live happily and never fear it for I swear by my Crowne that no humane beauty upon Earth can make me commit such a fault Sir said I unto him I must humbly prostrate my selfe at your feet by way of gratitude for I esteeme this favour no lesse than a new life and am sure that if such a misfortune had beene I had been but a dead man Our discourse had not so soon ended unlesse the Chase coming towards us had not forced us away as for me I was the most contented man alive putting full assurance in his words and therefore ever since when he spake unto me I told him freely all passages concerning my passion Some dayes thus passed on and I heard no newes from Alvian which was no small trouble unto me But at the same time the Kings affaires invited him to receive some place which would submit into his hands and therefore he drew out part of his Army towards that quarter where Daphnide dwelt When the King told me his resolution I was ravished with joy and said unto him Now sir I hope you will grace me so farre as to see my Mistresse for we shall passe close by her house with all my heart answered he then we shall see whether she be so faire as you same her to be and if I talke with her I shall quickly know whether you will speed in your hopes The King sets forward and to omit all matters which are not pertinent to my story though in themselves worthy of Chronicle and being within a mile of Daphnides house he told me that he would see her and that in rrspect of the good service which her Father had done him he could doe no lesse being so near her and her Mother but see them I am still afraid Sir said I unto him that this honour which you intend to doe them is mixed with Love What said he and smiled you old fits of folly againe will you not believe what I have promised with an oath had I onely promised I should be onely a deceiver in so doing but having sworn I should be perfidious Come come cast away these foolish thoughts unlesse you are resolved to offend me and on the contrary be confident that I will do all the good offices I can and as you can expect from the best of your freinds Upon this I presently dispatched a messenger unto Daphnide to let her know of the Kings coming and when we were in sight of the house I would have gone before but he commanded me to stay with him because said he to me and smiled I shall be more welcome if I bring you with me than if I come by my selfe Sir said I unto him I believe that Lady has so much judgement as rightly to value the honour which you doe her but Sir take heed lest you lose the title of invincible for I assure you there are strange Captivaters in that house it is the habitation of the Graces Daphnide is accompanied with two sisters who yield not unto any but her selfe and had I not been already engaged there is one Delia who doubtlesse had absolutely captivated me Is that she said the King of whom you spoke to me before Yes sir answerd I and doubtlesse the most accomplished beauty that ever I saw if as I told you before she had not a sister To her then said the King will I addresse my selfe By this time we were come so neare the Castle that the Ladies being upon the bridge the King lighted from his horse to salute them and taking the Mother by the hand he went into the great Chamber where they talked a while and the King enquired of her and her husbands health and whether Wars were not offensive to her In the meane time I talked to the fair Daphnide who though at all times fair yet that day it might be said she surpassed her selfe having added unto her natural beauty so many Graces by her artificial dress as I never saw any so fit to conquer hearts Delia stood next to her and my eyes and heart being fixed in contemplation of their beloved object I stood gazing a long time before I spoke You went away said Delia without a heart and return without a tongue if you lose as much every voyage you will become very ill company Delia said I unto her you are very pleasant but if she who hinders you from being the fairest in the world doe use such Arts I know not what will become of me Who doe you speak of said Daphnide of you Madam answered I who adds so much art unto your Naturall beauty that no eye can look and hope to escape imprisonment I should in favour of Alcidon answered she believe that this might be if every one did look upon me with Alcidons eyes But let us leave this discourse and tell us which way do you take I am sure said I unto her that the way hither is the way of my felicity and my way from you is the way of my hell Nay nay said Daphnide I mean which way does the King go and whither does your Army intend to march I would have answered her but the King called me away Alcidon said he unto me come hither and be a witnesse is not the strong Towne of Arles reduced into our hands Yes certainly sir said I unto him and you must look for other Kingdomes and indeed other Worlds to exercise your Armes in for there is no more to Conquer which I know of They will not believe me replyed the King and therefore I pray relate unto this incredulous Lady how not onely Arles but almost all the Province which is called the Romans is in our hands Oh sir said the good old Lady not but that I did believe what you did say but it is because till now we thought the Towne of Arles impregnable Nay nay replyed the King I will have you understand the whole series of the story to the end that hereafter you may not doubt of what I say Upon this rising up he set me in his place and went to the place from whence I came and because Delia when he came would have retired he pulled her back and talked awhile unto them both I could not possibly heare what they said as well because it was but a little too far off as because I was engaged to talke unto this old Lady But presently after when the King took Daphnide by the hand and carried her the Window I must confesse then I began to doubt and my words did so die in my mouth as if I were soul-lesse I could not chuse but observe their faces and actions and whatsoever I saw made me suspect that which I feared most so as I wished withall my heart for some hot alarm to call away the King from the place where he was I cannot tell how long his Courtship lasted but I am sure it lasted so long that I thought every minute a day At the last the
but they thought they heard Horses trampling in the streets which caused Cryseide and Clarina with their guide to put on their Horses the one way and Arimant with his faithful servant the other The Cavalier by the favour of the night and the thick wood did easily save themselves and the third day came to Vienna betimes where they lodged in the Inne next the Bridge At night asking newes of his Host he heard how King Gondebunt was returned from Gaul Cisalpine loadned with victory and spoil but at his return had received a very great displeasure because an Italâ—an Prisoner with whom he was much in love with had escaped from him and no intelligence could be given of her And to manifest the truth of this said the Host I will shew you the Kings Proclamation to that purpose this day published Then pulling out a great Paper printed he read these words Gondebunt the son of Gondioch King of Burgundy Lord of the Seguanois Lingones Vellaundonois Ambarres Heduois Catalauniques Matisques Alexens Allobroges Basilians Latobriges Sebusians Secusians Secusienses Vabromaines Sedunois Augustes Sallases Centrons Bramovices Ebroduntians Segovellaunians Galloligures Governour of the Alpes Sempronians Jovinians Pennines Coties Sebatians Maritimes c. Unto all to whom this our Will and Pleasure shall come Greeting In as much as there is nothing that more offends a generous courage nor gives it a more just desire of revenge then Ingratitude and Treason And whereas to our great griefe at our return from our long glorious and dangerous voyages we are advertised that Cryseide one of our Prisoners and one upon whom we had showred abundant favours has ungratefuly escaped our Guards which was impossibly for her to doe without the counsell and assistance of some persons ill affected unto us who have perfidiously stoln her away in contempt of our royall Power and Authority For these causes and many others thereunto moving us and by the advice of our Great Councell to chastise such ingratitude and Treason We doe Declare and Promise by the Great God whom we adore by the soul of our most honoured Father and by the majesty of our Crowne That whosoever shall bring unto us this ungratefull Cryseide our fugitive Prisoner or shall reveale him or them who are the cause of her flight or who does perfidiously keep her give her any assistance or favour of what quality nature or condition soever we will grant unto him such favour as he shall aske of us and will not upon any cause ground colour or consideration whatsoever break this our Royal word promise and solemn Oath And we do enjoyne and command all our Sheriffs and other Officers to publish this our Will and Pleasure throughout all our Dominions Given at our Royal Town of Lyons in the Iâ—es of July the second year of our Raign Arimant hearing this Proclamation was in extreame feare lest Cryseide should be known as she entred into the Town especially when the Host continued his discourse and told him that the King had sent persons who knows her unto all Bridges and advenues of Towns This caused him to take Bellaris apart and command him to provide mens habit both for Cryseide and Clarina in all possible haste and as soon as they were ready to carry them that way they were to come that they might so disguise themselves before they entred into the Town Bellaris did as he was appointed and all being ready he went to meet them In the mean time Arimant furnished himselfe with better Cloaths then those he had from Bellaris But fortune who was minded to vex these two generous Lovers yet a little longer and to have greater testimonies of their love and courage did so contrive the matter that at the very same time Bellaris met Cryseide and when she thanked the Gods for Arimants safe arrivall unto Vienna the King Gondebunt being hunting the Hart he rode close by her onely with five or six who followed him and because he observed that as soon as she spyed him she retired her selfe behinde the next bush which stood a little out of the way he followed her onely out of curiosity But Bellaris knowing him at the very first he clapped himselfe flat down upon the ground in a valley which Cryseide could not doe nor Clarina neither because they were on horseback so as the King overtaking her and seeing her in the Gaulish mode he thought at the first that she was some of that Country who because she would be retired went out of the high way but asking her who she was and whither she went as soon as ever she opened her mouth he knew her for though she had the language of Gaul very good yet she had the accent and tone of a stranger And looking a little neerly upon her though she endeavoured to hide her face all that possibly she could Oh Heavens said he it is Cryseide Then lighting from his Horse he ran to embrace her How long is it faire Ladie said he unto her since you first took this disguise What good Angel is it that hath broâ—ght you again into my hands and what Devil was it that took you out of them Poor Cryseide more amazed then is imaginable to see her selfe in the power of him whom she most feared and falne from such a height of happinesse into such a gulph of misery she stood a while and could not answer At the last seeing there was no way to conceal her selfe she resolved to take heart and most couragiously answered thus You ask me Sir when I assumed this habit and disguise and I answer ever since Love did command me And because you call that good Angell who got me out of your hands a Devill I must vindicate his honour and let you know Sir that it is unworthy in so great a King to break both the Lawes of Humanity and the Lawes of Chivalry which commands you to assist relieve and honour Ladies and not to take them Prisoners and keep them against their wills The King hearing the freenesse of Cryseides language and his love not letting him consent unto what he knew was the duty of a Cavalier he answered her Before any should doe you any wrong Madam I will lose both my Crown and my life and in this which I do I intend it for your good and advantage and not to harme or wrong you in the least degree She would have replyed but the King was so over-joyed at this happy encounter and not willing to enter any further into discourse he took her Horse by the bridle and led him into the high-way where taking his own Horse he returned to Lyons presently more contented with this prize then with all his Victories When Cryseide was thus taken Clarina could easily have saved her selfe if she would as well as the Guid but having no mind to leave her she did follow her voluntarily Thus was the sad Cryseide carryed back to Lyons and put amongst the rest of the
that there was no other way to enjoy the company of my Mistresse danger was the least of my thoughts and therefore I answered her That no hazard should make me lose the happinesse so she would but command it onely beseeched her to take such order that when I was in the house none should see me for I was confident that under her command I should receive no harme In this resolution we parted and the next morning leaving one of her Servants with me who was very trusty she departed and I had not the honour to see her purposely to take away all suspition from the Lady of the house As for me I departed with my guide some three hours within night after many thankes unto my Hostesse for her kind usage I shall not here relate the various encounters I had by the way The place unto which I was conducted was one of the most solitary seats in all the Country and the fittest for any interprises of love Upon the bankes of that great River of Rosne do stand many faire Townes which take delight in her waves one of the best and most peopled is Avignion some five or six Leagues from whence towards the east is a Valley which being inclosed on three sides by high Hils and great Rockes was at the first called Vale close and afterwards by corruption of language of which the vulgar is alwayes Master it was called Vaucluse at the end of this Valley under huge Rockes and by a wonderfull Fountaine which gives a beginning to the River of Sorgues which a little below parts it selfe into two Arms like a little Island where this house unto which I was to goe did stand and which standing betweene two Rivers has the name of an Island The place from whence this Fountain springs is truly for its solitude in some sort venerable but something terrible by reason of the Rockes which inviron it and therefore very little frequented by people It was here where my guide brought me to alight from my horse and to leave those who came with me which by my command though with sorrow they did From this source unto the Isle is about a quarter of a League which I was to walke on foot and in the night which I did in such doubts and incertainties that love made it appeare in me how not onely himselfe is blind but he takes sight also from all those who are his subjects At the last about the eighth or ninth hour of the night we came unto the Garden doore which belonged unto the house which though it was promised me should be left open yet it was shut judge Adamas what I thought of the matter then and whether I had not reason to expect Mars in lieu of Venus But after a long doubtfull expectance I heard the doore open and the first thing that presented it selfe unto my eyes was a fair Lady decked as Painters use to doe the Goddesse Diana her haire loose her brest and shoulders naked her sleeves turned up as high as the elboe gilded buskins upon her legs her Quiver by her side and a Bow of Ivory in her left hand I was ravished at so fair a sight and admired her habit but I understood since that she was so disguised like Diana for Name sake because she was called Delia which is one of Dianas names purposely to daunce that night with her Sisters and other young Ladies there in honour of the great Assembly As soone as ever she saw me come in said she unto me and tooke my hand Come in and attempt this dangerous adventure under the conduct of Diana Under the banner of such a Goddesse answered I there is nothing which I will not attempt Some interprises said she do seeme easie at the first which afterwards are sound full of difficulty and take heed lest this be of that quality If this were not of great importance replyed I I would never have come so farre to attempt it I am very glad said she to finde you in that resolution and know that both Love and Fortune will assist a couragious soule and to shew how desirous I am you should bring your enterprise to passe I will give you safe conduct from all that are in this enchanted house unlesse from the eyes of your Mistresse and from this Diana who speakes unto you I doe accept of this assurance said I unto her Well said she before you have done with this adventure we shall see what your Fortune will be and what your courage In the meane time valiant Cavalier enter but still enter upon such conditions as those who enter use I beseech you said I unto her what are those conditions You shall know answered she when you are entred Why said I are you afraid to tell them least they should affright me If so faire Diana you are mistaken For I will undertake any conditions so they doe not contrary that affection which I have vowed unto my Mistresse Upon this I entred in alone she lockt the doore and my Guide returned through the Rockes of Vaucluse Now was I alone with Delia in the Garden and I must confesse that she was so advantaged by this odde fantasticall dresse as she might very well be termed faire and one that was not prepossessed might well have found a heart to love her She seeing me stand so mute looking upon her and thinking it was my impatience because she carried me no sooner unto the faire Daphnide she smiled and said unto me What Sir were you bold at your entrance and now show so little courage to accomplish your adventure What fault faire Diana said I unto her doe you finde in my courage what must I doe and against whom must I shew my valour How said she and set her Arms upon her sides have you not before your eyes an enemy fierce enough to make you put your hand to your Armes I must confesse faire Goddesse said I that you are a very dangerous Enemy unto one that has a heart but certainly against me your Arms have no edge since the faire Daphnide has long since deprived me of my heart How said she is there no hopes of gaining any thing from you You may hope replyed I to gaine any thing that I have you meane said she any thing but your heart Well well Alcidon you are not yet in a good faith but before you escape my hands I will make you use other language I have met with some who at the first have said as you doe and yet before all was done did submit themselves as conquered such as those answered I either did but lend their heart or if they did give it did steale it back againe to give it unto you but I cannot doe so who have not only given away my heart but my will my soule and my life also Had you any courage as you tax me for having none you would not imploy your valour and your strength against one that is
considering that when the desires of people are thwarted they are most violent and when the desires of persons in power are once knowne they are prompted to use violence But the great constraint in which I lived did so perplex me that I fell sicke By this reverend Father you may judge how great my affection was since it had power to bring me into such a condition The King did not thinke my sicknesse so great as it was but it increasing every day and his affaires constraining him not to abide long in one place he left me in the City of Avignion upon the report of the Physitians who told him how great my disease was Thus I tarried in this Towne so ill that but for the contentment which I received from some Letters which Daphnide sent me by Alvian I know not what would have become of me However it was more then eight dayes that I kept my bed before I heard any newes from Daphnide because she not knowing of my sicknesse but supposing me to be in the Army she sent Alvian thither In the meane time I who thought that she knew of my sicknesse I pined away with sorrow and griefe having an opinion that her silence proceeded from a defect in her affection and then I blamed the inconstancy and ambition of women supposing that the Kings affection to her was certainly the cause of it At last my impatiency not being able to indure this incertainty I sent unto her my Servant who carried my Letters the first time unto her and in the extremity of my sicknesse I writ these few words unto her Alcidons Letter unto Daphnide I Have all the reason in the world at this time to complaine against my Fortune being at once left both by my Master and my Mistresse I know not Madam whether it be permitted me to phrase you so But in this I must needs commend her who seeing the injuries which both of them doe me she would not let me live any longer least I should any longer indure this unjust punishment See sage Adamas how Love will sometimes both wound and cure his Subjects almost at the very same time Alvian who was sent to seeke me in the Army and hearing that I lay sicke in Avignion he returned in all haste to his Mistresse who presently dispatched him unto me and by fortune the same day that her Letter came to me mine came to her The Letter which Alvian brought imported these words Daphnides Letter unto Alcidon THe Bearer hereof hath been a great distance off to seeke you and to my great griefe will find you neerer If my Health be any thing deer unto you let me heare of yours When I received this message and understood by word of mouth the reason why she writ so short was because she thought me so sicke as I was not able to read more Oh sage Adamas I cannot expresse my joyes I was indeed very sicke and the Physitians who applyed onely corporall remedies were farre besides the marke since my malady was only of the mind The truth is that from the first houre of Alvians arrival I recovered strength and not to disobey the command which I received from Daphnide I sent him back the next morning with this answer Alcidons Answer unto Daphnide Madam IT is from Daphnide you must inquire of Alcidons health since it wholly depends upon her If you continue upon him the honour of your favours he is well otherwise he is not onely dead but sorry that ever he lived On the other side Daphnide seeing my thoughts or rather my jealousie she was very desirous that Alvian might remove it from me for she knew very well that I had a great confidence in him And further to make her good will appeare she sent my Servant backe with so many good words and assurance she would never alter as I was constrained to beleeve it Her answer was this Daphnides Answer unto Alcidon IF it be so that one may judge of another by themselves I have great reason to doubt of that fidelity which you have promised me for you have done so of mine If you were in my roome should ambition transport you above love Oh no I will not harbour such an opinion of you For I must confesse Alcidon if I did I would not love you so well as I doe wrong me therefore no more in this kind unlesse you would have me beleeve that you would have that affection diminish which you have sworne unto me Thus we continued many dayes writing unto one another with so much contentment unto me that my disease was forced to leave me and when I had got so much strength as I hoped every day to ride abroad Alvian came to bring me two Letters which the King had writ unto her from the Army And in testimony of her free way she lived with me she sent them yet sealed as when she first received them Daphnides Letter unto Alcidon NOw the Wars are begun I have sent you two Prisoners none yet ever spoke with them treat them as you please I freely give them unto you as I will doe all the rest that fall into my hands In this I received at once a great pleasure and a great displeasure I cannot expresse my contentment to see that Daphnide did so well performe her promise to me but it wounded me to the very soule to see that the King should attempt that which he had sworn unto me the contrary To withdraw my selfe from Daphnide I thought a thing impossible and I knew that if the minde of this faire one proved strong enough to resist him he would in a transport of passion banish me the Court Also if she yielded or was overcome then there was no hopes of any life for me I remained long in this doubtfull incertainty at last love having the predominancy in my heart I resolved to advise her not to receive any such messages from him if it were possible yet my curiosity prompted me to see what the King had writ having an opinion that though I did not yet she would read them and I should never know so I returned her this Answer Alcidons Answer unto Daphnide THese two Prisoners Madam are not of that quality to be kept long in my prison I have therefore sent them both back But take heed lest in hearkning unto any more the Fort which Parleyes doe render it selfe I should be too tedious should I relate all the Letters which we writ unto each other at that time for since it was not above six or seven leagues betwixt us we sent unto each other almost every day But so it was that the King being resolved to be as victorious in Love as in War he persisted so close in the Courtship of this faire one as what excuse soever she can find she must confesse that if it was not Love yet it was Ambition at the least which invited her to hearken unto him and to entertaine his Courtship
