it out well But he was so sick the ninth that his Physicians began to despiar of his recovery and he afterwards for many dayes laboured under pains which rendred his life a burthen to him and which though Carmelia entirely loved Alcidor infected her with so much trouble that not he whom she loved so much could with all his consolatory endeavours put astop to her tears In this his condition Felisbea took a just and a kind Sister's part but not so much as that uncommon tenderness which she had alwayes for him would have prompted her to have taken had her mind been at liberty but it was called off from sympathizing with Clidantus by being continually taken up in admireing Alcidor After she had admired him a while she grew big with Love of him and then restlesly solicitous that he should have answerable respects for her So much he saw by besides other deports the sighs and languishing regards which upon all his motions she sent after him But his inclinations carrying his heart with too rappid a current to Carmelia to suffer him to think of Felisbea as she desired he dessembled his understanding of what he saw and whatever contrivances she used as she used several to make him know her mind and conform to it he carried himself as if he was wholly ignorant of their meaning This added very much to her anxiety and he who was the occasion of it was enough convinced that he was so but made shew of believeing that it was all upon the account of her Brother When therefore she had sufficiently wearied her self with sighing for him who would not rightly interest himself in it She perswaded her self that it was requisite without any thing of disguise to lay her heart open before him and she had presently made her own mouth her agent and Interpreter of it to him had not that great portion which she had of honor and Sageness restrained her from it It was not with a wanton Eye that she looked upon him the mark at which she aimed was Marriage that which he never yet shot at and full of Vertue as she was she would rather have hugged death than have harbored a thought unworthy of it But yet withall her desires of haveing him for her Husband had too much Fire in them to be kept from venting themselves to him and seeking to have the Fuel of â—his kindness to feed upon Screwed up by their urgencies to a confidence far above her temper she took the first opportunity of being with him and as she was going from him without his percieveing her let drop at his feet a Paper which his Eye quickly lighting upon it and his curiosity prompting him to take it up and peruse it â—he found to have these breif contents Alcidor's qualities are all ravishing and unless one be Marble one cannot consider him without being wounded for him If he is not sensible of this he is not accquainted with himself his only fault is that he hath an aversion to Marriage which the affections of others and his own Merit and Interests demand of him He was at no pains to know whose this note was he was too well accquainted with the mind and hand of Felisbea not to be certain that it was hers He was therefore not a little perplext how he should carry himself towards her but at length he resolved to coverse with her as formerly without taking any notice to her of the writing but shunning all occasions that might bring him into a particular engagement with her Going in this mind to her Brothers Chamber where he knew she was he was no sooner in her Eye but she was all dyed with blushes and lost in shame Observing which Emotion he made no shew that he observed it but after he had askt Clindatus how he did entred into a discourse with him and his Lady She having by that means leisure of recollecting herself after a few minutes came and sat upon the Bed-side by him listning to his words as to harmonious Oracles and considering his person and fashion as something more than humane They had not sat above a quarter of an hour but there entred visiters to the sick Man to let whom come up to him Alcidor and Felisbea drew back and fell into a conversation by themselves At the instant the clouds of Felisbea's homor dispersed and she grew more gay than usually encouraged by an expectation that Alcidor would entertain her about her Paper But this was far from his intentions and he only entertained himself with her about her Brother and the company that was come in in which terms they were when Clidantus called him to him to take part in a discourse of rallery which a Lady of very good Ingenij had begun with design of diverting him Divided from Alcidor and disappointed of her hopes Felisbea withdrew in distraction to her Chamber where having wept a floud she broke out into such Language as this No No Felisbea it is in vain that thou strivest to captivate this heard-hearted insensible Man Canst thou any longer question that he slights thee Comest thou not from having too experimentall a proof of it If he made never so little reckoning of thee would he treat thee with so much cold indifferency If thy Note which thou sawest him take up had pleased him would he have been kept from speaking of it to thee would he have made shew of knowing nothing of it He took it and read it but not liking what he read he would feign himself ignorant of what he too well knows It is a folly for thee think to make him thine he is too much Astasia's and her attractions hold too absolute a Monarchy over him to let him be any other Womans While Felisbea was in such terms with herself Clorangius entred her Chamber with the Message that he came to fetch her to her Mother who it was feared was dying a Message which made the tears trickle down her cheeks afresh but that as much for sorrow that she must leave Alcidor as though she loved Dolinda as she was in duty bound out of a sence that she was in danger of loosing her Alcidor was indeed grown an inseparable requisite to her satisfaction she therefore deferred her journey as long as she could but at last with wet eyes and troubled heart bad adieu to him Clidantus and Carmelia If she was extreamly discontented at her going away Alcidor was as glad of it considering that as long as she had stayed he could never have come near Carmelia without finding her with her and the same day that she went taking the advantage of her absence he and Carmelia while Clidantus slept walkt into a little wood private and thick which joyned to the Garden of their House Here haveing seated themselves as conveniently as they could upon the Mossy root of a well spread Oak and haveing no more dangerous witnesses to fear than the Birds and trees they entred into a mutually
