopes of the victory on one side Peomontile had almost lost it on the other for loosing above fifty thousand men himself was taken prisoner by the Prince Araterus hearing this with enough that readily followed him made hast to that place of damage but by the way meeting with the General of the Sinanans engaged himself a second time with him in a particular combate and at last notwithstanding the resistance of the enemies he deprived him of his life through two or three mortal wounds Flying like lightning thorow the midst of the enemies he recovered the General and gave him that liberty which they were about to deprive him of following his good luck he encountred next with the Prince who coming at that instant wounâ—ed Peomontile very dangerously on the head for requital of which Araterus wounded him in the thigh and pressing hard upon him made him shelter himself amongst the thickest of his Troops Then it was that victory having hung a long while in suspence came and setled upon our standards for at that instant all those of the Navey being landed came on them with a fresh encounter in their flanks and crying out victory victory did such execution that it terrified them all and seeing their ships burnt their General slain and their Prince wounded they began to despair of victory and to retreat disorderly The Sornaleans perceiving the fear of their enemies renewed their courages and crying out victory on every side perswaded their enemies that it was so before they had it At last they forgot their order and sled confusedly being slaughtered on every side by their enemies who then slew more then they had done all the day before and of so numerous an Army let very few escape the punishment of the sword Araterus being in the chase took the Prince prisoner and so saved his life from the enraged multitude some few escaped to those ships that the fire had left and so recovered the sea the rest escaping into woods and such places of shelter saved their lives and left the Sornaleans victorious and triumphant The Sun weary of beholding so bloody an execution hid himself in the occidental waves and the obscuring night drawing on a pace sought to hide that blood and horror that was spread ore the superficies of those plains A hundred new springs of crimson waves â—an along the fields to find a passage into the Ocean where ingulsing themselves they converted the waters into a sea of blood It is impossible to tell you the number of the slain on both sides but they were so many that they moved the cruelest to pity when the first heat of their fury was over Neither will it be much to the purpose to tell you the number of the wounded or prisoners Araterus sinning himself wounded in two places in the arm and in the face retired to the Generals tent and finding that his wound in his head was very dangerous he left him and went into another hard by set up by the Generals order where he had his wounds dressed by Peomontiles own Surgions The Queen having seen the end of the battle saluted the gods with her prayers and gave them innumberable thanks for the protection they had sent her in the person of the valiant stranger She immediatly descends into the Camp and having visited the General she came and carressed Araterus with so much joy and giving him those praises and Collaudations that he accounted himself over and above satisfied for the pains and travels he had taken He told her what he had done was but his duty and that it did not merit the least of those acknowledgements she was pleased out of her goodness to give him That 't was the merits of her cause that gave her the victory not their valour That the gods could not in Justice deny their protection to the innocent and 't was her own prayers which were more prevalent than their arms that had vanquished her enemies and sacrificed so many thousands in the place that for his part all that he had done that could be attributed to manhood or prowesse was but the effects of her goodness upon his soul Such like speeches passing between them Araterus presented the Prince of Sinana at her feet who having a soul that yielded to the disaster of fortune did not dare to lift his eyes from the ground on which he fixed them Receiving him from Araterus with very many thanks and acknowledgements Degenerate man said she to him somewhat enraged at his base spirit this meanness of spirit little becomes a Pâ—ince that hath dar'd to pretend so high and who in prosperity used the highest insolencies and insufferable Pride This dejection doth but illustrate the baseness of thy heart and tells us that it was never capable but of the blackest of crimes wherein was nothing either of ambition or of love things which make crimes sometimes pardonable No thine hath proceeded from nothing but pride and insolency accompanied with rage and temerity You have often told me you have been my prisoner now you are really so and we shall have time to consider your deserts with this turning from him she gave order for his securement and appointed him to be had to Sinda which was done accordingly The night coming on apace she gave order to the Chirurgigions to have as much care on Araterus as on her self and returned
