from a reall Resentment And that as the whole Vniverse could not produce an Example of Friendship comparable to their's So if there were a distinction of Sex it would be the most perfect Love and the happiest Marriage in the World Thence proceeding to the recitall of the handsom contrivance and conduct of their Mummery as one may call it they were ready to split with laughing to see that neither Iphis's Friends nor the Peasants knew what to think or say Judge you what contentment the subtile Boleslaüs had in beholding those two Hearts so united by the Bond of Friendship that it seemed as if one Soul had animated both their Bodies especially when Almeria embracing Iphis with as much Simplicity as Tenderness thus began My dear Brother Mee-think's those Clowns were no Fooles when they said that thou hadst the Beauty of an Angell for I believe if thou wer 't a Woman all Men would fall in love with thee As for my own particular all the Men and all the Women in the World are nothing to my Eyes in comparison of thee the Affection I bear to thee although limited within the bounds of Honour and Decencie hath I know not what tender Resentment which I do not feel for all the rest of my Friends Pomeran Argal and Pisides to give them their due are very gallant Men but to my sense they are no better than Statues to you And yet it is not the greatness of your quality that dazleth my sight but the onely merit of your Person To this endeering Language Iphis presently replied not without smiling upon Boleslaüs And I believe Brother that I have been wounded with the same Dart for thee for all Women are so indifferent to mee when I am in thy Presence that me-think's there are none in the World and this Name and this Disguisement of Almeria strike's so deep into my Imagination that what thou thinkest I speak but in Jeast is unfeinedly the production of my Soul 's most tender thoughts And if thou wert in Effect what thou art but in shew I swear there is no Queen upon the Earth whom I would have more willingly for my Wife than thy self I pre-thee Brother answered Liante do not talk to mee of beeing a Woman any further than in Habit For were it to make mee the Wife of the greatest of Monarchs I would not bee of any other Sex than I am But I 'le assure thee said Iphis that were it onely to bee Married to Liante I should be glad to be a Woman And that thou maist know with what sincerity I speak if it be impossible for mee to be so I promise thee that I will lose all the remainder of my Credit in the Court or I will make thee Marry the most Eminent Lady in Polonia And I am very certain that it shall be meerly thy own fault if thou failest of that fortune For the King cannot denie Mee that Grace when I shall demand it in thy favour Almeria as if with the Woman's Habit shee had likewise put on the curiosity was very importunate with Iphis to name that so advantageous Party that shee might dispose her Courage to do some generous action that might make her deserve so high an Alliance It is not yet time answered Iphis that I should satisfie you therein Wine Love and a Secret if once vented are worth nothing you shall know it in it's season Content your self now to learn onely that to merit the Possessions of so rare a Subject you shall not need to run any further dangers than what you have alreadie undergone and that it depend's intirely on my will For of the Person whom I mention I have the absolute disposall Almeria Smiling upon Boleslaüs whispered in his Eire I know whom hee means and what shee is It is his Ward Eleonora Daughter to Stanislas his Predecessor in the Palatine of Uratislau but the fruit is not yet ripe a great deal of Straw and much Time will be required to bring that Medlar to perfection Boleslaüs glad to see her in that pretty Error told Iphis alowd what shee had said who was extreamly well pleased that shee understood it so and to stick her deeper in her mistake The expectation said hee will not be so long as you may imagine I was not above two or three Years elder when I was Married to your Sister However the party whom I intended for you is in Estate and all things else so far beyond Clemencia who possessed your thoughts for a time that when you see her you will not stand to consult which choice you should make At these words Almeria casting her self amiably upon Iphis Neck as the amorous Vine imbraceth it's Supporter the Elm I pre-thee dear Brother said shee speak not to mee of any other Party than thy service for as long as thou wilt own mee I will never inslave my self to any Wife or rather if you please as long as you will permit mee to be your Servant I will have no other Master or else if you think fit to Honour mee still with the style of your Mistris I will never have any other Servant Iphis ravished to see her so perfectly deceived would willingly have returned some answer but that Almeria held his Mouth so straitly besieged and blocked up with Kisses that hee had not passage for one single word Onely their Tongues advancing to the Superficies of their Lips made a mutuall communication of their Thoughts and those Thoughts ingendred such Resentments as transported them almost into that Extasie which all Philosophie holds for the most powerfull Effects of Love Boleslaüs who feared lest that Fire which quickneth when it is in mediocrity and consumeth when in Excess should bee kindled so fat in his Nursling's veins that afterwards it could hardly bee extinguished to separate these Metalls made use of the Water of Depart that they might better practise those Caresses in their second Transvestment wherein Serife should bee more favorable to Calliante than Almeria had been to Iphis which intimated that it was time for them to undress and change their Garments Heavens what do I say Bee not disturbed chast Souls I will speak nothing but what the most rigorous Vestal may hear without blushing and without the least interest of her Modesty Here it was that the naturall pudicity of Iphis acted its part and that Almeria by her bold not to say impudent Actions did plainly shew what Shee was by reason of her Sex which rendreth Men lesse bashfull For as if Shee had had great haste to become Man again Shee presently cast off that shamefull habit which belying Her spirit had violented Her Nature Whereas Iphis could not put off His without much regret for which purpose hee begged the protection of a thick copse to hide the tumour of Her Brests which began to broach Treason against him Whereupon Almeria in a jesting manner said What Servant do you hide your self from mee in a condition wherein by your
most ascendance over their brutall Souls to bee pleased onely to take notice by her Hair if what shee said of her Sex and Condition were not true Then having unbound her Head a wave of delicate Curling Hair overflowed her shoulders and covered all her Body to the waste which made them spend some time in Admiration yet they thought this but an illusion That not satisfying shee intreated them to unbutton her doublet and they should finde in her Bosome a disposition correspondent to her Hair Which done as by the sweetness of the Mountaines one may judge of the Soile in the Vallies So the Chirurgion who was present and had some knowledge in the constitution of humane Bodies seeing the gentle rising of those Snowy Hills upon her Breast assured them of the Naturall condition of the Dale Insomuch that this Conjecture which in all reason was sufficient might have served as a bridle to their curiosity if Misfortune which had not yet rendered the state of that miserable Lady desperate enough to bee released by Miracle had not suggested to those Tiger's thoughts the desire of beeing farther satisfied by the visitation of certaine grave Matrons who affirmed upon their Consciences having used the Lady with all sort of civility and made no farther search than of her Head and Bosome that shee was a Lady full of as much Honour as Vertue and Integrity How cruell and fiery soever those barbarous Executioners were yet they could not hinder cold Feare from freezing up their Hearts which distilling it's Icy liquor through every vein benum'd their spirits so that they stood in a no less maze then one who unawares chanceth to tread upon an angry Snake lying in ambush under the green Tapistry of the Earth whose horrid hissing invite's the Passenger's Eyes to behold him raising his poisonous Head and darting Death from his forked Tongue against the Foot that press'd him They began to think themselves lost Men for offering such an affront to a Person of her Quality believing that neither in her's nor her Husband's Heart there could be any place for pardon of so unspeakable an injury In this despair they consulted together to render their last error worse than the first The blood of the innocent Modestina was put into the ballance The principall Man of that accursed crue made a proposition to take away her Life alleadging that they might justifie themselves to Mieslas for that action by the resistance which they would fein shee made and besides that thereby Iphigenes would bee in full liberty to marry the Princess Respicia without expecting the issue of so many formalities This Proposition was put in deliberation and discussed both wayes At length mercifull Heaven whose Eyes continually behold the just and watch over their preservation contrary to the ordinary course of the World where evill Counsells commonly oversway the good made the best and discreetest advice prevaile in favour of that innocent captive So that at length they concluded to suspend that cruell Execution untill they had advertised Mieslas of that mistake and received directions from him how to demean themselves in that occurrence And this newes was brought to the Palatine of Podolia whilest hee was with Iphigenes the Messenger adding of his own conceipt That of a Hen they could not make a Capon Iphigenes having been already informed by Menochius of Modestina's beeing taken was the less astonished at this relation But Mieslas was no less surprised than angry surprised with the strangeness of the error besides the uncertainty wherewith his thoughts were perplexed of the impression which this event might make in his Son's mind who hee believed would bee very sensible of that affront done to a person of so neer relation to him And angry to see that in stead of Liante whom hee intended to raze out of the number of Men hee had but a shadow and which was worse that the design hee had against his person beeing divulged and coming to his Ears hee would bee more carefull to avoid falling into his hands or else that perchance Despair would transport him to some memorable revenge Nevertheless dissembling the distemper of his Minde and hiding his Choller under a smiling Countenance hee feined to turn this evenement into Laughter yet could not forbear protesting if ever Eiante did fall into his hands that hee would deal him hard measure His manner of speaking drew from Iphigenes mouth this reply The affront which you had plotted against him was the cruellest and most barbarous that could enter into the thoughts of Man and I should bee very sorry if it had been executed in my Palatinate For I do so abhor the injustice of that proceeding that I should have imployed all the power and force I could command to hinder it before it was attempted and there is no sort of vengeance and punishment but I should make them suffer that had put it in execution What if I had commanded it said the fierce Mieslas Sir answered the resolute Iphigenes I know my duty to you as my Father but you must give mee leave likewise to consider what I owe to my King to my Province to the People who under my Government are committed to Justice and my Conscience Alexander the Great denied a request his Mother demanded of him because in his Opinion it was not just As beeing your Son I owe my Life to you but for the Honours and Estate which I possess I must acknowledge my self indebted to the King's beneficence and for my Government I must thank my Sword You know that the jealousie of ruling makes Children not regard their Parents That of commanding likewise make's Parents dis-own their Children I have read in the History that a certain Consul of Rome having made his own Father alight from his Horse to render him the Honour which was due to his Magistracy was applauded for that Action not onely by all the Senate and People of that City but by his Father also as making the Lawes of Nature which were but particular give place to those of his Charge which was publick And this I say to you Sir to the end that not any of your Attendants may dare to attempt any thing against Liante if they should meet him within the territory of my Palatinate otherwise I should torture them with so cruell a Death that their punishment should serve for an example of horrour to Posterity And let not those brutall Villains who have done that unworthy affront to Her who is yet my Wife be so audacious as ever to appear in my presence For as the Creator live's before whom I stand I will pass and repass my Rapier through their Bodies for punishment of their insolence The furious Mieslas who was not accustomed to suffer such caresses without retorting an answer with his hands aswell as his Tongue seeing himself out-braved by him whom hee esteemed to bee his subject had no small pain to contein his Passion Hee did however for that
that Kiss of which for Amiclea's sake hee was most passionately covetous said Ladies I oppose your Votes and believe that the prize will bee adjudged to mee if you do mee Justice What Justice replied the Palatiness of Troc Madam answered hee that I may relate a verity lately arrived which surpasseth in strangeness the vanity of this fiction wherewith Iphigenes hath fed your Ears If you allow mee the advantage that Histories have of Fables I am confident I shall win Iphigenes no less astonished than the rest casting his Eyes upon Liante's Face the ordinary aym of his tendrest looks disposed himself to hearken with attention when Liante explained his Speech in these words which sounded as the voyce of Thunder in the Ears of the troubled Iphigenes Without borrowing any other personages than who are present in this Room I will change you this Fable into an History and by the judgement of Iphigenes himself after I have related it I question not but the prize will bee mine without contradiction In few words Ladies this Fable is nothing else but the History of Iphigenes and my self do you not see by reflecting upon the Names how that of his feined Iphis agreeth with his own and mine with Ianthe's If the roof of Heaven had seemed to break over Iphigenes head hee would have been less surprised than at this Discourse whereof dreading the sequele more than the hand of Death hee indeavoured to divert it or at least remit it untill another time and that hee had conferred in the interim with Liante who hee believed had sounded the depth of his intentions But seeing that hee could not withstand the Torrent of the Ladie 's curiosities who pressed Liante with no less importunity to speake than hee conjured him to bee silent at length hee was constreined to make use of that authority which his Friendship and Quality had alwayes given him over that beloved Brother-in-law forbidding him under pain of his indignation to proceed any farther untill hee had spoken two words with him which hee esteemed of no slighter importance than his Life The grave and stern Countenance with the sharp and angry tone wherewith Iphigenes pronounced that threat stopt the current of Liante's Speech no less miraculously than a little Remora make's a tall Ship stand still in the midst of the working Ocean though the windes had filled all her Sailes Iphigenes without losing time presently demanded of Liante in private after what manner hee intended to recite that History and having learn't that hee would onely apply it to their recreative transformations in the Forest of Plocens not a little pleased that Liante had penetrated no farther into his Secret serenity returned into his Face the panting of his Heart ceased and having recollected his Spirits hee said to the Assembly My Laidies that which Liante is about to tell you is indeed a reall History but it seem's as like a Fable as my Fable hath th' appearance of an History it is the relation of his Follies and mine wherein I am confident you will finde nothing of such admiration but that it's strangeness will excite you rather to laughter than astonishment Therefore without despairing of the Crown and the Favour that is to follow it I shall let him speak beseeching you not to ground your Sentence upon the Art of his Eloquence which is able to illustrate the meanest Subjects and make a Chrystall pass for a Diamond This said they having all re-taken their seats composed their gestures and prepared their Ears for attention Liante repeated all the Mistakes Disguisements and pretty Contrivances practised for their recreation in the Woods in the same manner as hath already been described whereunto hee added the transvestment of his Sister Modestina and how shee had been treated by command of the barbarous Mieslas But having run through this long Navigation without touching any Rock just at the Haven's mouth hee cast Iphigenes into a new perplexity For coming to mention the non-consummated Marriage of Iphigenes and Modestina and the pretentions of the Princess Respicia adding the Passions of some other Ladies in the Court and the report that was spred through all Polonia of his affections to the Shepherdess Almeria hee represented Iphigenes so chast so bashfull and so little inclined to Women that hee made him appear not onely as the vertuous Hyppolitus but so like that Iphis in his own Fable who of a Woman was transformed into a Man that without changing the name you would have thought hee had been concerned in that Metamorphosis This redoubled Iphigenes Feaver confirming his suspition that Liante had discovered something of that Mistery which hee had alwayes been so carefull to conceale At length Liante returning to his Passions or as hee called them his illusions for Serife whom hee described with tearms beyond my capacity to rehearse My Ladies said hee To the end you and all these Gentlemen may believe mee intreat the beautifull Palatine to dress himself in some of your cloathes I assure my self your requests will be as commands to him and I believe that there is not any among you but will acknowledge that I was happily deceived for as Hee is too fair for a Man Hee is so perfectly handsome in a Woman's habit that without excepting her who possesseth mee the most amorous of herself among you all I am confident will freely yeild to Him the Palm of Beauty Iphigenes hearing this was like unto a Man who saved from Shipwrack by some sloting Board is troubled to get on shoar the waves sometimes pitifull sometimes cruell driving him towards the Land and then snatching him back againe into the Sea sometimes raising him above the Water sometimes plunging him into their briny-bottom For seeing Liante's Shafts come so neer the Mark of the Truth hee began to harbour a feare that his secret had been disclosed before its time On the other side hee was transported with joy to see Liante fall of himself into the Nets which hee laid for him and make so cleerly manifest unawares the most tender Resentments of his Soul Liante's perswasions so prevailed with the Ladies that they overwhelmed Iphigenes with Conjurations to give their Eyes the contentment to behold under some of their rich ornaments the choycest Jewell of Nature's pretious Treasury Whereunto Iphigenes after many excuses condescended to their unspeakable admiration and the absolute ravishment of Liante's Heart which was his onely ambition and for which consideration hee was no less willing to transvest himself than they earnest to desire it to the end hee might again in that equipage dazle Liante's Eyes and renew in his Brest that Idea which had rendered him his slave in the Forest This transformation gave birth to many quaint conceptions and agreeable entertainments in that Assembly But at length the Councill was called to deliberate who was to have the prize And it was concluded that it could appertain to none but Iphigenes or Liante who in stead of disputing which
her both Wife and Mother could not endure to thik of losing the sight of her Angel like husband who was more the life of her Soul then her Soul the life of her Body To register her Sighs her Groans and her Tears were no more easie than to number the puffs of winde in Autumn the parching minutes of Summer and the drops of rain in Winter How Modest soever shee was in heart as well as by name her exceeding Love turning to Folly and that Folly into Rage and Despair made her commit Immodesties which could be excused by nothing but the qualities of Wife and Lover Iphigenes seeing her in this condition so deplorable that it seemed the stroak of Death had been more favourable to her than to see her self deprived of the light of his eyes and plunged in the darkness of the Eclipse of that detested Absence was touched with such tender resentments of sorrow that Hee had much ado by falling in a Traunce to keep himself from discovering that in his body there was a womanish weakness hidden under the habit of a Man But this affection of compassion was nothing in comparison of the torment which shee felt when shee came to think of her Separation from Liante For since shee had the knowledge of her self having put as it were a bar betwixt those familiarities and privacies with him that might have hurt or any way blemished her honour by this restriction her smart was become more painfull and the fire of her brest like that in a narrow fornace was rendred the more ardent the more it was supprest All her fear was that the ignorance of her Sex wherein Shee must leave Liante and the continuall presence of Clemencia in whose affection Shee had ingaged him with the help of her absence would ravish from her that heart which was the aym of all her pretentions the golden Fleece whereunto aspired her most desired Conquests Clemencia who remained at home with no less passion for Liante than Iphigenes carried with her to Court yet covered the Coals of her desire with the ashes of Discretion Silence was in an extream pain for the absence of her Brother in whom Shee lost a faithfull interpreter of her thoughts Yet promising her self to supply that want with the Pen which should serve to convey her conceptions to him and likewise his to her Shee was the less afflicted for his departure But the grief of the disconsolate Liante was not so easily pacified for feeling himself bound to Iphigenes with bonds which hee could not comprehend and such strong ones as could not bee broken hee did like the Cimmerians who cry and groan when the Sun leaves their Countrie as if theywere never to see it any more Hee felt his very bowells rend within him at this Seperation And as Rebecca who had so much desired to be a Mother repented her of her wish when She felt the pains that her two Children strugling together in her womb did make her suffer So Liante could almost have wished that hee had never seen nor loved Iphigenes since that sweet Friendship produced so cruel a torment And as those who are troubled with worms which ingender in the head or th' Entrails endure strange indispositions without knowing the cause that doth afflict them So this young Gentleman feeling that Viper Love which gnawed his heart under the appearance of Friendship did suffer a far more penetrating smart for his being parted from that beloved Object than any one is accustomed to feel for the absence of a friend For Friendship doth kindle in the Soule a fire more sober and moderate than Love whose flames are more fierce and painfull Was it not enough said hee within himselfe that wee were separated in conditions and exercises without dividing by such a distance those whose hearts are so united that they are as the Unitie it self To whom shall I have recourse hence-forwards in my discontents Who shall selace mee in my sadnesses Who shall support and revive my decayed hopes O my dear Brother you are my onely stay my second Soul the light of mine Eyes Absent from you I shall never see the day more without pain and the life if it may be called life that I shall lead will be a continuall punishment to mee Yet if I might bee but suffered to follow you I should esteem my self too happie but I am born under too unfortunate a Planet to be otherwise than persecuted to the extremitie by Disasters Would to God there were no other obstacle than my passlng over all the interest I pretend in my Father's Estate according to the covetous pretensions of Mieslas and that I might injoy the felicity but to wait on you as your servant Indeed I prefer the meanest condition about your person before all the riches of the Earth that sweet servitude before any Liberty O Mieslas why cannot you read my thoughts why can you not see my intentions I doe not think you so void of Humanity as to keep mee any longer in this tortune if you knew my heart These Complaints recall to my remembrance the fable of the contestation betwixt the Sun and Boreas which should first make the Traveller put off his Cloak at last the one did by the gentle heat of his rayes what the other could not accomplish with his impetuous blustering The Poets have reason to feine and their cozen-germans the Painters to picture Love naked since his Power is far more prevalent to make a man strip himself of his Estate than are Cruelty and Rigor But if I should stand to relate all the discourses of these young Lovers I should never get out of this Farewell To conclude they were torn by Violence out of each other's Arms and the streams that ran from all their Eyes did make a little Ocean of Tears yet this deluge could not drown all their Sorrows I could borrow some pensills of the Poets to give the Colours to this Departure were I not unwilling to retard the greedy curiosity of the Reader who desires to be speedily informed of the good and evill adventures of Iphigenes The second Book ARGUMENT The Character of Iphigenes His Reception at the Court His Favour with the King and Queen The Envie and unworthiness of Augustus the Lithuanian His Banishment from the Court The Princess Respicia's affection to Iphigenes Her Policie to obtein her Desires and dissolve the Marriage betwixt Iphigenes and Modestina Modestina's complaints against the Court-Ladie's unjust attempts to bereave her of her beloved Husband Mieslas's indeavours to perswade Iphigenes to repudiate Modestina in favour of the Princess Respicia's propositions Iphigenes's answer and deportment towards Respicia The Jealousie of Stanislas Palatine of Uratislau and his plot against Iphigenes IPHIGENES was no sooner arrived at the Court with an equipage suteable to the humour and quality of his Father but the Eyes of all the Courtiers and Ladies were fixt upon this new Sun which rising upon the Horizon of