a great fire should lye so long under its cinders without appearing more or less It would therefore be a great vanity in thee to perswade thyself there is any such in his breast for the. The Princess Florisa indeed hath too much empire in her attractions to suffer him to subject himself to any other While Astasia was discoursing thus with herselfe about Alcidor he was at the same time resolving with himselft to declare to her his passion and considering that he had not liberty to do it by word of mouth by reason that Certafilan had eyes and eares every where to watch her he concluded to make a letter his proxie Accordingly he without any farther demurre drew his thoughts on paper sealed it up and made himself his messenger to carry it to her He found her in her Sister Feonice's Chamber she being newly come in to it out of her closet where she had been some while shut up bemoaning her self but Certafilan followed him in at the heels and when they could have wisht him in the remotest part of the world debarred them by his Company from having any particular society He kept his eyes such strict sentinells upon them both that they could hardly steal a few glances one of another much less could they entertain one another as they desired But after a while as if on purpose to dress a party against him Feonice set upon him with so hot a charge for his untowardness to her Sister that he could intend nothing but how to defend himself against her Observing which opportunity Alcidor offerd his letter to the hand of Astasia and she civilly receiving it slipt it into her pocket Feonice still held Certafilan to task with her remonstrances of his fault and she was so earnest in them and thought them so equitable that though Astasia made frequent signes to her to desist she would not be taken off till the Criminall having spent all the weak excuses which he could forge said nothing more but what made her hope he intended to be better for the future though as it afterwards appeared he at the same time resolved to be worse with a very skillfull dissimulation laying a constraint upon his humor to hide his design Hardly had Feonice sat down from her action but Polianis came into the Chamber whereupon Certafilan fearing a severe reprehension from him also made hast away nor was he stopt by the King who had at that time other thoughts in his mind Certafilan gone his Lady pretending herself not well withdrew into her Chamber Alcidor offerd to lead her but she civilly refused it and he prest it not guessing she went to read what he had given her And he guest right for having walkt three or four turnes in her Chamber among her women she went into her Closet and having shut herself in opened the letter and read in it these contents Alcidor to Astasia I Have sighed so long for what you suffer and with what I suffer my self that I can no longer conceale it from you I have had a far deeper sense of your troubles than if I had endured them myself And it is not meerly a compassionate temper that hath bred this sense in me but a passionate Love I contracted this Love at the first sight of you it hath ever since increast by degrees and it is now grown of too large a dimension and violence to bee kept hid Punish not my temerity since your own beauty is the parent of it but have some pitty for me who have so much for you that I shall with triumph sacrifice my life to draw you from the tyranny under which you groan Having read this letter many times over and every time with more satisfaction than other her husbands humor began to be alltogether indifferent to her and for Alcidor she reckoned she could do no less than draw a kinde answer to him and she drew this Astasia to Alcidor MY condition is such as permitts me not to slight either the sympathy that you pretend with me or the succour that you offer me the one may blunt the edge of my pressures the other may put an end to them I therefore with thankes accept of both But I do not withall desire that you should hazard your life in releeving me preserve it rather as carefully as you can that so I may reap that benefit by it that I stand in need of and beleive that reckoning myself in a good part happy by the friendship that you assure me of I shall esteem myself perfectly so when I shall have it in my power to evidence to you that I am from my heart your servant Having wrapt up these lines notwithstanding those that watch't her actions she ran with them to her Sisters Chamber where she knew the King and Alcidor still were The King when she reentred was in a particular conversation with that absolute Mistress of his heart and he went on in it Alcidor was at some distance veiwing pictures in which art had so dextrously imitated nature that things dead seemed alive and sensible but he quickly left them when he saw her appear who had reall life and sense accâ—mplisht above the imitation of art with wit beauty and goodness and taking the opportunity went and confirmed to her by words of his Letter She gave him for answer what she had written which having read ina corner where the King and Feonice could not see him he with a thred of gratefull respectfull and affectionate language tied her heart to him in a most fast knot She owning as much to him they proceeded to contract their affections one to the other with most solemne vowes of reality and constâ—ncy and in this strain they were when the King called Astasia to him and askt her if she would go along with Feonice to the waters To this your Majestyes desires returned she and my Sisters Company are of much more value to me than that I should be backward either to obey the one or follow the other provided that he to whose humor I am subject will grant me a licence Beleive me Astasia replied the King if that untoward man shall hereafter go about any thing against my will I shall limit him so that he shall not be able to act but by the rule of my pleasure There cannot indeed be found Sir said she againe to him an expedient more proper to still his tyranny than to oppose to it an august power as is that of your Majesty Certafilan surely inserted Alcidor will not be so rash as to resist his Prince who he knows reigns by justice and clemency together and when he shall find that injuring his Ladies vertue he enterprizes upon his soveraigne's authority that undertakes her protection I do not doubt but he will out of a sense of his equity and for fear of his anger make his suspicions die We will wait to see what he will do now said Polianis and if he does well I
Receive some comfort a midst my miseries by knowing that you are troubled for making me endure them but I cannot lose my sense of the barbarousness with which you have made me endure them It is against that you know that I have been constrained seeing what little respect you bore to the royall mansion to take sanctuary in a religious one Here having consulted spirits to whom my interests are very dear I am advised to pass some months to gain fresh strength with which to serve myself if you shall go about again to make me a sufferer and hence I shall then come and not till then when I shall be well assured that you will have no more designe of making me your slave who am your wife and of destroying me whom you ought to Cherish The prudent trustee of these lines carrying them first to the King then to him to whom they were directed with the scheme in which he represented to him all things concerning his Lady at the same time whetted his desires of recovering her company and workt him without any peevishness to submit to her determination of staying a while from him The King Certafilan carrying the Letter to him after he had read it the second time as if it had been the first seconded what Floras had said to him and by the comment which he made upon Astasia's text absolutely convinced him that for her to absent herself for a while from him was no more than what she owed to her innocence and to her repose and that for him after he had driven her away from him to force her to returne to him before she thought it convenient was to persist in his merciless persecution of her not to repent of it Notwithstanding this his fond appetite of having her again with him growing every houre more and more restlesly eager he was