same Beauty that this unknown Arsinoe also had The Princess did apprehend this discourse with much facility Wherefore beholding the Prince with some Sentiments of that Compassion be required from her My Brother reply'd she unto him Philadelphe ought not to be here what he was at Corcyre since that Arsinoé is no more what she there thought her self to be and he ought also to remember himself that these petty Passions of an unknown One straying out of his Countrey are unworthy to be those of a Son of the great Ptolomée in Egypt Alas reply'd he would you that the Prince of Egypt and that unknown one had not the same Passions since that I told you that they both have but one and the same Heart O Arsinoé that it s easy to you to speak of this change to you who have not had but a change of Apparel and Condition But that it is there to see my self reduced me who must for so I may speak change Hearts and to despoyle my self of a Passion rooted within my Soul and which henceforth would make my Life full of all Hopes and Pleasures In uttering these words the Tears trickled down from his Eyes and though Arsinoé could not almost but apprehend a thing which could not be conceived but by those who had proved it she omitted not however to give him also some Marks that she was plyant soft and gentle That was some little Consolation to Philadelphe to see that she took part and share with him in his Grief and resented it and after some moments he said unto her At least my dear Sister it is true that you now have some little friendship and kindness for me and if I am so unfortunate that I must raze here and blot out a part of that affection that I had for you then you will have an affection for me which you formerly had not at Corcyre My Brother reply'd the Princess never doubt of my Kindness and Friendship and be assured that of all the new Duties and Devoirs to which the change of my Condition obliges me its him to whom I will tye my self the fastest and from that I will never depart These words gave some movements of Joy to Philadelphe who kissed the Hand of Arsinoe to testify to her his Obligation and Acknowledgment and having also on his part assured her of an inviolable Affection and which should never terminate but with that of his Life he betook himself to entertain her after the same Rate in which he had past all the time which had bin slâ—pt since their first interview and after his endeavours used to make her conceive to what a high Pitch the Passion of Love he had had for her was mounted unto he insensibly ingaged himself to her in an apologetical Discourse and after such a manner as will make me observe how he was yet preoccupied But is it possible said he to her that nature obligeth me to quit so strong a Passion as if by reason I have a double Subject to love you it must therefore be that you were more indifferent Ah my Sister avow with me that we are very unhappy to live in a Countrey where men are mingled to correct Nature and where as if they did not yet commit Crimes enough they have by new Laws made us new occasions of Sinning That the Gods did not cause us to be born amongst People less blinded That love wherewith they have made us guilty of a Crime in Egypt would be unto us a vertue amongst the Brittains amongst the Indians and in a thousand other Countreys But let 's go there my Sister and le ts make it our Countrey We cannot have a better than that wherein we shall be permitted to love one another Philadelphe had no sooner pronounced these words but that he well saw his Passion had transported him to say something which had not pleased Arsinoé He knew it by her Countenance and as he dreaded nothing more than her displeasure he was ready to retract when she answered him Brother what is it you demand and wherefore think you already â—o put my affection to such strange Proofs Let 's live here my dear Brother the Gods will have it so because they appointed us to be born here and content your self that I am your Sister for all your displeasures can never make me to be more unto you The Princess imbraced him in finishing without doubt 't was to repair the ill he had done by his words and afterwards taking him by the Hand she would have had him pass into another Chamber where there was People to interrupt afterwards that discourse and entertainment which she would not continue But Philadelphe which felt himself in a condition not very well able to begin another took leave of her and retired into his apartment altogether as sad as he came forth of it He past all the rest of the day in a Mood so mute and melancholy as is unconceivable and that which infinitely Rackt and Tortured him that he could not dispence with the Visits that were made him and which augmented his Pain by the constraint and trouble they rendred him in this his affliction Yea he found that the sight of Arsinoé did no other than reinvenom his Wound and that there was no means of Cure in presence of her who had given it All that which he imagined might prove a Remedy was the hopes he had in the change of his Brothers qualifications for whom he still conserved that wonderful Tenderness he had had from his Infancy He had not seen him since his return by reason there had already bin eight days that Ceraune was gone a Hunting fifteen or sixteen Miles from Alâ—xandria Wherefore he went to find him there with design to have spent some time with him in the Countrey But he found little ground or subject of Consolation scarcely had Ceraune seen him only arriving he treated him with such Insolence Arrogancy Disdain Fierceness Cruelty and Inhumanity not like an elder Brother but an Enemy so that poor Philadâ—lphe was constrained to return the same day that he was gon there Make you I pray some reflections upon his misfortune and observe how much he was persecuted by two opposite Passions The hatred of his Brother constrained him to shun and flye him and he was forced to shun and keep at distance from his Sister in regard of his Love In this necessity he well saw that there was no consolation for him in Egypt and he dream't of nothing more than to seek some occasion to quit it a second time He had the most honourable that he could desire For in that time chanced the famous troubles which confederated and combined all the Successors of Alâ—xander the great against the Kings Antigonus and Demetrius Ptolomée levyed a considerable Army to send into Sicily where were to be joyned all the Troops of his Party and he gave their conduct to Philadelphe It 's here where I shall have
yield and give way the great Ariamene entred the City victoriously The Massacre was great within Chalcedoine and though Ariamene did all that might be possible to hinder its pillaging they revenged it more than they otherwise would have done for the indignity they had there received The Souldiers in theâ—r furious rage made no distinction neither of Age nor Sex and he who could not kill a Man would force himself upon Woman or Child whereby to dye his Sword The slaughter was so prodigious and the Streets were so strewed and covered over with so many dead Corps that those last that entred finding such great heaps to oppose and stop up their Passage were more incommoded by the dead than by the Living The day ended before the disorder and when the Shadows of the Night could conceal any one from the fury of the Souldiers they created a new day by the fire they put into the Houses and seeking their Enemies by the assistance of this dismal and fatal light they made the City to contribute its aid in the Massacre of its Inhabitants However Ariamene who would have preserved it dispatched such good Orders and Directions that the fire was extinguisht and wholly quenched The Water there served not all alone but the bloud which ran down the Streets was therein imployed the dead had at least this fruit of their decease to preserve their Countrey and the City by this blow drew an advantage from the Massacre of its Inhabitants As for Lysimachus as he was Master of the Sea it was easy for him to save himself and I imbarqued my self to retire to Bisance with him This ill success obliged and constrained him to treat of Peace with Ariamene but my Lord I will not entertain you with this negotiation for as your design is no other than to learn that which concerns our two Illustrious Brothers I ought to insist upon none but the Subject that imports them Agamée was in that certain part of his Book and he was thereunto fixed through such a marvellous attention when a Shepherd came to interrupt him and tell him from Telamon that he pray'd him to excuse him if he return'd not to find him and that he did inâ—ite him to go still to Hippiqué where he should meet him if he had not rather expect him where he left him and behold what obliged Telamon to send him to make this Complement We have seen that Telamon had abandoned Agamée to return to Ergaste and Celemante and to see the cause that retain'd them so long a time but he had scarcely walked two hundred Paces but he called for Ergaste so that following the sound of his voice he entred into the high way of a Wood where he found them in an occupation which surprized him no less than the meeting which he had had near the Pond Ergaste and Celemante assisted a Man who had mounted another who had bin sore wounded on horseback and in the same place he yet saw a third stretcht out upon the ground as dead Telamon immediately judged that he whom he and Agamée had met a little beneath in the like condition ought to be of the company of these here and he was not deceivâ—d He whom they remounted on horse-back was the self same Cavalier who had bin sometime before attacked by four others so as we have seen and who pursuing the fugitives even within the Wood there had found four new Enemies in Ambush who had put him in that condition but they were all fled having seen the third to fall who was of their company by blows which they also had received The Squire of the bravely unknown was without any Wounds although he had done all that was possible for the defence of his Master but it was not at him that they aimed and 't was he who having seen these Assassines turn in flight and not able alone to replace his Master on horse-back wounded as he was had disswaded Ergaste and Celemante whom he had accidentally met in seeking some one to aid him As it was not then time to think of satisfying their Curiosity on this Subject but rather to succour that unknown they dream'd of nothing but of remounting him on Horseback and seeing that there was no appearance that with facility he might go to Gonnes as he made account by reason of weakness and the loss of a considerable quantity of Blood by his wounds Telamon offered him the House of Alcidias his Father as being the nearest The unknown was not in a State of refusing it and he even besought him that he would take care of that Cavalier who had been laid along in the same place that they might see if he were yet in a condition to be succoured Ergaste and Celemante did officiously undertake that care and for Telamon having mounted the Squire behind his Master to uphold him he Conducted both the one and the other to the House of Alcidias walking on foot before them He returned not through the place where he had left Agamée because that from the place where they were there was another way shorter to go to the House of Alcidias and in that condition wherein the unknown was there was not any time to be lost The Shepherd repeated part of those things to Agamée with the Compliment that Telamon had sent him to make and they may judge of the pleasure and satisfaction which that Athenian had taken at its reading since that instead of being touched with some curiosity for that new adventure he chose rather to send to Telamon by this Shepherd that he would expect him in a certain Alley that he perceived one hundred paces from thence where he went to withdraw himself from the High-way and there continue more repos'd in the reading his book whereof he saw the sequel and consequence was such The peace of Lysimachus being concluded and Satyre with his Allies seeing themselves destitute of his Succors they were constrained to cast themselves under the protection of Prytanis one of the Kings of the Bosphore Cimmerien This Prince was then himself waging War against his own Brother named Eumele and the subject of their Discord was the partage or division of the Kingdom The Embassy whereon the King your Father had honored me with and this having given me some reputation amongst the People of the North I had bin called to assist in composing that difference and I should have bin sufficiently happy to succeed therein if Prytanis also had bin so religious as was Eumele in the performance of his Word But this league and confederacy with Satyre having made him entertain new hopes the War recommenced more earnest and furious than ever before Prytanis retired himself into Panticapee the capital City or Metropolis of the Bosphorus Cimerien Eumele laid siege thereunto and Ariamene having known that Prytanis had taken part with Satyre took that of Eumele and sent him Kion and Leonides with some part of his Troops These two
