Adultery and no Man believe me when I should speak the Truth of such an Accident I resolved from the hour of your Birth to commit you to the uncertainty of Fortune which I imagined you your self would rather wish than a certain Death or the name of Illegitimate And so faining to my Husband you were born Dead I secretly exposed you laying with you in your Cradle my best Jewels for a Reward to his Piety that should preserve you and covering you with this Mantle in which I have Printed with my Blood and Tears the Miserable Relation of your Fortune and my own that have been so unhappy a Mother in my first down-lying But my sweet Child and that must be mine but for a little time if you survive remember your great Birth be jealous of the Honour of your Chastity the only best Character of a Ladies Virtue and Spirit imitate your Ancestors and following their Example make the World know the Glory of your Illustrious Blood particularly remember among the Jewels I have laid forth with you to look for a certain Ring and keep it to your self your Father gave it me upon my Wedding Day his Arms are herein engrav'd the Stone is named a Pantarbe consecrated in the Collet I use this way of writing to advertise you hereof since the Gods have denyed us any other means to speak together this may prove dumb and unprofitable unto you it may also inform you and do you service for the events of Fortune are not in the compass of Mans knowledge finally these Cahracters I have stained in this Mantle O Daughter Fair in pain whose Beauty is my unjust Accuser if it happen to you be preserved by these Tokens you will be known if not which Heaven keep from my knowledge let the water of these Gems present your Mothers Funeral Tears When I had read this to an end then Knemon I knew not without being ravished with admiration the Ordinance of the Gods and my Soul felt a new Motion that made Tears spring from my Eyes mixed with joy and sorrow infinitely contented to have found what I desired namely the resolution of the Oracle but exceeding trouble that I could have no perfect knowledge of the future complaining to my self of the miserable condition of Mans Fortune nothing but instability whereof Characlea appeared to me a singular example I wandered in a maze of thoughts considering who her true Parents were who her supposed how far she was distanced from her Country having lost her own and being only known by a feign'd Name To conclude I stood a great while in a dull fear having cause to pity and deplore her passed miseries and not daring to say her fortune should be happy in the future till at length collecting my reason I resolved the design I had undertaken should go on without delay and coming to Chariclea I found her alone wearied with the Fight betwixt the forces of the Spirits and the powers of Love that made her fair Body the Field and Seat of War which her Soul striving to make good dit but the more afflict her being not able to resist the fury of the assailant then I commanded those that were without to wait till they were called and not to trouble me as if I had certain Prayers and Invocatiions to make for the Maids health Now Chariclea said I you have time to perform your yesterdays promise to discover to me what it is torments you and no longer to conceal it from your true friend whom it lyeth not in your power to hinder of the knowledge thought you should live and dye obstinate in your silence At these words she taking my hand and kissing it many times with tears Most wise Calasiris she said Oh do me the favour to let me suffer my ill fortune without confessing it since as you say you know what troubles me I shall esteem it some benefit to avoid an Ignominy by concealing that it is a shame to suffer but more shame to speak and though my sickness growing upon me puts me to great pain it is my greatest that I did not at first conquer it but yielded to that passion I had all my life time in such horror as only to hear it named I thought it a stain to the sacred title of a Virgin. Then to encourage and comfort her Daughter said I you do wisely to keep your reasons secret for two causes for it were but superfluous to tell me that which by my Art is long since known unto me and you do your modesty right to spare your blushes in revealing that ought ever to be hidden deepest in a Maids heart but since you now feel what Love is and that at first sight you were taken with the perfections of Theagenes for this I know by Revelation know you are not alone nor the first than hath been taken in this kind but it is the common case of many illustrious Ladies and chaste Maids for Love is the greatest of the Gods and at times hath had the Victory of them all but now consider where you are and what you have to do 'T is true 't is a great blessing not to be in Love but when you are once caught it is the best of wisdom to regulate your desires and direct them to some Honourable end There words Knemon put her all into Confusion and I saw clearly she delighted in them yet was anxious and troubled how she might attain her hopes In fine asham'd to be brought thus to her Confession made her Cheeks die their Lilies red And after she had a while stood mute O Father reply'd she do you speak to me of marriage and Counsel me to take my own choice as if my Father would consent or that my Adversary wish'd it For the young Gentleman said I it is fixt he is faster caught than you in the same tye and I believe at your first interview your Souls acknowledg'd the dignities and performances of one another both burning in an equal Flame which I have increas'd in him for young sake But for him that is suppos'd to be your Father he provides you another Husband an acquaintance of yours one Alcamenes Let him provide said she my Grave for Alcamenes rather than my Bed for either Theagenes shall marry me or Death but how do you know I beseech you that Charicles is but my supposed Father By this said I and showed her the Mantle Whence had you it and how came you by it she demanded of me for after Charicles had received me in Aegypt from the hands of him that bred me having brought me I know not how into this Country he took it from me and kept it in a Box to preserve it from being defaced or corrupted by the injury of time How I got it reply'd I you shall know hereafter for the present I pray you tell me if you have read the Inscription Confessing to me she did not know it I declared to her her