continually soliciting the King Feonice Floras and Alcidor to be the charitable authors of procuring and hastening it and the three former were serious in advancing what he sued for Alcidor also made shews of favouring it as much as any but having liberty where she was of seeing her every day without disturbance he clancularly set all the engines of his wit on work to keep her there and by his elusive arts he retarded her returne to Certafilan for a month without either the King knowing any thing of their amorous converses or Certafilan discovering so much as the scene where they were acted But at length the King making oath to that disconsolate and importunate husband that he would within eight dayes bring her back into his armes and sending her Sister to her to effect it he remonstrated first to himself and then to her that to keep the Kings favor to perserve her honor and happiness and dextrously to conduct the caball of their loves it was necessary she should rejoin herself with him to whom the Laws had tied her and whose remorses called her back to him To this his advise they having ratified their affections to one another with fresh and strong protestations of constancy and to her Sisters perswasions she resigned herself and they went together the next morning to Paquin Here she had not been many hours before word was sent of it to Certafilan but this notice withall that she would never more cohabit with him unless he would swear before the King Feonice Alcidor and Floras that he would never more abuse her To this he returning answer that he had not so wholly lost his reason as to refuse to redeem his happiness upon such easy and honourable tearmes an interveiw was orderd and effected and he before the wittnesses that she desired made Oath to to her that his carriage towards her for the time to come should be a perfect recantation of what was past and an unblotted Coppy of all the offices of love He having by these and other unquestionable testimonies of his reformation obliged her to be reconceiled to him and she having declared that she was willing to be so The King put her into his hands with a most binding exhortation to him to be as good as his word Which done and he having kist her with a kind of adoration before Polianis he carried her to a house which he had prepared for her reception and there the next day banqueted Feonice Alcidor and Floras with a most magnificent kindeness He in the sequcle of this never stirred from her but was continually paying her the respects not only of a fond husband but of a superstitious votary and after a while that he might enjoy her beloved society at quiet he with her consent carried her into the Countrey and there fettled their habitation This change of their abode is beleived to have put an end to the loves between Astasia and Alcidor in her absence another Lady taking possession of his heart but having of this no clear knowledge I choose to speak of it not at all rather than not sufficiently Melian having done reading and resigned the book and the Company having thankt Alcidor for the use of it Alcidor said Dorame would be yet more obliging if he would recount to us those his following loves which the writer sayes he was not well enough acquainted with You will it may be replied Alcidor when you have heard all name me a very inconstant man but there is nothing in the world besides your disaffection which I would not cheerfully undertake or undergo to satisfy you I am therefore ready to do that which you desire To this Dorame making no other answer but by disposing herself to an attention he succinctly related what had past between him and Carmelia what also between him and Felisbea carefully reserving whatsoever might seem to knock against the honor of either of them His narrative concluded you cannot think said Dorame to him that Felisbea died for any thing else but for your neglects and I cannot but wonder that her beauty being very taking her spirit accomplisht and her quality honourable you would not think of marrying her I acknowledge returned Alcidor to her that the birth and perfections of that young Lady were such as challenged for her a husband of a far higher forme than Alcidor but there are certain fatalities which rule the course of our lifes so that we act not but according to their prescriptions What was the cause of Felibea's death I know not but the reason why I was not in love with her without doubt was because my destiny reserved me to be in love with the incomparable Dorame It is for the love and service of you Madam continued he that I was born and that I am to live my passion for you is not of the number of those that are ruined by time and this I reckon I can vow before no persons better than before these your nearest relations and I vow it with so sincere an aâ—dor that I am ready to signe it with whatsoever there is that is dearest to me
know you are an excellent Artist of Rallery interrupted him Carmelia without being thus informed of it but remember that you in earnest wrong Astasia when you though only in jest use Courtship to any other Woman Let us speak no more of Astasia returned Alcidor for she is no more to be reckoned of the World having withdrawn and â—hut her self up in a Solitude for the remainder of her Life That so Conspicuous a Starre as Astasia said Carmelia again should of her own choise leave the clear and eminent Orb of the Court where her Sister also moves with most prevailing Splendors and Influences and for altogether betake herself to the obscure Station of a Rural Privacy is a story of much more Rarity and Wonder than that I should easily believe it did any other but your self tell me it I never spake any thing more true said Alcidor And I never heard any thing more strange said Carmelia more strange adjoyned she than that the Fair can live content in a separation from Alcidor who is looked upon as her Heart and Soul I know not said Alcidor what Immaginations thr World hath either of her or me but this I can faithfully assure you our Conversation was never but very innocent and unblameable and I conveighed her not away but with the King's Approbation I am not about returned Carmâ—lia to make an ill Judgment of her whom notwithstanding that her Husbands jealousie hath made more than a few of the Oppinion that you have had an absolute Power over her and governed her according to your Mind I have always believed to be entirely sage and to have steered her Conversation with an unreproachable Discretion Certafilan himself said Alcidor hath by the change of his Mind loudly confest the injustice of those suspicions which he had of her Vertue and their reconciliation makes it sufficiently appear that it was nothing but his undiserved mistrustfulness and headlong Frenzy which carried him to treat her so ill as he did and nothing but his treating her so ill that caused her to take that course that she did And indeed adjoyned Carmelia whatsoever ignorant or over Critical People may say I am altogether of the Mind that a Woman is very excuseable in doing what may be thought disrespectful to her Husband when he without any apparent reason but out of a Giddy Undiscerning Rashness or an Exceptious Peevish Disposition passeth a Contumelious Sentence upon her honesty Not but that I know that the greatest part of the Men of this Age are possest with the immagination that the more Fair a Woman is the less Chast she is as if