Persander replied Caesonia forcing him to rise up I wish not your banishment as a punishment but as a remedy for the evil I suffer for certainly it is not just that I believe at the same time unfortunate and innocent should be thought guilty when I am not If therefore it be true that you love me resolve to chuse one of these two things Ah Madam cries he how difficult do I think the choice you put me to though I know not yet what you would say to me However it be said Caesonia there is no other expedient left But once more Madam replied he what choice is it you put me to That you would either quit Ardea replied she and never come into it or at least not of a long time or that you would marry and never see me after but when you cannot possibly avoid it Ah Madam cries he into what a strange extremity have you reduced me Ah Persander replied she what an unhappy conjuncture am I in for your sake Reputation I value above all things and though I have done nothing whereby mine should be prejudiced yet am I in a fair likelihood to lose it if therefore you love me and own any true Generosity assist me to preserve that which once lost you cannot restore I give you two days to take your choice of these two things I have proposed to you and if you do it not I shall be more dissatisfied with you than with Turnus Hereupon Persander made a thousand fruitless expostulations and propositions and proposed a many several expedients for he was content not to see Caesonia any more at her house conditionally he might see her sometimes at my Chamber nay he at last came so low as that he would not speak to her any where provided he might write to her but there being in things of this nature a certain mystery obligation Caesonia would not by any means ingage her self She told him he must obey that he loved her not if he preferred not her Reputation before all things and that she would absolutely hate him if he resolved not either to marry or absent himself for ever To tell you all they said one to another and what I said to both were to presume too much upon your patience But I shall tell you that since there have been Lovers there were not any that passed two such long and cruel days as those Persander spent in making this dreadful choice For when he thought on this perpetual or at best very long absence he was no longer Master of his own thoughts nor indeed of his words Never to see Caesonia seemed to him a thing so cruel that he thought death it self more supportable On the other side when he thought of marrying he had such a horrid aversion thereto that he could hardly admit any Treaty of it he thought he could not in honour marry one he should not love and love inspired him with apprehensions so opposite to those of Marriage that he could not take any resolution that way Not but that it was some ease for him to think that he might at least remain by that means in Ardea that he might see Caesonia in the Temples whether she would or not and flattered himself with a hope that she might change her mind But for this eternal absence that which troubled him most in it was that he believed Caesonia would forget him So that how great soever his aversion to marriage might be yet he thought it spoke something more amorous not to leave Caesonia than eternally to forsake her Nevertheless he could not resolve in the time Caesonia appointed him but spent eight days in bemoaning himself and doing nothing but writing Lettert to me to entreat me to get an arrest of that cruel Judgement Caesonia avoiding all Interviews in that time But at last Caesonia understanding there was divers reports abroad which gave people occasion to think there was some secret correspondence between her and Persander sent him word that it was her absolute Will he should take his choice So that this unfortunate Lover looking on this Removal as absolutely insupportable and thinking it would be conceived extravagant was content to Marry conditionally Caesonia made choice of a Wife for him for there were three or four Ladies whereof his Friends proposed to him the choice But if Persander was much troubled to chuse Caesonia was no less to advise him yet at last finding that she who had the greatest Fortune had the least Beauty she gave me order to name her to Persander who was very much pleased with an imagination that Caesonia pitching on a Wife for him that was not over handsome might do it out of some considerations of kindness to him But Caesonia's design took not for the Friends of that Lady having heard the reports of the loves of Persander and Caesonia changed their minds and answered him that they thought not their Daughter handsome enough to cure Persander of so violent a Passion This unhappy Lover therefore was forced to address himself to another who certainly was as indifferent to him as the former but was questionless much the handsomer and to be short the Marriage was talked of as a thing absolutely concluded No sooner were all parties agreed but Caesonia was infinitely troubled at it and was so much incensed against Persander that she could not be more exasperated against Turnus than she was against him Nevertheless she durst not at first discover her apprehensions of it but I soon observing she was fallen into a new discontent tormented at last into a confession that she was extremely vexed that Persander had chosen rather to marry than to depart For in fine said she if he loved me so much as he would make me believe he could never have consented to marry especially with so great a Beauty as he is now to have but certainly the reason of that is that I am destined to the experience of all kinds of Inconstancy Turnus as soon as he became my Husband ceased to be my Lover and Persander who pretends so much obstinacy in love will certainly become a Lover of his Wife as soon as he shall have marryed one But said I to her what concerns it you whether he loves her or loves her not since you will never see him more and are absolutely resolved never to receive a gallant Letter from Persander I know I am much to blame said she to me and I am so disordered to see my own weakness and the humourousness of my apprehensions that I blush at it for certainly I shall never see Persander I shall never receive either Verse or Prose from him that shall mention his Love and Turnus how inconstant soever he may be shall if ever he return find me faithful to him But when all is done I cannot but be troubled that Persander marries and marries one he can love But said I to her you have put the choice upon him I confess it replied
above all the world and who is so necessary unto my joy as I have none if I be not with her Well well replied Valeria and smiled I will not keep you any longer with me lest I weary you And therefore without putting you to any further trouble in telling me your thoughts I assure you that you are only my Friend Oh Madam replied he I beseech you do not judge so hastily of my affection and never fear I can be weary of being with you And therefore give me leave to tell you That my tenderness to the person of whom I speak is so great that all her miseries are mine I look upon her with delight I admire her with abundance of joy all she says pleases me her beauty charms me her goodness ravisheth me and her wit strikes me with such a respective astonishment as is above common admiration But after all this I am not jealous I desire nothing and all my thoughts are so pure and free from any interest as I cannot think any ones affection like unto mine I have already told you replied Valeria cunningly That all your thoughts of me proceed only from Friendship and I am very glad of it for as they talk of Love one is never very happy by it Since Madam you say replied Herminius that my thoughts of you are only Friendship I hope there is no hurt if I tell you that you are the rare person whom I prefer before all the world and whose company I love so well that I cannot endure to be any where else Also I beseech you give me leave to hope I shall find affection for affection from you For the same vertue which they say allows Ladies to be ungrateful unto their Lovers requires they should be reciprocally kind to their friends But Madam added he and would not give her leisure to speak I had almost forgot to tell you That you are not only the person whom I love best of all the World but also to speak sincerely you are the only person whom I love For when I examine my self well the affection which I bear unto others is nothing in comparison of that I bear unto you And when I said that I would desire nothing truly I know not what may happen hereafter For at this very Instant there comes upon my heart such a violent desire of being loved by you that if you leave me hopeless I perceive I shall be the most miserable man in the whole World You deceive your self in speaking as you do replied Valeria for Friendship never makes any miserable But Madam replyed he perhaps you do not know what thoughts my Soul has of you What ere they be said she and would have gone away I will go and tell the company that you are only upon terms of Friendship With all my heart answered he For if perchance I should be in love with you as there is great likelihood I shall it is best that none but you in all the World do know it Nay replied Valeria if that misfortune ever happen I wish I may never know it After this Valeria left Herminius and blushed not well knowing what she should say unto the company Come Valeria said Salonina as soon as she came is Herminius a friend or a Lover Is it you or Flavia or I that is adored does he love all the company in general or any one person in particular I must ingenuously confess answered Valeria that Herminius is not in love and therefore we are all of us equally obliged unto him for his assiduous visits unto us Oh Madam replied Herminius I did not think you would have said so If I be mistaken answered she I cry you mercy my memory is so bad that I may be excused and if I did not say aright yet I am sure I said as things ought to be After this all the company fell upon Herminius and Valeria and contested amongst themselves some affirmed that he was in love and others that he was not and all in general did divert themselves very pleasantly upon this matter all the rest of the day Mean while great alterations grew in the minds of Valeria and Herminius for Valeria made more doubt of Herminius his affection than she did before he spake unto her And Herminius on the contrary did not doubt at all that he was in love since the time Valeria told him his thoughts were only effects of friendship When he came at home he accused himself for speaking too faintly and coldly of his affection he repented himself of his too much prudence and he upbraided himself a thousand times with blockishness in being so long before he knew that the thoughts of his soul were effects of love As for Valeria though she was as vertuous a person as ever lived and though at that time she could not imagine she could ere endure any should love her yet she could not chuse but chide her self for harbouring some little belief that Herminius did love her and could not chuse but think upon Herminius whether she would or no. Things then being upon these terms you must know that Volesus who loved Salonina unknown to any and that Salonina did not hate him they were full of joy for Spurius falling deep in love with Salonina Volesus had the satisfaction to see his Rival most horribly ill treated by that fair one his Mistress that Spurius was a man of many admirable qualities and none ill except that he was the most revengeful of any man living Valeria and Salonina were then most particular friends for Lucretia was not of their society So as Valeria saw all the bitter affronts which Salonina put upon Spurius yet it is not to be imagined there was the same confidence between Valeria and Salonina as there was since between Valeria and Lucretia for they communicated such secrets only as may be said they made great mysteries of small trifles But for all that they loved or at least thought so and in ther familiarity Valeria would sometimes tell Salonina that she treated Spurius too sharply for truly said that wise Lady I conceive it fit to be severe with judgment and when a man of good parts is in love with a well qualified woman she ought to carry it so as to let him know that his passion is displeasing unto her without scorning or sleighting the man for it is very dangerous to procure the hatred of those who love you and certainly it is much better to be hated by one who never loved you than by a slighted and contemned lover For my part replied Salonina I think nothing more glorious for a woman than that she can sleight a very brave man only because he is in love with her Valeria replied upon Salonina and Salonina answered her but they did not alter one anothers opinions So as Spurius was treated by Salonina worse than ever any poor lover was and yet she made many advantages unto her self by it for thereby the love
you of since he was one of my friends judges Know then that this generous friend of Clarinta's is called Anaximenes a person of extraordinary merit He is well born and comes of a House bless'd with an Estate sufficient to satisfie a wise man and yet it may be said it is a thousand times less than he deserves Anaximenes is tall hath an Oval countenance a dark hair a delicate but pale complexion somewhat a great mouth a well proportion'd nose eyes black large and full of fire Yet is his deportment grave enough though his eyes do many times betray an obliging smile For his understanding it requires more knowledg than I have to define it well For not to mention the great prodigality of Nature towards him in that particular he hath improved it strangely He hath not only learned whatever the Greeks knew but also whatever the Chaldeans the Babylonians and the Egyptians have communicated to others So that whatever the most learned as well antient as modern knew separately he hath united in himself Thence is it that he is consulted upon the most obscure passages of Hesiod and Homer and what from Greece where the Disciples of the seven Wise men do yet flourish what from Crotona and Metapont where live those of Pythagoras he constantly receives Letters from those learned persons with whom he holds correspondence For the Tongues he hath an admirable command of four not reckoning his own and writes Verses in all those four as well as in his own natural language He hath also writ divers pieces in Prose full of excellent knowledge and what ever is noble in Poesie or curious in point of Letters he is absolute master of But though Anaximenes be a very knowing person and his company much courted by all the Lovers and professors of Learning yet is it not to be imagined that he sees no other people no his acquaintance spreads not only into that of Queens Princes Princesses and Ministers of State but also into that of all the Gallants about the Court and all the Beauties without any exception for to speak freely he is no less a lover of the Ladies than of the Muses and what makes for his advantage is that they have an infinite esteem for him and that he never had any violent love for any one of them but she became his very familiar friend For when he loves he does it with violence nay he hath the gift of shedding passionate tears which all Lovers have not and he is the most generous Lover in the world 'T is true he cannot endure to love all his life-time to no purpose and what is most particular in his love is that sometimes an ordinary passion cures him of a great one that he can afterwards resume his former chains without breaking his second that he can cease loving yet not hate and that his love is many times changed into friendship Anaximenes is not to be numbred among those people that have friends only for themselves for though he hath a great interest in all those that have any in the Court of Eryx yet does he not make any advantage of it himself save that of serving others He is perpetually doing good offices for some or other and the world affords not a person that takes greater pleasure in obliging such of any worth as are unfortunate than he does Nor does he think it enough to serve such with his credit as he thinks stand in need thereof but his own estate lies as open to his friends as himself and these things he does as freely as if fortune had given him security he should never want any thing And for the interest he hath with great ones he gets it not by base sycophancy on the contrary he speaks sincerely and courageously to those whom he deals with and discovers a greater heart in giving a faithful advice than others do in those actions that make most noise His virtue is not unciviliz'd or scrupulous he injures no man nay endeavours not the prejudice of his enemies his behaviour is innocent all his inclinations generous he loves glory yet does not admit ambition and to define him in few words he hath the knowledge of a Grecian the heart of a Roman and a soul as amorous as if he had been born in Africk Anaximenes being such a person as I represent him to you was one of those that came to the Princess Clarinta's on the day appointed for Artelisa's four Lovers to give each of them their reasons to prove the greatness of their affection But that so great a difference might receive a period without the fear of any unhappy consequence they caused the four Lovers solemnly to swear that they would exactly observe the engagement that they had made not to raise any quarrel about the choice after it was once made and to leave Eryx the same day For my own particular in regard I had been long there and was a friend to all these Lovers and much favour'd by the Princess Clarinta I was one of those that were to give Artelisa their advice But at last the day being set and Artelisa come to the Princess Clarinta's Palace where four very understanding Ladies chosen by her with the consent of the four Lovers being come Meriander Teramus Anaximenes Merigenes three others and my self met them there Clarinta would have the business debated in a spacious Closet wainscotted in the roof that had all about it many Cabinets full of things curious and magnificent The Princess lay on a little Bed of State all the Ladies sate on cushions and the men either stood or half kneeled by the Ladies upon a large piece of Tapestry which took up half of the Closet For the four Lovers they were with the Prince Clarinta not thinking it fit they should hear what was said against them one after another lest it might exasperate them Nay they drew lots who should speak first of those that were to plead for them So it happened that Alcimedes's friend should begin Caliantes should be the second Lisydas's next and Melicrates's last Clarinta did further oblige those that were to speak to address their speech to Artelisa whose thoughts were then in no small disturbance When all had taken their places Alcimedes's friend who was to speak for him was call'd who having made a low reverence and received Clarinta's order spoke to the fair Artelisa in these terms ALCIMEDES 's Plea THe cause I am to defend is so just Madam that were I not satisfi'd that it is impossible for a man to love without hope I should charge the illustrious persons whom your merit hath made your servants with a carriage very irrational For Madam can any of them compare what they have done for the discovery and expression of their affection with that which Alcimedes hath Caliantes it must be confess'd hath done a generous action in resolving to lose his Estate rather than leave you but when all is done Madam a man
that some change hapned in the minds of Aemilius and Theanor for the ancient Mistress of this latter being possess'd with extreme jealousie utter'd several expressions which intimated that Theanor could not but have an other Love All the Mistresses of Aemilius did the like and within a very few daies it was generally talkt of that Theanor was became unfaithful and Aemilius constant It was also added that the cause of the constancy of one and of the infidelity of the other must needs be in Elynissa's house but however it could not be conjectur'd whether it were Aurelisa that Aemilius lov'd or whether it were Terentia that had cur'd Theanor of his first passion for these two Lovers not knowing the intention of their Uncle durst not declare themselvs and liv'd in partial civility towards these two Ladies for whom they had notwithstanding very different sentiments and by whom likewise they were lookt upon after a very different manner I being then their intimate friend inform'd them of the rumour that was reported concerning the constancy of Aemilius and the unfaithfulness of Theanor and ask't them for whose sake Theanor was become unfaithful and Aemilius constant For it is not doubted added I but 't is for the sake of you two that these Lovers have chang'd inclinations For my part answer'd Terentia suddenly and blushing I know not whether Theanor loves me but I know well Aemilius does not I am very well assur'd said Aurelisa Theanor is not faithful for my sake and as for Aemilius I care so little for knowing wherefore he ceas'd to be inconstant that I have not at all taken notice of it Yet I wonder added Terentia you have not observ'd that he takes more pleasure in speaking to you than to me I assure you I have taken notice of it answer'd she but I have observ'd upon divers occasions that Theanor uses all his address to avoid discourse with me and seeks to place himself near you as often as he can without doing me incivility If it be so repli'd Terentia coldly I have reason to complain and pity my self and I wish Aemilius be more happy than he If he have any such intention towards me as you speak of answer'd Aurelisa he will not be more happy than his friend nor I than you In truth said I to them then I see not however the business be how either of you can be unhappy for Theanor and Aemilius are both such deserving persons that you cannot make a bad choice of either of them They were going to answer but these two Lovers enter'd who to confirm what they had spoken of handsomely sought to place themselves according to their inclinations Aemilius approacht near to Aurelisa and Theanor to Terentia At which both of them blusht which the Lovers observing interpreted to their own advantage as persons in their condition use to take all occasions of flattering themselves tho in truth it was to their prejudice For Terentia blusht out of spight to see that Aemilius prefer'd Aurelisa before her self and Aurelisa out of anger to observe that Theanor neglected her in respect of her friend However being both intelligent they suppressed their sentiments and the conversation was nevertheless sufficiently agreeable at the beginning For comming to speak of gallantry the question was put whether that love were greater that could not contain from declaring her self or that which was conceal'd out of respect Terentia being in a great fear lest Theanor should tell her he lov'd her and more lest Aemilius should declare his mind to Aurelisa made haste to answer that there was no cause of doubt and that there was more love in not telling that one loves when respect alone causes the Lover's silence than in going to tell it with precipitancy Aurelisa now found her self a little perplext for she lov'd not to be of Terentia's opinion and was as unwilling to take upon her to maintain that it was fit to declare one's love for fear of encouraging Aemilius to tell her something that might not please her Therefore she chose rather to say nothing of her self but asked me What I thought of the case For my part who had no interest in it I spoke sincerely what I thought of the matter and indeavour'd to maintain that a Lover who could restrain himself from declaring that he lov'd had a less passion than he who in spight of the respect he bore to his Mistress and in spight of his own reason was enforc'd to profess that he was in love Aemilius was of my opinion and Theanor intending his silence should be a declaration of his love to Terentia maintain'd the contrary and was of her opinion So that this dispute lasted for a good time For my part said I I confess to you I fear people who are not able to contain from saying they love have nothing in their hearts which torments them very much and there is no surer token of a luke warm affection than the long silence of a Lover For is not complaint an infallible sign of great sorrowes little diseases are easily past over in silence but the wisest complain of such as are great and all the Philosophy of the most insensible persons can scarce ever keep from crying out when they suffer very much So that as no doubt it cannot be prov'd that silence is a sign of great pain in the body no more can it be made out to be an evidence of great grief of mind But do you make no difference said Theanor between a great love and a great pain No answer'd I for besides that I am perswaded there is no love without inquietude which is a kind of pain I am so also that a Lover who has not declar'd his passion has so vehement a desire to tell it that he suffers one of the greatest torments in the world You have reason Amiclea said Aemilius to me and I can answer you that for certain it is the greatest misery that can be imagin'd 'T is no doubt a great trouble repli'd Theanor but for that reason it is a great sign of love for is there any thing more obliging to a Lady than to make her know that the fear of displeasing her and the respect you have for her obliges you to be silent and to suffer without complaining and besides added he to speak equitably was a Lover ever believ'd upon his word and if he does no more than say I love you would any Lady in the world believe him And if so the best way or course to prove one's love is by a thousand cares and a thousand services sighs glances and a thousand other wayes more effectual than words without offending a fair person who will not have the respect due to her lost Believe me said I then to Theanor the sighes glances cares and services you speak of may be compar'd to metal of which not long since money has been made at Rome whose value is redoubled by the Prince's stamp For all that
the beginning of all pleasures but when it is alone 't is a benefit we are not too sensible of and sometimes serves only to cause us more ardently to wish all the other pleasures which we cannot enjoy For my part said one of his friends who was next him and had the meen of a brave man I should like well enough to be one of those subduers of Monsters like Hercules who run through all the world with their swords in their hands destroy Gyants fight with Lyons deliver ravisht Ladies conquer Cities relieve Kingdoms and who though they travel without train or equipage never have need of any thing This is no doubt sufficiently pleasant answer'd Amilcar and if Herminius were here he would be of this sentiment for he loves to do good to all the world and he hates injustice so much that he would take great delight in causing equity to reign every where without having need of any thing besides himself But having well thought upon it I find it sufficiently difficult and he is not a subduer of Monsters that desires it for all Monsters will not always suffer themselves to be subdu'd As for me said a Lady who had a very agreeable countenance and a melancholy air I should wish to be always with persons whom I love and never to see others I perceive Madam said Amilcar to her you cannot but have a tender heart and I assure my self you would not have been sorry that these Verses had been made for you Let me my lovely Iris sighs but hear And circumscribe all my desires in her Let me in gentle peace with her abide I care for nought the Sun surveys beside I confess it answer'd she for I know nothing so sweet as always to see what we love and nothing so troublesome as scarce ever to see those who sensibly affect our hearts I cannot say reply'd Amilcar but your wish is very agreeable however a little variety does very well For my part said Anacreon I will include a thousand wishes in one and wish to be sensible of all pleasures without exception since without this life has no sweetness the source of all pleasures being in the heart of those that receive them For in vain should an excellent Musician sing if his hearers have not delicate ears to understand him well For my part said Amilcar I think it would have been better to desire to enjoy all pleasures than to wish to be barely sensible or capable of them but every one wishes according to his fancie As for me added Telantus I am constrain'd to confess that I am sensible only of glory and pleasure and between the two if my Reason is for one my heart is for the other therefore not being able to determine my self I would only desire nothing This wish is very Philosophical answer'd Amilcar and one would think it were the most reasonable in the world because he that desires nothing has need of nothing But after having well consider'd it I conclude that a man that should desire nothing would pass his life in such excessive tranquillity that it something approach near insensibility Therefore this wish shall never be mine As for me said a person of the Country roughly who had a quick imagination and a rude briskness I should wish to have the best wit in the world Alas answer'd Amilcar hastily you know not well what you desire when you wish to be a fine wit there is nothing more decry'd in the world at present and I had rather be a slave than a rare wit They that are such with judgment conceal it they who have not wherewith to support this Quality are so impertinent in it that except such as laugh at them no body desires their conversation Not but that I consent with all my heart thereto if you are desirous to be such added Amilcar looking upon him who made this wish and it is only requisite that you tell us what kind of fine wit you would be for there some of the first order others secundary some of the Court others of the City and the Country and some fine wits too among the meaner people Speak then if you please to the end I may understand your wish and know a little more precisely whether I ought to approve or condemn it For being I am at this time Censor of the wishes of the Company it behoves me to acquit my self punctually of the Office Amilcar spoke this with a certain serious air which caus'd all that heard him to laugh and which so struck the poor wit out of countenance that he answer'd so softly as no body scarce heard his answer Wherefore Amilcar turning towards a man of Perusia of a handsome personage ask'd him what he wisht Not to be in love answer'd he Believe me reply'd Amilcar roughly you had better wish to be dead for to speak truth to live without Love is a very uncomfortable life I believe that which you say answer'd another man of Clusium and I know it by experience and therefore I would with all my heart be always amorous But I have endeavour'd it these four years unprofitably and I have su'd above a hundred times to a person whom I once lov'd Give me my Love and my desires again And I therewith my pleasures shall regain But he that is amorous reply'd the other cannot spend one day without discontent But he that loves nothing said the man of Clusium is incapable of any sensible pleasure Be it how it will said Amilcar I account the last wish more reasonable than the other because the first over throws the order of the World and opposes Nature which inspires Love into all the Universe But to proceed added Amilcar addressing to a handsome Lady of Praeneste What is your wish To have many true Friends answer'd she for I imagine there is nothing so sweet You should have desir'd said Amilcar that there were such and then that you had them therefore if you believe me desire rather to have many Lovers for with those eyes of yours it will be easier for you to have Lovers than friends But when we have Lovers answer'd she they forsake us But when we believe we have Friends reply'd Amilcar we find oftentimes that we have not but to speak truth added he there is deceit in every thing As for what concerns me said another Lady I would wish to see that which is in the hearts of all the world No doubt there would be pleasure enough answer'd Amilcar in penetrating into the hearts of such as have an outside of wisdom and a thousand follies hidden in their Souls of those hypocrites who make semblance of having virtue and make use of it only to hide their vices of those coy Gossips in apparence who are unfaithful to their husbands of those deceitful Friends who intend to destroy those they Caress most and of those Wantons who have a thousand little Loves at a time but withal you would see so many
which are married she had part of her fair hairs hanging on her shoulders negligently curl'd for the others they were pleated in many rings along her cheeks and tyed on the hinder part of her head by a rose of precious stones the fairest were ever seen Moreover as her Neck was shadowed but with a thin Vail of Tiffany it transmitted the lustre of her beauty through it it was likewise enclosed with a Collar of Diamonds her wast being surrounded with precious stones of an inestimable value her sleeves of her Robe which were great and hanging down were fastned on her shoulders by two knots of Diamonds In fine her Habit was so gallant and rich that Clelia in this posture could do no less than attract all eyes she had such a pure tincture such sparkling eyes and such a charming and agreeable air in her looks that I can assure you my eyes never met with a fairer Object Clelia being such as I have represented her to you went a foot from her house to the Temple without any discommodity for the streets by which she was to pass were large and very dry and the Sun had stole behind a Cloud lest he should be outvi'd by the splendor of her eyes Moreover as it is the custom that those persons which celebrate their birthday should offer an innocent Offering to the Gods Clelia carryed in her fair hands a sumptuous Basket in which was her oblation but this Sacrifice was so covered with Orange and Jasume Flowers that it dispersed ore all places where she passed an odoriferous Odor she went alone her Father and her Mother followed her all the Ladies of the City preceded her going two by two and all the friends of Clelius following him in in the first rank whereof were Aronces and Horatius but Madam as Clelia's beauty was divulged through Capua and this Ceremony being different from ours and that novelty excited the curiosity of the people the streets were thronged where Clelia should pass as if there was to be seen enter one of our Captains Crown'd with a Triumphant Laurel but Clelia seeing this concourse of people of all conditions which looked from their windows doors and streets only to behold her and hearing all the acclamations they gave her was surprised with such a modesty that it much heightned her beauty for blushing at her own praises her tincture appeared more resplendent her eyes more lively and tempting Aronces and Horatius this day so contemplated her beauty that their love augmenting their hatred encreased towards one another they spoke nothing together whilst this Ceremony lasted for as Horatius his hope was not quite extinct because Clelius had not spoke to him in particular and that Aronces would not destroy his they both thought not to irritate Clelius by a new Combat and though they were Rivals they assisted at this Ceremony as though they had been friends it is true that it was not very strange they should master their thoughts in this occasion for the admiration they had for Clelia without doubt suspended a part of the hatred that was between them But in fine Clelia went to the Temple to offer to the Gods the Offering she carried and she put it with so good a grace on the Altar adorned with Garlands of Vervine and Flowers that she seemed rather to be the Goddess to whom the Sacrifice was offered than her which offered this oblation I shall not Madam weary your patience by telling you all those Ceremonies which were performed in this occasion for it is not for that intent I mention this Feast but I shall acquaint you that amongst this great multitude of persons who looked upon and admired Clelia I take notice that a man and woman who bore the characters of persons of quality casually saw her as she came from her house and I likewise noted when I was nigh them that they beheld her with an extraordinary attention that they whispered together and when they saw Aronces they testified so much admiration that they followed them as if they had been invited to the Feast and fortune was so propitious to me that I saw them once more in the Temple very attentive sometimes looking on Clelia sometimes on Aronces I likewise noted that this Lady whom I did not know and who had a very good presence for a person of her age passed by many others to come nigh Clelia when she was at her devotion but I was astonished to see her more attentively to look upon the precious stones than Clelia and it seemed to me she lookt with a more curious eye on that which was on the hinder part of her head where was the rose of Diamonds and not to admire the beauty of her face nevertheless thinking it was a curiosity usual with Ladies to look more upon that which adorns than those which are adorned I diverted my eyes otherways and I looked upon Fenice which except Clelia was without doubt the fairest in that company But in fine when Clelia had finished her prayers and was going to place her self in that order in which she came this man and Lady whom I did not know and who had looked so much on Aronces and Clelia approached to me and demanded civilly who that beautiful Virgin was and who was Aronces whom they shewed me with their hands not knowing his name For that admirable person said I to them she is called Clelia and Daughter to an illustrious exiled Roman but for him you shew me all that I can say is he is the most virtuous in the world and he is called Aronces for he doth not himself know his birth what cried this Lady changing colour doth not he know his Parents He is far from knowing it answered I since the Father of Clelia found him floating in a Cradle after he had been shipwrackt himself and whose life he saved without knowing to whom this Child belonged which he hath carefully nourished as his own By your favour added this Stranger which was with this Lady tell us on what Sea and in what place this Child was found in a Cradle It was nigh Syracusa repled I if my memory deceive me not At these words these two persons looked one upon another shewing many marks of astonishment and joy on their countenances and demanded of me if I did not know from whence Clelia had those stones which adorned her so that telling them the same shipwrack which had taken a Son from Clelius and which had given him Aronces had likewise given him these stones We need not doubt said this Lady somewhat low to him which was with her but Aronces is the same we imagine him to be What! said I to her transported with joy do you know the birth of Aronces I pray added I looking upon them both if it is so tell it the dearest of his friends for as I cannot doubt that he should not be worthy of his great heart I make no difficulty to demand it of you