but also forasmuch as we had not there any Skiff to carry us to the Land Two of my Men having been willing to attempt it by swimming perished there one after another by the following and rolling of the Billows which were not yet appeased So that one man alone being left with me and not seeing from whom possibly I might have succour or recourse but that a great Ship which the Tempest had cast upon that self-same Coast but who was too far distant to permit those who were therein to hear my cryes I almost dispaired of my safety when the Gods took care to send me to be succoured by Generous Telamon The Fair Princess having surceased speaking Philiste reassumed discourse to signify unto her all the respect the inequality of their condition and qualities obliged her unto how much she had been concerned and touched with Admiration and Grief by the recital of these Misfortunes and in telling her modestly that she knew well that it was not for a Shepherdess to undertake to consolate a Great Queen she omitted not however handsomly and becomingly to tell her things on the Subject of her disgrace whence she received all the consolation she was capable of in the mournful conjuncture of her Fortune It was so late when the Queen of Lesbos permitted Philiste to retire that there was some time that Telamon was layen down and gon to bed with a Design which he had the next day to surprize Alpide at his own house before day and that this Shepherdess being entred into her Chamber found that he was already fallen asleep The fear she had to awake or disturb him obliged her to slide into the Bed as softly as he could but forasmuch as her Imagination was still full of those Wonderful Accidents and Events which she had heard repeated she could not hinder her self from employing a part of the Night to pass them in her Memory and could not almost fall asleep but that it was neer break of day She had not but began to take her rest when Telamon finished his and that he awoke through the extream impatience he had to seek Alpide that design appeared to him of such importance for the enlightning him in the Adventure of Zelie and the rest of his dear Brother that he thought he could never execute it soon enough and although Alpide concealed not himself his affection made him take the same precautions to find him which he would have had need of if the other had sought to shun it and that he had held himself upon his Guard He had the same circumspection for Philiste as she had for him the preceeding Night he arose without making any noise and went out of his Chamber and even out of his House before any Person was there awakned Aurora had not yet appeared but that he was already far off distant from his Hamlet and the first Rays of the Morning began not to appear and peep cleer but that he arrived at the River He walked some paces along the River side going towards Gonnes until he had found a Boat wherein he entred to pass to the other side for the House of Alpide was far before on the other side and almost at the foot of Mount Ossa After he had crost the River he fastned his Boat to the Branches of one of the Trees which were by the water side that he might come there again and take to it and afterwards continued his way towards Ossa Fifty Paces from the House of Alpide he found a Domestick of that Shepherds of whom he enquired News That Shepherd answered him that his Master was not at home but that he was the precedent evening gon and departed to Gonnes whence he was not yet returned Telamon fearing that this Slave had not told him the truth went even to the House pretending to have some business with him which did oblige him to stay and expect him there But as he met no Person there he returned to find this Shepherd endeavouring to make him speak and to draw some demonstration from him He had soon known almost more than he would since that he had learnt things which had been advantageous to him to be ignorant of still In effect Telamon after some other discourse having pertinently asked him divers questions concerning the Places and Persons that frequented his Master after the time that Zelie disappeared that Man replyed I cannot resolve you nor yet declare where he goeth nor whom he seeth for I concern my self only with the care of his Flock and do other things which he appoints me without enforming my self of things that import me not It is not but that I begin to be in pain for that which is happened unto him For there is very neer fifteen days that he prepared all things to make a great Journey I know not where and I believed him departed one evening by reason he gave me divers Orders for the conduct of his House and management of his Affairs during his absence when I saw him returning the same Night but so sad and besides himself that I could hardly know him Since that time his affection hath only encreased he neither eateth nor doth he almost take any Rest and spends entire Days and Nights in walking and bemoaning himself amongst the Rocks of Mount Ossa I was wholly astonished there is not two or three days past but att the time that I kept towards these places there in a certain place where he believed me not to be I heard him in the Wood which is near where he bemoaned himself saying Ah! Miserable One that I am must it be so that my returning to Tempé but that 't is to be the cause of this Misfortune my Amiable Maiden cryed he afterwards must the pain of the Crime fall upon thee and that the Innocent suffereth the torment and execution of the Guilty I soon believed that there was some Maiden with him to whom he spake and that was the cause that I had the curiosity to advance me forward very softly to see who he was but I saw him layen along upon the Ground and as he had his Face turned towards the other side and that he saw me not that made me to continue a time long enough to contemplate and ruminate upon him I observed that from time to time he wiped his Eyes as if he had wept and I heard what he yet said but I am in the wrong Great Gods to accuse youre Justice in the punishment of a Criminal No no You are not therein despised And you Divine Zelie you are not to complain since that you have not without doubt lost this Miserable Life but to reassume another much more happy But what Torments are equal to the Anguishes which devour me the Gods can they deliver me or can they deliver me to Executioners more cruel than my Pain and Grief and if thy Fair Soul can be beaten and made flat by the sweetness of the Vengeance should
had in my life At these Words he finished impatiently running over all the rest and having found nothing there of what he was in quest he rebound up the Papers so having gather'd them he drew his Hat again over his Eyes leaning his head upon his two hands both Elbows on his two knees and in this posture he revolved in his Mind a thousand mournful Designs and without doubt would have executed some one of them in the Field if one light beam of hope which yet remain'd with him which at this present juncture saved him from desperation The End of the First Book Tarsis and Zelie The Second BOOK THE Valley of Tempè which should be the Scene of our History and the famous Theater of so many rare and renowned Adventures hath in length about forty furlongs that 's to say a little more than two Leagues It commenceth at the City of Gonnes towards the West and following the course of the River Penée which traverseth through the midst she finisheth with it towards the East in the same place where meeting the famous Helicon they degorge themselves together within the Thermaique Gulf. The Mount Olimpio boundeth its bredth in the North in the South it 's with the Mount Ossa the first is covered with a Forrest of Birch and Laurel Trees the second with one of Pine Trees and you would say that Nature had inclosed this admirable Valley between these two Mountains as between strong and invincible Rails for facilitating to its Inhabitants the conservation of the most rare and the most accomplisht of its primest and chiefest Works In effect they may say that there is nothing beautifully formed else where which is not found within this small space There may be seen Plains Valleys Meadows quantities of Groves an infinite number of small Rivolets and Fountains the Waters whereof serve as a Soveraign Remedy against divers Maladies and all that is so marvellously diversified and adorned with such a number of fair Hamlets and small Villages that it 's impossible to imagin any thing more delectable The most considerable of its Hamlets are Hipique being the first they meet on the left hand coming from Gonnes descending a long the River to the Sea-ward Cenome which appears on the same side about twenty five or thirty furlongs lower and Calioure which is on the other side of the River more yet towards the Sea and almost upon the brink of the Gulf. At Calioure was the habitation of Lencippe and of Melicerte Father and Mother of Zelie at Cenome that of Telamon and Philiste and that of Alcidias Father of Telamon and of Tarsis was of Hipique As for Tarsis he ordinarily dwelt with his Father but he omitted not therefore to lye often at Telamons As for this last Night he had not as we have seen layen at Telamons nor yet at Alcidias he 's so that in the Condition wherein we have depainted him reflecting upon the Words of Zelie which he had heard the preceeding Evening That I bewail thee most dear Tarsis and that thou shalt be touch't when they shall bring thee this news it came in his Mind that this Shepherdess might have sent to Cenome the habitation of Telamon or to the Hippique at the dwelling of Alcidias to bring a Ticket to advertize him of his Design and that not being there they might leave it with some of the Domestiques to deliver at his return In this Imagination he rudely rose from the place where he sate repass'd the River and again took the way of Cenome and having found nothing there