touched the Hearts of many and made them suspect the Truth but yet I could not be heard for the People were in that tumult and trouble as it was not possible to appease them When they came to numbring of the Votes they found about One Thousand Seven Hundred that condemned me to Death one half whereof adjugded me to be stoned and the other to be cast headlong from the Rock there remained yet about another Thousand that slacking something of their Severity out of the Suspicion they had conceived of my Mother-in-Law condemned me to perpetual Banishment and it was concluded according to their Sentence for notwithstanding they were the minor part both the others being joyned yet take the first severally and a Thousand made the greatest number Thus was I exiled from my Country and my Fathers House But the wicked Damoeneta did not long escape unpunished by the Gods that hate Impieties how it was you shall know hereafter Now it is time you should rest for the night is far spent and you had need of a great deal of sleep Oh now you will add to our misery reply'd Theagenes if you leave this wicked Woman thus Hear then said Knemon since your will is so After my Judgment was pronounced I went down to the Port we call Pyreum and lighted on a Ship that was bound for the Island of Egina knowing I had some Friends by my Mothers side that lived there When I was landed and had found out those I enquired for I passed my time there a while with indifferent good content I had not stayed there past Twenty Days but walking as my custom was upon the Haven I perceived a Bark making in therefore staying a little to see from whence it was the Planks were scarce laid down but a Passenger came running to me and imbraced me it was Charias one of my old Acquaintance Oh Knemon said he I bring you joyful News you are revenged of your Enemy Damoeneta is dead You are welcom dear Friend Charias I reply'd but why do you pass over your good News so lightly as if it were some ill accident Relate the manner I beseech you for I fear she dyed by some unusual way and escaped the Death and Shame she deserved Justice said Charias hath not altogether forsaken us as Hesiod thought but though sometimes it conniveth at the wickedness of men and seems as if it slept upon their Sins and for a time deferring to punish them yet at length it overtakes them as it hath done the wicked Damoeneta The Particulars whereof came to my knowledge out of the Familiarity that had past betwixt my Self and Thesbe who concealed nothing from me for when the decree of unjust Banishment had past against me your Father Penitent for his act withdrew himself from the company of men and retired to his Grange House in the Country there seating his own Heart as the Poet says he resolved to spend the remainder of his Days but suddainly all the Furies of Hell began to torment your Mother-in-Law she loved you now in your absence more than ever and did nothing but complain incessantly deploring your Fortune but indeed lamenting for her own No word passed from her mouth but Knemon her Sweetest her Soul Knemon In fine her affliction grew to that excess all the Town took notice of it and the Neighbours and Noble Ladies her Friends that came to visit her wondered exceedingly to see a Mother-in-Law witness such a Motherly affection much commending her and endeavouring to comfort her the best they could but she told them her evil was greater than to be cured by perswasions that they knew not the cause of her sorrows not what stings were in her Heart And ever as she came to her self she complained of Thesbe that she knew not how to serve her purpose How nimble she was said Damoeneta to enterprize and execute a malice she knew not how to make me enjoy the pleasure of my Love but she knew how to deprive me of my Joy in an instant e'er I could think e'er she would give me time to change my Mind By these and other words and actions she accidently shewed the displeasure she conceived against Thesbe and that she meant her no good But Thesbe finding her indignation and seeing she was lost in passion disposed by her ill Nature to lay some train for her and mad both with Love and Anger resolved to anticipate her and by laying a Plot for her to preserve her self and coming to her Mistress said she What Destiny Enemy to your Contentment and my Fidelity makes you accuse your Servant I have always and even in this last Act obeyed your will if any thing succeeds not to your wish you must blame Fortune not me yet if you please to command me I shall testifie a great deal of affection and no little industry to find out a way to your content Alas she reply'd How is that possible since he that only can content me is so far distant and so much Sea and Land is interposed betwixt us the unexpected Lenity of his Judg was my death for had they covered him in a Monument of Stones they had with him buried and extinguished my Flame for when there is no more hope there is no more care or sence of pain Now methinks I still see him methinks I still hear him object against me my unjust deceits and upbraid me with them and I blush to think my self in his presence sometimes I think I may yet enjoy him and resolve to go my self and find him in what part of the World soever he remains this sets me all on Fire this makes me Mad and justly Oh you Gods I suffer For why did I plot against him and rather not use him kindly Why was I an Enemy and not rather a Suppliant at his Feet had he not reason to give me one refusal I was a Stranger to him he was afraid to stain his Fathers Bed it might be time acquaintance and my expressions to him might have won him But I crueller than a wild Beast not as if I had been a Suiter but a Mistress that had the absolute Empire of his Will thought strange he should not obey me and in my unhappy rigour persecuted him for despising Damoeneta that had not Beauty equal to his merit But my Thesbe what content was that you spake of Madam she reply'd the World believes that Knemon hath obeyed his Sentence and hath left the Town and Territory of Athens but I know that ever since that time I have been thoughtful to procure your quiet he lyeth concealed at a Friends House here in Town You have heard of Arsinoe the Flutenist and her Familiarity with him she after his disaster received him into her House promising to go along with him and till she can furnish her self with Necessaries for the Voyage she keeps him in secret at her House But Demoeneta could not now refrain to interrupt her saying Oh
the Island about the first watch of the Night the Maid being alone used her solitude and absence of her keeper as an occasion given her to ease her Spirits with complaining the calm of the Night exciting her sad thoughts and being able to see nothing that might divert her mind when she had deeply sighed to her self for she was separated by command of the Captain Theagenes lying with Knemon and she resting on a poor low Palate weeping as if her heart would break Oh Apollo she said how much greater is our punishment than our offence cannot all our past miseries extinguish thy revenge We are deprived of the sweet presence of our Friends and Parents we have been taken by Pyrates we have been tossed at Sea by Tempests and a thousand times in danger of our lives we are now at Land a prey to Thieves Alas are we yet reserved to be more tormented Where at last wilt thou end the Progress of our Miseries To dye with a noble Fame were a sweet death but if any Villain shall offer to force me which my Theagenes never yet attempted with my own Hands I will prevent him and strangle this betraying Beauty keeping my Virtue to adorn my Epitaph whilst thou Apollo shalt be called the most cruel Judge She would have proceeded but Theagenes thus interupted her Cease my dearest my Soul Cariclea t is true you have reason to complain but you provoke the God more than you do believe we ought not to contradict the will of Heaven by Prayers not Injuries that which is greater than our selves must be appeased Tou say true replyed Cariclea but pray how do you Better he said since Evening I thank this Gentleman he hath applyed that to my wounds hath much aswaged their inflammation You shall find your self more easie to Morrow Morning added their Kepper For I will gather you such an Herb