certainly is â—he best and most safe way for my self and certainly the most advantageous unto Rome for unless I should poyson Tarquin and Tullia as they have others they will raise a Rebellion in the City which may hazard my Crown and therefore it is the best way to dissemble my Resentments You may imagine Sir that the man unto whom he spoke did not contradict what Tullus said for besides the strength of reason which was in what was said it had been a hard tale to tell a Father that he ought to put a Daughter and a Son in Law to death knowing well that there was no middle way to take and the banishment of such persons was not enough So as this being the resolution the King did dissemble the matter so well that all the World were constrained to dissemble with him and seem as if there was not any suspicion either of Tarquin or Tullia for causing the deaths of that illustrious Prince and Princess But Sir not to relate what discourses Tarquin and Tullia had nor what kind of Love this was which was begun by the impoysoning of so great a Prince and so great a Princess Give me leave only to tell you that as soon as the time of mourning was past which amongst us lasts Ten Months Tarquin did marry Tullia and Tullus could not hinder it Not but that this marriage appeared most horrid and execrable unto him as oft as he considered that Tarquin poysoned his Wife purposely to marry Tullia and Tullia poysoned her Husband only to marry Tarquin but Tullus having begun to dissemble and cover their Crimes so he would continue it Also since it was extremely expedient for him to unite the family of the Tarquins with his own Policy allowed of that which vertue and justice would not so as suiting himself to the times this abominahle marriage was made up with all magnificence For the King knew very well that Tarquin as wicked as he was had gotten much credit in the Senate and minds of the people Not but that as is said before the Crimes of Tarquin and Tullia were most horrid in the eyes of all the World yet the people being inconstant changing every minute and equally forgetting both vertues and vices the memory of this cursed act did insensibly wear out as if the people of Rome quite forgot it For you must know that since the death of the Prince of Ameriola and the Princess Tarquin seeing himself a step nearer the Crown and desiring all might be forgotten he became that out of policy which naturally he was not for he grew exceedingly civil and was more forward to salute the common people than persons of quality he always went through the most popular streets purposely to meet with more occasions of shewing his civility unto those from whom he expected one day a Crown Moreover he would very earnestly interest himself in private business he would needs be the only Pacificus and taker up of all Quarrels he would be the Arbitrator and ender of all differences he divided those whom he thought might prejudice him and united all such as he conceived fit for his service he lent money unto some he gave money unto others his Gates were open unto all comers he itched to serve such as he called his friends and was infinitely zealous to do all good Offices Again he would sute himself most admirably well unto the humours of any when he was in private with them And unto such as were religiously devoted he would seem religious even to a very scruple he was a very Libertine with the Libertines he would scoff both at the Gods of the Grecians and the Gods of the Romans He was voluptuous with those that were so and he was a Philosopher when he met with men of that profession Yet I have heard say that for all these various forms into which he would transform himself he was still Tarquin and when he would be the most sweet and courteous he had still a sullen gloomy and fierce look But for all that the people looking more upon his Civilities than his Physiognomy he deceived them and this most abominable Tarquin did get great credit under the Reign of the most virtuous King on earth As for Tullia it was not so with her for her spirit was not able to vary into so many several shapes as Tarquin was But on the contrary she thought her self above all she saw that all the world was her Vassals and that she owed not observance unto any that Fortune owed her a Crown and that she needed not to endeavour the pleasing of any or getting their Loves She did extremely slight all Women and would not admit of any conversation but men As for her reputation she did not care for any and when any told her that if she carried hee self as she did unto all the Ladies who did visit her she would procure their hatred she would then return answer that so she could make her self feared she cared not for being loved And indeed she never used any of those trivial obligements which Custom hath established as a Law among Ladies Not but that she loved to be commended though she said she did not care for it but she could not endure to commend or flatter any And indeed she was never commended or flattered by any but out of fear and certainly they had great reason to fear her for her actions were all violences and she was terrible to all the world It happened once that she put a most horrible affront upon the Wife of a Prime Senatour who being of a high and sensible spirit could not chuse but complain as soon as she was out of that Princesses Chamber For meeting with one of her intimate friends she no sooner saw him but beginning to speak Good Friend said she rejoyce with me for being delivered during all my life from one of the most scurvy visits in the World for I am fully resolved never again to go unto the Princess Tullia no not though she should become Queen She is so accustomed to be uncivil replied her friend that you need not wonder at her but I am so little accustomed to suffer incivilities replied this incensed Lady as I cannot endure them But do you know one added her friend that ever went unto Tullia who received no affrout from her and do you think it is a shame for you to endure what all others do I think replyed she half angry that such as do endure them are people of poor and base hearts and that I am sure mine is none such If I could not live unless I went unto Tullia were I born her Slave or at least did my fortune depend upon her were I sure she would do some great matters for me then perhaps it might be said I was too delicate and nice and that I were to blame if I did not go unto her But since none of these things are so for I can live and
reverent and respectful fear as restrained him from talking unto Clelia as he used to do unto others so as calling Amilcar to his aid there began a discourse more general which was very pleasant for as there could be no talk so far from any matters of Love but Sextus would apply it that way so after he had pitied the misfortunes of these fair Captives and protested that he would protect them as much as ever he could he began to say he believed their Captivity did make many sad hearts both at Ardes and at Rome Truth is Sir said Amilcar since there is not one of these Captives who is not fair enough to make Captives I am confident there are many sad Lovers at Ardes and e're long will be many ill treated ones in Rome The Romans have such a reputation of glory replied that person who indured her Captivity so well and whose name was Plotina as it is not credible there is any one of them that will be a Slave to a Slave Oh Sir said Amilcar after his natural and sprightly freedom this is the finest opportunity in the World for a Roman that hath a mind to make any gallant declaration of Love and were I one I would not let it slip for certainly there is nothing more difficult then to do it handsomely and gallantly at least I am sure that since I was first a Lover I think I have made a hundred and amongst them all there is but two which ever pleased me It is true said Sextus and laughed as well as Plotina that for these regular Lovers who woe in print it is difficult for them to find out such a happy minute wherein they can with a good grace say I love you But as for my part I never wooe so for I am so perswaded that the very thing it self is pleasing as I cannot believe it will make one angry be it told never so ill-favouredly and therefore I use to out with it boldly whensoever any occasion is offered Were one a great Prince as you are replied Amilcar were one handsome and had wit at will then I think indeed that the difficulty would not be great to tell you love and to tell it well but when one is no Prince nor handsome and but of a mean wit and but indifferently in love then I assure you it is a business more difficult then you imagine to make declarations of Love unless unto fair Prisoners for in such a case I find no difficulty For indeed added he and smiled these words Slave Captive and Prisoner do furnish one with a thousand gallant thoughts and Fetters Chains and Torments are so naturally applicative unto what one would say as one shall find out a thousand several ways to express their minds But when one is but cold in love and hath no great Talent of Wit as I said before then there is no greater difficulty then to say I am ready to die for Love But replied the pleasant Captive if one be neither in love nor have any Wit why should he ever torment himself with seeking of declarations of Love and talk of that which he is not sensible off Alas fair Plotina said he unto her if one should never talk of love but when the heart is full of it one should never talk of it above once in all his life for one cannot be twice violently in Love And all his discourse would be very cold and languishing since to tell you truly when any one is long with a Woman he must needs talk either of her love unto others or her causing others to be in love with her for I am most confident that the gravest and most demure Matrons of Rome when they were young would be very weary of the best accomplished Men if they should never talk unto them of any thing but Divinity of the Vestal Ceremonies of the Laws of the Land of the order in their Families or of the news of the Town A fair and young Lady takes no delight in hearing one tell that such a one is dead such a one hath made his will such a one is married unto such a rich Man this Man is gone into the Countrey that Man hath a suit in Law and this Woman hath a very rich Gown and therefore it is the only way to be always talking of Love be it either in earnest or in jest for follies of this nature handsomely spoken amongst Ladies do please them better then any moral or politick discourse whatsoever or any news I am so much of your opinion replied Sextus that even in visits of consolation after the death of Friends I would find out some invention or other to speak of love for be it unto a Woman who had lost her Husband whom she most dearly loved she must be pitied principally because she hath lost him she loved or be it so that she did not love him she must be comforted by giving her some hopes of having a Husband whom she shall love Yet I believe replied Clelia modestly that they use to talk of Love less in Rome then any where else they use to speak of it more mysteriously replied Sextus but for all that it is spoken of in all parts of the World and it will for ever be spoken of as long as there are such beauties as you are It were enough to say replied Amilcar as long as there are any Men for since there are very few beauties comparable unto her you speak unto you leave over little room for discourse of Love Whilst Sextus and Amilcar were talking thus there was one of those melancholy Ladies who of her own nature was very proud and a little capricious and who not being able to indure any discourse of this nature she began to quarrel with Amilcar but being very handsome and seeming witty he answered her very civilly though in a very ingenious way of Rallery on the other side that jocund Lady whom Amilcar had much pleased she opposed her friend and told her that she was much too blame in offering to make Amilcar as melancholy as her self so as there grew a very pleasant contest yet it lasted not long for it growing late Sextus and Amilcar went away but Amilcar having done the business he came for as soon as he had waited upon Sextus to his Chamber he returned unto Aronces Yet before he went from that Prince he observed that Clelia had taken his heart and he made him confess that he thought her very fair and that the only fault that he could find in her was that he thought her too good and over wise However the friendship which was between Aronces Amilcar and Celeres would not suffer them to part Lodgings but they all three lay together as Artimedorus and Zenocrates did Aronces was not looked upon as a King's Son nor Artimedorus as a Prince for the state of their fortunes would not permit them but Amilcar knowing them both he desired they should know
a Gallant as he is has not yet made any addresses of Gallantry unto any of us I must confess my self much obliged unto him replied Pasithea and to return civility for civility I can assure him that in all my voyage I did not accept of one heart which was offered unto me And yet I must confess I was somewhat near it when Cephisa spoke to me in your behalf for I make no doubt but that you are the same Artaxander of whom she hath spoken so nobly Yes Madam said he unto her I am the same Artaxander but the difficulty is how I should make good the commendations of Cephisa as Madam you are able to make good those praises which all the world gives you But Madam give me leave to tell you that though I have professed I would not have any to throw away their loves upon me yet I think my self obliged to give my heart to you in recompence of your not accepting any heart for my sake Though I should not give it yet you have power to take it away from me whether I would or no and therefore to keep you from theft I had better be liberal and give it Did you know my good humour replied she and laughed you would not speak as you do for my foolish fancy is to love that which is stoln better than that which is given me If so Madam replied he I beseech you give me my heart again to day and steal it from me to morrow After this all the rest of the Ladies and Philiontes also mixing in the discourse it became extremely pleasant for Artaxander having a new design of pleasing and Pasithea the like they did exceedingly divert themselves and others also For they did put into practice all that I had said concerning mirth and merry people in the height and if Artaxander had been acquainted with Pasithea all his life he could not have been more familiar with her than he was before they parted Pasithea and he were whispering their conceits of all the company he taught her one Song she him another he composed a Copy of verses ex tempore upon a Posie of Flowers which she gathered and threw unto him and she again replied Moreover she gave him her hood and gloves to hold whilst they were at a Collation in a green Arbour she gave him also some of those fruits which were upon the Table and letting a Ring accidentally fall which was of no high price and which he reached up she let him wear it yet asked it of him at first but when he told her that he loved to keep that which he found as well as she did what she stole she answered him that he should not have it unless he staked something against it and won it then if you please Madam said he unto her I will stake and lay my self against this Ring that you are the fairest in the world and because we will not put it unto chance Judges shall be chosen to divide the wager So this pleasant wager was laid and the Ring was adjudged unto Artaxander After this they all went to see the house unto which the Garden belonged there to rest themselves and where all this fair company did sit down and enjoyed a pleasant prospect out of a Closet with an open Balcony But Pasithea entring last because she stayed â—alking with Artaxander all the places were taken up except two before the Balcony I perceive said Pasithea and laughed they know I am not like those Ladies who will be always in the shade since they seat me with the Sun in my face Those who have such a complexion as yours replied Artaxander who are so young so fair and eyes so sprightly cannot be seated better than you are especially added Cephisa and smiled when they would shew themselves I must confess indeed replied Pasithea that I desire both to see and be seen but withal I must tell you I am not so affectedly foolish as some Ladies are who will at any rate be always shewing all the beauty they have and whose minds run wholly upon such setting themselves off as makes them ridiculous to all beholders And it is very ordinary said Artaxander for I never came in any place where I did not find some Ladies in placing themselves in an advantageous light as any would be in placing of a picture I know one Cretan replied Philiontes who is the most ambitions woman upon earth so very extreme as I think she would not appear fairer than others but only out of her ambition and without the least smack of Gallantry This Lady was one day put to a pitiful perplexity for be pleased to know that this Lady who had a thousand quarrels in her days about matter of place and would contend for it with such as were much above her quality this Lady I say came one day to one of her friends whose chamber was so contrived as the highest place in the Room was the worst in the world for a beauty to be in for the purest complexon there seemed to be yellow by reason of reflection from a window opposite to a plot of yellow flowers which caused that yellow reflection Also the composure of this Ladies face was such as if she were in an advantageous place her eyes seemed hollow and ill-favoured so as knowing this place was not favourable to her she was then much perplexed between the interest of her ambition and the interest of her beauty for she knew well that if we took up that place she should look pitifully upon it and if she did not seize upon it then another Lady would sit above her so as not knowing upon a sudden what to do because it was a thing she could not foresee for the Chamber was new built and she had never been in it she fell into a miserable perplexity But I pray Sir said one of the company unto him if she had never been in that Chamber how could she know it had that ill quality The Question is ingeniously asked replied Philiontes and as easily answered For you must know that when this ambitious Lady first entred she saw one standing in this dangerous place upon whose face she saw what would reflect upon her own if she were in her room So as not knowing whether she should take it or no to gain a little more time of consideration she stepped back and seemed as if she had some private business with one behind her she carried her unto the other end of the Chamber to talk with her but the best jest was she knew not what secrefie to talk of insomuch as the other was as much amazed to hear her talk of so many senseless nothings as that Lady was in finding out an expedient how to avoid this disadvantagious place But at the last after much talk to no purpose the other Lady did guess the cause for she began to find fault with the Chamber and say her own was far beyond it she
yet he had not opened because his mind was wholly taken up with this adventure But he was astonished when at the opening he saw the very same Picture of Pasithea which he had sent her back when he quarrelled with her At the first he believed that these two Ladies were friends unknown to him and that Pasithea had sent Cynesia her Picture whilst he was in the Country but he was not long in this belief for Philiontes told him that they were enemies so as not knowing what to think upon the adventure he was extreamly perplexed For my part said Philiontes unto him I am apt to believe that Pasithea being of no reserved humour she hath giving this Picture unto some new Gallant that hath sacrificed it unto Cynesia But if that be so said Artaxander it must be concluded that Cynesia hath some Lover whom she doth not hate for those who take such pledges do ingage themselves as much as they think to ingage others What you say replied Philiontes perhaps is but imagination which I will think to be but upon an ill foundation for since you are resolved to be in love at what rate soever I must take heed of telling you any thing which may hinder you The truth is replied Artaxander love is an excellent Antidote against wearisomeness in a place where one hath nothing to do for there the sending of a common Message or the receiving of one doth pass for a whole daies work if you be in love you will have no sooner done one thing but you will be thinking upon another your own very musings will please you and nothing doth so sweetly take up the spirits of a gallant love as for great and violent passions they possess them over much For my part said Philiontes I conceive one should either not be in love at all or else love in good earnest for certainly the greatest Passions procure the greatest pleasures It is true said Artaxander but withall they bring with them the greatest sorrows I must confess it answered Philiontes but I am of such an humour as I would have all or none I value not those slight affections which require as much pains about them as a high Passion they will take you up as much time but will not recompence the labour For a thousand of these half loves will never be able to conquer a whole heart and therefore if you will be ruled by me either love not Cynesia at all or else love her in the hight So I am resolved replied Artaxander though it were onely to be revenged upon Pasithea for caring so little to lose me and bestowing her Picture so quickly upon another as it is very likely she hath But whilst Artaxander and Philiontes were thus talking the fair Cynesia slept soundly and it may be well said that by her sound sleeping she prepared new Arms for the Conquest of Artaxander For when she awaked her complexion was more fresh and her eyes more sprightly But in awaking she was all wonder to see a Case about her Arm all set with shining Diamonds in lieu of her own and which was incomparably more rich she no sooner saw this surprizng change but she blusht and raysing her self upon her bed the held her Arm out to the light as if she had been mistaken but the more â—he looked upon this Case the more sure she was that some came into the Chamber whilst she was asleep and did imagine it to be a man thinking such a kind of gallantry could not proceed from any Woman So as a resentment of modesty did for a while raise some inquietudes in her mind Yet upon second thoughts of the adventure she concluded that he who made that advantagious exchange had a noble heart so as she hath since confessed that she was then fuller of curiosity then care Her greater wonder was that she knew there was not any Man in the house but only Philiontes Father who being very old could not be suspected of such a thing She knew very well that he had a Son for she was acquainted with Philiontes And she was not ignorant that Artaxander also had lodged in the house for though she knew him not yet she had heard talk of him But she could not dream of them because she heard say that they were in the Countrey and no speech of their return As she was in this amaze a particular Friend of hers whose name was Cleophila came in to see her and to rejoyce with her that the fire in her Mothers house had done no greater hurt But as soon as she saw her and saw her so fair Oh Cynesia said she unto her it appears by your eyes that you have rested very well for all the trouble of the night But for my part had I been in such a fright I should have hid my self all the day after For my complexion would have been so dull my eyes so hollow and my heart so saint that I should have swounded with fear yet I see that you had not the least fear of being burned It is true said Cynesia I have slept as soundly this night as if no accident had happened or as if I had not changed my Bed And to make it appear true I will tell you of the strangest piece of gallantry that ever you heard of After this Cynesia told Cleophila all the passage and that she might better see the Case she held out her Arm entreating her friend to untie the Ribbond Cleophila had no sooner untied it but Cynesia opened it but she was extreamly surprised at the sight of those Verses which Artaxander had written and so much as that she could not read them aloud but first read them to her self and then recited them unto Cleophila in this manner Night's better than the Day Such Mysteries to discover As you my Love know may And yet not know the Lover Afterwards she looked upon Cleophila who was not less surprised then she And upon serious consideration Cleophila concluded that it must of necessity be Artaxander Not that I can discover it by his stile in Verse said she for he useth to write much better but since they were doubtless writ upon a sudden they may very well be his for I have known sometimes when ex tempore he hath writ no better and therefore I will conclude that it was Artaxander who is the Authour That it was he who saw you asleep and that it is he who is in love with you But Artaxander is in the Countrey replied Cynesia Artaxander then is in more places then one replied Cleophila for I tell you it can be none but he And I must tell you that to conquer such a heart as his sleeping is no small glory to you Alas replied Cynesia as for his heart I cannot pretend unto it for hearts are never taken sleeping I do assure you replied Cleophila that though you had fewer charms then you have yet Artaxander loves you For this beginning of
perhaps my eyes when he sees them will blast the adventure Your eyes are so lovely replied Cleophila as you may assure your self that though the heart of him who saw them sleeping was not captivated yet waking he will be However since it is very likely that you will see him this day who saw you in the night I advise you to dress up your self as handsomely as you can As Cleophila spoke this smilingly Cynesia smiled also And as I have been told since did dress her self with a little more design of being handsome then if her aim had been only a general design to please every one But being not at home as soon as her Mother and she were ready they returned thanks for their entertainment and went to their own house Yet Cynesia did not shew her Mother the Picture Case which Artaxander had left in lieu of her own lest the adventure should become too publick Cynesia was most perplexed to think what she should say unto Clidamis who she imagined would come to see her for she could not restore Pasithea's Picture unto him Nor would she have him think that she kept it as a sign of her love So as to gain time upon a pretence of setting their house in order after that tummlt of fire she desired her Mother to pass away that afternoon at a friends house and not to stay in her Chamber to receive all the visits which would be made after that accident So as by this means Cynesia was not at home until night and so Clidamis would lose his labour if he came Mean time Artaxander and Philiontes being advertized that their Men were at the Gates of the Town they went through a back lane to meet them and crossing over a great plain it chanced that they passed just before the Gates of that Ladies house where Cynesia her Mother and Cleophila did pass away the day So as these three Ladies came out at the very same time when Artaxander and Philiontes passed by in their Countrey habits as Men newly come to Town Cleophila was much surprized at this For all she spoke unto her Friend was only her imagination yet she shewed her Artaxander who took no notice of these Ladies no more then Philiontes because they were talking together very carnestly So as they being on Horse-back and the Ladies on Foot they lost the sight of them for since it was not far from home they were entred in before they could come to the door However since Cleophila was full of curiosity to know the truth of this adventure and since the arrival of Artaxander did much perplex her she got Cynesia to entreat her Mother to desire Cleophila that she would lie that night at her house And indeed so it was These Ladies had no sooner supped but Clidamis with other Ladies of the Neighbour-hood came to visit Cynesia and her Mother And all were no sooner set but Philiontes and Artaxander entred The first of these presented his friend unto the Mother and the Daughter as a stranger which their Town had gotten during theis absence Philiontes spoke so highly of Artaxander unto these two that they received him very civilly But Cynesia was strangely amazed to see the Picture Case which was taken from her tyed with a lively coloured Ribbond and worn by Artaxander in such a place as was most obvious to the eye of Cynesia But as she was amazed at the sight of it so Clidamis was much more for he could not imagine by what adventure this Case which he had sent unto Cynesia could come into the hands of Artaxander whom she never saw before but was presented unto her as a Man absolutely unknown unto her However Cynesia could not doubt but that it was Artaxander who came into her chamber when she was asleep therefore out of modesty could not chuse but blush but to hide it she began to talk with Cleophila in a low voice who being very glad that she had guessed aright begun to ask her in a merry manner how she liked her new Lover I am so perplexed at the perplexity of Clidamis replied she as I have not leisure to answer your foolish question Why said Cleophila you need not perplex your self about Clidamis for since he knows that you are a stranger unto Artaxander he cannot think you to have any hand in this pleasant adventure After this every one taking their places Artaxander did so well order the matter as that he fate next Cynesia and talked with her so as Clidamis could not hear what he said for Philira the Mother of Cynesia having set her self to relate unto him the accident of fire which happened and being extreme earnest in telling how frighted she was he was almost all the night taken up with hearing and could not put in a word to interrupt her for she was an eternal talker and would never give over her tale as long as she had any breath But whilst poor Clidamis was hearkning to her much against his will and whilst all the rest of the Ladies were hearkning also Philiontes talked with Cleophila and Artaxander with Cynesia whose intention being earnest to restore the rich Case unto Artaxander which he had left with her and to get back that which he had that she might restore it unto Clidamis she was very glad of the opportunity of talking in private with him hoping to find a fit occasion for compassing her ends yet it was not so easie as she imagined for Artaxander turning the talk another way she could not bring it about and he according to his ordinary jollity began to chide her for being so long in the Country as familiarly as if he had been her most intimate and ancient friend and he made the most pleasant and satyrical invective against a Countrey life that ever was heard But said Cynesia unto him why should you complain against me for you knew me not yesterday and hardly know me to day That 's the reason Madam why I complain replied he for if I had had the honour to have known you sooner I should never have had the shame of bearing any other chains but yours and perhaps by this time I should have had the glory of getting some place in your heart But Madam that you may not think me one of those common slatterers who use to talk and often knows not to whom I beseech you give me leave to tell you that you are not so unknown to me as you imagine and that within these eighteen hours I did admire you and something more But first added he and looked earnestly upon her give me leave to rejoyce that I find your eyes more lovely than I did imagine them though I must tell you I did imagine them to be the fairest in the World and certainly I had great reason for it for it was nothing likely that the gods should bellow upon you so many several excellent beauties and not give you fair eyes also And I assure
from the other Captives that she was narrowly watched and that there was a rendezvous of those whom this Tyrant used to employ when some violence was to be committed in any of the houses of those illustrous Citizens whom he hated only for their virtue So that she as famous for her Prudence as her Generosity conceived that order might concern her and that haply Tarquin had been acquainted with Aronces's retreat at her house for Amilcar had once sent thither and it was not impossible but that a Slave might reveal a secret of so great importance So that to go prudently to work she thought fit Aronces were accquainted with the state of Affairs and considered what were to be done for his safety if they came to search the house for him For having a high esteem for him and looking on him as a friend of her sons and though unfortunate yet guilty of a great Vertue she was resolved to do as much for Aronces as she would for Herminius for whom she would have done any thing Engaged in this consideration she went to Aronces who had just made an end of writing to Amilcar and acquainting him how things stood she proposed how much it concerned him suddenly to change his lodging But I beseech you sayes she conceive not I make this Proposition to you out of any suggestion of fear for my own concernments for it is long since I am prepared for any violence the Tyrant shall be guilty of But it so much concerns you that you be not taken besides the satisfaction my Son receives in my serving you that I shall neglect nothing The safest way therefore is that you depart my house and that very suddenly and lodge your self in some one less suspected When you are gone continued she fear not I shall discover where you are though Tarquin put me to the greatest torments imaginable I should be very unhappy replyed Aronces if I should expose one of the most vertuous Ladies in the World to so great misery and I would rather return into the power of Tarquin than lay you open to his cruelty To be short if the admirable and unfortunate Clelia wanted not my assistance I would spare you even that trouble of finding me a refuge But generous Sivelia it is you have acquainted me with her condition and if the contrivances of Amilcar seconded by your endeavours with those of your friends and Clelius's put me not into a condition to carry her away when Tarquin shall be returned to the Camp I fear I shall be the most unfortunate man in the World since that otherwise the earth shall not own a more unhappy person than Clelia This done Sivelia conceiving the departure of Aronces was not to be delayed considering the intelligence she had received told him that for to make his retreat good he should be let out at a back-door into a blind street abutting on the Cyprian street and that there was a Garden-gate which should be opened to him as soon as she had acquainted herewith a certain friend of hers who was Aunt to Brutus But that you may be the more confident of her fidelity sayes she to him know that this illustrious Roman Lady is a friend of Clelius's that she abominates the Tyrant and that if her life might deliver Rome she would be glad to sacrifice it She is very ancient yet guilty of a great vigour of body and mind a lover of Glory and Honesty a Kinswoman of my Husbands and one that hath a great affection for me Here Aronces staying her told her there needed so much precaution and that he wholly resigned himself up to her disposal so that to lose no longer time Sivelia sent one of her servants to this Aunt of Brutus whom she before had prepared for the business having indeed alwaies foreseen what she now feared would happen so that it being near night all was accomplished with ease Thus Aronces having taken leave of Sivelia who promised to acquaint him with what she should learn and to send him what ever came from Amilcar went from the house of this vertuous woman to that of Brutus's Aunt who not knowing him as yet to be the son of Porsennas entertained him onely as a friend of Clelius and Herminius and an enemy of Tarquin But he was hardly out of Sivelia's but he who was ordered to come to her house was at the door followed by those that were able to force obedience They soon were masters of the gates but Sivelia knowing they could not find what they came for she her self gave order all the lodgings of the house should be opened to them Which done the Tyrants officer in this business telling her that he was commanded by Tarquin to bring her to the Palace she told him that heretofore she had more willingly obeyed him when she was commanded to depart Rome than she could now that she was to go to a place where she had not set her foot since the death of the generous Tanaquil and the Princess of Ameriola but that howsoever she was ready to go along with him To be short followed by many of her Slaves she is conducted to Tarquin who no sooner cast his eye on her but he asked her whether it were Herminius or Aronces who had lain concealed in her house My Lord replies she without the least disturbance if you truly knew what I am going to tell you that is that I shall tell you nothing which shall give you the least discovery of what you desire to know For if neither Aronces nor my Son had been at my house I should be obliged to say I had not seen them and if either of the two have really been there I should so much the more earnestly assure you that your intelligence hath been false for there are some emergencies wherein truth it self is criminal If you might therefore with less trouble to your self have spared your pains of sending for the widow of a man of a great vertue whom you did not love and mother of another whom you hate though all the world assure me he hath all those qualities which can render a person of Honour worthy to be loved The question is not whether I have or have not reason to hate Herminius replies the rude Tyrant for I never much examined that in all my life because I suppose those that are in soveraign power do right when they do what they will But the business now is to tell positively in what place he now is who lay secret in your house and whom you now have disposed elsewhere No no my Lord I shall never be forced to tell what I know not or what I have no mind to reveal therefore all I have to do is to assure you that you get nothing out of me which may be prejudicial either to Aronces or Herminius and that this resolution is such as no rewards nor menaces can make me change Tarquin seeing this constancy of Sivelia was extreamly