Here Tears Weakness and Grief stopped the passage of his voyce and hee fell into a Traunce out of which it cost some time to recover him Imagine you how Boleslaüs was afflicted seeing him in so great Extremities and knowing so little whence proceeded this indisposition At length having settled his dear Nursling in a little better temper as well of Bodie as Minde and desiring him to let him understand the ground of his Disease Father said Iphigenes Let mee die in silence and do you onely have a care of that Honour after my Death whereof you have been so jealous during my Life The discreet old Man knowing with whom hee was to deale and that Iphigenes loved not to bee press't feined to resolve to die with him as not having the Heart to behold the Day after the loss of him whose consideration made him love its light Iphigenes moved with Pitty at the old Man's tenderness to hinder him from dying seemed to re-affect the desire of Living and to unload his Heart of that sad burthen which oppress 't it hee took the pains to relate him every particular that had passed since his imprisonment and how hee had voluntarily made himself bee taken as is already mentioned By which Discourse Boleslaüs seeing cleer to the bottom of his Soul and reading there the Cause of his distemper Take courage said hee we shall not die of this sickness if wee will be ruled by good advice Father answered Iphigenes when things are desperate it is no time to consult but to suffer It will be easier and better for mee to die since I am already so neer it than re-enter into a thousand Deaths by recovering my Health Liante's Heart beeing dead to mee I have nothing more to do in this mortall Life After Boleslaüs had used diverse arguments to perswade Iphigenes to banish the ingratefull Liante out of his thoughts as unworthy of the favour of his Affection Hee answered Father do not increase my torment with vilifying him whom my Soul honoureth For notwithstanding all your allegations and his unkinde usage I cannot divert the inclinations of my Heart nor change the resolution of Loving him but by losing my Life Therefore if you love mee as I have no reason to doubt and if you will oblige mee to love you yet more if it bee possible I beseech you go without delay to him and conjure him not to flie from Iphigenes who would seeke and run after him if his Sickness did not fetter him Tell him that if I had contracted with him but a common acquaintance Civility would oblige him to visit mee much more since hee is cause of this extremity whereunto I am reduced Tell him I quit him of the Promise hee made mee to restore mee my Liberty when I committed my self into his hands That I will not constrein him to quit Amiclea That I will rather take upon mee the care of solliciting against my self his Marriage with her And that hee would vouchsafe onely to see mee and close my Eyes that with the favour of Heaven I may likewise die in his Hereunto I pray good Father study no Excuses nor Replyes if you desire that I should Live Boleslaüs who knew the Palatine's humour promised a punctuall performance of his commands adding for his comfort that by the long experience hee had of Liante's Disposition hee doubted not to render him more flexible and sensible of his torment And then having dexterously taken his time Dear Child said hee since you have so changed into Nature this Love that it is become an accident inseparable to your Beeing by undertaking to preserve your Life I will also aym at the preservation of your affection and since I finde you cannot live content without Liante I must use some invention to reduce that Heart into your power At these words you would have thought Iphigenes had been raised again out of the Grave or at least that hee resembled a dainty Flower too much beaten with the Sun's Rayes which re-take's new vigour by the coolness of the Dew In a word Iphigenes was a Woman and among so many Heroick vertues which shee possess 't the Naturall inclination of that Sex to curiosity could not bee extinguished in Her The subtle Senior perceiving it made himself bee intreated a while at length after many circumstances hee said Child it is no time to spare when a Man is come to the last penny of his stock The last thing wee must do in this World is to die to prevent that Check and prolong that fatall hour nothing ought to be left unattempted When you would have discovered your self to Liante in the Forrest of Plocens you were pressed onely with a temptation Now you are constrained by necessity You will say that the remedy is not yet in season and that it will be the ruine of your Fortunes If you die your Fortunes will be otherwise lost after Death Physick is of no use You will alledge this remedy is very hard to digest and I will answer you that pain is cured by pain there is no Medicine but is unpleasant yet to avoid Death you must neither spare searing nor incisions You will reply that the apple is now much less ripe than at that time in regard Liante is filled with Gall not inflamed with Love then I must tell you that to quench a Fire People carry Water and Diseases are cured by their contraries It is now time or never to open Liante's Eyes and make him see how much hee is to be blamed for entertaining any suspicious or jealous thought of you Nature having opposed the obstacles you know of to the pretensions which hee believ's you have for Amiclea In summe I will manage this discovery with such circumspection that there can arrive no dammage to you For in sparing you the shame of telling it the onely Subject of all your Sorrow I will leave you in the power of denying that truth and rendring ridiculous those that should offer to mention it At first I will sound Liante by Enigma's Circumlocutions and Figures and according as I shall find him bite at that bait I shall know how to draw him to the Bank but before I unveile the whole Mystery to him I will oblige him by such horrible Oaths to keep it secret that if hee should have a desire to reveale it hee cannot without fearing a punishment of Thunder from the Hand of the King of Heaven All this Discourse was so many words of Life to the distressed Iphigenes and if an Angell had spoken to him hee could not have heard him with more joy and attention than hee did Boleslaüs Then prick't with curiosity saying But how The old Man stop't his Mouth with this answer A Man must never say I will doe this or I will say that and in such a manner I will conduct my Design by reason of the incertainty of Events and the obscurities wherein the Future is involved But when things have had a
two lovely Creatures who like the twin kids in the Canticles did feed among the Lillies Hee that would be scandalized to see two hen-doves join their bills the union of the blooming Rose with the Morning dew or the beams of the Sun when he licks the Chrystall of the Waters might knit his brow at this innocent conjunction and exercise the malicious severity of his peevish melancholly like a snaile that sullieth with is slimy train the delightfull enamell of the most curious flowers If the agreeable Iphigenes bare much Love to his no less loving wife Nature by waies as secret as unknown to him bred in him as much affection towards his brother in-law Liante and although his sullen and discontented humor rendred him very unsociable and by consequent less amiable it cannot be said how hee delighted in his conversation how much hee endeavoured to divert him On the other side Liante who looked upon Iphigenes not as his Sister's Husband but as his enemie's Son as the usurper of his Fortunes and one whose greatness was established upon him ruines Notwithstanding all these thoughts whereby hee excited himself to Choller and Hatred like a Lyon that whets his fury by scourging his sides with his own tail could not conceive any aversion against him whether the sweetness of his disposition charmed him whether his kindness his complements and his compliance to his humor won his heart whether his beauty joyned with his gracefull deportment ravished him or whether which is most probable the Sense bent his inclinations naturally towards this Object for reasons which I had rather leave to conjecture than consign to this writing Hee could not choose but love Iphigenes although in appearance hee seemed much remiss and rather sensible of his injuries than susceptible of affection This cold reservedness increased Iphigenes heat according to the disposition of that sex who are commonly most passionate for those who do care least for them insomuch that the more Linate seemed to sight him the more hee redoubled his affection and courtesies as if hee had undertaken by the vigour of an ardent flame to dissolve the Isicles that environed his frozen Heart At first Liante whom Melanchollie had made mistrustfull fancied that those marks of friendship were but feined and proceeded from some artificiall Counsell or Plot to make him consent willingly to the donation of his Estate in favour of his Sister Modestina's marriage But having perceived by the perseverance that pur Inclination not Interest or Pretensions moved Iphigenes to affect him Hee opened his heart more to him complaining of the Rigour and Injustice of Mieslas who forced him to embrace a vocation whereunto hee was no way disposed This just discontent found in the soul of Iphigenes an humour so sweetly compassionate that although in all his discourse hee observed the respect which hee owed his Father yet hee freely condemned his violence protesting to Linate what design soever Mieslas had in marrying him with Modestina that hee would never take of his inheritance any other Portion than what hee would please to give his Sister judging it very unreasonable that a younger Sister should not only make as she listed a Portion for her elder and only Brother but deprive him absolutely of his Patrimony in obedience to a superior Power that would carry all away by main force That if the condition of an Ecclesiastick was not conformable to his humour there was a possibility to satisfie him and content likewise the greedy pretensions of the Palatine by making a double alliance and giving to him in marriage his Sister Clemencia with so much of the Estate as belonged to him by his Father's death being more willing for his own part to live a private Gentleman remitting his Fortune to his personall valour and the point of his Sword reserving to himself only Hope which was Alexander's portion than to possess unjustly another's means with continuall Remorses and internall Reproaches These Reasons so conquered Liante's heart that thence-forwards all his affections hee thought too little for Iphigenes whom hee began to consider as his Redeemer as one who breaking his Iron bonds was to release him out of the hands of Pharaoh and free him from the house of Bondage Covetousness is a disease which reigns but little among young unexperienced People who think as the Proverb goes that the World will never be at an end with them The desire of pleasures liberty and vanity torments them infinitely more All that opposes this Torrent seems to turn the course of their Nature and reduce them to despair This made Liante building an entire confidence on his Brother-in-law Iphigenes declare unto him that the Regret which undermined him and led him insensibly to the grave was not so much for the loss of his Estate which hee esteemed well bestowed seeing it fell into so beloved hands as to see himself bound up in a Cassock and ingaged in a manner of life which denyed him the use of Arms whereunto his inclination called him and whither all his Ambition tended for War was his Element where hee would rather choose to meet an honorable death then lead a sweet plentifull and peaceable life in the most rich and eminent Dignities of the Church to the honors whereof hee never would pretend not perceiving himself called thereunto like Aaron that is by a good and Royall way Brother replyed Iphigenes take courage suffer not Melanchollie to or'e-master or distemper you preserve your self for generous enterprises If you have a mind to take wing and leave this nest of sluggishness I have no less desire than you to seek in Militarie adventures the Laurells that grow in Mars ' s field therefore let 's goe together let 's steale away some favourable Night and enter into the harvest of glorie in those places where Cowards dare not appear These words revived the afflicted Liante who was so overcome by the inevitable charms of Iphigenes's Countenance and Conversation that hee could live no more without him being in his absence like a Marigold when the Sun hath left its Horizon For as that flower doth close its leaves when it is deprived of the aspect of that glorious Planet so Liante when seperated from Iphigenes was overwhelmed with sadness in such sort that Hee seemed to bee rather a fensless Statue than a living Creature Oh how it grieved him to bee divided in his exercises from him to whom his heart was so united by inclination To bee called to his studie was death to him but if for divertisement his Master permitted him to see the riding of the great Horse fencing dancing vaulting and other exercises which Iphigenes learned with as much care on his Parent 's part as dexteritie and aptness on his own hee applyed his Spirits with such attention to them that for a good while after hee could think on nothing else if hee handled a foile hee did it with such a grace if hee Jumped it was with such activeness that
it was easie to judge hee was as much in his Element at those recreations as hee was out of it when his Spirits were tormented with the thorns of the Grammer One time it hapned that complaining to his dear Brother-in-law of the oruell Martyrdome which hee was made to suffer at his Book and how he abhorred that long robe hee was compelled to wear gret drops of tears like so many Pearls ran down his face from the Orient of his Eyes This sight so mollified the tender heart of Iphigenes who was of a Sex that hath tears at command that mingling his with Liante's hee fell on his face and casting his arms about his neck hee gave him manie loving yet innocent embraces which Liante received with such motions of joy and sweet delight as surpass the tearms of any expression then with an incomparable harmlessness they interchanged some kisses wherein the malignitie of Nature put some difference by certain ardours which are not found in those that pass betwixt persons of the same sex both of them feeling themselves transported with a certain pleasure and ravishment whereof the Cause was yet unknown to them but which proceeded from the treachery of Love disguised under the appearance of Brotherly Friendship Boleslaüs Seeing that this intimacie increased more and more betwixt the two Brothers was afraid lest those Caresses and familiaritie should pass to such tearms as might discover to Iphigenes that of which through his industrie and vigilancie Hee was yet ignorant concerning himself Aretuza never saw them together without unspeakable heart-beatings trembling for shee thought her husband would never pardon her if hee should come to the knowledg of the deceipt whereby she had abused and amused him so long time Besides she feared lest Iphigenes honour might bee interessed through Ignorance though not Immodestie Insomuch by this perplexity of thoughts her Mind did feel no less convulsions and pangs than a Woman in travell endureth in her Body Whilest shee was in this trouble the Union of the two Brother's hearts grew to such a perfection that it seemed as if there had been but one Soul in their two Bodies the same No and the same Yea comming at the same instant out of their Mouths You could never see the one without the other if they were separated their parting was never without tears Modestina was already become in a manner nothing with Iphigenes in comparison of Liante and if shee had been of a jealous disposition shee had cause enough to believe that her Brother withdrew the affection of her sweet Husband from her but she imputed that rather to Childishness then any thing else imagining that assoon as Iphigenes was advanced somewhat more towards Man-hood she should easily turn the course of his inclinations Iphigenes in mean time having opened Liante's eyes for his Sister Clemencia was not contented to have put or to have begun to put the fire into his brest if he conveyed not all the flame into his Sister's heart to whom hee gave such a Character of the vertues gracefulness and perfections of his dear Liante that in short time that spark grew to so furious a blaze that it was neer reducing her to ashes Hee had so framed the way to her Mind that she was taken on a suddain according to the Nature of certain subtile fire which takes sooner and more fiercely in green wood than in drie and whose first burning is alwaies the most violent There was no comparison betwixt Clemeneia's passion and Liante's for hee possessed far more attractive qualities to make him bee beloved of her than shee had to captivate his liberty Nevertheless Love being an Appetite which tends to the production of it's like it is no wonder as a Torch that 's burning doth easily communicate it's light to one that 's out if Love first begets another Love in the heart beloved since to wish well doth almost of necessity challenge a reciprocall well-wishing The Paleness which soon took up its seat on Clementia's cheeks The looks messengers of her passions which sent glances as suppliants to Liante's eyes The delight shee seemed to receive in his coversation The regret shee felt for his absence The fear of discontenting him The desire of pleasing him and the exceeding contentment shee expressed in speaking of him All these prettie Lovesymptomes spake her somewhat more than Child and bringing her neer Woman-hood changed the libertie of her Innocence into a Bondage whose chains did seem so golden and so sweet to her that shee thought shee never had tasted anie felicitie but since the time shee had rendred her self a prey to the amiable Liante's charms This Passion passing through her ear into her heart being ingraven by the tongue of Iphigenes as with an instrument of flame in the profoundest of her thoughts devoured or consumed her so that shee was readie to die of the wound if her kind Brother who had kindled the fire had not applyed the remedie by assuring her of the reciprocall affection of him whom hee had perswaded her to love Liante being acquainted herewith by Iphigenes ingenious to hinder his own advantages began by the gate of his Interest to receive some inclinations for Clemencia conceiving that might bee a means for him to recover his Estate and procure Honours Afterwards seeing her so full of affection that her too-much loving cast her into a languishing for him hee answered her desires more out of Compassion than Passion or rather for Pittie than Affection for indeed shee had more sweetness in her dispositions to mollifie than Beautie in her face to attract the heart of the brave Liante But the Conduct of these Amoretta's required more judgement and discretion than the small experience of such tender years could promise They were to deceive so many eyes that pryed incessantly into their actions that it was too hard a task Love like a fire being difficult to be kept hid within the Bosom And yet if any one perceived the least of this inteligence all 's lost all these Designs will vanish into smoak all these Projects flie away with the wind Nevertheless Iphigenes had the dexteritie to manage this business with such circumspection Liante had learnt to counterfeit with such subtilitie and Clemencia assured of her Lover's mutuall flame could dissemble with so much constancie that sex having a great empire over themselves when there is a necessitie of feining that they practiced for a good while this commerce of Love without discovering but very weak sparkles of their fire What cannot this Passion do when it refineth and subtilizeth thus such young Souls Observe but how it brings to School again all the Prudence of hoarie heads Modestina and Clemencia had but one Governess but the two Brothers-in-law had severall Conducters in regard they were applyed to different exercises yet neither Liante's Master nor Perpetua perceived any thing of this secret correspondence betwixt Clemencia and the intended Clergie-Man so attentive was shee to