me but still upon condition that you tell me what the perfidie is whereof you accuse me and whether it arise from such another originall as that of Alcires I do beleeve said she that it is possible to be so yet your owne hand writing which I know very well will hardly let me thinke you innocent Then causing a box to be brought unto her she tooke out the torne paper which Alcires gave unto her and giving one piece unto him can you deny said she that this is your writing Amintor having looked well upon it I must confesse Madam said he that this is my hand Then said Clarinta when all the peeces are put together they will shew you the perfidie whereof I accuse you for I confesse the Letter was brought whole unto my hands but when I saw my selfe so basely betrayed by a person from whom I least expected it very spite and anger made me tear it thus in pieces Amintor was so much amazed as he could not answer but she raising her selfe up in her bed and spreading the pieces of paper upon it she joyned them so together as she read unto him that thankes which he gave for the extraordinary favour which he had received Amintor calling to memory the time when he writ this Letter and by what cunning he was induced to write it I must needs confesse Madam said he that Alcires is the most subtle crafty and pernitious man that ever breathed t is true I writ this Letter and gave it unto him onely as a Copy and without any seale and so he told the whole story and truth of the businesse but said he I doe remember one thing which remains in my hands and which confirmes as you said that God never fails the innocent for that will shew you the truth of what I tell you and therefore by your permission I will send for a little box in which I put the paper that Alcires writ when he intreated me to indite that Letter for him according as he said the King had commanded him By which you may plainly see that what I did was only at his instance and without any concernment of my owne Clarinta had a great desire to sift out the matter and therefore desired him to send for this paper which being presently brought did cleerly testifie the truth of what Amintor said which gave such full satisfaction unto Clarinta for she knew the hand of Alcires very well as giving her hand unto Amintor I aske your pardon wronged Amintor said she for the ill opinion which I entertained of you protesting for the future that no Artifice whatsoever shall make me mistrust your affection Madam answered Amintor and kissed her hand I shall place this day in my Calender as the happiest I ever lived since it has discovered two things which would never have come to light by any other meanes The one is That it hath let me know how my own eyes have betrayed me And the other is That it hath let you see how I am still your most faithfull servant These two happy encounterâ— doe so much tâ—nsport me beyond my selfe as I must confesse I have not words to expresse my thankes unto you and my good fortune He would have continued but he was prevented by the Kings coming in who hearing how ill this Lady was he came to visit her almost all alone lest too much company should disquiet her and he came in upon such a suddaine as he surprised the pieces of the Letter which were upon the bed As for Amintor he had presently put his up but Clarinta was so surprised at the Kings suddaine coming and finding that Cavalier with her as she forgot to put hers up And the King spying them laid his hand upon them so quickly as she could not hinder him and all her prayers were fruitlesse to make him render it back again But on the contrary lapping it up very carefully in his Hankercher and after he had talked with her a while he retired himselfe to his Closet where putting the pieces of Paper into order and saw the thankes which Amintor gave her for he knew it to be his hand imagine you in what a case he was All Lovers are commonly jealous but especially this King whether it was that he loved with great violence or whether his generous courage could not brooke a Rivall yet so it was that this jealousie moved him to such a hatred of this fair wise Lady as he did not content himselfe with telling this unto me and shewing the Letter unto Amintor but he blazed it abroad and made such a publique matter of it as all the Court had talke enough upon that subject Observe sage Father how this pettish god whom they call Love is pleased to make himselfe merry with such as serve him I desired to break off the amity betwixt Eurick and Clarinta and in order thereunto I made use of Alcidons love by way of gratification and to the end I should not be beholding to my own prudence did raise up Alcires who with a Letter which fell into the hands of the King did doe the work for me The drift of Alcires was to take off a servant from Clarinta and by his subtilty make her hate his Rivall and quite contrary the disatisfaction of Clarinta was the cause of her receiving Alcidon into her favour And so Alcires in lieu of one Rivall found two Alcidon on the other side who gave that Paper of Verses unto Clarinta in hopes to obtaine her favour he gave occasion to Amintor to be reconciled unto her and to find out the knavery of Alcires Alcires he got Amintor to write a Letter with intention to make the faire Clarinta hate him by it and this Letter quite contrary to his aime did make himselfe out of favour But the worst of all is and which is the cause of my coming into this Country I who aiming to make Clarinta lose a servant I gave her one and deprived my selfe of him to resigne him unto her for Alcidon since that time has so wholly devoted himselfe unto her that he is mine onely in his tongue and hers in his heart Oh the giddy and unconstant humours of men There is nothing in the world will make them and their fleeting minds firm and stable But this Cavalier having begun a Courtship of this Lady by my commands he continued it according to his will so as she may very well boast that as I took one servant from her she has also ravished another from me and with this advantage that she loved Eurick onely out of ambition but I did love Alcidon really and cordially At the first I did not resent the losse because I received extream contentment in being delivered from that inquietude which Clarinta kept me in till of late But I did not long enjoy this rest for it seems the heaven is pleased I should tread alwaies upon thornes for I had no sooner enjoyed this happy
time to go unto the Sacrifice he prepared for her a most glorious Chariot and constrained her to weare the Royall Crown causing all the rest of her Companions to wait upon her in great state as if she were already the Burgundian Queen thinking to shake her constancy with such Grandures and Pomp she appeared indeed very faire and lovely and this dresse was not a little addition unto her beauty but for all that the inward disgust of her soule appeared in her face and all her actions The King was so much pleased to see her in this deck as he did imagine her already his wife Thus they passed through the Town and came to the Monument of the two Lovers where the sacrifice was to be offered When they were there and the King Cryseide and all the rest of the Ladies had taken their places the Sacrifices came and the Victimaries brought the white Bulls and the Priests approaching as neare as they could to the Tomb they commanded the Victims to be killed when they were opened and their intralls searched they were found to be â—ound and perfect such as presaged happinesse of which the King was was very glad and told Cryseide that it was an evidence the Gods were well pleased with their alliance She who till then had some hopes in the justice of this unknown God and now seeing her intent frustrated she knew not what to have recourse unto you but despair In that resolution she seemed desirous to see the intralls of the Victim her selfe and asked permittance to go unto them The King who was confident in the Reports of the Priests she was very glad she had such a desire thinking that the sight would make her more inclinable unto him when she saw the will of the Goddesse So being helped down she went unto the place of the Sacrifice seemed very busie in looking upon the Liver upon the Heart and the rest of the Noble parts And whilst the Sacrificers were all very busie in shewing these things unto her she seized upon a Knife yet all bloody wherewith they killed the Victims Afterwards running as fast as she could unto the Tomb of the two Lovers she laid hold upon one of the corners and then lifting up the Knife with a most resolute countenance she said aloud Dost thou see this Knife which I have in my hand magnanimous Prince I will presently run it into my heart if any one offer any force unto me and thâ—n setting the point of it against her breast she continued thus The great God of Heaven and Earth be my witnesse Oh great and invincible King that I do esteem and admire thy person and all that proceeds from thee I see thou art favoured by the Gods loved by thy Subjects honoured by thy Neighbours and feared by the enemies I acknowledge Prudence in all thy actions Generosity in all thy enterprises Justice towards all in generall and a particular love towards me which does not onely oblige me to admire thee and serve thee as all the rest of the world doe but also to esteeme thee and love thee as much as possibly I can Knowing therefore all these things and being sensible of the honour you are pleased to do unto me in such an advantageous marriage It must needs be something that has a great power over my affection and over my duty that can divert my will from accepting of it Would you be pleased Sir to consider this I should hope for a pardon if I doe any thing that displeaseth youâ— for believe it Sir could I dispose of my selfe I should be more willing to content you then you can be to command me But be pleased to know Oh great King that as soon as ever I came out of my infancy the Gods would have me love a Cavalier I say the Gods would have me for had it not been the will of the Gods and had not they written it in the unalterable Role of Destiny doubtlesse this affection would have long since withered away with so many bitter blasts and tormenting stormes of fortune First my Parents who had power over me Next Rithimer whom you know is puissant and now you oh great King would pull me out of the arms of my Husband for so may I call him unto whom I have promised marriage calling both Juno and Hymen for witnesses of our reciprocal oaths and to send just curses upon such as break them If all this be not true may these two faithful Loveâ—s who rest in this Tombe and whose soules are with God and enjoy the reward of their fidelitity may they I say punish me with all the rigour of divine justice But if all I say be true then I dâ—e conjure them by that inviolable love they bore unto each other to shew their power in thee oh Great King by obtaining of the Gods to change and divert thy mind another way Be assured oh Great and generous Prince that this is all thou canst obtaine of me unlesse by force which if thou wilt use then this knife shall send my soule out of my body and leave nothing in thy power but a cold carcasse without either life or love But if thou dost indeed love me and art that Great King who has made all Italy to tremble at the very noise of thy Arms make it now appeare not onely in setting me at liberty but also restoring him unto me whose I am and from whom nothing but death can divorce me If thou wilt get the name of just thou must render unto every one that which is unjustly taken from them And if thou wilt shew thy self magnanimous doe it in surmounting thy selfe thy selfe I say who hitherto has been invincible If all this thou dost not doe then O King expect the vengeance of the Gods who at this very hour doe sit in Heaven and see how thou wilt carry thy selfe in this action and will most certainly either punish or reward thee for it And you oh perfect and blessed soules said she and turned towards the Tombe who perhaps whilst you lived here resented the same miseries that I do have compassion upon me and let mâ— not this day before so great an assembly embrace your Tombe in vain or call upon you without reliefe Thus Cryseide ended and embracing the corner of the Sepulchre she held the knife against her breast ready to strike it to her heart if she saw any offer to pull her from thence All the assembly were infinitely astonished when they heard and saw the resolution of this Lady But the King above all the rest was confounded at the Accident For the Sepulchre of these two Lovers was a sanctuary unto all those who laid hold upon it and received any wrong in matters of Love and was so religiously observed that neither Father nor Mother themselves could recal their own Children when they held by one of the corners The King could not imagine that Cryseidâ— should make this use of it or that
of my coming hither If you please therefore we will retire and I shall willingly doe it upon condition you will give me the best advice you can Madam said the Druid I would I were as able to give you good counsell as my affection promps me to do you all manner of service If you please therefore to leave all this good company together you may retire into a Gallery which is close by and call whom you please to accompany you Upon this rising up Adamas addressed himselfe unto Leonide Paris and Alexis and commanded them to stay with those faire shepherdesses and curteous shepheards whilest he waited upon Daphnide into the Gallery and you Hylas said he laying his hand upon his shoulder I entreat you to entertaine this good company and as one of our best friends do my house honour Faith said Hylas faintly I use more to dishonour then honor the houses where I am yet to obey you I will do my best provided my Mistress will do as I bid her every one did laugh at the answer of Hylas especially Alexis who holding her hand before her face said unto him very handsomly Perhaps Hylas you will he too severe No no said Hylas I require but word for word if so said Alexis and if Adamas permit me I am contented Then fairest Mistress said he unto her entreat all this company especially Hylas to keep you company all this day and a little longer if you will For why should so many good friends part so soon Adamas who was very glad of this request answered before Alexis I assure you Hylas said he that I do desire it with all my heart and those who will not condescend unto that desire doe extreamly disoblige me I will tell you Father for them all said Hylas that we will all obey you with as good a will as you can desire it and though all should goe away yet I would stay alone to give a testimony what power you have over me Believe me Hylas said Daphnide you have very well improved your selfe in this Country and have learned so much civility that when you come againe into Camargue you may keep a Schoole Madam said Hylas If all my Schollars would prove like unto my Mistress I shall take some delight in it otherwise believe me I would not impart my knowledge unlesse unto some such a one as your selfe You doe oblige me said she in equalling me unto Alexis Pardon me replyed Hylas presently I did not well consider with my selfe when I committed this error for such is my affection unto my Mistresse that I cannot judge of any thing but to her advantage Daphnide had answered if she had heard these words but she was gone away too far off and carried with her Alcidon Stiliana Carlis and Hermantes the rest stayed in the Great Chamber where a Collation was brought in The Gallery into which the wise Adamas conducted Daphnide and Alcidon was more considerable for the curiosities which were in it then for the magnificence of the Structure though the Doors Windowes and Chimneyes were all of perfectly polished Marble very rich and beautifull though the lights were at just distances a regular proportion in the height and widenesse exactly observed according to the length and rules of Architecture and Fretworkes and Gilding was not spared yet such had been the care of the wise Druid to inrich it with all manner of rarities and curiosities which either Europe Asia or Africa produced not onely of his owne time but of all ages past whose memory was not lost that these did much exceed the richnesse of the buildings and as the one did take the eye with beauty the other did strike the mind with admiration beyond all thought The Arch which was supported by a large Frice was painted with the most ancient History of the Gaules ever since the great Dis-Samothes unto Francus who being absent and taken up with his other Conquests lest the Government of the Dominions unto the Druids and Gaulish Knights There was not forgotten the Great Dryus who by the institution of the Druids left Religion and the Laws of his Fathers unto his successive Nephews There also was the portracture of the Great Hercules who married the Princess Galathea who by his eloquence and Arms did draw the Gaules unto Civility and unto Generosity by his example There also was Sigovesus and Bellonessus the one of which went over the Alpes conquered and Callidot Gaul Cisalpine and the other passing into the Forrest of Hircinia did found the Kingdom of the Bâ—yens To be briefe there one might see the Gaules under Brennus triump in Rome over those great Citizens there loading themselves with Gold And passing from thence into Greece rifled the Gold and Treasures of the Temple of Apollo and so returned into their Country Above this was a second Frice wrought with severall sorts of Fretwork gilded which was a great ornament to the Edifice Betwixt them both was placed the statues of the Roman Emperours from Caesar unto the third Valentinian But the greatest curiosity of the place was that every space betwixt the Windows was filled with Maps of all the Provinces of Gaule so exactly drawne that as one walked one might not only know the distances of places but also the scituation of places Townes their Climates the courses of the Rivers and the propriety of every Province in this little world No observable battle or important siege but was set in its right place so as the great siege of Alexia and the signal expeditions of Caesar might be seen in the plates where they were acted About these Maps might be seene the Pictures of those Princes who ruled those Provinces from time to time so as there might be seen Pharamond Clodion and Merovius and after him without any Crown Childerick his Son for he was not yet King because his Father was alive In the Map of the Sequaners and Hednois one might see Athanarick and his wife Blisinde who though he never passed the Rhine was yet set there as Father unto the valiant Gaud selles the first King of the Burgundians who planted upon the bankes of Arar and Rosne Next unto this King was his wife the wise and pious Theudelinda after them their sonne Gunditch who did first settle the Crown in Gaul after that Gondebert with his three Brothers Chilperio Godamar and Godegesiles To be briefe the Druide was so curious that nothing could be desired which was not to be seen there so as Daphnide Alcidon and their company admired at these rarities and esteemed them the most excellent peeces that ever eye beheld and casting her eye by chance upon the map of Aquitane the faire Daphnide saw there all the valiant Visigots who there reigned As soone as she perceived them she could not take off her eye because she knew there the names and faces of many Amongst the rest of Thorismond of Thierry his Brother and of the valiant Eurioke next whom she saw her
see her I beseech you No lest I should be discovered uand my designe spoyled For if it should besides my owne ruine the Kings service would be spoyled She answered that I needed not to feare it for Daphnide would at her request be very secret and her Father was a faithfull devoted Servant of the Kings I whose desire was to see her yet seemed to be perswaded unto it by her I am said I to her so much devoted unto the service of Ladies as I cannot beleeve any of them will doe me harme Upon this wee saw the Coach take into the way which conducted to the house which assured us that it was she And the Mistresse of the house very glad of such guests taking me by the hand said unto me Will it please you wee should goe and receive them I will put my selfe into their hands said I unto her and smiled perhaps I shall be safer that way than by resistance for submission workes most with generous soules Whilst we were thus talking the Ladies were come into the base Court of the Castle where the Lady of the house went to receive them and told them in their eare what Guest she had in her house and how she thought fit they should know it as well as her selfe The faire Daphnide had with her two Sisters both very fair but both short of her As for me I was retired into a low Parlour where I seemed unwilling to come out for feare of being knowne and it was well I did so for had I not beene alone at their first coming my actions would have discovered my passion For when I saw them first come out of the Coach she who came out first was so faire as I tooke her for Daphnide and seeing the second fairer then she I recanted my first thought saying to my selfe this was she but I rested not long in this error for presently after I saw this faire one come forth who did so ravish me that I knew not what I did but their complements and salutations gave me time to recollect my selfe a litle so as when they came into the house I became so confident that when I saluted them I was able to hid my transport afterwards addressing my selfe unto her who had the sole dominion of my soule I said unto her Madam since fortune will have it so I must confesse my self your Prisoner sir said she unto me in a loud voice we will not refuse the advantange which we have over you but we rather wish our merits had gotten it then our fortune Your merits replyed I may pretend unto far greater and fortune gave you this as being much too little for your merits You have given me the same assurances heretofore said she in a lower tone but in a language which spoke more sincerity then that which you now use At that time answered I I might speak as a childe but now I have more knowledge of my selfe I am sure I speak with more truth yet if you will have it so let be attributed unto fortune but I pray said she and smiled how doe you think to pay the ransome for getting out of our hands for you must never hope for liberty but by that meanes My ransome replyed I be it never so great will not be halfe so hard to be found as to get my heart consent that I shall come out of your hands I perceive replied she and smiled you remember yet what lessons King Thorismond taught you and can talk to Ladies as you were then wont So I ought to doe with you answered I since you have the same eyes and same beauties wherewith you were wont to conquer all those that durst look upon you I thought answered she that men of arms and blood such as follow the King Eurick had onely talked of killing and murdering but I perceive Alcidon wheresoever he is is still the same Alcidon that is all courtesie and civility upon this she went into the great Chamber with all the company The first Complements being passed our kind Land-lady causing seats to be brought she placed me more out of civility then design next unto Daphnide at a little distance from the rest of the company so as seeing my selfe in a place where I might speak more freely my affection and my duty both invited me to give her thanks for the favour of this meeting but when I began she interrupted me with an angry look and laying her hand upon my mouth she said unto me You must not think Alcidon that you are any thing obliged unto me for this visit because I would never have consented unto it but onely out of a design to punish you knowing that since you did love me when I was a meer childe you will now be ready to die for the love of me seeing me more improved This is the true cause which moved me unto this meeting I meane to chastise you and not to gratifie you for having rendred your selfe so unworthy of those favours which I conferred upon I will try whether chastisements will make you better know your duty both unto me and your selfe Can you think forgetful lover that after so many expressions of favour and love that my beauty deserves to be forgotten and that in two long years no spark of any memory should appeare Doe you thinke perfidious man that so long a silence can be excused by the miseries of the time Wars and all impediments whatsoever cannot perswade me but that it is some defect in affection and not any reall excuse I know that if I would permit it you will flow with excuses but I forbid you to speak not that I feare your language can perswade me but because I am resolved not to believe you and because I will not let you have so much content as to speak any thing before me which shall please you By this you may know that this meeting for which you think your selfe obliged unto me resembles sweet poyson which by sweetnesse gives death I offered to answer but I no sooner opened my mouth but she checked me saying what Alcidon doe you care as little for disobliging me in my presence as in my absence No no Alcidon that is not the way to win upon Daphnide What then said I unto her is it your pleasure I should do To suffer said she and be silent For it is fit you should expiate your sinne of silence by silence Upon this I was mute yet shewing by my lookes that my heart was troubled that I might not speak in my own defence She on the contrary looking with a little more favourable eye after a while of silence began thus This Daphnide whom you see before your face forgetful Alcidon is the very same shee was when you first made so many oathes of fidelity unto her the very same who believed you the very same whose hands you so oft washed in your then innocent teares But to your shame she is able to say that
yet at lest a pretender unto it yet God knowes what force ambition has upon the spirit of a woman especially upon a woman of a generous soule Whilst we were thus discoursing upon the businesse newes was brought the King that they of Arles were resolved to submit themselves into his hands upon those conditions he offered unto them to wit the conservation of their Franchises and priviledges without which the Inhabitans of the Town were so couragious as they would never have consented to acknowledge him This is the reason said the King and tooke me aside why I aske you whether you are as prosperous in Love as I am in Warre For this City is the chiefe of all the Province and it rendring it selfe unto me it is to be thought that all the rest after its example will doe the like Sir said I unto him it is a very happy Omen unto me and if I doe bring about my designe I will not change my prize for yours The King imbraced me with a smile and said afterward aloud we shall heare the rest of your businesse another time Meane while I will goe and take orders to content those of this Towne so as may invite others to doe as they have done that Sir said I unto him is the best course you can take for a great King as you are should force people unto submission more by sweetnesse then violence Whilst the King was busie on his side I was no lesse on mine for at the same time I dispatched Alvian which was the name of him whom Daphnide gave me for a guide and because she had a great trust and confidence in him and that his fidelity and affection was already known unto me I desired him to contrive it so that by his prudence I might sometimes see that fair Lady I told him that I would never forget my obligations unto him which I would repay any way he would desire so he departed with a promise that he would study my contentment and upon every occasion would testifie his desire of doing me service Thus I left him and was in such raptures of Love as I had no other thought but of Daphnide I found by experience that Lovers doe not measure their time like other men but according to the impatiency of the passion which possesseth them for dayes seemed unto me whole months so long did I thinke them hearing no newes from this faire Lady my sweetest entertainment was my owne thoughts which when I could get my selfe out of all company ran continually upon the passages of my voyage The great Eurick having nothing to doe after the rendition of this Towne would refresh his Army for some dayes for it had been much tyred out in that occasion and dividing them into severall Quarters he kept no more about him then were requisite for the safety of his person And because it was his custome when he tooke Truce with Mars to begin warre with Venus and with his sport in hunting he devoted himselfe unto them two there being nothing more odious unto his courage then idlenesse and it was his ordinary Apothegme that to live and do nothing was to bury himselfe before he was dead My office called me to be continually about his person but my affection to him much more and therefore I was never from his elbow The truth is this new love or rather this renewing of my old love to Daphnide had made me so melancholly that I could hardly speake unto any Which the King perceiving one day when he was hunting whether it was to mocke at my passion or whether it pleased him to heare talke of her who tyed my heart and my tongue I know not but he called me unto him and with a smile said May one not interrupt your thoughts so farre Alcidon as to tell you that they are so much taken up with absent persons that they care not for us that are present Sir said I unto him there is a necessity of it upon me which I hope wil serve for an excuse For ought I see Alcidon replyed he none but I am a loser in this Adventure Why Sir said I unto him Because said he Daphnide hath gotten a Servant and you in lieu of a Master have gotten both a Master and a Mistresse But I have lost for whereas I alone did possesse you now I have a Companion who has a share with me and perhaps a greater then I have Did I thinke Sir replyed I prâ—sently that my affection would any manner of way divert me from that service which I owe unto you doubtlesse Sir in lieu of Love I would chuse Death and should thinke my selfe unworthy to live if I did not to my last breath continue in this desigue But then if without prejudice to your service I may obtaine that happinesse which Love doth promise me and which my heart does so passionately desire I cannot thinke it any losse to you for a good Master as you are does alwayes desire to see his Servants thrive in contentment I must confesse said he unto me and laughed that this affection so it do you no harm it will not doe me any but I much feare that as disease cannot continue long but it must needs either increase or diminish so if yours do not quickly diminish it will so increase that we shall be both losers And therefore you must either be diverted from it or else use some remedies Sir said I unto him the care which you are pleased to have of me will guard me from all danger But to cure or diminish my affection is to attempt a thing which is beyond the reach of all possibility This said the King is a most strong and violent passion Sir said I unto him did you but see her who is the cause of it you would say all is too little to equall her But is it credible said he that she should be so fair as you speake her Sir answered I did I not feare that I my selfe should be the cause of my owne ruine I would tell you and truly much more but I am afraid that in so doing I should sharpen the weapon which will kill me How doe you meane said he unto me and because I did not answer Speak freely Alcidon said he tell me what your fear is and he commanding me two or three times at last I continued I feare Sir and not without reason lest Daphnide being so infinitely faire should have as great an influence upon your soule as she hath upon mine if that should happen there is no way for me but death and a death so desperate that my most mortall enemies would pitty me I knew by severall circumstances said he then unto me that you were in this doubt and I had a mind to put you out of it No no I would not offer such wrong unto any of my servants much lesse unto you upon whom I have conferred so many signall testimonies of my particular good will