exasperated and spoke all he conceived would shake her resolution but it proved fruitless and she behaved her self with so much cunning and indifference that he was somewhat doubtful whether he had been truly informed So that to gain leisure to examine his own apprehensions he sent Sivelia back to her house and commanded all out of his presence But this solitude lasted not long for the cruel Tullia who had learnt how things stood came to tell him that he was not so diligent as he should be to satisfie the King of Clusium that in the mean time he might want the assistance of his armes seeing the obstinancy of those of Ardea and that for this reason he should have searched for Aronces in all the houses in Rome It is true continued she out of a hideous design of wickedness there is a short and a surer way to satisfie Porsennas for since as they say the daughter of Clelius is among the Captives the onely way is suddenly to dispatch her for that done where ever Aronces be he will soon resolve to return to Clusium there being questionless no more approved remedy against Love than the death of the person loved I think the advice very good replyes Tarquin somewhat sullenly but presently holding his peace he studied a while as if he would have examined whether that which Tullia said or he said himself was well or ill spoken So that in this secret discourse perceiving that Tullia passionately wished the death of Clelia rather out of a suggestion of jealousie than any reason of state he became the protector of her to whom he had carryed himself as a Tyrant and a Persecutor and not acquainting Tullia that he really knew the daughter of Clelius when you have advised me to put to death all these Captives said he to her you consider not but that onely one can be my Enemyes daughter that the rest are persons of quality of Ardea that if we should happen to treat with that City which defends it self so obstinately these Ladies will be demanded and that it might prove of ill consequence to have recourse to so violent a remedy in the present conjuncture Those of Ardea will be the more hardly reduced and the secret enemies I have in Rome will make it the pretence of an insurrection when I am returned to the Camp Of a hasty man you are a very prudent man replies smartly Tullia but I am but too well satisfied that your Prudence is more obliged to your Love than to Policy In the mean time I am to tell you that though Ardea should prove irreducible by the destruction of these Captives and that Rome it self should thence rebell I shall find the means to destroy the daughter of Clelius that it may never be said that a Princess who lifted you up into the Throne be so slighted by you as to be thought less considerable than a Captive Fortune Madam replied fiercely Tarquin hath placed you where you are and me where I am therefore let us continue as we are and assure your self I shall ever do what I ought to make the best use of that authority which you say is derived from you As Tullia was going to make some mischievous reply Amilcar who had prevailed with Prince Sextus to send him to Rome both to visit Aronces and endeavour to make Tarquin return to the Camp so to divert him from seeing Clelia had sent in a message to the King for audience Tarquin who was well pleased his conference with Tullia was thus interrupted gave command he should be admitted which caused this fierce Princess who at that time regarded not what news came from the siege of Ardea to retire grumbling But Amilcar was scarce come in sight but Tarquin having received him as well as the present disorder of his mind would permit asked him the reason of his coming My Lord said he to him Prince Sextus knowing what zeal I have for your service hath been pleased I should come and represent unto you how necessary your sudden return to the Camp is for since the enemy had understood by certain spies that you were not there they are strangely encouraged insomuch that they have ever since excercised us with perpetual sallies There is also a certain report scattered in the Army which hath generally disheartned your Souldiery for it is said you intend to raise the Siege and will not return any more to the Camp Therefore am I come in the behalf of all your Captains to conjure you to return as soon as you can possibly Prince Sextus himself added he very cunningly acknowledges that his humour inclined to pleasures and diversion is not so proper to retain soldiers in a regular discipline Thus my Lord if you credit me you will soon disburthen your self of those affaires which detain you at Rome and repair to the Army For to be free with you I do not conceive you should be so earnest to satisfie the King of Clusium that you should be wanting to a design so important as the siege of Ardea Tarquin thanked him for his advice and told him he would follow it but that he must conninue yet a day or two at Rome Amilcar having by this means insensibly dispersed part of the heaviness which clouded this Princes heart husbanded so discreetly his humour that this fierce Tyrant entred into discourse with him about Aronces and Clelia as if he would play the mediator between Porsennas and them and that he had changed his sentiments of Clelius though indeed it was onely to lure Amilcar reciprocally to tell what he knew of them But he being faithful to his friend and withal reserved as Tarquin thought himself told him nothing that could prejudice either Aronces or Clelia though it were the hardest task in the world for he must neither have over-flattered Tarquin's love nor yet too much awaken hatred and there was a certain moderation to be observed which onely Amilcar was able to find out But at length after along conference which amounted to nothing Amilcar retired However he could not that night have any account of Aronces because it was too late and not coming to know what had happened at Sivelia's till the next morning he durst not go thither in the day-time But as soon as it was night he visited that vertuous Lady from whom he received all the civilities which a friend of Aronces and Herminius could expect so that as soon as the first salutations were over and some little discourse about the present posture of affaires she told him she would bring him to the place where Aronces was But generous Sivelia said Amilcar to her when he knew where Aronces lodged doth not Brutus live with his Aunt He does replies the discreet Lady but trouble not your self for that I am satisfied replied Amilcar he is a man will not dive very deep into your designes but if I am confident of his stupidity on the one side I am fearful on
by the Spies which those of Ardea had in Tarquin's Camp that Aronces was not there and was conceived to lurk in Rome So that not doubting but that Sivelia could give some account of him his resolution was to be fully satisfied Horatius for his part in his excessive affliction had some benefit by the Truce for that it afforded him the leisure to perfect the cure of his wounds and to consider what he should do to out-vie the generosity of his Rival yet without violating the interest of his love Nay even Tarquin himself was at some ease for that he received from Amilcar what gave him some shadow of hope As for Prince Sextus he had the least share in this happiness for the love of Lucrecia exercised such a tyranny over his soul that he had not the least command of it himself As for Prince Titus and the Prince of Pometia they also having some secret interest to manage at Rome found their convenience of the Truce as well as others Nay even the cruel Tullia put on a little more cheerfulness and became less furious than she was wont as being in some hopes to corrupt him who kept Clelia who not conceiving himself sufficiently rewarded for the late murthers he had committed by the orders of Tarquin seemed enclined to swallow the promises of this cruel Princess Things being in this posture the noble Herminius came one evening to Sivelia's Amilcar being in the house who was extreamly glad to see him for he had a natural affection for him and infinitely esteemed him for his parts and vertue Herminius also who had as great experiment of the merit of Amilcar as any living was overjoyed to find him at his vertuous Mothers from whom he had received a thousand expressions of tenderness which he had requited with as many obliging testimonies of gratitude and true friendship But Sivelia's enjoyment was somewhat obscured by a certain fear she had lest her Sons return might be discovered but Tarquin not being at Rome and Amilcar advising that Herminius should for more safety lodge with Aronces she was received and with more quiet enjoyed the presence of a Son in whom all the vertues made a glorious constellation and in whom his greatest enemies found not the least declination to any evil habit For indeed Herminius was in his inclinations noble in heart free passionate compassionate and generous in humour he was mild civil obliging complaisant having a mind fit for all things and fortunate in finding out many pleasant and innocent circumventions to divert his friends of both sexes Moreover though he was a very discreet person and sufficiently reserved among those who had not much of his company yet when he pleased he screwed up his humour to a certain bravery and sprightliness but to those he loved not this was mystical and his frolickness might confidently be taken for an expression of his esteem and his affection He was excellent good at writing of Billets of all sorts and had such a happy and easie vein of Verses that it was Amilcar's judgement Greece afforded not a more generall a nobler and a more nimble wit than that of Herminius insomuch that sometimes he would wish he might change wits with this illustrious Roman saying that Phocilides the Milesian who was then alive had never made better Verses then he nor Sappho more amorous Amilcar therefore having an infinite esteem for Herminius made a thousand obliging expressions to him at his coming to Sivelia's but at last left this dear Son with his excellent Mother But after promise he should go to Aronces his loding whither he was going himself and where according to his custome he used to pass away the Evening Sivelia therefore having acquainted Herminius how all things stood which concerned his fortune sent notice to Racilia of her sons arrival and begged the same favour for him as she had done for Aronces To which that generous Matron having made such answer as was fit she should Herminius went to her house where he was received as a kinsman of her husbands and as a friend for whom he had a great tenderness He had also the happiness to see a Neece of hers whose name was Hermilia a Virgin if any in the world had extraordinary excellences both of body and mind but he was much surprised to find that neither Aronces nor Amilcar had so much as seen her Not that Racilia was confident of the discretion of this Beauty but the reason she gave Herminius was that she found Aronces so afflicted and Amilcar so frolick that she thought the melancholy of the one would not admit diversion and the frolick humour of the other was enough for his friend and himself But Herminius assuring the interest of a Kinsman of the fair Hermilia told her Aunt that his friends must needs see her Racilia then without delay accompanied with her daughter conducted Herminius to Aronces's chamber where they found Amilcar who had that day brought a Letter from Clelia to that illustrious Lover which consequently affording him as great satisfaction as the unhappy state of his affairs would permit him to receive he entertained Herminius with a many expressions of gladness having first asked Racilia leave to embrace his friend But these first ceremonies of friendship being over Herminius presented Hermilia to him acquainted him who she was How cryes out Amilcar hath this fair Virgin been in the house ever since I came hither She has replyed Herminius smiling and had it not been for me this Treasure had been yet hidden from you Ha Madam sayes Amilcar to Racilia your generosity is very great in regard of your compassion not to consider that the sight of this beautiful person is an excellent medicine for unfortunate persons It may be replyed obligingly Aronces she is as likely to make as to cure such But if you 'l believe me sayes Racilia there is no great danger of her doing either for she ever sayes that a man is not to seek his comfort any where but in himself and that in her own nature she is so harmless she can do no hurt which her compassion shall not allay if it cannot cure As I have never been so unhappy as to do any replied the modest Hermilia so I am not certain whether I should be so good as I am believed and so I should have as great a pitty for those ills I were guilty of as for those I were not This past Aronces being Master o' th' Ceremonies in his own chamber though it were in Racilia's house caused these Ladies and his two friends to sit down It is true that while Amilcar spoke to this vertuous Roman and her Neece Aronces listned to Herminius who acquainted him with all he knew of Horatius As I am true to you sayes he in a low voyce I must needs confess that I have discovered in your Rivall the most generous resentments in the world for it is constantly believed that in some intervals he wishes he
not that the over-curious Lucrecia had taken it from me lest I should shew it to some one to find out who writ it and to whom it was directed I would presently shew it Collatine that he might assist me to discypher it Valeria spoke this in apparence so ingenuously that Collatine began to hope that the Letter he had might be the same which Valeria spoke of So that desirous to be satisfied he solicited Lucrecia to shew it him Collatina who was of the same opinion with her Brother tlod her that she must communicate that Letter for they both concluded that if she could not produce it they could not charge her with any thing Hermilia for her part knowing what Valeria and Lucrecia drove at took occasion to tell Collatine that that Letter was not so terrible For in fine said she very cunningly it is easily perceived that he who writ it is in love but there is nothing whence it may be inferred that he is loved But why did you not shew it me says Collatina to Valeria Because Lucrecia was pleased to take it away from me replyed she but to engage her to shew it you I should in revenge make you believe that she her self lost it Ah Valeria you take a strange course to make me shew it but I shall not do it added she if Collatine and his Sister promise me not never to speak of it and to restore it me as soon as they have read it nay I will do nothing if that you may be disappointed from shewing it to others you consent not it may be presently torn to pieces You may imagine my Lord that considering the violent desire which Collatine had to be satisfied in this business he promised to do what Lucrecia would have and that his Sister did the like But for Valeria and Hermilia Brutus's life being concerned in it as also the reputation of their friend they did that in this adventure to deceive Collatine and his Sister which cannot well be imagined Lucrecia pretended to go and fetch the Letter which she said was in her Cabinet carrying her self so in the business as if she made no question but to find it there But as she went to her chamber which was the other side of the house she spies me coming in and points to me to come straight to her which I obeyed but not affording me leisure to speak she told me what had happened and I promised her my best assistance to deliver her out of the trouble she was in I went therefore immediately to the company as if I had not met her at all soon after which Lucrecia returning I saluted her as having not seen her before But Lucrecia having returned my salute began to tell Valeria that she asked her for a thing she had not and that she must have taken it again out of her Cabinet for added she I am certain it was there yesterday and as certain that it is not there now I assure you replyed Valeria I took it not It must be then Hermilia replyed Lucrecia For my part answered that fair creature I can assure you I have it not But replyed Valeria speaking to Lucrecia is it not because Herminius is here that you make a new difficulty to shew it No indeed replyed she for I am confident of Herminius's discretion but there is nothing so certain as that some body hath taken it It must be then Collatina that hath it replyed Valeria for as to Hermilia I see by her looks she hath it not Valeria herein speaking the truth Collatina blushed so that Lucrecia Valeria Hermilia and I said all together that certainly Collatina had it that she must produce or at least for her justification permit Hermilia to search whether she had it about her or not To be short this confident wench who yet does every thing she does handsomely and discreetly beset her self to do what was given her in charge Whereupon Collatina perceiving the Letter would be found about her and believing by the cheerfulness of the other three that the business was as they made it told them laughing that it was true she had it But she added a little lye to the matter for she hath since confessed she took it out of the Cabinet but she then affirmed she had found it in Lucrecia's chamber As for Collatine he was so glad to think the Letter had not been written to his Mistress that he joyned his entreaties with mine to his Sister that she would deliver it since she confessed she had it Collatina accordingly delivers it to Valeria who was very earnest to have it saying it was she that found it and consequently it belonged to her But as soon as she had it she shewed it to Collatine as if she had not known that he had seen it Collatine also pretended he had not read it before but coming at last to my hands I said I knew who had written it and to whom it was directed but would not discover it because the Lover was one of my friends This past I earnestly entreated Valeria to bestow that Letter on me for if you knew said I to her in what affliction the Lover is who writ it you would pity him But to satisfie you further in this adventure you are to know that this Letter was never seen by the Lady to whom it belongs for he who writ it had it about him the day there were so many here intending to send it to his Mistress that evening which was the time he could with most ease deliver his Letters to a young Slave she hath lately entertained You will therefore do justly if you restore it to me and never speak of this accident for by divulging it there will be a necessity of discovering what men were here at the celebration of the Fountain-Feast and then haply it might be guessed what Lady were concerned in this Letter As for Collatine added I I have nothing to beg of him upon this occasion for I look on him as a man so rational that I am confident he will do that for my friend wich he would wish were done for himself were he so happy as to be in a condition to lose some Love-letter which the fair Lucrecia should have received As I spoke this after a manner ingenious yet earnest enough Collatine and his Sister were convinced the thing was no otherwise than as I said so that the jealousie of this Lover was by this means absolutely smother'd But to disguise the business a little further Valeria said she found some difficulty to deliver me the Letter for it may be added she if you restore it to him that writ it he will send it to his Mistress and so I shall occasion her receiving a Love-letter And if he do not send that replyed I he would haply write another more passionate therefore trouble not your self with these groundless inconveniences but let me have that which you have found Hereupon Hermilia Lucrecia
hath induced me to interest my self in this valiant Unknown Telesis is certainly worthy of your expressive tenderness replied Philonice but I know not added she if this Prisoner was deficient in those noble qualities which had raised him to the height of an accomplished man he would as much remember you There 's no doubt of that replied Berelisa but I principally interest my self in this Unknown because there 's some resemblance between him and my Brother for Telesis is nigh of his age he is as you know well proportioned he hath given some evident testimonies of his courage he hath spirit and in fine if I dare say it as gallant as the Prisoner seems to be As Berelisa thus spoke she was interrupted by the Agrigentine Prince who told her the Chase would not permit a long discourse and that they should not transpose the pleasures of it so that Berelisa gallantly answering the Agrigentine Prince the rest of the Chase passed in an agreeable manner and at night the Prince made a magnificent Feast to all the Ladies which had enjoyed the benefit of this Princely sport Artemidorus who was lodged in a Chamber which looked upon the garden of the Agrigentine Castle had seen them return from the Chase for though his Chamber was but a foot higher than the Garden it was built on such a rising ground that it discovered all the Country which environed the City the sight of a company where joy seemed to be so universal gave some addition to his melancholy for he imagined what would be Clidimiras grief if she knew he was Prisoner to an enemy of the Leontine Prince he even thought that his absence alone would cause her an incredible affliction and when he remembred all those demonstrations of affection which had past between them he doubted not but she should employ all the moments of her life to think of him and regret his absence and he felt not only his own grief but he suffered that which he presupposed Clidimira would endure for his consideration In the mean time his Guards reported divers things to Afranor which perswaded him that this Prisoner was of a greater condition than he said he was kept very exactly though treated with much civility he had the liberty in the day time to be alone is his Chamber and those which had taken had not risled him because his Valour claimed their respect he had divers Letters of Clidimira which he often perused to consolate himself for when he departed from Messina he thought that desiring to pass for a simple Cavalier 't was not convenient for him to carry that precious Casket which was depositary of all the secrets of his heart but contented himself to take the Letters of Clidimira to give him some consolation during his voyage Artemidorus living in this manner spent whole days in ruminating on Clidimira and Berelisa a resentment of inclination pity generosity and tenderness for her absent Brother was very solicirous to render this Prisoner all those things she conceived might sweeten the rigour of his imprisonment But if in the beginning she believed her self obliged by the prementioned reasons she found her self afterwards engaged by a more puissant motive You may remember as I have already told you that the Chamber of Artemidorus was a foot higher than the Garden from whence the prospect is very delicate for it had two Windows the one facing the Campagn the other the end of a Walk which looked upon a Garden-knot so enamelled with the choisest of Floras treasures and beautified by Art in such ingenious manner that Art and Nature did contend therein for mastery This Walk being very agreeable when the Sun doth not guild it with its radiant Beams Berelisa towards the Evening often repaired thither and there being two seats at the ends and in the middle of this Walk to repose on commodiously to enjoy the fair prospect there was a seat against the Window of Artemidorus so contrived that though the Window was grated it admitted the conveniency of discourse with those which were seated on this side the Walk It often hapned that Artemidorus which was obliged to Berelisa for the good opinion she had testified of him saluted her with much respect when his Window was found open and Berelisa who was civil and courteous and who had a secret unknown reason which rendred her more affable than ordinary did often entertain discourse with Artemidorus but as 't was not possible for her to harbour an ill opinion of him the more she saw the more she esteemed him and seeing melancholy enthroned in his face compassion so invaded her heart that seeing every day the charming Princess of Agrigentine more usually than before the Prince her Father being gone to the War she often spoke to her of her Prisoner for she sometimes used that term she having such a special care of him and she did it principally to give Berelisa the curiosity to converse with him to the end that acknowledging his merit she might at the Prince her Fathers return endeavour to obtain his liberty and Philonice who is compassionate and generous and who seeks occasions to render any one any curteous office told Berelisa that the first fair day she would go to the Castle of Agrigentine to see if she had reason to give such encomiums of her Prisoners spirit as 't was then the fairest season in the year the next being serene and calm correspondent to the desires of this Princess and she being willing to perform her promise made to Berelisa went to the Castle with this amiable Virgin accompanyed with many Ladies carrying likewise with her one that had relation to her whom the Prince of Agrigentine had sent to certifie her of a considerable advantage he had gained over his enemies for he was one of Berelisas Friends and was of a pleasant disposition she believed he would render their recreation more delightful and it succeeded as she imagined Berelisas humour being at this time tun'd to the highest pitch of mirth but in fine without trespassing on your patience by relating those things which have no reference to the life of Artemidorus I shall tell you that the hour being come when they might take a commodious walk in the place I have already mentioned Philonice and all the company went thither but as Berelisae told her she would not expose her Prisoner to speak before so many persons the Princess only followed by Berelisa went towards the Window of Artemidorus who seeing the Princess approach saluted her with a profound reverence after which through respect he would have withdrawn himself from the Window but Philonice recall'd him Return valiant Unknown said she to him return and do not flye those who seek you I am Madam so unworthy of this honour replied he that you ought not to think it strange if I would have deprived my self of a pleasure that I am incapable to merit All honest unhappy persons replied the generous Philonice
hither a man express to inform of them Telesis who is to espouse her it hapned that this man being born at Agrigentine though he resided at Leontine and coming hither with a desire to see this solemnity knew you and being born my Subject he thought himself bound by Allegiance to discover you to me but when he acquainted me with it added he it seemed he had no design but that you should live in splendor proportionable to your Quality for he highly exaggerated the injustice of the Leontine Prince and your own Merit neither am I resolved to use you otherwise nor to change any thing of your Fortune but to give order you should be treated like a Prince for though the Treaty of Heraclea be not concluded you shall receive your liberty as if your condition was not known I offer you likewise my Court as an Asylum till the Prince your Brother remits his anger and resolves to respect you according to your merit Your expressions are so generous replied Artemidorus that I can frame no language to reach the grandeur of your excessive Favours immeritedly bestowed upon me nor can I requite your generosity but by assuring you I will unsluce the azure Conduits of my Veins for your service whilst Honour permits me to expose my life for your Interests After these words the Prince of Agrigentine saying 't was time to depart the Princess thereto disposed her self but not till she had made an obliging complement to Artemidorus to whom all the Ladies and the rest of the company did the like Terillus did likewise salute him but with a kind of compulsive civility for remembring all those courtesies Berelisa had performed to this Prisoner he believed it may be she knew him and had more suspicion of it because she expressed a great emotion of joy at the generosity of the Agrigentine Prince when Cleodamas who came with this Prince approached her she could not restrain her self from testifying her satisfaction Sage Cleodamas said she to him what say you of this adventure You who can set a just price on heroick actions how do you esteem this action of the Agrigentine Prince and how do you like the reception of it by the Prince Artemidorus I find replied Cleodamas you have your part in the glory of this day since Aetemidorus is your Prisoner and that you were the first who knew his merit As Terillus had attentively hearkned to the words of Berelisa his heart was enslaved with such a jealous passion that swaying all his rational faculties it retained Love which was ready to for sake its residence But not to intrude on your patience by reciting several things not material to this History I shall retrench them and only tell you that the Ladies having remounted on their Horses returned to Agrigentine where the Prince was received with all the Ceremonies usual in such occasions before he departed from Carisalis he caressed in a singular manner the sage Cleodamas highly commending his sumptuous entertainment for the amiable Philonice she was so pleased with the delectable Scituation of his House that she promised to retire thither ere Cynthia had once repaired her wained Horns to pass away some few days with more pleasure and delight I shall Madam tyre your attention by the recital of the Feast in the Princes Palace or the Masques and Balls which lasted the space of eight days but shall only tell you that the Agrigentine Prince incited by his natural generosity forced Artemidorus to accept an equipage correspodent to his condition this Prince then appeared without constraint the most amiable of men though his melancholy did eclipse his humour and esteeming Berelisa in a high degree 't was not easie for to vanquish her puissant inclination As Berelisa was the first Lady in the Court to whom I had spoken and who favoured Artemidorus being my particular friend she testified unto me so much goodness that I became wholly obliged to her and sometimes I imagined if my heart had not been already engaged I had disposed my self to love her Judging then Artemidorus by my self I counselled him what I could to love Berelisa Alas said he to me when I spoke to him of it my heart is framed to love her there 's nothing I would not do to content her and I esteem her a thousand times more than Clidimira but I cannot raze that unfaithful person from my heart in despight of my anger jealousie and grief my soul is disturbed when I suddenly hear her name pronounced my imagination represents her to me and my heart desires her and if my words may not be construed in a degenerate sense my heart yet affects her though she is inconstant I am likewise resolved replied he to re-enflame or cure my passion to write once more to Clidimira to see if she 'll have the confidence to forbid me to love her and always to deny love I would have diverted him from his intention because I feared this person would flatter him with uncertain hope but as his Design was absolute I assisted him therein commanding one of my men to carry his Letter which contained these expressions if my memory prove not trecherous The Faithful Artemidorus to the Inconstant Clidimira YOur variable Nature Madam is the subject of all Discourse and though the Title of my Letter doth seem to evidence my Belief yet I confess to you my doubts are not fully resolved till your own hand clear my suspicion I know you have given all my Letters to my Rival that your Lines to him demonstrate the Reality of your Affection and that you have given him the Pourtracture designed for me Though these things may be convincing your Writing only can render me happy or undeceive me I am perswaded you fancy Love to acquire your repose during my absence For my part I shall not declare to you what affection sways my heart before you have resolved my question Inform me then whether your Perfections are still graced with a permanent Love or whether your Inconstancy hath deformed your Beauty Artemidorus somewhat scrupled to send this Letter before he had shewed it to Berelisa but as she was the Sister of Telesis he thought if he spoke to her of it she would not permit him to send it at last he did not insist on this consideration whereupon I gave it to one of my men who went to Leontine I having other Interests which obliged me to send thither I know not Madam whether you remember I told you that when Telesis departed from the Camp to go to Syracusa where he was sent by the Agrigentine Prince who wrote to Berelisa he would go privately to Leontine desiring her to tell no person of it It hapned that when Clidimira received the Letter of Artemidorus Telesis was there you may judge then what answer she returned to oblige the last and to introduce despair into the first Lovers heart she wrote to him but these words which doubtless were framed
and Reason so much as to question whether I being his Son ought or ought not to take his part But then ought I not to deliver a Mistress when it is in my power and must I deny her any thing unto whom I have promised all things But Aquilius said he suppose I should overcome my repugnancy unto the Law of Nature and follow such motions as Love inspires me withal all would be in vain For my Father is Master of Rome Tarquin is hated and the same cruelty which made him reign so long will doubtless debar him from ever reigning again in Rome because all Romans knowing how revengeful he is will never trust him Therefore though the interest of a Father should not restrain me the impossibility of the enterprise ought For it is a most gross folly to attempt a thing against all reason when there is no manner of possibility to effect it For my part said Titus then I shall hardly think any thing impossible For the people are so giddy and mutable as one may expect or one may fear any thing from them How strangely violent they were in chusing Collatine a Consul and with the same violence and breath expell'd him Rome Therefore if a confederacy were on foot I should not despair of its success and would be one amongst them provided they would save the life of my Father for I must confess I cannot lose Ocrisia and live Perhaps replied Tiberius I love Teraminta more than you Ocrisia but being not so great a hater of this new Government as you are and seeing no possibility to alter it I am not so hasty as you However said Aquilius I promised the Envoys of Tarquin to bring you unto them and indeed they had earnestly entreated Aquilius to contrive it so that they might speak with them if it might be with safety Aquilius did not fear his friends would reveala thing which would ruine him if it were known and therefore he told them that for his part he was resolved to do all he could for Tarquin although he did not love him and that he would break off all friendship with them if they would not go to morrow in the evening into the Garden where they had already spoken with the Envoyes of that Prince Thus the Sons of Brutus not well knowing what they would or would not do and not knowing whether Love should yield unto Nature and Honour or whether Nature and Honour should surmount Love they promised Aquilius to go whither he would But whilst Brutus and Valerius were striving to unite the opinions of the Senate whilst the Envoys of Tarquin were sowing seeds of confederacy whilst the young Aquilians and their friends were plotting a confederacy against the deliverers of Rome and whilst all the people of Rome expected with much impatience the resolution of the Senate Horatius casting all his cares of the publick good upon the wisdom of those who then had the Authority he thought upon nothing but how to make advantage of the absence and misfortune of his Rival Herminius and Mutius upon nothing but to please the charming Valeria Artemidorus and Zenocrates upon nothing but their own and their friends business The Prince of Numidia nothing but complain he could not dye since he was not beloved Hermilia and Collatina in discoursing of their common misfortunes Clelia in grieving for the miseries of Aronces and Amilcar in diverting himself in all things and in diverting Plotina in all manner of things that might afford her any delight Mean while Sulpitia being of the prime Quality and a little disaccustomed at Carthage and Capua from the extream severity of Rome converse and discourse at her house was very free Also at every alteration of Government the people are for a while excused from the exact deportments of their Country So as almost all Men and Women of any excellency of parts and ingenuity did Rendevouz every day at the house of Sulpitia Clelia doubtless did wish her self free to lament her misfortunes but since she could not have her will and being as wise as fair she dissembled part of her grief except when Horatius looked upon her for then out of an obliging tenderness to Aronces she found some sweetness in afflicting Horatius by shewing her melancholy which she knew he would interpret as she desired he should but though she was very serious and sad yet was she both civil and sociable The same day that the Sons of Brutus received the two Letters Clelia having observed in seeing Mutius and Herminius together that they look'd very coldly upon each other she asked Valeria what the matter was betwixt those two brave men Valeria she blusht at the question so as Clelia never staying for an answer told her in a low voice that she would never ask her any thing again for I am much mistaken if I do not see the cause of their Quarrel in your eyes Truly replied Valeria you need not seek for any other cause than the injustice of Mutius who thinks it a shame to change a resolution which he had fixed upon I am so apt to judge favourable of Herminius replied Clelia that I doubt not but Mutius is in the wrong and his Rival in the right but for all that it is not impossible that two Rivals should hate one another yet not be unjust Whilst these two Ladies were talking thus Herminius and Mutius who were no good friends since Tarquin was expelled Rome they looked very roughly upon each other and conversed not together unless when some other broke the Ice for though they had agreed to defer their difference until the liberty of their Country was established yet they could not constrain themselves and one might easily perceive they sought for an occasion of being contrary in opinions Yet Mutius was much perplexed for Amilcar and Plotina talking with them and Cesonia began unawares to speak of Aronces and Horatius and to say afterwards in general that it was the most unjust thing in the world for two Rivals to hate each other upon no other ground but loving the same person For truly said Plotina very pleasantly He who hates his Rival because he loves his Mistress must also expect to be hated himself by the same reason What you do say replyed Herminius then is very witty but yet I am perswaded that there are not so many Rivals unjust as you imagine For my part said Cesonia I never knew any that loved Doubtless replyed Mutius there are some who esteem but there can he none who do not hate I never knew any no more Cesonia said Amilcar that loved their Rivals The reason why all Rivals jar so replyed Herminius is because it is a thing impossible that two men should pretend unto one and the same thing but they must look upon each other as men that would make each other miserable so as commonly one of the two is always unjust For my part said Plotina I must maintain that it is rather envie