as shall heal your wounds at the third dressing I have tryed the properties of it by many experiments since my self was taken Prisoner here for none of my Captains men have ever come home wounded but in a little time I have effected their cure by the same means and do not you wonder I take such particular care of you for your Fortune represents my own I must need pity a Grecians misery that am my self a Grecian A Grecian Oh Immortal Gods cryed the two Prisoners for joy I am both by Language and Birth This yet said Theagenes gives us some breathing space from our afflictions but how may we call you my Name is Knemon Of what part of Greece Of Athens Do us the Favour I beseech you to let us know your Fortune Forbear said Knemon do not make my woes to bleed afresh nor let not me with abundance of my Evils increase yours neither would the whole Night suffice for the Narration and you after your many Labours had need of rest and sleep But they insisting and telling him that it would not be a little comfort to them to hear of chances like their own Knemon begins thus My Fathers Name was Aristippus a Native of the City of Athens a Senator of the higher Court and of no mean Fortunes It happen'd that my poor Mother having paid the Tribute that all humane Creatures owe to Nature my Father resolved upon a second Marriage because he had as yet but one Son and did not think him worthy of all his care he therefore matched with a Woman named Demoeneta she was Fair enough but had a Soul the most black and fowl She had no sooner entered our House but she made her self the absolute Mistress of it and reduced all things to her Power and Pleasure charming the good man my Father with her Beauty and officiously observing all his Humours For she if ever Woman had the art to move the violence of Affection and to make him passionately in love with her if Affairs pressed his departure she wept at his return she would meet him accuse the flowness of his coming and protest she had perished if he had tarryed never so little longer at every word embracing him and moistening her kisses with her Tears insomuch that my Father was so taken with her as willingly he did see or think of nothing else At first she used me as if I had been her own Son and added this as a greater tye upon his Love sometimes she would kiss me and desired that I might stay at home to play with her This pleased me and not suspecting what would follow I admired that she expressed such a Motherly Affection to me but when she appeared more petulant and that her kisses grew more intemperate than became her her carraige exceeding the bounds of modesty Then I began to suspect avoid and repel her allurements I omit the rest because it would be tedious to tell with what ways and promises she would entice me how she would call me her sweetest Favourite her Heir and oftentimes her Soul making a mixture of fair Names or any thing whereby she hoped I might be caught In more serious and important matters bearing her self as a Mother but in dalliance shewing plainly she was in Love At length this happened upon the day of the great solemnity that we call the Panathineon when the Athenians carry a Ship in procession through the Streets in Honour of Minerva Being then in the prime of my Youth after I had sung the usual Hymn to the Goddess the Rites ended I returned home yet vested in my Robe and Coronet she had no sooner cast her Eyes upon me but she lost her reason and could no longer disguise her passion nor cover with her Art the violence of her Flames but running to me embraced me called me her young Hippolytus her Theseus Judge you in what case I was then that now blush to speak it That Evening my Father supped in the Prytaneum and as is usual in those publick Feasts and Meetings stayed there all Night Now when all our House were in their first sleep she came to my Bod and urged me to satisfie her unlawful desires but I resisting both her Threats and Flatteries fetching a deep sigh she left me and that Night plotted revenge My Father coming home about noon next day and finding her a Bed asked her how she did She told him she was not well but he pressing her to speak particularly the cause of her suddain Sickness This good Son she said so full of Piety towards me our common Child whom I have loved I call the Gods to witness more than your self suspecting me by some signes to be with Child which I have concealed from you till I should be better assured of it my self took the occasion of your absence and when I advertised him of his duty and perswaded him to Temperance and to abstain from Drinking and wanton Courses for I knew his irregularities in that kind though I would not tell you so much fearing to incur the suspicion of a Step-mother
the meaning then replied Theagenes of your Speech in that famous Assembly when you called me your Brother methought it was a fine invention putting Thyamis out of jealousie of our Love and making way that we might freely be together I approved your Story of the Countrey of Ionia and of a Voyage to Delos for they were things like Truths and led the Hearers in a pleasing Error but to accord so freely to a Marriage to article and set down the time before such multitudes of People I neither could nor would conjecture what it meant but wished the Earth would open and devour me ere I should see my hopes and services repaid with such Ingratitude At these Words Chariclea imbracing Theagenes and weeping How well I take these Fears said she that torment you for my sake since they make me know in the extremity of our Adversities your Affection is the same it was but assure your self Theagenes if I had not carried it thus we should not at this time have had the freedom to confer together for to be wilful and to run a contrary course to the desires of one more powerful than our selves begets but a stronger opposition whilst yielding words applied to the motion of the Will presently appeaseth the first heat and by the sweetness of a Promise lays the Appetite to sleep forasmuch as they that love after a gross rustick way if at the first essay they get consent they think they have done enough and making sure they shall enjoy the content they wish their Spirit is in more repose and goes floating in their hope This Consideration made me yield to Thyamis in words only commending the Sequel to the Gods and the Genius that from the beginning hath taken our chaste Love into his Patronage oftentimes a day or two put off hath been greatly advantageous to the miserable and brought means of safety when no humane Prudence could work it therefore for the present I deferred him avoiding a Certainty for an Vncertainty but we must do this artificially and conceal it as a slight at the Weapon from our Enemies even from Knemon for though he be full of Courtesie and hath done many Favours for us and is as we are a Grecian yet he is as we are a Captive and therefore if occasion should be offered more likely to gratifie his Conqueror than us the Conquered for neither the time of his Acquaintance nor his being our Countreyman are sufficient Pledges to us of his Fidelity and therefore if at any time he touches at our Affairs you must deny the Truth for the Lye is not evil that does good to the Author and no hurt to the Hearer As Chariclea was discoursing thus Knemon entred all in a sweat and manifesting a