dispositions and divers recommendable parts came to do them the same affront as the Sun doth every morning to the meaner lights of Heaven and ravished from them the hearts of all the Ladies from whom they could no more receive any countenance but slights And jealousie being a fire which hapning to kindle in an human soul hindreth it by reason of the vapors which it excites from seeing the Sun of reason they conspired all together against Iphigenes and plotted how to ingage him in severall quarrells Already divers wicked Designs were layd to intrap his innocence but the Preserver of the vertuous still delivered him for the Courtiers more changeable than the Sea or the Moon accommodating themselves to the humour of the Times more than the Fish called the Polypus doth to the colour of the Rocks where it fastens have no other rule for their Hatred or their Love than their interest and the measure of this Interest is the Humour of their Prince Although those who are most in the King's favour are commonly the object of the People's hatred yet the dissembling complacency of the Court obligeth those who follow its wind and tyde to applaud those whom the Sovereign affects notwithstanding they hate them in their hearts or at least do not esteem them Beauty accompanied with a comely carriage is a Letter of admission which openeth the Cabinet and Heart of Kings for they are but Men as well as others and the more subject to passions because elevated to an higher degree of Eminence by the same reason that the tallest Cedars suffer most by the wind 's impetuousity and the loftiest Towers feel oftnest the effects of Thunder and Lightning And as the Elephants may be most easily wounded in the flank which is the tenderest part in their unweildy bodies as severall examples witness so great Persons are no where so weak nor so easily to be surprised by any thing as by passinate affections this being their generall defect And indeed it were a difficult matter for those who are beloved I should rather say served adored and admired of so many deserving persons as are still about them not to be sweetly enforced to render themselves to the particular affection of some one whence it follows that Favour is the inseparable shadow of Royalty For if the Sun that lamp of the Universe which from his Heavenly Chariot sees all things upon Earth looks with another eye amongst the flowers of a Garden-plot upon the Marigold and all other yellow flowers which seem to be decked with the Gold of is splendent Rayes and by that yellow livery do testifie the love they bear that glorious Luminary So Kings who are the light of the World and the Suns of the Earth since 't is from them that the most noble persons of a State do borrow their lustre although they do extend their paternall care to all their subjects as fathers of their People yet in this generall solicitude they apply their Eyes and Ears to some particular servants who by that means get ground in the territory of their hearts and do rule the spirits of their Kings by the sweetness of friendship as the Kings by the force of authority do reign over the Provinces under their subjection And above all Beauty hath the property to establish her Empire with such polite and quaint indeerments that whereas all other subjection is irksom here Liberty is odious and Chains amiable every one contributing to bring himself into this traldom And how vain-glorious soever it be it cannot exact from the humility and submission of its adorers such homages as those that are rendered to it by voluntary Sacrifices thousands fall at its right hand ten thousands at its left all at its feet as being the most visible Ray of the Divinity upon Earth It was this Beauty seated in Iphigenes countenance as on a Throne of Ivory that framed his way by the eyes into the King's affection And if the Iron though heavy and insensible and a Straw that is light and without reason do by a naturall inclination turn and make towards the Load-stone and Amber if the Load-stone that hath touched Iron doth communicate unto it that secret property of standing alwayes towards the Antartick Pole if the Vines love the shadow of Olive Trees and the other Fishes delight to follow the Dolphin without any other knowledge than the force of instinct Who can deny that Man whose senses are inclined to evill from the beginning may be carried away by Concupiscence being allured and sometimes drawn and ravished by the objects That monstrous vice the abortive of Nature and Hell which diffames the Orientall and the Southern parts is hardly known in the Occidentall and Septentrionall Regions at least if it be frequent there it is very rare here if there it be a vulgar and popular Malady here it seem's to infect none but great persons I am not the only Man that esteems Courts to be the receptacles of Iniquity the Theaters of Licenciousness as well as of Vanity the Schools of Dissolution and Riot for since Piety is excluded thence according to the saying of an Antient Writer if the shades of Impiety reign there in the place of that Light what can one imagine to be practised there but the deeds of Darkness Therefore I shall not stick to say that Asmodeus that unclean spirit which suggests to animall Creatures the brutall desires of the flesh whom the Pagans and Poëts made a Deity under the name of the Goddess of Cypru's Son cast like another Sinon into Troy such Grecian fires into the sulphurous hearts of the Courtiers that divers of them beholding with too much attention the perfections of Iphigenes and thinking him of a Sex conformable to his habit entertained such base desires as ought not to enter into any thought much less bee repeated Thereupon som of them to accomplish their execrable pretentions used means to seduce the young Gentleman to the licentious frequentation of loose Women thereby one vice calling on another to draw him into more enormous abominations Here I might raise the trophy of our young Gallant 's chastity with lines that would deserve to be exempted from Oblivion But because the multitude of weak spirits as well as that of the ill-advised exceeds the number of the strong and prudent not to offend the infirmity of those wee will wean the ability of these For as the light of the Sun is injurious to certain Eyes So the truth is not always well received by all discreet hearers But to believe that such horrible Imaginations could harbour in the Kings Brest I should hold it a blasphemy to think it yet they are Mortalls environed with frailties and subject to failings And who knows if any secret Malignity made the King conjecture that under Iphigenes clothes was something more than Man however his affection never went beyond the limits reserved to Moesty But who can hinder Detraction which carries the venim of Asps
Tears are cast such speaking looks Yet all these artificiall affectations were Vainly employed by this Princess to conquer or inveagle Iphigenes whose Heart was no less susceptible of these flames than his Body was capable of those legititimate Embraces to which shee did aspire However Iphigenes did very much esteem her person but it was in that manner as hee could and ought not as shee desired This cautelous Student in Love's Politicks had learned particularly by Mieslas the depth of whose thoughts shee had sounded by her sugred speeches that the marriage of Iphigenes with Modestina was not consummated Whereupon shee contrived a Plot that will make appear the subtilty of a Wit refined by that Passion which puts Invention into the simplest and most blockish brains Shee who had a conceit that Marriage consisted only in the use of the Bodies never considering that the Union of the Hearts and the consentment of the Wills are the materialls whereof if formed the Essence of Matrimony flattered her self that shee should easily disannull or untie that knot betwixt Iphigenes and Modestina and put her self in Modestina's place But fearing lest a repulse should make her the fable of the Court and expose her to the people's scorn shee thought best to bring her Daughter into play and propose her to Mieslas for Iphigenes with such advantages as were neither in the Fortune nor person of Modestina This Daughter of her's named Simphoroza was yet very young but did promise in the Aurora of her age great perfections of Beauty at her Noon The Palatine of Podolia who devoured in his greedy thoughts all those high proffers of the Princess Respicia believing that Rosuald's Estate would however be intirely his own by making Liante imbrace an Ecclesiastick life and giving some slight Dowry to Modestina was easily induced to hearken to her propositions considering besides the great fortune shee promised to make her Daughter the splendor of so Noble an Allaince But this cunning Mother ' s designe was only to substitute her self in her Daughter ' s place who was yet nothing neer Marriageable and to supply with the luster of her Gold and immense Estate what shee wanted in Beauty or was superabundant in Years Thus the Father was gained which seemed no small advancement to our Pretendant ' s intentions every one being apt to believe easily what they do desire But the difficulty ws in obteining the Son's consent who being advertised of this Design by Mieslas and knowing in his Soule that hee was no less unfit to bee Simphoreza's Husband than Modestina's not to multiply his deceipts rejected the propositions feining scruples of Conscience much passion for his wife and giving Mieslas to understand that hee had proceeded further in the terms of Marriage with Modestina then hee imagined The rigorous Podolian who had in a manner ingaged his word to the Princess thinking to finde more obedience in his Son's spirit was ready to burst into a furious fit of Choller at this resistance but considering that Iphigenes by his favour had all the power with the King hee reteined the impetuosity of his passion giving testimony enough however of his displeasure by the alterations of his Countenance Notwithstanding this refusall Respicia gave not over her pursuite feining like a good Mother to bee passionate for the advancement of her Children for whom shee could procure nothing more advantageus than the Alliance with Favour mean time it was her own interest made her act with so much solicitude According to the nature of her Sexe which never ceaseth asking untill they atchieve their end shee prayed pursued pressed in time out of time leaving no means unattempted and it was partly her perswasion that made the Prince Cassin her Son render such devoirs to Iphigenes which made him worthy of his friendship wherein hee succeeded as is already mentioned Thus did this crafty Spider spread her Web to insnare the beautifull Adolescent and make her self wife to him of whom shee might have been the Mother Shee had such a hand over Cassin that this young Prince at her instance used all the arguments his Invention could suggest to induce Iphigenes to marry his Sister to whom for quality Modestina was not comparable But Iphigenes had the skill to divert his discourse with such modesty and dexterity that without giving him any occasion of distast hee amused his expectation and by little and little made him relinquish that thought which hee esteemed unjust It is an opinion that Batteries made Crosse-wise are the most destructive Respicia raised her's in this manner and as if shee had been desirous to sink all her house which was one of the most opulent of Polonia into the family of Mieslas shee offered him to give her Dauther to his Son and her Son to his Daugher Clemencia and so make but one of both their Families which the Palatine dazled at the splendour of so much honour imbraced with both hands not perceiving the hook that was hidden under this bait Mean time Respicia covered so dexterously her Love under the mask of Ambition that whilest shee was called a carefull and loving Mother shee aymed at another Mark. Her importunities together with the oppressing instances of Mieslas did shrewdly tempt the patience of Iphigenes who against all these assaults had no other defence than the rampier of the Fidelity which hee owed which hee had sworn to his wife Modestina to whom being pressed with these agonies Hee wrote such passionate letters that the most affectionate of Lovers could not express his imaginations in a style more Patheticall Which kindled such a fire in the bowels of this Maiden Spouse that the too much sense of Love deprived her of all sense You may add to that Love the Fear which is insepirable from those who fervently do affect and the Apprehension of losing by Change that which is more pretious than Life For shee knew by the mouth of Fame which hath a thousand tongues and by letters from Iphigenes own hand that hee was the common object of the Eyes and Hearts of all the Court Ladies which bred a torment in her Miad inconceivable by any Soul that hath not experimented the just and incomparable affections that possess'd her heart A thousand times shee was in the mind to go to Court to her Husband and say to all her Rivalls What do you hee is intirely mine as I am solely his Your pretensions are too unjust to find any access into his brest who is nothing but Fidelity who feeds amongst the Lillies of Purity and the Roses of Honour Your attractions are too slight to move so constant a Spirit Your Passions bee they fein'd or reall are but weak Vapours before the Sun of his Reason Why then with too licentious a desire do you indeavour to purloin a treasure that belongs peculiarly to mee withdraw your fond affections banish those no less Vain than unanswerable pretensions from your thoughts for Iphigenes hath ingaged his
faith to mee by the indissolvable tyes of a most sacred Hymen Thus did this loving Spouse entertain her troubled mind but Shame opposing her Design if there can bee any shame in the legitimate desires of a chast wife or rather the impossibiity of disengaging her self from under Aretuza's wing and the strict guard of the too severe Perpetua made her seek in Patience the common Remedy of all her discontents How often did shee please her fancy with the imagination of transvesting her self and by the help of a Man ' s disguise deceiving the eyes of those that watched her deportments to convey her self into the Court to her beloved Iphigenes But that Honour whereof shee was so Jealous did choak this Resolution at its birth considering that such an Equipage would not only make her the discourse of inconsiderate Censurers but in stead of rendring her Husband a testimony of her Love might perhaps attract upon her Innocence his Dislike At length not to do any thing unbeseeming her quality shee resolved to hearken to Modesty and let Discretion prevail over all those Surges of Passion Shee comforted her self with her letters from Iphigenes the words in every line whereof were as many protestations of Constancy and new oaths of Fidelity The severall vertues shee had remarked in her dear Husband were as many Proofs and those Proofs as many Assurances of his invariable Purity whereupon shee reposed all her thoughts And these thoughts which often made her sequester her self into sad unfrequented places were her most delicious recreations The shade of woods the coolness of Gardens and the agreeable murmuring of Fountains fomented in her brest that humour which nourished it self with the dear remembrance of her adored Husband's perfections And if such were the resentments of this Turtle being separated from the presence of her mate Think not that Iphigenes felt any less discomfort amongst all his greatnesses which hee would willingly have shared to his dear Friend and Wife or to have rendred the contentment perfect have injoyed in their presence His affection to Modestina and the Love hee bare Liante never suffered him to take any rest notwithstanding the multitude of Felicities wherewith the King's favour had in a manner overwhelmed him Thus in this world wee can have nothing perfect Those whom wee do many times imagine seeing them born up by the wings of the Wind of a Prince's favour to Swim in an Ocean of Delights do find amongst the agreeable flowers of Pleasure some secret prickle of Sorrow which marreth the harmony of their Prosperity Of so many Objects whereunto the Court did invite Iphigenes to affix his affections hee saw as few that hee deemed worthy of the application of his thoughts as Hee who looked for a Man with a candle at mid-day amongst a great Assembly in a publick place Whether the want of Freedome and Vertue which is great amongst Courtiers made him meet with a scarcity of friends in that multitude which environed him or whether which is very probable the first impressions of affection had so seasoned the new Vessell of his Heart that here was no possibility of making it take any other tincture or tast than that which hee had relished in the conversation of Modestina and Liante the sweet Objects of his education and most tender years His Disposition being of an excellent temperature and his Heart no coveter of Wealth Avarice and Vanity which are the two Bonds the two Charms and as I may say the two poisoned Tets of the Court-favour had very little interest in his Soul And Voluptuousness which according to the saying of an antient Orator hath no place of abode in the Kingdom of Vertue could find no access in his Body too Honest not to bee Continent No wonder then if the fetters of the Court though made of Gold and pretious Stones were irksome unto him and the sincere chaste and true affection which hee bore those two absent Objects of his Love made him in the midst of so many pleasures languish with the desire of their presence The passionate resentments of his Soul for this detested Separation He feelingly exprest in severall letters to Modestina and Liante which they interchangeably communicated to each other according to the permission of their Overseers in order to Iphigenes particular injunction who at his departure from them did earnestly intreat Liante to take as intended to him the affectionate letters hee should write to his Sister protesting that the Friendship hee did bear him was no less tender nor less ardent than his Love to Modestina as may easily be believed by one that knows the reason whereof Liante as yet was ignorant One day Modestina and her Brother having been allarmed by letters from the faithfull Iphigenes with the Princess Respicia's design of breaking their Marriage and giving him her Daughter to wife whereunto hee had been Sollicited by Mieslas whom shee had gained But that hee had rejected their propositions choosing rather to lose his life than his Loyalty Hee received letters from them full of complaints and stinging resentments of Jealousie Modestina feining to fear or fearing in effect that the rare Beauties and great Honors whereof the Court is the Element would in time ravish from her the Mind as well as the Body of her Iphigenes And Liante writing that the acquaintance of great Ones would perchance make him not value the friendship of meaner Persons in which rank hee placed himself Whereunto a Reply was speedily dispatcht which conteining large expressions of a holy and reall affection comforted a little those two tender hearts which languished one for her Husband the other for his sincere Friend But why do I say comforted I should rather say that it caused the same effect in the sorrow of their Privation as water in a Smith ' s forge being cast upon burning coals whose heat it doth increase Or as those hot drops of raine extorted by the Sun during the ardors of Summer which rather Scald than Wet Indeed if wee measured their discontents for his absence with the satisfaction they would have received by the presence and possession of Iphigenes wee might judge of its extremity However not to give Iphigenes any occasion to bee afflicted at their suspitions they made him understand by Letters how great a confidence they had in his promise and constancy acknowedging that those honours which are accustomed to change the dispositions of weak and vulgar Souls are below the thoughts of them that place their honour in their Faith and who are not Reeds of the Desart in unconstancy but Pillars of the Temple of Stability By this reciprocall intelligence of Letters these three loving Hearts mainteined the harmony of their concord that served for Oyl to nourish the Lamp of their mutuall affection Mean time Iphigenes blessed with the dew of Heaven and Earth was the true Child of Increase and the Nursling of Fortune Fortune in him seeming to have lost those two qualities of
employed all his Power and Rhetorick to disswade his Son from going into Podolia counselling him punctually to obey the King's command which was to retire into his own Palatinate of Vratislaü But his hopes were that hee beeing far distant from Modestina Time the great Worker of Oblivion might purge his Heart of that Passion and dispose him to the Nuptialls of Simphoroza But all his Intreaties all his Perswasions could not induce Iphigenes to change his Determination And although divers times according to his haughty humour hee would thuder out some imperious Language and express himself in tearms that witnessed his Displeasure yet hee durst not attribute too much to his Fatherly Authority his Son beeing according to the World as Great and in some respects Greater and Richer than himself But what did hee whether according to the dictates of his own Disposition as Cruell as Covetous or whether instigated by the suggestions of the crafty Princess Respicia to prevent the mischief which Hee apprehended Hee sent with all expedition a command to commit Modestina close Prisoner in another of his Castles but far stronger than where the afflicted Liante was to hinder his Son even to the extremity from enjoying that Wife which hee was resolved to take from him and place Simphoroza in her room under whose Infantine Countenance Respicia did hide her own full-grown desires It is a generall Maxime at Court as well as in War that a Man fails but once as Hee can fall but once that tumbles from an high precipice for at the first falling one 's sure to break his neck the Favour of Princes holding somewhat of the Nature of the bone in an Horse's Leg which being once broken can never bee well set again For Monarks do imagine that they never do any body wrong and that the most innocent are culpable if they conceive but the least suspition against them That if by evident proofs they are brought to acknowledge their unjust precipitation instead of repenting as if they were impeccable they perswade themselves although by a re-establishment they salve the sore of the offended party that the Cicatrice will yet remain which leaves a sense of the injury like that of the Goddess Juno irritated by the judgement of Paris who could never be reconciled But all these Axiomes were contradicted in this dismission of Iphigenes for never was any Disgrae more Gracious Disfavour more Favorable Misfortune more Fortunate nor Exilement more Gentle Oh! how highly would hee have obliged the King if Kings can be obliged whosoever could have devised some honorable expedient to retein Iphigenes But the Plot was contrived against him with such subtility that neither the King nor Queen though they had desired it knew which way to motion it For although they both perceived the innocence of Iphigenes as clearly as the Sun is to be seen at Noon-day if there had been no other proof than his leaving the Court with so little shew of disgust yet their Honours were equally ingaged to suffer his departure to remove the reciprocall umbrages of suspition wherein the malice of his Enemies had so cunningly involved them that the King knew not that the Queen had any Jealousie of him neither did Shee imagine that Hee had any diffidence of Her for neither of them made the least shew of any discontent their Tongues beeing as it were Inchanted with the charm of Calumny could not communicate the conceptions of their Hearts But when they considered that the Crown was in a manner falling from their heads Iphigenes the Soul or as I may say the Court of their Court beeing to take his leave they could not but resent the compunctions of sorrow for that separation however they swallowed that draught not so much to please their tastes as for their health since that Absence was to be the Medicine to cure their diseased Minds and serve as a Touch-stone to the Truth to discern Impostures Never wasy any departure so glorious as that of Iphigenes you would have said that hee went to put the Court into a Sepulcher and that it was the Funerall of the publick Joy if the Mourning appeared not in the apparrell it was in the People's Hearts which is far more essentiall The King himself when hee came to kiss his Hands discovered in his Countenance most evident signs of Sorrow not as repenting that hee had raised his Fortune but that hee had so discarded him And taking him aside he spent some time in Discourse guilding that Pill Sugring that Ruburb to make him swallow it with the less difficulty Telling him That hee must give way to the Torrent of Envy for fear it should ruine all that opposed its fury That it was a part of Wisdom to yeild rather than to withstand it That indeed hee had many Detractours but all their reports did make no more impression in his thoughts than a Stone in a running water Hee promised to recall him er'e long protesting That it grieved him to suffer him any time out of his presence however hee would have him think that it was not to disparage him but to authorize him the more giving him the means to purchase Credit and Esteem in his Government which might one day bee usefull for the service of his Crown That hee used him like a Father that send 's his Son to Academies in strange Countries to learn the Art of living in the School of the World and return with more knowledge Home Moreover in token of his reall Affection hee gave him as great Presents as ever hee had done formerly commanding his Treasurers to defray all the charges of his Journy and giving his Courtiers to understand that those who would accompany Iphigenes in Complement out of the City would do him a Pleasure and those that would attend him all the way would do a Service as acceptable as if rendred to his own Person To all this Iphigenes confounded with so many signall Favours could make no distinct answer yet the confusion of his Speech and the throbbing of his Heart with the colours of Vertue which rendred his Face more beautifull than that of Aurora when shee riseth under a serene Sky furnished him with a Discourse that surpassed the Eloquence of any Tongue whereunto if you add that moving and fluent Language which issueth out of the Eyes when bathed with Tears there is no charm in all the Art of Rhetorick can parallel this manner of Expression for 't is the Heart that speaks in bleeding through the Eyes What Iphigenes do you play the Woman Ha! Are you not afraid to bee discovered certainly Vlisses knew that Achilles under a Woman's habit was a Man by Tokens less evident At length Sighs Sobs having made way for Words hee thus replied Your Majesty looking on mee as a Creature of your own making would be sorry to undoe that work of your Hands therefore you are pleased to surcharge me with so many Favours and heap such multitudes of