most richly furnished and the floor strewed with all delicate variety of flowers the spring could afford the smell of which far surpassed that of Roses or Violets The Ladies having never seen the like before thought themselves in a Garden and stooped to gather flowers for Nosegays but Herminius saved them the labour for he presented unto them baskets full of Posies of all sorts of flowers tied up with Ribbons of various colours so as the Ladies not thinking themselves able to commend Herminius enough foe his Gallantry they thanked him a thousand times after which they found very rich Carpets laid in the windows for them to lean upon Herminius thought it not enough for all things to be handsome in the Chamber but he had provided most rare Musick in a Closet adjoyning and to compleat the entertainment he gave them a most sumptuous banquet Now that you may the better understand the sequel of this story be pleased to know that Volesus who as I told you already was a man of merit was in love with Salonina who indeed was rarely handsome and fair though she had some unjust opinions and who was then one of the best friends of Valeria who was not then in any great amity with Lucretia So as Volesus being a Lover and Lovers naturally are jealous he imagined that Herminius was also in love for making such treatments of Gallantry but yet he was deceived for Herminius did such things very oft because they were Gallantries in themselves not because â—e loved the persons whom he treated yet Volesus measuring the minds of others by his own he began to dispute with Herminius hoping thereby to discover who the Lady was to whom this Gallantry was intended and wished with all his heart he might not have him for his Rival so as seeing every one thank Herminius for my part said he and smiled I will not thank him for I am sure that I am beholding unto some Lady in the company for this feast and that nothing but Love could inspire Herminius with a design of so much Gallantry Truly said the Prince of Pometia if one should judge by appearances there is some reason to be of Volesus his opinion For my particular said Titus I have long thought Herminius to be in Love with some Lady in this company for he visits them every day he cannot endure to be any where else and grumbles if any desire him to go and see some others on the contrary he is pleasant and merry when he is in the company of the Ladies that are here he can invent a hundred diversions write elegant Letters make songs and as now you see very gallant Feasts Very good said Herminius and smiled you will perswade me that I am in love with every one in the company for indeed I have the same inclination to all the company in general which they say a Lover has to a Mistress in particular But perhaps replyed Spurius you do not love all the company in general but only because you do love some one in particular Since Herminius is my very good friend said Valeria I hope to make him in love with me Since he is but indifferent to me said Salonina I am out of that hope for my part said Hermilia I know Herminius does not love me And I am sure said Flavia that I shall never win his heart no nor Collatina Well well said Herminius I love you all in general and never yet asked my self whom in all the company I loved best Since so replied Valeria and innocently smiled I beseech you observe your self a while and if you find that any one of these Ladies has captivated you to tell me in secret as one of your best friends But suppose said Volesus he should love you most he tell you of it I beseech you said Herminius do not question her upon that Article for what know I but I may love her more than I think No no Herminius replied Valeria you answer I know that you do not love me but in case you be deceived answered Collatina must Herminius tell me whom he loves Ah Collatina replied Valeria should I be so unhappy as that Herminius should love me more than I would have him I would not have him tell you but since I can keep a secret better than any of my friends I had rather Herminius should tell me than you or any else So had I replied Herminius and I do solemnly promise that as soon as ever I am in love I will tell you and discover the bottom of my heart unto you But before I engage my self to hear you answered Valeria I will make my conditions with you You need but name them replied Herminius and you shall be obeyed I would then answered she that in case I be your Confident not be a meer hearer that must sit idle and do nothing to serve you not so much as to give you counsel but on the other side I think nothing more horrible than to be such a confident as will busie her self in a thousand things wherein she has no interest But in case you be my Mistress replied he what should I do then I would have you promise me answered she that you will never tell me any thing that shall anger me and that if you do never to see me again I will engage my self replied he never to tell you any thing which ought to displease you but not precisely that it shall not displease you for all Ladies have their Capricious minutes wherein they will be angry without any cause As Valeria was going to answer they heard a farr off the musick which went before the Salians And there being one place better for sight than any other Herminius carried Valeria thither which favour she received only as a simple testimony of his friendship Afterwards every one beheld the Salians pass with great attention and delight except Herminius who fell into such a deep study that all the Company observed him and Collatina asked him what he thought upon Truly answered he I am striving to know whom I love for now I begin to think that I am in love with some body Oh Herminius said the Prince of Pometia if you be once in love you will quickly know with whom it is If so replied Herminius my Mistress should know it as soon as my self for I was resolved to tell her as soon as I knew nor is it reasonable to put a Mistress to so much pains as to guess at that love which she her self caused For my part said Salonina and smiled I should be gladder to guess at a thing of that nature than to know it any other way for when one guesses at it one is not obliged to answer Why do you busie your self said Valeria in such impertinent discourse in lieu of looking at the Ceremony since we all came hither to see it For my part said Salonina and laughed I have seen the Ceremony two or three times before
courtesie upon such an occasion to be a little false unto Herminius she set such a face upon the matter as she seemed as much surprised as he was Consider well with your self said she unto him whether you have not acquainted some or other with your passion to Valeria For if you have you know how nice she is upon that No no no replied he you only are the confident of my Passion Then replied she is it not some spark of jealousie For truly Herminius you flow so with an universal Gallantry as would make me desperate were I your Mistress when ere you write to a woman be she what she will you always use more charming and tender expressions than come from your heart when you Compose any verses extempore they are as amorous as if they were dedicated unto Valeria And you use a hundred Courtships unto all women whom you love not which you should use only unto such as you love believe it you ought to be more circumspect and wary in such trifles especially when you love one of a nice and delicate spirit and a heart sensible Ha no no replied Herminius if Valeria be angry it is at something else for I have told her a hundred times that I never writ any thing but of her and that she has as many names in my Verses as are attributed to Diana only to delude such as read them Upon this he was strangely perplext and desired Flavia to go unto his angry Mistress and ask her from him what her pleasure was Then checking himself but if it be only a fallacy said he she will laugh at me the more But no matter said he again I had rather she should laugh at me than to live in this incertainty Then he looked upon Valerias Letter again but finding no manner of mysterious matter in it he resolved to imploy Flavia to discover what this charming Ladie meant She feigned therefore to go and ask her what the matter was though she went only to laugh with her at the inquietude of Herminius So as Flavia thinking to delude her friend she did him a very good office for Valeria was more glad that Herminius was so much afflicted at her anger than that her fallacy had so well taken But to be short Herminius was three days in this cruel perplexity and never saw Valerid yet at last this fair one resolving to discover the truth unto him she let him come into her Chamber where none but Flavia and she was When he entred the picture of sorrow was in his eyes he approached her with more reverence than ordinary and beginning to speak Oh Madam said he what has unhappy Herminius done He has deceived me replied she and smiled and therefore he deserves all the inquietude I have caused in him and something more for having so sharp a wit as he has and a wit able to deceive the most ingenious he may be ashamed not to find that in my Letter which would undeceive him Ah cruel woman said he your Letter contains nothing but injuries and yet you mock me and would make me believe there is some hidden mystery in your words To shame you the more said she unto him give me my Letter and if I do not make you blush deceive me again if you can Upon which he gave her the Letter and she shewing him the last word of every line putting them together he found them to signifie Accuse only your deceit for this innocent Artifice Oh Madam cryed he out you know how to deceive better than I do and you can deceive the deceiver after which he commended her invention blaming her inhumanity in letting him continue so long in such tormenting inquietude but at last Flavia made peace betwixt them who were so inclined thereunto that there needed no Articles of Agreement to be drawn between them but naturally promised never to deceive each other again And to love eternally Their affections being very innocent Valeria was the more free and she who was most assured that she was never criminal did more obligingly testifie her tenderness unto Herminius as if she had not been so well assured as she was of her own virtue Mean while Salonina who was most horribly vexed both at Valeria and Spurius she knew not what resolution to take for she began to be ashamed of the way which she took with Spurius to reclaim him and she could hardly endure Valeria Her pride inspired her with a most fantastical opinion for she who told Volesus that she complied with Spurius only to hide her affection unto him began now on the contrary to comply less with Spurius and more with Volesus in publick in a thought that jealousie would draw Spurius unto her And she did it with so much Art that Volesus was pleased with it for then he believed that the affection of this Ladie to him was stronger than her reason so he left Salonina at liberty to follow her own Capricious humour without thinking any more upon it But Spurius being more subtil than Volesus he knew that whatsoever Salonina did she had a desire to re-engage him so as he enjoy'd as I told you before all the pleasures that hope and revenge could inspire him withal and all the Cabal wherein he was were all so gallant so pleasant and so full of spirit and wit as it was impossible to live more pleasant lives than all these illustrious persons lived Not but that for all this Herminius and Valeria had sometimes some petty quarrels but since they sprung only from excess of tenderness they quickly vanished and their reconcilements were so sweet as their quarrels might be called augmentations of Love and delight Yet once there was a day whereon they had such a jarring as put them both to much perplexity the cause whereof was very particular You may remember I told you that Valeria charged Herminius above all things to keep the passion which he had to her very close and secret so as being very exact and prudent and careful to content her he constrained himself very admirably well in all encounters It hapned one day that he being with her the Prince of Pometia came in who having found Herminius the day before in a walk far distant from all company he began to chide him and to ask what was the cause of his solitary humour Truly Sir said he unto him I should pump very hard if I should endeavour to tell you For first I am not in Love and as for such things as I sometimes do in my foolery I assure you that I do them without invoking Apollo or any of the Muses I do them either out of ravishment of spirit fancy or humour or out of a necessity to obey my friends and yet it 's none of all these that brought me yesterday into that melancholy walk but I walked alone only because I had no other company A man said the Prince and smiled who tells he is not in Love when he
respective and amorous than he used So as after all her endeavours to recal Spurius both by sweetness and jealousie she found her self like to lose the only Lover which she had remaining though she was fair and wittie As for Spurius he still thought himself very happy although he had no reason As for Herminius and Valeria they were both well satisfied and had good cause for it But as it is impossible to love long without some rub a chance hapned that vexed them both and which might very well do so For you must know that the jealousie of Volesus being augmented and Salonina fearing to lose him she resolved to renounce her design of recalling Spurius But in seeking to justifie her self towards Volesus she was not sorry to do any mischief unto Spurius or unto Valeria also whom she loved not So as endeavouring all she could to piece Spurius and Volesus together the occasion presently offered it self She met with 't in Domitia's Chamber it chanced that Salonina was sitting between Volesus and Spurius And it chanced also that the company was very great that day And that the Ladies which sate by Spurius and Volesus being gone Salonina and they were separated a good space from the rest of the company As for Herminius though he did not often apply himself unto Valeria before company yet since the approach of hiding his Love over-much was laid to his charge he Courted her this day more than ordinary So as Spurius seeing his Rival with his Mistress and could not leave Salonina without two apparent incivility he kept his place Salonina making use of this unexpected occasion both to cure Volesus to vex Spurius and spite Valeria she turned toward Spurius and addressing her speech to him with a disdainful smile Since I am naturally very pitiful said she unto him I think it an act of charity to comfort you for the ill success you have in all your enterprises of Gallantry For truly as full of merit as Herminius is I think Valeria ought to prefer you before him though upon no other reason but because you love her more than he All Ladies in general replied Spurius faintly are so apt to be unjust that if this misfortune do befall me yet it is not the first time Salonina understanding his meaning was afraid lest Volesus should hear and understand So as beginning to speak again hastily without answering to what he had said she told him that he was more beholding to her than he was aware of For Volesus knows that I being full of acknowledgement for all the services which heretofore you have done me I was very sorry to see you engaged in the service of a Lady whose heart is not in her own power and perhaps I have endeavoured to disengage you without any other intention but to break those chains which unless you do undeceive your self will grow more heavy upon you every day For truly continued this crafty Lady Volesus knows very well that I had never endeavoured your Re-engagement to me but only to disengage you from Valeria as much my Friend as she is For I being better able to penetrate into her heart than you I was sorry to see how she made use of you only as a Cloak to hide the inclination she had unto Herminius But since I perceive you do ill interpret my meaning I leave you to your own bad destinie and declare that I will never again endeavour to Re-engage you to my service nor dis-engage you from the service of Valeria Whilst Salonina was speaking this Spurius unluckily looked at Valeria as she was talking to Herminius and had then in her eyes such a passionate and sweet obligingness that he blusht So as it might be said that the looks of Valeria did more perswade Spurius to believe what Salonina said than all the Language of that crafty Lady could So as then not rejecting what this envious friend said as he had upon other occasions and Volesus making one in this Conversation it grew at last a Conversation of real confidence on Spurius his side and false confidence of the side of Volesus and Salonina whose aims yet were not alike For Volesus talked with Spurius only to make him understand that Salonina had no design of Love upon him And Salonina had no other intention but to keep him from being in love with Valeria For as envie doth prepossess the mind as well as Love Salonina did not think that in making Spurius jealous she should augment his Love to Valeria And indeed Spurius at that instant growing jealous he did become much more in Love than before And chance also would have it that the conversation of the day did augment this growing jealousie For be pleased to know that Valeria after she had done talking with Herminius when Spurius had observed the sweetness of her looks she began to chide Salonina for separating her self from the company with two such Gallants as Spurius and Volesus So as being all joyned together and Prince Titus with Collatina being come they fell insensibly to talk of Amity and Love Some said that Amity ought to be preferred before Love because the pleasures of it are more tranquil And others that Love ought to be preferred before Amity because the sweets of it are infinitely more sensible I conceive said Herminius it is not impossible to joyn these two kinds of Pleasures together and I affirm that to make a Love durable it is requisite that a woman be both the Friend and the Mistress of her Lover I say further that if Amity do precede Love in the heart of a Lover his Passion will be stronger more durable more respectful and also more ardent Spurius hearing Herminius say so he made an application of what he said as unto himself So as out of those sparks of jealousie which began to grow in him He began to contradict him and to maintain that Love and Amity cannot be both in the heart of one and the same person For said he these two are so little resemblant as it cannot be conceived they should at one instant be together without so confounding each other as they cannot both be discerned They do confound themselves indeed replied Herminius but it is so as two Rivers which meet and mingle yet in mixing said Titus these two Rivers make but one I do confess it replied Herminius yet the Waters of both the Rivers are there though they cannot be separated and that River which is the most famous and alters the name of the other which it hath received is the better and more fit to bear great boats If Tiber which hath received forty and two Rivers into its Channel had only the original water of its source it would be but a petty brook It is almost the very same in love for to speak sincerely to cause love barely there needs no high spirit great merit great beauty great generosity nor any taking charms in conversation there needs no more
love you Are you not able to say positively that you will love me for ever since you may be sure I shall love you as long as I live When one does love replied Valeria he thinks that he shall Love always and yet thousands of examples make it evident that there are some Lovers who cease to Love Oh Madam replied he the heart of Herminius is not alike unto those Lovers that think so Since so replyed she The Term that our affections shall last shall be equivalent since if you love me as long as you live I will love you until I dye Herminius was so charmed to hear these obliging words from the mouth of Valeria that he resolved to submit his spirit unto the reason of this wise Lady He therefore commended her he asked pardon for his importunity and beseeched her to pity his imbecillity and to comfort him in his misery by her constant goodness So as Valeria being very glad to see that the power she had upon the heart of Herminius was so great she spoke unto him so obligingly that when Domitia and Valerius returned they found his Soul in such a temper as they desired it to be Being therefore both of them charmed at his vertue they assured him that they would love him as their own Son as long as they lived And indeed ever since that day they did love Herminius better than before Yet for fear of incensing the Tyrant they agreed that for a time he should not come so frequently unto them as he used nor that he should hide any of his sorrows to the end that unjust Prince might know by his spies that they had obeyed him Things being thus Herminius not acquainting Valerius nor Valeria he went unto Prince Titus and to the Prince of Pometia and imployed them to move Tarquin not to oppose his marriage But though these Princes were very zealous in the service of Herminius yet they could not do him any good So as he grew so melancholy that the splenitick Spurius was comforted in all his disgraces He had also the pleasure to see that Salonina did not marry Volesus And some there was that suspected he hindred the Parents of that Lover from consenting unto his marriage So as though Spurius was not loved by neither Salonina nor Valeria yet he had the satisfaction to see they did not marry those whom they did love and to break off the society of so many excellent persons who were always together But Herminius yet found out an invention to establish another Cabal for the Amity between Valeria and Lucretia being very great these two Ladies became inseparable So as when Lucretius the Father of Lucretia permitted his Daughter to go unto Racilia in the Countrey The Cabal grew as gallant as ever Lucretia Hermilia Collatina and Valeria being of it But the thing most particular in this adventure was that Spurius who now hated both Valeria and Salonina and also Volesus and Herminius especially the last of these he took a fancy that since he neither could nor would be any longer his Rival he would find him one that should Endeavoring therefore how to bring such a fantastical design to pass he bethought himself of Mutius who till then never seem'd to have any amorous inclination For as perhaps you have observed him Mutius is naturally proud and ambitious and the love of Glory takes up so much of his heart as I believe Valeria with all her charms would not be so pleasing to him as some dangerous occasion would be if he were sure to come off with honour So as Mutius having a heart full of nothing but Heroick designs he never minded such trifles as are the delights of lovers you should see him oftener with grave bearded Senators discoursing upon the valour of Romulus than with young Gallants So as Spurius who was a friend unto an Uncle of Mutius who had the Guardianship of him he cast his eyes upon him for this fantastical design And indeed he made no ill choice for Mutius was handsom he had wit and spirit he was proud and haughty and he was fit to court a Lady and enrage a Rival Spurius then finding Mutius as he was walking with one of the gravest Senators in the Capitol he drew him aside upon pretence of some business with him Sir said he unto him I beg your pardon for depriving you of a conversation which I know you preferred before all the young men of your own age and before all the beauties in Rome But Sir to speak sincerely added he and smiled I do aim at your honour in it For to be free with you I love you very well and you have often told me that you would follow my advice in all things Mutius was a little surprised at this for he knew not why he should be reprehended for preferring wise men before such as were not Though he did not love any reprehensions yet since his Uncle had often commanded him to follow the advice of Spurius and since he had often promised that he would he asked him wherein he had failed beseeching him to tell him what he would do to get honour and glory Since you would know replied Spurius I would that you should not cross the order of nature I would not have you wise before your time but to think there is a kind of folly which well becomes all young men and that to arrive at Glory the sooner you must do many things which may seem a retreat from it For in lieu of applying your self eternally unto these old grave and serious Sages who are experienc'd in the conduct of affairs and command of Armies you should see all the Ladies in Rome that have any beauty wit or handsomness you should make your self some friends out of such as have spent five of six years in Gallantry and are able by their example to teach you how to behave your self in the world You should be in society with all such as have any reputation of excellency but not hang upon them too much Never go where you are not wished for nor imprudently molest the pleasures of others when you are not diverted your self nor inconsiderately engage your self in such foolish company as meet with any business and where none desires you But you should cunningly and handsomely make your self desired you should be sociable you should love pleasures you should court Ladies of merit you should invent occasions to divert them you should not be too merry nor too grave but temperate with judgment you must not be a Wit nor Sword-man nor a Gallant of profession I beseech you said Mutius Tell me what one should do to get esteem you must fall in love replied Spurius But said Mutius Can one fall in love when one will I assure you answered Spurius when one is of your age it is harder to keep out than to fall in love but as long as you keep company with none but gray bearded Senators your heart cannot
make any alliance with his most mortal enemy But though this reason had great appearance of probability yet Emilius did not give much credit to it but thought that Herminius spoke it only to perswade him that he was not in Love Yet he promised he would not speak of it and after many kind embraces he left him and took the way towards Rome yet he came not there so soon as he supposed For Tarquin having chang'd advice he stayed a long while at Lavinium until his business was compleated During which time Herminius was at Capua and could not have Commerce with Emilius nor durst he send to Rome lest Sivelia and Valeria should command him into some Country further off Things then being upon these Terms it so fell out that as Emilius was ready to depart from Lavinium the same Physitian who knew him at Capua and who was originally of Clusium passed by the place where he was and told him with much sorrow that Herminius was dead and had been Assasinated But Madam that you may know the ground of this report I must tell you that Clelius being to be assasinated by the cruel order of Tarquin and that Herminius interposing himself in this adventure one of the Assasinates died of the wounds he had received and the other died of Rage and despair So as this sad accident being published with much confusion and incertainty It was writ unto this Physitian by a wrong informed man who told him positively that Herminius was dead adding many circumstances which might confirm belief of it So as his heart being much moved at it he could not chuse but tell unto Emilius who grieved beyond measure and so very much that he went unto Rome without any delight thinking the loss of his friend greater than the loss of Liberty to live in his own Country Emilius then sighed as he entred into Rome and appeared so melancholy unto all those that came to visit him as every one asked him the Cause for they saw that he was not melancholy by constitution but by accident The next day after he came to Rome he went to visit Flavia who was his near Cousin and with whom he had Commerce by letters though he had never seen her This Lady with whom Valeria was when he entred finding him more melancholy than she imagined he had reason for she began to chide him and to tell him she thought it strange he should have the pensiveness of an exile in his face when he ought to be all joy in his heart Did you but know the cause of my pensiveness replied Emilius I am confident you would excuse me and since I have not yet had the honour to be known unto you I think I ought to acquaint you with it to justifie my sadness to excuse my ill humour and to oblige you to pity me Flavia and I are so naturally compassionate replied Valeria then That if compassion will comfort you you shall not want it Then Madam said Emilius unto her I beseech you pity me For I do not merit so great a misfortune as is fallen upon me What is the misfortune said Flavia The better to understand my bad I must acquaint you with my good Fortune During my Travels I had got a friend who had all the excellent qualities which a compleat man could have and who had unto me abundance of most tender Amity and affection and yet I loved him better than he loved me for I trusted him with my whole heart but he had a passion in his soul which he would never trust unto me But for all that I looked upon his reservedness as part of his discretion to his mistress and not as a defect in his Amity to me Herminius was so dear unto me as I would most willingly give half my life that I could revive him and restore him unto Clelia with whom he was deeply in love at Capua Upon these words Valeria apprehended more than can be imagined there being no sound so dismal as to hear of the death and infidelity of a Lover She had in her heart so great a Turbulency as she could not retain her apprehensions nor chuse but testifie her extream desire of knowing whether it was true that Herminius was inconstant and whether Herminius was dead but anger and grief meeting in her mind both at the same time she had not leisure to expel love only asked Emilius very seriously whether he knew of a certainty that Herminius was dead Emilius to move more compassion in the heart of these two fair ones and pity to himself he told them that it was but too true and told them more than indeed he was sure of After this Valeria perceived that she could not be Mistress of her self if she spoke any more therefore she held her peace with much ado to hold her tears Anger was a help unto her in this encounter for it kept her from lamenting the death of Herminius with despair As for Flavia she asked the same question Valeria did but since she believed Emilius was much mistaken in saying that Herminius loved a Lady in Capua called Clelia and desiring to justifie her friend that his memory might be more dear unto Valeria she told Emilius that most certainly he was much mistaken in thinking Herminius was in love it not being possible a man who had been in Rome where he had seen so many fair and charming beauties should love any else Oh Flavia answered Emilius had you heard him make a description of Clelia who is the daughter of Clelius whom Tarquin so unjustly hates you would not doubt of his being in love with her for he spoke of her with so much admiration and tenderness that he himself did not perceive how he commended her with extraordinary devotion And had you seen the Copies which I have of their Letters you would see I have good reason to pity the admirable Clelia and much more the unfortunate Herminius Whilst Emilius talked thus Valeria endured more torment than can be well expressed Grief Anger and Love made such a disorder in her soul that perceiving she was no longer mistress of her self she arose up and went out of Flavia's Chamber who did not offer to stay her because she thought that she went away only to hide her despair As for Emilius he was so taken up with his own sorrows as he minded not the grief which appeared in the eyes of Valeria that at the first this Lady appeared unto him very amiable But Valeria was no sooner out of Flavia's Chamber but her face was swimming in tears so not daring to walk the streets in that condition nor return home until she had a little recollected her self she pulled down her hood and desired Flavia's servant to open her Ladies Closet where she would stay until Emilius was gone because she had forgot something which she desired to say unto her before she went The servant seeing Valeria very familiar with her Ladie she did as
you desire replied Flavia be in my power I shall not deny it Then use a means said Valeria to get from your kinsman all the Copies of Letters which he hath of Clelia's and the unfaithful Herminius and also the Map of Tender which he mentioned for to lessen my grief I would do all I could to augment my anger But said Flavia unto her you do not know what you ask and if I should do as you desire me you would repent it No matter answered she for as I am I cannot do or say any thing which I shall not repent of within a minute after Flavia seeing it was in vain to contest with her did promise that when she saw Emilius again she would use her best endeavours to get all that he had which belonged to Herminius after which she went home and was no sooner there but feigning her self sick she went to bed speaking not a word of the cruel news which she had heard For though Valerius and Domitia had commanded her to look upon Herminius as a man who was to be her Husband yet she would not shew all the grandeur of that passion which was in her soul so as she endured her misery to hide her tears 'T is true she could not long hide and dissemble all her sorrow for Emilius who could not chuse but lament his loss before every one he published the death of Herminius He told it also unto Valerius who was most extreamly troubled at it and who made no question but the sickness of Valeria proceeded from the same news As for Sivelia when she heard of it her grief was incredible yet she comforted her self with a most Heroick courage and had the consolation to see her illustrious Son lamented by all of any Rank in Rome except the vindicative Spurius and Mutius though it was then very dangerous to grieve for any whom Tarquin loved not He also was strangely incensed at all the lamentation which every one made and at those testimonies of esteem which every one gave of this illustrious Roman whom they believed to be dead and who was his enemy so as all his hatred of him reviving in his heart he said aloud that he was more sorry for the death of Herminius than they that lamented him most because he was deprived of his hopes of having him in his power that he might see him die before his face by the rigor of a torment which he had invented for him This cruel expression of Tarquins being horrid to all of any virtue it was buzzed from one to another for some days to make him hated As for Valeria none spoke unto her of Herminius but Valerius and his wife Sivelia and Flavia. But this sage Ladie having a great soul she did not shew all her sorrow and all her weakness but unto the only person who knew the secrets of her heart Mean time she had not forgot her request unto Flavia but so pressed her to satisfie her curiosity that this officious friend seeing the sorrow of Valeria to encrease in lieu of diminishing she thought it best to do any thing that would lessen her grief for Herminius Therefore the first time Emilius came to visit her she obliged him to lend her the Map of Tender and all your Letters Madam also those of Herminius After which she went unto her friend who knowing that she had brought them caused the woman who waited upon her to with-draw she shut the chamber door and commanded that none should enter She did not fear that Valerius would come and interrupt them because Sivelia had entreated him to go unto her house So as being safe on all sides Flavia sat down by her putting all that she had upon a little Table Valeria began to take one of the Letters and having much a do to save it from her tears she began to read the Copy of a Letter which Herminius had writ unto you Madam whilst he was with Emilius at Capua and which indeed was so tender to be only a Letter of Amity that Valeria may be pardoned if she took it for a Letter of Love I would not read the Copy of it which I have if none but you Madam were to hear me But Madam since Cesonia and Plotina never saw it give me leave to read these lines Herminius unto Clelia Madam DO you ever think upon me Do you love me as much as you promised have you endured my absence with any sorrow And to ask you many things in few words is your Amity worthy the tenderness of mine Valeria had no sooner read this Letter but crying out most lamentably and looking upon Flavia in such a manner as would turn a heart of stone into pity Is it possible said she unto her I should ever see a Letter from Herminius in a style so tender and not writ unto me And is it possible that I should not for ever grieve for his loss or receive any comfort of this But said Flavia unto her seeing her sorrow to encrease in lieu of diminishing though Emilius be a man of much honour yet this is but a Copy not the hand of Herminius for Emilius writ it and therefore methinks you should not absolutely conclude Herminius guilty Ah Flavia replied she I cannot be deceived in the Letters of Herminius This indeed has not so much wit in it as some which he writes unto his friends but it has the same tenderness which he used when he was in love And I heartily wish this Letter were more witty and less tender After this she opened another which Madam proved to be your Answer of which Herminius took a Copy to give unto his friend hoping thereby to let him see that he was not in love with you So as Valeria seeing this Letter and seeing it written with the hand of Herminius this circumstance troubled her more than all the tenderness she found in it Pray Amilcar said Clelia and interrupted do not read my answer unto Cesonia and Plotina For it is not pertinent to the matter in hand Yes Madam answered he it augmented the jealousie of Valeria and therefore it is so pertinent as I conceive it necessary to the story And therefore since it is short I will read it distinctly unto you Clelia unto Herminius PErhaps I think upon you more than you do of me I do love you more than ere I told you your absence troubles me more than you think and if my affection be not worthy of the Tenderness of yours you will never find whose is Well Elavia said Valeria to her what think you of this Letter Truly answered she I do so much wonder at what I see as I think it prudence never to trust any again You are in the right replied Valeria For this Herminius whom you thought a Saint has doubtless all the Faults of other Men You see his perfidie towards me and you may see his indiscretion towards his new Mistress in giving Copies of her Letters and
things else But farther Madam added this Lover who would now be curious out of design I would fain know who could be guilty of the presumption to tell you a thing of this nature Demarata perceiving that Themistus avoided the opportunity she had given him entertained on the sudden other imaginations and considering the countenance wherewith Themistus answered her was satisfied he had no affection for her So that inclining to indignation she immediately applyed her self to the art of dissimulation which she was so well versed in and putting on another countenance how said she to him with a strange confidence can you make a serious answer to what I have said you do not perceive that I had not spoken as I have but to discover the progress of ambition in your heart which it seems is such that you imagine it possible that people should report that you love me and I you Ah Themistus added she of an understanding man as you are have you not answered me well nay I could not conceive you should have made me that answer but for your punishment know that no body hath said any thing to me that I do not think any one loves you or that you love any thing but greatness and glory This put Themistus into another disorder but all considered he was not a little glad to see that Demarata knew nothing of the affection he had for Lindamira he therefore made Demarata the best answer he could telling her that never presumeing to make the least doubt of what she said she was the occasion of his confidence or to say better his simplicity he craved her pardon and so got off as well as he could out of so troublesome a business but though Demarata were sufficiently Mistress of her self when she was resolved to disguise her thoughts yet could she not in the sequel of the discourse avoid divers things whence Themistus might take occasion to suspect something He was more satisfied as to that point an hour after for diverse Ladies being come to the Princess among whom came also the Prince of Messena who detained Themistus there though he were desirous to be gone they fell into a discourse of generosity honesty and love and it was put to the question whether a person that were tender of his honor might without ceasing to be such receive any expressions of affection from the wife of a man whom he loved and by whom he was loved At first it was generally thought there could not be any thing so unworthy or so opposite to honesty But after a while Demarata took occasion to make it a question whether it ought to be so generally affirmed for in fine said she I know not when a woman begins to love a man and gives him occasion to imagine as much whether that man be not more obliged to that Lady for her love than to his friend for his friendship and consequently whether that circumstance would not take off much of his crime and make him less blameable than if he began to love first and should make it his main business to cajoll his friends wife No question but he were less censurable replyes Themistus though yet a virtuous man would think himself very unhappy to be in so dangerous an adventure but when all 's done added Lindamira he were still blameable enough and must needs pass for a base and perfidious person in their judgments who are acquainted with the true rules of honesty for a man must not upon any pretence whatsoever either betray or be ungrateful Themistus having accidentally met the eyes of Demarata discovered in them a certain disturbance wherein he thought might be read love indignation and shame nor indeed was he mistaken for Demarata notwithstanding her natural dissimulation could not hinder Themistus from perceiving that she had within her whatever those three sentiments can inspire that is most cruel and to make her affliction the more insupportable she imagined she saw something in the eyes of Themistus that signified he understood well enough what hers meant and that he would make no answer thereto So that night being come she was extreamly afflicted How said she am I so unhappy as to love yet not to be loved again nay I am so unfortunate as to be in a manner satisfied that the ungrateful man who loves me not knows my weakness and will not bear any part thereof No no I am not able to bear with this injury and let people say what they will I am perswaded that the most horrid of all crimes is that whereby a man makes no return to a womans affection being in such a condition as I am in Let me then tear from my heart the unjust passion that tyrannises there but alas added she presently I have loved Themistus from my infancy 't is a natural inclination which I cannot overcome nay which I cannot find so far guilty as that it deserves to be condemned for all I desire is only to love and to be loved without either giving or entertaining any criminal expressions thereof In the mean time the ambitious Themistus who prefers his Masters favor before any Mistress triumphs over my weakness and slights me as much as I love him But though I should die for it I must do my self an extraordinary violence and not thinking it enough to pass from love to indifference I must know no mean between love and detestation and be revenged on him that makes me unhappy because he minds not his own happiness Had he loved me and afterwards betrayed me I should not be so much incensed as I am now that knowing I love him he makes no return to my affection This resentment is haply somewhat unjust but I know not how to remedy it Love is it self the reason of all the imaginations that proceed from it and revenge is so natural to love that I should not think it much to be pardoned though people came to know the cause why I now do or hereafter may hate Themistus He must certainly have a horrid aversion for me that he makes no return to the tenderness I have for him he is ambitious and I am of a quality to satisfie his ambition I am young I am not unhandsome I dispose of his Masters heart I can ruine him when I please and all this notwithstanding he guesses at my sentiments and pretends he understands them not No no Demarata this injury is insupportable and thou must banish Themistus thy heart or at last thrust him out of the Court. These Madam were the sentiments of Demarata whilst Themistus was sufficiently troubled on the other side for he had but too well observed whatever Demarata had either done or said and was absolutely satisfied that she loved him Then reflecting on the inclination she had for him even in her infancy and a hundred things she had done since his return he was convinced of the truth so that he was extreamly afflicted for it was easie for him to