great perturbation by his countenance Here Theagenes take this Herb he said and apply it to your Wounds we must prepare our selves for greater hurts Theagenes praying him to speak plain The consideration of the time said he will not let you hear me out for it is to be feared the effect will prevent my Words but follow me you and Chariclea and so led them both to Thyamis whom he found busied in furbishing an Armour and sharpning the point of a Javelin This is to the purpose said Knemon that you have your Arms so near you put them on presently and command every one to do the like for I have discovered such a cloud of enemies coming as I never saw before they are not far off for having descried them from the top of the Hill where I was gathering Herbs I have brought you the News with all the speed I could and in traversing the Lake I have given warning to your Men to be in a readiness for their defence Thyamis hearing this suddenly started up and demanded where Chariclea was as fearing more for her than for himself and Knemon having shewed her standing at the Door Go said Thyamis in his ear take her with thee into the Cave where we conceal our Treasure and when thou hast conveyed her down and covered the mouth of the Cave with the Stone that useth to lie upon it pr'ythee Friend return with all celerity mean time we will give order for the Fight then he commanded his Page to seek him a fat Beast that having sacrificed to the Gods Protectors of the Place they might joyn Battel This while Knemon doing his Commands led away Chariclea that sighed and lamented and at every step she went turned back her eyes towards Theagenes at length they came to the Cave where Knemon immediatly carried her down The Place was not a work of Nature as we see many both above and under the ground but it was a Vault wrought out of the Rock by the industry of the Aegyptian Thieves and imitating Nature artificially hollowed to contain their Spoyls the Entry was narrow and obscure and conveyed into a little Cell the Threshold Stone whereof was a Door that opened and shut easily and gave another passage for descent into the Cave when necessity required within it were cut many Trenches and Meanders that went turning of either side sometimes alone sometimes mixing together like the Roots of Trees till they came to the bottom and there they end in a large and spacious Plain whereinto enters a little Light by certain clefts and crannies in the Earth above Knemon that by practice knew the turnings having brought Chariclea to the bottom endeavoured to comfort her the best he could assuring her he and Theagenes would come and see her soon at Night and that he would not suffer him to fight nor come within the danger and so he left her not able to speak one Word but fainting as if she had been struck to death and deprived of her Soul in her Theagenes and closing up the Cave could not himself refrain from weeping both that he should be forced to execute so hard a Command and in compassion of her Fortune whom he had almost buried alive and sealed up in Night and Darkness the perfectest Workmanship of Nature then he made haste to Thyamis whom he found compleatly armed and with his Oration exciting those that were about him for standing in the midst of them he said My Companions in Arms I do not think it needful to trouble you with many Words you need no admonition War is your Trade and now the Enemy is so near us he cuts off Discourse he comes upon us to force our Trenches with his Sword and we must answer him in his own Language I have nothing else to say but that now you are not only to defend your Wives and Children which hath been Motive sufficient for others to fight to the last man though if we be Conquerors such small things and many of greater moment wil be in our power but your Lives are now at stake for the War among Thieves was never ended by Treaty nor secured by League but the Survivors must be Conquerors and the Conquered must die
where he was therefore sending Messengers to the Villages of the Thieves he proposed a great Sum of Money and so many Castles to any one that would take him alive so as these Thieves charmed with the hope of such a Profit even in the heat of Blood and War did not forget their Promise but after he was discovered took him alive though many died for it Being thus seized of Thyamis they rowed to Land putting him in Irons and appointing half of their Troops to guard him who vexing at his Fortune upbraided them of Cowardise for not daring to take him with their Swords bearing his imprisonment with more indignation and less patience than if it had been Death it self the rest of them returned into the Island in hope to find the Riches for which they had been tempted to run this hazard But after they had passed over all the Island without leaving one corner unsearched and finding nothing or very little of the Prize unless it were some Trifles that they had neglected to put up in the Cave they set fire upon the Cabbins and the Evening now approaching and putting them in a fear to stay longer in the Island lest they should fall into the Trains of some of those that fled from the Battel and might now perhaps lie in Ambuscado for them they returned to their Companies THE AETHIOPIAN HISTORY The Second Book THus the Island was all on fire but Theagenes and Knemon did not perceive that Misfortune so long as the Sun shined upon the Earth because his Beams lessened the appearance of Fire by Day but after Sun-set when it grew dark the Flame having then no Light greater than its own discovered it self in the full horror whilst they trusting to the Nights obscurity came out of the Reeds of the Marish and saw clearly the whole Island almost burnt to Ashes and then Theagenes beating his Head and tearing off his Hair Farewel to Life he said This day shall make an end of all Fears Dangers Cares Hope and Love Chariclea is dead Theagenes is lost in vain then Vnfortunate that I am have I fled from the Battel an Action unworthy of a man only reserving my self my Dearest for your sake but I will live no longer since you are deprived of your Life and which heightens my Affliction not after the common course of Nature nor have you rendred your Spirit in his Arms where you did wish to breath it Alas are you consumed by Fire and has your Destiny prepared these Flames to be our Nuptial Torches Must that Beauty without a Second in the World be thus defaced as not to leave so much Remains as a dead Body or any Relicks of her unadulterate Charms Oh unexampled Cruelty the most bitter Spite of Fortune I am denied the favour of a last Embrace and a poor parting Kiss At these Words drawing his Sword to run himself upon it Knemon caught hold of him and asked what he meant why do ye mourn for her as dead that lives Chariclea is in perfect health I do assure you This is for Children and Mad-men to believe replied Theagenes but Knemon you have done me wrong to come betwixt me and a pleasing Death But he confirming the truth of his News with Oaths told him all the Commands of Thyamis the Cave and Nature of the Cave where he had put her that he need not fear the Fire could penetrate to the bottom the violence of it being repell'd and broke with a thousand several Turnings At this Theagenes began to breath a little and thought long till he should come to the Island which he had already