King took his leave and went on his journey Daphnide seeing me following did beckon unto me as desirous to speak with me whereupon I commanded one of my men to hide my horse to the end I might have some colour to stay behind so as though the King called me twice or thrice yet stay I did seeming to be very angry with my servants for the little care they had of my Horse The King and almost all the Train departed and I going into the house seeming onely because I would not have the Ladies stay so long in the Sun I took Daphnide aside Well Madam said I unto her what doe you thinke of the Great Eurick Nay said she what discourse doe you thinke we had I cannot tell replyed I Then said she I will tell you and you shall judge which of us two loves you best when he took me to the window to the end Della might not hear though at the first he stayed her with me out of civility he said unto me I doe not now wonder that Alcidon should run such hazard to see you for I protest you are the fairest in the world and now I have seen you I cannot think any in the whole Universe worthy of esteem At the first this discourse made me blush especially hearing him mention you and of a businesse which I did not thinke he knew of yet seeming as if I did not understand him I answered thus I know not sir why you should tell me of Alcidon nor what hazards he has run but I am sure that there is nothing in me worthy of your eye nor of the language of so great a King Why fair one said he unto me did you thinke Alcidon could leave our Army without my leave and without telling me whither he went The Law of War is very severe and strickt moreover assure your selfe that he is too young to enjoy so much good fortune I am so little versed in the way of War answered I and the age of Alcidon does so little concerne me as I never learned the one nor cared for the other Why said he doe you thinke I know not how he hath seene you twice the first time at a Cavaliers house who has the charge of my Artilery and the next time at your sisters where you kept him in a Closet No no Fair one he has told me all and so particularly as you your self do not know them better Certainly said I Alcidon has a great confidence in you and in saying so I was constrained to cover my blushes with my hand being ashamed the King should know all these particulars But he smiling This said he is the common vanity of all young people they cannot be silent but must be blabbing of their own happinesse but be not angry I should know this since loving and honouring you so much as I do I shall take no notice of it but if you will follow my advice and preserve your reputation cast off this youth and reject his addresses for you may be certaine that he who would tell me these things will in an humour tell them to any other and perhaps to some that are not so discreet as I am Judge Alcidon said she to me into what a condition you have brought me by acquainting him with these things which above all you should have concealed How can I chuse but be extreamly angry with you when I reflect upon the wrong you have done me Madam said I unto her I must needs confesse my selfe in a great fault but I am confident you will excuse it if you will but please to remember the manner how we lived in the dayes of his Predecessor King Thorismond who being the first cause of our love I thought this King being as gracious unto me as the other would also favour the accomplishment of it but I perceive their designes are farre different for the one aimed at my happinesse in giving me that which he had a mind unto himselfe and the other intends to make me most miserable by ravishing from me her whom he knowes is mine and without whom he knowes I value not my life For I doe foresee by the knowledge which I have of his humour that he will love you his designe I perceive is to put you out of conceit with me so as your mind then not being ingaged he hopes the more easily to win upon you and bring about his own ends But Madam if you doe think him able to compasse his desires and that I shall ever see this change in you I conjure you by the memory of great Thorismond who loved us both so well never to let me see it but to tell me betimes that my death may anticipate such a dire accident Daphnide then smiled and said I am very glad to see you so much perplexed as you are as well to prevent you from relapsing into your crime of being so liberall in your tongue as to know by your fears which you have of the King and of his good will unto me that you doe really love me But Alcidon I love you too well to let you be long in this perplexity Live therefore contentedly and be confident that as long as Alcidon loves me Daphnide will never love any other and that neither the grandure nor authority of a King shall ever be able to alter me in this resolution We had talked longer if the King who had already sent twice for me had not sent the third time fearing as I beleeve lest Daphnide should impart unto me what he had said unto her Therefore after I had kissed the hand of my fairest Mistresse and after she had given me assurance that if the King continued she would impart all unto me I departed and galloped after the King whom I found gone but a little way for he stayed purposely to dispatch away an expresse to colour thereby his staying for me and to the end that if I came not quickly he might send another messenger for me When I was come unto him Alcidon said he I sent for you because there is danger in coming after an army with few men for I have intelligence that the Enemy is not farre off and if they have any designe of doing any thing they will watch such occasions by their spies I gave him most humble thankes for the care he had of me and though I made no shew of it yet I knew very well that when he said the enemy was not farre off he said truly since he himselfe was neer me and no enemy could be more dangerous nor cruell then himselfe Observe wise Adamas the follies of love I resented the injury so deepely that had I not feared to incur the danger of being taxed for a perfidious Cavalier I know not unto what fury my resentments might have prompted me unto against him but upon good consideration of the matter I resolved to smother my wrongs and seeme to take no notice that I knew any thing
Oh Heavens what grosse folly it is in any to look for any certainty under the Moon I mean for any thing which is not alterable Whilst thus we continued writing unto each other the King continued his enterprise and I who thought that I had a good occasion to laugh at him did find my selfe in the conclusion the party laughed at Pardon me Fairest Mistress I beseech you if this truth offend you Well well Alcidon said Daphnide and interrupted him I will not now answer you go on with your discourse as you please Upon this Alcidon continued The King having effected his enterprise against his enemies he returned the same way he came purposely to see his new Mistresse and to the end I should know nothing of it he came the night before his Army almost all alone and lodged in her house He had made choice of such to wait upon him as I knew nothing of it a long time after but at last I came to know it by an accident which hereafter I shall tell you In the meanetime the King came to Avignion where he honoured me so far as to enquire of me and because I was extreamly vexed at the pursuit which I saw he made of this faire Lady I could not perfectly shake off my sicknesse but being neither well nor ill I languished away such a melancholly life as I became scarce knowable The King hearing of it sent severall times to visit me and he himselfe condescended to come and see me but spoke not a word of Daphnide nor made any shew of seeing her or had her so much as in memory I for my part kept not such a close Guard upon my lips but told him that it grieved me so much that against his promise he should use me thus as the very sight of him aggravated my griefe and augmented my sicknesse Since the last time that the King was with Daphnide she writ unto me onely as an umbrage for her intentions and to keep me as long as she could from the knowledge of all passages though she knew they would out at last for the Courtship of Great Princes cannot be long concealed As for the Letters which she received from him she sent them not unto me as she was wont to doe unlesse it were some out of which no great matter could be collected and those very rarely Thus did I fret away my time with such heart-breaking thoughts as when I think upon them I cannot chuse but wonder they did not bring me to my Grave Sometimes in the evening when the weather was fair and the Sun in decline of heat I should walke upon the bankes of the River Rosne towards the house of this fair one and there all alone contemplate upon my own thoughts until the Suns light had left our Hemisphere and then I should returne to my own lodging and spend the whole night in the same melancholly imaginations How often have I taken conjectures of my misfortune for certainties and then wished my selfe out of this life as thinking that I lived onely to resent my own sorrowes and her treachery How oft have I with disdaine thought my selfe a fond fool for loving such a weathercock beauty how many times have I resolved to break off all those perfidious bonds that tyed me to her service perfidious may I well call them for all her oathes and promises which together with her beauty tyed me to her service are all vanity and deluders But alas how oft have I also considered that not being my selfe I was not able either to doe or resolve upon any thing but according to her will and by as that drew me unto her Till now sage Adamas my misery was onely dubious and hanged onely upon suspition but now see how the whole truth came to be discovered unto me I was walking as I told you upon the bankes of Rosne not with any intention to divert my selfe but onely to entertaine my mortal thoughts one evening as I was returning to my lodging I saw a young Cavalier who was one of my friends whose Father served the King in his Courtship of this faire one and he rid by me and did not know me not imagining that he whom he saw could be alone so late whom he knew never used to walke so slenderly attended but riding on a little further and knowing and servant that waited upon me at a distance he asked him what he did in that place and my servant answering that he waited there until I had done walking the Cavalier presently alighted from his horse and having saluted me beseeched me to pardon him for passing by and not knowing me After some common discourse which we had together upon that subject I asked him from whence he came and whither he was going He who was altogether ignorant of my love unto this fair one and knew nothing neither of the Kings but by his father he answered me with all freedom and plainnesse I come sir said he from a place where you are had in memory and I have brought you a letter which will testifie as much then putting his hand into his pocket he took it out and withall another the superscription whereof I knew and having a suspition that it was directed unto the King also seeing how free this young Cavalier was in his language as I tooke my owne letter I asked him for whom the other was For whom said he why it is to the King my Father is faln sick and he gave it unto me to carry unto the King He spake thus unto me as thinking that I knew of the Kings love as I did all other the Kings businesse before Though this made a deep impression upon my heart yet I smiled at his simplicity and said unto him I doe believe dear friend that both you and your Father are put to very much trouble in the businesse Oh Sir said he very freely I swear unto you that all the voyages of War which the King has taken has not been so troublesome to us as this cursed love hath been especially since the King in his return went to see that faire Lady and you may imagine this a truth by the sicknesse which my Father hath gotten My dear friend replyed I and embraced him such as great Princes doe imploy upon such occasions are such whom they best love and therefore you are not a little obliged unto that fair Lady who is the cause besides your own merit of the Kings love and favour unto you Sir said he unto me I cannot tell what may happen but I am affraid that this Lady of whom you speake will so bewitch him as none can have any share in the Kings favour and love but herself These words went so to my heart as they constrained me to dismisse him sooner then otherwise I would and having no curiosity to know any more I told him purposely to make him go away that the King impatiently expected his coming and that I
upon him that he began to recover and rise out of his bed so as before I went from Avignion he was perfectly well and so contented that I should smile upon the King that he himselfe would often come with him when he came to visit me The truth is I was put to use all my art in carrying my selfe so swimingly as to perswade the King that I was quite off the hinges with Alcidon and Alcidon had much a doe to perswade him that he had no designe upon me for the King knowing what good will had been betwixt us he could not believe that he could out of respect unto him extinguish his flames unto me Also considering that Alcidon was young and hansome and at a right age for love he thought him so fit a subject for my love as he could not thinke I could quit Alcidon for him Thus did he live long in jealous suspition but the discreet carriage of Alcidon and my coldnesse towards him did make him lose that opinion and therefore thinking himself sole possessor of my affection he openly shewed his love unto me so as after my brother in law by my mediation had obtained his desires he sent for my Father and Mother to come unto him purposely as an excuse for his desires of having me near him Although they were both very old yet ambition which alwaies takes more root in the soules of old people then in young did in obedience to his commands move them to leave their homes in hopes of preferment unto greater favours Now are both become Courtiers and the King did not deceive their hopes for he loaded them with wealth and honours which yet they did not long enjoy for whether it was that their age was arrived at that term beyond which none can passe or whether it was that the Turmoiles and noise of the Court did abridge their lives yet so it was that they both dyed presently after as if they came to the Court onely to leave me in possession of it for otherwise I durst not have come but being there I stayed there under excuse of taking order about some domestique businesse which was left upon me and afterwards when the Kings affection to me was published in hopes to be his wife as he himself divulged During all this time few dayes passed without giving Alcidon an opportunity of seeing me in private and in which I did not spend two hours at the least with him which alwaies seemed short unto me when we parted He knowes very well that all this is true and that many times in testimony of my good affection to him I have put both him and my selfe in very great danger of life and honour The truth is I must needs commend both him and his discretion in this that what opportunities soever I gave him and what favours soever I shewed unto him he never offered to go beyond the limits of honesty and though I believe he thought that I would not suffer him yet I am much obliged unto him in that he never gave me any cause to repent of my kindness to him Living thus in the flow of contentment though I was in continuall feare lest the King should come to know of this good will and lest that should give him occasion to change as he had already done to the disadvantage of others I observed that there was many great Ladies who to enjoy the favour and possession of this Prince whether it was out of a desire of the Glory to command him whom so many millions obeyed or out of a spiring hopes to obtain a Crown I cannot tell but they were very assiduous in sprucing themselves up in hopes to be pleasing in the Kings eye Amongst the rest I observed two the one was called Clarinta and the other Adelonda As for Clarinta I must needs confesse I never saw a fairer nor more meritorious of love having all the amiable qualities that are desirable In the first place Envy it selfe could not find the least tittle of a defect in her face she had a hand no eye ere saw a fairer nor better proportioned her stature was tall straight and slender and the Majesty of her mind was such as if she were borne purposely to weare a Crowne as many of her Ancestors formerly had done And to make her Charmes the more inevitable the Universe had not a finer wit the rayes of which shined in all her actions but especially her speech was so infinitely charming that not to be taken with her there was no other remedy but not to see and heare her To be briefe I must confesse that were I a man I had devoted my selfe her adorer what treatment soever had I found and woman as I was I was never satisfied but when I saw her and was with her although so many perfections and merits gave me sufficient cause to hate her because of the designe which I had and the pretension which I know she had As for Adelonda truth is she was faire but not comparable to Clarinta neither in beauty nor merit and moreover being married she could not have the aspiring pretensions of the other so as though I was not troubled much to see Eurick carrasse her yet the other gave great gusts of suspition and therefore I resolved to divert the mind of the King first from her and afterwards at more leisure from Adelonda especially when I saw that he went sometimes unto her And though at the first he feigned that he did visit her not out of love but only honour yet afterwards his visits were ofter than usuall and he hid them from me as much as he could I quickly observed this my selfe besides those spies which I had continually about the Prince did presently advertise me of it After I had well consulted with my selfe upon the best remedy against this storm at last I bethought me of Alcidon thinking that if he would second me in it my designe might happily prosper And because the matter required present expedition the first time I had an opportunity of talking with him alone I used this language Alcidon I am unresolved whether or no I should impart a businesse unto you which troubles me more than I am able to expresse fearing least the affection which you beare unto me should make you take my words otherwise then I desire and yet if you doe but consider how I have lived with you for the time past and what evident testimonies I have given you of my good will I am confident you will thinke that it is onely the necessity of our affaires which constraines me to desire a thing of you which I have hitherto delayed You know how as my fortune is all that looke upon me are enviers of my happines so as I must stand upon my guard against all persons who would if they could step into my roome The affection which you have promised unto me and that which I bear unto you does strongly invite you to have
alteration had come sooner she stood astonished at this answer and when she would have continued discourse his Physitians came unto him so as she durst not make any further replies but after a little longer stay she went away the worst satisfied person in the world in the meane time Alcires to lose no time in the seconding so good a beginning and to comply with all occasions that presented themselves he grew more kinde and familiar with Amintor then before and kept himselfe so constantly near him as it was impossible for any to speak with him and he not heare For knowing very well that his disease proceeded from despaire principally he was loath any should undeceive him or let him know the truth But because he had not yet accomplished his chiefe worke but thought it necessary that as he had deceived Amintor so to deceive Clarinta also purposely to make her fly from him as he fled from her one day therefore when he was with his companion alone in his Chamber he made a shew as if he would write something which was of some importance but as if his fancy was not pleased with what he writ he raced out sometimes a word and sometimes a whole line and at last as if he were angry at the dulnesse of his genius he tore the paper in pieces and flung away the Pen at which Amintor smiling and wondering at it he asked him why he did so I assure you answered he that my wits are off the hinges this day This morning the King commanded me to write a Letter of thankes unto a Lady for some favour which she had done him and to carry it to him when I had done that he might transcribe it but my genius is so dull to day that I am not able to write one significant syllable to the purpose Amintor loving Alcires and knowing that Eurick used to imploy his friends sometimes in such Commissions whom he thought had a happy faculty in penning he would try whether his malady would permit him to write this Letter for his friend and taking his scribled Paper out of his hand the better to hint him upon the subject he writ these Lines Amintors Letter in the name of King Eurick IT is Madam by the grandure of my affection that you have measured the favour which I have received from you but by what rule can I square and equall the thanks which I owe unto you for it it must needs be by some rule that is infinite for such is my will to doe you service which I beseech you to receive as from a person who loves you above all the world and thinkes himselfe the most obliged person in it Alcires did desire no more but that Amintor should write such a Letter upon this subject not with intention to give it unto the King as he pretended but to effect another designe which he had plotted in himselfe he much commended therefore the acutenesse of his fancy and his facility of expression then thanked him for it and put it in his pocket after this he went away pretending to transcribe it in his Closet where he was to doe such things By fortune the rude Copy which he first writ remained upon the Table which the poore sick Amintor laid up in a little drawer where he was wont to put such Papers without any other designe but that it might not be seen Alcires in the mean time sealed the Letter but gave it no superscription and went to Clarinta taking a time when he thought to find her alone Two dayes were already expired since the last time Clarinta did visit Amintor and since she returned so ill satisfied and though she was very desirous to know why Amintor should speake in that manner unto her yet she durst not goe againe so soon lest she should thereby give occasion of scandal And now seeing Alcires also knowing what familiarity there was betwixt them and not being ignorant that Alcires loved her as well as Amintor yet she could not chuse but aske him how he did Alcires seeming as if he did not know that his friend loved her did answer her very coldly I believe Madam he is very well for he is of late so jocond and merry as it is not likely he will long keep his Chamber since all the Physitians say that the cause of his malady was excessive sorrow I believe said Clarinta that the Physitians said truly but if he be so jocond as you say he is much changed since I saw him for the last time I was with him he could scarcely open his mouth to give me a word I know not said Alcires when it was you saw him but I am sure that never man looked with a more contented face then he did yesterday morning and it was not without good reason if he who obtaines his desires has any reason to be contented I beseech you Alcires said she presently let me know what it is which causeth him so much contentment that as his Cousen and friend I may participate in his joyes Madam replyed he I should willingly obey your command but that I know very few women who can be secret and should he ever come to know it I should quite lose his friendship which I value at a very high and deare rate I must confesse said she that I am a woman but none of those who you say cannot keep a secret having ever made a constant profession not to speak of any thing which I promise to conceal as at this time I sweare and protest I will Upon this promise said he I will tell it you but upon a condition that you shall not by your soveraigne power over me urge me to tell more then I am willing to impart I assure you said she that I will not Know then replyed Alcires most craftily that poor Amintor is secretly become desperately in love with one of the prime and fairest Ladies in all the Court and loving her extreame passionately he resolved to try how her pulse did beat in good will towards him but finding himselfe not not so happy as in his hopes he resented it so sadly that he fell sick and fell into such strange fits of melancholly as there are very few persons but that ghesse her to be the onely cause of it Of which this faire one being advertised was moved unto so much compassion as to visit him and since finding the grandure of his affection she gave him so much cause of contentment as before she did of despaire Do not expect Madam that I should tell you who it is unlesse you can guess at her by the effects which I shall relate but so it is that this very morning he hath a writ a Letter unto her and made me his confident to carry it Clarinta hearing this and being infinitely surprised at it she could not chuse but blush extreamly and because she would not have Alcires see her she held her Hankercher before her face and