go to this pleasant Solitude whereof two are very troublesome and difficult The place is nevertheless furnished with Springs and there is a very fair Haven at the foot of this famous Mountain which hath a priviledge that there was never seen upon it any venemous creature or wild beast and the excellency of the place is such that because men could never find out a name excellent enough for it it hath not any one in partcular and the Haven it hath distinguishes it from the other mountains This then is the place where is retired a small number of wise men who having experienc'd the vanities of the world will needs disengage themselves from it But among others Timantes a particular friend of the virtuous Amalthaea is an an incomparable person He is tall and of a good countenance and hath a noble Physiognomy such as so well discovers the freedom and sincerity of his heart that it may be almost said he is known before a man hath the leisure to know him All his actions are so many expressions of the vigor and vivacity of his spirit for he ever acts with force and agility insomuch that the caresses he honors his friends with are arguments of the earnestness of his disposition Timantes hath doubtless a very vast understanding and besides the great advantages he hath made of study as to what is requisite to make a man both wise and acceptable he is born to a great genius in Poetry and makes such Verses as Hesiod and Homer would not be ashamed to own were they alive again But I shall not make what is within him the main subject of my commendation of him though he have such an admirable wit that hath such fire and lustre that he cannot but discover it upon some occasions wherein he would not make it appear His heart of all that is within him is the most noble part as what hath such an extraordinary freedom and openness that it might be said that he had never so much as heard it said there was such a thing as dissimulation in the World He speaks truth without any fear or evasion he maintaineth it with courage and makes use of anger to defend justice when he cannot do it otherwise and he hath a goodness that favors of the innocency of the first age For his humor it is divertive enough but withal so natural that he finds himself employment out of things most inconsiderable He hath also a particular gift of inspiring his friends with a certain innocent joy and teaching them the art of diverting themselves without any prejudice to others Timantes is farther a man that of all the world is the most sensibly moved at the works of others when they are excellent and loves very much to do justice where there is desert In a word he hates nothing so much as what is opposite to this great virtue and the freedom of his disposition is so contrary to all manner of Tyrannie that he sometimes saies merrily that he deserves no great honor for shaking off the yoke of all the passions because it is much more easie to obey reason than to be led away by the fantastick humors of five or six frantick passions who would be implicitely obeyed and yet many times require things contradictory Timantes therefore having only that one Mistriss to wait on is never from her but consults her in all things Yet it might be said he thinks not on her but that though the agitation of his humor makes his body often change place his mind is ever quiet and that fire which enflames and animates it makes it more active yet not more unquiet Farther having got the mastery of his passions he hath distilled them all into one which is to him instead of all and which he will never part with He maintains that friendship in his heart is incomparably a more violent passion than love is in other men's and he is perswaded that no Lover loves his Mistriss so well as he does his friends Nay he confidently holds that Love is a defective affection such as is to be numbred among the enjoyments of infancy and consequently to be discarded as soon as reason takes place whereas on the contrary friendship is an absolutely perfect affection equally consistent with Virtue and Reason and should last as long as life does So that being fully perswaded of the perfection of friendship he is the most earnest and most accomplished friend in the world Nay though he stands dis-engaged from all things that obliged him to that yet the obligation to his friends is effectual and stands firm by indissoluble ties What makes his friendship most acceptable is that haveing a sincere heart and loving without interest he serves his friends without any fear of hazarding any thing for them and that being naturally merrily disposed his virtue hath nothing in it that is savage nothing harsh nor any thing that hinders him from having an innocent compliance for those he loves He makes them more sensible of the tenderness of his friendship by small things than divers others can do by great services For not only his countenance the accent of his speech and the things he says demonstrate the joy he conceives to see his friends when he hath been some time from them but even all his actions though he mind it not are expressions of his affection I shall never forget one day that he came to a place where he was expected by ten or twelve persons whom he affected much and they him no less for though it sems impossible a man should in an instant acquit himself of all that civility and friendship required of him upon such an occasion yet he came off admirably well and what by his actions what by his words what by his caresses what by his obliging earnestness and what by his joy he made them all understand that he was very much obliged to them that he was glad to see them that he loved them that he had a hundred things to tell them and in a word that he had for them all the sentiments they could wish he should have He spoke a word to one a word to another embraced two or three together he reached his hand to one Lady whispered to another spoke aloud to them all and it may be almost said that he went and came without changing place so much did he endeavor to give all that were about him satisfaction Thus have you a Character of Timantes who for friends in his retirement had some few virtuous men equally excellent with himself such as haveing been well acquainted with the World had forsaken it as a place where it was hard as well for those that had gotten Wisdom to preserve it as for those that had not to get it They are therefore resolved to separate themselves from the commerce of other men and have chosen this Mountain which is as it were a lesser World divided from the greater where they live
they staid till night with Artelisa and two Ladies of her friends that came to see her Insomuch that she having an extraordinary wit they went a way both with a certainemotion which might haply already be called Love Nor did they keep this new passion secret from one another on the contrary Melicrates told Caliantes that he was very much afraid Artelisa might engage him and Caliantes made answer that for his part he was engag'd already But added he laughing since I am not of Eryx and that I intend to make no long stay here I shall be no great hindrance to you and therefore think it not much to afford me this pleasant entertainment while I am here But do you take love says Melicrates to be a jesting matter For any hurt he hath done me yet replies Caliantes laughing still I would much rather jest with him than with a young Lion whose claws I should stand in greater fear of than all the darts of that Love you think so terrible Yet as I am a person naturally very curious I should not be much troubled to have a violent passion were it but to see whether there be so much pleasure and so much pain in love as all those pretend there is who speak of love And therefore I once more intreat you not to take it amiss if I endeavour to raise my self to a love of Artelisa but I mean a violent one for as to a Gallant 's love I have it already But if we become Rivals replies Melicrates we shall not haply be any longer friends To avoid that inconvenience replies Caliantes let us now mutually promise not to fall out though we should both fall in love in good earnest Believe me answered Melicrates we should do better to promise not to love Artelisa at all or cast lots who shall serve her For my part replies Caliantes I will serve her and cannot avoid it and for my part replies Melicrates I serve her already for in my judgement it is a good office done her to endeavour to hinder a stranger so great a gallant as you are from attempting to conquer her heart This brought upon the stage amany other things after which they seriously promised not to fall out if they became Rivals But Caliantes loving to do all things with abundance of noise was very glad of this occasion to discover his liberality and to make a publique Declaration of Love such such as no man had ever made To this end he offered a sacrifice to Venus Erycina such as for the nobleness of it might have become a Prince for his offering was the most magnificent that could be So that it being requisite that a man tell publiquely why he sacrifices Caliantes said he gave the goddess thanks for that she had caus'd the first beautiful person he had spoken to in Eryx to raise love in him adding that being come only to desire it he thought himself obliged to give the Goddess thanks that had prevented his desires So that the so extraordinary occasion of so gallant a sacrifice being soon known it was afterwards easily found out that Artelisa was she that Caliantes had first spoken to which she had often cast in her dish especially at the Princess Clarinta's where the entertainments were always infinitely divertive but being look'd on as the gallantry of a magnificent person who was no great believer of Venus since he would scoff at the sacrifice he had offered her Artelisa was not troubled at it for she understood the business of raillery as well as another Lisydas at first conceived no jealousie of it nay even Melicrates did not think himself obliged for that to smother the violent inclination he had for Artelisa so that he saw her as often as he could and fell so deeply in love with her that it was impossible for him to oppose his passion when he pleas'd himself Nay he flatter'd himself with happy success in his design for he imagin'd that Artelisa having always seen Lisydas could not possibly have any more than an indifferent affection for him that Caliantes being an only Son would soon be sent for by his friends and that Artelisa would haply be sensible of the tenderness of his love being with all this perswaded that he knew how to love better than all other men and that love was of greater consequence in order to be lov'd than any thing else About the same time came Alcimedes from Heraclea to Eryx for there being a very rich Uncle of his in that Countrey that resolved to make him his Heir he thought it not amiss to confirm him by his presence in a design so advantageous to him He being of an humour that would not permit him to be long in Eryx e'r he had seen whatever were most considerable there he went to the accomplish'd Clarinta's the very next day after his arrival where he found a many excellent Ladies and not a few men persons of worth and quality For besides Caliantes Lisydas and Melicrates there was also one called Teramus a person questionless of extraordinary merit who proved partly the occasion of Alcimedes's love to Artelisa because it was through his means that this fair Lady said something that encouraged him to serve her But since you cannot have the whole pleasure of that days conversation without being well acquainted with Teramus give me leave to describe him to you for I am confident the description will please you and you will acknowledge that I have had reason to be so desirous to give it you Teramus is a person of high birth not only of an extraordinary merit but of a merit particular to himself a lover of honour honesty and Philosophy but the gallant-like Philosophy which banishes all the unciviliz'd virtues who hath the art of reconciling Wisdom and Pleasures and does not believe but that prudence ought to be employed as well in the choice of pleasures as in the management of the affairs of greatest consequence For his person he is somewhat above the ordinary stature his action is negligent enough yet such as becomes a person of quality his hair is inclining to fair his complexion palish eyes black sparkling and full of spirit and what 's remarkable is that the Phisiognomie which is a thing one would imagine should never change changes in him according to the humour he is in and the persons he is in company with For if he happen accidentally into a company that is troublesome and unpleasant he puts on a cold cloudy melancholly and thoughtful countenance On the contrary when he is among persons that please him the sprightliness of his imagination changes the air of his face and his eyes betray an insinuating crafty pleasant and lively smile which multiplies the pleasure of all the ingenious extravagancies which his imagination furnishes him with upon whatever subject is offered He hath certainly a very clear understanding and there are few things excellent in point of knowledge which he is not
should be entrusted in any charge but by the consent of the people He also caus'd the Axes to be separated from the Fasces and moreover constituted that what he had done the last time he spoke to the people should be a president for the future that is that the Fasces should be held downwards as often as the people were assembled together Thus in seeming to lose a part of his power this prudent Roman augmented his authority That which much affected the people was the beholding Valerius and all his family enforc'd to sojourn at the House of Racilia till he had one provided of his own The noble-minded Sivelia did not omit in this occasion to offer hers to this virtuous Consul but he wav'd the acceptation of it by reason of Herminius's love to Valeria and chose rather the same Lodgings which had formerly entertained the illustrious Brutus Mean time though these late transactions greatly took up those who judg'd themselves interessed in the good of the Re-publick Clelius in the prejudice he had against Aronces fail'd not to take care for Horatius and sent secretly to Veii to procure his deliverance which soon after became more easie for him to effect by reason of the death of Spurius Lucretius which happened eight daies after he was created Consul For an Uncle of Horatius's who was also of the Family of those first Horatii whose Combat is so celebrated succeeded in his place and assisted Clelius much in contriving ways to bring about his return to Rome While matters were at this pass Clelia was possessed with extream sorrow the weakness of Octavius encreased she apprehended Aronces going to engage on his Fathers side which he could not avoid with honor for he must either remain a prisoner or become an enemy to Rome Besides she was almost certain Horatius would return speedily she beheld one of his Relations in Authority her Father passionately inclin'd to his alliance and in brief she could foresee nothing but perplexity and disquiet and this brought her into a strange melancholly yet though she was something pale and extreamly sad she was notwithstanding always the most beautiful person in the world All the Ladies her friends visited her very frequently and Valeria among the rest made it almost her business to comfort the afflicted Ladies for she was almost ever with Hermilia or Collatina or Clelia But by reason Plotina and Amilcar had a certain genius of pleasantness which could not long consist with melancholly the converse was always very agreeable at Cesonia's house whither generally persons of quality resorted more than usual after Sulpitia was become a Mourner and Valeria liv'd at the house of Racilia So that there was scarce a day but Themistus Meleagenes Zenocrates Herminius Mulius Aemilius Spurius Amilcar and several others went thither where there were also many noble and beautiful Ladies But as the conversations which are made amongst choice persons whose number is not over great are the most pleasing of all there happened one in the chamber of Plotina one day which was very divertising and pass'd only betwixt that charming Lady Cesonia Amilcar Aemilius and Herminius the cause of it was sufficiently sad for coming to speak of Clelia and Aronces they resented their conditions with compassion and foreseeing all the mischiefs which in probability would betide them they entertain'd themselves at first after a very melancholly manner But Amilcar not being able to talk long upon sorrowful subjects without conforming them to his own humour It must be confess'd said he on a sudden that such as are capable of great passions are far more miserable than others and it were better to love every thing that pleases than to confine our affection to one single object Besides added he I look upon it as an injury done to nature to love but one thing alone in the whole Universe But you do not remember answered Plotina smiling that you would have me think you love me and yet what you say does not altogether tend to make you be belov'd You have forgot your self replyed he for your maxims are not much different from mine and 't is rather joy that unites us than love or to explain my self more clearly the joy I resent in loving you is that which maintains the passion I have for you besides that to speak sincerely I was born a little too slothful to adventure the experience of one of those great passions which always oblige to the performance of great matters and without question I am more fit for a trifling than for an heroical love Methinks said Cesonia you attribute a quality to your self not very good for I always lookt upon slothfulness as a defect How Cesonia cried Amilcar if you knew but what sweetness there is in a certain carelesness which is the daughter of sloth and how pleasing an employment idleness is to a man that hath some delicacy of mind you would not speak as you do but would conclude that if diligence be sometimes more profitable sloth is almost ever more agreeable For if you consider'd it well you would find that they which are naturally diligent have scarce ever leisure to do nothing because the same temperament which makes diligent endues those that are capable of it with a certain activity which obliges them to engage themselves into a thousand difficult matters Such people undertake all would be all intermeddle with all and so by their incessant turmoiling deprive themselves of that which according to the intention of Nature is the reward of all labours and the end of all the actions of Life Rest For even Heroes that resolve most to climb to glory by arduous and untrodden paths propose Rest to themselves at the end of their travels Why therefore should any account it discommendable that being able to obtain this happy Quiet by Idleness which is so great a pleasure I enjoy it with tranquility and peace Why I say should I be blam'd for commending and loving yea preferring idleness before labor for is there any thing so sweet as to have nothing to do and to be able to do all what ever one pleases I confess said Herminius 't is very pleasing to have the power of doing all one will but I deny that 't is oftentimes agreeable to do nothing I grant indeed that there is sometimes a kind of sweetness in the serene enjoyment of honest leasure yet that which chiefly constitutes the pleasantness of it is not properly idleness but the liberty and arbitriment a man hath to do what his own inclinations lead him to Continual labour is a thing painful but eternal sluggishness is so tedious and troublesome a quality that I hate nothing more For sluggishness replyed Amilcar it is as well odious to me as to you but the idleness which I mean I love it with all my soul It seems to me said Cesonia there is no great diffence between them How Cesonia answered he you seem not to consider what you
whosoever feels not in his breast a continual desire of performing that towards another which has been done to serve him is without question secretly ingrateful and will discover himself upon the first occasion presented him of serving those by whom he has been obliged But to come to the particular design I have to make it apparent that Ingratitude in Love is more abominable than all others I stand not in need of very many words to do it For though there can be no small ingratitude yet it is certain it may be more or less great according as the person is more or less obliged For if a man owes his life to a friend he is more oblig'd to him than if he owed to him only his Fortune and consequently is more ingrateful to him than if he were accountable to him for a less engagement Which being so what doubt can be made of the question in hand and is there any thing that may be placed in comparison with Love A man serves his King his Father his Master and his Friend but a Lover gives himself to his Mistress and a Mistress her self to her Lover 't is Love alone that has the power to make two hearts one I know friendship boasts of being able to do it but without reason Two friends that are most intimately such may have each his Mistress which will divide them or at least render their friendship less considerable to them because it will no longer afford them their greatest contentment But when Love closely unites two persons together whose breasts are tender and minds intelligent I defie all the power of Friendship to divide them Therefore since Love is an union incomparably more strong and perfect than Friendship and nothing can be parrallel'd with the obligation we have to a person who bestowes his whole heart it is easie to conclude that there is no ingratitude of a deeper dye than that of a Lover towards a Mistress or a Mistress towards a Lover But when I mention Love I am not to be understood of those triffling sorts of Love which wear a name they deserve not for they who love at this rate giving themselves only for the time which they spend in jollity are engaged to nothing but to divert themselves as best they may so long as they have a fancy to be seen and loved But I mean a certain ardent and sincere Love founded upon esteem and virtue in which is made a real commutation of hearts where Desires are the same in two breasts and seem likely to continue so eternally For since there is nothing more precious in the world than an affection of this nature therefore who ever is capable of Ingratitude after such a dearness is the most perfidious and vile of all other ingrateful persons Yet there is a certain interressed disposition in men which almost generally induces them to detest one that is ungrateful by forgetting a good office done him in relation to his fortune more than a criminal Lover who extinguishes out of his mind all memorials and tokens of a great passion conferred on him But to speak reasonably there is nothing more unjust nor even more inhumane than to be capable of ingratitude towards a person who has given all he was able by giveing his heart For in Love the services which are received ought to be reckoned upon as in Friendship because when two persons love perfectly it must be supposed they are qualified to do and suffer all things one for the other even to the loss of life As soon as they love they mutually owe one another all the offices which love can prompt them to and this community of duty they ought to make reckoning of as much as of services performed since there is nothing requisite more but occasion which depends solely on fortune By this discourse of yours replyed Aemilius coldly it seems that Gratitude in love belongs only to happy Lovers I should be very glad it were so said Plotina smiling and that some distinction be made in reference to Acknowledgment for otherwise I should be in a desperate case if I apprehended my self obliged not to be ingrateful to three or four persons which make semblance of loving me There is without doubt answered Herminius considerable distinction to be made in these sort of matters for excepting in Love it behoveth never to receive a good office without an inclination of mind to repay it and a resentment of the obligation But the case is not the same in Love and Acknowledgment in order to being perfect ought never to be against either Justice or Virtue But it would be against both if a Lady equally acknowledged the affection of four or five Lovers for indeed Love cannot be divided But what then shall become of the services of unhappy Lovers said Aemilius and why is not she accusable of ingratitude who receives and not acknowledges them Impossibility answered Herminius gives bounds to all things and it is easie to be understood A Lady loves not whom she pleases and when she loves some one she can have no other recognisance for them which she loves not and serve her than that which obliges her to pitty them and wish them cur'd of their Love and moreover to serve them as generous friends when she finds occasion to do it The Virtues are never in hostility among themselves and one should not be truly grateful if he were so with injustice It is not lawful to injure one friend in order to doing service to another and when 't is said We ought to acknowledge all good offices we receive it is meant after such a manner as may with reason be done Thus may a Lady not render Love for Love without being ingrateful and 't is to speak strictly only reciprocal Love that has reference to that black ingratitude which I account so monstrous and which amases me so much the more in that it cannot be committed but against such a person of all the World as one is most loved by and most ingaged to love And now to speak of Ingratitude in general it can never be good for any thing Ambition may produce good effects Love oftentimes excites to atchieve great actions Indignation serves sometimes to uphold Justice Cruelty as terrible as it is may be in some sort profitable in the breasts of those who in order to saving a mans life are constrained to cut off his Arm But Ingratitude is almost the sole thing which is good only to do mischief On the other side gratitude though a virtue which makes not so much noise as many others is nevertheless compleatly heroical in the breasts of those that understand it aright and I cannot decide whether there be not sometimes as much glory in the handsome acknowledgment of a Civility as for a man himself to confer a favor Whilst they were thus arguing Themistus arrived who conducted the olitary Merigenes to Caesonia's house by whom he was received with extraordinary kindness
gallant Lady forbear to draw her pourtrait for if she happen to please Amilcar the first time we chance to quarrel he will fall to love her and go to Elis to find her therefore if you apprehend Claricia may make some impression upon his heart draw a curtain in this part of your Story least by representing her picture I may have occasion to be jealous Since you are a person replyed Amilcar to whom of all the world jealousie would be least troblesome and who could best bear it I should not be very unwilling to excite that passion in you after having been constant half my life and therefore I intreat Merigenes to begin forthwith the draught of Claricia's picture And I also added Valeria joyn my requests to those of Amilcar's to which the rest of the company assenting Merigenes pursued his Story in these words The lovely Claricia is unquestionably one of the most charming persons in the world and whose wit and humor have a particular genius but before I engage my self in describing the same to you I am obliged to speak something concerning her beauty Claricia therefore is of an extream handsome stature and of an agreeable proportion capable of pleasing all the world by a certain free and natural air which renders her infinitely graceful Her hair is of the fairest Chest-nut-colour that ever was seen her visage round complexion lively mouth handsome lips very ruddy with a little dimple in her chin extreamly becoming her eyes are black sparkling full of life and the ayr of her countenance cheerful pretty and sprightly Together with all these advantages Claricia has also that of a very graceful presence which is not always found in those that are debonair Claricia's wit is undoubtedly excellent and that in a peculiar way of which few persons are capable for it is pleasant divertising and compliable to all sorts of people and chiefly to those of the vulgar rank She speaks freely and is much inclinable to laughter she makes great mirth of a trifile and loves to raise innocent quarrels amongst her friends yet her raillery hath never any thing disgustful in it she loves all kind of delights writes very gallantly never is discontented without cause but is constantly sweet and complacent She loves walking conversation handsom novels jollities and divertisements of all sorts whatsoever But in this temper of debonairity it must be confest that this sprightly Lady hath all the good qualifications of those which are melancholick and ingenious too for she has a tender and sensible heart she is ready to weep with her afflicted friends she knows how to renounce pleasures when friendship requires it she is faithful to her friends and capable of secrecie and confidence she never makes a fewd with any person whoever she is generous and constant in her sentiments and in a word is so amiable that she is loved by the most honorable persons of the Court of both sexes yea even such as do not agree with her in reference to condition humor genius interests all acknowledge that Claricia is infinitely charming that she is indued with wit real goodness and a thousand qualities worthy of the highest esteem I beseech you generous Merigenes interrupted Plotina proceed no farther for I find jealousie begin to seise me Envy I know it cannot be haveing never been possessed with any and I had rather a hundred times be jealous than envious though neither of these two qualities be very sutable to one of honorable sentiments as also not very pleasing or commodious But however it be proceed forth with to tell us how they lived there during the Truce which was concluded only to give the Gallants leisure to attend their love I shall obey you fair Plotina answered Merigenes without giving Amilcar leisure to speak and in the first place you may please to know that within a few days Melanthus being accompanyed by all his Court went to Melisaris that the two Princesses were there also and that Chrysilia Claricia and three other Ladies of eminent beauty were with them besides several others which went thither too so that the conversation was every day very agreeable at the Princess of Elis's Lodgings that in fair weather they walked abroad sometimes in the tetrassed Gardens I told you of other times they went in Coaches by the River-side on the way leading to Olymphia and that all this fair company frequently were in little painted and gilded Boats amongst those Islets and close Alleys of water I described to you sometimes when the Sun was down walk't in the Meadows of the greater Islands sometimes landed to walk under those great and shady Trees which are on the borders of the Forrests beyond those Islands being for the most part diverte I with Musick upon the water So that during the Truce they may seem to have enjoyed all the pleasures of peace especially after it had been publisht that the Olympick Games were to be celebrated within fifteen days For this news caused a continual arrival of Illustrious Strangers from all parts of Greece There were some of Athens Corinth Thebes Delphos Sparta Argos Megalopolit and Messene others came from all parts of Macedonia and especially from Thessaly I saw there some of those people that inhabit at the foot of the famous Mountain Pindus others that dwell on Mount Parnassus and others near Mount Helicon and that of Hymettus There were some also that came from the streights of Thermopyli and others from Countreys so remote that their Language was not understood So that of all sorts of people that resorted thither there being none but had a curiosity to see the Princess of Elis every day brought some new strangers who were worthy persons and contributed to the pleasures of the society For though Elismonda was unhappy yet she was young and fair and feared least melancholly might be injurious to her beauty Wherefore it ought not to be wondered if she gave her self to divertisement notwithstanding the condition she was in nor was any thing omitted that might afford her contentement Melanthus Andronice Hortensius Cleontine Chrysilia Claricia Eumenes and generally all that came to her employing all their care thereunto At other times those four persons of high quality who had the liberty to speak to her concerning her affairs entertained her agreeably with the design they had of making some League during the Olympick Games The Prince of Cyparissa also who had found out a means to write to her gave her great hopes of the same whence though she had no affection for that Prince yet she was well enough pleased with his Letters because he presumed not to make the least mention of his love to her and all these considerations rendered her more capable to receive with pleasure the divertisements which were intended to her She came even insensibly to have a very tender kindness for Hortensius and was highly glad to understand that he was of an illustrious descent and that so
greater joy when they can satisfie them than they have whose desires are more moderate We see it happens that joy sometimes causes sighing when it is extreme whereas laughter is the perpetual effect of cheerfulness Joy can never arise of it self alone it must always have some extraneous cause 'T is not so with chearfulness which arises of it self and there needs nothing but health to such as are of a jolly and airy humour Joy is an infallible consequent of all passions when they are satisfi'd cheerfulness subsists without aid though it may be augmented by causes from without Indeed we may observe at this present I am speaking that the presence of these fair strangers and Anacreon redoubles the cheerfulness of the amiable Plotina and Amilcar as may at least be gather'd from their eyes But why do you not also add Zenocrates said Clelia 'T is certainly answer'd Plotina without giving Amilcar leasure to speak because Zenocrates is sometimes sad and sometimes jovial and giving himself frequently to musing as he does it cannot be easily determin'd whether he be serious though it may be assured that he is always agreeable But in brief if he take not some course to correct those little distractions his dear Friends reproach him with I foresee there will one day happen a War between the Pleasant and the Melancholists for being a person of Merit one side will claim him for theirs and the other challenge them wholly to themselves Yet I am not so much wander'd in my thoughts answer'd Zenocrates smiling but that I perceive you employ a very ingenious raillery against me and if I were as vindicative a person as you are a derider would reproach your pleasantness to you with as much mockery as you do my Musings to me After which Sulpitia who was entertaining her self with several Ladies of her friends led the Company to the place where the Feast was prepar'd where there wanted nothing that could render it agreeable The place was well furnish'd with lights the Tables magnificent and very decently serv'd and the Men were the Ladies Attendents at this entertainment there was an excellent consent of Musique and after the repast there came some women to dance and divert the Ladies whilst the Men went to their Collation in another place But when this was done the King of the Feast being counselled by Herminius and Amilcar who better understood the Roman customs than he propounded the above-mention'd Game of Chance to the company Anacreon excus'd himself as a stranger and for that he was not wealthy enough to render this pastime as magnificent as he understood it had sometimes been in the reign of Ancus Martius when an illustrious Roman whose Family was descended from the antient King of Sicily had the liberality to give three hundred magnificent presents and to choose three hundred persons to whom Fortune alone had given all the excellent things he parted with for his humor without reserving to himself any other right in them than to manifest to all that were chose that he judg'd them worthy to possess the most valuable presents since he empower'd them to obtain the same by hazard This magnificence continu'd Anacreon was no doubt worthy of a man who had all the qualities necessary to govern States gloriously and aggrandize them but as for me added he I find my self enforc'd to supply my defects by some shift of wit and to render the game as divertising otherwise as I am able To begin therefore said he according to the power my dignity gives me I require that all the hearts of the Men and the Ladies be put into tickets and that every one without distinction draw a ticket to see if Fortune who is blind as well as Love will haply match the success It will be requisite then said Horatius that the hearts of the Men be put apart by themselves and those of the Ladies in another place By no means answer'd Anacreon but observe how I intend the matter If a Lady happen to have the heart of a Man it signifies that she is lov'd by him if a man have the heart of a Lady it shall be free for him to hope that he shall one day be not ill-treated by her If the heart of a man falls to the lot of another man 't is a sign he is more inclinable to friendship than to Love and if it he returns to himself it denotes that he loves himself more than all the rest of the World and loves nothing else but for his own sake For as for my self added Anacreon slily who understood the cause of Clidamira and Berelisa's voyage I shall give as much credit to this Game as to the Lots of Praeneste Though you are much in favor with a certain god that empow'rs to divine of the most occult matters answer's Clidamira smiling and blushing yet I shall not be over-credulous to your pastime of Chance But though it were only to try what hazard may do I consent my Heart be put to the venture Which all the Ladies and the Men likewise doing every one was constrain'd to write his own ticket All the company therefore writ their names with what they pleas'd under them sutable to the occasion So that excepting Sulpitia and two other Ladies her Friends who were discoursing together in a Closet near the Chamber wherein the company then was there was none but writ their names Clelia Plotina Valeria Clidamira Berelisa Flavia Cesonia Salonina and some other Ladies writ their tickets so also did Horatins Artemidorus Telanus Herminius Amilcar Sicinius Acrisius Damon Spurius Anacreon and some others after which all the tickets were put into an Urn and Anacreon going round the company in order began at Clelia who trembled as she drew the ticket it behov'd her to take because she fear'd lest the heart of Horatius should fall to her Lot For though it was but a trifling pastime yet she perceiv'd an unwillingness in her self to give him that false joy Horatius on the contrary wish'd the heart of Clelia might come to his hands after this manner and though this sport was meerly frivolous without consequence yet every person that had any conceal'd interest could not contain from resenting some kind of light inquietude the vehemence of affection being apprehensive of what ever events But amongst the rest Clidamira and Berelisa had a curiosity to see to whose lot the heart of Artemidorus would happen But to proceed Clelia having drawn the first ticket unhappily lighted upon the name of Horatius with these words underneath I am ignorant what Fortune will do with my heart but I well know how Love has dispos'd of it Clelia blush'd after she had open'd this Ticket and refus'd to shew it but the order of the pastime requiring it to be seen by all the company Horatius had the joy to see Fortune had well guided his heart At which Artemidorus was not able to put off all fear lest his should not be so happy