presented to his Thoughts and taken up his Marriage-chamber in the Cave not imagining the Complaints he should make nor the Tears he should there shed Thus they rowed towards the Island themselves playing the Watermen for he that rowed them the day before at the first Alarum and Cry of the Enemy had fallen overboard Now they being unpractised at the Oar were a long time carried up and down haying also the Wind against them yet their impatient desire of Landing overcame their unskilfulness When therefore with difficulty and much labour they were arrived they hasted with all possible speed to the Cave where they found all wasted by the Fire and only knew it by the Stone that covered the Entry of the Pit for the Wind blowing the Flame upon the Shades that were only made of Canes and Sedges matted one within another had burnt them down and levell'd all into a Plain elevating the Ashes in the Air and carrying them away the little that remain'd being so well cool'd that they might pass over them without fear of burning and gathering together some Reeds that were half burnt making them into a Torch Knemon went before Theagenes to light him down and after they were entred a little way on the sudden Knemon cried out O Jove what have we here We are undone Chariclea is slain Then casting his Torch against the Earth he extinguished it and fell upon his knees weeping for her untimely Death but Theagenes as if some Enemy had struck him down fell upon her Body and held her in his Arms as if they had been incorporated together Knemon knowing him to be lost in sorrow and fearing lest he should kill himself drew his Sword out of the Scabbard and so leaving him ran to light his Torch again Mean while Theagenes fetching deep Sighs from his afflicted Heart Oh insufferable Grief said he Oh Misery that the incensed Gods have let fall upon us what insatiable Fury pursues us with such rage banishing us from our Country betraying us to Shipwrack and Pyrates by Sea and Thieves by Land depriving us of all our Riches only one Comfort did remain but alas it is now taken from me Chariclea lies here dead she that was dearer to me than my Life hath lost hers by the hand of a cruel Enemy questionless in defence of her Honour reserving her self for me yet here the poor unfortunate lies dead not having reaped the Fruits of Beauty in the Flourish of her Age at least my Love bid me farewel speak to me give me but your last Commands Miserable that I am she answers not and eternal silence hath sealed her Heavenly and Prophetick Lips that spake with so much Musick Darkness covers now the Light of Sacrifices the Temple of the Gods and their fairest Ornament is now return'd to Chaos those Eyes have lost their Beams that enlightned the whole world which I assure my self the barbarous Murderer did not see By what Name shall I call thee my Contracted Alas the Contract 's broke my Wife Thou never knewest what Marriage was No no I must call thee the sweetest of all Names Chariclea Oh Chariclea let your Spirits be appeased you have a faithful Friend that shall not long be absent from you for I go now to celebrate your Obsequies and to sacrifice unto you in your Lovers Blood This Cave a rude Tomb
ran down calling Thesbe which name was all the Greek he had but when he saw her stretch'd Dead upon the Earth he was so astonisht as a while he had no Motion at length hearing certains Sounds and Murmurs out of the hollows of the Cave for Theagenes and Knemon were yet discoursing he suspected those to be the Murtherers of Thesbe this confused his thoughts not knowing what to resolve or do for the natural cruelty and barbarous humour of the Thief his rage exasperated by this accident frustrating him of the enjoying of his Love incited him to run to the bottom and fall upon them he esteemed the Authors of her Death but wanting Arms he was reclaimed to Moderation against his will he thought it his best way at first to accost them as his Friends but if he should chance to find supply of Weapons then to fall upon them as his Enemies This being designed in his mind he approached Theagenes and look'd upon him with an Eye of Fury discovering his secret purpose But when they perceived a naked Man coming upon them on the sudden hurt and his Face all Bloody they were diversly affected at the sight Chariclea ran down as low as she could Knemon said not a word but retired himself some paces though he knew Thermutis but seeing him come so unexpected he feared some Stratagem but the Spectacle did not so much terrifie as provoke Theagenes who laid his hand upon his Sword as if he would kill him if his rashness should make him attempt any thing Stay said he or come upon thy Death and know the reason I have held my hand is because I begin to know thy Person though I doubt thy Meaning Thermutis intreating Pardon for his intrusion fell at the feet of Theagenes as suppliant rather temporizing and for fear of Danger than having changed his mind to be revenged of them and beseeching Knemon to speak for him pleaded they were tyed to save his life having never done them Injury and the day before been there Companion and now fled to them as his Friends This moved Knemon and made him come in and raise Thermutis who was prostrated on the Earth and many times demanded of him what was become of Thyamis Thermutis told all his Captains Fortune how he had fought in the midst of his Enemies neither sparing theirs nor his own life and how by a commandment to take him alive they forbare to hurt him though he slew them and so he left him invironed finding himself so wounded as he could hardly swim to Land and that for the present he was come into the cave to look for Thesbe they ask'd him how he came to know Thesbe or where he had got her He told them how he had taken her from the Merchants how he fell in love with her how for a while he concealed her in his Cabbin and at the coming of the Enemy put her into the Cave where he now found her slain but by whose hands he knew not yet would be glad to be informed the Author and Occasion of the Murther Knemon desirous to free himself of the suspition presently told him Thyamis was the Murderer and to confirm it shewed him the Sword he had found besides her When Thermutis saw the Blade yet dropping Blood and hot and knew it to be his Captain's fetching a deep sigh not able to imagine what should move him to that Act blinded and dumb with Grief he left them and returned to the Body and falling upon it laying his head in her bosom he cried Oh Thesbe forgetting all other Words Theagenes Chariclea and Knemon being now alone began to study what course they were best to take and made a shew as if they would consult together but the multidue of past Miseries the perplexity of present Calamities and the incertitude of the future yet hanging over their heads so confused their Spirits that they did nothing but look one upon another expecting who would first begin the Overture that Hope failing they bowed down their Eyes and again listing them up sighed so easing their sad Hearts At length Knemon stretched himself upon the Earth Theagenes sate down upon a Stone with Chariclea on his Knee and a long time they put off Sleep desiring by some good Counsel to provide for their Affairs but broke with Grief and Labour though unwilling they obeyed the Law of Nature and from the extremity of Sorrow slided