benefits upon mee that in despight of my Gratitude I must die Ingratefull to your exceeding Munisicence but that spot can be no blemish to mee seeing that it is the will which acknowledgeth Obligations and payeth in some kind by Desire what it cannot in Effect Sir you know how often I have beseeched you to moderate the Favours and Grace wherewith your Liberality over-loaded mee not to offend the malevolent Eye of Envy who not measuring Presents by the Greatness of the Giver but by the Meanness of the Receiver cannot endure that Kings should exalt those who have the happiness to gain their Favour to the prejudice of their Capricious Humours which make them find nothing to their minds As Envy is displeasing to all the World so all the World displeaseth it all hands are against it and it's hand is against the most innocent I should take glory in its Malice for thence I might derive an occasion to presume of having some vertue since that is the common Object of its malign practises But I must confess that in separating mee from the presence of Your Majesty it hath found the means to wound me in the most tender part and discovered the secret to put my Patience to the harshest triall that I could imagine For there is no Grandeur no Riches that I would not trample under my feet as Dung. So that I might but remain neer Your Majesty and all is but Dirt and Ashes to me in your absence The Colours which they have chosen to banish me from your Court are very specious This is to pursue me with Roses and Flowers to persecute mee in casting Oranges and Vialls of sweet Waters at mee It is to cut off my Head with a Blade of Gold or strangle mee with a Silken Halter I do not question Sir the reason of my Exile it suffiseth that it is your Pleasure to perswade mee that it is Just if you would command mee to go meet Death you should see mee run head-long to obey you although I were most certain that I had not deserved it Were it in my choyce I should freely say to your Greatness Bee pleased to take from mee what your immense Liberality hath hitherto powred upon my head But since your Ordinance is otherwise and that burthened with Benefits I must leave the Source for the Rivulets and bee removed hence for the advancement of your affairs and service without considering the disadvantage to my Honour or the joy I will not say of my enemies for I have indeavoured as much as in mee lay not to purchase any but of those that are jealous of the Graces I have received from your Goodness I am willing to deprive my self as long as your Majesty shall please of the glory of your presence in testimony of my extream Obedience and Fidelity protesting that I had rather Die at your feet than Live far from you in all the honours and delights Imaginable This discourse interrupted sometimes with Sobs and accompanyed with Tears as pittifull as the Grief which produced them was reall so moved the King's generous Spirit that hee was almost in the mind to repeal Iphigenes Banishment But humane Prudence for the reasons already declared prevailed above his Affection shewing therein his great vertue by subduing himself Iphigenes after this with the King's permission went to take leave of the Queen who like a woman knew better how to dissemble her regret but not retein her tears whose flowing betrayed her Countenance which shee had framed to Gravity and Disdain So that at length shee was inforced to leave off that borrowed Visard and shew openly enough to Iphigenes that shee lost in him not without resentment the richest Ornament of her Court but that the King making her hope that his absence should not bee long shee comforted her self with the expectation of his return wishing him all happiness in his Journey and recommending him to continue in the fidelity which hee had alwaies exprest in his Majestie 's service who had obliged him thereunto by so many gracious favours Whereunto Iphigenes with a cheerfull and confident look replyed MADAM Since after so many glorious dayes spent under the heaven of your Court in the presence of your Favour I must plunge or rather bury my self alive in the obscurity of a tedious absence my Reason more powerfull than my Senses forbid's mee to complain and denying utterance to my Sorrow rendreth it so much the more miserable the less it dare's disclose it's Agonie Since afer so many graces received and so many others that I hoped to receive from your Royall Beneficence there is a necessity of my experimenting the Rain after the fair weather and Thorns after the Roses I can do no less than extoll the high Providence of Heaven which destinying mee to Misfortune after so many humane Felicities hath ordeined that my Chastisement proceed's from the same hands that have made mee what I am and from whom I have received greater benefits than I was ever able to deserve If my Affection to serve your Majesties supply not the place of Merit Indeed the Excellency of the Cause make 's mee rather applaud than condemn the Rigor of the Effect If the extremity of Sorrow may be allowed to utter words rather free than desperate permit mee MADAM to say with all due respect to your Majesty that if I have any way failed in the Honour or Fidelity that can be required from the most humble subjection and servitude If I have deviated in the least from my Devoir after the reception of so many Gratifications there is no torment cruell enough to inflict upon such a Monster of Ingratitude Banishment is too Mild such a one as is procured mee too Honourable for a Punishment which ought to bee more Exemplary But why do I speak having protested to suffer in Silence I belye my own proposition and fly into complaints which cannot appear just without doing injury to your Prudence and Equity Excuse MADAM the vehemencie of my sorrow since seeing my self torn from the King my Master whose presence and favour I esteem more than my life I feel my Heart rend in pieces and my Soul seperate from my Body What Trophies will my Enviers raise to their Malignity seeing their designs which aym at nothing but my ruine take effect What Vanity will puffe up their poisonous Minds that they have had the power to infect such clear Judgements as your Majestie 's making their Calumnies prevail against my Innocencie But if suffiseth that it is your Will I most humbly submit to the absolute Power you have over my Life my Death my Honour and my Fortune for being your Creature you may dispose of mee as the Potter of his Clay forming mee according to your own pleasure into a Vessell of Magnificence or Ignominie I am ready to condemn my Innocency whensoever you shall pronounce it guilty and to subscribe my accusation without replying And if you please to dictate the
time kept hidden under the Ashes of Discretion Indeed there are some Productions of Nature so admirable which all the Art in the World can never reach with imitation At Court they talk of nothing but Despair poure our such deep Protestations as make the Hearers tremble and Death whom one of the Antients called the Diety of Lovers is invoked every Moment There it is ordinary to threaten to cast themselves away to thrust their Souls out of their Bodies at a Sword 's Point they exclaim against Rigours call Honour Cruelty and the Impatience of Desires an insupportable Torment their Tears are feined their Tearms Specious But all that is but vain babbling a motion of the Lips not of the Heart an idle Resignment no reall Resentment They say enough but see who perform's Fidelity is onely in their words Infidelity in their Actions Loyalty in their professions Treason in the Execution Purity in their Tongues and base Designs in their thoughts In summe Fraud and Duplicity are the Pastimes of Courtiers but their end is the ruin of Hearts and the Poyson of Souls Amongst Country People it is clean otherwise their Cloaths Diet Lodgings Industries all are plain and simple So are their sayings and their meanings what they have upon their Lips come's from the profoundest of their thoughts not belying by their proceedings the Union which Nature hath made of the Root of the Tongue with the Heart So that Almeria easily perceiving the reality of Merinda's Passion and being moved with Compassion to see that Shee fruitlesly aymed at an Object beyond her Port and that her Desires were supported more by the Wings of Love than of Ambition thought herself obliged to esteem her Courage and repay her Affection with this Answer Dear Merinda I fear I shall never bee able to do any thing for you that can countervail the Obligations I have to you already without adding this incomparable Testimony of your Affection offering to expose your Life for the defence of the Shadow of my Honour It would bee too sensible a displeasure to mee that you should employ your Body for a Fantome for so I call the Execution of an Image or rather imaginary Revenge which the Rigour of Justice may exercise against mee in my absence as for my true Honour it is out of all danger in regard it was rather to defend than offend that I did kill my Enemy But his Kindred are so powerfull that they will weigh down the Scale of Justice and reduce mee to the greatest extremity that disasters can compell an unfortunate Man to undergoe Therefore I pretend to nothing now in my Country nor to my Estate but shall think my self happy enough if with preservation of my Life I can secure my Person from those ignominious Torments which my Adversaries would make mee suffer if I fell into their Hands who seek to glut their revengefull Spirits with my Blood This is the Reason which made mee have recourse to the Fidelity of your Father and you not contenting my self to embrace a Condition so much below that unto which by the Favour of Heaven I have hitherto been educated but by changing my Habit to render my self under this Disguise less Subject to the strokes of Fortune As for the service you proposed to do mee in tearing down my Effigies from an infamous place I believe that indeavour will bee needless for my own Kindred interessed by that dishonour to their Family have doubtless e're this used means to take away that disgracefull Remembrance But wherefore do I call it disgracefull since the Infamy is in the Fact not in the Punishment So that not feeling any remorse in my Soul for that I ought not to esteem this any Disparagement quite contrary when I recall to my memory with what valour I prevented the Assassinate which was intended to my Person and how I behaved my self in the Combat the Gibet whereon they have hung mee in Effigies Seemeth to mee as an Obelisk or Pyramide erected to the Glory of my Vertue Nevertheless I cannot but acknowledge a singular Obligation to you for that worthy Office which your Friendship perswaded you to render mee and I will indeavour by all possible devoirs to ascertain you that Ingratitude hath no harbour within my Brest Merinda who was not so well acquainted with the Art of placing her words but who had very reall Resentments of Affection for Almeria replied after her manner That what shee had proposed was to let him see by the little esteem shee made of her Life that thence forwards shee never would imploy it but to Honour and Love him to the end that if her mean Birth did render her unworthy of possessing his Favours her Humility and perfect Submission might supply the place of Desert But why do I stand to disguise the Language of a simple Shepherdess in whose Mouth polite words would sute as ill as Painting upon her Cheeks I might have onely said That Shee freely disclosed the Design shee had to Marry him if he pleased and follow him to the World's end imagining as the Helmet of a Valiant Warrier is sometimes changed into a Bee-Hive and Chambers that have been hung with the costliest Tapistries become Work-houses for Spiders the beautiful Adolescent disgusted with the trouble in Cities and glutted with the Grandeurs of the World like that Antient Emperour who resigned his Scepter for a Gardner's Spade would perchance bee glad to reduce himself to a Pastorall Life and endure some hardship after his sweet Delights But Almeria was far from any such thought her Ambition which aymed at nothing but Governing Provinces commanding Armies could not descend to follow silly Sheep Her dear Iphigenes who had put a Flea in her Ear and by his large Promises had left a thousand strange imaginations in her Brain gave her other Ideas than this poor Shepherdess did conceive Shee harboured The Fifth Book ARGUMENT The Rustick's Labyrinth and their generall mistake of Almeria Manile Celian's second son thinking Liante in a Shepherdesse's habit to be really a Woman fall's in Love with Him Lupicin Eldest Son to Celian and Husband to Belida seeme's to be taken likewise with the Beauty of Almeria Fleurial Brother to Belida and Antalcas Suitor to Merinda become Rivalls to Manile Remonda younger sister to Merinda is inraged with Jealosie against Almeria because her Lover Polemas left her to make his Addresses to the gracefull stranger Belida no less incensed because her Husband made shew of Affection to Almeria Iphigenes returns to his Shepherdess who inform's him of all the Passages of her Country Lovers Their Plot to increase the Country-People's Errors Merinda is brought into some suspition of Almeria's condition by Iphigenes ambiguous speeches Almeria at Merinda's importunity to discover her Sex make's her believe that shee was really a Woman Merinda's distemper at this Relation Her spight in accusing Almeria to her Father and Brothers to bee a lewd Woman to Belida and Remonda shee affirmed
of having neglected the Legitimate Objects of their reall Loves to run after a Shadow So Merinda finding no more Disposition in her Sister-in-Law than in Remonda to back the Design shee had of chasing away her whom shee could not love as a Maid perchance because shee had disclosed something which shee then wisht shee had concealed and which shee feared would bee discovered by the Frailty of her Sex whom shee knew to bee in the impossibility of silence shee resolved to continue her Plot and beget a belief in her Brother Manile and by his means in the rest that Almeria was a Man whom some heynous crime had obliged to take that disguise thinking thereby to make them hunt her away lest beeing discovered by the Justice they might bee brought in question and imprisoned as harborers and complices of his crime If Belida was glad to hear this Maid was a Man changing her Gall into Hony and the sharp prickles of her Hatred into the sweet flowers of Friendship Manile was no less afflicted at this news for it was the burying of that amiable Passion which inlivened him and which fed his imagination with the most agreeable Fancies that ever hee had experimented As if a Thunderbolt had swept the ground under his Feet and a flash of Lightning sealed up his Eyes or as if hee had received a great Knock with a Club upon the Head so hee stood amazed for a good while without any motion of Body or Tongue At length as although the Fire bee out the Ashes yet remain warm So Pitty assuming in the Heart of this Rustick the place of Love which was quite extinguished by this Relation Hee answered That however they ought to have compassion of those that were in affliction and not to commit so base a Treachery as to betray a poor criminall who did what hee could to shelter himself from the rigour of Justice that it would bee a very unworthy part for Protectors to become Sergeants that the Sanctuary should prove the Ruine and serve as a Prison to those that fled thither for refuge thinking to find their Liberty and safeguard those Harbors beeing very unfortunate where vessells were cast away The spightfull Female seeing hee made no more account of her complaints than the rest repaired to Lupicin who was very glad of that advertisement for having no other end in following Almeria than to torment his Wife he thought it might be a means to make her see her folly when that verity should come to bee divulged Fleurial Lupicin's Wive's Brother was no less astonished than Manile when it came to his ears Oh! how hee wished it had been false although hee believed it was too true Merinda had the skill to relate it with such resentments of a Virgin the treasure of whose integrity shee pretended Almeria would have ravished Onely Antalcas quondam servant to Merinda had a conceit that what shee alleadged was a meer supposition invented to confound him for forsaking her to Court the strange Shepherdess for hee carryed the perfections of Almeria so deeply ingraven in his brest that hee needed a more Authentick proof than a bare report to disabuse him so hee sent her away very ruggedly telling her that hee was not so Credulous and that shee spake out of Envie In summ whilest all those eyes like so many Argusses were watching and observing every particular gesture of Almeria shee had the wit so Dexterously to hold the Ballance in this Ambiguity that shee led those Rusticks as they say by the Nose like Bears that are Blind and Muzled For the Men by her Womanish behaviour which shee acted to the life were confident shee was of that Sex And that to avoid their Importunities shee had made Merinda publish that Lye But Belida and Remonda applying their Observations more particularly to those Actions that spake her as they desired her had a conceit that Merinda had invented that Stratagem to preserve that prize to her self in imitation of Nurses who lay Mustard upon their Nipples when they have a mind to wean their Children to make them shun the bitterness in the same place whence they Sucked the sweet nourishment of their lives Thus Remonda taking Merinda's turn declared without much Ceremony her Passion to Almeria telling him that shee had seen his Cloathes and that shee knew his Condition And Belida who would pay her Husband in his own Coyn and make his Brains crow another while began to make extraordinary caresses to Almeria which were much less supportable than her Envie and Detraction And Merinda though shee studyed to shun the sight of Almeria with no less care than shee had formerly desired it with eagerness whilest her sense made her hope for some satisfaction could not forbear looking backwards like the woman that was Metamorphosed into a pillar of Salt and to call some Scruples into her mind that perchance Almeria to bee rid of her importunities made her believe that shee was a Maid when shee was otherwise The importance of all this was that every one champed on his Bit in Silence and out of the Mass of divers thoughts could not draw one Drachm of resolution These Rustick's heads being thus Intoxicated a Solemnity in a neighbouring Village invited the Country-people to assemble there Almeria seeming to bee unwilling to go thither out of fear of beeing known augmented by her backwardness the desire of her Suitors to see her appear amongst the other Lasses like the Moon neer her full amongst the smaller Lights which the Night displayeth in the Firmament At length by much wooing and intreaty shee suffered her self to bee perswaded to bear Belida and Remonda company who left her the least they could Merinda likewise beeing desirous to see the pastime was forced to joyn with them and re-accost Almeria who cast such glances upon her as penetrated her very Soul and without speaking a word reproached openly enough her unworthiness Whilest they are upon the way let us take the time to relate the plot which Iphigenes layed to render invisible to the eyes of his friends the Passion which hee intended to make visible to Almeria but in such a manner as I want words to express it Pomeran beeing his bosome friend Hee took him into his Closet where hee thus disclosed his mind unto him Dear friend can I conceal any thing from thee that come's neer my Heart since thou takest so much part in my joyes or Displeasures No certainly unless I would offend thy Friendship which obligeth mee to an Intire confidence Alas At our last Hunting whilest you having the Hart at a Bay were making a Prey of him I doubly lost my self in the Forest and have Inthralled my Heart but in such a Bondage as I esteem above any Freedome Love hath made beoty of my Liberty by the Incounter of a Shepherdess who doth so much resemble the only Object which delight 's my Soul that is my Wife my dear Modestina that at first blush I thought