possibly displease her And in this perplexity they both stood a long while speechlesse at last the shepherdesse was the first who began to speake Madam said she unto her I see that you are changed upon a sudden and I cannot possibly chuse but be exceedingly troubled at it if I be the cause either by my discourse or otherwise I doe vow by that soule which loves you above all the World that I will presently be revenged upon my selfe for it if I be not then tell me I beseech you if my life can doe you any service and you shall see there is nothing so deare unto me which I would not sacrifice unto it Alexis knowing her fault and checking her selfe did endeavour to excuse and hide it as well as she could and therefore with a deepe sigh she answered thus T is true faire shepherdesse that the alteration which you observed in my face did proceed from you and yet you are not to be blamed but onely my owne soule which is too sensible of a thing which your words did bring into my memory And to give satisfaction unto your perplexity you must know that I being brought up amongst the Virgin Druids of Carnutes amongst the multitude that was there I made choice of one whom above all the rest seemed unto me most amiable and thought my selfe not mistaken in my choice she being esteemed so amongst all our Companions and having all desirable qualities which use to create love She was faire hansome and as well extracted as any in all the Country her wit was sutable to the perfections of her body everyway accomplished and all her actions were sweetned with affability and civility her sweetnesse flowed so upon me that I loved her and because I thought she loved me I loved her extreamly and this love came to that height betwixt us that I could not live without her nor she without me Thus we passed over many yeares with abundance of content and satisfaction from each other but whilst I thought my selfe more happy in this condition of friendship than the greatest Monarch can be of his Dominions this faire one quitted me and so seperated her selfe from all termes of friendship with me as she would never see me againe and without ever telling any cause fell into such hatred of me as she would never come neere me My perplexity at this alteration was so great and the blow so sensible as I becoming all sorrow I fell sicke and so dangerously as I beleeve you have heard that I thought I should never recover it Now when you fell into expression of your constant and unalterable humour I remembred the like expressions which this faire and wise Virgin used unto me and which were so ill observed and this caused the alteration which you observed in my countenance Madam said Astrea I am sorry that I should be any way the cause of your perplexity but I hope you will thinke me innocent for had I knowne it I would never have committed this fault But who would ever have thought that you who are so faire and full of all perfections enough to invite and keep the whole world in love with you should ever find a woman so simple and inconsiderate as to let a happinesse voluntarily escape her hands which every one ought to desire and covet Oh God! Oh Heavens Oh all that 's sacred how carefull should I be in keeping so great a happinesse if Heaven beyond my merit should ever raise me to so high a fortune And with how much carefull assiduity should I court it if by my care paines and travell I had any hopes to obtaine it But Heaven which has looked upon me with a frowning eye ever since I was borne will I feare never be so favourable to me as long as I live Faire shepherdesse said Alexis then let me intreat you that unlesse you will exceedingly disoblige me accuse not this faire and wise Virgin of any crime in treating me after this manner For I cannot endure without much displeasure she should ever receive any blame for that which is only my fault and the ill influence of that planet under which I was born And as to your desire of my succeeding in her place beleeve it Astrea it is I that would covet it with any Art but for one thing which gives me a checke And most assuredly were it not for that consideration my desires of it should exceed yours But faire shepherdesse I fear that though now at the first you judge me worthy of your amity yet when you do particularly know me your judgement will find it selfe mistaken and looke asquint at me as this faire and wise one did whose losse I doe so sadly resent and if such a fatall chance should befall me I know not what would become of poore Alexis being able to say and truly that I doe find my selfe so weake against such fatall blowes as I know not whether my life will last after I have received them And since it hath pleased the great Tautates to recover me from the danger of the last I must confesse that my feares of falling into the like makes me tremble and turnes my blood to ice It does not pleasâ— you Madam replyed Astrea I should say that this faire one was to blame in treating you thus and therefore because I will not upon any consideration whatsoever displease you I will not say it but by your permission I will say that she will never find such a jewell as she has lost and that if Tautates as a most particular blessing would preferre me unto her roome I would not part from it for a thousand worlds Ah faire shepherdesse said Alexis and sighed if such a happinesse should befall me I should vaule your amity at as a high rate as you can mine But beleeve me faire one you know not what you desire when you desire my amity I confesse Madam what you say answered Astrea for the happinesse which I desire is so high as the weaknesse of my understanding is not of capacity to comprehend it But Madam since it is not the meanesse of my merit what is it which hinders you from doing me this high favour since I doe call Tautates to witnesse that if I be so happy as to obtaine it I will preserve it deerer than my life nay even that life which would be an infinite happinesse if you thinke me worthy of it Alexis upon this swelling with contentment she tooke her hand and grasping it a little said unto her faire shepherdesse remember where we leave this discourse and we will finish it to morrow as we goe unto your Towne in the mean time be assured that I have a greater inclination and will to love you and serve you than you can tell how to desire The reason why Alexis referred this discourse untill another time was least lookers on should have any suspition had it continued longer besides she could not there hide her blushes and
stood up and said I doe promise and sweare not onely to performe all I have said but also not to faile in my very thoughts I call God Heavens Earth and all the world to witnesse my Oath and pray them all to inflict their most severe punishments upon all perjured Persons These Oathes and imprecations Arimant said I unto him are needlesse your owne word would have satisfied As for my part I have so great a confidence in you as I daie trust my selfe with you as much as with my selfe Then we both sat down and Clarina staying by her mother lest by any accident the Box should tumble from her nose Arimant said thus unto me It is the quality of Gods and Goddesses fair Crysâ—ide to conferre the greatest favours to the end that their power and their goodnesse may be seen and acknowledged So you Madam resembling them both in beauty and in virtue you have done me a favour which does not onely infinitely transcend my merits but also all the hopes that ever I could imagine Since it is so and fince I must needs acknowledge it so what should I doe not to acquit my selfe for I cannot pretend unto it knowing it to be impossible but onely to avoid the brand of ingratitude I must confesse the more I think upon it the more I am confounded and ashamed that my fortune should he to receive such high benefits and have so little understanding as not to know how I should be thankful as I ought I have no other way to come out of this Labyrinth but this only refuge which is to referre my selfe wholly unto your will that as at my request you were pleased to doe me this favours so that I may by your commandment do what I ought to acknowledge it After this expression he was silent in expectation of my answer which was this Arimant said I unto him that you should acknowledge that what I have done for you to be something that is great and extraordinary is as full satisfaction as I can desire but I cannot endure you should esteem your selfe at so low a value as to thinke that you doe not deserve this favour for in so doing you doe not onely offend against truth but against that judgement which I had of you when I thought you worthy of my amity Doe not thinke Arimant that I have done any thing at random or without sound deliberation When I first gave entertainment to your good will I must confesse it was without any design and onely because your addresse did invite me to it But when I bestowed my good will upon you doe not thinke unlesse you have an ill opinion of me that I did it without long and serious debate in my selfe whether I ought to doe it or no and whether I should be blamed for such a choice I considered your family because I would not disparage my own Ancestors and I found it so full of noblenesse as I could not chuse but be contented with it I looked upon the person and I could take no exception against it either in your body or mind I have observed your behaviour and I could not find any thing which was not noble and to be esteented all your actions being full of honour and virtue Briefly I have cast my eyes upon your affection and I find that you doe really love me Now Arimant can you think that he who is owner of these qualities does not deserve any favour from the person whom he loves Madam answered he and kissed my hand this favour which you are pleased to doe me now is greater if it can be then the first and I see you will put me out of all hopes of ever being able to pay so great a debt I received all those applaudes which you are pleased to bestow upon me not than I am so vaine as to think them my due but because I desire you should think them so that they may so much the more oblige you to continue unto me the honour of your favours Arimant replyed I you know very well and I also that what I say of you is true and this may be a great testimony of your merit that Cryseide loves you for you must either think her without wit or knowledge or else think your selfe amiable because she loves you But let us leave this discourse and tell me I entreat you whether the report be true that you are to marry and whether as I am told you intend it At this question Arimant blusht and though I spoke it ignorantly yet so it was that his Father had made such a motion to him not long before and therefore he answered me 'T is true indeed Madam such a thing is talked of but my Father shall sooner make me die then ever consent unto it for I am resolved never to marry any but the fair Cryseide if she will blesse me with so much happinesse I would not be any meanes replyed I unto him of your disobedience unto your Parents Madam said he I am obliged to obey God before a Father and it is he who hath commanded me to be none but yâ—â—â—s but why should we spend time or consult upon a thing which is already done Then kneeling down before me I doe sweare and protest before all the Gods said he and call them all to witnesse what I say That I will rather die then not be yours and that I will never rise off my knees untill you receive me for the husband of the faire Cryseide Arâ—mant said I unto him I am obliged unto you for your good will unto me and you may think I would never have permitted you entrance into this place 〈◊〉 I had not the same â—â—tention But being both of us at the disposition of others this is a promise which we neither can nor ought to make so rashly but it deserves to be more seriously thought upon Why Madam replyed he presently have you given me all there signal favours and deny me this which I ask with so much reason but you must resolve either to have me continually kneeling before you or else grant my supplication I could not chuse but smile when I heard his last words for he uttered them with such an action as shewed him to be in good earnest Yet I said unto him Perhaps Arimant you may quickly reperit if I should take you at your word Oh God Fair Cryseide said he do not offend so extreamly against my affection and your own beauty And to put you out of all doubt I call Hymen and Juno to witnesse that I will never be husband unto any but the fair Cryseide and upon this word I perceived that he would have put a Ring upon my finger which caused me to draw away my hand and rise up but he held me by force and said unto me Will you Madam make me perjur'd and rise from hence where I have vowed to stay eternally unlesse you accomplish my request Your request replyed I
any either generosity or love in this woman or any other quality or condition which you can desire And thus I ended extreamly astonishing the father who walked two or three turnes without speaking one wordâ— whilst I was in expectation of the sentence either of life or death At last lifting up his head which he had all the while hung downe he answered thus I must confesse Cleomire you have told me most strange things which may well plead my excuse for being a little pensive But considering that there is nothing in this world which comes by chance but by the wise providence of the Gods I will beleeve that all these things which you have told me have happened by their wils since it is so I should be very harsh if I offer to crosse them My Son you say loves Cryseide and I do beleeve it for I have heard that his voyage to the Libicians was only to make addresses unto her and fight with Clorangus who pretended unto her Cryseide hath also given very great testimonies of her love to him I doe conclude from hence that the Gods do never make such contraries to meet and sympathetically agree but they are contented with the good will which is betwixt them Friend I do commend my Sons choice for Cryseide doth highly deserve to be loved and now I know her reasons which induced her unto what she did my esteem of her is double unto what it was Tell therefore my Son as much for I see that it was he who imployed you to speak unto me Tell him that since according to his duty he has respected me so much as not to contract with Cryseide without my consent I doe take it so kindly as I both approve and commend his choice and pray unto the Gods that I may soon see them both together And though I doe foresee that Richimer will rage more hatred against me and colour it with my Sons offence in ravishing his wifes Cozen out of his house yet that shall not make me alter my opinion being resolved to countenance and maintain them in spite of all danger that can come unto me I beleeve Hylas you thinke that this answer did give me as much contentment as I could desire and well you might for after I kneeled downe and thanked him in behalf of his Son and Cryseide not daring to declare my selfe without the advice of my dear Arimant I thought he would never have satisfied himselfe with thanking me hugging and kissing me Then I parted from him and went to acquaint Arimant with my happy successe which ravished him beyond all expression At last it was resolved amongst us that since I had told his Father I was amongst the Vestals I should not yet declare my selfe lest I should be taken in a lie For all lies have this quality that when they are known they make truth it selfe suspected And to avoid the rage of Rithimer and my mother we thought it best to conceale our marriage for a while whilst in the mean time endeavours were used to pacific them Arimants Father approved of this and from thence forward referred the whole matter unto the will of his Son Now Hylas see how men purpose and God disposeth who would have thought but that their businesse was brought to as good a passe as we could wish or expect And yet all our crosses hitherto were but playes in comparison of what ensued For Arimant and I desiring to consummate our design pretended to go unto Cryseide and after we had provided womens cloths and all that was necessary for our marriage and were come into a Towne of the Caturges we intended to stay there so long as to make the father beleeve we were gone unto her whom we had with us But as ill luck was Gundehunt King of the Burgundians having passed over the Alps with a puissant Army did fall into the Territories of the Taurinois and Caturges so unexpectedly as he found them without any defence or thoughts of any Enemy And by fortune the very next day we came into this Towne he fell upon it where all they could do was to shut the Gates against the surprise of the first Comers but when the maine body of the army came up all the inhabitants could then do was to render their Town upon such pittifull condition as little mended the matter unlesse that the women were not ravished nor their Temples pillaged as they were in other places and all the rest left to the discretion of the ravenous Souldier â— Oh heavens Hylas what a lamentable sight was it to see women carried away Captives out of the arms of their husbands No intreaties no tears nor no offers could redeeme them So sadly did I resent this misery as I can speake it experimentally as fortune was I was that day in womanâ— habit and as I thought not ill dressed though my haire was so short that I could not trim my selfe so well as I desired and poor Arimant did carasse me as if he did foresee it should be the last time The Towne was presently distributed into quarters and every place assigned unto some troope who by degrees turned the Owners out of doors both men moveables and horses Arimant hearing of this base capitulation went crying through the Towne that it was better to dye than submit unto such unworthy termes telling the people that their wals were yet up that the Enemies had no wings to fly over them that their arrowes were not all spent nor their bowes broken he promised them that he would defend their Towne till Rithimer came to relieve them who was already upon his march and that they should never be branded with so much ignominy But seeing there was no remedy and that none stirred upon his words he drew his Sword and cryed in the open streets that the principals of the Towne had betrayed and sold the people that for their parts they would receive no harm but all would fall upon the poor people so as it was better to give them up to the Enemy and save the rest And thus he cryed out so lowd as he was followed by some with whom he seized upon a Gate which he defended so well that Gondebunt was forced to retreat and fall on upon another Quarter where the Inhabitants did let him in And thus betrayed by those of the place whilst he was repulsing those Enemies which were before him he was assaulted so furiously upon the backe as at last vertue being over powred by number and he receiving many wounds he was taken and killed though he would never yeild chusing rather to dye then fall into the hands of those whom he called Barbarians As for me to my misery though I may call it good fortune that part of the Towne where I hapned to be was assigned for the Quarter of King Gondebunt and those who were with him tooke me and many other Ladies prisoners and all committed to safe custody where we stayed
when Cryseide passed by Oh heavens â— cryed he out Is this Cryseide Oh most unfortunate Mother can she endure this losse then speaking still Italian and falling down upon his knees before her Madam said he aloud I should think my self the happiest man alive if I could do you any service being so much obliged unto it as I should thinke all my misfortunes nothing if I could but have that contentment for having received my education under your family I thinke my selfe commanded unto it unlesse I were the most ungrateful person that lives Cryseide was a little surprised and not knowing how to speak was a little silent and this made those who looked upon her to be lesse suspitious And because Bellaris saw she was surprised It seems Madam said he you have forgotten poor Bellaris who was brought up in the house with you and who had not left you if a fond desire of serving men when they travell into strange Countries had not moved me to follow the Noble and Generous Martiantes Oh my friend Bellaris said Cryseide then as if she remembred him who could expect to see you here what is it which brought you hither Until now Madam said he I thought that â— bad fortune brought me hither but now I say it is the greatest happinesse I could wish for since I have the honour to see you and offering my selfe unto your service I thanke thee good Bellaris said she unto him but we can expect no helpe but onely from God for being in the hands of King Gondebuâ—â— who but God can take us out Why Madam doe you not try to â—ansome your selfe said he I offer my selfe to go to Eporedes unto your friends and 〈◊〉 any thing I can for you Friend answered Cryseide I doe not refuse your helpe but we must stay untill the King return and then we will see what may be done The rest of the Ladies hearing this man speak Italian they gathered about him as very desirous to know what he was One of them did aske him the question Madam said he I am a Sallassiaâ— brought up under the family of Cryseide and one who does so well remember the benefits I have received as I would at the perill of my life doe her any service I was brought into this place not as a Prisoner but as a servant unto Martiantes a Cavalier well known in that Province he was taken and killed by a company of Souldiers at the foot of the Pirennian hills who left me for dead by him but the Gods Kept me alive to bring the sad newes unto his friends and to lament the losse all the dayes of my life Alas said Cryseide seeming to be sorry is Martiantes dead He is Madam answered Bellaris I assure you said he I am very sorry for it for he was a Cavalier of great merit Upon this all the Ladies divided themselves into severall walkes leaving Cryseide alone with Bellaris and when she saw none were in the compasse of hearing Ah my friend Bellaris said she unto him in a low voyce now tell me how does my deare Arimant and through what fortunes has he passed Madam answered he Arimant is in health but as for his fortune it hath been very various and I doubt I shall not have time to relate it I believe we shall answered she and if we have not we will take another time for the rest Then Madam said he I will be as briefe as I can Be pleased to know that Arimant being so basely forsaken by the Townsmen where we were he still defended himselfe most valiantly a long time and at last was left for dead Doubtlesse but for me he had never escaped but I being near him I used such care as I was obliged unto though I was much wounded yet not being so bad as he I feigned my selfe dead and fell at his feet for he was faln to the ground The enemy having other designes then riffling the dead all the Plunder of the Town being theirs they left us and when I saw the cost cleare I rose up and bound up my wounds as well as I could afterwards went to my Master and by the help of a young man of the Town I carried him unto an uninhabited stable which was neare not daring to carry him into any house because all were full of Souldiers I had an opinion that he was not quite dead thinking the Gods would never suffer such a brave man to go out of the world in the flower of his age I searched his wounds and to the best of my poor skill I did not thinke them mortâ—ll but not knowing well what to do and seeing him bleed still I tore my shirt and tyed up his wounds as well as I could and laying his head in my lap it pleased God that he revived when he opened his eyes he wondered to see where he was and I fearing his astonishment might do him hurt courage Sir said I unto him the Gods will send us better fortune The Gods Bellaris said he are indeed very good but my destiny is bad so as I can hope for no rest but in death But Bellaris what is become of Cryseide Cryseide answered I is safe the wife to the Burgundian King who followes him all about caused all the women to be put into the Temple there to be preserved from disorder and keeps Cryseide particularly with her Heaven be her reward said he forso good a deed I feigned all this Madam lest his griefe should have caused his death But Sir said I unto him doe not trouble your selfe too much No no said he now Cryseide is out of danger I care not for any thing else Then though with a little difficulty I got him upon his feet which was no sooner done but we heard many Souldiers quarrelling at the stable door and presently after drawing their swords they fell to fighting about some Plunder which they had gotten and could not agree about the Division The dispute was so hot that many were killed and the noise encreasing many others assembled who as soon as they came took sides at last a Captain passing by and seeing this disorder he would needs regulate the matter But the Souldiers thinking he would take all their Plunder from them in lieu of obeying fell upon him and so as he was forced to save himselfe by running to the stable door where we were The Souldiers who had laid aside all respect and knew that if he escaped their hands he would have them all punished they resolved to kill him hoping then to be safe and enjoy their Plunder In order to this designe they endeavoured to enter in which Arimant considering let us defend this Captain said he perhaps heaven sent him for our assistance so as if we doe him a courtesie he will doe the like for us Upon this drawing both our swords we took his part and though my Master was much wounded yet his courage which never failed him gave
him strength enough to repell the fury of these souldiers some were killed others taken and the rest fled The Captaine seeing himselfe out of danger and not knowing Arimant Cavalier said he unto him I am obliged unto your valour for my life and in requitall of this assistance which I have received from you command me any service within the compass of my power and I shall be most ready to doe it Sir said my Master I was obliged unto all I did and if I have done you any service I desire no other recompence but that you will take me as your Prisoner and use me like a Cavalier as both you and â—are The Captaine upon this looking better upon him and seeing by his habit that he was no Burgundian he said thus unto him Sir I do receive you as you desire not to use you as a Prisoner but as my friend and a Cavalier of merit Also I passe my word I will rather die then you shall receive any displeasure from our Army Thus was Arimant and I under the protection of this Captaine whose name was Bellimaâ—t a man indeed of great Credit but much devoted unto his wealth as afterwards we found and who according to the custome of the Visigots did seldome remember any benefits for though he was a Visigot yet he followed the King of the Burgundians as a person who sought for fortune wheresoever he was in hopes to find it The first day we received all the kind usage we could expect upon such an occasion But the next day being better informed of the quality of his Prisoner by some in the Town he began to keep us under better guard pretending it was because he would have us keep our Chambers that our wounds might sooner heale forbidding any to speak with us Afterwards seeing the Army was to move and he not knowing whither he took my Master apart and told him that in performance of his word he was forced to send him over the Alpeâ— because the King being informed that it was he who had raised the opposition in the Town and had caused the death of many of his men he has commanded him to be searched for throughout all the Army intending to put him to death as a terrour unto the neighbouring Towns that perhaps he could make a shift to protect him against any but the authority of the King That he would willingly let him passe free amongst his own Souldiers if he durst but it would hazard his life if the King should heare he permitted such a thing without his consent yet on the contrary he could without any exceptions send him beyond the Alpes since it was permitted unto all the Souldiers to send their Prisoners and Pillage thither But as soon as the Army was returned unto Bungundie he would send him back unto Eporedes or any other place he pleased Arimant then asked him whether the Queen had sent her Prisoners thither also The Queen answered the Captaine is not here but they have sent their Prisoners thither to the end the Army may be discharged of them My Master looked upon me as if he had said you are mistaken and afterwards continued I will go said he whither you please assuring my selfe that a Cavalier so courteous and noble as you are will not use me otherwise then is fitting for a person of my quality and as one may expect from such a Cavalier as you are Do the next morning betimes not without great danger of my Masters life by reason of his wounds we were carried away by aconvoy which guarded many other Prisoners not knowing Madam what was become of you onely that the King had put all the Ladies together lest they should receive any injury After we had passed the Alpes they brought us unto this Town and presently after being parted from the rest they carryed us into the Segusian Country by the Mountaines of Gebennes And at last they put us up close into a little Castle neare the Town of Gergovâ—â— Well may I say close up for we were guarded so close that we hardly saw any light and so we continued for a time but the merit and sweet conversation of my Master did work so well upon this harsh Keeper and the promises I made to gratifie his courtesie when Bellimart gave him liberty did move him to let me go out and treat with him about our enlargement This Madam has been my Masters fortune but nothing touches him so at heart as being ignorant of your estate hearing onely in generall that you were in the hands of the King It was not any desire of his enlargement or treating with Bellimâ—â— which brought me hither but only to know in what part of the world you were or whether you still retained any memory of him How replyed Cryseide any memory of him what should I else have an my memory but him Yes yes Bellaris I must be dead before Arimant be out of my memory The Gods doe know there is not a day nor an hour nor a minute in which Clarina and I have not talked of him with eyes full of teares Now my deare friend I will declare one thing unto you which I have not yet mentioned unto any but finding my selfe in this condition and foreseeing that it will be worse with me I am forced to tell it unto you that by your Counsell I may find a remedy Know Bellaris that Gondebunt the King of Burgundie is faln in love with me I know it both by his deportment towards me and his expressions I would not upon any termes reject him at the first because an incensed love may drive a man unto violent courses but after I had given him many thanks for the honour he did me I told him that I was none of the common sort of people but extracted out of the best Families amongst the Sallasses Rithimers wife who was sister unto the Emperour Anthemius was my near Cousin That this consideration might well move him to treat me according to my quality and by this meanes â—e might not onely make Rithimer his friend but Anthensius also who was allied unto me Unto this he returned no other answer than this that I did him great a favour in telling him as much and that upon his returne he would make it appeare how much he esteemed my merit and my alliance Now Bellaris I do foresee a sharp Combate For I am told that the King is upon his return and I see all preparations are making for him Perhaps he may change his humour and fancy to me and perhaps not Now if he doe continue it judge you how I shall be persecuted To marry him I had rather die To refuse him he is a young arrogant manâ— and blown up so high by so many victories obtained and alâ—s what can I doe so as I doe foresee a most dangerous storme of misery hanging over my head and know not how to shelter my selfe from it unlesse you advise me