of what he sought he afterwards took that of Hippique after he had discharg'd himself of the roll of Papers whereof we have spoken and after giving directions to leave it with Telamon or Philiste to keep it for him He was already on the dependances of the house of Alcidias within a Valley where the way on one side 's Boards upon a Meddow and the other upon a Pond when he saw a Horse tyed to some Branch under a Tree at the entrance into the Meddow and an unknown one sit near the brink of a Fountain which ran amongst those Willows and which form'd the Pond for the discharge of the Waters This unknown was covered with Armor enamelled with black raised up on all borders with a twist of Gold the head-piece black and welt as the rest of his Armor shadowed with some quantity of Feathers of the same colour and his Shield was upon the Grass near his Dart had for a Coat or Embleme a Lance fastned to the trunk of a Tree almost ready consumed with fire the Flame appeared as though 't were agitated by Winds and beaten with a furious Rain which seemed to do it in spight but unprofitably although they used all indeavours to quench it there were these Words above It 's too much lighted Some Paces behind this unknown was his Squire his feet also upon the ground but standing upright his back leaning on a Willow the bridle of his Horse pass'd within one of his Arms which he held across and his Eyes fixed upon his Master whom he lookt upon uttering from time to time long sighs whilst that he the Viser of whose Casket was advanced who held in his hand a small Book which he read with much attention Although the posture wherein he was permitted not Tarsis well to consider him howbeit he saw enough that his Visage was fair the Countenance raysed the Port and Stature high the Air melancholy yet noble and so observing him found that in all things he should be an extraordinary Person However this Shepherd who was press'd to terminate his Voyage through impatience that he left no place to his curiosity still hastning to pass farther and was already one hundred Paces from thence when he heard a great noise behind him and having turned about his head he discovered four Men on horse back who with Lance in hand made up again upon this unknown The cowardise of these Assassines who attach't him being in number so disproportionable moved Tarsis to indignation and as he had the most generous and the fairest Soul in the World he drew the Sword wherewith as we have lately said he was armed and rashly returned to his Succor who apparently was weakest But this couragious Man had therefore no need for before that Tarsis was with him being already mounted on horseback he had with his Dart pierced the foremost of these Cavaliers and selled him dead to the ground he had cut the hand off of the following Comrade by a back blow with his Sword and by this fortunate beginning he had in conclusion so affrighted the two others that being themselves contented Cowards they threw their Darts to him a far off and betook themselves to flight The unknown would not continue there but pursu'd them Sword in hand with all the speed he could his Squire doing the same so that the Shepherd who was on foot not being able to follow
be it because that there having bin nothing that more pleased them in Princes than Actions of Clemency for as much as it 's principally from thence that they immitate them they would not leave the generous Compassion of this great Queen without the satisfaction of an happy Success The Corps of the dead King being placed upon the height of the Block to be exposed to the view of all the People my Brother was entred as you have read through an opening place that they had left on one side and which they had immediately stopt up with some quantity of Straw He found this Block empty and hollow within but made no reflexions thereon and being layn flat upon the ground at his entrance expecting when they would set fire thereunto he dreamt of no other thing but death with constancy worthy his Life when he felt some certain one who took him by the Arm drew him as if he would have made him to rise and that having turned his Eyes from that side he discerned by the favour of some beam of light which penetrated through the roof of the Block that it was a Man that waited for him there and whom he had not at first perceived by reason of the obscurity of the Place and that he issu'd forth at Noon or light day My Brother being raised up again in surprize and that amazement that you may readily conceive this same Man took him by the hand by one of his own and holding a close Lanthorn in the other caused him to descend by an opening newly made under ground under a Vault where he immediately felt an extraordinary freshness all cool he understood or heard even the noise of a soft murmuring very near that Place and had no sooner made ten or twelve Paces but he saw himself through the favour of the light which his guide brought upon the brim of a Pond full of clear and fair Water which glided down along the Vault Tarsis still in an incredible astonishment thought to have demanded in the Language of the Countrey of which he could speak a little a solution of this passage of his Conductor but that Man answered him only with Signs so that my Brother having in conclusion found that he was dumb dispos'd himself only to follow him After they had walked about one hundred and fifty Paces still under the same Vault they made them pass through a male Gate and ascend by steps very obscure into a Tower where the dumb one shut him up making him a sign that he would soon come to fetch him In effect they came to take him away in the Night and having caused him to mount into a Chariot all covered they lead him into the Pallace and by a stollen Ladder they introduc'd him into the Queens Cabinet He bowed himself his face to the ground in his entrance conforming himself to directions prescribed him by an old Woman who received him at the Gate for it was not permitted to look the Queen in the face and he still remain'd in that posture whilst the Queen so spake to him in the Greek Tongue Young Stranger I believe that you are not ignorant but that you should dye occording to the Custom of this Countrey and it is by a very particular Grace and Favour that I have conserved you your Life after I had received from you the most sensible Affronts and Outrages However I am perswaded that I may preserve it you with Justice since 't is not by Treason but by the Law of Arms that you have committed the Crime whereof you are accused and 't is with some kind of Solace and Consolation that I pay you in that the Services you have done to the City of Heraclea But abuse not that Life that I so freely and liberally give you and do not betake your self to Arms afresh against us who after such an Action can be no other than Criminal As for other Matters conceal the theft I have made here against our Laws for your sake and conservation and betray not an Act of Grace and Favour whereof you reappeal the Fruit and Benefit and manage through this Secret my Reputation with care as much as I have done your Life and with these Words she sent him away In the mean time I was in so great grief and dolor which cannot be conceived and the affliction wherein I found my self in contemplating how I had seen to perish my dear Brother and to perish by so tragical an end gave me no other hope of Consolation than only in death Straton had once saved me from my desperation but he had not appeased it I stole my self from him through favour of the Crowd in the intricazy of his going out and I returned apace resolved with my bloud to water the Ashes of my dear Leonides and to appease his Shadow by a Victim which I believed could be no other than pleasing to his Mind In that design I would have bought a Sword because that Straton had taken away mine and having chosen one out by the favour or light of a Lamp in the first shop that I met withal I threw to the Merchant seller double of what it might be worth being not willing to continue there to treat of the price That precipitant profuceness joyn'd to my Language and the Mode of my Attire which made me appear a Stranger having occasioned some Souldiers who were in the Shop to look upon me very narrowly who questioned with me and my Answers having rendred me suspect they seized me as a Spye and brought me to the Queen The Queen having known me by the free and frank avow that I had made commanded me to be put in Prison I was there carried immediately by her Order and 't was in the same Tower where the dumb one had presently set Tarsis I entred there even almost at the instant that he was there also brought at the coming forth from the Queens I will learn you to apprehend if it be possible our joy and reciprocal astonishment at this unexpected Encounter but they left us not then the time to testify it to each other For after an Officer had made us swear Secresy and that he had received our Oath no more to bear Arms against the Queen yea and not to return into the Troops of Eumele nor of Ariamene they made us both descend by a small Step from the Tower under this same Tower where Tarsis had bin brought and which we knew by an Aqueduct Afterwards the first guide of Tarsis having caused us to walk a league under ground he made us at last to go out through a secret Gate in the midst of the Fields Thus in few words Agamée you have heard the narration of our deliverance There we quitted the Names of Kion and Leonides and reassumed our own that we might fulfil the Commands of the Queen who had engaged us to secresy to conceal our selves and to the Oaths she had so precisely exacted from
essayed all the different and various ways imaginable Telamon who was tender and complaisant entred into the sentiments of his dear Brother and that was no other but in dissembling his grief that he indeavoured to mitigate and sweeten it Ergaste who had his Wits more prompt and witty opposed it openly and would have convinced him by reason Celemante having an humour more frolick was desirous to make a diversion of his displeasure and indeavoured by little and little to change their serious discourses and considerations to more pleasant and jocund Entertainments Agamée who was preoccupied and forestalled with his own proper displeasure retired always to himself and consolated him by his own example Amongst other things Telamon said unto him My dear Brother without doubt you have cause to be afflicted but you must not therefore figure and frame things to the utmost extremity after the Idea of your own troubled imagination you know very well that Zelie is wise and you also do not in any wise doubt but that she loves you and the very last words that you your self repeated are a very authentick and an assured testimony thereof You ought not therefore to think that Zelie being prudent would not do any thing of concernment and importance without due and mature consideration nor that she loving you could take any resolution which might wound the amity and friendship she bears you That which I imagine is that this Shepherdess not being willing to see you against the Will of her Father and moreover not being able to live so near you without your sight she is possibly withdrawn to the house of some one of her Friends and there to attend the change of Lucippe However it be said Ergaste I find Tarsis you have no new subject to afflict your self How long hath it bin that you told us that you had lost hopes to espouse this Shepherdess and that you are reduced even to that