After this the Prince and Lysicrates diverted to other discourse but Hesiode did not cease to think of Clymene when he ceased to speak of her anas long as the evening lasted he could not with draw his fancy from her The next morning he made Verses upon her the day after he sent to know her condition and writ her a very gallant Letter which she answered with much civility though in a manner which signified she had no desire to renew familiarity with the World and would not discourse half of her Wit though there appeared very much whether she would or no. Some days after Belintha and Hesiode returned to the house of Clymene's Aunt who received them very well and promised them that assoon as winter began to make the Countrey naked she would carry Clymene to the City Whereupon Hesiode at his return composed very handsome Verses wherein he prayed Winter to hasten to appear with his Isicles and conjured Autumn to make speed away he wisht the spring would be slow in coming to the end winter might continue the longer He introduced the several pleasures of all the seasons and beseeched those which are peculiar to winter to draw Clymene to the City and retain her there so long as they could Have a care said he with all the gracefulness that Poetry gives to this sort of things of suffering your selves to be driven away too soon by the pleasures of the spring which would carry her away from us to the Countrey for these pleasures are not in truth but the pleasures of shepherds and shepherdesses whereas you are really magnificent pleasures which serve Princes and Kings and assembling all worthy persons to the same places have a thousand advantages above all those other half-savage pleasures which have need of rivers gardens and fountains to make them delightful Then addressing again to winter he exhorted him not to hurt the youth and beauty of the spring assuring him that whilst Clymene and he should be together no person would think of desiring the season of roses But though these Verses were excellent Hesiode did not publish them but shewed them only to two or three persons for perceiving his affection to Clymene growing very ardent and come to a good degree already and being not ignorant that a publick love is a love without pleasure he kept secret all the compositions which he made upon this fair virgin by which means there is none of them seen in the collection made of his Works of which many other things also are lost One thing was remarkable that the same day he sent the Verses to Clymene which he addressed to winter the Sky was clouded the wind became violent and blew off most of the leaves of the trees as if Winter had began that very day and granted Hesiod's request And accordingly the following days hapning to be more foul Clymene being deprived of the benefit of walking was constrained to return to the City with her Aunt But though she was resolved to fly all the World as much as she could yet being unwilling to appear too rustick she could not avoid being seen by all the honorable persons of the Court The Prince himself made her a visit and carryed Lysicrates with him but the Prince's heart being then affected towards another person he beheld her without love and spoke of his former passion as if he had spoken to a Friend As for Lysicrates no doubt he could not see her without being troubled but she treated him with so cold and fierce an aspect and he was always so ambitious that it may be said what he resented then was rather shame and perplexity than love But thence forward he never saw her except in the presence of the Prince and by consequence very rarely The case was otherwise with Hesiode who thought himself well in no other place for though the Prince and Lysicrates could not live without him he could not live longer with them because he could not live longer without Clymene This very much perplexed him for being the Favorite of the Favorite who made use of him to be with the Prince when himself could not he had always a hundred businesses to do which instead of being delightful to him as formerly were then insupportable because all that hindered him from seeing Clymene was distastful to him At first ambition offered to oppose it self to this passion in his heart but it was already so violent that changing his sentiments in few days he thought of nothing which took up his whole mind before and derided his former ambition How obliged am I to Clymene said he one day to one of his intimate Friends for having cured me of a Passion whose pleasures are always unquiet and for haveing given me another whose torments are ever agreeable I must have lost my reason could I have thought it possible to be happy with good fortune only For indeed provided a Man be content what matters it whether it be in a Cottage or a Palace Things without us are not those which give true satisfaction but the sentiments of the heart so that since I look upon Clymene as a person who alone can make my felicity and whose beauty wit and virtue are of greater value than all the treasures of the World wherefore should I confound my self in seeking happiness by other ways Riches are things which are not desired but to have several others but the possession of a person whom we love passionately and with reason is satisfactory of it self I confess to you said his friend to him that I find true wisdom in that which you say but that which amuses me is that thing of things which you did not dream of a few days since And yet you are not much improved in Wit in that time I grant it replyed Hesiode but I have more Love and contrary to the custom of that passion which often enough injures Reason it fortifies mine and makes me know that ambition is for the most part rather a weakness than a true greatness of Soul If a Man could by just ways become Master of all the favors that a great Prince can confer I conceive generosity would require him to endeavor to frame himself to do good to others but however I know not whether Reason would oblige him to put his Virtue to so difficult a proof The danger is added he that a man whose inclinations are very liberal when he is in credit may sometimes be carried to some injustice by a principal of Virtue and be as unjust as one that is covetous to the end to obtain wherewith to be prodigal but though this should not be yet he is always lyable to be accused All miserable persons believe if they were in the places of those who are happy they should do admirable things In the mean time we see the greatest part of those whom fortune has raised use their happiness ill and forget their past infelicities for fear of having pitty of
those of others I could never have believ'd said Hesiode's Confident your Love could have so well taught you morality You deride me answered Hesiode but did you know what sweetness I feel being free from ambition you would judge I have cause to hold my self extreamly obliged to Clymene Alas my dear Hesiode replyed he A person that begins to love sees only delightful things hope renders all easie he is so glad that he loves and so delighted only in thinking that he may be loved again that his heart abandons it self to joy without having cause to do so but if you continue to love Clymene you will soon tell me other news Do not doubt my dear friend said Hesiode whether I shall continue to love Clymene for I find I shall love her till death and I take no other care but to be loved again by her To which purpose Hesiode omitted nothing that might conduce of all the diligences which an ingenious amorous and gallant person is capable of using when he designs to be beloved But though Clymene esteem'd him infinitely notwithstanding her reluctancy for the desired to hate all men and lived with such reservedness that there was no reasonable ground to hope to become happy yet it s true hope so easily arises in the heart of a Lover who loves ardently that he can never absolutely despair besides Belintha loving Clymene very dearly could have wished she did not hate Hesiode to the end she might have loved her Desart less and moreover having much kindness for Hesiode she could have been glad that the love he had for Clymene would more straitly have confined him to Locri than he was by the favors of the Prince and Lysicrates who being always desirous to establish himself more in the reputation he was in was not unwilling to fasten Hesiode to his interests to the end he might converse with the Prince and have a faithful friend to accompany him in all his pleasures when he could not himself But this was so far from giving Hesiode contentment at that time that he was disgusted with it and ambition became so weakned in his heart that he resented no other than that of being loved He had also so great a contempt of Lysicrates in regard of what had passed between him and Clymene that if prudence had not with-held him he had rejected his friendship for he not only undervalued all the agreeable qualities of Lysicrates but hated him as if it had been himself that had been offended by him Yet he perceived this sentiment was something strange for said he one day to himself though unworthiness may be found in the procedure of Lysicrates yet it does not concern me to hate him for if he were not guilty of this crime he would be loved and happy and I a thousand times more miserable than I am 'T is not added he but that he contributes to my unhappiness another way for he is the cause that all men are suspected by Clymene and that she defends her heart against me as she would do against him if he should attempt to reconquer it However I ought not to despair though I have no cause of hope given me for as it is out of a sentiment of glory that Clymene hates Lysicrates so its possible out of a sentiment of equity she may love a man who is totally contrary unto him In the mean time though Hesiode visited Clymene ry often there was scarce any besides she that understood he had no more ambition for he frequently attended upon the Prince too and Lysicrates and deported himself so prudently that there was none but Clymene and Belintha who observed the great passion he had in his Soul So that Antiphanes and Ganetor Clymene's Brothers looking upon him as a person that was much respected by the Prince and his Favorite went to see him every day and testified much friendship to him On the other side Hesiode to render them favorable to him ingratiated himself a little more in the Court to the end he might do them some good office there and have the more liberty to visit Clymene But when this fair Lady in the beginning of the Spring returned to her Desart it was easie to observe that the cares of Hesiode were divided for he did nothing but make appointments to go see her sometimes with her Brothers very often with Belintha and sometimes alone no longer caring for Favor or Fortune nor any thing but to see Clymene to write to her and to make Verses upon her under the name of a Shepherdess For his inclination leading him to speak of Countrey matters in his Verses he conceived Love in Poetry had something more charming and more sweet with that resemblance of simplicity than with that of Nymph or Goddess Clymene taking good notice of his sentiments intreated Belintha several times to indeavor to make Hesiode change his intentions but his Friend told her smiling that till she forsook her solitary humor she would rather send her a thousand Lovers than free her from one Things being in this posture Hesiode went for two days to the House of Clymene's Aunt with her Brother during which the Prince was gone to one of his houses in the Countrey and had dispensed with him for following him Belintha was likewise of this Company with two other handsome Ladies her friends so that the Desart was then very delightful When Hesiode was ready to set forth a Packet was brought him from Lysicrates and delivered to one of his attendants he was minded to read it presently but being told the Company waited only for him to depart with them he referred the reading of it till he came upon the way Yet he did not perform his intention for Clymene so took up his mind that he never remembred the Packet he had received though he did not question but there was something in it which concerned the Prince's interest So he went to Clymene's house in this forgetfulness and which was more strange was there till very late the next day without thinking of it and 't is likely he would have returned to Locri in the same manner had not an accident befallen him The house where Clymene dwelt being seated in a pleasant Countrey walking was the chiefest delight it afforded So as soon as the Sun permitted the Ladies to injoy that divertisement commodiously Clymene obliged her friends to take the ayr The company being one evening in a Meadow beset round with Willows and divided by a River whose Banks were all covered with various sorts of flowers they divided themselves insensibly so that Clymene and Hesiode found themselves alone separated from all the rest about thirty paces some walkt others sate down and others sung As for Clymene having found a little flowry place on the bank of the River where the little Dog she loved was layd down she leaned against a Willow and shewing Hesiode the goodliness of the Countrey endeavored to hinder him from speaking to her
soon be ended He parted from Amilcar with much dearness notwithstanding his being his Rival but for the three other his Rivals he bad them not adieu His civility was greater towards Clelia to whom he made a thousand protestations of friendship as likewise to Octavius who being better recover'd had a long conversation with him before his departure to oblige him to serve Aronces to the utmost of his power since he was going to be of the same Party intreating him to be confident that if he could find occasion of seeing him he would promote his interests faithfully with Clelius and against Horatius After which this generous Veientine having thanked Clelius for all the favours he had received from him departed from Rome where the same day there arriv'd news which was not very acceptable For intelligence was brought that Porsenna was so diligent in assisting Tarquin that in a little time the troops of Veii and Tarquinia would be united with his and that he had resolv'd to be in person in the head of his Army It was also inform'd that Publicola would return within three dayes because having been advertiz'd by Herminius that there was beginning of division in the Senate since his departure he judged it more important to take care for the assuring of Rome than to preserve the out-places of it Besides his Army being too weak to undertake to sustain the first attempt of that of the King of Hetruria when the Forces of the Veientines and those of Tarquin should be added to it he thought it better to let the Enemies cool and weaken themselves before he offered to fight them The vertue of Publicola being highly respected by all the Romans the news of his return produc'd a good effect in Rome They who had begun to divide themselves reunited and had not the boldness but to appear zealous for their Country before a man who had no other interest and who having all the People at his devotion might easily punish them for their delinquency The return of Publicola was no doubt very acceptable to Valeria but Mutius coming back with him diminisht part of her joy because he had such a kind of haughtiness in his deportment that she had rather this imperious Lover would alwayes have been at the war than return'd to Rome The forces being also to come back Clidamira and Berelisa thought fit to defer their journey to Praeneste till the return of the Army and moreover Artimedorus being at Rome they had no great impatience to leave it But as for this Prince he ardently wisht Berelisa had been there alone having scarce any opportunity of seeing her without Clidamira for which reason he took no delight in seeing her and was more frequently with Clelia than with her for this aimiable Lady looking upon him as Aronces his friend and a wise good and discreet Prince to whom she might communicate all the secrets of her soul had very much affection and complacency for him As they were one day together a Slave of Artimedorus brought him a Letter which oblig'd him to take leave of her without telling her the cause of it Tho the same night he return'd to her to beseech her she would please to take a walk the next day with Valeria Cesonia and Plotina in a Garden not far from the Sublician bridge Clelia not caring for divertisement desir'd to be excus'd but Artimedorus telling her the business was to do a good office to Valeria and that he could not discover more of it to her she promis'd she would be ready when Cesonia Valeria and Plotina should come to call her knowing Sulspicia would not refuse to let her go with those Ladies her dear friends And accordingly the next morning they whom Artemidorus had nam'd came to her house there being no men in the company besides Artemidorus and Herminius As they were going to the Garden Clelia ask'd Valeria what service she desir'd of her I should rather answer'd she desire to know what I may do for your service for Artemidorus has told me you had need of me in relation to some affair It is to be believ'd then reply'd Clelia that 't is he that has need of us but in reference to my self I cannot but think him too blame for taking such a course since I should serve him with joy In my opinion said Valeria it must be for something which Berelisa is concern'd Then they asked Cesonia and Plotina if they knew what the business was which occasioned their going to that Garden For my part answered the first I know no more of it but that Artemidorus told me you both desir'd me to accompany you thither and to take Plotina with me 'T is some satisfaction to me said Clelia that we shall soon know what the business is with us When these Ladies were arriv'd at the gate of that garden where Artemidorus and Herminius waited for them they lighted from their Chariot and entered into the Garden where they found no person at all wherefore they demanded what was the design of their coming thither Be not impatient answered he you shall know it presently but you shall not know altogether but severally what has induc'd me to deceive you and bring you hither at least Clelia and Valeria shall be together in one place whilst Cesonia and Plotina shall be in another If Artemidorus had not been well known to these four persons this would have occasion'd strange thoughts in them but being ascertained how prudent and discreet he was their curiosity did not inquiet their minds at all But said Plotina I desire to be satisfied whether Herminins be more knowing than we are He shall be so presently answered Artemidorus for he shall know all that shall be told Clelia and Valeria tho not till after them For my part said Herminius I desire never to know any thing concerning my friends but what they are willing I should After this Artemidorus having been to give order that none should be admitted into the Garden led Cesonius and Plotina into a walk which was on the far side where they found an old man who no sooner beheld Plotina but he knew her altho it was a very long time since he had seen her But this fair Virgin could not know him otherwise than by his voice and was some time before she could recollect her self At length calling him to mind she testified much joy to see him and believing he was her Uncle made him a thousand caresses Alas said she to him embracing him where have you been for so long time You shall know answered he when I have opportunity to tell you without any other witness than Cesonia to whom I know you have such great obligations that 't is fit she be acquainted with all your fortune Alas reply'd Plotina my fortune is very easie to know for when I have said I have lost my father and my mother while I was yet in the cradle and alwayes liv'd with the vertuous
during the War that Publicola should not dare to refuse Valeria to him and his Rivals have no longer the boldness to pretend to her to his prejudice As for Horatius he had then more hope than ever before Aronces was lost in Clelius's favour himself was very powerful in Rome his Rival was in the Party of the Enemies and he pretended his services to the Republick should be so considerable as that nothing could reasonably be refused at the end of the War Octavius as soon as he began to go abroad went to visit Hermilia and finding her still possess'd with a sadness which something corresponded with his present humour he was pleas'd no where so much as in her company At this time it was known that the Prince of Messene instead of going to Rome as it was believ'd went and sided with the enemies party to be opposite to Themistus who thereby found himself more engaged to pass all the time of his exile at Rome and serve that State during the War As for Clelia though the posture of her Fortune was very unhappy yet she resented much consolation in having seen Aronces and perceiv'd in his eyes she had all the reason in the World to hope he would be constant and that all the obstacles ill fortune should obstruct their happiness with would not change his sentiment Plotina after what she had understood from that old man who came with Artemidorus was affected with a secret joy which would have been perfectly sweet if it had not been allay'd with the impatience she had because she could not discover it But tho this sometimes gave her occasion to muse she was not much the more melancholy but took all opportunities to delight her self Amilcar being one day in her chamber at the same time with Valeria Berelisa Clidamira and Cesonia there was occasion offer'd her to exercise her pleasant humour for as it chanc'd Acrisius who talk'd too much Sicinius who was too silent and Damon who was of the Sect of Pythagoras coming thither Amilcar and she diverted themselves much to the disadvantage of these three Rivals and especially of the last While this company was speaking of several indifferent things Anacreon and Herminius enter'd and said they had newly learn'd some tidings which much affected them with compassion Valeria demanded what they imported whereupon Herminius addressing to her I understand said he the unfortunate Calianthus who as you know desir'd permission to build a Tomb for his two Rivals who were slain in the last Battle is himself slain by a party of the enemies in defending the Tomb which he caus'd to be built So that of four Lovers who contested together there is none living but Melicrates Since none could be happy but he answer'd Acrisius it is as good that they are dead for what is life good for when that cannot be injoy'd which only is capable to render it delightful Acrisius would have proceeded farther if Plotina had suffered him to speak but the better to silence him she began to lament Calianthus with much exaggeration the other Ladies pitied him likewise and Anacreon himself as great a friend of joy as he was testified his commiseration of his Fate For my part said Damon then who alwayes spoke according to the sentiments of Pythagoras my soul is not so sensible of compassion towards those who dye as those who suffer any pain for according to my apprehensions such as dye only change their Country and condition but do not cease to be so that the continual change which all souls undergo makes their sorrow unjust who afflict themselves so much for the death of those we know if they be not absolutely necessary to our felicity For my part said Plotina I know not how you understand it but if I were of your opinion I should not be much comforted in dying tho I should know my Soul were to pass into the body of the most jolly Turtle in the World and besides were what you say true people would have some remembrance of things they had known before But I am well assur'd I remember nothing and I believe too with sufficient certainty that when I shall be dead I shall no longer remember any thing which I speak at present Your education answer'd Damon having been amongst such persons who were not instructed by the learned in the Doctrine of Pythagoras it is no great wonder if you do not comprehend what I say However 't is certain there is nothing more consentaneous to reason than the opinion of that Philosopher in this point For whereas the gods who are Masters of the World change nothing in their workmanship but we see alwaies the same Seas the same Rivers the same Mountains that they have fram'd a certain number of Stars which neither increases nor diminishes it is easie to imagine that they have also created a certain number of Souls which continually pass from one body to another according to their pleasure So that many times we bewail people who are in a condition more happy than that which they have forsaken But what serves this present happiness for said Plotina since I remember a past felicity no longer and I have reason to say The things we remember no longer are no longer ours But Madam replyed he shaking his head a little it is not be imagin'd there is none in the World remembers what has been formerly for I have heard several Disciples of Pythagoras affirm there are some who remember the actions of a precedent life perfectly But do you remember said Acrisius what you have been I am not so as vain to profess it answer'd Damon gravely for this seldome happens but to persons who are of so exquisite a temper as that all the faculties of their Souls are in their utmost perfection by reason that the Bodies which they animate are so well dispos'd that nothing impedes or disturbs their imagination memory or judgement I must then ask all that are present said Plotina if they remember any thing For my part said Cesonia I am very unlikely to remember what I was before my being what I am for I scarce remember what I did yesterday And I said Anacreon am so taken up with the present that I cannot reflect upon what is past To speak my thoughts said Valeria the future takes up my mind more than any thing else so that 't is no wonder if I remember nothing I remember many past things said Berelisa but they are only such as I have seen with my own eies I am much like you in that answered Clidamira for I know many things which I shall not forget during my life but they are not of the nature of those Damon speaks of I confess said Sicinius then smiling I so little love to speak of that which befals me that tho I should remember what I have been before I became what I am I think I should not declare it For my part said Acrisius if I remembered any
either concerning the Princess of the Leontines or the Court of the King of Hetruria Valeria also so well understood that she did a pleasure to Clelia by making a curious inquiry of all that past at Clusium that she ask't a hundred things of the amiable Amiclea which otherwise she would not have spoken of I beseech you said she to her after several things which directly concern'd the Princess of the Leontines tell us what Ladies Aronces has most frequently visited since his coming out of prison and whether it be true that there are abundance of amiable women at Clusium There are so many beauties there answer'd Amiclea that handsomeness is there scarce accounted of Yet that is not much the custome repli'd Plotina for amongst young persons Vertue is far less extol'd than Beauty 'T is true answer'd Amiclea but it must be spoken in the praise of our Court that a Woman who is no more than barely fair draws some gazers but does not acquire much esteem Beauty no doubt is lookt upon there but above all agreeableness wit excellent deportment and a kind of secret charm not consistent with stupidity are principally sought after But I beseech you said Valeria answer what I desired of you and tell me who those persons are Aronces visits most I assure you answer'd Amiclea tho that Prince be very civil and enforces himself to be so as much as he can yet it is well enough seen that his heart is at Rome that he takes not much notice of what he sees Nevertheless there are two persons which he visits very frequently and who are his principal Friends The Princess of the Leontines is certainly one said Clelia 'T is true anwser'd Amiclea and the second is a Lady of quality who has a very great interest in his esteem and is so highly consider'd at Court that there is none more admir'd Clelia being then very desirous to know a little more exactly who this friend of Aronces was made a sign to Valeria who understanding what she meant requested Amiclea that she would please to tell her what excellent qualities the Lady had of whom she spake You ask more things at once than you imagine answer'd Telanus for Melintha is a Lady of so great worth that there are few her equals I beseech you then said Plotina smiling make me acquainted with her forthwith in the best manner you can That is in a word added Valeria all the Company are desirous you would please to make a faithful description of that Friend of Aronces that we may know whether or no we ought to fear he loves her more than us I assure you answer'd Telanus if the lovely Amiclea draw her pourtrait exactly you will find she cannot be lov'd too much and all the Company will be perswaded she ought to be Aronces's Friend For my part said Herminius methinks I love her already I fancy her so rarely accomplisht Speak then I conjure you said Clelia and omit nothing which may serve to make us perfectly know this Friend of Aronces Since you desire it answer'd Amiclea I shall tell you that Melintha is a Lady of so rare a Vertue that she deserves to be propos'd for an example to all others there is something in her heart so noble so great so good so tender and so heroical that it may be said the gods have atcheiv'd their master-piece in making her For there is nothing more difficult to find than a Woman who possesses all the riches together which go to the making up of a Man of honour and which accomplish an excellent Woman The same temper which gives a great heart and high generosity is not alwaies well accommodated for modesty that which causes to love exact Justice does not very often consist with that sweet and sociable complacence which is so necessary for Ladies who converse in the World That which gives constancy in important affairs does not give mildness in less matters that which makes capable of great actions does not stoop to certain trifles which are nevertheless a piece of decency almost necesary to women in some occasions Now Melintha having really in her breast all the vertues of an honourable Man and all those of an excellent Woman deserves all the commendations that can be given severally to both sexes As for her person tho she be infinitely amiable of a handsome stature and slender has hair very bright eyes full of spirit and sweetness a sprightly modest and agreeable countenance a certain languor full of charms a peculiar kind of sweetness and tenderness in the tone of her voice which affects the hearts of those to whom she speaks and sings after the most passionate manner in the World yet I may say all this ought not to be mention'd and that Melintha's vertue wit deportment generosity and prudence ought to be oppos'd to all the other commendations she deserves 'T is not without cause that I am impatient to speak of that sweet insinuating agreeable and solid wit which renders her capable of pleasing all sorts of persons and which by its extent capacity and address deserves to be interested in affairs of highest importance which she is able to dispatch with prudence equal to the secresie and probity of which she makes profession Never was there a person more faithful more sincere or more generous than she And that which is admirable in this illustrious Woman is that together with that sweet and complacent air she has and a delicate constitution she notwithstanding has all imaginable greatness of heart and is continually as active as if the strength of her body equall'd that of her mind especially when she finds occasion to do a civilty to any of her Friends or only to some unfortunate person of whose merit she is inform'd She neglects even her own affairs for those of others she is incapable of ever failing of her word she expresses humanity towards all miserable persons her heart is the tenderest in the World she loves all that she ought to do and knows how to love both with choice and constancy She affects ingenious things and understands them as Musick Poetry Peinture and the like and tho she is of a temper something inclin'd to Melancholy yet she inspires a pleasing joy into those who converse with her and tho she seems not to intend it suddenly wins the hearts of such as have the happiness to approach her But not to suffer the tenderness her heart is capable of to be idle and to afford her innocent objects worthy of it the gods have given her an illustrious Husband illustrious Brothers illustrious Friends and lovely Children But to her unhappiness the valiant Belisantus was slain in the Wars when fortune was ready to reward him for an infinite number of glorious actions which gain'd him an immortal renown and render'd him worthy of the love of the vertuous Melintha In that illustrious Husband she found all that could be desir'd in a Man of honour He
was of a very Noble race as well as she he had wit and courage he was good and generous he loved glory more than all things and Melintha as much as glory This generous Lady hapned to be shut up in a besieged City which her illustrious Husband defended with excellent valour and resolution he endeavour'd to oblige her to go away out of it with her children but she would never desert him and as long as the Siege lasted afforded very great succour unto him For during the few hours he took to rest in she made it her care that the orders of her dear Belisantus might be exactly observ'd and gave some her self with as much judgement as a great Captain could have done Being very well ascertain'd of her illustrious Husband's conduct she never offer'd to oppose his courage So that after Belisantus had defended the place beyond all appearance of possibility he could not resolve to capitulate but prefer'd a glorious Death above a Treaty which notwithstanding could not have been otherwise than very honourable Nevertheless a sentiment of dearness for Melintha obliging him to desire her consent he propounded to her not to yield at all and since the City was to be abandoned to the enemies to make a Sally forth with all the people he had left and attempt by his valour to make his way with sword in hand and beat the Enemies at the same time he yielded up the place The wise Melintha well understood all the danger of this resolution but perceiving the aversion of Bellisantus to surrender she couragiously consented to what he desir'd and accordingly he dispos'd all things for that design The Chariots of Melintha and her Children were made ready and to shew the tranquillity of his mind in the sight of greatest dangers he took care to cause several things to be put into them which serv'd only for his pleasure After which being oblig'd to call a Council of War the Officers so urgently represented to him the reasons which should oblige him to render himself without scruple that at length he made a very glorious Capitulation and thus the generous Belisantus marcht out of the place the gaining of which was less glorious to them that took it than to him that deliver'd it up after he had destroy'd a great Army before it and defended it two months tho it was thought unable to hold out two dayes and had no other strength but the courage of him that defended it But to let you further see that the heart of Melintha was as tender as resolute amongst so many generous actions as she did during that Siege I must at last relate one to you Her children being in a House which was not far distant from the Walls of the City it happened one day that the Enemies suddenly bethought themselves to place Engines upon a Tower which they had erected on that side So that a great storm of stones was seen to be discharg'd in that place which by the violence wherewith they were cast overthrew all they fell upon and slew such as were struck by them Melintha was at that time at the house of one of her friends on the other side of a large place where that house stood and seeing the fatal storm and horrible havock made by the Engines both upon the house in which her Children were and in the place which it behov'd her to cross to go to it did not deliberate a moment but being impell'd by the true tenderness of a generous mother ran couragiously through the hail of Stones to fetch her children out of so dangerous a place and that with so much ardour and haste that she scarce made any reflection upon so great a danger till she had escap'd it having at that instant nothing else in her mind but to save the life of her Children and preserve them for her dear Belisantus whose love she will be eternally sensible of Which indeed she has in some manner repair'd by choosing for a very lovely Daughter of hers an illustrious Husband whose rare valour and activity resembles that of the greatest Heroes and who by an hundred gallant actions has made it apparent how great a Lover he is of Glory Besides Melintha having two Sons very goodly personages and whose inclinations have appear'd extreamly noble from their infancy it is to be hop'd they will prove worthy to be Sons of their illustrious Father Melintha moreover has four Brothers each of which in their way deserve a thousand praises she has also Friends whose vertue is so great that tho Fortune has been very liberal to them yet they injoy much less than they deserve and perhaps some other occasion will be offer'd wherein I may present you with a fuller description of all the persons I have mention'd I beseech you said Plotina agreeably since you have the colours and pencils in your hand be pleas'd to draw the pourtraits at least of Melintha's virtuous Brothers For my part said Clelia I desire onely to know one of her Friends You ask too much for one day answer'd Amiclea for Melintha has a Friend whom I cannot tell you of without recounting the History of all Hetruria because the rare vertues of him I speak of are at this day one of the strongest props of his Country therefore I will expect some other occasion to let you know that incomparable Man whose vertue is above envy and whose moderation makes his vertue more eminent and I will only tell you that Melintha is a Lady who serves her Friends without interest without vanity and with all imaginable zeal She conceals her self sometimes to do good offices and I know a person whom she oblig'd after the noblest manner in the World who durst not speak of the obligation he has to her for fear of displeasing her tho he is extreamly desirous to testifie his acknowledgement of her generosity by publishing it In brief Melintha is one of those Women who are so rarely found that no Age or Country reckons above two or three whose accomplishments equal hers After this that you have spoken said Herminius I am her friend for all my life For my part said Valeria I shall not repine if Aronces has more friendship for her than for me And I said Plotina should account my self extream happy if I could have an interest in her Love You have reason said Clelia since nothing is more desirable than to have a friend of such worth for 't is not only an advantage to be lov'd by such but the friendship of a person of great vertue reflects to the honour of those who possess it you are a friend to almost all her friends and after a manner enjoy her glory as your own tho you merit not so much as she and be far inferiour to Melintha Clelia would have proceeded further if the Princess of the Leontines had not return'd to her but for that as she enter'd into the Closet she heard the name of Melintha