Nature never formed a Person more than usually handsom but to be more than commonly Vitious This is said Alcidor one of the grossest abuses that a Mind can possibly be seduced with and I cannot think that any Man will leave himself to the surprize of it Who is not so much a Fool that he knows not how to distinguish between desert and default For what appearance does it carry of Truth that Organs well disposed in an Elegant Body should be subject to act less Vigorously in what is good than what is placed in a body of a meaner Fashion especially considering that they whose form challengeth a Veneration for them have far more Advantages and Encouragements to do well than they who being exposed to contempt by their outsides have little care taken of them and can procure little regard to be had either to their Persons or their Actions Of your Mind is my Husband said Carmelia and I have often heard him say that the more beautiful he saw a Woman the more he esteemed her Retained and sober I have howsoever Madam resumed Alcidor for a long time observed it to be true that there is scarce any evil that rageth with so wild a Violence that so hardly admits of a remedy and that produces such sad and dismal effects as does the poyson of jealousie especially when drunk in by a Man of Quallity and Stomach all Theatres are died with the Bloud of its Tragoedies To such a height of Fury indeed said Carmelia does this Malady use to carry him whom it possesses that rarely he can be cured but either by his own death or that of the Person at whom he takes offence But thanks to my kind Destiny I have a Husband of whom I have not the least fear that he should ever be infected with this so mischeivously fatal Plague We see much stranger things come to pass said Alcidor than that there should be some Vassal of your Beauty who should pay homage to it otherwise though Vertuously too than Clidantus should think convenient But should there be some such Man as what Husband can hinder another Man from honoring his Wife above all other Women and Clidantus should nor only take it ill but also interdict you his company What in that case would you resolve upon Not to see the Person that might be suspected by him answered Carmelia that so I might remove from him all argument of afflicting himself and me Would you then said Alcidor commit such an injustice as to slight them that honored you in favour of a distrustful quarrelsome Husband I could not be accused of any injustice or of any slighting in doing so replied Carmelia because I did it not but by constraint and out of necessary considerations of my Repose my Reputation and my Duty I should indeed reckon that it behoved me to put in practice all the expedients which I could have any hope would restore to a good temper him who was in so ill a one But if I found them all unavailable and that he would still persecute me notwithstanding all that I could do to oblige him to the contrary I would no longer make any Difficulty of seperating my self from him So Astasia said Alcidor cannot be in equity blamed for quitting Certafilan when she saw that by nothing that either she her self or others could either say or do he would be restrained from abusing her and if you at any time should do the like forct to it as she was your Vertue will appear not at all the less since reasonably one cannot dislike unfortunates for seeking to affranchize themselves from their pressures If I have spoken any thing to the disadvantage of Astasia said Carmelia you have cause to reprehend me for it but tell me I intreat you what cause you have to immagine that a wise Man as is Clidantus and that loves me with all his heart as he does should ever turn Fool as did Certafilan and by his unmerciful persecution of me should drive me to tread the same path that did Astasia As I have not Beauty nor other alectives so no beliefe that any Man can have such regards for me as that thence his fancy should have any thing of shaddow to vex it self about How in saying so Madam interrupted her Alcidor do you wrong heaven together with your self disowning the
abundant wealth of Graces which its goodness hath bestowed upon you But I must beg leave farther to tell you that as you are at a great distance lovely above others so you are very far above others beloved I am one that love you so and the chains which fetter my heart in this Affection are embodied into it and grown a much dearer part of it than that I should be willing to part with them for all the Freedom with which the World can tempt me You are come I see interrupted him Carmelia not so much to give me your Company as to make your self sport in jeering me It is surely no making my self sport nor jeering of you returned Alcidor to speak highly of that which every body that knows you prizes highly and tell you that I adore you as with a most Profound reverence I do I am come to wait upon you in your journey and withall to gain an opportunity of declaring to you that my passion which hath a great while been kept in by the awe in which I stand of you but which now breaks its way out by its own greatness and force If the discovery have any thing criminal in it inflict upon me what punishment you shall think fit I shall make no appeal from your sentence so long as I know that my Torment contents you Know then said Carmelia to what I condemn you It is to live with me as you have been wont without speaking to me of Love or Passion it being certain that you are either free from them or if their stroke hath reacht you it is by the vertue of Astasia's Merrit not of mine which I am conscious is too weak to take the meanest and most facile heart Prisoner much less is it able to subdue yours To these words Alcidor making answer first with most Eloquent sighs and silence then with most earnest and winning protestations that his heart was all an entire piece of Devotion to her and to none but her she changed her stile and told him that because she would put him to no more trouble she would endeavour to believe what he had said Encouraged with this concession he imprinted a flaming Kiss upon her hand which she not discountenancing he industrously pursued his point with other Galantryes and for his success evidently read it in her looks and silence that she was very well pleased with them but withall as much ashamed as pleased After she had sat a while without speaking a word to him or so much as looking him in the face seeing Paper with Pen and Ink upon the Table she took the Pen and wrote I Love and then he looking to to see what she wrote let drop the Pen and fell a sighing All which he took notice of and better understanding the advantage of the occasion than to let it slip he intreated her to set down the rest of her thought to which she answering that it was without design that that word came to hand He again so earnestly prest her to proceed telling her that she was too judicious to begin to write what she had no mind to finish and that the beginning was too good to remain imperfect that she resumed the Pen and compleated the Sentence in these termes I Love Alcidor if â—he be Discreet Having this short but acceptable line he broke out into straines of Joy Thanks and Love in which he who was at other times wont to excell others now Farre excelled himself To repart to them the Lady thought herself concerned to use such Language as this I confess it is not without Reason that every one