into the sweetness of a Sleep the reasonable part of the Soul being forced to consent to the necessity of the Body When Slumber had new seized upon them and but even joyned their Eye-lids and a little lightned them of their Burden Chariclea that lay in the Bosom of Theagenes dreamed that she saw an ugly man come towards her having his Hair all matted and Elfe-lock'd looking like a Traytor his Eyes sunk in his Head and his Hands bloody who running at her with his Sword struck out her right Eye she presently crying out called Theagenes and said her Eye was gone he presently awaked and deplored her Misfortune as if he had dreamed so too but she feeling about with her hand for the Eye she had lost in her Sleep and soon recollecting her self said I did but dream I did but dream Theagenes my Eyes are safe do not afflict your self These Words gave new Life to Theagenes The Gods be thanked said he that have preserved those Sun-Beams But what was the Matter what Terror did invade you Oh said she a wicked and ill-favoured man not fearing your unconquered valour with his Sword drawn insulted over me that had taken Sanctuary in your Bosom and methought he struck out my right Eye and would it had been Truth not a Dream The Gods forbid replied Theagenes Why say you so Because said she it had been better for me to have lost an Eye than to have been put in such a fear for you for I doubt this Dream portends some ill to you who are dearer to me than my Eyes or Life it self No more of that said Knemon for he had heard all awaking with the first Cry of Chariclea To me this Dream signifies quite another thing tell me Are your Parents living Chariclea said Yes Then said Knemon Believe your Father to be dead Thus I conjecture it Our Parents are the Authors of our Life and it is by their Means we see and enjoy this Light therefore I hold it apt to compare our Father and Mother to our Eyes the sense capable of Light and whereby we discern things visible and this is the meaning of your Dream A heavy Sence replied Chariclea yet rather be this verified than the other May your Tripos divine rightly and I prove a false Prophet The Event will crown my Divination replyed Knemon and so rest you content But methinks we dream yet that so much trouble our selves about imaginations and omit to resolve what we should do whilst this Egyptian meaning Thermutis hath left us for
and time wherein you suffered this great conflict in your Spirits Anon I will inform you he replyed now it is time to appease our appetite and content our belly which drawing us away how great soever the business be we have in agitation is properly called pernitious by the admirable Homer But first following the percepts of the Aegyptian Wisdom let us offer the first fruits of our repast to the Gods a custom I shall never violate and my grief how strong soever it is shall never prevail with me so far as to blot out of my memory the divine powers and the honour I am bound to render them Then pouring on the Earth clear water out of a Vial I offer he said this effusion to the Gods of Aegypt and of Greece to Apollo of Delphos and to Theagenes and Chariclea the best and noblest therefore I think it lawful to number them amongst the Gods With this he wept making a second offering of his tears to sorrow Knemon was amaz'd to hear these names and began to take a stricter veiw of the Old Man How say you Father said he are Theagenes and Chariclea your Children They are replyed the Old Man my Children born without a Mother for the Gods have miraculously been pleased that I should get them by accident and be delivered of them not without the grief and passions of my Soul. My Love though not my Nature was a Father to them so they esteemed and called me But tell me how came you to know them I do not only know them answered Knemon but I am able to assure you they are in health and safe Oh Apollo and all other Gods cryed the Old Man inform me in what part of the world they live I will esteem thee my Preserver and the Equal of my happiest Stars But what will you give me said Knemon For the present said he my thanks a grateful heart accounted the fairest present a wise man can receive I have known some would treasure up this gift as their best riches but if the Gods please I shall recover my own as I have their promise it shall be shortly I will reward you nobly make you a rich Man Said Knemon you promise things future and uncertain I look for present pay Let me know what it is you demand said the Old Man do you see any thing you would have If it be any part of my body I will cut it off and esteem my self the sounder Man. It is only this said Knemon that you will truly relate to me of whence they are their Parents and their Fortunes A great Donative replyed the Old Man There is no other comparable to it though you had asked all the riches of the Earth and Sea but you shall have it only first let us take a little repast for it will be a long time of imployment for us both mine to relate and yours to hear When they had now filled themselves with Nuts Figgs new pulled Dates and such like Fruits whereon the Old Man used to feed for he never eat any thing that had life taken from it they drank the pure ' Water but Knemon pure Wine After they had a while kept silence Father you are not ignorant said Knemon how good a companion Bacchus is how much he delights in Entertainments Verse and Stories he hath now taken up his lodging in my Brain and makes me extreamly covetous of the reward you promised me and therefore Father it is now time you bring these persons upon the Stage I will replyed the Old Man and I wish with all my heart the honest Nausicles had been with us who hath often been earnest with me to discourse these passages but I have still put him off from time to time Where is he said Knemon hearing him name Nausicles He is gone a hunting said the Old Man not to chase Beasts but wilder Creatures that are called Men and Heardsmen but they are Thieves and not without much difficulty to be taken the pernicious Otters live in such an Island of invincible Earth and Water But how have they offended him They have said the old Man robbed him of an Athenian Gentlewoman named Thesbe Oh ho said Knemon and took himself in the manner and so stopped his Speech The old Man asking him what was the matter Knemon diverted him to another consideration I wonder said Knemon under the assurance of what forces he durst fall upon these Robbers the great King replyed the Old man hath made Oroondates his Lieutenant of Aegypt by whose command Mitranes Captain of the Garrisons is billeted in this town for our defence and Nausicles with a great sum of Mony hath procured him to lead his Horse and Foot against the Islanders being in an extream rage that they should take from him this Athenian Woman not only because she is his friend and playeth curiously upon the Lute but principally because as he telleth me he was to carry her to the King of Aethiopia to be near the Queen to pass her time and teach her the fashions and the language of the Grecians the spite to lose so great a remuneration as he expected makes him now use all the Engines of his wit and power to recover her I my self have been a Principal in perswading and encouraging him because so happily I may come to find my Children Enough said Knemon let us now leave talking of Herdsmen and