Tolumnius whose wife was Aurelisa's Aunt As for Terentia she was Cousin to Tolumnius who had two Nephews not Brothers to whom he intended to marry these two Virgins who have sufficient fortunes In order to which he educated them under his wife whose name was Elinyssa tho he conceal'd his determination however he so expresly commanded Aemylius and Theanor who obey'd him as if he had been their Father to insinuate themselves into the affection of these two persons that they began to make Courtship to them more out of obedience than choice and consequently without Love towards them or jealousie between themselves for they had other things which affected their hearts On the other side Aurelisa and Terentia having been advertis'd by one of their relations that they were to prepare themselves to marry Aemylius and Theanor one day lookt upon them as two men who in time might come to be their husbands But as they could never love the same things so they made different desires for Terentia wish'd she might be lov'd by Aemylius and Aurelisa that she might be so by Theanor Nevertheless these wishes were conceal'd from all the World and they never spoke of them but when they were alone Nor did they then think that they spoke very seriously For my part said Aurelisa one day I shall never resolve to become wife to Aemilius not but that I see he is a person of much honour but he is not such as I would have a Lover or a Husband but the case is otherwise in relation to Theanor As for my particular added Terentia I cannot think of marrying Theanor tho he be a person of worth but for Aemilius I could easily resolve to do it What said Aurelisa would you be the wife of such an inconstant person as Aemylius who has had a hundred Mistresses in his life I would not marry him inconstant answer'd Terentia but I should like well enough to cure him of his inconstancy and should not be loth to marry him when I had render'd him faithful But can you your self added Terentia resolve to love and to marry Theanor who you know loves a certain woman ever since he came to the use of reason who makes a profession of being the most constant person in the World and yet when he has marri'd you will not cease to love his former Mistress No no Terentia repli'd Aurelisa I do not understand it so but to speak freely I should take as much pleasure to render Theanor unfaithful to her that he loves as you would have in rendring Aemilius constant Our two wishes are very different answer'd Terentia for I desire to remove a defect from Emylius and you would confer one on Theanor In truth repli'd Aurelisa I think we do not yet very well know what we would have but the best I see for us is that in all probabilities we shall never desire the same things and so having different pretensions we shall alwaies live in peace tho our inclinations be contrary However from that day Aurelisa and Terentia found arising in their hearts a kind of particular esteem for those two men which had scarce any other apparent cause than the desire of contradicting one another For because Aurelisa esteem'd Emylius less than Theanor therefore Terentia lov'd Theanor less than Aemilius and for the same reason Aurelisa knowing Terentia preferr'd Aemilius before Theanor she gave the preheminence to Theanor to the prejudice of Aemilius Nevertheless they so well conceal'd their sentiments that they were taken notice of by no person whatsoever But whil'st they contested thus Aemilius and Theanor who were friends and mutually communicated most part of their sentiments beheld these two Virgins as most men do those whom they think they ought to marry that is with an affection without ardour and little better than ordinary civility nor did they so much as inquire how their Uncle intended their marriages should be made for Aemilius having at that time three or four Mistresses and Theanor one who absolutely took up his heart they onely consider'd that they whom they were to marry would be rich without troubling themselves further except that they told their Mistresses A wise man ought to marry only for his familie's sake and to love onely for his own They endeavour'd also to perswade them that a marriage was not a real infidelity and they were happy enough to be believ'd for the inconstant Aemilius lov'd none but Gossips and the constant Theanor loving a woman which could not be his he perswaded her the more easily to what he desir'd Things being in this posture I contracted an intimate friendship with these two young Beauties and I hapned one day to be at Elinyssa's house with whom they dwelt when Theanor and Aemilius came thither with two Ladies of no discommendable beauty So that this conversation being wholly compos'd of young persons for Elinyssa was gone out of it about some affairs it suddenly became very agreeable and gallant ' This hapned so much the more easily for that one of the Ladies who came with Theanor and Aemilius and whose name was Cleoncia being much addicted to make sport with her best friends and to do it sometimes a little too pressingly cunningly brought it in to speak of unfaithful and constant Love intending to give some light gird to those that were with her She ask'd the other Ladies what they would do if they were necessitated to chuse a husband of two men whereof one had a hundred Mistresses and the other but one whom he loved ardently For my part said one of the Ladies I would have neither of both for certainly 't is no great pleasure to be wife to one of those profess'd Weather-Cocks who because they converse with none but Gossips slight their Wives and every day do a hundred things very displeasing to be seen and 't is yet less to be Wife of a Man who every moment is ready to sacrifice all his family to the person whom he loves whose thoughts are wholly taken up with her who never stirs from her who is weary of all other places who is prodigal in what concerns his love and covetous in all other respects and who will not have any thing that he do's seen or when it is observ'd will not allow it to be complain'd of And which is strange both that husband who lends out his heart to whomsoever will have it and he that gives his intirely to one person do nevertheless require their Wives should keep a more exact fidelity to them than any others But since I may be mistaken added she I would know Aurelisa's opinion upon this case Terentia then lookt upon Aurelisa calling to mind what they had talk't of together some daies before whereupon perceiving it was believed she was going to declare her true sentiments and consequently to determine that she lik'd a Husband better that had one constant Love than one that had many on a sudden to have the pleasure of
sufficiently intricate for according to all probability we are likely to be very unhappy After this she took the pleasant news that was written to me and read it over from the beginning silently whilst Terentia was in a deep musing and I stood by observing them both After Aurelisa had read the pacquet Terentia took her turn to read it too and tho it was sent on purpose to divert them yet it made them both very sad Neverthelesse they had some consolation the next day for Tolumnius speaking to me in private told me he had a purpose to marry Terentia and Aurelisa to his Nephews and therefore desir'd me to know of these two Ladies what their inclination was it being more just as he said to know the true sentiments of those which ought to obey than of those who are to command Wherefore taking this occasion to do a service to my friends tho it were against the inclination of my two of the other Sexe I told him it was not necessary for me to speak to Terentia or Aurelisa and that since I understood them better than they did themselves I could assure him Terentia would never be happy if she marry'd Theanor but that she might be so with Aemilius on the other side that Aurelisa would be miserable with Aemilius and very well satisfi'd with Theanor If it be so reply'd Tolumnius it will be easie for me to content them for Theanor and Aemilius will not dare to disobey me and besides added he I believe their hearts are free enough at present not to make any resistance to my commands Moreover both Terentia and Aurelisa are so well educated that it will be no difficulty for them to comply with my pleasure I thought to tell him then that he was mistaken but I was afraid to speak too much and therefore I left the matter in this condition and went to find my Friends Terentia presently blush't at what I had said but Aurelisa thank'd me for it for I see not said she how any inconvenience can follow upon this adventure for if Theanor and Aemilius readily obey it will be a sign the passion they have for us will not be strong enough to hinder us from hoping to be lov'd by them and if they absolutely refuse to obey indignation will cure us and perhaps lead us to admit of the affection of them that love us For my part said Terentia I hope nothing and I fear all but when all is done the case having no remedy must be resolv'd upon The same evening these two Lovers desiring to know how their news was taken arriv'd and made shew as if they knew nothing of it But I being desirous to oblige them commended that Gallantry before them I shewd them it and I brought them at length to confesse in secret that they had contriv'd it together as I had imagin'd After all the Company was retir'd Tolumnius did not fail to cause them to be call'd that he might tell them what he had resolv'd upon You know said he to them what command I lay'd upon you to accustome to visit Terentia and Aurelisa and that 't is my pleasure you should marry them but since it is hard for a Man to be contented with the deportment of his Wife if he be not lov'd by her I have observ'd and caus'd the inclinations of the two persons I design for you carefully to be noted by a person of their familiarity So that it shall be your own fault if you be not happy for in brief I know Terentia has for you said he looking upon Aemilius all the inclination a vertuous Virgin can have for a Man whom she looks upon as he that is to be her husband and I know also added he speaking to Theanor that Aurelisa has a dearnesse for you which ought to oblige you to prefer her readily before Terentia Is it possible my Lord answer'd they both at once that you should be well inform'd of that which you speak Doubt not of it reply'd he and conform your selves to my will for tho you should have no great affection for these two Ladies ye must think of nought but to marry them They are fair young prudent and rich and that 's sufficient If you do not love them before you marry them you will love them after as well as it oftentimes falls out that they who love their Wives before come shortly after not to love them at all Marriage and Love are two things which are not frequently long together and therefore determine only to obey me for all my estate is for them who obey me and not for others As for what concerns me reply'd Theanor no respect of interest shall ever cause me to do any thing And for my part added Aemilius nothing can ever induce me to marry Terentia For in brief added he since it equally concerns Theanor and my selfe to let you know the truth we ardently love Terentia and Aurelisa But my Lord 't is because we love them that we cannot marry them in the manner you propound to us for Theanor loves Terentia and I love Aurelisa But since Aurelisa loves Theanor reply'd Tolumnius and you are lov'd by Terentia it concernes you to enforce your sentiments for it is much more dangerous for a man to marry a Wife by whom he is hated than it is for him to marry one whom he loves not if he be lov'd by her especially when she is fair and wise However it be said he to them I will not lay any constraint upon the two young Ladies whose Parents at their death left them under my Guardianship But since you depend on me and have a thousand obligations to me and since I can ruine you when I please you ought to yield to my will do so if you be wise for assuredly you shall repent your selves if you do otherwise Tolumnius spoke this with an aspect of choler which hindred Theanor and Aemilius from answering him besides having made them a sign to retire they were constrain'd to go forth of his chamber to their own but with so much affliction that they spent the night without sleeping for Tolumnius having told them he knew the inclinations of Terentia and Aurelisa they imagin'd it was an artifice of those two Ladies who hated them to put an obstacle to their design The next morning they were so sad that never was a day pass'd after a more melancholy manner than that for Tolumnius was possess'd both with grief and indignation the two Lovers were alike in despair and Terentia and Aurelisa were both equally afflicted and asham'd Not long after Tolumnius told me it very much troubled him to find that Theanor and Aemilius had dispos'd of their hearts otherwise than they ought but he intreated me to say nothing of it to Terentia and Aurelisa and assur'd me he knew well how to make himself be obey'd Yet this news did not rejoyce these two fair Ladies from whom I thought I ought not to
conceal it for when they came to consider that if Tolumnius persecuted Theanor and Aemilius they might be hated by those whom they lov'd their minds were in a strange perplexity On the other side the two Lovers who were intimate friends were in an unconceivable trouble for if they resolv'd to obey they should marry Women whom they did not love either of them remaining amorous of one another's Wives You may easily conceive that this gave them no small affliction Indeed in this condition they knew not what to say either to her that they lov'd or to her that they did not affect Wherefore they chose rather to return to Clusium than to continue in a place so unpleasing to them Their departure offended Tolumnius and sensibly afflicted Terentia and Aurelisa Sometimes they had sentiments of hatred sometimes thoughts of love and scarce ever any other than apprehensions of despaire For my part I did all I could to appease Tolumnius and to comfort the two afflicted Ladies but at length the time was come to return to the City where all these persons were in a new perplexity Before Tolumnius had spoken to the two Lovers they did not perceive that themselves were very much hated or lov'd but after he had told them they were not lov'd at all and yet that they were not hated they wonder'd they had no sooner understood the truth When Theanor beheld Terentia he observ'd in her eyes a forc'd civility which caus'd him almost to dye with grief and when he look'd upon Aurelisa he saw in hers something so sweet and modest which intimated so much obligement that he wonder'd he had not before perceiv'd it Aemilius on his part when he look't upon Aurelisa perceiv'd such a kind of fiercenesse in her eyes that he could not see her without discontent but he observ'd obliging languour in those of Terentia tho he avoided her looks as much as he could that it made him think himselfe still more unhappy Having taken notice of these different sentiments the two Lovers became more miserable for before they comforted one another but after that time they had severall fallings out and accus'd one another unjustly for the causes of their unhappinesse But yet from time to time the equality of their ill fortune reunited them and they contested again as often and were possess'd with jealousie altho they had no cause for it For sometimes Theanor accus'd Aemilius of not being displeas'd for being too much lov'd by Terentia and presently after Aemilius reproacht to Theanor that he was glad for being lov'd by Aurelisa In the mean time they were possess'd with so violent a passion that they could not resolve ever to obey Tolumnius Who being an imperious man was extremely disgusted with them insomuch that he said publickly he would give all his estate to Terentia and Aurelisa and marry them to others And no question it was easy to find persons that would marry two fair young rich and vertuous Ladies in order to which he propos'd to match Terentia and Aurelisa to two men of quality who were amorous of them But these two Ladies requested him with very much generosity not to take away his estate from his nephews and refused to marry the persons he propounded to them telling him that if the businesse were once accomplisht they that should marry them would not require what he gave them and that for their parts it was not possible for them to resolve to see two such deserving persons as Theanor and Aemilius unhappy for their sakes However 't is certain Love had a share in their generosity and it was not in their power to marry two men whom they did not love Tolumnius esteeming them the more for this deportment hated his nephews more who on the other side were desperate at so generous actions because they found it did not prejudice their love for their passion increased from day to day and they were so unhappy that I could not but commiserate them Mean while they to whom Tolumnius pretended to marry these two fair virgins looking upon Theanor and Aemilius as the obstacles of their happinesse did not see them but with trouble and indignation and Aemilius and Theanor on the other side considering them as persons that intended to make advantage of their unhappinesse sought occasion to quarrel with them which they soon found and fought Theanor encountred him that was to marry Terentia and Aemilius was matcht with him that was to have Aurelisa to his wife The first of them mortally wounded his enemy and Aemilius disarm'd his Indeed their victory cost them dear for they were both very much wounded This combat further increased the anger of Tolumnius and caus'd much grief to Terentia and Aurelisa for the latter was afflicted to see Theanor ardently lov'd by Terentia and the former was so to observe how much Aemilius was enamor'd on Aurelisa but these two Ladies were much more troubled when they understood their two Lovers were in danger of dying For being possessed with great discontent their wounds became sufficiently dangerous and it was believ'd they would dy tho their strength was still very vigorous However Tolumnius would not see them but Elinyssa visited them without her husband's knowledge During their weaknesse Terentia and Aurelisa omitted no obliging care towards them both without distinction The two lovers requested Elinyssa she would please to let them see their fair Mistresses before they dy'd Who being good and compassionnate promis'd them they should and entreated me to perswade my friends whom with no great difficulty I brought to consent to it not knowing but in this condition the two Lovers would resolve to render justice to their affection They requested me that I would be one in this sad conversation and Tolumnius being then at his house in the Country Elinyssa lead us to the lodgings of these unhappy Lovers either of which desir'd to speak one after another to their Mistresses After the first civilities I betook my self to discourse with Elinyssa whilst Theanor was speaking to Aurelisa and Aemylius to Terentia I desire your pardon Madam said Aemilius to her by whom he was lov'd for the trouble I give you but I find my self so unhappy and so criminal that I have not been able to refuse my selfe the consolation of justifying or at least excusing my self to you For in brief Madam when I first began to visit you I observ'd my friend lov'd you and I have alwaies found him so deserving a person that I could not doubt but that he was lov'd again Wherefore suffering my heart to be surpriz'd by the charms of Anrelisa I was not in a condition to dispose of my self when I understood you had an aversion against Theanor tho he had a great passion for you However you have not ceas'd to be good and generous and to perfect your being so added he pardon me a crime which I cannot yet hinder my self from committing and save the life of an illustrious
which such as are possess'd with it think they do too much honour to those that serve them when they only take notice of the respect they bear to them who despise all that are not of a very considerable rank who are not oblig'd by any thing whatsoever who will be lov'd without loving again who scorn gratitude who will be yielded to in every thing who understand nothing of liberality and who have not so much as the art to chuse their own pleasures well On the contrary I can assure you she has alwaies very well known how to discern the truth of all things she has lov'd those that lov'd her person more than such as respected her condition and has been as diligent to render her self worthy to be lov'd as if her birth and beauty had afforded her no advantage And to speak truth the diligence she has us'd has admirably succeeded I was some years elder than the Princess but she attaining to an early prudence lov'd rather to converse with such as exceeded her in age than such as were younger so that my mother being very much belov'd by the late Princess of Leontium I went frequently to the Palace where I had the good fortune to be chosen amongst a hundred more amiable Virgins than my self to be the Princess favourite At that time a very near Kinsman of the Prince of Syracusa who dwelt at Leontium became extreme amorous of Lysimena his name was Meleontus and he a is person of undoubted courage wit and magnificence but he is naturally distrustful and tho he be very noble yet he is so little master of himself when he is in choler that he is at such times capable of many things which he would not have done when his choler is pass'd Moreover Meleontus is a very goodly Person and has a kind of noble boldness in the air of his countenance which sutes both with his Quality and humour Being usually a partaker in all the pleasures of the Prince he had the freedome to see the Princess Lysimena very often Whereby it is to be wondred if seeing a most amiable person every day he could not hinder himself from loving her Besides to speak truth it was so much the mode to love Lysimena that it was said at Court She had not one slave that was not amorous of her It was discover'd that a Painter as he drew her Picture became her Lover and one of the Gardeners of the Palace to whom she had spoken very often because she much delights in flowers lost his reason through the excess of love he had for her Moreover it was for this cause that she was styl'd so as she is at this day for a certain person saying one day pleasantly that to distinguish her from the Princess her Mother who was call'd the Princess of Leontium she ought to be term'd the Princess of the Leontines since she reign'd in the hearts of all the Prince her Brothers Subjects the conceit was taken up and she came by degrees to be generally styl'd so Nevertheless this universal love caus'd her to be hated and envy'd by several beauties Clidamira who you know was certainly a little envious at her but amongst others there was a woman of Quality that thought her self more beautiful than Lysimena who proceeded so far to wish her as much mischief as if the Princess had undone her in her fortune tho she was guilty of no other crime but being as amiable as you see This woman who is call'd Amerintha is indeed very fair and has no common temper of mind as you shall know in the sequel of my discourse Meleontus having been her servant for some time and afterwards forsaking her to adore Lysimena she thereupon began to hate the Princess as I told you altho she dissembled it as much as she could In the mean time Meleontus omitted nothing which he jugd'd might serve to make his passion known to Lysimena who had no inclination at all towards him But because the Prince her Brother did not disapprove this affection she durst not treat him unkindly but her particular humor was so averse from all Courtship that upon all occasions she commended Friendship above Love maintaining that there is nothing more delightful than to have Friends and nothing more troublesome than to have Lovers whether they be lov'd again or no. And accordingly she was very severe to the former and very gentle at the latter Zenocrates was at this time at Leontium where having been very amorous of an amiable Lady nam'd Andromira his love at length turn'd into friendship Which besides was a friendship without ardour and not much pleasing so that he said sometimes laughing That there is far more pleasure in having a Friend of a Lady that had alwaies been a Friend than in having one that had been considered as a Mistress and is no longer lookt upon but as a Friend Andromira being a little related to me I frequently reproacht Zenocrates with his change and this is no unusual subject of our conversation If you did not know him I should tell you of the goodliness of his personage the vivacity of his wit and all the good qualities he is indu'd with but it will be sufficient to let you know that he is of a very noble extraction that he is Originally a Greek tho he was born at a City call'd Herbesa which was his Father's and is not far from Leontium I shall add further that he was at that time of great esteem in this Court. That which hapned between him and Andromira being a very rare case all the world talk'd of it and Lysimena making advantage of it in reference to her own sentiments said it was easie to perceive thereby the expedience of returning to Friendship For my part said I to her one day in the presence of Meleontus and Zenocrates I do not conceive how any one is capable of Friendship towards another that has been lov'd for if I had once had an affection for a man I think I could not desist from it without hating him or at least without having an indifference for him which could never become Friendship I am of Amiclea's mind said Meleontus and I do not think it possible for me ever to be a Friend to my Mistress For my part said Lysimena Friendship is so high in my esteem that I account it good at all times But how is it possible said Meleontus for Love to become Friendship What becomes of the desires impatiencies melancholies fears transports little and great pleasures suspitions hope jealousie and all the other passions that are inseparable from Love In truth said Zenocrates I cannot tell you what is become of all these but I know at present I have the greatest tranquillity of the world in reference to Andromira and that she cannot give me either great trouble or great pleasure I behold her without desires or without hopes I should serve her if it were in my power I esteem her
I love her and I visit her also very often but for the most part our conversation is but luke-warm and our Friendship has nothing in it that affords much inquietude or great delight But did you ever love that person said Meleontus More than you can imagine answer'd Zenocrates I can witness reply'd I that he has made very amorous Verses upon her and I have seen him inquieted jealous and much solicitous concerning her But that which I admire most said Lysimena is that Andromira should be capable of returning to Friendship as well as he Ah! Madam said Meleontus Zenocrates must needs have lov'd but weakly when he was amorous since he could become a Friend of a Lover however I am well assur'd said he with a lower voice I finde I shall never have any Friendship for the admirable Lysimena That which you speak is so disobliging to me answer'd the Princess that you deserve I should give you a sharp answer That which I said is so true and so passionate Madam reply'd he that I cannot believe it possible for you to be so unjust as to hate me for it After this other Ladies being arriv'd the discourse was changed Nevertheless from that day Meleontus became more confident to speak to Lysimena concerning his Love altho she always forbid him and Zenocrates became so intimate a friend to her that no man in the Court was so high in her favour nor had so much liberty to see her For Zenocrates had in a short time got such a reputation of being inconstant that not fearing he would become her Lover she was joyful that he was her Friend We oftentimes reproacht him that he had only the beginnings of love and he was so expert at raillery thereupon that it render'd our conversation very delightful Meleontus's love in the mean time augmented to the highest degree he was capable of he being a person more inclin'd to this passion than to Friendship These two persons were often together and seem'd to be considerably intimate tho indeed they communicated nothing of importance one to another for Zenocrates loves not to declare his secrets and Meleontus is so distrustful that he car'd not to put confidence in him especially in what concern'd Lysimena 'T is true he had no great secrets to tell of in this respect for tho he had the most violent passion for the Princess that ever was yet she answer'd it so little that she afforded him no great matter for secrecie Nevertheless he was not discourag'd for tho the Princess of Leontium did not much approve his pretensions to the Princess her daughter yet the Prince her Son so upheld him in them that he was not destitute of hope In the mean time there were made continual feasts at which Zenocrates was always present as Lysimena's friend This Quality was no doubt very advantageous to him and gave him many occasions of conversing with her which otherwise he could not have had if his inconstancie had not secur'd him from being apprehended by Lysimena as a man that was amorous of her So that by degrees she came to have a very dear friendship for Zenocrates who one the other side lov'd her no doubt as much as he could and often told her that he lov'd her more than four of his Mistressess Thus Lysimena taking much delight in the amity of such an agreeable Friend and if I dare say it in mine dayly confirm'd her self in the opinion she then had That Love is less sweet than Friendship Zenocrates in the mean time was better treated as her Friend than Meleontus was as her Lover Andromira was sometimes present in their conversations and one day the Princess ask'd her whether Zenocrates were a more agreeable Friend than a Lover In truth Madam answer'd Andromira smiling I cannot well resolve your Question all that I can tell you is that when our affection was a little more tender than friendship we had more pain and more pleasure but at this day when it has chang'd its nature we doe not divert our selves much in our familiarity That answer of Andromira to Lysimena seem'd to her so remarkable that being alone the next day in her Closet she made a description of that person's sentiments she painted her out to the life and did me the favour to shew me what she writ upon this subject which was extremely pleasant For without pencil or colours she made so exact a picture of Andromira that none could but know it At first the Princess would have conceal'd this Portraiture but telling Zenocrates of it and Zenocrates not being able to hide a thing made for the honour of the Princess's wit told it to the Prince the Prince to Meleontus and Meleontus to the whole Court. Upon which as all the world is full of imitators good or bad in a few dayes all the men of the Court became Painters and all the women made their own Pourtraits without considering that it is very difficult to speak handsomely of ones self for if a person set forth his own commendations he becomes ridiculous and insufferable if he blame himself justly he would doe better to amend his faults than publish them and it he speak neither good nor ill of himself he is sufficiently tedious But in brief a Constellation stronger than Reason put all the World into this vein The most excusable were such as overcommended themselves for they delineated themselves according to their self-conceit and the most faulty were such as made Satyrical Pourtraitures against persons whose goodness and vertue ought to have exempted them from envy Tho indeed the Authors injur'd themselves by describing themselves amongst all the worthy persons and did no hurt to those they intended to injure Upon this occasion all discourses were only concerning Pourtraitures every one had some in their Pockets and the end of the Composers was only to give Copies from one to another One day amongst an honourable Company at the Palace of the Princess of Leontium where Lysimena was at that time arose a discourse concerning the Portraitures in fashion For my part said Meleontus I like not this ardency of doing that always which others doe and that because some one person has made a handsome Portrait therefore all the world should betake themselves to make bad In truth added I I believe there is not a person at Leontium that has a Looking glass but has made their own picture excepting my self who could never resolve to speak either good or ill in my own behalf After this Lysimena ask'd if there were any new Portraiture and Zenocrates told her two were made of the same person by no ordinary invention which the Princess desiring to see Zenocrates who had them gave them to her to read telling her the first of them seem'd to be made by some Lover or some friend of Amerintha I easily believe answer'd Lysimena it might be made by a Lover but as for a Friend I doubt it for Amerintha loves
in my eies she call'd me as weak as she was and tho her wound sufficiently pain'd her stretcht forth her hand to me and grasping mine gently I beseech you my dear Amiclea said she to me beholding me wishly tell me whether the tears you shed be for Artemidorus or for the unfortunate Zenocrates The Prince Artemidorus answer'd I is so little hurt that he feels no wound but yours and as for Zenocrates I know not yet what the Chirurgions say of him so that Madam my tears are only for your self Since my life is so dear to you reply'd she with a lower voice take some care of that of Zenocrates and let me know what condition he is in Whereupon soon after I understood that his wound was dangerous indeed but yet not desperate As for the Princess she was in very great danger because she was taken with a Fever Zenocrates greatest affliction was occasion'd for that no person except my self knowing the love he had for Lysimena he was told of the danger in which she was By which means his weakness became greater than it would if he had been ignorant of that of Lysimena As for Artemidorus he had so tender a friendship for her that he could not have been much more afflicted if he had been her Lover and as we are easily led to love such as have been willing to serve those whom we love this Prince had likewise in a little time a very great friendship for Zenocrates who so generously oppos'd the violence of the Prince of Leontium and was wounded with the same stroke that hurt the Princess Zenocrates knowing I was not ignorant of his love us'd to me the most moving and passionate expressions in the world as often as I went to visit him from the Princess Whose vertue on the other side I assure you I could not but admire in this occasion for tho she believ'd she should dy yet she always preserv'd the same prudence and did not speak one word which she ought to repent of she talk'd with me concerning Zenocrates always with expressions of great dearness but yet it was with such caution too that what she said might as well agree to an amiable Friend as a faithful Lover But at length Lysimena's youth overcoming the greatness of her distemper her Physicians one day assur'd she was past all danger of death of which Artemidorus transported with joy went to inform Zenocrates who receiv'd this good news with so much delight that the Prince perceiv'd he was amorous of Lysimena But he was rather glad than displeased at it for he hated Meleontus and knowing Zenocrates was descended from the ancient Princes of Berbesa altho his rank was now inferiour to that of his Ancestors he was not sorry that so worthy a man lov'd the Princess his Sister judging too that this might rather hinder him from pardoning Meleontus This discovery exciting the Prince to a curiosity of knowing Lysimena's sentiments as well one day when she was able to suffer his conversation he began to glibe at her a little about Zenocrates whose life he said she had almost endanger'd The Princess blusht when Artemidorus spoke thus to her wherefore fearing he had displeas'd her I beseech you said he to her do not think I speak to you as the Prince my brother would do namely with a design to persecute you No my dear sister added he I have more equitable sentiments I speak to you as a faithful Friend and desire not to know your thoughts for any other end but to conform my self to them for I know you love glory and are uncapable of loving any thing without it My Lord said the Princess than to him recollecting her self to testifie to you that I consider you more as a faithful friend than a generous brother I will make you privy to the only secret of my life and confess to you that if I did not take care to rule the sentiments of my heart I should have as great inclination for Zenocrates as I have aversion for Meleontus But for as much as I foresee fortune cannot permit us to live together I speak to him always as an agreeable Friend and I forbid him to hope any such thing as a Lover might pretend to beyond a certain free and uninterested kindness which I cannot refuse him This my Lord is the onely secret of my life use it as you please and if you find me Criminal you will do me a pleasure in telling me so to the end I may endeavour to correct my fault This freedom so extremely pleas'd Artemidorus that he gave her a thousand thanks he approv'd all her sentiments and there became such an intimate and confiding a friendship between them as will last all their lives Afterwards Artemidorus with the Princesse's consent intimated to Zenocrates that he understood his affection which produc'd in a few dayes a very strait amity between these three persons who moreover had such an esteem of me as to communicate to me all their sentiments In the mean time Cleanthus found it a matter of difficulty to compose matters for the Prince loving Meleontus dearly urg'd that Lysimena and Artemidorus would pardon him these two persons on the contrary could not yield to see a man who had committed an action likely to prove so fatal to them Nor could the Princess their Mother be brought to consent to return to Leontium as long as he was there and desir'd that the Prince would banish him for ever But Amerintha whom the Prince was amorous of protecting Meleontus there was no obtaining of what she requir'd So Cleanthus made frequent journies from the Castle where we were to Leontium and from Leontium to the Castle to no purpose All this while Meleontus was under a guard tho it was more to hinder attempts upon his life then to satisfie Lysimena and Artemidorus At length the Princess being recover'd from her sickness became able to walk in the Gardens of the Castle which are indeed admirably handsome As soon as she was in a condition to see the world all the chief Ladies of Leontium came to visit her and Clidamira whom you know amongst others came thither with one of her Kinswomen It hapned that Artemidorus accounted her so amiable that day that he began to be possest with the passion which occasion'd all the adventures I know you have heard of And therefore I shall tell you scarce any thing of it but only that one day she came with Andromira and several other Ladies who stay'd to pass that night with us Towards the evening the Princess and the Ladies went to walk in the Gardens and Amerintha so brought it about that her self discours'd with Artemidorus Andromira entertain'd Zenocrates tho he did not much desire it another Lady imploy'd her self in recounting to me a hundred things which did not concern me and in the mean time one of her friends who is as crafty a person as any in the world led the Princess