Ladies Prisoners but under a more carefull Guard then before although the King did really intend to marry her as well for her beauty as for her affinity to Rithimers wife sister unto the Emperour Anthemius and commanded that she should be waited upon with all service and civility and his joyes that he had met with her were such as he caused Bonfires and great Feasts of rejoycing to be made In the mean time Bellaris having escaped through Rushes and Bogges he came in a pittifull fright to bring this said Newes unto his Master who was so much surprised with wonder and sorrow that he was not able to speak one word but throwing himselfe upon his bed there he lay till night and say what Bellaris could by way of consolation he would not answer him Afterwards he went into bed and would not eat nor sleep all the night In the morning he called for Bellaris bad him go unto Lyons and enquire how Cryseide did and how they used her This faithfull servant though with much danger to himselfe did as he was commanded when he came into the Town he found no great need of any enquiry for Cryseide was the talk all the Town over and the Kings favours were such as it was generally believed he would marry her though she was much against it for some reasons which yet were unknown unto them But seeing so great a difficulty to speak unto her he returned to his Master with a resolution of perswading him to retire into Italy since it was now not likely but she who was courted and honored by so great a King Ambition to be Queen would quench all her love to Arimant Being returned then unto Vienna he related unto him all he heard afterwards did set before his eyes the levity of Women their Ambition the gilded flattery of being Queen and the great probability that she would entertaine the honour which the King did her He would advise him not to busie himselfe any more in the matter but to consider how his Father would grieve for his losse How it might be the cause of his death and the utter ruine of his house That to stay any longer here would not be safe because their Guid might discover him and cause him to be taken And that for these reasons and considerations and many others it was requisite he should with all speed retire to his house Arimant did heare Bellaris all this while though his mind was quite another way But when he had done Bellaris answered he I shall perhaps follow thy counsell after thou hast done one thing yet more for me Go againe presently to Lyons give this little Book unto Cryseide procure me an answer and then thou shalt see what I will doe This servant infinitely loving his Master did assure him he would doe it else lose his life but entreated him that he would not grieve so excessively to remember that his virtue is able to surmount the greatest misfortunes that he ought to hope still and not to sink under his sorrows And Arimant promising he would take his counsell Bellaris departed with his little Book in which was a Letter that contained these words Arimant's Letter unto Cryseide SHall this misfortune have a greater power over you then all others Must Ambition of being Queen make you unfaithful Doe you intend to betray me and make me the most miserable amongst men If so then send me word that my death I may keep you from being perjured Bellaris had no other way to deliver this Book unto Cryseide but as she went to the Temple and therefore he got himselfe as neare the Bason of Holy water as he could and as he had done formerly when she passed by he conveyed the Book so nimbly into her hand as none could perceive it She presently apprehended the businesse and spoke not a word but onely To morrow In the mean time Bellaris went out of the Temple and as he used into the Town where he heard that the King did really intend to marry Cryseideâ— that she did deny him and that for all this he would go through with it assuring himselfe that when he had married her she would then change her mind The next day Cryseide failed not to return the Book again unto Bellaris by the same subtilty saying unto him as she passed by I will die first He understood well enough her meaning and admiring the love and generosity of this woman he returned to his Master and acquainted him with what she said as she gave him the Letter which was so great a consolation unto Arimant that he almost forgot his misery Then taking the Letter he found these words Cryseides Answer unto Arimant I Will die before I change I will make it appeare how farre the resolution of a woman can go who whether alive or dead will never be any but yours be the like to me Well Bellaris said Arimant Canst thou advise me to forsake a woman who has these resolutions towards me I must needs confesse Sir answered he that I doe admire her her virtue is above my opinion of her But good sir what doe you intend and which way can you relieve her The Kings power is too great and his love is too violent to afford any hopes for you And your danger in staying here is so great as I will give you for lost if you stay any longer Never feare it Bellaris answered Arimant I have thought upon a way to escape and doubtlesse it will take effect Then he gave order for his departure and the next morning went unto Lyons where he arrived in the evening when it was dark and took up the most private lodging he could chuse There he heard the continuation of the same reports and more That the next morning the King intended to offer a sacrifice upon the Tombe of the two Lovers in hopes that they would mediate for him unto the Great Tautates to change the heart of Cryseide and move her to consent unto his desires and for the greater solemnity he would have her present with all the rest of the Lady Prisoners Arimant was very glad of this newes and thought it a fit opportunity to effectuate his designe therefore he prepared himselfe against the next morning In the interim the King solicited her with all manner of Courtship and used all his Rhetorick to perswade her unto compliance with him But she stood as constant and firme to her resolution as any Rock against the waves of the Sea which cannot be moved And this was the reason why before he had recourse unto force he would seek the favour of Tharamis and by sacrifices obtaine from him so much grace as to change the heart of this generous Maid When he entreated her to be present she willingly consented For said she to her selfe if the God Tharamis be a just God he will move the minde of this King to desist from any injustice The next morning when it was
being astranger she should so much as know or thinke of it But seeing it so he knew not what to resolve upon To let her go at liberty he would not to violate the priviledges of the Sanctuary he durst not both out of fear of the Gods and tumult of the people At the last after he had considered and debated the matter with himselfe he resolved to pull her from thence without any regard either of the place or the assembly thinking the forces which he had about him would keep the people within compasse and as for any offence to the Gods he hoped to doe well enough with them by Sacrifices and hereafter duties In this resolution he advanced thinking himselfe to go unto her and she seeing him coming had given her selfe the fatall blow if the Priests had not opposed the King telling him That a Prince so just as he and one that feared the Gods ought not to violate and infringe their franchises But his love which had more strength in him then all these considerations had doubtlesse driven him beyond his duty if Arimant who was a spectator and feared lest Cryseide should be driven to the extremity had not pressed through the Guards and stepped between Cryseide and the King and falling down upon his knees said thus unto him Sir I come here intrudively unto your Majesty in full assure of your Promise and Oath that I shall receive the favour which you have promised and proclamed unto him who shall tell you who it was which helped this generous Lady to escape your Guards Stranger said the King I never will break any promise that I made declare therefore the man that I may punish him then ask what favour thou wilt and obtain it Sir said Arimant then and rose up The man is in your presence and you may punish him when you please for it is my selfe This replyed the King is insolence in the height and how durst thou present thy selfe before my face Onely in hopes Sir said he of the favour which I shall aske Never think Sir that it shall be my life or the lessening of any punishment upon my selfe which I shall require but that in observance of your promise unto which you obliged your selfe by the great God whom you adore by the glorious memory of your Father's soul and by the Majestie of your Crown you would grant me another favour which I shall aske The King stood amazed at the resolution of this man and going back a pace or two Stranger said he unto him certainly thou art out of thy wits otherwise thou wouldst never speak thus but how wert thou the cause of Cryseides escape Sir replyed he my name is Arimant and I am the happy Cavalier whom this faire one sayes she loves I was taken Prisoner when she was I was carryed Prisoner to the Town of Gergovia where I found meanes to let her heare from me She who thought me dead as soon as she heard I was alive she resolved to escape and come unto the place where I was and help me out which she did accordingly and was the cause of my liberty You see Sir how I was the cause of her escape and having declared it unto you you are obliged to grant me the favour which you have promised The King who was on the one side astonished at his resolution and on the other side offended with him as thinking himself sleighted by this stranger Yes yes said he it is very true I doe owe thee a favour aske it therefore and prepare thy self to suffer the punishment of my just indignation Sir replyed Arimant I never expected lesse from so great a king as you are and therefore I doe freely put my selfe into your hands not feâ—ring any of your punishments or torments provided that first I doe obtaine the favour which I shall aske Ask it then said the King and by all the oathes which I formerly took I do oblige my selfe to grant it Sir replyed Arimant then I doe aske that Cryseide whom I see at the corner of the Tombe and who is your Prisoner may be set at liberty and sent unto her friends or whither she shall please without any force or compulsion offered unto her Oh Heavens said the King must I my selfe be the instrument of my own misery and having imprudently promised must either be perjured or else be the most miserable Prince that lives Then standing a while silent and being inflamed with anger and ashamed to be accused before all the people of breach of faith and promise he resolved to maintain it but withall to satisfie and vent his anger upon Arimant And therefore with eyes inflamed with fury I do declare said he that Cryseide is at liberty and I do strictly charge upon pain of my great displeasure that none whosoever doe offer her the lest violence or injury vowing by the soul of my Father that he shall never obtain either favour or pardon from me Then turning towards Arimant Well stranger said he art thou contented with me Yes sir answered he the most contented man in the world Then turning towards the Souldiers Take away said he this sturdy contemner of my anger and let him suffer torment till he die that other rash men like him may by his example learne to dread my anger Arimant looked up with a cheerful aspect and observing Cryseide to weep Oh Madam said he unto her I beseech you let not your teares disturbe the tranquillity of my soul Alas my life could never be better imployed then in procuring your liberty Liberty said Cryseide I value not liberty at so dear a rate I had rather suffer perpetual imprisonment then see you so ruined in the flower of your age But go Arimant and if I have my liberty I will not be long after you I will make it appeare that I can die as well to follow you as you can to save my honour Whilst she was talking thus and Arimant conjuring her to live as long as it should please the Gods to prolong her dayes they had finished the tying of his armes with chaines The people were all so moved at the constancy of the Cavalier at the compassion of Cryseide as they sighed and cryed at such a pittifull separation Bellimart who was with the King at this Sacrifice and hearing Arimant speak he knew him to be his Prisoner and so did the Captaine who was come to acquaint him that he was escaped And seeing that if Gondebunt did put him to death he then should lose all his hopes of any ransome he addressed himselfe to the King and said That it was not to thwart the will of his Majestie in any thing because all he had his Majestie might freely dispose of but onely because he was unwilling to lose his right that he beseeched him to wave the execution of Death against this stranger until he had informed him of his reasons and the King permitting it he represented unto him the
great paines he had taken in his service the hazards he had run and the wounds he had received And Sir said he the ransome of this stranger whom I took prisoner who escaped from me was all the reward I ever hoped for But if this sentence of Death be executed I shall lose all my hopes and all that fortune gave unto me which I believe Sir is not a little for he is one of the chiefe of the Province of the Lâ—bians and his Father who has no Children but he is raised to that credit as that great Souldier Râ—thimer has more apprehension of him then any in all Cisa pine Gaule He had no sooner spoke these words but Bellaris that faithful servant not knowing what his Masters design was running unto this place as almost all the Towne did and hearing what he had done to save Cryseide he was extreamly desirous to free his Master from this danger by the losse of his own life anâ— therefore crouded in and cast himselfe at the feet of Gondebunt in such a resolute manner that he hindred him from giving Bellâ—mart any answer and when he saw the King hearkned towards him he began thus Sir you have this day gotten the title of a promise-keeping Prince and I doe here cast my selfe upon my knees beseeching you to be no lesse an observer of your word towards me then you have been towards this Cavalier called Arimant Stranger said Gondebunt neither thou nor he nor any living shall ever have any cause to upbraid me with breach of word Sir said Bellarâ—s this action speakes you worthy to be the Monarch of the whole world Then rising up he continued thus You have promised oh Great King to bestow a favour upon him who was ayding and actually assisting in the escape of this Lady I have so said the King Then Sir said he I come to inform you of him against whom you have just cause to be angry and severely to punish for indeed he is in all the fault and you cannot in reason accuse this poore Cavalier of any crime though it is true he was a cause of her escape because he did not contribute any thing toward it farther than that he lived and loved her I must confesse that had he not been amongst the living she would not have had any mind to escape But Sir is it a crime to live Did he ever give her any counsell or advise her to it or did he ever take any paines or industry about it No no Sir not at all further then to let her know he was alive But on the other side he whom I shall discover unto you is onely culpable he first gave the counsell he contrived the way it was he who loosed the Chaine of Boatâ— which blocked up the River he helped Cryseide to passe through he found out Horses for her to fly away To be briefe Sir he did all and by consequence deserves all the punishment The King hearing this stranger speak thus Why said he art thou so long before thou namest him unto me that I may severely punish him Sir said the faithful servant I shall quickly name him and more then that I will deliver him into your hands when according to your Royal word you have granted me the favour which I shall ask I doe promise it said the King and confirme my promise by attesting all that is sacred Then Sir said Bellaris the favour which I ask is That this Cavalier may be set at liberty and that all his fetters may be charged upon me for it was I onely that helped Cryseide to escape It was I who brought her newes he was alive It was I that has been with her ever since To be brief Sir It is I onely that deserves all the punishment because I was I only that am the cause of your high displeasure But now since I have made good what I have promised it is your part Oh great King to make good yours and grant the favour which I asked I was from my infancy brought up in the house of this Noble Cavalier I do owe unto him all that I am I have been a witnesse of his affection unto Cryseide from the very first beginning of it and I have seen so much virtue and noblenesse of minde between them that I thinke the end of my dayes most happy if I can be a meanes of their long living together by virtue of the favour which I ask I should think my selfe culpable of ingratitude if being able to save the life and honour of him who gave me life and who by his example has taught me all things vertuous and honourable I did not freely doe it And therefore Great Sir I desire you will absolve Arimant from all kind of punishment and not onely set him at liberty as you have already Cryseide but also that you would be pleased out of your incomparable magnanimity to make them marry each other as they are already by the consent both of themselves and their Parents Let all your anger which you aimed at him be imployed good Sir against me and adde as many torments as you will so they be safe for the very Glory of doing what I ought to doe will make them all so sweet unto me as I shall not resent the sharpnesse of the paine And because Sir I hear that the valiant Bellimart pretends to have some right unto my Master because he was formerly his Prisoner Give me leave to contradict his pretension in the presence of your Majestie First What can he pretend unto my Master but onely this that my Master gave himselfe unto him When you took the Towne of Cartures Oh great King Bellimart knowes very well how much he is beholding unto this valiant Cavalier for his life I will not repeat it lest it should blemish such a generous courage as that of Bellimart But I must needs say and he knowes I say truly that it was not he who took my my Master But my master after he had done Bellimart a very notable piece of service did entreat him to take him as his Prisoner upon condition to use him like a Cavalier and a man of â—â—ality whether this make my Master a Prisoner of War or a Prisoner of Courtesie I refer it unto the judgement of your Majestie But to wave this and admit him his Prisoner what is it he would now have If he was his Prisoner then why did he not keep him Did he let him go upon his Parole No Sir he guarded him as well as he could and he could not keep him Now if a Prisoner doe escape and he who had him do meet him in another Province can he take him again No sir this concerns the grandure of your Majestie I doe not say but that if Bellimart had kept him still his Prisoner within your Dominions he might now have had some Law to demand him But since he did not keep him safe within your own Realme but
sent him into the Country of the Visigots what reason has he to take him againe now since he escaped as for safety into your Dominions and so much the rather because your Majestie having made a peace with all the poor people of Cisalpine Gaul there is no likelihood that all those who fly hither for refuge should be seized upon as Enemies This Sir is the last service I am like to doe for this noble Cavalier unto whom I doe owe much more then I am able to pay Thus the faithful Bellaris ended his speech which contained in it so much affection and reason that the King could not chuse but admire the love of Cryseide the Generosity of Arimant and the fidelity of Bellaris in so much as he stood amazed at them along while and began to relent At last he broke out into these expressions Great are the Judgements of Tautates and his wayes are so deep that no mortal man can find the bottome I made choice of this sacrifice in hopes of perswading Cryseide to love me and on the contrary she flyes to the priviledge of the Tomb of the two Lovers I published a Declaration thinking by promises to regain lost Cryseide and that Declaration is it which hath ravished her from me and made me quite lose her even when she was in my own hands and all this to shew that all humane wisdome is but folly compared to the infinite wisdome of that great God whom we adore And though I do see all these things do conduce unto the confusion of all my designs and plainly foresee that there is no hopes for me in the fair Cryseide yet must I needs confesse that all things have been alleadged upon such sound reason as I protest that had I known the beginning and progresse of this great and vertuous affection I would sooner have dyed then suffered it to be separated And therefore oh you happy couple of Lovers I doe declare you free and exempt from all manner of punishment or imprisonment be it either in relation to me or unto Bellimart upon those reasons so strongly urged by that faithful servant whose offence I doe also most freely remit wishing rather such a friend and such a servant then such another Kingdome as I have I do give you all three free power and liberty to live in any part of my Dominions or else to go whither you please yet if you will afford me so much contentment as to see you married before you depart I shall think both my Kingdom and my self much honoured and very happy in it Upon this he commanded that Arimant should be unloosed who with the generous Lady and faithfull Servant came and cast themselves at his feet upon their knees some kissing his hands others his knees and all the Assembly did commend the Magnanimity and justice of the King who by the grandure of his courage knew so well how to vanquish himself Thus Florice ended the relation of the fortunes of these two perfect Lovers every one admiring their virtues some did highly esteeme Cryseide for refusing the Scepter and Crown of Rithimer and Gondebunt to preserve her fidelity unto Arimant Others admired the resolution of Arimant in offering so voluntarily to die for the liberty of Cryseide but all with one commune consent commended the fidelity and affection of Bellaris Hylas onely laughed at all three and at all those who did commend their actions Was ever the like folly seen said he Cryseide like a fool as she was might have beene a Queen and now she is onely a silly Country wench Arimant also like a fond obstinate Coxcombe in his courtship of Cryseide must lose his time be wounded taken Prisoner and after abundance of perill and trouble be at last like to lose his life in disgrace and had done so if Gondebunt had not been more courteous in performing his promise then he was wise in putting him to it Had it not been better for both parties if Cryseide had been a Queen and afterwards given Arimant that satisfaction he desired But Silvander all their perplexities and miseries do proceed from that which you call Constancy It is that onely which tormented them so pittifully onely that which had like â—o have cost them their lives and made them the sport of fortune and chance Silvander hearing himselfe named came neerer Hylas and answered him thus All these things which you have named Hylas are indeed the consequents of constancy which you doe so much condemn aud how much they are accompanied with paines and dangers so much more are they to be esteemed they are onely generous spirits that dare attempt difficulties to accomplish their designs They are but simple soirits said Hylas who run after a shadow and leave the substance Arimant is tyed to a thing called Constancy very finely he must spend all his youth in the service of Cryseide and when he is old then she will give her self unto him this is as much as to give a hard bone to knaw upon unto a Dogge that has no teeth Had not this Cavalier done better if he had stayed in Eporedes and comforted his poor old Father who loved him than to break his heart with griefe or at least made his old age so full of sorrows and misfortunes as death was welcome to him And then for Arimants own proper contentment doe you thinke there was no women in all the Town but Cryseide Ah my friend Silvander what grosse folly is it to lose ones time and spend all one has upon one Commodity had he followed my Lawes when he met with so many difficulties opposing his desires he would have wisely turned his back upon them and have made his addresses unto some other whose conquest would have been more easie and perhaps more advantageous Every one did laugh at the opinion of Hylas and Tircis began then to speak I perceive Hylas said he that you are one who will never build any Temple unto Fortune because you will not have any thing to doe with her And I perceive said Hylas that you are one whom onely those that are old and ugly will adore And why said Tircis Because answered Hylas those who are old il-favoured to invite any to love and serve them do propose you as a God You I say who are so far out of your senses as to love one that is dead This Hylas replyed Tircis is inhumane to represent unto the afflicted the cause of their griefe but be it so that I should be esteemed by these old ones of whom you speak and proposed as a God what hurt is it unto me Is it not better my friend to be thought a God then to be held for an unconstant man And Hylas are not Altars and Sacrifices pleasing unto the Gods whom we adore and why then should they not be so unto men Do you think Tircis answered Hylas that I have not as many Altars and Sacrifices as you certainly I have for