necessity to deprive your self of her sight In very deed you ought to esteem your self happy in an occasion which should finish the dissolution of your Ingagements and thereby rendred you free and at liberty without which you had it may be bin in some more than ordinary pains and trouble to have had a recovery Have you not been not long since in the most dismal and deplorable state imaginable For I avow to you for my part that of all the tortures and racking torments of Love I find none so unsupportable as to be near one beloved and to be obliged to live and to live as if they were separated a hundred thousand â—urlongs and to be present and absent all at once that is to say to feel the movements of ardour and impatience which represâ—nts the presence of the Mistress and at the self same time all the regrets imaginable all the inquietudes and in a word all the troubles and pains of absence It must be avow'd reply'd frolick Celemante if we were all very wise we should never dream of having to do either with love or friendship and I say it all before thee Ergaste than me the very first I was very much a fool when I went to ingage my self to be thy friend For tell me a little if there be any thing more rediculous than to see a Man who hath still naturally more pains and trouble than he can sustain should he yet go and contrive and associate himself and bring upon his own self the troubles of others and that by example that I should go and constrain my self to condole all thy displeasures and regrets to be a Co-partner and Comrade in all thy weaknessess and to suffer for all thy follyes But that which is worst of all must it not be the loss of ones Wits and Senses to be figured as I have formerly bin as if I could not live without thee as if I had already lived there in times past and as if there were not one hundred thousand others with whom I might live without doubt much better Ergaste answered him not by reason he sufficiently divined what was his intention and that he would leave him at leisure with Tarsis to make himself applications upon these reflections So Agamée began to speak O Shepherd said he addressing himself to Telamon that you have reason to say if we were very wise we should never dream of Love for can there be put into the Spirit of a Man any thing more dangerous than a desire to overpress and overwhelm our selves with longer pinings and impatient Consumptions and which makes our destiny depend upon a feeble Sex unconstant capricious petulant and in as great an incapacity to command as to obey I can better speak than any other Person because I know it by experience and that I envy Tarsis all the subject that he believeth he hath to be afflicted Telamon who sought no other than an occasion to take from Tarsis the application which had unfortunately seized his Spirits had bin very joyful to have taken these pretexts and ingage Agamée to make them a recital or repetition of his Adventure imagining that he would not have made any scruple to tell it since he made no complaints before them and he demanded this repetition so much the more willingly in regard he remembred that he had heard him spake before that if Tarsis knew it he might thereby be able to meet with reasons to consolate himself But in regard they found themselves so near that Hamblet and that it was likewise very late and that Agamée had Affairs which obliged him to retire to his Hosts house he besought Telamon to remit the party or match to another day and quitted them with impatience to rejoyn them which is not comparable but to the extraordinary esteem which he had conceived for these illustrious Shepherds The End of the Third Book Tarsis and Zelie The Fourth BOOK TARSIS reposed not all night he wholly spent it in such regrets and alarms which are not conceiveable framing in his conceit a thousand dismal resolutions the execution whereof was not suspended but though I know not some remaining hopes that he supposed or felt even ready to finish He repast and went over again yet a thousand times more all the circumstances of his disgrace but the more reflections he made thereon the more he found subjects and grounds of desperation For though he had bin willing to perswade his Brother that assurance that he had to have heard and seen Zelie in the same boat which he had over-taken by swimming the preceding Night and where he also had not however found her moment afterwards that meeting that he had made the Morrow of the same Boat by the brink of the River according as he conjectured by the roll of Papers which he there had found this unprofitable search that not only himself but so many other persons whom he had still known had made all the day by the orders of Leucippe and Melicerte and above all that resolution
Stilpon continued he â—id I not still tell thee that Arsinoe had neither the Heart nor the Temper nor Spirit of a Countrey Maiden and that her great and marvelous Qualifications decyphered the magnificence of her Birth He indeavoured afterwards to learn from that Man other particulars in relation to this wonderful Incounter but not being further able to draw forth more ample Instructions and Informations he quitted him and went directly to the former dwelling house of Stesicrate indeavouring to be more throughly inlightned and further informed by those whom he should there meet withal Never did so many different Passions attack a Soul at one time and agitate in this Incounter the amorous Spirit of Philadelphe He had some times an inexpressible ravishment dreaming that Arsinoe was the Daughter of a King and in a condition which might reasonably approach them nearer both the one and the other and consequently there might be a probability of their Marriage Then again grief seized him and assaulted him when he conceived that in this condition she should be exposed to other reserches also and that the conquest of her would be infinitely more difficulty Sometimes fear and inquietude seized him in the ignorance where the Countrey and Kingdom was where this fair Princess should be gone He apprehended that it was with some great Prince at enmity with the King his Father then supposing it was a friend he apprehended he should be prevented by the demand of some other whilest he was in quest of the place where he should seek after her But that which gave him most trouble and confusion was the doubt wherein he sometimes was that that Royal birth was not a fable and Chymera that the Inhabitants of the Island might preposterously frame or figure it and in all that he had heard there might be nothing of veriâ—y but the absence or rather the loss of Arsinoe With these thoughts he arrived at the house where formerly Stesicrate was lodged he found there a new Host and new Informations but still with new causes and grounds of trouble and perplexity For he who Inhabited there was a friend of Stesicrate who confirmed him that there was some came to fetch away Arsinoe with great and magnificent preparations of Equipage c. and although that Stesicrate had not had so great confidence in him as to have imparted to him any more than half his Secret however he had not left him so ignorant but that she was the Daughter of a great Prince that Argené had with her taken their voyage towards Egypt and that they might hear tidings of them at Alexandria All that Philadelphe could learn till then had given him no other than an imperfect joy because they had bin always mixed with some considerations that troubled and perplext him but there appeared in this last none than subjects and grounds of hope and some joyful ravishments Arsinoe daughter of a great Prince made no great disproportion in their birth Arsinoe in Egypt and in Alexandria left in him no great difficulty or more doubt of their Marriage He returned to his Vessel with a rash and furious pace with much precipitancy altogether transported with excess of joy impatience and love and having no more of perplexity than the thoughts of the great Prince whose daughter this Arsinoe could possibly be There was many in Egypt because Ptolomeé had three or four Brothers who had left a great number of Children and there were even yet many of the Family of the ancient Kings So that did not put him in any great trouble because that amongst them if there were any Daughters there would not have bin one but would have thought themselves happy in being sought unto by Philadelphe He therefore imbarked in his Vessel and caused them with full Sayl to make for Alexandria and had no more trouble in his Mind than only delay and all Winds seemed him too slow and dull and to second his impatience it must have bin almost necessary that he were driven into Egypt by another Tempest In fine after a few days sailing he arrived in the Evening at the Port of Alexandria and the first thing he there made inquiry for was after the Princess Arsinoe and if they knew not whence she was My Lord answered one to whom he spake We must surely be very great strangers if we should not know whence she was and you may see her if you please even before you enter into the City for behold there she walks upon the bank of the River with the King the Queen Berenice and the Princess Antigone In saying this he shewed him a crowd of People by the Sea side four or five hundred paces from thence where Philadelphe ran or rather flew transported with ravishing joy and content The King Queen and Princess were afoot having alighted from their Chariots which waited upon them hard by and I had the honor to walk by and then spake and discourse with the King and therefore I can declare to you the original of all that past at this Incounter As soon as Ptolomée perceived the Prince his Son he knew him and was so fully transported with joy that he advanced even some paces towards him to imbrace him Philadelphe saluted the King the Queen and Antigone as a Father Mother in Law and a Sister whom he loved with a respect and tenderness unconceivable They reviewed him as the Person of the Worâ—d which above all was most dear But Philadelphe principally was attentive in seeking after the sight of Arsinoe and 't was not long before he found her For besides her beauty which immediately invited all Eyes to behold her and those of the Prince were led and lighted by Love he had no sooner imbraced Berenice and Antigone â—ut the Queen her self presented him Arsinoe Come my Lord said she unto him come also and imbrace this dear Sister and at the same time turning her self towards Arsinoe my Daughter quoth she behâ—ld this Brother which I promised you Love waited not any long time to receive these Words of Berenice nor caused them to be remarked by the Prince Philadelphe They did not in an instant only penetrate his ears but his heart and this fraternity unexpected so contrary to the Designs wherewith he flattered himseâ—f dissipated in a moment all the of joy his Spirits and also defaced and razed all the marks in his Countenance and there left but only the Indexes and evident significations of an incredible and unconceivable amazement and astonishment He continued for some time almost confused amated and immoveable in that respectful Submission with which he approaâ—hed to salute her He had scarce the strength and courage to rise up and those who a moment before looked upon his countenance almost in a moment afterwards did not know it On the other side Arsinoe appeared no less surprized when having beheld this new Brother she knew him to be the Stranger whom she had seen at Corcyre who had there began