shee had been escaped out of the Prison where the Cruelty of my Father reteineth her and had concealed her self in these Woods disguised thus purposely to accost mee and learn the resentments of my Soul But by her Conversation I perceived it was not shee though this hath a good wit for a Country girl accompanyed with an Incomparable Modesty I have shewed thee sometimes her Picture which I alwaies wear next my Heart where her Idea is so lively Ingraven by that thou wilt discern their likeness when thou seest this sweet Object of my Divertisement For really I must confess since I have met with this living Copy that Picture hath semed dead to mee and if I have Strayed sometimes in the Forest I may tell thee it hath been to seek out this Image of my only Joy the Originall whereof is deteined from my sight by the Imperious command I dare not say Cruelty of my Father And although I confess there is an extream difference betwixt the Merits of my Lady and this Shepherdess yet this deceipt is as sweet to mee as that of an agreeable dream which when wee awake makes us sorry it lasted no longer I wish the Heavens may never pardon mee nay contrary I desire that my head may serve for a Butt to all their Thunderbolts if in this pleasing imagination I have any design that is not conformable to Vertue I know what I owe to God and my own Soul what I owe to the Glory of my Birth and Quality I know what the inviolable Fidelity is which I have sworn to my Wife and I should bee the ungratefullest Creature breathing if I did not correspond to the sincerity of her Affections to mee thou mayest believe mee were I to dye a thousand times and by a thousand sorts of new torments I would rather undergoe them all than commit an act of Disloyalty against Her or with This of whom I speak For I hold that to Love without Honour besides that it is an Infamy is rather Pain than Pleasure and those Sinister intentions are for the most part shamefull and abhor the light Which is quite contrary to mine for I do not only declare unto you my Passion but I desire if you please to make you participant of my Pleasure Those that aim at nothing but such delights as are common to us and Brutes cannot endure any companions in their injoyments being covetous to possess alone what they desire with as much Impurity as Impatience But chast Love is not subject to any of those Frenzies it 's Jealousie look's no farther than the desire of rendring it self more perfect more amiable more accomplisht to bee beloved not alone but better than others Reason is the Conductor of this pure Affection whereas shee is banished from all illicite Passions All that I pretend in this Divertisement which I am about to tell you is only to amuse that concupiscible Faculty which is Naturall to us and which cannot bee void that is useless in us in giving it an Object whose Simplicity can no waies lessen or cause any alteration of the Sincere affection which I bear Modestina Let the Heavens so prosper mee as I Honour and am Faithfull to her may I injoy no longer Life than I preserve my Loyalty to her But as in stead of beeing offended I am sure she would be well pleased to know that in her absence I should love and make a thousand caresses to her Picture So I believe that rendring but Honourable and chast Devoirs to her living Image I shall not prejudice the Faith which I owe her seeing I do not cherish this Figure but in consideration of her whom it represents amusing my self therewith as an Innocent Child would do about a Babie to divert the Melanchollie and disgusts which accompany my disgrace You may say what you please replyed POMERAN for believe mee Sir it is impossible to speak so feelingly and cry up the merits of any Subject with such Vehemency without beeing touched with that Frenzie which turne 's the strongest Brains I dare not question your Fidelity to Modestina but as a Feaver is known by the Alteration and by the Tongue is observed the indisposition of the Stomack so by the discourse is discovered the Intention of the Heart since out of the abundance thereof the Mouth speaketh The Image you so much adore is too reall and too lively to make mee believe that you cherish the Present only by Imagination and the Absent in Effect if you are not very cunning and well-sented you are now in danger of taking a change these Savage Creatures have oftentimes such Wiles as the expertest Hunts-men are never able to finde out Any other Passion else may bee so handsomely dissembled that a Man may cheat the Eyes of the most Circumspect but in this which carries away the Heart intirely it is not the Mouth but the bottom of the Soul which speaketh Some do perswade themselves they Love very much when they are not touched with the least Affection and others sometimes do think they have but a spark of that Fire when all their Bowells are on a Flame Make no jest of this Iphigenes for whilest you think to catch you may be caught and believing to deceive others you may be abused your self For the most part this dangerous Passion the Murtheress of our Honour and the Enemy of our Repose insinuate's it self and slip's into our Souls under such specious pretexts and by such plausible means that with the Sugar wee swallow the Poyson and contribute all wee can to our perdition You say it is only for sport and to recreate your discontented Mind and that there is nothing of evill or indedecencie in it Can there I pray be any thing more misbecoming than to see a Man great by Extraction great by Quality great in Esteem and great in Courage abase his thoughts so low as to Court a Shepherdess You who have the Honour to deserve what disgrace of Fortune soever may bee imagined by this retirement from Court the Affection of both their Majesties what will they they say of this Fantasie but that Lucifer is fallen from Heaven and that you have precipitated your self from the Verticall point of Honour into the Center of Dejection by some sort of Despair Indeed you prepare matter for your Calumniators who not content to triumph over your Innocencie will add to their Trophies the Laughter at your Follie. Pardon mee Sir if I speak so boldly to you the excess of my Affection to your Person passeth the Reverence which I owe to your Quality and I should esteem my self a Traytor if I should conceal so remarkable a Verity After a multitude of other disswasive Arguments which Iphigenes refuted with no less subtility and eagerness than Pomeran alledged them with Cordiall tenderness Wee shall never have done contesting said Iphigenes unless I quite unbutton my breast to you which I will do Pomeran with as much Freedom as I have
that hee should accompany him in his Facetious Enterprise of going in a Peasant's Habit to make love to Almeria Pisides and Argal being not so considerate were no sooner acquainted with the Design but they approved it and with a complacency familiar to Courtiers they presently made Proffers of their Services fancying already a thousand inventions to abuse the simplicity of those clownish Souls There was none but Boleslaüs Foster-Father and Confident to Iphigenes who participated of the truth of this Story or knew whereunto tended the Morall of this Fable Hee had already disguised like a Traveller been to confer with Almeria of whom hee learnt the Dispositions of those Rustick Spirits wherewith shee was environed and the Politick Old Man by whose counsell Iphigenes chiefly directed his course cast now and then into the Soul of this supposed Shepherdess certain hopes which gently flattered Her Ambition All things beeing thus ordered Iphigenes with his three Friends Pomeran Argal and Pisides not forgetting Boleslaüs whom hee called Father marched like Country-fellowes to the Village where the solemnity was thither likewise came Almeria accompanied with Belida Remonda and Merinda ushered by Lupicin and the four Competitours Manile Fleurial Antalcas and Polemas To make a comparison betwixt those Reall Rusticks and these disguised ones I had need have the Pencill of that Painter who with onely turning the Picture of an Horse that was tumbling in the dust made one running full speed and beating the dust in his Carreer I will not here amuse my self in the Description of an Antick nor abuse the time and the Reader 's Patience with the Representation of a County-solemnity I shall onely say that our Strangers appeared amongst those rough-hewen Boors like that golden Sand which shines amongst the gravell of the River Tagus There were no Eyes but for them nor any but upon them They carried away with such advantage the Glory in all the Exercises as Dancing Wrestling Jumping Slinging of Stones flinging the Bar Shooting or whatsoever that they seemed as if they were come thither purposely to dazle the sight of all that did behold them But their Carriage beeing too gentile for such mean Habits their cleer Complexions and their studied Slights betrayed them Every one ask't Who are they whence are they but no body could give an account This bred a suspition that there was some Plot in their coming and that they were some cunning Shavers that intended to surprise them To repeat you the Discourse of these Stage-Peasants would bee too long and Frivolous or to tell you that amongst the throng of Females Almeria was presently noted for her which deserved the Golden Apple would bee as needless If Amity is formed betwixt equalls or equalizeth those whom it unite's there was no Body how envious soever that seeing Iphigenes Discoursing with Almeria would not judge them the best Maach't Couple in the World onely Hee appeared too white for a Man and shee too brown for a Woman but her brownness was Alablaster in comparison of the rest Pisides and Argal commended Iphigenes who had given himself the Name of Iphis for his choyce But Pomeran who alwayes suspected this seemingly feined Love conceiving that it had some reality which hee could not discern had his mind balanced in the Flood and Ebb of different Imaginations Sometimes reflecting upon the Resemblance of the Picture Iphigenes had shewen him hee thought shee might indeed bee Modestina but that conjecture was soon effaced by some homely Actions which Almeria counterfeited with so much Art that the most cleer-sighted would have taken them for Dame Nature's own production Iphigenes ravished with delight to see his Design succeed opened his Heart in private to Boleslaüs who participated of his contentment to see how they were all deceived in Almeria and shee her self in him And in regard the pleasure would have been too short if confined to one daye 's time our Disguised Gentlemen continued their Visits to Almeria and the rest in Celian's House for the space of half a Moon during which time the Palatine made a Report bee spread in Plocens which was the chief City of his Government that hee was retired to a Castellain's House in the Country for some Affairs of great Importance In the fifteen Dayes time which Iphigenes with his Companions spent in a Rich Farmer 's House not far from Celian's their Expences and great Cheer quickly made appear that they had nothing of Country-men but the Habit. They went not to Plough nor followed any such exercises as the others did but making Fishing or Hunting their daily Occupations they missed no opportunity of accosting Almeria either in the Groves in the Meddowes under the shade by the Rivers side or neer some cool Spring These frequent Meetings confirming Merinda in the Opinion shee had that Almeria was a Maid turned Belida and Remonda to their first belief Lupicin with the four Concurrents lost the suspition they had that shee was a Man to embrace this That these Strangers were perchince The Men which had shipwracked her Honour in the City These surmises kindled their Fires and their Fires redoubled their Jealousies seeing themselves supplanted by persons unknown Envie saith the Wise Man is the vice of base abject Spirits This Monster whose Pain is another's Ease and who feed's upon his own Heart seated himself in the Souls of these Churles who could not indure the luster of so many gentile Qualities as rendred those New-comers recommendable And as Wolves Creatures that are singular insociable and which tear one another to pieces do agree and go together if there be question of falling upon a Flock of Sheep or breaking down a Fold So those Swains who hated each other as Rivals complotted with a secret intelligence how to chase away these strangers from Almeria and conspired Machinations against her which were the Effects of Hatred though they proceeded from a contrary Cause I omit their Reproaches and Detraction against her Innocency For their Jealousie beeing visible our Gentlemen gave no credit to their Speeches knowing that they troubled the pure Waters of that cleer Fountain onely to hinder them from admiring and staying neer it It was a pleasure to see the Schism that was amongst them and how their deceitfull Lips uttered words quite opposite to their Hearts Some reported that Almeria was a Man pursued by the Justice for a Murther and had transvested himself to avoid the punishment of his Crime Others gave out that shee was really a Maid but of a deboshed and lewd Life who to shun the fury of her Parents that would have chastised her for her Fault or to Live with more Liberty had cloathed Herself in a Shepardesse's Weeds One said shee was a Citizen's Daughter another that shee was born in the Country some said shee was of one Province others of another Some affirmed shee was Celian's Neece others denyed it If Remonda called her Cousin Merinda declared shee knew her not Belida gave her the style
the Thicket as it were to inform himself of the way which hee seemed to have lost This was Arcade whom Serife had retained having sent away Armelin and Philaster hee having his Lesson took no notice of them but as Peasants and thus spake to them Friend 's what evill Spirit brought you hither to disturb the Silence and re-double the Horror of this place with your quarrel some debates Yet I am not sorry I have met with you since your arrivall may do an afflicted Lady and mee some service in setting us again into the way which wee have been long seeking without hapning upon any body to direct us Hee had no sooner uttered these words but Pisides knowing him by his Voyce and Cloathes answered Arcade what do you persist in the inchantment which maketh you not know when your Eyes are open those to whom you speak Do not you remember that you saw us not many Dayes since in these Cloaths when the Chase made you put a Stag into our Hands At these words Arcade as if hee had been much surprised Replied Oh my Lord Pisides what good Angell directed you so opportunely into this solitude to the succor of our Palatine's Lady whom a violent though not unjust Jealousie doth inforce to traverse both City and Country Upon further inquiry hee told them as hee had been instructed by Serife that Modestina beeing arrived at Plocens had commanded him to conduct her into that Forest where shee had learnt that the Palatine her Husband beeing taken with the Love of a Shepherdess had relinquished the care of his Charge and contemned the Grandeur of his Dignity and Birth These Gentlemen beeing prepossessed with so many Charms accosted the sorrowfull Lady who seeing them approach seemed to bee much affrighted yet settled her Countenance again as soon as Arcade stepping in before the rest informed her that those whom shee saw in Peasant's Habits were Gentlemen of Quality of the Palatine's Retinue whom they sought as well as shee Hee having eclypsed himself from their sights some Dayes since They having never seen Modestina doubted not but Serife was shee For besides the Dress and Accoutrements of a Lady of note wherewith shee was sumptuously attired shee had so mortified or rather dyed her Face with a certain yellowish Liquor that it seemed Mellancholly had given her the Jaundies Besides by the means of some device which shee held in her Mouth shee feined another voyce so naturally that they were deceived on all sides After they had made their obeisance and tendred all the services due to her Grandeur The onely service said shee that I desire of you is that you would bring mee into my Husband's presence or do mee the last of all Duties put mee into my Sepulcher For to bee separated from him and to die is the same thing to mee Hereupon they swore to use their best indeavours but to make good their Oaths they needed not go out of the place conjuring her to rise and permit them to set her upon her Horse which was feeding close by with Arcade's As shee moved her self shee espied Boleslaüs amongst them on whom casting a stern look And darest thou yet said shee appear before mee thou disloyall servant to a faithless Master After thou hast so misguided him who was committed to thy Government thou comest perchance with thy Companions disguised like thy self to plunge mee into new Miseries and cast mee into another Prison Ah! No I will rather open my bosome with this blade drawing a Dagger from under her Robe than commit my selfe to the Mercy of unknown Persons who may first attempt my Honour and afterwards take my Life Here Boleslaüs putting one Knee to Ground answered Madam Let Heaven never pardon mee if I am culpable of any misdemeanour towards you and when you know the condition of these Gentlemen whereof there is not one that would not lose a thousand lives for the preservation of your Honour you will bee sorry for conceiving such a suspition of them I take the Sun or rather him that give 's it Light to witness that it is no fault of mine if Iphigenes hath not continued his Affections entire as hee ought to you But alas I am no more his Governour but by Name hee is my Master in effect the truth as to all great Persons is become odious to him hee spurn's at Remonstrances instead of taking my advises in good part hee paye's them with injuries his answers are harsh and froward I cannot read his humour hee is grown so extravagant these Gentlemen know it as well as I that I am not able to hold him yet for my part if I have not Power sufficient to stay him I have Patience to let him run but not Constancy enough not to bewail his condition His Disgrace at Court is one step to his fall and if hee continue in his obstinacy that Gossip which hath bewitched him I think will ruine him absolutely both in Body Mind and Reputation Ah! Boleslaus replyed the feined Modestina if by the contagion of that deceitfull Spirit thou art not become impudent as well as hee if thy words are sincere tell mee if I must lose all hope of regaining his Affections to the end I may presently by Death set a period to all my Miscries Madam said Pomeran that remedy were worse than the Disease For it is easier to resuscitate affection in an Heart than recall a Soul into a Body when once it is departed For Heaven's sake banish such desperate Thoughts and cast away that murtherous Weapon which so ill become's your hand And I swear to you by the Faith of a Man of Honour that if I were not seconded by any of these Gentlemen although their Friendship Courtesie promiseth mee otherwise of their Generosity I will employ my Sword with those of my Friends my Industry my Diligence and my own Life to procure your repose reduce Iphigenes to reason These Gentlemen can tell what Disputes I have had with him upon this Account and how often hee hath gone displeasod out of my Company because hee could no more brook the Liberty which I took in speaking to him than I the Libertinage of his Life But that was nothing to what I now desire to say and do beeing no less animated by the sight of your Afflictions than the Romans were moved at the view of Cesar's bloody Shirt There was not one of the Company but ingaged with Pomeran to lay their Lives down upon so just a quarrell especially Boleslaüs as if by that imployment hee desired to efface the suspition which shee had conceived of him Here Arcade who could not perswade himself that those Gentlemen whom hee had seen so frequently and so familiar with Iphigenes could bee so deceived began to laugh upon Boleslaüs saying to him in his Ear That hee could not sufficiently admire the dexterity of the Palatine and him in representing their Personages That whispering cast some jealousie into Pomeran's thoughts
least susceptible of pitty which gave occasion to Serife to return it these words Pittifull Bird the living Emblem of my condition thou comest very opportunely to present thy self to my view and teach mee to bemoan in an accent like thine the Miseries that afflict mee Thou makest us sufficiently understand that thou hast lost thy Mate either by the cruell stroak of Death or some sinister straying and thy Groans reverberating the Eccho's of these Woods seem either to recall him to Life or to carry him news of thee to the end by his return thou maist give o're complaining Sweet Dove thou hast no Gall neither hast thou any need of it For thou art assured that his unfaithfullness will never give thee cause to express any anger Alas I am not so perfect nor so happy for the jealousie which devour's mee take's away all sense of sweetness and make's mee hate to live by reason of the inconstancy of him who hath made mee so many deep Protestations never to be capable of disloyalty Go pretty Pigeon and since I have Married my Accents with thine direct thy speedy Wings towards the place where my perfidious Iphis now is and if thou canst not make him consider the torment which his ingratitude causeth mee to suffer make him ashamed by thy presence and let him see that Men more unreasonable in their irregular dispositions than Animals which have no understanding may learn of them Lessons of Fidelity and Temperance Shee had continued longer in this mournfull strain if Calliante seeming to fear lest the excess of sorrow should transport her into some unseemly extravagance had not broke off her Speech telling her that to talk to Birds and to sow upon the Sands were things equally absurd That shee ought to hope for better Fortune and take the consolation which is commonly given to young Widdowes which is that by the loss of one Husband they may have the choyce of divers others And beeing of a Joviall Disposition especially in these delightfull Recreations having a greater desire to pass his time in Laughing than Lamenting he fancied an Air to some Lines in answer as hee said of the Turtle 's mournfull Tune So with a very agreeable Voyce hee animated these STANCES THese Pains assail not you alone For among Mortalls there 's not one But feel's his Reason overswai'd Sometimes there are no Souls whom Love Hath to such Discontents betrai'd But like Effects of Pitty move Why by an Humour then so Blinde Which disturb's your Riper Minde Feed you your Thoughts with bitter Pain Since t' is the Poyson of the Heart Rather by Custome to complain Than by Reason ease the Smart Some transports of Grief's excess May bee excused I confess But how can you e're justify These Afflictions indiscreet Whereby you seeme an Enemy To that Face and Eyes so sweet What Trespass hath that Golden Tress Of Lover's Vows the dear Address Done to deserve the Penalty Of so Severe a Punishment And receive the Salarie Of Crimes whereof 't is Innocent Th' Ingratefull whom you thus bemoan What rare Perfections can Hee own To merit that away should fade The beauteous Roses of your Face And let pale Sorrow thus invade And play the Tyrant in their place Appease the Tumults of your Brest Change these Distractions into Rest And by the End of this sad Rage To oblige some better Spirits Rob not your Beauties from this Age Which hath its Glory from your Merits If the Power you call to Minde Wherewith your Graces use to blinde Beholders when your Eyes are calm Of Dying quit that strange Desire And don 't reject that glorious Palm VVhich by their Luster you acquire As long Hair imbellisheth handsome Faces and rendereth more ugly those that are ill-favoured So Musick hath that property to inlighten Hearts inclined to Mirth and augment the Sadness of those that are Melancholly The Gentlemen and Shepherdesses whose Spirits began to droop at Serife's heaviness were much rejoyced with this Singing but the afflicted Ladie 's heart seemed to bee deeper sunk in Sorrow These sweet words were to those dull Rustick Souls like Pearls cast before Creatures incapable to judge of their value but they were otherwise understood by the Courtiers who judging of the Lyon by the Claw by this Essay of Calliante's wit whom they still took to bee Almeria presently gathered this conjecture that the Palatine was more in Love with the Beauty of her Minde than of her Body which was comely enough for a Man but hardly handsome for a Woman After a little time Serife having weighed in her Thoughts the sense of Calliante's Verses as soon as shee demanded it obteined leave to evaporate these SIGHES WHen Soul wilt thou injoy some Rest Leaving the Prison of this Brest When shall thy Dayes and Pains have End Since thy Griefs beyond compare Have onely the last Hope to friend Of those that perish with Despaire Yet when this Body pale as Lead Augment's the number of the Dead How shalt thou assurance have To see the End of thy Torment If separated by the Grave To Thee remain's yet Sentiment Heavens Directors of our Fate Planets who like a Reprobate Condemn mee to bee miserable If all things else their Limits know Why will you render Memorable By it's Eternity my Woe Fortune hath made my troubled Heart The Mark of each malicious Dart The Source is dreined of my Tears And now are alwayes in my Sight Of the dire Furie's Torch the Fears In stead of Titan's pleasing Light Alas what Light can mee rejoyce Since separated from my Choice The Morning-Star of my Delight This is the worst of Tyrannies To rob It of Its glorious Light Or to bereave Mee of my Eyes By hiding Him from outward view Vnkindest Spirits what think you My inward Faculties to blinde And by th' Essay of your dread Ire Stealing the Pleasure of my Minde To barr mee also of Desire No treacherous Ingratitude Who of my Sense's servitude The Patience dost exercise By Calms and Tempests as you please With no less Fury than do rise The Windes to agitate the Seas Know that by a generous wound Rage in my dearest Blood had drown'd My wretched Life with this Disgrace If through a fond Timidity My Fury had not given place To the Feare of displeasing thee The Courtiers who were onely able to discern the Vivacity of this Reply and not to savour simply the Air as the Shepherdesses did but tast the Sweetness which was comprised in these Lines were hereby invited to display afresh all their Rhetorick to conjure that Sorrow which Serife feined with such dexterity that they could hardly believe it was a Fiction but that shee had taken that Cloak to cover the reall Resentments of her Passion for Almeria And with joynt supplications they never ceased importuning her untill they had drawn a solemn promise from her Mouth to requite Calliante's courtesie by changing the Resolution shee seemed to have taken of Dying as at her