she intend to do asked Alexis The good opinion which she justly has of her own merits answered Astrea will not permit her to allow of Sylvander's Courtship but makes her resolve to have recourse unto those extream remedies of forbidding him which women use unto such whose Courtship is displeasing unto them I do not like her way said Alexis and if she follow it she will repent it For Sylvander loving her as he does he will not be diverted by it and then as you say the business will become the talk of the Country But she had better take one of these two ways either to let him continue his addresses under the vail of a Fiction for which excuses enough are to be found or else permit him secretly to make his addresses For I must confess Fair Shepherdess that the Vertues of Diana and the Merits of Sylvander makes me desire they may live contentedly though it be to the disadvantage of Paris my Brother who I know does love her but it is better he should miss of his desires then by-obtaining them to make two of so much merit miserable all the rest of their days Besides Diana loving my Brother only by reasons of Estate Doubtless the loss of one so dear unto her as Sylvander is would make her so full of sorrow and so much change her that my Brother could not take any great delight in her And though this do at the first displease Paris yet he will better pass it over then Sylvander can having not so violent an affection unto Diana as that Shepherd hath Moreover we shall more easily divert him from it by propounding some other marriage unto him more sutable unto his quality In such discourse as this they came unto the Town of Phocion who received them very kindly and treated them with so neat a supper that Alcidon and Daphnide confessed he shamed the great Cities But Astrea was not so well contented as she desired For Phocion had young Calidon there and set him at the Table just opposite unto her This young Shepherd was so passionately in Love that his eyes were never off her which troubled Astrea extreamly for she could never look up but still met with his eye upon her Alexis who was of Calidons mind did the very same though with much more satisfaction unto Astrea who also could not satisfie her eyes with looking upon Celadon under the umbrage of a woman But Alexis had the advantage of Calidon for having Astrea on her side they could talk together and not be heard which they did almost all supper while And because Alexis observed the eyes of Calidon she said unto Astrea Fair Shepherdesse do you not think that you sit in a very ill place I shall never think so answered Astrea as long as I am so neer you which is the greatest contentment I can have but I wish that some troublesome eyes which are continually on my face were turned some other way or else that the owner of them were further off The trouble which you endure said Alexis is a consequent of your beauty and you must not think it strange that Shepherds should Love you since I who am a woman and one who never saw you before this three or four dayes am so extreamly taken with you that I think my self in Love with you As Alexis spoke these words she changed countenance The Zeal of her expression or her fear of speaking too plainly was the cause of it Astrea answered her with a smiling eye I wish with all my heart Madam that there were any thing in me which might do you any real service and ingratiate me into your favour For I am so perfectly yours that nothing but death can sever me from you and I think the happiness of it so great that I would not change contentment with all the Kings Emperors and Monarchs upon earth Alexis fearing that if these expressions continued hearers would think they talked too passionately for women she took her hand and wispered unto her I will sooner refuse life then this assurance you give me but for some reasons which afterwards I will tell you let us break off this discourse and talk of it at night when we are alone or to morrow when we walk in the woods After supper ended and tables removed many Neighboring young Shepherds came to dance and sing and rejoyce for finding the Missletoe of the New-year for so they called it And because Daphnide and Alcidon were desirous to be spectators of their harmlesse sports they desired Adamas he would be pleased they might waâ—â— out and see the Shepherds and Fair Shepherdesses dance Adamas who was willing to give them all possible satisfaction he took Daphnide by the hand and led her forth leaving Leonide to conduct Alcidon and all the rest of the Company who followed them into a great room where such publique rejoycings were wont to be kept and where they found abundance of Shepherds and Shepherdesses dancing and singing The Sun had been long set and no day appeared but the Moon shined so cleer as if she had borrowed more light then usual purposely for that night Daphnide was much taken with the pleasantness of the place and coolness of the air And all sitting down some on one side some on another they began to dance and sing and performed their parts so handsomly that Daphnide and Alcidon could not chuse but admire the Shepherds and Shepherdesses of Lignon After they had danced half an hour there came from the neighboring Towns a company of Shepherds disguised in the habit of Egyptians who danced after the manner of that people And as they had been formerly taught by Alcippe the father of Celadon upon his return from his long travels they danced unto songs and sang as they danced And when they had done they went unto all the company and offered to tell the Fortunes of all such who would shew them their hands This pastime having lasted long and it being almost midnight Adamas thought it time to retire So as they all parted and went unto their Towns Phocion carried unto his house Adamas Paris Alexis and Leonide being very sorry that his house was not of capacity to lodge Daphnide and Alcidon with their company also But Adamas thinking before hand that he could not do it with any conveniency he appointed Lycidas to lodg them in the house of Celadon where Diamis his uncle expected them but by reason of his old age left the management of all things unto Lycidas which that Shepherd did perform very exactly though he was extreamly perplexed that he could not have the company of his dear Phillis in his house For she told him that if he would bid those strangers welcome she would go with Astrea and lye with her Thus every one retired to their lodgings Astrea Diana and Phillis being attended by Sylvander they carryed Adamas unto Astreas house where Phocion stayed to bid them welcome as well as he could
kneeling down upon the ground he began to dis-arm him Damon not being sensible of it As for Madonthe after she had continued a while in a swoon she came again to her self and seeing every one so busie about Damon she thought that he was dead of those wounds which he received in the combate Oh my God! cryed she out and wrung her hands must I lose thee Damon as soon as ever I have found thee And must I see thee now never to see thee again Miserable wretched Madonthe what malevolent Star is predominate over thee Must thou receive a happiness only to be the more sensible of its loss Oh Heavens Oh Fate was ever such bitter torments reserved for any that lives Life I defie thee and torments do your worst till you have brought me to my grave upon this her sighs and her tears did so stop the passage of her voice that she was forced to be silent but her silence moved so much compassion in all the Nymphs that whilst Alcidon Daphnide Hermantes Adamas and Galathea were about Damon they took the Shepherdess under her arms and removed her almost by force from the place where she was every one giving her all the consolation they could In the mean time Damon was dis-armed his wounds bound up as well as the inconveniency of the place would permit and a little after he began to open his eyes but being so weak as he was not able to rise he turned his head two or three times about to look for Madonthe and Halladine knowing very well what he looked for Sir said he unto him do not trouble your self so much Madonthe is not far from you assume to your self Sir a little courage and all will be well Halladine answered Damon what doest thou talk of courage Dost thou think I can want any that had so much as to love the perfections of Madonthe But where is she And what is it which hinders me from a sight of that Fair Face is she still with Thersander Thersander Sir answered Halladine is dead and dyed to save your life by which you may see the truth of the Oracle and what great reason you have to rejoyce since now your troubles are all to end Halladine said Damon help me to rise that I may see whether all thou sayst is true Madonthe hearing all that Damon said she took heart and being extreamly joyed to see him in a better condition then she imagined she rose up and ran as fast as she could unto him and without any regard unto those about him she almost smothered him with embraces but being taken off by Halladine who feared that her excessive kindness might make him worse she sat down upon the ground by him and looking upon him with eyes full of admiration Ah Damon said she unto him is Heaven so good unto me as to let me see thee once more Is it possible that the Knight of the Tiger who rescued me from the hands of the perfidious Leriana should prove to be Damon whom she had so craftily given so much occasion to hate me And is it possible Cavalier that thy affection to me should be above her malice and that out of thy generosity thou shouldest save her life whom by her subtilty thou hadst reason to hate unto death But Cavalier if thou art indeed that Damon of whom I speak and if all those causes together with so long absence from me have not changed thy affection why dost thou stay so long before thou givest me some assurance of it Damon then taking her hand yes yes Madam said he I am the very same Damon you speak of and sweat that I am nothing changed unless it be in loving you more then ever I did All the venom of Leriana nor all the happiness of Thersander was not able to diminish the least spark of my vowed affection to you Heaven is the witness of all my thoughts and the Sun has seen all my actions and I challenge them both to upbraid me with the least stain of my fidelity to you I must needs confess replied Madonthe that the treason of Leriana was enough to make you hate me and to believe all that she had infused into you concerning the happinesse of Thersander But I do vow unto you by the memory of my honoured Father and by all my desires and hopes of any happiness that all I did was only to be the more loved by you and all the favours done unto Thersander was only to reclaim Damon from an imaginary affection and my design in absenting my self from my Country and my friends was only to seek out Damon under the Notion and Arms of the Knight of the Tiger Oh ye good Gods cryed out Damon Never was Cavalier in the world so happy as I am since I have received these assurances from the mouth of Madonthe She would have replied when Adamas mistrusting the security of that place and fearing lest the wounds of Damon should grow worse he told Galathea that he thought it convenient to carry this Cavalier unto some place where his wounds might be better drest and since he was very weak he desired he might rest himself some dayes in his house because it was the neerest place of conveniency Necessity made the Nymph consent unto this motion so as sending unto some of the Neighboring Hamblets they got Damon to be carried unto the house of Adamas and the corps of Thersander unto the Town of Marselles to give it an honourable Funeral In the mean time Galathea advertised Amasis by Lerindas of all these passages beseeching her that Damon might be put into some place of safety which when she had done she would presently come and receive her commands Madonthe could not possibly chuse but lament the loss of poor Thersander and certainly it had cost her many more tears had she not met with Damon But however his long fidelity affection and service might well claim some tears for his disasterous Fate and in reward of all his pains which she did most zealously pay In the mean time they began to carry away Damon who turning his head every way to see what Madonthe did and spying the body of Thersander he could not chuse but sigh not yet knowing whether he should wish him alive or no. Yet considering that he dyed to save his life his generosity constrained him to say Farewell Friend rest contented in that having Damon for thy enemy thou hast obliged him to lament thy loss and to call thee his Friend Upon this he held out his hand unto Madonthe who came unto him and never left him until he was in the house of Adamas although Galathea did most earnestly desire her to come into the Coach chusing rather to follow Damon on foot then to be one minute absent from him On the other side Adamas having presented Daphnide Alcidon and the rest of their Company unto the Nymph and she receiving them with all expressions of civility that the
permit that another be taken with more leisure that the Artist may do it better then he could the first but if you deny me this request then I have reason to think that you did it by way of affront and that you scorn a Prince who never adored any but your self The young Silviana fearing the displeasure of her friends was constrained to grant what he desired in such a civil and courteous manner as he could not chuse but be very well contented with this satisfaction Will you permit said the Prince that another Picture may be taken Sir answered she I will permit any thing you please as far as is in me but doubtless the Queen will take it very ill if I should suffer it without her permission or at least without the permission of my governess It is enough said Childerick that I know I have your consent unto what I desire and that you threw the Picture into the fire only because it was ill done And because she seemed to be much troubled at her so much displeasing him last some by-standers should take notice of it he himself confessed that it was indeed so ill drawn that it deserved no less punishment then the fire If this Picture were good for nothing else yet it served this young Prince to make his Love known unto Silviana for this young Lady durst not but receive all that he said with a favourable aspect last otherwise he should complain against her for casting this Picture so hastily in the fire and continuing still his Courtship he omitted no occasion which might testifie the grandeur of his affection to her and because it is extream hard for the violent passion of Love to be confined unto the limits of reason and discretion it so increased that very often transgressing the Laws of modesty it hapned one day hearing her sing that he was so transported with this puissant passion of Love that though it was amongst many Ladies and Cavaliers yet he could not forbear from kissing her per force Silviana having no inclination at all unto Childerick seemed to be extreamly offended with him for this violence and seeing it was done in the face of all the Court she made many great complaints against him and the rather because Andrimartes was present unto whom she would not give the least thought that the Courtship of Childerick was able to alter her from her vowed resolution But the young Prince though he saw her much offended yet he turned all to rallary and laughed it out But yet Silviana would not take the continuation of his Love as in jest and Andrimartes as good a face as he set upon the matter yet was he netled to see his master become his Rival knowing very well that Love and Dominion will not admit of any Companions and therefore he resolved to ask the Queens consent to marry Silviana but because he would not do any thing that might displease Silviana he did communicate this resolution unto her which she approved of very well as well said she to be out of the Tiranny of Childerick as that we may afterwards live together freely without any constraint Andrimartes therefore whose only desire was to be the sole possessor of his Fair and dear Silviana made it his sute unto his Father that he might not longer trifle away his time amongst a company of boys but rather imploy iâ— nobly in the way of Arms under Merovius to the honour of his Family and after their examples especially his own for he was now ashamed to be alwayes amongst none but boyes and women and therefore humbly desired him that he might leave off the name of child and assume the name of a Frank in memory of his predecessors and after his own particular example his humour and his age prompting him thereunto The Father who had a generous soul seeing his Son so inclinable unto Arms was very glad to find this generous disposition in him and promised to give full satisfaction unto his desire and to defer it no longer he acquainted Merovius with it who approving of it made it known unto Childerick and intended to honour him with the order of Knighthood and with all those Ceremonies of girdâ—ng him with a Sword and putting on a Spur in imitation of Arthur King of Great Brittain when he admitted young Cavaliers into the Rank of Knights Childerick who was extreamly in Love with the Fair Silviana was very glad of this honour intended unto Andrimartes in hopes that as soon as he was become a Knight of Arms he would be constrained to go into the Army and leave Silviana solely unto him whose favour he hoped more easily to obtain whâ—n this young man was out of her eye who he saw wished him very well Every thing thus favouring the design of Andrimartes he was dubbed a Knight by the hands of Childerick who had received the same honour a little before from the hand of Merovius When Andrimartes was to be girt with the Sword and demanded what Lady he would make choise of to be his Mistris he kneeled down and beseeched the Fair Silviana to let him make choise of her that he might make it his boast that he received his honours from the Fairest Hand and Fairest Lady that lives Childerick was extreamly surprized at this request and was ready to break out into some violent demonstrations of his displeasure yet the presence of the King his Father restrained him though not from blushing and letting many see how much this Act displeased him and much more was he incensed when he saw in what a joyfull manner this Fair Lady gave consent unto the request which Andrimartes made and express her contentment by her eyes and all her actions But the joyes of this young Knight was unimaginable when thanking her for the favour which he received he protested and vowed to imploy both his sword and his life in her service And she who never offered to hide the good will which she bore unto him knowing that ere long he would ask the Queens consent unto a marriage prayed heartily unto Hesus to make his Sword victorious and said that she would with all her heart do any thing within the compass of her power to testifie the great esteem which she had of his merits But Sir said she I neither will nor can confer this favour upon you without the Queens consent who has the disposition of me Andrimartes thinking that she spoke with much discretion he kneeled down before Methina Madam said he unto her Is it your pleasure I should this day receive the greatest honour that ever I can pretend unto Childerick transported at this beyond all patience interrupted him and said Me thinks Andrimartes that unless you were too impudent you would never offer to make this request unto the Queen and Silviana until you had by some noble action made your self worthy of it Andrimartes who knew very well what it was which made Childerick speak so Sir
said he unto him I must needs confess that I do not deserve this favour and honour but yet I ask it out of a desire I have of doing you some service and I know that when once I am honoured with the Title of Silvianas Knight that glorious name will so invigorate and encourage my spirits as no enterprise can be so difficult but I shall bring it happily to pass This thought answered the angry Prince were good if it were not unjust But it is not reasonable you should assume unto your self a name which cannot be merited but with blood My blood replied the young Cavalier presently shall never be spared in such a cause no more then my life in the service of the King But Sir I find my self much mistaken in my hopes for I thought that in this and upon all other occasions you would have been my Protector and furthered thered me all you could as a Prince unto whom I am devoted both by nature and my own inclination Childerick would have answered and perhaps according to the violence of his passion if Merovius misliking the action of his Son had not interposed and to cover the imprudence of Childerick said thus You had reason Andrimartes to expect all favour from Childerick I know that he intends it and I do command him unto it what he said was only by way of rallary and both he and I will become your Mediators unto the Queen to consent that Silviana may receive you as her Knight for it is but reason so Fair a Lady should have so brave a Cavalier for her Knight The young man all transported with joy offered to kiss the hands of Childerick and the King and though the young Prince did permit him yet it was with such a brow as plainly shewed that he did it only out of respect unto the King and though Methina saw this as well as Merovius yet she commanded Silviana to receive Andrimartes as her Knight since the King did approve of it The young Lady never obeyed any command more willingly then this and did it with a face so full of contentment as every one took special notice of it This did so sting the heart of Childerick that he resolved whatsoever came of it to break off this Love which went so much against his heart And because he knew that he had too much discovered his passion and that the King was not well pleased with it he constrained himself as much as possibly he could to make it believed that what he had done was only out of rallary as Merovius said but there was not one in all the company which did not know the contrary especially Andrimartes who knew very well that it proceeded from his affection unto Silviana and well did plainly foresee many a storm towards from him however come what come could he resolved to continue his Love and because that Honourable Order of Knight-hood which he had taken upon him was an obligation upon him to shake off the drowsie life of being always among women he resolved to quit that idle and effeminate kind of life and to go into the Army as soon as he had obtained Silvianas leave and not to return until some signal act had spoken him meritorious of the Fair Lady She who saw a kind of necessity upon him to take this course and thought that it would much conduce unto that contentment which they both aimed at she consented unto it though with abundance of sorrow to part with him and knowing that it was the Kings custom to incite all Generous young Spirits unto gallant actions and to recompence those that by their valour did signalize themselves in the Army they did both of them overcome themselves and with a River of Tears parted in hope that their absence would bring them to their desired end sooner then their presence To relate all the passages of this sad parting and the demonstrations of good will unto each other is neither pertinent to the story nor indeed possible let it suffice therefore that Silviana expressed her affection as far as her modesty and honour would permit and Andrimartes as became a perfect and noble minded Lover But I conceive it necessary to acquaint you with the sequel of this design when he was in the Army though the day be not long enough to relate the hundred part of his brave deportments for he gave such testimony of his courage and valour that Merovius made choise of him to command that relief which he sent into Belgium against the children of King Clodion Renald and Alberick who being come at full age Alberick being Lord of Cambray and the bordering Countries and Renald Duke of Austrasia and having married Husemide Daughter unto Multiades King of Tongres they contracted a league with the Saxons and with a formidable Army fell into Austrasia so as had not Merovius very prudently sent this relief under the conduct of the valiant Andrimartes certainly their Arms had reached as far as the gates of Paris and perhaps had not only retarded all the conquests of this Valiant King but also had put his very Crown into great hazard But the Valour and Prudence of Andrimartes was such that giving a stop unto the progress of these two brothers he constrained them to keep within the confines of Austrasia until Merovius had quelled those enemies which the Romans had secretly stirred up against him and this piece of service was so great that Merovius did highly acknowledg it and thought no recompence sufficient for such services as he had received from the brave Andrimartes It is a hard matter to express the joys of Silviana when she heard of all the valiant exploits of her beloved Andrimartes whose presence she did infinitely desire that she might rejoyce with him for his happy success and yet she was well contented with his absence since she her self was a sharer in his glory and since it conduced so much unto the advantage of the Crown of the Franks shewing her self by her wise and virtuous moderation to be the Grand-child of Semmon Duke of Gaul Armorique the faithful friend of King Merovius There was not a man who did not love and highly commend the Valiant and Wise Andrimartes and for six years together which he continued in the Army he met not with one accident which did not end in happy success Childerick only excepted who grudged at all his victories though they were all to the advantage of that Crown which he was to inherit after Merovius but his love being above his ambition he disliked all his actions and detracted from his glory as much as possible he could knowing very well that all these applaudes of him would kindle the affection which Silviana bore unto him But at length Andrimartes not being able to live any longer from his adored Lady though he received Letters continually from her he obtained leave from the King to return unto Paris to settle some affaires which he pretended