with her guard to the next town where she was accommodated as well as the time and â—lace would afford As soon as the Sun appeared in the East chaceing away the horrors of the night with his splendid beams the General gave order for the burning of the bodies of the slain and the inteâ—rement of the chiefest Captains being very many slain on both sides This being effected and the Chirurgions permitting the General to travel they returned to Sinda with their banners displayed the insignâ—'s of their enemies trailed on the ground trophies of their armes carried in Chariots before them and with all the signes of joy tryumph and magnificence that could possibly be imagined They were scarcely lodg'd in Sinda before the Queen received word by the Posts that her other Army in the Frontiers had received a great overthrow through the unskilfulness of their Leader and that the enemies troops advanceing apace came accompanied with victory fire and sword This news put a damp upon the Generals rejoyceing and made them see their danger was not over The Queen sending for Peomontile and Araterus told them this newes and withal that she was not to expect victory from any other hands than from the sage Peomontile and the valiant Araterus that it was for their glory that her army had received the overthrow the gods having ordained that none besides themselves should contribute any thing to hers and her kingdomes happiness And that it was them alone that she ought justly to stile her Protectors and deliverers These speeches were answered by a great deal of submission and humility by them both they testifying that pride could make no advantage on their souls by the praises of the Queen but rather inspired them with a generous valour and desire of serving her After they had assured her of their utmost endeavours and given her their Council how to proceed they received her commands to go meet them with their victorious army She could not chuse but express her sad resentments for their so sudden departute which she did with notable address and in general terms but Araterus might have seen that if it might have stood with his honour and her safety he should have stayed behind The Soldiers having received a largess from the Queen with promises of greater rewards marched with a courage and resolution that already assured them of the victory over their enemies The General that received the former overthrow hoping to regain what he had lost was so rash and unadvised to hazard another battle wherein he resolved to dye or regain his former honour knowing it would be an in supportable disgrace to appear any more before his Queen having lost it through his own unskilfullness more then his cowardize But fortune resolving the victory for Araterus he lost both his life and the better halfe of the Army in the Conslict so that the enemies came flesht with their victories and tryumphing till they heard of the loss of their other Army which gave such a check to their exultancies that it half conquered them before the other Army could come to oppose them Fortune that seem'd to be sworn now to Araterus's side gave us the first victory in which the enemy lost a hundred thousand men and twenty thousand Elephants Seeking still to ingage them we obtained two or three one after another in all which sights Araterus did such actions that the most envious of them all could not but contribute to his glory seeing they tended to theirs and their kingdomes preservation 'T was more then once or twice that he saved the life of Peomontile he slew with his own hand two of the enemies Generals and by his examples inspired others with such courage and animosity that he often turned the fortune of the battle and although reduced to extremities and Exigents he still came off victorious and tryumphant Having oftentimes discomâ—ited them with extraordinary loss strong holds there not being regarded to retard a War but determining all with pitched battles the War was soon finished and in halfe a year there was not an enemy that dar'd appear in the Kingdome and of so many hundred thousand men very few returned into their own Countrey Peace being setled in those parts we returned to Sinda where Peomontile and Araterus were received by the Queen with such caresses of joy and in such state triumph and magnificence that the East never beheld the like These publick rejoyceings after many weeks beginning to lessen the Queen who was generous and noble having before acquainted her Uncle Peomontile and Araterus with her intentions who gave her their approbation sent for the Prince of Sinana He who thought it had been to receive the sentence of death came with so dejected a countenance that he disgraced the quality he represented and the apprehensions of which made him speak and do things so misbecoming a Prince that the Queen had much ado to endure him in her presence whilst she told him That he now saw the fruits of his insolency pride and temerity and that although she had respected him above his demerits and according to that regality which he bore yet that he had unworthily and altogether misbecoming a Prince behaved himself That he saw how the number of his men his threatnings insolencies and pride were overthrown by the gods who protected her innocency against his violencies That being her prisoner and guilty of such horâ—ible crimes she could justifie his death to all the world and that she ought not to have deferred it so long but yet for all this that she had given him his life clearly with his libâ—rty not that he had any wayes deserved the least favour but rather more than death by his pusillanimity and dejected carriage so unworthy a Pâ—ince but that she accounted him unworthy her revenge or anger and she permitted him to live that she might conserve him for the Subject of her hate and scorn The Prince received this sentence with some sign of joy and though it was so little to his glory applauded the Queens Mercy According to her order he was conducted to the Frontiers of the kingdome with all the other prisoners which she had taken with them she sent a letter to his father the king of Sinana in which she old him That 't was her desire to live in peace amity with all her neighbour-Princes but especially with him the interests of whose kingdome her Ancestors had alwayes made their own That she wondred he was so unadvised to follow the temerity of his son and to ingage himself in a Warre so unjust and illegal thereby breaking those Leagues which she ever had kept inviolable That what she had done was but in her own defence and to keep her and her Subjects from ruin and destruction and therefore that he was to thank himself and fortune for his overthrow and loss That for her part she desired not to make use of her good fortune nor advantages that she