Thieves Lieutenants Captains and Kings for I protest you had almost insensibly stollen away my Mind to a new Matter making a long Preface nothing to my purpose therefore I pray you bring about your Oration to the Path you promised me for methinks I see the Pharian Proteus revived in you not that you turn your self into as many commentitious Species and fluxive Forms appearing and vanishing but that you would transform me and change the Mould of my Imagination I will recount the Truth unto you said the old man without disguises whatsoever you are pleased to think of me but first I will make you a brief Discovery of my own Fortune because theirs depends upon it There City of Memphis is my Countrey my Fathers Name was Calasiris so is mine my present condition is no better than a poor Pilgrim that was sometimes in that City honoured with the Charge of the Chief Priest I had a Wife by the Institutions of our Town but I lost her by the Law of Nature After she was departed from her mortal Body to eternal Rest for a while I lived and felt not Misery commforting my self in my two Sons she had left me but it few years my better Stars having finished their prescribed Circle the Face of my Affairs began to change and Saturn with an ill Aspect beheld our House threatning the Ruine of it which I had wisdom to foresee but no power to prevent for any man may prediscover the immutable Decrees of Fate but no man can avoid them only this good there is in Fore-sight that it
rebates the Point and takes off the edge of our Disasters which Child if they fall sudden are intolerable but fore-seeing we are prepared to receive them otherwise Fear disquieting the Soul makes us bear them with impatience but this Acquaintance renders them familiar to our Reason My first Misfortune was this A Thracian Woman in the perfect Flower of her Age the fairest as I think next to Chariclea in the world naming her self Rhodopis I know not whence or how but by the adverse fate of those that were acquainted with her was brought to travel through Egypt and with a petulant Confidence shewed her self at Memphis followed with a great Train of Maids and Men that served her her Carriages richly laded and her self exactly studied in all the Charms and Allurements of a Venus it was not possible for any man to see her but he must be taken such an inevitable fascination shot from her eyes She often came into the Temple of the Goddess Isis whose Priest I was and shewed great Devotion to the Goddess being frequent in Sacrifices making Rich and Princely Offerings at our Altars I blush to speak it yet you shall know all her Beauty that I had often stood the assaults of at length conquered me and forced my Continency which till then I had safely guarded all my Life a great while the Eyes of my Soul resisted those of my Body but after a long fight I was constrained to yield the Passion of a Lover pressing upon me and lying heavy as a Load of Chains therefore I found this Woman to be the first Mover and beginning of those Evils which hanged over me a long while before discovered by my Art understanding there was fatal necessity in it and that the Devil that troubled my Repose had put on that Form and Shape to persecute me I resolved howsoever not dishonour my Priestly Function wherein from a Child I had been bred and rather die than prophane the Temples and Altars of the Gods at length Reason obtaining the Empire of my Soul to satisfie for the fatal offence I had committed not actually which Heaven forbid but in thought only I punish'd my Concupiscence with voluntary Banishment and left my Country of my own accord as well to obey the force of Destiny and suffer it to do with me what it pleased as also to avoid the sight of the execrable Rhodopis For Friend I was afraid lest Love laying siege to my Heart that was yet defended by Reason should at length take the Fortress and make me commit some foul thing But that which principally expell'd me was my Children who as the Gods by their Mysterious Wisdom had revealed to me were to fight a single Combat fatally together therefore to take from my Eyes the sight of such a lamentable Object which I imagine the Sun himself will not behold masking his Beams behind a Cloud not to make a Father so unhappy as to stand by and see his Children murder one another I abandoned my Country and my Fathers House not making any one privy to the Cause of my Departure nor whither I was bound pretending a Journey to the great City of Thebes to see my Elder Son who remained there with his Grandfather by the Mothers side his Name was Thyamis Again Knemon stood wondring as if the Name of Thyamis had strook him yet he forbare to speak impatient to hear out the Discourse which Calasiris thus continued Young man I leave out my Journey and the Passages thereof as not pertinent to the Story you desire but having often heard that in Greece there was a City named Delphos particularly dedicated to Apollo yet that there was a common Temple wherein also all the Gods were honoured and a kind of Fellowship or Vniversity of Wise men separate from the Tumults of the Vulgar I esteem'd it would be the most proper and convenient retiring place for a Prophet as a City destined to Sacred Ceremonies then loosing out from the Gulf of Crissaeum and arriving at Cirrhus I was no sooner Landed but I hasted towards Delphos and coming near the Town a Sound doubtless Divine presently beat upon my Ear. Methought this City was the sweetest place of Abode that ever I had seen both for its own Beauty and in regard Nature and Art had been in strife to fortifie it the Mountain Parnassus hangs over it with his stretched sides flanking in the Town as with a Bulwark You say true said Knemon and like a man inspired by Apollo for my Father made the same Description unto me of the situation of Delphos when the Town of Athens sent him thither Ambassador from the Estates of the Amphictiones Then you are an Athenian said Calasiris I am Your Name I pray you Knenion he replied Your Fortune You shall know mine hereafter But now follow your Discourse Content replied Calasiris After I was come up to the Town and that I had delighted my Eyes with the great Plains fair Fields Places of Exercise Rivers Springs and the Castalian Fountain where I purified my self I hasted to the Temple following the Press of People that went thither it being then the hour wherein the Prophetess used to be inspired and speak Oracles Having entred the Temple adored the God and commended my Wishes in a short Prayer the Priestess whom they call Pythia thus replyed Wandring from fruitful Nilus thou dost fly Poor Voluntier thy too strong Destiny Stay for black Egypt shortly I 'le again Restore thee here till then our Friend remain When she had uttered this I prostrated upon my Face before the Altar humbly praying Apollo to be propitious to me in all Affairs All that were present greatly praised the God for having vouchsafed me so gracious an Answer at my first Arrival and thenceforth the People honoured and observed me wondring at my good Fortune who they said was the only man that ever Apollo had called Friend since one Lycurgus a Lacedemonian and when they knew I desired to dwell within the Cloyster of the Temple they permitted me and decreed me a publick Allowance to defray my Charges In sum there was no good thing wanting to my content for either I was busied to enquire the Reasons of the Ceremonies of the many and different Sacrifices both Strangers and the Inhabitants offer to the God or else I past my time in Conference and Dispute with the Philosophers repairing thither in great numbers as to a Colledge consecrated to the Muses whereof Apollo that inspires them is the Master at first they moved many Questions to me some of one thing some of another one demanded in what manner we Aegyptians worshiped our Gods another asked me why we adore Creatures and hold them Sacred and Divine some enquired of the form and structure of our Pyramids Many were curious in questioning me about the Art of our Conduits and Water-works and not to particularize they left nothing unenquired that concerneth us for the Singularities of Aegypt do