own Judgment or frowardly persist in our own Opinion in a blind design where it may be seen there is a manifest and clear impossibility to succced nor have so ill Opinion of him that they cannot believe themselves able to make a happy Destiny out of that state which was first pitcht upon by their fancy As for me I am weary of speaking to him unprofitably and to no purpose but if you love him as I believe you do you ought to do all that may be possible to withdraw him from this strong love which is only imaginary and you may tell him if he will thereunto listen that they spake to me this day concerning him pointing out for him one of the fairest and the richest Maidens of all Thessaly Telamon listned to the discourse of Alcidias without any other reply but that he had the very same sentiments with his Father but he believed not that Tarsis was for the present in a state to relish any such a proposition but however he would use it according to the order and direction which was appointed him They spake of nothing else almost all along the way nor yet during the time they dined together which his Father obliged him to take then with him and sometime afterwards he dismist him and gave him liberty to return The first design that Telamon attempted was to indeavor to rejoyn Tarsis but what ever care he undertook he could not find him till the Evening when he perceived him walking by the River side This poor Shepherd having unprofitably spent the whole day in the quest of Zelie came to contemplate upon and entertain himself with her loss in that self same certain place where it was done and in the incertitude of what was become of the Shepherdess he seemed willing to ask a clear demonstration in the very same place where the Witnesses had bin He rested there from time to time placing the one end of his Dart upon the ground and there firmly fixing his Eyes and at certain times he also uttered some long sighs lifting up his Eyes towards Heaven bewailing his fortune as a Man to whom she had given the greatest subjects of distress and sorrow Sometimes he seemed resolved to bring himself to think upon the subjects of Complaints he believed he had cause to make of his Shepherdess and how much she her self had contributed to her Misfortune Ah! said he It 's not by reason of Fortune that I have cause to complain for Fortune would have rendred me too happy if Zelie had not bin to me more impitiable than she forgot let 's forget this cruel one who was willing to have ruined me and for the finishing that satisfaction of hers if it be possible let 's lose it till it come to be remembred At the same time he began to walk faster and more deliberate than before and cast his Eyes here and there to seek out objects which presented themselves to his sight wherewith to combate those who came to offer themselves to his imagination Now he looked upon the prodigious Mountains Olimpia and Ossa who hide their Heads above the Clouds and seem to serve as pillars of Heaven and who bear Forrest even into a Region where the lightest Vapors cannot be lifted up Then he cast his Eyes among the fertile and fruitful Medows which coasts and butts the River on all sides and there considered the Shepherds occupying themselves in retiring their Flocks and Herds by reason of the approaching Night and then casting his Eyes upon the River it self there he beheld to float the Pictures and Effigies of the diversity of Clouds of sundry colours which the Sun usually marks there in its Declension and Setting by the last trace and progress it makes of its light But when we have some strong affliction upon our Spirits every thing seems to bespeak our evil the memory serving to take all occasions to represent its Misfortunes For the excessive height of the Mountains compared to the Place whence they are considered demonstrated him in his own fancy and imagination the difference of the honourable state and his elevated past Fortune with the profound or bottomless evils where he found himself now plunged in and precipitated Alas said he observing the Flocks and Herds retiring from the Meddows c. all these Creatures go to take their repose there 's none but my self to whom the silent Night gives not a relaxation The variety of the painted Clouds diversifi'd within the River I did pourtray delineate and shape forth unto him the sundry Events and Changes of his life and the floting of its billows and surges which changed themselves every moment represented him the Image of that unconstant Fortune which had never almost permitted him to see himself two points or moments succeeding each other in the same situation and form He was occupied by sad and mournful imaginations then when Telamon approached him and was there so profoundly buryed that he himself observed not that his Brother came unto him until that Shepherd was close by Telamon found him so amated and defeated by the lassitude and displeasure wherewith he had unprofitably tormented himself all that day that another would scarcely have known him He would not speak to him of the discourse of Alcidias because he knew him well enough judging that in the state and condition wherein he saw him he had done no other than have doubled his affliction and for that purpose it was necessary to take a more seasonable opportunity and convenient time After he had understood by him the ill and unprofitable excess of his research he would have entertain'd him with what he had learnt on his part yea and related to him a part of the Adventures of the King of Egypt hoping he might experimentally find from that recital wherewith to divert his displeasure but scarcely could Tarsis yield any attention there his own proper disgraces leaving him no liberty to fix himself upon the concerns of others In conclusion Telamon reconducted him to Cenome where having spent together some part of the Night within a Garden in discourse of Zelie Tarsis finished the other in his Chamber in thinking of that Shepherdess whilst Telamon went to repose himself Telamon also slept very little by reason of the pain and inquietude he had for Tarsis but although he was up very early in the Morning he would not go to his Brothers Chamber as he had done the preceding day lest he should wake him out of his repose he therefore continued in his own in expectation when his Brother would rise and go forth and seeing upon his table the role of Papers that his Brother had deposited him one of the precedent days he began to unloose and read over some pieces for he knew that Tarsis would take it well seeming to treat with the Author whilst he was occupyed about his work and finding consolation in bringing to memory a more fortunate and happy time in reviewing
you are such as Ergaste you reproach him and I should be more happy my self if I were able to learn at your School to shun the Thoughts of my disgraces as I have attempted to fly the Cause of them At these Words he uttered some Sighs and his Discourse having made Telamon call to mind the promise that that Athenian had made them make the day before to recount them his Adventures gave also subject to the Shepherd to summon and challenge him of his Word Agamée signified himself to be very prompt and ready to ratifie it but his History although short enough was notwithstanding too long winded for a Man who walked in very hot Weather and who being to speak to four several distinct persons at a time could not in walking make himself to be well understood of all unless he extraordinarily extended his Voice Behold therefore as they had elsewhere much more time and leisure than was needful for them in so small a Journey and that as they found themselves near to a Tuff or Grove of Trees very pleasant they engaged Tarsis to come and sit down there with them under the Shaddow and elamon invited him to attentive to the repetition of something wherein he hoped to administer him some ground and Subject of Solace on that discourse which Agamée had the preceeding day entertained them with But at the hour that they intended to sit down there they were surprized by an Adventure of more astonishment and amazements And accidentally casting their eyes towards the Gulf they discovered there from that place which was very high two Vessels who in their Dimensions in point of Bulk and Grandeur were very unequal who attacked each other in a furious Fight and Combat in fine the smallest fled and seemed willing to come and save her self in the Mouth of the River but the other gave her no opportunity nor Truce but grapled her when she was going to enter there immediately there appeared a Woman upon the Deck holding a young Child in her Arms if these Shepherds had been nearer they would have observed that this Woman who appeared to have been no more than nineteen or twenty years old was one of the fairest most exquisite and excellently amiable and admirablest Beauties of the whole Universe It is true her Visage and Countenance was a little wasted and pined But that served to no other than giving her a certain kind of languishing Consumption so touching that never was any though in the best and salubriously compleat state imaginable but would have bin uncapable to act with so much force and impression upon the Hearts of any Person whatever Her Attire was of a soft most mean and Simple but her Physiognomy her Action and all her Personage in fine appeared Royal and Majestick The Child she held was not above two years of age at most and seemed by its Nobility and in it's smiling Visage with which it pleased it self in the Neck of this Mother who should not have had any part in the Peril and Danger nor have been exposed to that Violence whereof she was therefore the principal Object When she saw her Vessel thus grapled withal and Attackt she advanced her self and went forward upon the middle of the Deck athwart and over the dead Corps wherewith it was covered and shewing this Child to the enemies who were on Board the other Vessel and ready to enter hers Perfidious Lacedemonians said she unto them you are not contented with the Blood of your Soveraign but you are insatiably Thirsty after that of his Wife and Son Well done ingrateful and barbarous People you must be glutted satiated cloyed and fill'd But the cruel Amphare shall not have the Contentment to be the Executioner of the Life of that of my Son nor of mine as he hath bin of that of the great Agis and I will save or spare Sparta the Horrour yet to see another time her Walls imbrued and besprinkled with Blood by one so abominable a Paricide and Regicide At these Words lifting up her eyes towards Heaven Great Gods cryed she I doe not ask nor demand that you should revenge me Only act so that our death may be profitable to Sparta In saying and uttering these words she ran aboard the Vessel whereon she precipitated her self and Son Two Women who were in the same Ship imitated the generous Resolution of this Queen and two or three of the small number that remained there piercing their own Bodies with their Swords also cast themselves into the Sea At this spectle the Enemies whom the words of the Queen had arrested and surprized uttered into the air such terrible Cryes and so horrible that the bruit sound and noise thereof pierced the Ears of the Shepherds Although they discerned not all these things but confusedly and being also ignorant of that which was there the most astonishing and most worthy of compassion in this adventure not knowing any thing of the condition of the Persons on whom Fortune had cast that cruel example of its Inconstancy however they had seen