commanding Merinda to advertise Serife that shee might stand upon her Guard this Office Merinda would have performed without his injunction For her Heart was so oppressed with that Secret that shee had resolved to disburden it by her Tongue whatsoever befell At this newes Serife counterfeited such amazement that shee seemed for a while as if Fear had been carrying her Soul out of her Body at length having somewhat recollected her Spirits with a trembling voyce shee said To what a degree of Misery doth Fortune reduce mee since shee persecute's mee so cruelly that in the same Port where Hope promised me Security Shee make's mee suffer Shipwrack What must I then follow those I ought to shun and fly from those who promised mee all assistance Those disguised Gentlemen my Husband's Friends will they be my Protectors against him that made mee such solemn protestations to preserve me from all injuries Ah Calliante you will sell at a dear rate the promise you gave mee of your succour since without having the patience to stay till the Fruit be Ripe you will gather it by breaking the branches or rather transplanting the Body of the Tree out of the Ground of it's Duty Have you forgot Soul blinded with Passion that I consented to the admittance of your Service and Affection onely in case Iphis whose yet I am repudiated me to marry your Sister and so to cure at once the Honour of that abused Virgin the Disloyalty of my inconstant Husband your Love and my own Jealousie Believe it Calliante if I finde any Asistance this Precipitation shall cost you dear and if all humane succours fail mee I will borrow from the courage of my own Heart and the vigour of my Arm the last remedy of all miseries which is Death and sheathing a Dagger in my Bosome I will reduce all your Designs into Smoak Madam answered Merinda by Heaven's favour you shall not be put to any such extremity For if my Father expresly forbid's my Brothers and their Companions to act any thing against your Person the contriver of this Plot will reap nothing but the Shame of having attempted it and you shall be free from the Displeasure his unadvisedness would have caused to your Thoughts Serife knowing that it was the powder of injection which made the Rusticks favour that Project to trie their Dispositions and tempt them by feeling their Pulses on both sides having put some small Chains of Gold into the Shepherdesses Hands to make them Bracelets and shewing them severall rich jewells shee promised them that those should bee the meanest Recompences of their fidelity if by their means that storme blew over her Head giving them besides some pieces of Gold to hinder Celian to keep his Sons in order and some to bee distributed among them Hereupon they became like that corrupt Judge who caused a Coach which a Client had given him to pronounce sentence in his favour to bee drawn by Horses of a greater value which the adverse Party had presented him Whilest this was in agitation on one side Pomeran who was as wee have said jealous of the Palatin's Honour and who did not greatly relish his Passion for Almeria entertained in his thoughts the pleasantest imagination that could bee devised Hee fancied that Serife had an intent to marry Calliante under that disguise and it beeing done and past all remedy that hee resuming the habit of Palatine would laugh at their simplicity as well as the Country-People's Therefore out of a desire to oblige Mieslas and Modestina and as hee thought I phigenes himself as those do a courtesie to poor Creatures that are frantick who take the pains to binde them although they raile and exclaim all the while they are tying Hee thought it very requisite that Hee with his two companions and Boleslaüs should oppose in good Earnest that Imaginary Rape and to the end they might the more securely effect their intention it was not held improper to require the Justice of the Place's succour The Evening beeing come every one stood upon his Guard Serife not onely stirred not abroad but refused the entrance of her Chamber to Calliante Celian watched like the Hesperian Dragon over his Treasure His Daughters were set Sentinells to call for help upon the least allarm the Swains beeing overcome by the Commands of Celian and presents which Serife sent them pretended difficulties and stood still with their Arms across and the Gentlemen were resolved to preserve Serife Hereupon Calliante feining to bee in an excessive Rage fell to vaporing with the Country-men thundred out divers threats against their baseness called them treacherous Villains for failing him in the onely time hee had need of their help and vomited all the bitterest tearms that Despair doth use to suggest in like occurrences But the houre of Rest summoning them to retire they all continued for a while in a sad silence every one allowing the more liberty to his Thoughts the less hee gave his Tongue untill Pomeran esteeming it necessary to speak in that extremity thus began Almeria it is now time to quit that Mask we are not Men to be cheated as you imagine content your self with having ravished the Heart of Iphis by the Charms which his Passion make's him finde in that little Beauty which appeareth in your Face and seek not to rob his legitimate Spouse of his Body He cannot be yours untill his first bonds be dissolved which he hath so publickly and solemnly sworn never to violate greater Ladies than you can ever hope to be pretend to his alliance if that first Marriage could be declared void Do not think to inchant us or surprise the Palatine by your artificiall Stratagems For we are resolved with the perill of incurring his dis-favour and losing our own Lives couragiously to hinder your Design of making your self his Wife be satisfied with the part you have in his Affections without aspiring farther unless you have a minde to see a strange disorder and humane Justice as well as the Divine opposed against your Practises Calliante concluded by this Discourse pronounced with a grave and settled Countenance that Pomeran was seriously and really deceived Therefore to intangle him the faster in his Net hee replied My Honour is so deeply ingaged in this business that I must die or bring it to perfection nothing but Marriage can make mee Repararation Iphis hath plighted mee his Faith beeing in full capacity of Vnderstanding Self-disposall whereas that which you pretend was forced and in an Age so tender that he knew not what hee promised therefore I maintain that hee is more Mine than Modestina's and Iphis is able to justifie his ingagement to Mee in despight of all your indeavours and contradictions These expressions were like Oyle cast upon the Fire of that Indignation which was kindled in the Genlemen's Hearts So they grew to high Words then to Threats afterwards to Exclamations Iphis was named aloud Almeria likewise Hereupon the Country-men that were in
up alike and having written the superscription and sealed the later hee delivered it to the Judge with some pieces of Gold to give the Messenger desiring him to let him goe on Hors-back because the business required haste After this golden conference the Judge grew more temperate hee talked no more of torturing upon the Rack but of releasing the Prisoners telling the Rusticks that all those passages were onely tricks of Youth and that there was nothing to bee done in this case but to plume them like Pigeons and then let them flie again and that it was enough to let their Purses blood and make good cheer at their charge by which means they would bee sufficiently revenged of those that intended no other evill than to laugh at their simplicity But hee found more repugnance in those savage Souls than hee imagined For with one Voyce they all cryed out Justice Justice This troubled the Judge not a little knowing the brutality of the vulgar People of that Nation But as hee that betraye 's Justice may as well betray the Criminals It is no rare thing for Judges whose Eyes have been dazled with the luster of Gold to condemne those that corrupted them not to seem corruptible and to hide their extortion under a double wickedness This moved that abominable Minister of Injustice to make use of a most malicious Stratagem to content that inraged Rabble by satisfying his own avarice Hee resolved to condemn to a privy search those persons whose doubtfull faces did not by their Chins give evident testimony of beeing Men. Boleslaüs whom the Winter of Age had already covered with it's Snowy Livery was exempted from that harsh and shamefull sentence neither were Pomeran Pisides or Argal concerned in that Decree the downy shadow on their youthfull Checks declaring sufficiently of what Sex they were Serife and Calliante were the onely stumbling-blocks whose changing of Habits multiplied the Rusticks imaginations and disturbed their Reason which what er'e befell hee thought should serve to colour his unworthy ACT adjudging them to very considerable amercements in case of disobedience This Design hee communicated to the Prosecutors who received it with a generall applause and acclamation conceiving that they could no way have a more sweet and full revenge of their cozening them then by doing them this affront under the Cloake of Justice The Order was no sooner drawn but it was notified to Serife and Calliante Calliante who esteemed such an indignity much less supportable than Death threatned to tear in more pieces than the Bacchides did Pentheus whosoever should approach him for that purpose But they taking him to bee really a Woman laughed at his weakness telling him that they had knockt down Bulls far stronger and more fierce than hee And the Pharisaicall Judge to seem a modest and curteous Man let him understand that hee would do him the favour to give him the choice of beeing searcht by Men if hee was a Man or by Women if a Woman whereunto Calliante inraged said I will have neither one nor other let mee alone as I am for if any Women come to mee I shall make them ashamed and if you send any Men I shall make them feele the strength of my Arms. As for Serife shame and indignation so transported her that to say which was greatest were no easie matter All her Intreaties Threatnings Protestations that shee was a Man and their Palatine Son to Mieslas Palatine of Podolia were to their rude Ears but as chaff before the Winde and notwithstanding her appealing the Judge commanded them to execute his Order without which they could not be satisfied of the Truth at length hee offered her the same civility as hee had to Calliante to which shee returned a like answer desiring the Judge to cause Her to bee strangled rather than condemn Her to an abuse which Shee must resent as long as Shee had breath and whereby Her fury would bee incited to a Vengeance that could not terminate him by the sacking and absolute ruine of that whole County These high menaces that Clownish multitude answered with lowd laughing pressing her still to choose otherwise they would proceed to the Execution of the Judge's Ordinance At length a Ray of Prudence inlightning her in this extremity made her Name Celian's two Daughters with their Sister-in-law Belida hoping to gain them by Gifts or compell them by force to depose what shee listed These were before appointed to search Calliante whereunto Merinda was nothing unwilling Curiosity increasing her desire to know whether that Almeria whose face was the same as Galliante's and had raised such tumults in her mind was Male or Female Boleslaüs and the other Gentlemen knew nothing of these proceedings For the Judge promised himself that his Messenger would bee returned e're night with the summe for which hee had indented with Boleslaüs and his Sentence beeing executed upon Serife and Calliante hee should by that means please the Peasants as well as his own covetous humour and seem just though his proceedings were contrarie Serife's Prison beeing the neerest to Celian's House the Shee Inquisitors came first thither to doe their Office It would bee needless to repeat the worthy excuses they made at their entrance and with what Rustick eloquence they imputed their curiosity to the Justice's constraint whereby they were forced to an action which they undertook with no less unwillingness than shame This kindled so much choller in the Heart of the generous Amazon that Reason could hardly disswade her Passion from inflicting upon their Bodies a punishment suiteable to the baseness of their Souls But considering that had her Poniard executed her just revenge the fury of those Peasants would not have been satisfied with less than murthering her and that the loss of her Life would be seconded with the stain of her Honour whereof shee was chiefly carefull shee hearkened to the moderate dictates of Policy which suggested to her thoughts this stratagem which took better than shee expected It was to rob her Neck Ears Hair Fingers of all the Rings Chains and Jewells wherewith they were splendidly adorned to fill the Hands and stop the Mouths of those three Harpyes promising them besides a thousand Crowns a piece before shee went out of Prison if they would favour her in that connivence The resolution of these Women whom Weakness and Poverty made inclinable to corruption staggered at those extraordinary Presents and large Promises But seeming somewhat scrupulous for fear of beeing punished if they gave in a false evidence Serife drawing the Dagger which shee wore under her robe and beginning to brandish it with threats pronounced in a manlike and couragious manner so intimidated their low Spirits that beeing inticed on the one side with the hope of gain and seized on the other with fear they ingaged themselves to do and say whatsoever shee should command beseeching her if they should bee discovered to free them from the severity of the Justice Whereunto Serife
of mee would bee acceptable to you It was to convey her out of Prison which I effected very fortunately having covered her with one of my Suits and having provided Horses in a convenient place not far thence I conducted her hither where shee commanded mee to take the habit wherein you see mee whilest shee went abroad to inquire after you And here was confirmed to her the newes which made her resolve to finde you out beeing pricked with Jealousie and the apprehension of losing you by a Passion which shee was informed possessed you for a Shepherdess in these Neighbouring Forests whom you were reported to have been resolved to marry But her ill fortune was at the arrivall of Mieslas to bee observed by some of his followers or yours and to bee taken by them for Liante by reason of her likeness to him in Face and her beeing in Man's cloaths Upon this mistake shee was apprehended by order from Mieslas and I hear that hee hath sent her back into Podolia to the same Castle where Liante was Prisoner But when shee is known I believe shee will bee sent where shee was before with her Governess Perpetua And I My Lord remain here destitute of all relief having no hope but in your Pity no confidence but in your Mercy If I have transgressed in serving her in her desires which proceeded onely from the extream and incomparable affection shee bears you I am ready to receive such punishment as you shall please to ordain If your more favourable censure judge mee not culpable I flie for refuge under your Protection against the fury of Mieslas who will make mee bee torne in pieces if hee come to know that I have contributed any thing to her escape For hee dreaded nothing so much as to see her with you Iphigenes seeing that Menochius ended there his Speech asked him if hee knew no farther news of Modestina No answered hee For fearing to discover my self I durst not inquire after any other particulars By this Discourse Iphigenes presently perceived what gave the rise to that Report which Arcade brought him into the Prison and the veile fell from those Enigma's which held his imagination in suspense But this was to him a falling out of the Frying-pan into the Fire for as his Passion for Liante was great so his Affection to Modestina was not ordinary and if hee would have desired to change his Sex it should have been meerly for her sake and to bee really her Husband none among all the Ladies hee had ever seen deserving more than Modestina to possess his Body as well as his Heart And indeed Iphigenes had lost much of the glory of his sweet Disposition if hee had done less than love Her who besides their long education together the conformity of their humours and the bond of their Souls came to give him so remarkeable an evidence of her Love exposing her person to so many perills to seek him enjoy the felicity of his Presence So Liante being already secured from his Father's rage all his care was bent towards Modestina as the Object which had most need of his succour and having dismissed Menochius after advising him to continue in that Woman's habit and stir little abroad untill Mieslas were returned to Court promising him his Protection and Assistance against whomsoever and in acknowledgement of the service which hee had rendred to Modestina hee filled his hand with a good summe of Gold as an earnest of the favours hee would do him assuring him in mean time to exempt him from Danger and Necessity Which done hee cast himself upon his Bed overwhelmed with such a multitude of thoughts that his Eye-lids were hardly closed all night For his Heart beeing divided betwixt Modestina and Liante and suspended like a piece of Iron between two Load-stones hee knew not which way to incline his resolution This restlesness of Mind denying repose to his Body hee sent very early in the Morning for Boleslaüs to take advice of that faithfull Councellour how hee should shape his course in that tempestuous occurrence Hee repeated in brief what Menochius had told him and the fear lest Modestina beeing discovered by his Father's bloudy instruments they to comply with his severity should murther her put his Heart into an unspeakeable perplexity To post presently to her relief had been to contradict what hee had made the Princess and his Father believe of his slender esteem of that Wife from whom hee seemed to them to desire nothing more than a separation Not to go and not to assist her in so urgent a necessity hee deemed an ingratitude not to bee digested by any generous Spirit On the other side beeing too well acquainted with the cruelty of Mieslas and the design hee had against Liante hee began to think that hee had not provided sufficiently for his safety keeping him so neer that inexorable Sarmatian And although Palatines who are incontrouleable in their own Governments have no authority in another's Dominion yet the quality of Father gave Mieslas I know not what priviledge in that of Plocens which Iphigenes would not have permitted to another Having communicated all these painfull imaginations to Boleslaüs hee answered My Lord it happen's oft-times that recreative sports are the presages and as I may say the Prologues of more serious occurrences It was your pleasure to make your's lately in the Forest and perchance it is the Heaven's Will now to act their part You made Liante bee covered with Woman's cloathes whilest his Sister made her escape in Man's and whilest you courted Him in that feined appearance Shee followed you in her disguise Hee love's you with perplexity because hee think's you are a Man and Shee is jealous of you not imagining that you are a Woman You personated Modestina in the Woods while shee represented Liante at Plocens your Friends were deceived in you and your Father in her Observe how all these passages are linked to each other It was not without the particular providence of Heaven that wee escaped the affronts which those irritated Clowns would have made us suffer and I beseech the Powers above to continue us the same grace and draw us out of the Labyrinths wherein I foresee that wee are likely to bee involved Indeed it would require the thred of a greater Prudence than mine to conduct us safely forth But since you do mee the honour to believe mee my fidelity having been approved by you I can do no less than persevere in assisting you till Death with my Head Hands Advice and Life All the remedies you can now apply to Modestina will bee too late For since her beeing apprehended shee is infallibly either Dead or re-inclosed in her Prison besides by going in Person or sending to rescue her you would discover a Meaning contrary to what you have professed in Words to your Father and the Princess which would bee very prejudiciall to a person of your condition who never ought to