I shall not omit any thing in my power and he had scarce spoken the words but he ran with joy to put them in Act and did as I entreated him without any procrastination as afterwards I understood carrying to Chariclea as Nuptial gifts from Alcamenes not only rich Vestures but also the precious Jewels Persina had put in her Cradle when she was exposed But I went presently to Theagenes and asked him where his Thessalians were that did assist at the ceremony of the Procession He told me the Ladies were gone softly before to make the easier Journeys and how the young men burned with so great a desire to see their Friends at home as be hardly had power to stay them any longer Understanding that I instructed him what he should say to them and what they should do commanding him he should observe when I would give the sign and then take heed not to lose the time and occasion offered so I left him And going to the Temple of Apollo I intended to make my Prayer to the God that he would please by his Oracle to direct me what course I would take to convey away the two young Lovers but the God was swifter than a thought for the Heavenly powers do favour such as resign their will to theirs though not implored often preventing mens Petitions with their bounty as at this time Apollo anticipated my demand with his reply making me know his pleasure and direction for as I was hasting towards the Prophetess troubled in my mind how I might execute my design a voice stayed me as I passed saying Do you go so fast and hear not how these Strangers call you They were a company of Merchants that to the sound of Flutes and Hoboys were doing Sacrifice and celebrating a Feast in Honour of Hercules I stayed when I perceived them for I should have offended the Sacred Mysteries of Religion to have passed by them without respect the Divine Voice having invited me after I had put Frankincense in a Thurible and incensed the Altar offering a little Water it seem'd they thought me very sumptuous in my oblations and intreated me to take part of their Banquet I obeyed them so far and when I was set down upon a Couch which the strangers had strew'd with Myrrh and Bays and had tasted such things as I used to eat Noble Gentlemen said I you have done me the Honour to feast me so as I cannot desire any greater dainties I now only long to know your Estate and Fortunes therefore now it is time if you please to tell me who and of what Country you are for it would be rude and an Incivility in me having sat with you at the Feast of a Sacrifice and imitated Friendship by you by the Communion of a sacred repast if we should part without having a more particular knowledge one of the other Then they told me they were Phoenicians of the City of Tyre by their Trade Merchants that were then bound for Carthage in Africa with a Ship laded with rich Merchandises they had brought out of India Aethiopia and Phoenicia and at the present were Sacrificing a Feast no the Tyrian Hercules forasmuch as that Young Man said they pointing to one that say by me at the Table hath gain'd the Crown and prize of the Lute and proclaim'd our City of Tyre Victorious among the Greeks This Youth when we had doubled the Cape of Malea and by adverse Winds were forced to land in the Isle of the Cephalians there he protested to us by this God the Patron of our Country that he had foretold him in his sleep the Victory he should obtain in the Pythian game perswading us to turn our course and Sail hither where the effect hath proved the truth of his Prediction and he that was but late a Merchant is now proclaim'd a Conqueror and now in gratitude to the God makes him this Feast for the favour of premonstrating his success but to morrow morning if the Wind serve we intend to weigh Anchor Is that your resolution said I They told me it was You shall have me your Companion I reply'd if you will give me leave for I must make a Voyage into Sicily about my affairs and you know those that Sail for Africa must pass by this Island If you please said they we shall be happy in your Company for we shall make accompt prosperity will attend us so long as a Wife Man a Grecian and one belov'd of the Gods as your experience speaks you will go along with us I desired I said to them if you will but give me one day to prepare my self and before I go to give some order for my business here You shall have all to morrow they reply'd provided you come a-board us soon at night for the night is very serviceable to us small breaths of Wind rising from the Earth and wafting away a Ship without moving of great Waves I promised not to fail first taking their Faith by Oath they should not loose to Sea before the time appointed and so I left them Dancing to their Musick that play'd quick strains like Jiggs which they footed in the Assyrian garb sometimes with little Skips capering in the Air sometimes bending their Knees to the Earth and skrewing their whole Bodies as if they had been possest with some prophetick Spirit And coming to Chariclea I found her with the Jewels yet in her lap that Charicles had presented her Then I went to Theagenes and having advertis'd them both what they should do I retir'd to my Lodging attending with impatience the issue of my project The next day this happen'd When Midnight drown'd all the Town in Sleep A Troop of Young Gentlemen Armed besieg'd the Lodgings of Chariclea Theagenes was Captain of that Amorous War making his Young Thessalians put off their glorious habit and put on their Armours who suddenly filling the Air with cries and terrifying those that were between sleep and wake with the noise of their Shields and Swords with Torches burning in their Hands they brake into the House of Charicles easily forceing the first Gate for the Locks and Bolts were prepared to admit them and took away Chariclea who was ready and expected them suffering them to force her with her own consent and with the Maid coveyed away such portable Riches as she pleased and returning through the Streets they renewed their Warlike Clamours and doubled the sound and terror of their Arms frightning the City almost out of their Wits and chooseing the dead of night to that end Finally they made such a noise as the Mountain Parnassus echoed and replyed to the clashing of their Iron And thus marching out of the Town they did ride upon the Spurr to the Mountains of the Locrians and Oetians But Theagenes and Chariclen doing as I advised them left the Thessalians and came secretly where I expected them Where falling at my Feet they trembling cry'd Save us Father Father Save