and made him extremely unhappy And the more because he durst not hope to make his peace with the Prince of Carthage for I had given him to understand that it was the Princess who was his chief enemy However he dissembled his sentiments and omitted nothing whereby he might please Lysonice But at length the eight days being ended I departed and I dare say Cloranisbes and I left behind us some regret for our absence For my part I was melancholy till I return'd to Utica but especially at my leaving of Cloranisbes amidst the inquietudes of his violent affection I promis'd him at parting to do him all the service lay in my power and indeed I did not fail of my word And I had a better opportunity to do it than at any time before because the Princess of Carthage who alone had procur'd Cloranisbes disgrace was now out of favour with the Prince her self and constrain'd to retire into the Countrey I forgot to tell you that when I took leave of Cloranisbes I promis'd him not to discover his passion to any nor so such as to say I had seen Lysonice and that in my return the Painter who had workt for him in his Desart follow'd me and came to Utica For that Cloranisbes had desir'd me to assist him as much as I could I did not fail to do so and he soon got imployment Now the Prince of Carthage having some secret design to make War and knowing that Bostar was banisht from the Court of the King his Master that he liv'd not far from Cloranisbes and had a very strong place which belong'd to him he purposed to gain him to his interest to the end to make him declare for them wherefore having happily dispos'd him to recall Cloranisbes I acted so dextrously that he gave me Commission to send to my Friend that he might return This news made Cloranisbes both joyful and sorrowful for knowing his exile was an obstacle to him to be lov'd by Lysonice he was glad for being recall'd to Court but then he was on the other side extremely afflicted for that he could not cease to be an exile without being absent from his Mistress Nevertheless whereas this absence might possibly prove to the advantage of his Love he resolv'd upon it and went to take his leave of Bostar Cyrene Lysonice and the Ladies his Friends He promis'd them to return to see them and desir'd their permission to write to them Lysonice was more pleasing towards him this day than she had been ever before and having an opportunity to entertain her apart for a quarter of an hour Suffer me Madam said he to her to complain of the joy which the end of my banishment gives you You ought rather to thank me for it said she to him for 't is a sign that I sensibly interest my self in your happiness But Madam reply'd he is it possible for one that has given you his heart to be happy when he is absent from you I know not whether or no you will be happy at Utica answer'd she but I know well you would have been always unhappy here But Cloranisbes added this fair Virgin I will not have you go away ill satisfied of me know then that I am perswaded when one loves another ardently he ought always to study more to content him than his own pleasure and so when a Lover studies only to enjoy his Mistress without considering whether he can render her fortune happy he loves but imperfectly Therefore conceiving that adversity and love cannot subsist together I have been unwilling to encourage the affection you pretend towards me for fear of increasing your unhappiness But in fine I esteem you infinitely and if I were capable of love I doubt not but I should affect you rather than any other This Cloranisbes is all that can be said by an Exile to a man who is not yet wholly discharg'd of his banishment if I may so speak an exile I say who accounts nothing more unjust than not always to imploy the greatest endeavours for advancing the greatness and honour of the person lov'd Although this which Lysonice said to Cloranisbes was not too obliging nevertheless perceiving that she was willing to give him a little hope he was ravisht with it and us'd the most passionate and exquisite blandishments to her that the most ardent love can inspire an Inamorate with after which he came back to Utica I had a purpose to have gone to meet him and give him notice that his Painter who had kept a copy of Lysonice's picture had shew'd it to the Prince who was so charm'd with Lysonice's beauty that he kept the Picture and plac't it in his Chamber but the Prince having taken me to hunting with him Cloranisbes arriv'd at Utica a quarter of an hour before we return'd hither And going to wait upon the Prince at the Palace he was extremely surpris'd to see Lysonice's picture in her Chamber This thought so wholly took up his mind that though the Prince's arrival caus'd a sufficient noise in the Court of the Palace he scarce heard it at all Yet at length he went to meet him in the Court and being the Prince lov'd him very well and believ'd he stood in need of him he caress'd and embrac'd him with tenderness Let us forget what is pass'd Cloranisbes said he to him and make amends for it with the future so that you may be never separated from my interests Cloranisbes very respectfully answer'd to that which the Prince said to him who after that fell to speak of the hunting and several indifferent matters But some time after he was in his Chamber he caus'd Cloranisbes to enter into his Closet where when he had discours'd very obligingly to him and Cloranisbes fully justifi'd himself he told him that to testifie to him that he believ'd him innocent he would presently put confidence in him and impart to him his desires to bring Bostar to his interests I know he is mal-content with the King of Massilia said he to him that he is couragious his reputation amongst these Nations and is master of a strong place therefore you must endeavour to gain him to me and oblige him to declare himself for me when I shall desire it My Lord answer'd Cloranisbes who was glad of this imployment I am sufficiently capable to bring to pass that which you desire For Bostar has some esteem for me Then you must return secretly to him added the Prince but seeing it concerns me that this negotiation be neither tedious nor unsuccessful I am to ask you whether Bostar's Daughter whose Picture you have seen in my Chamber be as handsome as it for if she be you must tell Bostar I am ready to marry her on condition he will do what I desire You know added he I have always set up my resolution never to marry a woman but who is admirably fair therefore it behoves you to answer me punctually and tell me
subtie Princess feigning to pity him craftily confirm'd him in the resoluion which he took that so he might exasperare the Prince against himself Which being done he went to his own house where the Prince had newly been on purpose to tell Lysonice what he had caus'd to be propos'd to Cloranisbes 'T is certain she very ill receiv'd him in spight of all her own ambition and told him peremptorily she would never be his Wife though she much regretted that she was not As soon as Cloranisbes enter'd he understood Lysonice knew of the proposition which was made to him and as soon as Lysonice saw Cloranisbes she perceiv'd he had been spoken to about the Prince's design So that being both sufficiently perplex'd they remain'd some time without speaking but at length Cloranisbes breaking the sad silence Well Madam said he to her will you be so generous as not to be offended if I desire that you continue in the enjoyment of the unhappy Cloranisbes all your life and if I cannot consent that you be Princess of Carthage You are so accustom'd not to love me but for your own sake answer'd she that 't is easie for me to conjecture what answer you would have me give you 'T is as easie too reply'd he for me to guess what you would have me say to you but I confess it ambitious Lysonice my love for you is still as great as your ambition and therefore do not think it strange if I cannot resolve to part with you to the Prince I know I destroy both my own fortune and yours but I know I cannot resolve to lose you 'T is true added he perhaps I endanger displeasing you by not resigning you and losing your heart by desiring to retain your person but though you should hate me I cannot cease to love you nor consent that the Prince be happy with my loss and enrich himself with my own treasure But alas whence is it that your love is not equal to mine if it were you would suffer banishment and the subversion of your fortune would not trouble you but to speak sincerely you lov'd the Favorite of the Prince of Carthage when you lov'd me without confiding in the person of Cloranisbes and so 't is no wonder if you love the Prince better than the Favorite I hear all which you say answer'd Lysonice coldly as so many new signs of a self-interested love however to assure you that I will not marry the Prince know I have this day depriv'd him of all manner of hope Ha! how happy am I interrupted Cloranisbes if you speak truth Do not be so forward to thank me answer'd she for I do it more out of honour than affection for in fine I confess to you Cloranisbes I am not satisfied with yours You have been diffident of me and could not resolve to tell me that I might recover the fortune which you caus'd me to lose by your fraud However content your self that I refuse an advantage which would certainly have affected my heart and do not pretend I have any obligation to you for a deed which is likely to render both of us unhappy The worst is the mischief has no remedy and our strange destiny will have us prove infallibly miserable For being you love me only for your own sake when time shall have a little chang'd me you will likewise be chang'd towards me and so I shall see my self without your affection and you perhaps with repentance for having lov'd me But be it how it will I must resolve to seek my consolation in my self If you lov'd me as well as I love you and shall love you as long as I live reply'd Cloranisbes you would speak after another manner but I am not so happy and 't is left only to my choice to be more or less miserable You would certainly have been more happy answer'd Lysonice if you had less studied to be so As Cloranisbes was going to answer one of his Friends came to inquire for him to give him notice that the Prince of Carthage was extremely incens'd against him and that his love of Lysonice was so violent that it was capable to carry him to any kind of injustice If he take away my life answer'd he without being mov'd he will oblige me but to pretend to deprive me of Lysonice is that which I will never endure But you must know the Princess of Carthage who design'd only to ruine Cloranisbes and would not that her Brother should marry Lysonice caus'd it to be told this fair person that the Prince intended to take her away by force not doubting but this would oblige her to withdraw her self from Utica For though she well understood she was ambitious yet she knew too that she tender'd honour above all things And accordingly Lysonice no sooner receiv'd this information but shutting her self into her Closet with Pasilia and Delisia she told them she absolutely resolv'd to go and return to her Father and Mother in that fortified place which they held without imparting her purpose to any person not even to Cloranisbes himself And then telling them what intelligence had been given her I shall be so secret said she to them in my flight because if the Prince should violently seise upon me all the World would believe I was the cause of it my self and nothing but death could manifest my innocence 'T is the best course therefore not to venture the having need of so violent a remedy Not that flight and solitude are of more value to me but I shall at least have the advantage of making it apparent that I know how to over-rule my inclinations when I please Pasilia and Delisia would have perswaded her to tell Cloranisbes of her purpose but she was inflexible No no said she to them 't is best that he be able to say with truth that he knew not of my departure that so the Prince may not accuse him of it Wherefore without further delay she pretended the next morning she would go spend the day at the house of a Lady which was her friend standing without the City but instead of doing so she took a by-way which led towards the place where she chose her retreat At night a slave came to tell Cloranisbes that she would lye at her Friend's house but Cloranisbes said nothing to it though it was not her custom and the Prince being indispos'd that day did not go to seek her The next morning indeed he sent a complement to her to know her health and when it was told him she lay out of the City he took a resolution to go visit her in the afternoon But he was much astonisht to receive a Letter from Lysonice in which he found these words Lysonice to the Prince of Carthage ACcuse me not Cloranisbes of my departure for I protest to you my Lord he knows not that I am gone 't is a design which I have put in execution without imparting it to him
But I believ'd I could take no better course for your quiet and my own than to take a person from your sight who can never render you happy but might render you unjust I do not pray you to pardon me but only not to hate Cloranisbes No sooner had the Prince read this Letter but he was strangely transported both against Lysonice and Cloranisbes So that as he is of a violent temper he commanded some persons to ask Cloranisbes from himself where Lysonice was and to secure him if he did not tell precisely Anherbal who receiv'd this order was very much perplex'd for just as he arriv'd at his house Cloranisbes had done reading a Letter which Lysonice had written and sent to him and was conceiv'd almost in these terms Lysonice to Cloranisbes YOu will see by my flight that I do not care to be Princess of Carthage and you will see by all my actions that you ought to have had more confidence in my generosity But as for affection expect none from a person whom you have never lov'd but for your own sake only No doubt I will always do all whatsoever honour requires me but look for no more from me I justifie you as much as I can to the Prince 't is all can be done for you by an unhappy person who will let you know the place of her sanctuary when she is at distance enough to be no longer in fear that the Prince of Carthage should violently seize upon her As Cloranisbes ended reading this Letter Anherbal enter'd and told him what order he had receiv'd from the Prince Did I know where Lysonice is answer'd Cloranisbes I would not tell you since I understand by a Letter which I just now receiv'd from her that the Prince had a design to seise upon her by force but in truth I have no hand in her flight and I come to learn it by a Letter which she has writ to me Anherbal being of late become one of his intimate friends he accordingly shew'd him Lysonice's Letter at which he was amaz'd Wherefore he took upon him to go tell the Prince that which he had seen without securing Cloranisbes But the Prince interpreting all that was said to him as a collusion fell into choler against Anherbal and forthwith sent away the Captain of his Guards to arrest Cloranisbes who was now extremely glad to know Lysonice was no longer at Utica However the Prince sent after her but being she travell'd all the day and night before and took an unfrequented way those whom he sent after her could not find her Whereupon he grew into a rage which nothing could appease or equal unless it were the grief of Cloranisbes who in the midst of all those misfortunes resented more the displeasure he had in not being lov'd by Lysonice than any of the rest Assoon as this fair person was got to Bostar this generous African writ to the Prince to complain of his violence and giving him to understand that if he us'd Cloranisbes ill he would make his peace with the King of Massilia and forsake his part But on the other side the Prince of Carthage who intended to cause Lysonice to come back to Utica answer'd him that Cloranisbes should never be at liberty unless Lysonice return'd and that he would not promise for his life if he deserted his party to take that of the King of Massilia Lysonice seeing things in this condition remain'd resolute and always declar'd that she would not return to Utica notwithstanding Cyrene her Mother so represented to her that perhaps she would be the cause of her husbands death that she resolv'd to write to him by a secret way which was prescrib'd to her and she writ in this manner Lysonice to Cloranisbes SEnd me word whether you had rather see me a prisoner than be so your self if you had I will go to Utica to deliver you for though you love me not but for your own sake I will act generously for my own This Letter was secretly delivered to Cloranisbes who answer'd to it in these terms Cloranisbes to Lysonice YOur liberty is a thousand times dearer to me than my own therefore take no care to deliver me which perhaps death will shortly do and then you will be Mistress of your self If my Vows be heard you shall be Queen of Massilia but never Princess of Carthage And when I shall be no longer in being remember I have never displeased you but through excess of love You may judge that this Letter did not oblige Lysonice to change her mind and so she did not go to Utica but neither did the Prince of Carthage set Cloranisbes at liberty Divers persons have bestirr'd themselves in negotiating to accommodate so great a difference but for that the Princess of Carthage has so great a power over the Prince her Brother he is obstinate not to deliver Cloranisbes against whom crimes of State are forg'd which he never committed to the end the people may repine the less Wherefore this Prince having declar'd that unless Lysonice change her mind within four months he will put Cloranisbes to death this fair person believing I have sufficient influence over the Princes mind has sent one of my friends to me to desire that I would return speedily to endeavour the calming of this great storm and by a rare chance the Prince not knowing any thing of Lysonice's design has given order to the same man to come and command me in his name to return assoon as possible I can But being uncertain whether I were in Sicily or here he pass'd through Agrigentum where by the way he saw the generous Prince of that place Oh! I beseech you said Plotina interrupting him tell me some news of him if you know any for the Prince of Agrigentum seem'd so worthy a man wher the History of Artemidorus was related to us that I should be glad to know whether you have heard any thing concerning him and whether the amiable Philonice his daughter be still among the Veiled Virgins 'T is certain she is there still answer'd Amilar and a Lady a very faithful Friend of hers whom she left in the world regrets her continually But as for the Prince of Agrigentum he is married again to a person so accomplisht that nothing can be desir'd more to her For there lives not a handsomer person in the world and there never was any whose vertue has been more solid and more generally acknowledg'd nor whose deportment has been more uniformly prudent nor whose goodness has been greater or more agreeable All the lineaments of her countenance are wonderfully handsome her eyes have as much loveliness and sweetness as the most exquisite Painters can fancy her mouth is very graceful the shape of her visage very noble her complexion admirably fair her hair of a rare bright colour her stature proper her deportment comely her aspect very modest sweet and discreet her neck graceful her arms pure and her hands
may be said Cleontus is capable of being whatever he pleases He would be very apt to be extremely amorous if he pleas'd he would be ambitious if he were minded he is learned because he would be so he makes Verses as well as Anacreon he is able to make Laws of Friendship and in fine I know nothing which he could not discharge with applause But wisdom added Amilcar is his Master-piece He might be even as violent as Timantus though he appears always serene but he likes better to preserve an even and an equal temper which indeed is very amiable You see answer'd Cleontus smiling that to verifie what you say I hear my own praises quietly but to divert you from them I will inform you that the charming Niece of Amalthea is married and I was at a little Feast which preceeded her Nuptials and was the most jovial one in the world I beseech you said Amilcar make me understand all that you know of that charming person She has married answer'd Cleontus a man of high Quality who is tall well proportion'd and has a very good aspect he is call'd Perianthus he began to go to the War in the fourteenth year of his age so that though he is yet but two and twenty he has serv'd eight Campagnes already with honor In the first encounter he was present at he was wounded and taken prisoner but this did not discourage him but on the contrary he lov'd glory the better But it is not to be wonder'd that he is couragious of a brave genius and mov'd with a great number of excellent Qualities for he is son of a man whose reputation for Valour and Gallantry is known over all the World and in fine that fair Clarista could not have a better match I am very glad to understand this agreeable news reply'd Amilcar but to speak freely I cannot believe that a Marriage-Feast could have been agreeable therefore you will do me a pleasure to tell me the manner of that you speak of I will content your curiosity answer'd Cleontus Imagine then that there was a Galeot painted guilded and adorn'd with Streamers in which there was an Anti-chamber and a Chamber curiously painted and guilded The pavement of the Chamber of the Poope was white blew the Tapistry green and silver The Company was in these three places and the Musick was towards the Prow We departed from the City about evening and went to a fair House belonging to the Young Prince of Syracusa where we arriv'd a little before night There we were entertain'd with a sumptuous feast in which was both order and abundance after which we walk'd in the Gardens by the noise of fountains which was mix'd with Musick and Discourse and for a happy presage of this Love it thunder'd and lightned as long as the Company was upon the way returning home and which was remarkable assoon as we were arriv'd there follow'd a terrible rain so that it may be said Heaven had a kind respect for us The great commendation of this Feast was it had nothing at all of Ceremony no more than the Marriage-day For this second Feast was made with such order and magnificence in the stately Palace of Amalthea that never was any seen better contriv'd Since that admirable Lady had the ordering of it answer'd Amilcar I believe all that you say for she can never do any thing but what is worthy to be admir'd But I admire her chiefly for the choice of her friends for certainly the sentiments of people are best known thereby and according to the humor I am of I should more glory in being the friend of Amalthea than the Favorite of a great King that had no exquisite judgment After this Amilcar inquir'd concerning Berelisa Clidamira and Anacreon and then of Mutius who was the occasion of this journey As for Berelisa and Clidamira answer'd Telantus they are in perfect health but they have not consulted the Lots yet because 't is the custom to Sacrifice first And as for Anacreon he was made on Ode since he came hither which is without doubt a very excellent one the subject of it is That riches avail nothing against death But for Mutius I can give you no information concerning him not that 't is impossible that he may be here without my knowing it for so great a number of people have arriv'd within these two days that he may easily be here and I not know so much But if he is added he I shall soon know it for to morrow all that would know their Destinies write their names and so I promise you to give you an account in a little time After this Telantus thank'd Amilcar for having given him the knowledge of Berelisa Clidamira and Anacreon for since Fortune first drew unhappy persons to Praeneste there never arriv'd any here whose conversation has been more charming so that Berelisa and Clidamira have already been visited by all the Virtuoso's of the City Amilcar then having a new impatience to see these two amiable persons motion'd to Telantus to go thither after supper and he not opposing the proposal they went together to visit them By the way they met with Anacreon who joyn'd himself with them but when Amilcar enter'd into Berelisa's chamber he was much surpris'd to see so fair and great a company there for there were eight or ten very amiable women and almost as many men of quality whose air and physiognomy spoke them ingenious and in a corner an old Thuscan Soothsayer who was entertaining himself amongst this great company Berelisa and Clidamira were very joyful to see Amilcar and testifi'd as much to him in words extreme obliging Their looks no doubt at first askt him news of Artemidorus but their mouths enquir'd of the generous action of Clelia of which they had already heard some confus'd report Amilcar satisfi'd their curiosity and to content them absolutely he employ'd his discourse so as that he many times nam'd Artemidorus and that in such a way as gave them to understand that he was in better health than when they left Rome he also found means to deliver a Letter of that Prince to Berelisa without being observ'd But after this Amilcar a little more exactly consider'd all this fair company than he had done 'T is certainly my good fortune which brought me hither said he and I account it so much the better added he because I find more than I expected For I imagin'd none but unfortunate people with melancholy faces were to be found at Praeneste and yet I see fair persons here who have bright and sparkling eyes and agreeable aspects and men who have not the countenances of the unhappy If all unfortunate persons had pale complexions sunk eyes and a melancholy air answer'd Anacreon not only this company which appears to you so fair would not be such but all the world would seem terrible For they who have no infelicities make themselves some and from the greatest Kings in
led aside your fancie I must tell you that you ascend from it by a proud perroon up to a great and magnificent terrass with a Balustrade which runs quite round the Palace all the apartments of which are stately and the stair-case which is in the midst of the building is of very great magnificence There are great Halls pav'd with black and white Marble very fair Chambers and delightful Cabinets in one and the same apartment there are convenient places both for heat and cold conversation and study For there is a Cabinet from whence is seen not only a pleasant Valley environ'd with little Hills which rather arrest the sight than bound it but also a great Garden the squares of which are divided by rivulets which cross one another so that the midst of the Garden instead of being adorn'd with a Statue like most others has a Bridge in it made in fashion of a Cross which makes the loveliest sight in the World The rivulet opposite to the building continues between two handsome Groves of equal greatness which makes an admirable shew For the Groves being green from the bottom to the top and reflecting in that amiable rivulet whose banks are cover'd with grass there is nothing seen but verdure and water which renders the place so fit to muse in that the most indifferent cannot refrain from it But besides all this on the right and left side of these two lovely Groves are seen two Meadows surrounded with Brooks and border'd with Willows which make an admirable object Beyond which is seen on the right hand a Town among the Trees and on the left a Village little Hills of unequal height other Meadows and a little corner of a plain But I should be too tedious to you if I should describe to you all the various beauties of this place and therefore I shall omit them and tell you that the admirable person which inhabits this rare Desart is become infinitely more amiable and charming than she was when she gave the prizes at the Olympick-Games for she has improv'd in fatness and has a clearer complexion and her mind also is more embellish'd so that 't is not possible even for the most averse from love to see her now without loving her and therefore the Prince of Elis who is a person undoubtedly worthy of all sorts of happiness loves her always very constantly Ha! Madam cry'd Amilcar if I knew as well how to describe to my Mistress the torments which I endure as you describe the Valley of Cupids I should be less unhappy than I am But being I believe you relate all things alike well tell me I beseech you what has brought you hither I will satisfie you answer'd Aretaphile Know then I was one day at the Valley of Cupids with some Ladies my Friends who had a curiosity to see that house and as such divertisements use not to be without the company of some vertuous persons to conduct the Ladies there were two very accomplisht men in ours though they were not much known to me but came attending one of the Ladies You must know also that they lov'd two Virgins which were of this company but for that they would do like discreet Lovers they talkt as much to me as to their Mistresses But I cannot tell you how it came to pass but I pleas'd them well enough that day As for this particular said Amilcar you may dispense with it for I see in your eyes wherewith you touch'd their hearts and if mine were as it us'd to be and were not resolv'd to be constant it would be yours already Since 't is so answer'd Aretaphile smiling I will only tell you that without designing it I caus'd these two Lovers to prove unfaithful yet I did not perceive it at that time but some days after all the Town came and told me two men had forsaken their Mistresses and lov'd me Wherefore making more narrow observation I saw it was true and found my self incumbred at the same time with the love of two men whom I did not affect and the hatred of two Virgins whom I did not hate Yet I thought then that there needed only a little of my severity to return these unfaithful Lovers back again to their Mistresses But being as I conceive they did not forsake them but only because they were two of those good persons whose excessive gentleness cloys rather than diverts my severity augmented their Love Since that I confess without vanity I have been lov'd by divers others But I must acknowledge never by any man whom I could believe worthy of my love Yet I confess too that I saw a passenger at Syracusa whom I could love and whom I judge perfectly worthy to be lov'd But he has not lov'd me and never will for according to all probabilities we shall never see one another again as long as we live Ah! Madam said Amilcar may I not presume to ask you what manner of person it was whom you could love I will content you answer'd she for I assure you I always take delight in speaking of him Know then the illustrious Cleander so is he call'd that pleases me is of one of the most illustrious families of the Kingdom where he lives which has maintain'd it self most gloriously in repute either by the great actions of such as have been descended of it or by illustrious alliances He is tall and of a good proportion he has also been admirably handsome in his first youth and at present he has an extraordinary good aspect and perfectly the air of a man of high Quality such as he is And though he has receiv'd a wound with an arrow under his eye in a very dangerous occasion yet he is very little alter'd by it He has flaxen hair blew eyes the form of his visage is agreeable and all the lineaments regular enough he has a certain serious air accompani'd with a sweetness perfectly noble which causes a good opinion of him at first sight His looks are sometimes very passionate when he pleases and there are handsomer eyes than his which are not so proper for a certain mute language which love alone has the priviledge to teach Moreover Cleander's very silence is so ingenious that never any person seem'd so much with speaking so little And indeed he has a great Wit which being facile and easie he complies with the most ignorant and tedious without appearing such himself So that they who have not a very discerning judgment would suspect him not able to do much hurt with it But this facility is an effect of the highest prudence and understanding in the world He has the most free and civil deportment that ever was yet his civility does not hinder him from preserving a high and noble way of carriage which renders him more agreeable to others and more worthy of his condition All his Gestures have a certain gallant air which pleases infinitely so that having a Soul by Nature perfectly
to supper with Damon who invited him for he was so scrupulous an observer of all the Documents of Pythagoras that he would not go to bed with a sentiment of hatred in his heart towards his Rival at least he profess'd so Herminius Anacreon Theanor and Aemilius were present at this entertainment Amilcar was very jovial this evening yet now and then he seem'd a little pensive An hour after the repast he began to be indispos'd but in so violent a manner that he dy'd the next day but with admirable constancy sending commendations to all his Friends and particularly to Plotina He encharg'd Herminius with many generous expressions to all those he had lov'd and a thousand dear commendations unto his Mistress And thus dy'd the agreeable Amilcar regretted by all who had known him Herminius and a Lady that was his Friend and another Person of Quality undertook to gather together all the ingenious Composures which he had written and some time after he erected a monument for him whereon was engrav'd an Epitaph made upon this Illustrious Deceased by a Lady who was Friend to Amilcar and Herminius EPITAPH THis Tomb the fam'd Amilcar doth enshrine Who to a sprightly Genius Art did joyn Whose lofty Soul to ' unfathom'd heights could fly Yet fall as low as complacence can lie But what 's most strange he that rare talent got To please he pleas'd even those who lov'd him not All such as had only seen him at the Temple of Fortune regretted him with a sensible sorrow Anacreon lamented him though he did not think himself capable of grief and profess'd he never knew a more agreeable Wit in any place of the World Acrisius too as much his Rival as he was seem'd mov'd with his loss But as for Damom he was so unhappy as to be suspected of having caus'd him to be poyson'd But however Amilcar dy'd and confirm'd the credit of the Lots of Praeneste which told him he should not dye in Africk and which he constru'd to his own advantage Yet it was but a bare supicion for the Friends of Amilcar did not judge fit rashly to search into such a business as this which should it have been true would have nothing profited the illustrious Deceased But whilst things pass'd thus at Praeneste and Amilcar and Lucilius were expecting to see whether he that desir'd to consult his fortune in private were Mutius or no Aronces was very unhappy in his prison and in a desperate condition Sextus was much discontented for having fail'd of his design to carry Clelia away and studi'd only to find ways for a second attempt Tullia was contriving to destroy Aronces and Clelia Tarquin only to find means to recover his Throne Galerita and the Princess of the Leontines how to serve Aronces and Clelia Artemidorus thought only of his happiness and to protect Aronces Zenocrates of nothing but his jealousie Themistus of returning assoon as Aronces should be out of danger Publicola of assuring the Peace and Horatius of his love In the mean time the prudent Roman who went to conduct the twenty fair Roman Ladies to Porsenna being on the way to the Camp saw himself attaqu'd by Sextus who with a hundred Horse attempted a second time to carry away Clelia The convoy of these fair Virgins consisted of fifty men so that the number was very unequal Besides he who commanded them being an old man could not encourage his Party by his own example with the same ardour as Sextus did whose courage too was augmented by his love Yet this Prince was disguis'd For the enterprise was made with Tullia's consent who in giving satisfaction to Sextus intended to perswade Porsenna that the Friends of Aronces had convey'd away this fair Lady for fear she should bear witness against Aronces and consequently by this artifice to hasten the ruine of this great Prince And indeed Sextus had the success he desir'd at first for whilst those fifty Romans were fighting against his men he caus'd him to be slain who drove the Chariot in which Clelia Valeria Hermilia and Plotina were and then ordering a man design'd for that purpose to take his place he made the Chariot be driven into the way leading to Tarquinia himself with twenty others guarding it whilest the rest of his followers detain'd the Romans in fight to amuse them And this design succeeded accordingly for the Romans seeing the whole body of Chariots stopt did not miss that in which Clelia was Sextus now believing nothing could obstruct his happiness Clelia Valeria Plotina and Hermilia were forc'd to cry out but their cries were not heard But though Sextus was sufficiently disguis'd yet Clelia did not doubt but that it was he who carri'd her away Wherefore courageously resolving upon death she only devis'd how to effect it so to prevent all the unhappinesses which she had cause to fear On the other side the fight was sufficiently sharp in the place where the rest of the Roman Ladies were who were so terrifi'd that they did not perceive Clelia was carri'd away In the mean time the wise Roman who conducted the Hostages having sent to Rome to desire succour it hapned that he who was sent thither met Horatius standing at the Gate with Octavius Who being advertis'd of the business sent to give notice of it to the Consuls but themselves not waiting for the succour which they presum'd would be sent immediately took Horse and speeded to the place where the fight was But as they were going thither they beheld upon a little hill the Chariot in which Clelia was guarded by Sextus who was by this time a good distance off Wherefore imagining that this might be the Chariot that carried the Persons they lov'd they went first to the Chariots which were stopt where not finding what they sought they hastned to the place of the fight but in stead of staying there I beseech you said Horatius to four or five Romans who were nearest him come help us to deliver the Daughters of Clelius she of Publicola and the sister of Brutus out of the hands of their Ravishers At these words these Romans without delay follow'd Horatius and Octavius and left their Companions sufficiently employ'd in sustaining the charge of the Tarquinians But though Horatius Octavius with these five Romans rid with full speed they could not have overtaken Sextus if it had not by good hap fell out that in the haste this violent Prince made his Party to march they mistook one way for another So that being engag'd in a place where great Trees had been by chance beat down which obstructed the passage he was necessitated to return back again and come towards them who pursu'd him Nevertheless when he saw they were few in number he was not much dejected but leaving four of his men to guard the Chariot he came up to them which pursu'd him with a resolution which his confidence in the inequality of number made something Heroical Clelia and her