esteems you Alcidor you have powerful means to render your self Master of hearts it is not now the first time that I knew it and since the Princess Florisa and the sweet Astasia hath been overcome by and been glad to yeild to those your Powers it cannot surely be ill thought of if I also am surprized by them If what therefore you have told me is true all my Life shall witness that what I have now written is certain I confess I love you but I withall expect that a vertuous retainedness should have the guidance of your carriage towards me and if otherwise you at any time prove so unsober as to desire of me things which my honor permits me not to give you assure your self you shall carry away nothing of ill intensions but a denial stamp with indignation for I love my Husband my Honesty and my Reputation better than to do anything that may prejudice any of them Your decree is juster Madam replied Alcidor than that I should in the least go against it and I am more effectually yours than to cease to be so by enterprises disagreeable to you Having stopt a little at those words I acknowledge Madam went he on that you may with equity defend me from aspiring to those Bliâ—ses which you have in your power to bestow but which are too great for the greatest and of which they who have most worth are unworthy yet let your charity allow as it unblameably may that upon this beautiful Mouth of Roses and this fair Bosom of Lillies together with these words he kist them both I protest before Love himself that I will hence forward have no other will but yours This on-set of Love gracefully conducted as it was Carmelia not having the Power to take it ill That I may not shew my self so severe said she in some confusion of affection and modesty as to deny you what I may honestly grant you I permit you this familiarity of Kisses provided they be innocent and free from impurity but this is the greatest personal kindness that you are to expect from me and that great enough to let you clearly see I love you to a high degree The priviledge Madam returned Alcidor is of a much Nobler value than that in the frution of it I should not own my self a most wealthy Man of happyness More he was going to say but Felisbea coming into the Chamber interrupted their converse and they had at that time no more opportunity of discourseing of any thing but the journey which they were about to make together They nevertheless exprest their hearts to one another by signs as Emphatical as words and having broken their Fasts and taken the Road they there also though that Sister of Clidantus not a little obstructed their deernesses frequently transmitted them by stealth to one another without being at all perceived by her Having nothing by the way that molested them and Alcidor all along holding discourses with which a very bad humour would have been diverted they got happily to their Journey 's end and therefore also the more happily because their arrival gave a very sensible mitigation to the illness of Clidantus he shewed himself more revived by the sight of them and particularly of Alcidor than it could be imagined his condition was capable of and during eight dayes after their comming he carried
brightest Personages appear to him but as glimmering Stars to the Sun in blaze and like a Miracle drew all eyes and affections after him But he who made all that saw him in love with him could not keep himself from being in love with another He saw shine a beauty which when he had examined Eyes Face Shape Aire Port all he could wish nothing either added to or taken from and which as the Sun puts out all lesser lights and fires extinguisht in his mind the glories not only of Florisa and Astasia but of Carmelia also and brought in the incomparable Dorame to rule there alone This young Widow who was issued of one of the best Houses of China appeared to him to have so much of divine in her that he without any scruple sacrificed to her his whole heart and that with a different devotion from what he had formerly paid at Femal shrines It seemed altogether unjust to him not to love her with a pure integrity and for all his life or in loveing her not to build upon Vertue not to aim at Marriage not to breath after better things than Voluptuous sensual enjoyment Become thus in a Moment of a Volatile Libertine a constant and faithful subject of Love before he made any discovery of his intentions he examined his own Birth Actions and Fortunes to see if these were advantages weighty enough to allow him hopes of gaining such a possession as was that which he had in his wishes and when indeed he well considered what he was it was impossible that the lustre of his own worth should cast his rayes about him without lighting him to see that he sufficiently merited what he had a mind to obtain Celebriously accomplisht as Dorame was would she from the time that her dear Clisidas expired have entertained proposals of a second Husband she might have had the same day of his Funerals to have been that also of her Nuptials More than a few of the higher rank sought her in Mariage and â—his her new Passionate was not ignorant of but there was no body whom he feared but her whom he loved and nothing that he cared for but to make her love him But before that he by any suites or declarations to her delivered his mind of that with which it was big he thought it best often to visit her and every time that he visited her as he found in her Wit Humour Fashion Form some new occasion of admiring her and of coveting her with impatience for his Wife so the generousness and sweetness of his disposition the equability and moderation of his temper the Elegancy and sublimeness of his Ingenij the gracefulness of his Person and carriage and the great Civility or rather Devotion of his respectfulness to her more and more nourisht and augmented that kind esteem which from her first knowledge of him she had conceived for him so that before it was long if she had at any time any thoughts of being re-married it was only to Alcidor that which would have made him account himself a most happy Man had he been acquainted with it but she very watchfully concealed it from him From these same frequent visits that he made to her and other observables of his actings though he had told his own soul only the zeal which he had of applying himself to her a servant of love people generally argued a probabilty of it his competitors in particular conceived so strong an opinion of it that they all superseded from waiting upon her some affraid of measuring Swords with him others knowing that they could not measure Deserts with him He would have been better contented that some of the most gallant of them should have continued firm in their pursuite that so they disputeing the prize with him his Victory or fall might have been the more illustrious But seeing them all forsake the lists of her service he one day took occasion to speak of it to her He having upon which subject said what he thought convenient It is my ill fortune returned she to him which will have them in the Series of my Conversation observe my want of Merit and then withdraw that they may loose no more time in remarking in me defects which oblige them to fly from me instead of following me And you Sir added she after you have known me a while will Judge it necessary to do the like What wayes one may invent cryed Alcidor interrupting her to reproach the greatest