enough to be toucht with some horror and there was not one present who testifyed it not by some particular marks the effect that this sad spectacle produced in him Agamée had that of Pity Celemante that of Indignation Telamon that of Grief Ergaste that of fierce Rage and Choller and desolate Tarsis on whom the Image of the disgrace of another yet rendred the remembrance of his own more sensible represented forth the emotion of his heart by the abundance of his sighs Telamon who assiduously sought on all occassions one that might give some consolation to his Brother would willing improve this in some kind or other and addressing himself to Agamée without dissimulation lying or deceit said he unto him What Injustice soever we have often received by Fortune we ought notwithstanding to praise her for one thing that is whatever evil she doth us she almost always shews us Persons whom she hath as evilly treated as she hath done our selves nay hath worse treated them and in respect of whom we cannot refrain from believing our selves happy and blessed But our misfortune is that we are ordinarily more unjust than she and as we feel not the evil of others we always think that ours is the greatest because there is none but that alone which makes us resent it as indeed it is Tarsis well observed that Telamon said that for him although he had addrest himself to Agamée Behold therefore the cause why he replyed him Ah my Brother And you say well that we are almost always unjust in the judgment we make of the evils of others for we judg but by those appearances that smite our Eyes and there is none so great a deceiver We think that the Accidents which have in them something more of barbarity and appear more extraordinary to our eyes than others are more rigorous to them who suffer them because they are more astonishing to those who
see and observe them And in the interim that which makes us afraid in the mifortunes of others is oftentimes that which causeth Consolation and it happens and occurs every day that we bemoan the unfortunate because there is something more Sweet Pleasant and more Supportable in their misfortune Not so Telamon The great and heavy Strokes of Despair do not consist in misfortune that which you take for the Evil is the Remedy O! that there are secret and private Regrets and Misfortunes in Comparison of whom the most savagely cruel death hath Sweetness Telamon would not contradict for as much as he knew that there is nothing that pains and stings an afflicted Person more than to oppose and combat his Grief with Obstinacy This wise and judicious Shepherd contented himself to tell him so from time to time uttering some words to make him capable of reflecting upon the reasons wherewith he might Consolate him And after he had yet made some certain Ones with his Company upon the sad Accidental Adventure whereof they altogether had bin effectual Witnesses he caused them to reassume and call to mind the curiosity or hearing an History that that Accident had interrupted whereof he was in expectation as we above have said whereby a little to give some Consolation to Tarsis on that which had bin promised by Agamée ever since the Shepherds had taken places round about him The Athenian spake unto them thus The History of Agamée I Have been perswaded more than any person of the World that it was possible to take such firm and assured Measures in the choice of a Mistress that one might find an absolute and compleat perfection conformable to his Humour and after the having met with it all manner of Felicity capable in this Life consisted in seeing themselves united together by Marriage I was even yet in the same Error Telamon when we left Thebes This thought was the Cause that I returned with precipitation enough to Athens because I had left there a young Beauty for whom I had so great a Love that no Man living can be capable of more she wanted not a correspendency for me and we were mutually ingaged in an extream affection and so much the more easily that we had almost bin brought up together At least we had lived these six or seven last Years in one and the same House because my Sister had espoused her Brother and taken him in Marriage and we both lived with them So that I believed I knew the bottom of her Heart and even the smallest of all her Faults For besides that she was exceedingly fair and beautiful she had an admirable infinite and excellently prompt and ready Wit and that which engaged me the more was I found in her so firm and solid a Wit for a Maiden so disingaged and unloosned from all kinds and sorts of preventions so elevated above all common and vulgar Opinions that she seemed to me to have nothing at all inherent in point of the debility of her Sex You may conceive how much my passion was augmented the more by the knowledge I had of her Amity and Friendship for nothing in the World doth inflame a young Man more than the thought that he hath to be beloved But there appeared to me a very great Transmutation and strange change of Fortune when I re-visited her and aâ—l that I formerly had of Joy and content was quite turned about and converted into Grief Dolour and Bitterness For when I thought to approach her with Testimonies and Significations of ravishing Joy where I was to re-visit her she comported her self in such a frigid sence and cold kind of strain like unto him whom she would have had as a Person throughout the whole Universe most unknown And she afterwards took the self same care to indeavour to shun me that we both of us took formerly to be together for the entertainment of our reciprocal affection This kind of welcome so different from that which I expected gave me a displeasure the like whereof I never had felt in my life I spent all that night to make a reflexion upon the subject that I could have given her to treat me so and not finding any cause in the review of all my actions I soon imputed it to the little Stability and Constancy that is in a Maiden whom the absence of two years had undoubtedly soon frozen or cooled for a new Affection The Morrow I went to see my Friends and diligently and carefully enquired of them of the names of all those who since my departure had seen Telesile that was her name and in one Word of all the things for which Jealousie which began to torment me gave me that Curiosity But for as much as they knew nothing of our Love which we always concealed they assured me that Telesile had the Credit and Reputation of affecting none nor loving any Body that during my absence there presented variety of divers considerable pretenders of Affection to her but she had Will to listen to none nor would entertain any and that it was enough to be Evil thought by her only to make mention of any thought of approaching her by any kind of declaration of Passion That made me resolve to endeavour to be enlightned by her own self upon the Subject and Ground of her Frigidity and Chilness and as I was very well pleased that we were at Liberty and in a Place where we were not interrupted I prayed her to grant me an hours time to entertain and discourse her She answered me with a very indifferent air that she believed not I had any thing to declare to her that was of any Importance and that although there might be there was no Person there before whom I might not speak what I had to say I thus spake to her at the taking away of the Table my Brother in Law and Sister being there present before whom I would not discover my self because I had learnt that both the one and the other had thoughts to marry Telesile elsewhere and particularly my Brother in Law who had promised her to a Friend of his named Aristoxene So I reply'd to her with a still Voice as I had begun that the Persons for whom she testified so much Confidence and Trust were those whom I had most cause to mistrust Whatever I said or could say I could not obtain what I demanded of her and she continued even many dayes to shun all opportunities with all the Care that she could possibly take that I should not discourse her alone or particularly That which consolated me was that I could not see that she had any more Kindness nor sweet Complaisance for this Aristoxene for although my Brother-in-Law would have made him pass to be of the most ancient House and in Reputation to have very much in point of Wealth however the Spirit of Telesile was then so forcibly strong and so well tempered with Mettal so loosned from
at the time assign'd nor she to retire early under pretext of her Indisposition I was introduced into her Chamber at the precise hour by that self same Servant whom she had already employed to inform her of my return Good Gods what pleasing Transports and what had I not of ravishing Joy expect it not from me that I should by retail recite you the particulars of our Conversation for I had too much emotion and agitation upon my Heart and in my Breast to be able my self to heed all that which we mutually said Only I know well that after she had sweetly and softly lifted me up from her feet where I left my self to fall at my approaching her and after she had a thousand times justly reproached me but obligingly in point of my furious Transportation we at last enlightned our selves interchangeably with the Cheats and Impostures and Tricks of Legerdemain by which they had divided us and we protested a hundred times not to suffer nor leave our selves to be any more surprized with the Artifices of our Enemies We sware an eternal and inviolable Friendship and we tasted in conclusion whilst two hours lasted the entertainments of all the innocent Pleasures of this sweet Peace which reconciles two Lovers after the alarms and transports of Jealousie and who after some days of Division reunites Friendship and Amity to the degrees of the greatest Tenderness and Perfection But fortune willed not too much nor would suffer that I had so much contentment without making me pay dear enough for it Misfortune would that Cleonime went very late to walk in the Garden and seeing light in the Chamber of Telesile by the Windows that opened over it he feared lest some ill Accident might occur unto her unawares or that she might find her self more indisposed than before by reason that retiring her self so early she had pretended it was with a design to go to Bed He therefore went readily to the little Ladder or Scales whereof I have spoken unto you and finding it open he ascended and came and knock't softly at that of the Chamber of Telesile Behold Telesile well allarmed and I was little less than she not for any fear that I had for my self but only for the apprehension I had for her for as much as I had rather have died than to have bin the cause that her Honour and Reputation should receive the least Attaint I counsell'd her not to answer at all and the Counsel succeeded immediately because that Cleonime not hearing any noise in the Chamber believed in effect that his Sister slept but he went into that of the Maidens by a little Gallery which answers to the same Stairs to demand of the Servant of Telesile why they saw a Fire in the Chamber of her Mistress That Maiden from whom Telesile had concealed in the just mistrust of what we have said answered that she had there left it because that her Mistress betaking her self to read had sent her away and told her that she would uncloath and undress her self all alone when she would lye down Cleonime fearing thereupon that his Sister sleeping might have forgotten to extinguish the Light lest the House might be set on Fire returned with that same Maiden