answered Clidemant I do not want courage but yet I am not able to resist the power of death Guyemant with tears in his eyes then said unto him I hope that Tautates will not afflict us so much as to ravish from us a Prince so necessary for the happiness of men but will let us enjoy him longer to our happiness and comfort Guyemant answered he we are all in the hands of the great Tautates he may dispose of us as he pleaseth and for my part so he will be pleased to let me leave this life with that good reputation which my Ancestors did leave unto me I shall be well contented and satisfied with the time that I have already lived Then calling Lindamore unto him who was wounded though not so mortally as he and who was all in tears to see his Lord in this extremity You two said he unto Lindamore and Guyemant are the persons in whom I have greatest confidence Guyemant I conjure you to tell Childerick that I do die his servant and am very sorry that I have given no greater testimony of my affection yet tell him that if the services which I have done unto the King his Father have any influence upon him I hope he will not take it ill if you tell him from me that if he do not leave this ignominious life which he hath lived since he was King he must expect a punishment from Heaven And you Lindamore as soon as I am dead or at least as soon as your wounds will permit you carry back all the Segusian Cavalry into their own Country restore them back from me unto the Nymph my Mother unto whose service I conjure you to continue faithful as you have begun desire her not to grieve for the loss of me since it is the will of Heaven to have it so and desire her to comfort her self with this that I have imployed the time which I lived in the way of honour and die without reproach Also tell my dear Sister that if any thing make me unwilling to die so soon it is my desires of seeing her more then any thing else then causing us all to be called for and seeing most of us standing by his beds-side with tears in our eyes he stretched out his hand unto us and commanded us to obey Lindamore as himself but above all to serve you Madam and the Nymph Galathea with all the fidelity of true Cavaliers assuring us that we should receive from you a full recompence for all the services which we had done unto him He would have said something more but his Spirits fail'd him and he dyed in the arms of Lindamore who seeing this for grief fell into a swoon I cannot express our sorrows nor the sorrows of all the Court when they heard of his death the very people of the Town who commonly are very dull in such resentments did lament him and also applaud him to the Heavens saying that the death of this Prince was a great loss unto their Nation and Crown they were sure he never consented unto the Violent Extravagancies and Tyranny of Childerick and doubtless our condolements had been much more but for the imminent peril and danger which presently after did threaten us the fear of our lives forced us to stand upon our guard And at the same time as fortune was all the Lords and Grandees which were assembled at Province not knowing of this accident came all to feel the pulse of the people and finding them to beat after their own tempers and with Arms in their hands they put it into the peoples heads to go and clamor at the Palace Royal with abundance of Drums and Trumpets which making a great noise Childerick began to fear the fury of these mutinies And because he had a great confidence in the valour of Lindamore and in the advice of Guyemant he sent for them both to advise about his safety neither of them both would in this juncture of danger upbraid him with his faults but both offered him their aid and assistance to the hazard of their lives Lindamore though wounded advised to fall presently upon the enemy and counselled the King to die like a King and a man of courage But Guyemant like a wise and prudent Counsellor advised the contrary Sir said he let us not too desperately precipitate our selves till there be no hopes of safety though we were near a thousand men yet we were nothing to the number of the enemy time is the master of occasions and may unexpectedly fit us with them it is wisdom therefore to submit unto time and sail with the wind nothing is now to be done but to use our best endeavours for the changing the mind of this tumultuous people since we see all the Grandees both of Gaul and of the Franks are joyned with them it is to be expected Andrimartes and all his Friends will also comply for he is already sent unto Gillon the Roman likewise with all his adherents will doubtless be stirring and who knows whether Renauld and his Brother the Sons of Clodion will not be fishing in these troubled waters And therefore what good can we ever hope to do by force I advise therefore and Sir if you will follow my Counsell I will engage my life to restore you unto the Crown of your Father I advise you I say to yeild unto the violence of this averse piece of Fortune retire your self out of this Kingdom and rest quiet with Basin in Thuring he is your Kinsman and your Friend he will be glad to have you in his house and ready to assist a great affied Prince In the mean time I call the Gods to witness that when you are absent I will imploy my whole interest and endeavours to reconcile you unto the People and I make no doubt but to effect it if you will follow the advice which I shall give Guyemant had no sooner done speaking but they heard a Trumpet which being come neerer the draw Bridge sounded thrice and afterwards they heard these words uttered in a loud voice The Druides the Princes and all the Cavalry of the Franks and Gaules assembled and united do declare and proclaim GILLON King of the Franks and Childerick a Tyrant and incapable of wearing the Crown of his Father Childerick and Guyemant upon this looked out of the window into the street and they saw Gillon carried according to the custom upon the peoples shoulders with such loud acclamations of the people that Childerick saw Guyemant told him truly and therefore fearing lest his own servants should betray him he retired himself with the faithful Guyemant and after some short discourse together he parted from him carrying with him one half of a piece of gold for a token that when Guyemant sent him the other half he might return into his Kingdom in safety the Figure of this piece being joyned together was on one side a Tower to express constancy and on the other a
Dolphin amidst the Surging Waves with this Motto about Destiny does not Cross any Then changing his habit he entreated Lindamore though he was wounded to accompany him with his Segusian Cavalry until he was out of the hands of this tumultuous people Lindamore consented and Guyemant promised to give an honourable funeral unto the Prince Clidemant Night being come the King got secretly out of the gates and was conducted by us Cavaliers as far as Thuring and because Lindamores wounds would not give him leave to travel he was forted to stay upon his return in the Town of Rhemois where the Queen Methina had a particular care of him and his cure There we heard how the Generous Andrimartes having met with the Fair Silviana presently resolved upon revenge but hearing the same day how Childerick was punished he thought it best to retire into his own dominions and pardon the fault of Childerick which he did in some sort excuse considering the superlative beauty of Silviana Lindamore on the other side thought it expedient to acquaint you Madam with the news which though it be extreamly sad yet fearing the neglect of it might be dis-service unto you I did undertake his commands and became the messenger Thus the Cavalier ended with his eyes full of tears but Galathea hearing of her Brothers death although she constrained her self as much as possibly she could yet she fell into such a flood of tears that she did sufficiently pay the tribute of human imbecility and shewed her good nature Her Mother gave her time to discharge her self of her just grief and in the mean time asked the Cavalier whether Lindamore intended to return ere it was long and he answering that he stayed only for his recovery she took Adamas aside and commanded the Cavalier to withdraw until she sent for him again but gave him a most strict charge to acquaint none living with the death of Clidemant nor of any accidents that had hapned unto Lindamore or King Childerick When the Cavalier was gone and none within compass of hearing but Galathea she turned towards the Druide and said unto him You hear Father this sad news and I must tell you that the loss of my Son goes very neer my heart nights can best testifie my tears but the necessity of affairs forces me to dissemble my sorrows in the day and Daughter it is very requisite you do the same for if the death of Clidemant should come to be known before we have put our affairs into good order I am afraid Polemas should take advantage of the absence of all our Cavalry and plot some treason against us I speak-not this without some ground of reason for I have observed of late that this man assumes more authority to himself then he ought he has made two attempts already upon the life of Damon even in your presence and this because he feares I have no fancy to marry you unto him But that which most discovers his bad intentions is the letters which Gondebaut King of the Burgundians did write unto him which I have seen and which intimate a very close correspondency betwixt them These things being thus closely hid from me must needs be unto my disadvantage and I believe his design is to attempt against the State and to establish his usurpation by ravishing Galathea from me and marrying her either by good will or by force Oh Heavens Madam cryed out Galathea do you think this pernicious man has any such abominable design It is not to be doubted Madam answered the Druide and I ground my opinion upon his procuring that Impostor to place himself so neer the Gardens of Mount Brison to deceive you under a colour of Sanctity and of being a Druide and to try if by this means he could obtain your favour but seeing that this failed him and that Clidemant Lindamore and all the Cavalry are absent he may very well take hold of this opportunity and make use of his correspondents to that purpose since the whole government of the Country is in his hands therefore I humbly conceive Madam said he unto Amasis that your best course is to hasten Lindamore's return as soon as possibly he can and that he bring with him al his Cavalry in the mean time retire your self into the City of Marselles where without any noise I will send unto you as many Souldiers and Cavaliers as I can within two dayes I will come thither my self and if it be possible bring Damon with me for I do not think the Country safe enough against the violence of Polemas I do vow said Galathea that if this wicked man do offer any attemps upon my person I will with my own hands and nails strangle my self-Daughter answered Amasis good Angels preserve you from any such extremities I had rather see you in your Coffin then under the subjection of this insolent man but I hope never to see it and yet it concerns us to use that remedy which Adamas out of his prudence and fidelity hath propounded unto us this very night you shall go with me unto Marselles we will carry Alcidon and Daphnide and all their Company with us and entreat them to leave off that habit which suits so ill with their qualities to morrow I will send a letter for Damon and Madonthe But Father said she and turned towards Adamas as for the Druide who was formerly at Mount Brison who told Fortunes and lived with so much appearance of Sanctity you must know that he is returned again and begins to live and do as formerly he did Oh Madam answered Adamas he is a most abominable Impostor and did you but know how Polemas makes use of him you would think them both worthy of punishment but the discourse of it will be too long for this time for I see the Sun grow very low and you have no more time then to return unto Marselles by day light but if we could seise upon this Impostor perhaps we should discover by him what the design of Polemas is for he is one of his great instruments Galathea whose very spleen against this man had almost dryed up her tears if you please said she we shall easily take him for there needs no more but to pretend that I desire to speak with him but I do not know how to manage the matter handsomly without the assistance of Leonide and therefore it is requisite to send for her Assure your self Madam answered Adamas that to morrow I will send her unto you and yet I think it a good way to send Silvia to morrow very early unto this Impostor to tell him that you Madam have a very great desire to see him and that within this two or three dayes you intend to come unto him this will also deceive Polemas and perhaps may cause him to retard his wicked design which will be very advantageous unto us for we shall have more time to provide for our defence which I foresee we
if I have any thing which is dearer then Dorinde I will give it unto you and your merit I do here give her unto you and pray unto the heavens to make you a most happy pair Periander ravished with joy did kiss the hand of Arcingentorix an hundred times with so many demonstrations of Love as none doubted but that his Love was extream At the same time my Father called for me and taking my hand carried me in to Periander Daughter said he I would have you love this Cavalier as him that must be your husband and unto whom I now do give you and within these eight days I will prepare for your marriage Upon this Periander advanced and came to salute me and I Sir said he do take you for my Lord and Father and her for my Wife and Mistris Judge I beseech you Madam and you wise and fair Shepherdesses whether such promises as these so solemnly made would not make any one believe them indissolvable But with shame to all humane kind you shall hear the perfidie of all men in general included in this one particular man These eight days which Arcingentorix prefixed for a conclusion of the marriage were variously imployed For my Father 's whole care was in providing all things necessary for this marriage All the Neighborhood to shew how much they loved and honoured our Family designed several diversions of Tilting Masks Dancings and such like Bellimartes on the contrary was perpetually whispering into the Kings ear and contriving how to break off this marriage But Merindor what in sighs and tears what in caressing me and my Father his time was so spent that he could hardly sleep He was continually telling several tales and foretelling me of Periander's inconstancy dissimulation and perfidie which since I have found but too true and unto which I would not then hearken thinking it an offence against the love which he bore unto me and which I had unto that Deceiver As for Periander his whole care was in caressing me and treating me with all the diversions about the Town and thought upon nothing else at least in shew For my part I must confess I thought my self so obliged to him that my study was wholly how to please him Now sage Druide see how heaven does laugh at all our Designs and can change them During this while whether it was with too much dancing or by eating too much fruit or rather as I think by coming into some infectious place or to say better whether it was the will of heaven by this small sickness to prevent a greater misery I cannot tell but upon the sixth day I was taken with an extream pain in my head and a Fever so violent as put me all into a flame and continued several days and still with such a drowsiness upon me as I could hardly lift up my eyes and after it had thus tormented me one morning when the Phisicians came to see me they found me full of red spots which by little and little growing bigger did so become blisters that I was a horrid sight to be seen It was a disease which children are commonly subject unto and many other children and young people of my age in the same Town were at the same time infected as I was This malady thus falling out it prevented all designs and preparations for I was so exceedingly tormented that many thought I would die Periander at the first came twice or thrice to see me and seemed to be extreamly displeased that our marriage should be thus retarded But as soon as the Smal pox appeared he would never after so much as set his foot into the house where I was he sent indeed somtimes to see how I did but he was so afraid of me and catching the disease that he would not so much as come neer the door As long as pain was upon me I must confess I did not resent his behaviour though every one else did think it very strange but I was so full of pain as I never asked what became of him yet afterwards when the violence was a little past I did enquire what became of Periander and perceiving the little memory he had of me I began to think that Merindor spoke truth when he foretold me of Periander's inconstancy and yet I could not chuse but seek out for some reasons to excuse him somtimes I did imagine that perhaps some business had carryed him out of Lyons and that it grieved him as much as it did me that he could not hear how I did otherwhiles I had an opinion that my Father had changed his mind and had forbidden him to see me somtimes I thought he was sick and that none in my house would acquaint me Briefly I turned every stone and tryed all my wits and all how to deceive my self But my malady continuing long and this perfidious man also continuing in his neglect I was but too well assured that his mind was turned What do you think Madam and you fair Shepherdess the resentment of this offence might move me unto At the first I wept and was silent and hid my tears from the sight of every one But when I heard it the common talk and that every one condemned his falseness it was impossible for me to hide my resentments any longer On the contrary Merindor as if my sickness had augmented his affection he was continually at my chamber door asking how I did and would gladly have seen me if they would have permitted him And as soon as ever he heard all danger was past he brought musique of several sorts unto my door to divert me and because he knew of Perianders change I remember he caused a song to be sung at my chamber door which intimated the inconstancy of a Lover And because he thought that perhaps I did not understand the words at that distance he sent the song in a paper unto me by a woman that came into my chamber yet I was so attentive that I heard and remembred every word I seemed not to take any notice of all this though I had a great resentment of it but when I was alone the thoughts of Perianders neglect and oblivion made me even hate his humour and more when being out of my bed and yet durst not go out of my chamber because my face was much changed as is common in that disease he did not so much as send to see how I did now I thought it time to forget him as well as he did me and I thank Heaven for it I did so exclude him from my thoughts that I made him a very stranger unto them It would be but loss of time to tell you what reproaches I laid in his dish how I resolved my self against him how sadly I first resented this separation for the truth is I had such confidence in his promised affection that I thought it impossible to alter but now finding my self deceived and my disease to be the cause
Cavalier and whether I thought he loved me and I answering that considering both Perianders behaviour and his I did both love him and that he loved me Since it is so said he unto me I like him better then I do Periander Sir said I unto him you may dispose of me as you please for I have no will but yours We must not be too hasty in any thing answered he nor must we slight them since he has behaved himself so well let us entertain him with a few handsome delays and resolve upon the matter at more leisure then turning towards Merindor he looked upon him with a kind aspect thanked him for the care he had of me in my sickness and commanded me to bid him welcome and honour him as I was obliged Since this day the door was never shut against Merindor as soon as I was drest he might enter into my chamber at all times without denial and he who let no opportunity slip was in it from morning till night with so much shew of affection that it seemed my deformity did augment it On the other side Bellimartes seeing how this Cavalier had admittance and thinking the same might as well be allowed unto him did send to know whether he might come in or no And my Father since Merindor was permitted durst not deny him so as one afternoon he came to see me but being advertised of his coming I put on my Mask and my Gloves with a protestation not to pull them off as long as he stayed in my chamber The discourse of Bellimartes smelt more of a States-man then a Lover and though he saw the sickness had much changed me yet he seemed not to care but within a few days after he made such addresses unto King Gondebaut that he solicited my Father to marry me Bellimartes being of another Nation and never beloved amongst us my Father desired no alliance with him but rather with Merindor whom he thought to be a man of much merit and whose estate and parents were not unknown therefore he beseeched the King to pardon him if he not consent unto the marriage because I only was the support and comfort of his age and to marry me unto a stranger who had no setled estate in his Dominions was not any comfort unto him He told him that if I did dis-obey him he would desire to punish me no more then to marry me unto that man for I should be as good as banished from him Moreover he said that I was at sufficient age to make my own choice and he would never contradict my Will since it was a business that made me either happy or miserable all my life and therefore he would not by any means force my Will and for a conclusion he beseeched the King to remember the faithful services which he and his Ancestors had ever done him and for a recompence of all that he would do him the favour not to constrain me unto this The King who loved Bellimartes and intended to oblige him further by doing this office for him did answer unto all those objections which my Father urged and to every point did give good reasons to cover that Soveraign power which he intended to use in this business And as to that objection that Bellimartes had no estate in his Dominions and that he was a stranger therefore he should never see me again he answered That he would confer such an estate upon him in his Kingdom as should take away that exception and that Bellimartes did intimate as much in his addresses unto me whose Beauty now was not such as could invite him to marry me for any matter of Love but reason of State and to get Alliance in a Country where he was a stranger That this resolution would make him more tractable unto me more obedient towards him and more serviceable towards all our kinred then any other he could mention unto him That as to the choice and free liberty of my Will which he would leave unto me in this business that it was great indiscretion to do so because youth and wisdom can never be together and that being so young as I was he would commit a great fault in leaving it to my own choice which I could never make but with indiscretion but on the contrary that he was obliged by the very name of a Father to find out a Husband for me such a one as might be advantagious and not to leave it unto me to chuse at random and without judgement That if they ordained Guardians to such as are within age so certainly marriage which is to last for life must be contracted by the approbation and consent of Wise and Prudent persons who have the Tuition of any young and unadvised child That it was generally observed few marriages which were made for Love prove prosperous in the end and almost all those that were made by advise the contrary and that the authority of Wise Parents is commonly seconded by all sorts of happinesse and felicities And as to the services which he and his Ancestâ—rs had done him he did make it appear that he had them in memory by taking so much pains in marrying me unto one whom he esteemed and loved that had he not remembred them he would have marryed him unto some other within his Dominions who was as rich and as well allyed as I was but in this action he thought to acquit himself of those services which he had received from him and his house To be brief he desired the marriage might be and if it was not he had an occasion to take it unkindly upon this he left my Father so astonished that he neither could nor durst answer him a word The authority of a Soveraign Prince has such a stroke with it in the mind of loyal subjects that it strikes dead what resolutions soever was to the contrary especially when it comes with a colour of reason for most certain it is that subjects ought naturally to obey their Prince dis-obedience is against honour and against great Tautates in all other things good excuses may be used and cannot be rejected by persons of judgment But in this my Father had no will to bestow me upon this stranger and had rather have dyed then to see me in his hands one while he had a mind to tell him that he had already given me unto Merindor but he was presently off that because when the King spoke unto him he did not tell him so then other whiles he resolved to marry us secretly assuring himself that when it was done Gondebaut could not break it but upon a sudden he foresaw so many miseries that would befal both him and us that he altered his opinion for he knew the Kings anger would never cool till he was revenged upon us sometimes his thoughts prompted him to admit me amongst the Vestals but when he fancied that he saw me so reclus'd and buried before I was dead he waved
that resolution besides the Kings anger would have been as high against him for that as if he had flatly dis-obeyed him Thus not knowing what course to take he continued many dayes so unresolved and uncertain as it troubled him so much that he moved pity from all that saw him In the mean time Bellimartes whom the King acquainted with all the difficulties which my Father objected he took counsel from a prudent and wise friend to gain me with a golden shower as the Poets say Danae was by Jupiter I mean that though his nature was not over liberal yet upon this occasion he should overcome himself and send rich presents unto me and my Father for it was the custom of old people to be covetous and it was the nature of young women to be desirous of new dresses and shew themselves brave amongst their associates Probably the King was of this opinion for we were sure that Bellimartes was not able of himself to bestow such delicate curiosities as he sent unto me nor such great and rich presents as he sent unto my Father every day Oh how true a saying it is that stones will strike the Thunderbolt out of the hand of Jupiter and that gifts does steal away the liberty of them that receive them After Bellimartes had continued this course some twelve or fifteen dayes his presents had more eloquence in them and more authority then the King There was not a woman about me nor a servant about my Father but was so gained that they talked of nothing but of his merit and of his valour all others were not worthy to look upon him and although he was formerly very il-favoured those themselves that were of that judgment do now cry him up to the clouds but that which was the greatest wonder unto me was to see my Father my degrees to approve of that which he so much disproved before Daughter said he unto me this man is not such a Barbarian as we did conceive him those that spend their judgment upon one they know not are much to blame for who would not have been deceived in this man Whose birth was amongst Barbarians whose education was in blood and cruelties and yet his conversation and humour is quite otherwise then at first we thought him For my part I think upon serious consideration that it were not amiss to give the King contentment in this alliance with him it must needs be very advantagious unto us and he may one day advance us above all our Predecessors again it is not good to resist the will of him whom Heaven has commanded us to obey the ruine of him who commits the crime is impardonable and infallible for my part I did resist him when I thought the man to be not so good as he is but now I know him I find the King has good reason to admit him into his favour I see my error and my simplicity in not obeying him and in not acknowledging that happinesse which he intends towards us Oh Heavens How little resolution there is in a childs judgment And how easily are they swayed by the reasons of those who know how to argue them with art they will swallow them like bitter pils which are lapt in hony I did Love Merindor and I had no inclination at all unto Bellimartes and yet my Fathers discourse turned me which way he pleased Truth is when I was alone and remembred Merindors affection and with what constancy he continued his addresses during all the noysomness of my sickness I could not chuse but pity and be exceedingly sorry for him As soon as this course was resolved upon my Father commanded me not to see him so often as I was accustomed I must confess I lamented the loss of this Cavalier in whom I found so much affection But Bellimartes who by his presents had blinded the eyes of my Father was the cause of my resolution to obey him who had the power over me Yet being moved unto compassion I intended to advertise Merindor to the end he might betimes decline any further courtship or addresses to me and divert himself some other way The next morning therefore when he came to see me according to his custom as soon as I heard that he was at my chamber-door I beseeched my Father he would be pleased to give way that he might enter that I might acquaint him with our resolutions to the end he might be no longer deceived that his constant courtship his humble addresses the hopes which was given him and his merits and quality deserved all manner of contentment My Father did much commend my design and to give us the better opportunity of talk after Merindor was entered my Father retired to his own chamber and left me to say what I would Merindor at first seeing this new favour entred into great hopes thinking that my Father retired purposely in favour of him but when he was gone he observed such a hollow kind of behaviour in me as quite dashed his hopes again especially when causing him to sit down I spoke thus unto him Merindor your merits and your good will unto me does oblige me to honour and esteem you as much as any Cavalier in the Country and would most willingly by any good service render some testimony of my resentments which invites me to put you out of some doubts which perhaps you have entred into since you see me so reserved towards you Know therefore Merindor that as long as my Father approved of our marriage I behaved my self towards you with all the freedom that a harmlesse liberty would permit but now since that hope is quite taken away I thought it would be a great sin and such a one as deserved the Title 〈◊〉 Perfidy if I should deceive you any longer by such petty caresses that are apt to delude young persons who do love do not think I beseech you but that if it were in my own choise I would rather chuse Merindor to live with all the dayes of my life the◠any other whomsoever and have the same thoughts of Arcingentorix for were it referred unto him assure your self Merindor that he would never look upon any but you I have ever found him so disposed to Love and honour you and has held you in such a high esteem as doubtlesse he would have been extreamly well contented if it had been so designed by the destinies that I might have passed away my dayes with one of so much merit as you are But Heaven has decreed it otherwise and I am not destined to so much happiness for you must know continued I with tears in my eyes that Gondebaut does force me to marry Bellimartes Oh Heavens Dorinde said Merindor and clapped his hands together will Gondebaut marry you to Bellimartes Yes said I unto him sadly and I assure you Arcingentorix and I have done all we can to prevent it but find that there is no way to do it but by death Since