excellencies under Heaven The reasons why they quit you Madam continued he with a low respect is because they are sensible that the zeal with which I adore you is abundantly stronger purer and more faithful than theirs and therefore though it hath no Merit in it self yet in comparison with theirs deserves to be better received and recompens'd And imagine not for you will be unjust if you do so that I have so distemper'd a spirit as ever to imitate those extravagants who meet their shame in their inconstancy This discourse comming a little unexpectedly but very acceptably to her from him for whom she had more affection than ever she had for any her beloved Clicidas excepted In earnest Sir replied she presently you have a very ingenious art and you are very industrious in using it to make your self sport with those absents and with me and you would perswade me into a strange belief should I give up my self to hearken to you but as little discretion as I have I have so much as to understand your flatteries and to know what ear and credit I am to give them If Alcidor loves it is not Dorame that he loves he aspires to things more exalted and Princesses not such as I are the objects of his Vows I wish no more Madam replied Alcidor to her than that my satisfaction depended upon the truth of this that I think there is nothing humane to which I can aspire more exalted than your self and that is my next Religion under what I ow to Heaven to vow and pay to you all that Man can Vow and pay to Woman For Heaven knows that though I have stayed till now to tell you so from the first minute that I saw you my breast hath been nothing else but a region of fires which your beauties kindled and which burn to you with as fervent and clear a devotion as ever did those upon the Persian Altars to the bright Eye of the World It is too probable that you account it criminal in me to be a Candidate of those Felicities which Clisidas while he lived enjoyed but make what judgment of me and disposal you think good I shall never the more cease to pay homage to you and nevertheless endeavour to make good the quality of your servant Having many arguments to believe that these words had nothing of cozening paint or artifice in them but were the genuine dictates of his heart wholly given up to her Dorame stood still a while
taking the charge of carrying this Letter as that which he said would be a great contentment to him amidst the displeasures which he had for his Masters death and being gone away with it Dorame who had her mind no more diseased with the frightful fansies of the night rose from her bed and sat down with her company to dinner Risen from Table they went into the Gallery and there sometimes walking sometimes sitting spent two or three hours in discoursing about Alcidor and Cartagenes about the various traverses and effects of Love and at last about Cloriastes reviving their apprehensions concerning him that he might split himself against the same Rock that Cartagenes had After which Floris and Lucidas considering that it was time he was advised rather to be patient in missing than obstinate in attempting that which it was impossible for him ever to obtain and which to seek to obtain would in probability be fatall to his life and also that they had no more of day left than they should need to conveigh them whither they were to go they took congey of Dorame and her relations and went away Their backs being turned Dorame took her Uncle and Cousins into a private Chamber and having made them sit down and seated her self You know Cousin said she directing her speech to Vindorix that the arrival of Floris and Lucidas hindred you yesterday from carrying on the story of Alcidor in that part of it where without your help it will remain defective and that other impediments also have fallen in to day But now we are at leasure to enjoy this divertisement I intreate you therefore to favour us with it I am ready Madame replyed Vindorix to obey you and after a little pause began thus Alcidor having receaved the desires of Lucimon and Lisantus to put himself into Paquin the friendship which he and I had contracted suffered us not to part and though I was alltogether unworthy of that respect he would not enter the citty without my company The day of our entrance the five hundred horse which he brought with him and his presence together raysing and fortifying the fallen courages of those whom the conscience of their crimes had filld with the apprehensions of punishment we were wellcomed with so much honour he for his part that Lucimon and Lisantus could not have receaved more and I for my part that I never the like The Magistrates and Grandees giving him this reception in the palace of Florisa whom her Uncle Lucimon had left in Paquin after the death of her Father Orastes the remarkes which she shewed of kindenesse toward him were such that together with me many others that were there tooke notice that she was never accustomed to afford the like to any He againe applyed himselfe to her in such a fashion that the Muses seemed to sit upon his lippes and the Graces upon all his parts and not content by that meanes to draw her respects to himselfe he spake to her of me so much to my advantage that she spent complements upon me which I very well knew I had nothing that encouraged me to owne as my due and with which I found myselfe more put to a stand than ever in my life besides The Governour and other Officers having intrusted us with the cheife commands of the Towne wee without any supinenesse used them to the utmost of our power in giving necessary orders for defending it and that late enough for within foure dayes after the passages were all seized by the King the out workes attaqued and the seige formed We lay not still in this occasion Alcidor had more gallantry and his Troopes more ambition of fighting we made a salley and in that first essay of our armes brought backe advantages over our beseigers which caused fires of joy to be lighted through all the City Not satisfied with the triumph unless she saw him who had procured it Florisa sent for Alcidor to come to her and it was then that going along with him to her I percieved by her eyes words and whole carriage not onely that his valour kept her from shaking under the feares which she had of falling into the hands of her fathers enemies but also that his person was a great deal more than indifferent to her When wee were going from her you have not onely Paquin to preserve Alcidor said she to him you have also an unfortunate princesse under your guard take heed therefore how you hazard your life since it is my support In reply to this I therefore make Esteem of Paquin Madam said Alcidor because it holds so rich a treasure as the princesse Florisa Knowing indeed whence and what you are I should goe against my Conscience should I not set an higher value upon you than upon what I hold dearest to me in the world Whatsoever considerations therefore I can have the ambition which I have of serving you will be sure to surmount them all it will I hope not onely supply me with boldness of heart but with prudence also to manage it This reply mooving so violently her inmost veines that there rose a sudden crimson from them and spred it selfe over her face she left us with out saying any more but that she would have us see her often And in this wee obeyed her command for whatsoever imployments we had to