to knock at the same door which he had done before and no Body answering he knockt more roundly and called Telesile to awake her Behold us then in new Trances and Troubles I rose up as softly as possibly I could and hid my self behind the hanging of Tapestry whilst that Telesile as if the noise had awaked Telesile demanded who was there Cleonime naming himself told her the Subject of his Apprehension and believing that she was layn down prayed her only to quench the Fire and afterwards returned to the place from whence he came I returned smiling from the alarm we had had but Telesile who had no more rest than she had seen her self out of the danger where she had found her self ceased not to press me to be gone and at length dismist me I went out with a thousand Regrets and having against all hazards replaced my Emplaister I descended by the same Stairs by which I mounted but it hap'ned that Cleonime who had met or found the Gate which leads to the Garden open fearing lest the negligence of those who had the care of fastning it had made it flye open he sent one of his Servants to lock it with the Key and that Servant arrived there just at the Instant I was going forth He had no light with him but heard me by the noise and asked who came there I would have shunn'd him by favour of obscurity without a reply This Man who was both bold and powerful seeing me betwixt light and darkness or having had but a Glimpse of me and seized of my Neck he repell'd and indeavourd to force me back into the Lodgings and as you see that I am not of those that are of the highest Pitch nor Stature nor yet the strongest he fell'd me to the Ground although with pain enough even to the nether most Step or lowest He cryed out a Thief on my resistance I smother'd as was possible his Voice in placing my Hand before his Mouth I pray'd him to understand me and I would make his Fortune But I gain'd nothing upon his inclination he continued still to cry out and I endeavour'd to hinder the sounding of his Voice by my hand wherewith I shut his Mouth as well as I was able By good Fortune these Stairs were at the corner of the Lodgings and answered not but only to the Chamber of Telesile and to that Gallery at one end whereof was the Chamber of the Maiden Servants and for as much as the Gallery was very long that there was two doors lockt upon it to wit that of their Chamber and that of the Gallery and that at the self same hour so cryed out that they also might possibly make some Noise in so much that they might hear nothing of ours and that the voice of that Servant almost smothered losing it self on the Stairs was not heard nor understood but by Telesile Telesile therefore lent her ear there and mistrusting one part of the Truth she cast about her self a night Gown or Chamber Mantle and descended all trembling bringing a light with her She found us both tumbling upon the ground and as I ceased resisting after I had discerned her the Servant took hold of my Collar or Throat and lifting up himself from above me he told her that I was a Thief whom he had then surprized and that he must bring me to Cleonime Telesile who then apprehended more than I did that he might not bring me there said unto him that it was not convenient at such a time as that was to give an allarm to her Brother but that it was only needful to take from me my Sword and to shut me up in some certain place till the next day What difference
and gave her such an apprehension that carryed and bare her away to such a point of extremity that she knew not where she was At length she tare their silence asunder and tenderly said unto him with a voyce feeble enough Well Tarsis is this what you have promised me not to hate me for that which I was going to tell you At these words Tarsis looking upon her with eyes capable to cleave any heart with pitty and whence Trickled a Thousand Tears Ah! Zelie said he unto her I do keep you my word too well and if I could hate you you should not see me in the Transporture nor the despair wherein I am Then he beheld the shepherdess grew pale and in effect the fatigation and faintness with the grief and pain joyning themselves together to the great weakness wherein her disease left her caused her to fall to the ground and possibly it had not been without dangerously hurting her so did all her strength abandon her all at once if the shepherd had not upheld her in her fall and caused his feet to lean at the foot of a tree very near them grief and pain had toyled him in such a nature that he neither dreamed of calling us nor yet to fetch water from the River to cast in her face cause her to revive so that poor Zelie remained there a long time without speech without strength sence or motion unless some affectionate amorous aspect which she piningly and pittifully cast upon Tarsis who with one knee on ground held one of her fair hands between his and endeared them with an infinite number of tears Never was Spectacle more touching and Melicerte my self and Philiste were the mournful Witnesses thereof For as we took notice that there was some time past that we had not heard them behind us I returned to see what was become of them and we discerned them afar off in this lamentable condition I advanced forward toward their Succour and having made Zelie revive we caused her to be carried to Callioure by some Shepherds where we followed them all very sad and mournful The Morrow we returned my Brother and my self from this Hamlet to Callioure to learn some News of the State of Leucippes Health and of hers when a little Shepherd gave this Ticket to Tarsis which is doubtless the Original which she kept For see how many Lines she hath begun and blotted out afterwards before she would determin with her self in what manner to write to him see how many razings out and words changed and replaced and all that marked out well the trouble with which she was agitated But behold what she writ in Conclusion ZELIE to TARSIS THis is to reiterate you the Request I made you Yesterday which I write you this day You may judge of the violence I suffered by the State wherein you saw me and the excess of my Dolour ought in my Apprension purge me from your Reproaches I hope that Leucippe will be touched and that when his Life is out of danger he will have a care of ours But in waiting I demand and desire of you but three things Not to see me till the State of our Affairs are changed to preserve your self and not to hate me ZELIE The same reason which hath made me already pass by many other things yet impedes me to stop me here by the Testimonies that Tarsis gave of the grief that Letter had caused to fall upon him and to declare unto you how many times he re-perused it to see if he were not deceived and if he could not find there some favourable word to disabuse himself for if I should dwell upon these Particularities 't would be to have no end When he was well confirmed in the Truth of what he saw he was born away by a thousand Transports which cannot possibly be imagined But in conclusion he was forced to resolve and having his Soul full of anguish but yet at the self same time full of Love and Respect for Zelie he entred into the very next House where having taken Paper he wrote the answer that you see and besought me even my self to give it to that Shepherdess TARSIS to ZELIE THere is so long a time past that I have bin unfortunate that I should thereunto be accustomed and possibly also constant in some Disgrace or other but that of this kind is to me a Novelty the same Hand who was wont to solace me in times past makes me despair this day I have not nor do find wherewith to contradict it since it depends upon the Health of Leucippe My Life is in such a Nature at your beck that you have a right to redeem his and not being capable to loose it at your Service in particular I shall verily Sacrifice it for the Health of some of yours TARSIS You see Agamée that this Letter is in the end of all our Papers and the last that Tarsis writ unto her And there was the State of his Affection and of his Disgrace there was not any thing left of change unless it were that Leucippe was perfectly recovered afterwards there remained but a little trouble his Indisposition seemed to have added to his natural melancholly when the conclusion of the Marriage between Tarsis and Zelie had bin obstructed by the strange Accidents that you have known and understood There remains no more to me to add you but a Circumstance which will undoubtedly make you bewail him more than any other thing Besides the accident which hath happened Leucippe overcome by the vertue and complaisance of Zelie declared to me even yesterday that although he had not any way signified to his Daughter nor yet to Melicerte any kind of thing he was however resolved immediately upon his recovery to accomplish the desire of these two unfortunate Lovers with the Felicity that my Brother had so much desired Telamon having thus finished Agamée resumed the Discourse and signified to this Shepherd the extream satisfaction he had received in their reading and his recital It 's requisite that I avow to you wise Shepherd said he to him that what admiration soever I had had for Tarsis combating and performing so many rare Exploits and noble Feats with his dear Telamon at Chalcedony and at Panticapée I have had no less an esteem for Tarsis loving at Tempe and if I have infinitely bewailed him in the Prisons of Lysimachus and of the King of the Bosphorus he hath not made me less compassionate in the Shackles and Fetters of the Vertuous but too delicate and too scrupulous Zelie For in fine if at present she were not possibly rather in a State to be bewailed than blamed I could not refrain to have her tast the ill of this superstitious Imagination which had caused her to banish Tarsis so unseanably without doubt as you have said as she hath done and hath bin the cause of all the misfortunes which have hapned them afterwards But I am no