bee surprised in double-dealing The best way therefore in my opinion is to expect the certainty of this Event and take it as from the hand of Providence what e're it bee If shee bee Dead consider that your Sorrow will not recall her to Life and besides shee is a Creature the privation of whom ought to bee the less grievous to you in regard Nature hath forbidden you the injoyment of her Person But for the preservation of Liante whom you cherish above all the rest of Mortalls you ought in time to apply your Care Diligence and Authority Yet as the deepest Waters make the least noise in their course so the solidest Judgements conduct their affaires with more temper and less rumour more Effects and less shew The surest guards you can give Liante are Secrecy and Silence Make as if you knew not where hee is and let Pisides Argal and Pomeran remain in the error which possesseth them that hee is Almeria Close with the Seal of Authority Arcade's lips by a severe prohibition to reveale this Mystery and command Humbertus and his Souldiers under pain of Death not to declare what they know concerning him If notwithstanding all these veiles Mieslas should chance to discover the place of his retreat wee shall easily make him escape out of this Country or by Night convey him into some private Corner which shall bee known but to very few However wee must advertise him of what particulars wee have learn't since our arrivall said Iphigenes and who shall wee appoint to carry him this message Do you think Arcade fit for this purpose I would not advise you answered Boleslaus to commit this secret which toucheth you in the Apple of the Eye neither to Arcade nor to paper For the one may miscarry the other be corrupted If you conceive mee worthy to serve you therein you may freely command mee For you are the onely Master whom I do or will ever serve Father said Iphigenes imbracing the old man's neck and washing his Face with tears you continue obliging mee in things that are more sensible and which I esteem more pretious than my Life do mee then the courtesie to go in my Name to him for whom I preserve my self and tell him that to preserve him there is no force but I will imploy it no respect of Father that I shall stick to violate since choosing him for my Spouse I ought to prefer him before Father and Mother You shall be a living Letter and I am sure you will represent to him the passages here much better then I can write onely in one thing I should surpass you that is in representing him my affections For there is none but that Tongue whose Heart is pierced with Love which is able to express to the Life the resentments of a passionate Soul Boleslaüs to satisfie the impatience of Iphigenes departed presently with this Commission and had hardly delivered his message to Liante when newes was brought to Mieslas his Son beeing then with him of the Discovery of the imaginary Liante the Story whereof was thus THE DISCOVERY OF MODESTINA THose who had taken upon them the charge of conducting Modestina disguised in Man's habit beeing arrived in a place where they thought they might securely execute their damnable design on the person of that innocent Creature having to that effect procured a Chirurgion for a great summe of Mony and masked him lest beeing afterwards known by him to whom they intended to do that horrible affront hee might bee liable to the Law or his Revenge The pitifull Prisoner suffered herself to bee bound like an harmeless sheep whom the rugged Butchers carry to the Slaughter-house without the least Replication And whether Modesty tied her Tongue or the horrour of the affront by a sodain apprehension deprived her of the use of Speech shee remained some time without so much as asking what they intended At length as if her Spirits had returned out of a deep trance and fearing more the loss of her Honour than of her Life shee screaked out like a Virgin calling for aid against the violence of some dissolute Ravisher For shee conceived that they having perceived what shee was would have sated their brutall appetites on her But shee learn't other newes by him that brought the Commission from Mieslas who speaking as if shee had been Liante told her that shee must resolve to imitate the Beaver when hee is chas'd or lose her Life that if shee were wise of those two evills shee should choose the least and save the whole by losing a part In a word hee Made her understand the Will and Command of Mieslas which was to make her an Eunuch against her Will since shee had refused to make herself such by a voluntary embracing of an Ecclesiastick Life Then Modestina seeing herself reduced to this extremity judged it time to declare her condition and disabuse them of their errour But it was after attempting this last means protesting that shee was ready to obey the Will of Mieslas in resigning herself wholly to the service of the Church beseeching to defer their Execution untill they had received his definitive answer For that the lot is already cast replyed the chief of the Band there is no other determination to be expected than your choice It concerns not us to interpret the commands of our Master wee have now no leisure to discourse time require's a speedy Expedition choose the hand of the Chirurgion or that which shall plunge a Poniard in your Brest Hereby Modestina perceiving that her last remedy was in vain and that shee must use other tearms Thou Barbarous Wretch said shee couldst thou have the Heart to sheath that murtherous blade in an innocent Woman's bosome who is capable of receiving Death but not the affront which thou proposest There is as much difference betwixt him to whom thou think'st to speak and mee as between Brother and Sister I am not Liante but Modestina the Daughter-in-Law to thy cruell and impious Master Wife to Iphigenes who will bee able to revenge my Death if thou killest mee or my honour if thou dost mee the least affront See said the inhumane villane what an invention this Gallant hath found upon a sodain to save himself in this storm how the oxtremity of danger doth subtilize men's Wits But wee are not come thus far to stop in so fair way wee must put him in a condition of never pretending to the possession of the Lady Clemencia shee is reserved for a person of more eminent quality than hee This said hee prepared himself to make a search much different from that which the Shepherdesses would have made of Liante in the Prison What resistance should this poor sheep have made in the midst of so many Wolves that chaste Andromeda had recourse to her tears whose tender drops were able to penetrate Marble and mollifie Hearts more rigide then the sensless Rocks Shee conjured them by all that shee thought might have
it to a withered old Woman whom it is fitter for mee to reverence as a Mother than embrace as a Wife as if Love which proceed's from our own choice were the child of Duty At length said Mieslas who felt Choller gaining the ascendant over his Reason you will say so much that my Patience beeing too far tempted will turn to Fury and constrain mee to let you see by some violent effect how much this Language displease's me Sir replied Iphigenes my sorrow is so just and my resentments so legitimate that if I were not moved for this outrage done to my Wife I should be unworthy of the Name of Husband And of friend if I did not with all my power oppose the mischief intended to Liante The worst that can befall mee is to lose by your hands the Life which you have given me but to take away my honour and fidelity is beyond the power of Man Hereupon Mieslas beeing ready to burst with rage and thundering out no small Oaths said Wee shall see Gallant if Liante ever fall into my clutches how you will hinder mee from executing my will upon him As for Modestina her innocence move's mee to some pitty besides that her Sex protects her from my choller with the design shee hath of espousing a Monastick life when you are married to this other who is more worth then shee or you which resolution will make mee treat her with less rigour and for the present I am contented to send her back to the same Castle whence shee made her escape but her Guards must bee more carefull than they were before or else I will commit her to Aretuza's charge who will bee watchfull enough of her deportments and execute upon her as I shall command I see that hence forwards you will follow your own fancies and do but what you list But in believing your self take heed you be not counselled by a fool For such have onely a dear repentance for their Wages The Court hath taught you loosnesse which it seem's you reserved to put in practise untill you came into your Palatinate and beeing puff't up with his Majestie 's favour you take upon you Liberties against my will by withdrawing yourself from my subjection However I will have patience and making Vertue of Necessity I will forbear expecting the time to express my Resentments But if you resolve not to marry the Princess who doth you too much honour in desiring your alliance let Heaven never pardon mee if ever I pardon you Sir replied Iphigenes Wee are Men onely by Reason and Reason is manifested by your Words I am a Man of both and I will never recede from what I promised So that the conditions annexed to my promise be performed the one is my dispensation the other if shee will have mee in the condition I am I would to Heaven answered Mieslas that the first were as ready as the second For in the Passion wherewith shee is inflamed for you I know there is no exile so disgracefull no condition so miserable wherein shee would not esteem herself happy to injoy you And for my part I think her very unhappy in having placed her affection on a subject so full of ingratitude and who acknowledgeth so little her Love and Merit After much other discourse to the same effect they parted very little satisfied of each other Mieslas went to see the Princess to whom though hee dissembled hee could render no pleasing account which put her into such distemper as may bee imagined in a Woman of her Spirit haughty by reason of the nobleness of her extraction eminence of her dignity and the vastness of her Estate besides all which beeing inflamed with Love and yet who perceived through all these advantages her affections repayed with some kind of slight Not long after Iphigenes went to visit her But to repeat what passed in this interview were to fill these pages with Passions which are better concealed than published and more easily conjectured than rehearsed All that I can say in short was that the affection of Respicia made her act the part of an earnest Suiter who indeavour's by all sorts of perswasion to charm the inclination of his Mistress And the reservedness of Iphigenes made him seem like a Virgin whom Modesty obligeth to express a pure indifference to those that court her and an absolute refignation of her will to her Parents pleasure All that shee could obtain of him was a solemn protestation which hee often iterated to take her to Wife when hee was released from Modestina with this Proviso That Shee would accept of him for her Husband when hee should be in full liberty of disposing of himself Which clause was offensive to her Ears as revoking into doubt her constancy and the resolution which shee had taken to bequeath herself irrevocably to the beautifull Palatine Mean time shee languished almost to Death though neer her remedy and in the midst of so many occasions of delight as his splendid entertainment afforded her shee could not hinder her sighs from discovering by stealth her grief So having imprisoned herself within her Closet where shee had full Liberty of expressing her thoughts shee brake her perplexed Silence with this Complaint against THE INCONSTANCIE OF MEN. I Can no longer hide this tort'ring pain Soul wast thy self in Sighs disclose my smart And since my Passion 's answer'd with Disdain Let Iphigenes know Love broke my Heart Unfaithfull Iphigenes who did force Thee to make shew of so much fervent Love To mee when by I know not what remorse Th' effects a perfect contradiction prove But of such faithless Souls it is the use To make a purchase of our firm Desires And by false Oaths our credulous Hearts abuse And quench with Icie difrespects our Fires Yet why should I be troubled at his Change Since 't is the humour of all Men to vary Their Words are Wind their Fancies love to range And all their Faith is but Imaginary The Constancy which they so deeply vow Is but the paint of their inconstant Hearts And by their Levities too late wee know They glory in augmenting of our Smarts That there a Phenix is most People say But who her spicy Nest did ever see And if by the Effects wee censure may Such is my Idol's vow'd Fidelity VVhile shee is spending her Breath in Sighs and thirsting like Tantalus in the midst of pleasant Waters Let us go see how Boleslaüs hath discharged the Commission of his Embassie Beeing arrived where Liante by Order of the Palatine was concealed Father said the young Gentleman your appearance rejoiceth mee no less than Phebus doth the VVorld when hee chaseth away the shades wherewith the Night had covered the Face of the Earth This last Night I had the most extravagant Dream and which put mee in the greatest paine of any I can remember For mee thought that beeing escaped out of the clawes of those Harpies which I belaboured so handsomely in
for no other Tongue but that of silence is capable of expressing you The words of this Letter were as Oyle upon his Fire and Wood in the flames of his disquiet Minde Well Iphigenes you complained that you had no news from your dear Liante nor what Region hee had chosen for his Retreat and now this knowledge is more afflicting than the torment of your ignorance Poor Mortalls let us cease to wish since our proper desires are contrary to us and that the inflamation of our wounds increaseth by the application of those remedies whereby wee think to refresh and lessen their anguish But for the perfect understanding of Liante's Letter and to give light to the sequele of this Narration I am inforced to make a little Digression in the History of those times to describe the condition wherein Polonia then was The Monarch of that Kingdom is accustomed to add to his Title of King of Polonia the style of great Duke of Lithuania Prusia and Russia although the Knights of the Teutonick Order possess a great part of Prusia and the Emperour or grand Knez of the Muscovites a great part of Russia but as for Lithuania hee injoyeth it intirely and hath reason to stile himself Grand Duke thereof in regard it is a Dutchy of a very large extent In the Sea the great Fishes devour the smaller In the Heavens the appearance of the Sun Eclipseth the Stars and in the World the strongest States swallow the weaker Divers Dukes of Lithuania were chosen by the Polonians to be their King by which means the Lithuanians having reigned in Polonia made Polonia reigne in Lithuania For from the time of Iagellon as yet an Idolater who beeing turned Christian received in Baptism the Name of Vladislaüs and married the Daughter of Lewis King of Hungaria and Polonia that Crown continued for many successions in the Family of the Jagellons untill the reign of Sigismond Augustus in whose time happened the event which I now relate All which by their birth rights beeing Dukes of Lithuania were elevated by Election to the Royall Throne of Polonia And although they joyntly held those two Sovereignties yet they were distinct and might bee separated Not that the Polonians omitted any indeavours to unite that Country to their State and add that pretious Pearl to their Diadem but the Lithuanians powerfully opposed them And this was their Reason There is no Nation nor Province so petty but the People would bee glad to have a Prince of their own Land though in this they know not what they ask For beeing received for a Maxime by the sagest Politicians that little Principalities are great Tyrannies and that a Soveraignty is the more just the greater it is Who see 's not that the pettiest Princes striving to imitate great Monarchs in their Pompous Trains and Magnificence to maintain that state are inforced to oppress their Subjects with extraordinary impositions Nevertheless the Lithuanians sick of this popular error desiring alwayes a particular Duke would never consent to an union with the Polonians Insomuch that during all the forementioned successions very few years passed without some insurrection and revolting in Lithuania to keep in breath the valour of the Polonian Gentry And at the same time Liante took this resolution to perish in the Wars the Palatines of Troc and Minsca beeing returned mal-content from the Court made a League offensive and defensive against the Polonians and hooked into their Confederacy besides those of Kiovia and Polocia divers Castellains of other Palatinates in a word the rising was in a manner universall through all Lithuania Liante had no sooner made his addresses to the Palatines of Troc and Minsoe chief instruments of this Commotion but hee was received by them with respects answerable to his Birth the Palatine of Minsce protesting that hee had alwayes made profession of a singular friendship to his Father They were presently Cozens and Liante intrusted with places of great command before hee had passed through the Military Discipline and Obedience Like Themistocles banished hee blessed his misfortune seeing himself raised on a sodain to those honours which hee so vehemently ambitioned Hee troubled not his thoughts to penetrate into the depth of the Cause it suffised him that hee had met with an employment wherein by the effects of his valor he might make appear the Greatness of his Courage Iphigenes beeing certified of Liante's beeing among the Rebells although his Love pleaded an excuse for the other's Despair could not comprehend how that generous Soul should fix upon that resolution of taking Arms against his Sovereign which hee held the unworthiest action any Gentleman well-born could bee guilty of For in effect the Sun-beams are not more inseparably concomitant of Titan's luster than the Nobility ought to bee of Royalty Mieslas had no sooner settled the private affairs of his Family with those which concerned his Publick Charge and remitted Modestina to the guard of his Wife Aretuza but upon a Summons from the King hee repaired speedily to the Court giving order that his Daughter Glemencia should bee brought shortly after him whom hee placed at her arrivall among the Queen's Maids of Honour The Lord Castellain of Cracovia who is above all the Palatines of that Kingdom and one of the principall persons of State was made Generall of the King's Army and Mieslas Lieut. Generall The Princess Rospicia lest her Iphigenes should bee diverted by the Functions of War from answering her pretensions after shee had obtained his Dispensation dealt so with the Queen by the intercession of some Ladies neer her person and her own perswasions that shee resolved to intreat the King to repeale the beautifull Palatine from his exile whereunto after some consideration hee condescended beeing informed besides that hee beeing much afflicted at his so long absence from Count was determined to seek a glorious Death in the Bed of Honour rather than train so obscure and discontented a Life And beeing overcome by the Ladie 's importunities hee dispatched a Messenger to him with Letters so favourable and full of such charms as had been capable not onely of drawing Diana out of the Woods but the Moon out of her Sphear But this kinde invitation which would have ravished Iphigenes with joy could hee have injoyed Liante's company without him seemed inconsiderable and irksome Therefore hee forthwith returned an answer full of respect and humility to the King with no less expressions of the Greatness and Gallantry of his Courage in these Words IPHIGENES Letter to the KING Most Gracious SOVEREIGN I Should esteem my self unworthy not onely of so many Favours which render mee your Creature but also of beholding the Sun who is the image of your Bounty as you are that of God if Fortune now presenting an occasion to make appear the devotion of my Heart to your Service and the zeal of my fidelity I should plunge my self in the Delights of your Court whilest others are mounted in the field
and rendered him all the indeering Offices that could bee expected from a tender Father His Table Horses Attendants and his Purse hee might command with as much freedom as himself So that Liante feeling his generous heart o're-charged with so many Obligations meditated nothing more then Olavius service and how best to comply with his disposition that hee might see hee had not sowed his favours on an ingratefull Soil This Palatine of Minsce had a Son whose tender youth might have excused him from the use of Arms had not his high Courage invited him to Martiall exercises for the defence of his Father's Fortune then ingaged in the Party of the Revolters Him Olavius commanded to render so many and such respectfull devoirs to Liante that at length those Courtesies which would have won the most untractable of Spirits absolutely charmed our gallant stranger's noble Heart and laid the foundation of an inviolable friendship betwixt them Already the desire of dying was half quench't in Liante's Minde and the Ambition of living to establish his Fortune and serve Amiclea so was Olavius yonger Daughter named wholly possessed his thoughts And through the dore of this Love entred another ray of Glory tickling his aspiring Heart which inflamed him with a desire of conquering that Michol by the death of many of her enemies Whilest hee consumed in this ambitious impatience to signalize his valour by some honorable Combat Oloria Olavius eldest Daughter suffered a no less torment but of a contrary quality For her Eyes having fed too greedily their sight with the delicacies of Liante's Countenance that sweet Idea slipt into her Soul and there ingraved it self with so deep an incision that it was beyond her power to efface it Besides this inclination which shee dissembled as much as possibly shee could by the priviledge and innate Modesty of her Sex when shee had an inkling from her Mother to whom Olavius had communicated his designe that they intended to marry her to Liante you may imagine with what joy her Heart was dilated Upon this assurance shee let her thoughts take Wing and restreined her desires with the less caution because the end of her pretensions was honourable and lawfull and passing somewhat beyond those Limits of Discretion and Modesty which a fervent Love is easily perswaded to exceed shee prevented his Courting of Her with extraordinary caresses which made his Heart recoile as fast as shee advanced According to the generall custome among Men who never eagerly pursue any but such as flie them and contemn those that meet or follow them And it is likewise the Order of Nature and Civility that Ladies should make themselves bee served and observed untill of Soveraigns Marriage tendereth them Subjects Those that do otherwise have found the direct means to make themselves the Fable and laughing-stock of all that see and know them But to what extremities doth not that Passion which blind's the discreetest Eyes reduce the firmest and most resolute Souls Liante who acknowledged himself highly obliged to her Father for his favourable treatment and her Brother for his Courteous respects could hardly constrein his humour from letting her understand that those affected attractions and too fond indearments were not pleasing to him Shee used all the Plots her Passion could invent to accost him but hee shunned her incounter by such studied evasions that they seemed rather to proceed from the casualty of occurrences than any subtilty of his This cast the poor Oloria into perplexities beyond expression and inflamed her desire to excesses unimaginable And as if Liante had premeditated to consume that passionate admirer of his perfections the more shee importuned him with her unwelcome kindnesses the more hee addressed his Courtships to Amiclea whom though hee feined to love onely for divertisement her Image was imprinted in the Center of his Heart Which possessed Oloria with so devouring an Envy that it deprived her Soul of all sort of contentment and repose I might style that torment of her's Jealousie if shee had ever communicated her affection to Liante and hee given her any hope of reciprocating her flames but no such correspondence having past between them me-think's the name of Envy doth better represent her pain understanding but too well by the faithfull report of her Looking-glass the advantages Nature had bestowed on her Sister above her and seeing Amiclea preferr'd before her by him whose senses shee desired to captivate and render susceptible of her resentments Prudence and Decency permitted not Olavius to break the Ice and offer his Daughter to Liante lest that might give him occasion to think that hee intended to sell his favours to him and press him with a bond which ought to tie none but those that are willing Polemander so was Olavius Son named who would have been very glad to have had him for a Brother-in-law that already professed to bee his friend desired nothing so eagerly as to see Liante's Eyes turned towards his Sister Oloria But what Gins and Netts soever the Fowlers use the Birds doe not alwayes light where they could wish Thus Liante was esteemed by her whom hee neglected and adored her who had not yet Judgement to discerne his Desert nor recompence his Love In this condition to divert the cares which disturbed his thoughts by the importunity of the one and the insensibility of the other there beeing every day occasion of action hee watcht for some opportunity of rendering himself remarkeable by his valour Few dayes passed without some desperate Sallies Skermishes Assaults or Surprisalls wherein Liante was continually one of the forwardest to charge ad last in the retreat And divers single Combats were fought betwixt particular Gentlemen wherein the besieged were sometimes Conquerours sometimes conquered according to the chance of Armes Liante intended to challenge Mieslas and take an honourable Revenge of the unworthy outrages which hee had received from his Barbarisme but Olavius who tendered his preservation as his own Son 's advised him first to make his triall upon some other lest undertaking a Combat with too much unadvisedness hee should not come off with his Honour At length having obtained leave not without much perswasion of the chief Commanders hee put on a suit of black Armour imbellished in the extremities of the Joints with fillets of Gold and having chosen in the Palatine's stable an Horse of the same colour caparison'd with black Velvet inriched with a golden Purle and all his furniture of the like trimming hee sent a Trumpeter forth to invite any Gentleman of the Royall Army to break a Lance and unsheath his Cimeterre in favour of the Lady whom hee chiefly honoured Upon this invitation appeared in the Field mounted on a stately Steed more white than the newly fallen Snow a Knight of an admirable presence covered from the Head to the Knees with an Armour of refined Silver so curiously wrought that the value of the Mettle though pure and precious was surmounted by the rarity of