remedy the disturbances which the enemy procuredus we forbore not to visit her twice every day and after a while whither she desir'd him so to doe or that it came of his owne motion Alcidor tooke up a custome of going frequently to her without me But on the other side whatsoever intreaties she used to him and she used besides that mentioned before very many and earnest ones not to throw himselfe into danger he forbore not frequently to ingage himselfe in the midst of the enemy doing things which made every body have him in their mouths for a kinde of miracle If we were active our beseigers were not idle making atempts which for some time kept us day and night at worke From which having one afternoone a little release I made use of it to goe visit Alcidor but coming to his lodging I found that he was gone to doe the same to Florisa I neverthelesse went into his chamber where finding a booke upon his table I opened it and turning over the first leafe of it I saw a letter drop which out of a curiosity to know more of my friends particularities than I believed he had imparted to me taking up and unfolding I read in it these words Florisa to Alcidor IF you have but a little consideration of the paine that I endure because I see you not so often as I wish I perswade my selve you will come to see me assoone as you have read this letter wherein I desire it You too well know your owne merit and the influence which it hath upon me to make any question of the advantage
which I derive from your converse Make hast therefore to me and involve not your selfe so much in the troubles of war as not by intermission to come and sweeten those of Florisa The fortune which I saw by this letter was arrived to Alcidor surprized me with a gust that was very acceptable to me but not without an allay when I considerd that he might not draw all that satisfaction from the affections of so high a person which he might from those of a meaner The letter for feare that if I left it where I found it it might bee found by some other as it had been by me or else might bee wholly lost I carried with me to my lodgings where assoone as I was entred Alcidor coming to seek me all his discourse to me was of Florisa and particularly of the visit which he came from making to her and in his discourses he could not with all his arts so well dissemble but that he often changed colour and discovered by many testimonyes that another God besides Mars had made him his votary but yet he tooke not any notice to me of the princesse's writing to him nor did I therefore to him that I knew any thing of it I on the contrary industriously abstained from speaking anything of her to him at all much more of her merite But the more I shunned that theam the more he prest it To see therefore whither his passion would carry him I made it my buisiness to dissent from what he said which he tooke so ill that to heare him chide me would have disposed one to judge that I had committed some grosse enormity Here Dorame interposing it is not a little displeasure said she which a Lover receaves when one aproves not the prayses which he bestowes upon her whom he loves I told you what designe I had in doing so resumed Vindorix and therefore I was not at all stirred with what Alcidor said to me and I afterwards changing my stile spake so much good of the Princess that he quickly changed his also and gave me better words than he ever before had done I then againe introduced another subject which was that of warre but it was easy for me to perceave that those words of Canon powder musket pike sounded not so well in his eares as those of Love of Florisa and of her graces After we had thus entertained our selves a while at my chamber he carried me to his When a little after we were entered taking up the booke in which I had found the letter he turned over the leaves ran into his closet left no place unsearched no servant unquestioned for what he mist I asking him what it was that he inquired for he told me that it was a paper of great importance to him Farther I prest him not for feare of being suspected of taking away that of which the absence put him into so great pain But when I saw him by degrees calme himselfe and his spirit grow to some stillness I secretly so that he not at all perceaved me put the letter under the tapestry of his table where he had not yet searched and then as if by chance threw downe one of the sides of the tapestry so that it let the letter dropp Having with joy snatched it up see that saiâ— he to me in which lies comprehended all my estate of happinesse What so important treasnre can it conceale returned â— to him that should make you speake so highly of it Nor Riches nor honours Vindorix said he againe doe at all content us if our friends are ignorant that we possess them Was I monarch of the world I should not be satistied if Vindorix had not knowledge of my scepter I asking him than if something new had happened to him which lay hid from me Reade this letter my deare companion said he to me and you will know what a liberall benefactress Fortune hath beene to me with which words he putting it into my hand I tooke it and after some ceremony that I used to it read aloud what I had more than once read to my selfe At these words industrious cheater that you are said Dorame to Vindorix had Alcidor knowne your fraudulent subtleties your close correspondencies would have beene in danger to have been turned into an irreconcileable discord Why returned Vindorix to her did I doe any thing in this which can be accounted a breach of freindship or which the best freind in the world would not have done For all my talking said Dorame to him againe I really blame you not at all but I pray goe on with â—our relation To goe on with it resumed Vindorix Alcidor after I had read the letter told me that he had things to recount to me which I could not heav without surprize and presently used this discourse to me It is a strange power that of love which we in vain inforce our selves to resist Who would have ever thought that I who perpetually made a mocke of love should come to be shut up in this beseiged City to be made subject to that which I made a mocke of I thought of vanquishing and I am vanquisht I aimed at triumphing over brigades of Hostile men and I am overcome by a maide a friend You divine Florisa have inslaved me to your lawes but by a force the sweetest in the world as well as the most compulsive You cannot but remember my Vindorix the day the houre the moment that we had first the blisse of wayting upon her say truly have you ever met with a face more beautifull a proportion more exact a spirit more fine a port more gracefull I know not how she appeared to your eyes but in mine she had altogether as much beauty and Majesty be it spoken without injury to her virtue as ever the poets attributed to the Mistresse of the God of warre Interposing here having then and since said I with a 〈…〉 considerd the qualityes wherwith heaven hath furnisht her I cannot say that she hath parallel This is rejoined Alcidor to judge of things as they deserve and since to you I neither ought to dissemble nor will I acknowledge that from the first moment wherein I saw this unparalleld woman I conceaved a passion for her all the time that we were then with her I thought of nothing but of her I scarce considerd that I was in Paquin to defend it and had my selfe also to take care of When we were parted I set my selfe seriously to study both of her perfection and my owne change which sprang from them and I strongly endeavoured to beate out the power which I found had surprized my heart but I was forced to leave my selfe to be vanquisht by that which I plainely saw I was not able to fight with The Princess you know added he from the good success which we had of our swords when our beseigers first approached the Citty drawing an occasion of sending for uâ— to give us the