more astonished now at the strange Disquietudes of Tarsis to know what possibly may become of her for I see not in all that you have taught me any thing that can assist me in never so small a manner to divine what could have bin the Subject or Ground which should cause her to disappear for so long a time I cannot find any reason nor do I imagine why she should flee from her Fathers House nor be disposed to fear she should be carried a way by any Rivals since that by good Fortune particular enough in a Man who loves so fair a Person I apprehend not therein Tarsis hath bin crossed and thwarted I see well that it is the great stayedness wherein she hath bin brought up and educated the Prudence of Melicerte and the small hope that they also found to walk upon the Track of Tarsis which hath warranted her from so universal an Evil in Love But whatsoever it be the less I see the cause of the loss of this Shepherdess and the more I apprehend some mournful Accident whereof there is not yet any discovery made or distrusted They afterwards had some discourse on this Subject and as it grew exceeding late Agamée took leave of Telamon who promised to go and see him the next day The End of the Second Book of the Second Part. Tarsis and Zelie The Second Part. The Third BOOK THe amorous Tarsis continued in the mean time searching her out with all the diligence of a Man who saw his Salvation and Health fixed in the discovery of that whereof he was in pursuit He had soon crossed over a great part of the Forest and judging well that Women could not walk so many Steps in so short a time he returned upon his first Track and repassed twenty times by the same places without meeting that which he hoped and was in quest of In fine weary of so unprofitable a search and seeing the night began to increase and thicken it's obscurity and to take from him the means of discerning the Objects that presented themselves to his sight and view he had recourse to the Voice and made all the Forrest resound and eccho of the Name of Zelie But nothing made him an answer but the eccho of the Mount which he nearly approached unto so that after having unprofitably run on all sides he was in the end constrained as well through his Grief as Pain and by the want of Strength to betake himself to the foot of a Tree where he lay also smitten with displeasure whereas he was before animated with Joy there a thousand mournful Thoughts came crowding to dissipate those Beams of hope which had some Moments before bin re-given him in the day and fear succeeding this same hope it made in his Heart a new Combat between these two Passions in which his reason was a hundred times ready to leave him So that he addressed himself to things insensible unto whom he spake as if they had bin able to understand him and 't was only occasioned through the small effect of his Fear Sometimes he complained to the Trees accusing them by their thickness to have taken away the means of following the sight of his Shepherdess then he would address himself to the Sun to have too soon precipitated and hastned it's going down and reproached it to have formerly stopped it's Course for a less important Occasion and soon in returning to the Vail or Scarse of Zelie that he had gathered up and approached it to his Mouth with Transport he seemed to conjure it to tell him if it was not true that his Shepherdess was yet living and to demand of it the cause of her absence and the places of her retreat A profound Silence had succeeded these Complaints and his Grief shut up again in his Heart was no otherwise expressed than by Sighs which he was forced to burst forth time after time when he heard the Noise of some Persons speaking and having thereunto lent an ear he judged they advanced towards him Their Voices appeared to him to be those of Women and with the attention which he thereunto gave he understood that one said I am not come yet out of my right but it is time that we retire our selves to morrow we will come to seek your Vail These words made Tarsis to judge that these were the Women he was in quest of and indeed he soon understood the Person to continue after this sort Without lying or dissimulation yours is a sad Destiny to be reduced to take flight from your Parents to hide your self in the Forrests and know not which to fear either savage and bruit Beasts or Men. But is it possible that the Son of Alcidias hath not bin advertized that he hath not bin touched and that you have no News from him These words seeming to be marvellously relating to those of Tarsis and Zelie strangly alarmed the Heart of the Shepherd He knew not whether it were better for him to speak and make himself known or whether he should content himself and softly follow these Persons and attempt to learn the place whereunto they retired His Love growing Impatient pressed him to name himself and go to cast himself at the feet of her whom he took to be Zelie and to go and make her see the injustice of a doubt which seemed to him to be outragious but the fear that he saw them in to be known gave him apprehension that it would make them flye in his approaching them and as one of the precedent nights when he named himself to Zelie upon the River the design of making himself known had so ill succeeded he had a thousand Fears to be no more happy in a second Attempt and Probation In this perplexity he knew not what to determin yet notwithstanding he still rose up without making any noise when he understood her who had not yet spoken answer the other thus after sighing once or twice or thrice Ah! Cousen the Son of Alcidias shall always be the same that he hath bin as my Brother shall never be other than cruel and without Pity It 's therefore my Resolution having well thought thereupon I believe it is better for me to embrace the Condition which I refused and to give my self solely to the Gods since there is nothing but Inconstancy and cruelty in Men. These Terms all obscure as they were to Tarsis did not but too much enlighten him the entire doubt which held his mind in suspence He very perfectly knew by that Voice that the Person who so spake was not Zelâ—e and that Fortune had taken Pleasure to abuse him by some resemblance or similitude of Height and Habit and by an equivocation of words It is not possible to express or conceive how much Pain and Grief seized him at the same Instant he had before lifted up himself half he had then but one Knee upon the ground and his hand leaning against a Tree at the foot whereof he
immediately sent to fetch a Chirurgion to see if he had yet some life remaining and in the mean while having himself uncovered his Stomack he began with his handkercheif to wipe off the blood which was round about the wound and which was already all curded However he found yet some heat and warmth in his body and which was the first thing that gave him any glimpse of hope the Chirurgeon having considered the wound observed that the point of the arrow could not have penetrated very far in by reason it went sloping and one might yet see one part of the Iron head without the Wound He drew it entirely out by good Fortune but the abundance of Blood which issued out or the Wound the same time having hindred him to search and found it he was constrained to content himself to apply Swathes to stanch it and to attend a second dressing The Consolation which he gave Telamon and Philiste was to assure them that Tarsis was not yet quite dead and immediately afterward he gave them certain marks thereof by reason they saw him open his eyes and began to retrieve his Spirits Telamon and Philiste were then at the Boulster of his Bed whence they were not able to pluck him and it was Philiste who having first seen him open his eyes advizing him to retake a little Courage in saying to him how now my Brother what do you thus abandon poor Zelie At this word his eyes appeared re-animated and he turned them softly round about on all sides to seek the Person whose name he had hear'd but not finding her he immediately closed them again as if he had had no occasion of Light since it could not discover him the Person in whom he took Pleasure and delight They immediately unclothed him to put him into his Bed and Philiste her self assisted in preparing him saw the Vail of Zelie which this Shepherd had casually met the preceeding Evening He had for his Consolation brought it with him and he was willing to dye kissing those precious remains of his Shepherdess So that they found him again bedewed with his Tears and in that certain place where his Mouth before had leaned Philiste was not long without remembring and knowing it She immediately carried it to her Husband all astonished Ah Telamon said she what is that which this signifies Behold the Vail of my poor Sister See you these Letters intermingled This is the very self same that Tarsis brought her his last Voyage from Athens Telamon presently knew it and was no less astonished than Philiste In the interim this deplorable Accident having interrupted the Visit of Telamon Agamée was weary of attending so long a time at the House and went out to go before him The little space that had passed whilst he was in Tempé and the length of the way from Cenome to the House of Nephelocrate which was very far upon the Sea Shore permitted him not yet perfectly to know the way So as he was elsewhere more occupied in his Thoughts than attentive or heedy in observing the places he dreamed not at the first of the Corner of the place but instead of going straight forward as he did he should have turned to the left hand so that he soon found himself out of the way It is true the pleasantness of the way did comfort him for when he was at the height of the Plain in a certain place whence one might discover all the City of Gonnes and whence one might see all the River of Penée turning and winding to and fro in its large Channel in the midst of that fair and rich Plain and level Ground and receive the Tribute of a hundred little Streams and Currents of Water who after having bathed and moistned the Feet of many Hamlets and a hundred delectable Hills go to mix their Waters with those of that great River he admired a thousand and a thousand times the Beauty of that incomparable Residence and sound it more preferrable and highlier to be esteemed than all that of Athens and even all Greece had not a more rare and a more splendidly sumptuous and stately and believed it equal to all that that the Poets had imagined of the Elisian Fields After he had advanced some paces he found himself in a way strait enough covered with Hedges on all sides and which descended to a bottom He thence discovered a Meadow crossed through the middest with four rows of Willows which form three long Alleys and which go to but at a young Wood which is on the other side of the Meadow These four rows of Willows are watered by four small Streams which glide and gently flow at the foot of these Trees and who reuniting themselves in one single Channel at the end of the Alley return somewhat lower almost to make them circulate the Meadow forming a quantity of cranklings and wriglings and frequently returning upon themselves as if they had a regret and were unwilling to leave that delicate and acceptable place Agamée remained some time to consider this fair Prospect and although he sought as much as in him was possible the Company to divert the thought of his disgraces he could not however refrain to enter farther into a Solitude so charming He therefore descended even to these Alleys of willow Trees and entring into that of the midst he remained there yet a while to behold the same Landskip which by the difference of that certain place more elevated whence he saw it before and that wherein then he was formed a prospect or perspective all different and yet more delectable than the former for he saw himself surrounded with Hills on all sides whereof there was not one single one but had it's riches it 's diversity and it's particular Embellishment The Sun was then already risen upon the Horizon and it's Rayes and Beams regathered compacted in the bottom of this Meadow commenced to surmount there the coolness and freshness which naturally it received from the abundance of the Streams and Currents of Water Behold wherefore Agamée who had already walked much seeing that as well the hour that Telamon had promised to come to him to visit him was passed and that he should unprofitably return home he resolved to go and repose himself in that little Wood that he saw at the end of those Alleys In walking he saw a quantity of Figures Cyphers and Characters on the Bodies of the Trees with the letters T and Z intermixed He also discerned there even some entire words and because he had then no other design than to divert his Grief and disappointment he had the curiosity to read them The Character was then already old and the bark or rine of the Trees had even covered again some places Notwithstanding he missed not to discern clearly the names of Tarsis and Zelie in many places there was one certain one amongst others where he saw that under the name of Zelie there were these two