would please to demand for a Dowry Liante well contented with those triumphs and trophies which they erected to a Victory that cost him so little perceived thereby how vain the judgement of the World is and that as punishments are not alwayes inflicted on the most wicked persons but the least fortunate So Glory was an infamous Courtisan which cast herself not alwayes into the Arms of the most valiant but most successefull And to incite Olavius the more to press him to accept a Present which hee so passionately desired with an artificiall modesty hee pretended that he was unworthy of so much favour beeing at that time a distressed Gentleman banished from his Country and dismantled of all his Estate by an injust Confiscation Whereupon Olavius falling of himself into the Nets replied That the restitution of his inheritance would bee the least part of the brave Prisoner's ransom wherewith hee had inriched their City and that hee ought not to stick upon that consideration in regard hee had alwayes respected him more for his Vertues than his Fortune esteeming it more advantage for his Daughter to have a Man that wanted means than means that wanted a Man But Liante demanding time to deliberate more at leisure upon that business desired him to thinke of treating Iphigenes with such Civility that hee might have just occasion to commend rather than complain of Lithuania Which was performed in such honourable manner that if the gallant Iphigenes had been Governour and Master of that rebellious City hee could not have received greater respect Hee had no other Prison than his own Parolle Liante rendering himself pledge for his fidelity Since the beginning of the Siege the two Palatines of Troc and Minsce had secured their Wives Children and what they had of most considerable value in the Castle as the place of greatest safety there Liante likewise had his Quarters neer which they conducted Iphigenes into a Chamber so richly furnished that in the King's Pallace hee could not have been lodged more splendidly Good Cheer was no more wanting than all sorts of Games and honourable divertisements The company of Ladies was his ordinary attendance For they had no sooner tasted the inevitable charms of his conversation but they became more licourish and greedy of it than Bees are of Flowers or their Hony-combs If that beautifull Face which shewed to Mortalls the image of the Angells had infected with it's pleasing Poyson the Court-Ladie's hearts imagine you how those of Lithuania could be exempted from that delicious contagion you would have said that this new Sinon had been come to bring the Grecian fire to reduce that Ilion to ashes and that beeing a prisoner in Body his design was to inthrall and torture all their Mindes For that agreeable venim which is swallowed by the Eyes according to the variety of Spirits conveyed into their hearts such secret flames and those flames caused such torments that hee seem'd to have the same destiny as Sejanus Horse who put all places in disorder where hee was received Bogdales had a Wife so advanced in years that the blood of her veines which ought by the course of Nature to have been Icie seem'd exempted by the benefite of her Age from those ardours which are onely excusable in youth with her was retired into that Castle a Daughter which Hee had married to a gallant Nobleman of Lithuania who not delighting to bee inclosed within the walls of that besleged City kept a flying Army in the Field accompanied by the Palatine of Trod's Son his Brother-in-law His merit was sufficient to have made all the Affections of his Wife terminate in his Person but the Perfections of the beautifull Prisoner so perverted her Reason that as the Primum Mobile by a violent motion drawe's all the other sphears after it shee could not hinder her Heart from following her Eyes whose too inconsiderate looks betrayed the licentiousness of her thoughts So that the Mother and the Daughter were both taken in the same snare at once Neither could Olavius Wife as wise and reserved as shee was withhold the motions of her Minde from Dancing the same brawle And as if that rare Object had been formed on purpose to ruine the constancy of the most continent few saw him without taking pleasure to behold him and few beheld him without strange allarms and agitations of Spirit That fire must bee very fierce which presently take's in green Wood. Amiclea who never yet felt any resentments for Liante that deserved the mentioning was presently all inflamed with that Feaver whose fits are so agreeable that those who resent their Heats and Colds fear nothing more than to bee cured of that Disease On a sodain of ignorant shee became knowing in the Art of Love judging by the pains which shee indured that which shee had caused to Liante's Heart Oh Liante you will bee henceforwards but a difformed Esau this white Jacob will supplant you and you will see the ruine of your pretensions arise from the same ground whence you expected your establishment Onely the poor Oloria remained constant in her affection to him who despised her For her Soul beeing filled with the Idea of that first Object was insusceptible of any other impression If Iphigenes had been a Man what vanity would he have conceived in his thoughts seeing himself the blank of so many desires But beeing such as Nature had created him those Roses were to him but Thorns and those Adorations Importunities To relate the distemper which these new Passions bred in those weak Brains I dare not undertake much less to express the confusions that imbroyled their thoughts For Love Envy Despair Jealousie Shame Desire were as many Worms or rather Vultures that gnawed continually their Brests Even the Men that were too attentive in the contemplation of that Angelicall Face had not their minds free from disturbance For believing him a Man they wished him of the other Sex that they might in some kinde settle their complacency on his perfections And the Ladies who thought him not a Woman esteemed themselves as happy to have amongst them that beautifull Prisoner to whom they were all slaves as the Trojan youths were to injoy that samous Beauty of Greece within their walls Oh Iphigenes as those who cast artificiall Fire-balls are burn't oft-times themselves So among so many storms which thou excitest thou art not without some agitation With what Pencill shall I delineate the division of those Spirits The old Ladies were ready to die with Despair and Shame to see themselves in an Age which according to the Lawes of Nature protected them from the Tyranny of that little Boutte-feu which inflames Heaven and Earth become Subjects to unjust and infamous Desires whose sweet cruelty was more redoubtable to them than the pangs of Death and bee afflicted with a languishing Pain that could expect no other remedy than the Grave Bogdale's Daughter a Lady full of Honour and who would assoon have cast herself
into a Fire as violated the Faith shee owed her Husband felt her Heart however in spight of her resistance tickled with that gentle Flame which so many persons cherish and so few extinguish But to apply the remedy of the least Word was a thing whereunto shee would less condescend than indure the severest of Torments Mean time the ardour of her Desires like that in Furnaces redoubled it's violence beeing inclosed and having no place for evaporation As for Amiclea though shee began to have age enough to discern shee had not enough to dissemble sufficiently her Resentments For a first love is like new Wine which burst's the Vessell if it hath not vent VVhilst for Liante her mind was less agitated it was easie for her to contein herself But a vehement and extraordinary Passion is not so easily concealed which made her above all the rest give evident demonstrations of her flame VVhich was very excusable in her For besides the glory of captiving so gallant a Spirit and possessing so accomplished a Body what Soul is so stupid as not to bee pricked with the spur of ambition seeing a Noble person illustrated with such eminent Dignities and accompanied with Riches that had no limits since they were founded upon the favour of one of the greatest Kings of Europe Besides the common desire of all young Gentlewomen to bee highly and richly married and render themselves agreeable and admirable to all Eyes In summe Iphigenes was the Object of all those Ladies Esteem and of their attendants as they were the Butts of his Contempt But as they accounted themselves honoured with his company so and conceived himself importuned by their's At length Oloria as well as the rest if not in effect at least in appearance seemed to be intrapped in his Snares For whether out of a desire to bee revenged of Liante's scorns or which is more probable to reduce him to her affections by the sting of Jealousie shee feigned at first to love Iphigenes and stuck not to give him severall manifest proofs of her inclinations But by little and little shee ingaged herself so far that her Counterfeiting became a Reality VVhich made her fall from bad to worse and in stead of a Body run after a shadow which fled from her For if shee had been so unfortunate as not to bee able to cast any bait before Liante's Heart that might oblige him to set any value upon her Affection judge you how that train could take in Iphigenes Bosome who was so little capable not onely of satisfying her desires but of having any inclination for her Thus our lovely Prisoner the Rock and stumbling block of their thoughts was innocently culpable of all their pains But hee had more intricate troubles to quell in his own brest without imbroyling himself in their follies For hee was not like the Sun which warmeth all things else not having any degree of heat within himself If hee bred torments in their Minds hee suffered pennance for that guilt in his own VVith what countenance in your Opinion could hee behold the submissions and devoirs wherewith the passionate Liante besieged the Heart of the disdainfull Amiclea what despight possessed him to see the Pride of that scornfull Rivall who robbed him of that which hee esteemed most pretious the affection of Liante and this without any other advantage than that of her habit If you had seen him at any time contemplating his excellent Features in a Looking-glass you would have said that hee had been making a strict inquiry in that Chrystall concerning the Victory which his Beauty in the Full gave him over the Cressant of Amiclea's Nothing remained in his opinion but to unseel Liante's Eyes and let him understand his condition to make him quit the Passions and Pretentions hee had for that unpolisht Diamond But this was the main difficulty which bred a disturbance in his thoughts no less dolorous than the throes of a Woman who desiring to conceale her labour dare's not cry out in her greatest extremity Poor Iphigenes who shall deliver thee of these mortall anguishes An antient Historian make 's mention of a Souldier who despairing of his Life by reason of an intestine Pain which tormented him casting himself into the hottest of the Battle to purchase an honourable Death received a thrust with a Sword through the Body which broke an Impostume within and was so favourable to him that hee found health where hee expected Death Oh how desirable were that stroak with the Tongue that would make Liante understand what the Pudicity of Iphigenes forced him to conceale with so much prejudice to his own contentment Sometimes hee resolved to write and employ to that Office the whiteness of Paper which is incapable of blushing But representing to his more serious consideration the divers inconveniences that might proceed from committing that secret to a Letter and it's weakness in comparison of the force of words pronounced Viva voce in like occurrences hee changed that Resolution And then as if hee would premeditate the Speech of his manifestation the disorder of his thoughts stifled the words in his mouth and reduced him to the tearms of induring the obscure Death of Silence rather than prolong his Life by a Discourse which in his own judgement hee should never have the confidence to utter Oh sacred Bashfulness a quality inseparable to all well borne Souls how thou paintest with different colours the Faces of such as are subject to thy allarmes Those wherewith the agreeable Aurora imbellisheth every morn the Horizontall Line appear not with more variety Is it possible that Iphigenes wit so full of subtility and whose quaint inventions were so esteemed at Court should remain sterile in this occurrence when the most important affaire that ever hee managed in all his Life was in agitation In summe wee must conclude what valour soever wee admire in him there was yet some dram of the weakness of his Sex which hath the property of beeing extream subtile in matters of small consequence but little capable of great enterprises Dispatch brave Iphigenes and quickly ravish Liante's Heart by a free Declaration this Pill is somewhat bitter this Draught unpleasant to the taste But it must bee swallowed for his good as well as your's You possess such great advantages in all respects above your Rivall that you shall onely need to unveile your self to cover her with darkness or do her the same affront as the Sun's arrivall doth to the Heaven's meaner Lights Let but Liante know what you are and Farewell all Amiclea's farewell Rebellion and all the pretensions hee hath in Lithuania After many such debates within himself at last hee was resolved nothing was wanting but a fit opportunity to reveal this grand Mystery But whether the Jealousie of those Ladies that besieged him or whether the Palatines had commanded them to let Iphigenes have the least private Conference that might bee with Liante lest they should plot some conspiracy it
Oyl go out So Fortunes that are too vast commonly come to nothing That queasy stomacks ought not to bee overcharg'd with Meat nor weak-braines with much Wine That the Fabrick ought to bee proportionable to the Foundation lest it should fall to the ground by it's own weight That this were to set a Statue of Gold and Silver upon a Pedestall of Clay and expose him to the fury of all the Grandee's jealousies in stead of sheltering him from their rages And for his last Reason hee reserved his Marriage with Modestina after which hee having concluded with the humblest supplications and the most indearing Conjurations hee could invent to turn away that tempest from him The King answered gravely in these words That all his Reasons were full of Humility Modesty Fidelity and Prudence but yet they ought to submit to his Command That such was his Will which hee could not resist without Crime That it was the Propriety of Kings and the greatest point of their resemblance to God to raise the poor out of the Mud and place them among the Princes and most considerable Persons of their Kingdoms Otherwise the Little ones would never become Great and the wheele of Fortune would remain without motion That Vertues were more desirable and estimable than Birth and since they made the first Nobility and that by them in the beginning of Monarchies were seated upon Thrones those that had most merit it was but reasonable to prefer them before Scepters and Diadems That his Sister's minde was but too well known to him who besides that shee was ready to submit in all things to his Will had a particular inclination to him which made her desire that Marriage That in stead of beeing abased shee would esteem her self exalted and in stead of losing her glory by that alliance shee would communicate her splendour to him That had it been in his Power to have given him a part of his Kingdome hee would have done it as a testimony of his affection and gratitude But having no Crown more illustrious than that of his Blood hee had determined to give him the Infanta Florimunda with means sufficient to maintain so honourable a Consanguinity That this Match in stead of exposing to would exempt him from the Malice of his Enviers by the same reason as the Stars are exempted from Eclipses by their elevation and distance from the Earth That during his Reign hee ought not to fear any retrogradation or Declining of Fortune in regard Hee was a Prince that did not take pleasure in destroying his own Creatures besides the assurance his opinion gave him that Iphigenes by the Prudence of his conduct would give his Sovereign no such occasion That Hee would so establish him that after his decease no power of Polonia should bee able to diminish his Grandeurs As for his Marriage with Modestina hee replied that it was declared void by a Breviat sent from Rome to the Arch bishop of Gnesna to be notified in publick which having been procured by the Princess Respicia should serve for the Infanta Florimunda The King ended his Speech with Such is our absolute WILL and PROPER MOTION which are tearms so sovereign and sacred that the Oath of the fabulous Deities by the River Styx was not more inviolable The Queen added hereunto her perswasions mingled with intreaties such certain testimonies of the Infanta's affection to Iphigenes that it plainly appeared to proceed as much from the Princesse's own solliciting as their Majesties deliberation Insomuch that the fair Palatine was inforced to yeild to so many sweetly imperious violences and receive with acknowledgements full of modest bashfulness what hee could not refuse without highly offending their Majesties and irritating the Infanta beyond hope of Pardon Neither had hee been so indiscreet if Nature had not opposed to that eminent Fortune the obstacles you already know Which hee was even ready to declare to the King and Queen But considering that shee how great soever in Dignity was yet of that Sex to which Prudence forbid's the revealing of any secret without deliberation hee forbore reserving that manifestation to the King only whose authority and advise hee intended to implore for the effecting of his intentions The Queen was no sooner gone forth but shee met the Infanta who was as impatient to know the result of their Mediation as the other was to tell her it whereof Florimunda conceived such joy as cannot bee comprehended but by a full-ripe Virgin who receive's an assurance of marrying him whom shee love's with passion After the Queen's departure lest the rumour of his marriage with the Infanta should bee noised about the Court Iphigenes judged it requisite to squeeze the Scorpion upon the wound and apply speedily the remedy to that growing mischief So having beseeched the King to give him a private Audience wherein hee promised to discover the most marvellous History hee ever yet had heard Hee related him that of his Birth Sex Education Elevation Progress Fortune and unparalel'd affection to Liante in summe hee concealed nothing from his Master of all the remarkable passages expressed in this Narration and at the close of his recitall casting himself at his feet imbracing and kissing them and washing them with his tears hee humbly besought His Majesty to look on him as his poor and unworthy Creature and dispose of his Fortune according to his good pleasure The King's astonishment at this strange Story can less bee described than a flash of Lightning or the Sun shine bee represented in painting His admiration was such that hee remained a long while without beeing able to speak but with his Eyes which were fixt with much amiableness upon Iphigenes This first assault wanted not much of converting his Amitre into Amorousness and making his Favorite become not his Master but his Mistris Yet His Majestic's old Age which invited him to Temperance his singular affection to the Queen who reigned over his Heart by her Vertues as much as hee ovâ—◠〈◊〉 Subjects by his authority the Fear hee had of resuscitating her Jealousie and making her believe as truths her former suspicions together with the long practise and deep rooting his Soul had taken in Piety and Moderation suppressed the impetuosity of his desires But nothing bridled him more powerfully than the extraordinary Modesty hee had alwayes observed in Iphigenes knowing that to bee a Rock against which all unjust pretentions would suffer Shipwrack Besides reading at that same instant in that lovely Face such chaste Characters and so severe a sweetness as stifled in their Birth all licentious imaginations In this occurrence it would bee an injustice to conceale the due praises of that Prince who made a Buckler of vertue against the weapons which Love hidden within Iphigenes Eyes treacherously darted against his Heart But to deny that the affection which rendered Iphigenes his Favorite was much increased by the discovery of his condition cannot bee without taking from so vertuous a