did acquaint the King with the Interest you have in the business he will consider it and you shall see that though this course should not do any good yet iâ— will not do you any hurt The Wise Euphrosias said all these things before him not that he believed they would do any good or that the King being engaged by his word would be taken off it but his drift only was to cool a little that angry heat which was kindled in the soul of Merindor hoping that if the first impetuosity were but a little allayed he might the more easily afterwards perswade him to reason And indeed it came so to pass that Merindor considering upon what he had said and finding some colour of probability in it he began to hearken a little unto reason and in conclusion they did not part until he resolved absolutely to follow whatsoever Euphrosias did dictate until such time as all hopes were lost and at the same time they determined amongst themselves to imploy those about the King whom they thought had most credit with him this Wise friend made every thing look with such a face of facility as wrought much upon the young mans apprehensions and he promised unto him several assistances of great prevalency though all was only to divert him for he knew that the best way to perswade is to infuse great hopes of that which is much desired But Madam I beseech you hear how Heaven is pleased to play with men and how fortune does even what she pleaseth when Merindor made addresses to the King and humbly beseeched him he would not force Arcingentorix to give his daughter unto Bellimartes because of the interest which he had King Gondebaut answered that he did not know of his Interest when he first engaged himself in the business but being now so far engaged he knew not how to come off without much prejudice unto his Authority So see how Merindor is blasted in all his hopes on that side and Bellimartes so assured to be my Husband that the Articles were drawn and nothing wanted but going to the Temple Who would ever think this business should be broken off But see the black malice and extream perâ—â—dy of men When all things were ready and every one in order to go unto the Temple a grave Honourable Matron accompanied with two daughters and four servants came to the door of our house and with much ado got passage through the croud of people which flocked thither she desired to speak with my Father and after civil saluation Sir said she unto him and raised her voice that all might hear I come to acquaint you that my daughter whom I hold here in my hand and whose name is Alderina is the Legitimate wife of Bellimartes the Visigot and that four years have passed since he publiquely married her in Gergovia as all the Druides and Nobles of that Province can attest and as I will make appear before the King at whose feet I am now going to prostrate my self in hopes of Justice and that the Common Right of Nations will be maintained and observed Upon this she made a reverence and went straight to the Palace Royal not without great shouts of the people when they heard this news Whether Arcingentorix was astonished judge you for he was struck into such an extasie that he was not able to utter one word but going into the Hall where we all were ready to go out and asking for Bellimartes Sir said he unto him aloud do you know a Lady whose name is Alderina At the word Alderina we observed that he changed colour why said he do you ask that question Because answered my Father she and her Mother are at the door and do let you know that they are going to the King for Justice against you Against me said he and why Because answered my Father this Alderina is your wife and because you cannot marry another as long as she is alive Upon this a great noise of astonishment was heard which was made by all those in the Hall and though Bellimartes made a laughing matter of it and said it was not true nor ought to retard the marriage yet none of my kindred were of that opinion especially my Father who told him freely that he had such a belief in what the woman said as he would never consent his daughter should marry him till this imposture was cleered Bellimartes who was naturally of a proud imperious temper and thought himself supported by the Kings favour let me tell you Arcingentorix said he that I care neither for you nor your daughter and that I do find my self much mistaken in the alliance which I intended to make with you My Father who was generous and though age hung heavy upon him yet could resent the honour of himself and his Ancestors Bellimartes said he unto him I had rather you should deceive your self then me and let me tell you that I value you far less then you can do my daughter or me As God would have it Bellimartes never heard these last words for he was gone all in a rage and left all the company in a strange confusion But for his part he was in the greatest confusion of all because his conscience which is a thousand witnesses did convince him of that unworthy act which he would have done This hour I believe was the happiest of all my life for certainly if this Lady had stayed but this hour longer then she did I had been married unto him and most certain it is this perfidious wretch had a wife and as we are informed since had quitted her because she was not rich enough But see here what the faith of men is And how miserable that woman is who trusts them for this Alderina had been long courted by him and with so many passionate expressions of affection as it is hardly credible he should forsake her yet avarice did since most shamefully overcome his Love But so it was Madam that for this time I was almost miraculously delivered from a mis-fortune for Alderina having made her addresses to the King and convinced Bellimartes who though he denied all yet he was ordained to take her for his Lawful wife and charged upon severe penalty to marry no other as long as she lived many did wonder that Alderina being very fair and handsom Bellimartes should leave her for me whose face was enough to affright him and when answer was made that he did it out of covetousness it was hard to be believed because of the many rich presents which he sent unto us and which since we sent back but they did not consider that those gifts which made him thought liberal they were not given but only lent which he knew well enough would return back if he married me since then all we had was his so as this so much esteemed liberality was most certainly a base and unworthy self ended avarice Merindor who was going upon his last and
complain against your memory that does not only forget me when I am absent but also when I am present but I am glad to see you and to testifie how really I love you I am come to see you accompanied with one whom you love the best of any in the world Periander answered Hylas I pray distinguish what kind of one you speak It is a man or a woman For if it be a man none can be more welcom unto me then your self since there is none I love better then I do Periander and if it be a woman then if it be she I love best you have met with Stella for it is she unto whom I have devoted my self What replied Periander have you forgotten Dorinde Dorinde answered Hylas I perceive my good friend that you have forgotten the custom of Hylas you must know that her name has hardly room in my memory for since I have seen so many Creysides so many Madonthes so many Laonices so many Phillises so many Alexises and above all one Stella who dazles my eyes I tell you the luster of so many new lights will not let me see the obscurities of your City of Lyons I perceive said Periander and smiled that you are still the same Hylas upon the banks of Lignon that you were wont to be upon those of Arar The very same said Hylas but yet if Dorinde be here I shall be glad to see her that I may know whether my mouth was not in those dayes out of taste If you desire to see her said Periander you may go into that Cabin and find her still frighted at an accident which hapned What accident said Hylas it is answered Periander that but for Bellimartes Merindor and my self some of King Gondebauts Souldiers would have carried her away but we finding her just in the very nick of time we made them quit their enterprize but alas the poor Bellimartes is dead with Merindor's Brother and I have lost a Cosen germane How replyed Hylas have you thus handled King Gondebaut's men If so I beseech you carry me to Dorinde for I must of necessity advertise her of some things which I have heard and which caused me to come hither in such haste They were then close by the Cabin so as Hylas upon this entred who seeing all the Shepherdesses about the stranger did judge her to be Dorinde but faigning not to know her where is this new Shepherdess said he who at her first coming has stained the purity of our banks with bloody Sacrifices Dorinde then knowing Hylas rose up to salute him being very glad to meet him in that place where she thought she should need all manner of assistance and going towards him is it possible Hylas said she that my face should be so changed as your eyes should not know her now whom your heart did formerly know so well I believe answered Hylas that if my heart were here it might answer the questions which you ask but since it is not I think there are few here who can tell what to say unto them How said Dorinde your heart not here Who is the thief that stole it As for any male thieves replied he I know how to keep it well enough from them but I must confesse my bad influences has submitted me unto some certain Female thieves against whom I cannot possibly defend my self and the worst is they are of an humour that the first thing they seize upon is the heart so as I can very seldom keep this little piece of houshold stuffe in my house I believe said Dorinde that when these Femal thieves do steal it from you it is not long before you can furnish your self with another You are mistaken said Florice and interrupted for those who do steal it do find it such a bad piece of stuff that they presently restore it back again at the next meeting you are mistaken your self said Hylas and you had better have said that because it is impossible two hearts should dwell together without the stronger driving out the weaker those who do steal my heart are constrained to let theirs come unto me and become mine and stay with me until some other thief do steal it from me to give me her own and therefore Dorinde if you have any occasion for your heart which you sent unto me when you stole mine ask it of Florice and you Florice ask yours of Cryseide when you see her next and let Cryseide ask hers of Madonthe and if Madonthe will have that back which I had of hers let her look out Laonice and whosoever has any thing to do with Laonices they will find it in Phillis and you Phillis if you desire to have yours again to bestow upon any Shepherd bid the Fair Druide return it unto you for as for hers which I had it is now in the possession of Stella who in a happy exchange did most courteously give me hers which I will keep as long as it pleaseth me but Dorinde said Periander and interrupted I beseech you let us discourse upon these hearts another time when we have more leisure Hylas comes to advertise you that you are not safe in this place and therefore it is requisite you hear what he says you do very well said Hylas to put me in memory of it for this new Shepherdess does so put me in mind of what is past that I forget the present Let me tell you therefore that not long since as I lay close in a bush expecting a Shepherdess whom I loved and was to walk that way with her Flock I saw four men on hors-back terribly affrighted and in great disorder and one of them had a great cut upon his hand which bleeding extreamly constrained them to alight very near the place where I was and having left one to watch whether any followed the other held the horses and the third tore his handkerchief gathered a little ground-mosse and applied it unto the wound to stop the blood in the mean time I heard one of them say that if they made a little more haste they should meet with the rest of their company from whom they were parted then they would return and be revenged by bringing away that woman whom King Gondebaut so much desired to have As soon as they were gone I met with some Shepherds who told me partly what had hapned in this place unto which I came purposely to tell you that unless you have a mind to fall into their hands you must remove from this place Oh ye Gods cryed out Dorinde with tears in her eyes will not fortune let me remain at rest even in these solitary places Madam said Periander when we came away from Lyons we heard that you were pursued by many of King Gondebauts guard and therefore if you will take my advice you shall seek out some place of strength for your security as long as Merindor and I do live we will defend you against all the
not go with me unto my house He went nearer to her and after he had looked well upon her he answered to my house do you say Adrastes and Doris Yes replied Doris will not Adrastes go with Doris To which he answered not a word but Doris and turning himself about offered to go away Doris then calling him by his name and he turning towards her she offered her hand and said unto him come come Adrastes do not you love Doris He looked seriously upon her and said not a word and it would have pitied any one to see how tears trickled from his eyes though he smiled Doris then made him a second offer of her hand what Adrastes said she do you not know Doris Then he answered Doris yes said she I am Doris who entreats Adrastes to go with her unto Marselles Then going to her and taking her under the arm he said Marselles Doris Adrastes Palemon and never left saying so all the way long but sometimes did weep and sometimes at the very same instant laugh and would never answer unto any question but only the last word of it They had already passed over the River Lignon and left the house of Adamas on the right hand when they began to discover Marselles and because Hylas was very sorry that he could not know the cause of Dorindes coming into Forrests it is a hard case said he that some foolish accident or other does always prevent me in my desires what foolish accident do you complain of said Dorinde which has prevented you in your desires Two things answered Hylas I do complain of and they are very different the one is that Thamires and I have talked so long the other is that Adrastes hath made us lose that time which I desired should be spent in hearing what has hapned unto you since last I saw you If that be al answered Dorinde to content you we shal remedy it when you please these promises are easily made said Hylas but often fail in performance hold me for a person very uncivil said Dorinde if I do not give you satisfaction in a thing which I may with so much ease perform I believe you to be civil enough replied Hylas but I cannot tell whether your leisure and your will can permit it as for matter of will answered Dorinde it shall not stick upon that and as for leisure I believe that at night when we have nothing else to do we may have as good an opportunity as can be desired But pray why have you not as great a desire to know the adventures of Florice of Palinice and Cercinea as well as mine Is it because you already know them There is a hidden mistery in that answered Hylas and the truth is I do not know them but I do very much wonder now I think on it that I should never have that desire then turning towards them but good in the dayes of old Mistrisses tell me why you did not pay that tribute which was due unto my curiosity and desire We do answer said Florice that neither you nor we had any will thereunto but yet there is a reason which is better and which proceeds from a cause more high for Heaven did forbid us How how said Hylas have you such familiar conversation with Heaven I do not wonder now I should so retire my self from you since you are so celestial you must not now be loved but adored as heavenly beauties Hylas said Cercinea you now speak like unto your self who being one of those Gallo-Ligurians which retain nothing of the ancient Gaulish Religion but theâ—â—â—ry name having received the Graecian fables for truths but we who adore nothing but one only Tautates we do not desire to be adored Oh Cercinea said Hylas I perceive your celestial conversation with Heaven and your intimate familiarity with Angels has made you so divine that now there is no coming near you you do not talk now like Cercinea but like a Sarronide an Eubages a Prophetess a celestial Druide God keep me from loving you since you are learned for when I begin to talk unto you of my affection in lieu of answering you will reprove me for not speaking well and God knows how extreamly ashamed should I be to receive correction at this age Then turning towards Florice but pray tell me in good earnest said he how comes it to passe I should never know the cause of your coming into this Country Because answered Florice we would not tell it unto any being so enjoyned by the Oracle which did forbid us to speak of it until a thing come to pass which is not yet hapned Now I do see said Hylas that heaven is better to me then I deserve since I am not afflicted with any desires of a thing that would have been long before the effect would be obtained But said Dorinde why might not I have satisfied this desire for I do know all their adventures almost as well as themselves and heaven has not forbidden me to tell them Were we not so neer the place unto which we go said Lycidas I should humbly entreat that you would be pleased to take so much pains for I believe there is not a stranger upon the Banks of Lignon who hath so long concealed the cause of their journey as these three fair ones have It seems said Hylas that they have extreamly offended the Gods Why said Cercinea Because answered Hylas the greatest punishment that heaven can lay upon a woman is to be silent If it be so answered she heaven has been very favourable to us in giving us occasion to shew our selves more then women Such discourse as this beguiled the length of the way and when they were come to the gates of Marselles Periander Merindor and their companions asked Dorinde if she intended to do her obeysance unto Amasis that same night and where she intended to lodge if she did not To whom Dorinde answered that it was very late and that all the company was too weary to go so high as the Castle which stood upon the top of a steep hill but yet she knew not where to lodge else-where having no acquaintance in the place Lycidas upon this be-thinking himself I beseech you said he give me leave to go before you into the Town and if he whom I hope to find in it be there I am confident your reception will not be bad Dorinde thanked him and sitting down under a shade neer the High-way she told him that she and the company would expect his return in that place Upon this Lycidas with the company of Corilas went into the Town and went as fast as they could unto the house of Clindor the dear friend of Alcippes the father of Celadon and Lycidas This Clindor has still in memory the affection which he bore unto their father and since the death of Alcippes and Celadon all his good will was placed upon Lycidas as all that was left unto him
of when it is too late he went unto him and saluted him and when he saw that he did not answer what Merindor said he and took him by the arm will you not speak unto your friends Merindor hearing this voice and feeling himself held by the arm stopped short and looked upon Euphrosias as if he were newly revived out of an extasie and after he had stood a while mute Good Euphrosias said he pardon this fault which proceeds from a very bad humour which has seised upon me I will answered his friend upon condition you will tell me the cause Though perhaps you would not know it answered Merindor yet I beseech you hear it for I have need of your counsel in a business which concerns me as neer as my life but let us go aside lest any should hear us discourse Upon this making choise of a private place he began to tell him the original of his Love the progress and the present condition wherein he was afterwards he acquainted him with the Love of Bellimartes and Periander but when he came to the discourse he had with me in the Temple and my answers in favour of Periander he entred into such a passion that the Prudent Euphrosias did see that the affection which he had unto me was too great to be diverted either by reasons or entreaties and therefore to avoid the two evils which he foresaw he thought it most necessary to draw him only from the most dangerous which was his hatred unto Periander and as for the cure of his affection there was no way but to refer it unto time therefore in lieu of any sharp reprehensions or any four looks he smiled upon him and answered thus Good Merindor said he tell me upon your faith if this be all the cause of your being thus discomposed How said Merindor is not this enough since my affection is such unto Dorinde that it is a thing most impossible for me to help it And do I not see before my face the man that is the great obstructor of my happiness Is there no way answered his friend to find a remedy None answered Merindor that I know but to take away the life of him that takes away from me that happiness without which I cannot live Oh Merindor cried out Euphrosias you take things at the worst Tell me I beseech you do you think Dorinde Loves Periander Think it said Merindor nay I were the most incredulous fool that lives if I were not certain of it Then replied his Wise friend you must not go the worst way to compasse what you desire for you can never hope to get the good will of Dorinde by murdering that person whom she Loves best your passion does but flatter and deceive you for by that course you will make her hate you even to the very death Certainly said Merindor there is no remedy if this be not good Certainly said Euphrosias this is neither good nor a remedy but I beseech you tell me why you think it so necessary for Periander to die Because said he the Love that Dorinde bears unto him is the cause why she does not Love me If that be it replied Euphrosias make the same reason as well obstruct him as he obstructs you I mean that she shall not Love Periander because she Loves Merindor Yes yes said Merindor you are very kind but here is the difficulty how should I make her love me Do as Periander does answered Euphrosias nay and better why should you think heaven will not be as favourable to you as any other Cavalier of your age But Euphrosias said he she does love Periander So much the better answered Euphrosias it is a signe she is not insensible nor invulnerable by the blows of Love Pray why should you think your services should not work as happy effects as his You see Merindor that you do love Dorinde in such a height that you cannot retire resolve with your self to love her still in such extremity that it shall invite her unto Love again or rather to constrain her unto it Oh my dear friend said Merindor and sighed how difficult is it to bring this enterprize to pass Yet let me tell you notwithstanding all I told you before concerning Periander that I do verily believe she does not love him but all she does is only in obedience unto her Father So much the better still said Euphrosias for if she does not love him you will far sooner win her then if she were engaged unto any Oh but if she do love Periander said Merindor what hopes can I have Why should not you hope as well as another replied Euphrosias Will not most merit soonest obtain Or say that Argument have no validity in it you must know Merindor that the love of women is one of those things that must not be sought after by the Rules of Reason and of whom one must never despair for be most assured that there is a certain hour in the day in the which they can deny nothing And therefore the answer of the Oracle was good when a Lover asked what he should do to overcome the cruelty of his Mistris The Answer was Love be Bold and Continue With such discourse as this Euphrosias diverted his friend from his designe against Periander and filled him so full of new hopes that he began to court Dorinde with such fresh assaults as Periander and Bellimartes could not chuse but be jealous for until then he did not openly declare himself but thought himself out of hopes yet now by reason of the time of my Father's answer unto Periander he was the only mote in his eye and certainly not without reason for I seeing my father very inclinable to give me unto him I thought my self already so certain to be his wife that I devoted my self wholly unto him Whilst these three were thus striving who should win me the term which my Father set for Periander's answer drew on and he who expected with extream impatience the day whereon he should be pronounced happy that very evening he failed not to go unto my Father with three of his neerest kinred As soon as he came into his presence he fell down upon his knees and beseeched him with as much earnestness as if his life was at stake that he would be pleased to give him that answer which he promised But Sir said he if it be not sutable to my desires make but a signe and it shall suffice to be rid of me for I am most perfectly resolved to throw my self and all my desires and designs into the bottom of Arar He accompanied these words with such actions of his hands head and every part of his body that every one believed they came from his heart And my Father as the rest being deceived by this opinion did hold out his hand to take him up from his knees Son said he unto him for so I will hereafter call you rise up and believe that