me and that she had allwayes my name and actions in her mouth To this I answerd that it was proper to those that were great to speake well of those that were mean to the end to make their own vertue shine more clearely and to shew by commending those that have little merite that they know how to give true and just prayses to them who deserve them and that if she at all considerd me I well knew it was only because she was so good as to thinke that I might possibly bee helpfull to the defence of the City Placidas not finding my discourse suitable to his expectation turned his tongue to other subjects but I insensibly grew upon him and at last brought him to advertise me that Lucimon had by a letter which he had lately written to him given him charge watchfully to observe all the actions of his neice and withall to shew me the letter reading which I saw that the visits which I made to Florisa were knowne to that prince and suspected by him Having thus learnt of him what it was very conducible to my advantage to know I with the best arguments that I could use persuaded him to be faithfull to his princess and to informe her of whatsoever he should know was practised to her detriment particularly I advised him to give her notice presently of that which her Uncle had wrote to him but without signifying to her that I knew any thing of it adding that I should so well manage the tenure of my cariage for the future that Lucimon should finde nothing in it to censure According to my advise as soone as Placidas knew that he might enter the princesse's Chamber he went to her and gave her the same intelligence that he had given me Upon which sending him immediately for me scarce was I within her Chamber dore but she told me before him what he had told her not without discovering an extreame discomposure and saying all that could bee said against a man against Lucimon After she had by words and teares disharged some of her vexation I with the respect that was due to her and with the best motives that I could thinke of intreated her not to be troubled at the business adjoining that rather than she should by occasion of me receive any thing of displeasure if my being deprived of her sight would remedye it though it would be a greater punishment to me than I knew how to live under I would without disputing it banish my selfe from her presence Hearing me say so I am so far Alcidor reparted she to me from having a minde that you should absent yourselfe from me because of Lucimon that I would have you doe me the kindness of visiting me oftener then heretofore that being so ill treated by an uncle I may amidst my unhappinesse have the consolation of being succoured by one who hath no tie upon him to doe it Could it not suffice him to have shut me up in this miserable City which two potent Princes have for the object of their indignation and which could not keep it selfe from falling under their power if your valour and conduct forbad it not without going about to double my imprisonment by restraining me from seeing those who can give my spirit some relaxation what strange Barbarousness is this and how little used by an Uncle to a neice Does he feare that I have a minde to take from him the pretensions which he makes to the kingdom and to place the crowne upon Alcidor's head that he would not have him come neare me He is indeed abundantly worthy of a scepter but both his intentions and mine are juster and more moderate than to aspire to any such thing was it as it is not in our power to attaine it No No Alcidor added she to me you must not forsake me it would be too much cruelty in you to abandon a Princess that breathes not but by your assistance and expects not her deliverance but by your meanes In response to this I said all to her that love and duty could suggest to me to demonstrate to her my zeale of living and dying for her All which both what she said and I Placidas hearing and not being able to hear without being certaine that there was a more than ordinary kindeness between us he humbly offered her to serve her to the utmost of his capacity against her Uncle and being thereupon commanded by her to esteem me as one to whom she had great obligations he intreated me to beleive that I was Master of his heart and that he would never have any other inclinations than to doe me all the good offices that he could After which he and Leonora leaving us together we conferred a while about Lucimon thence we proceeded to testifie our affections to one another I with the best language that I could put together and she with as many favours as her vertue and modesty would allow her to bestow upon me She withall enjoined me not to speak a syllable of our correspondencies to any body no not to Vindorix said she for he is too much affected with glory to like that you should ingage your selfe in love at a time so proper for Armes This is the sole reason why I have till now concealed from you my love and the good fortune that I have had in it You therefore ought not to take it ill from me especially considering that Florisa hath no sooner given me liberty of acquainting you with the secret for it was but this afternoone that she gave it me but I have made use of it to let you see that I have nothing of concerne which I am willing to reserve from your knowledge To this I answered that I lookt upon the injunction which the Princess had laid upon him not as an effect of her ill will to me but as a fruite of her prudence which obliged her to distrust all the world in an affaire of so much consequence that I should have thought it very ill done of him if he had not obeyed it and that I had a better sense of the favour that she had done me in giving him leave to impart so much to me as he now had done than ever to imploy it otherwise than to both their advantages I having said so since that time went he on I have very often been with her without any body having cognisance of it but Placidas and Leonora and I was never with her but she gave me demonstrations of her affection towards me which as they bred in me a rich delight were enough also to have begot in me a most fond vaine-glory if by a sober reflection upon my selfe I had not been throughly acquainted with my unworthiness of them That you may see how far I am in her esteeme added he stepping to a little boxe of pearl taking a paper out of it and bringing it to me read these few lines Doing as he desired me I
take her Uncle Rolimon in his chamber but she found that he was together with Vindorix and Melian gon to walk in the garden She going thither to them I hope my neice began Rolimon to her the same phantasmes have not troubled you this night that did the former I can never sleep with more tranquillity answered she to him than I have don to night and if any thing came in my mind when I was awake more than ordinary it was only what you have recounted to me of Alcidor and some feares I must confess least by the way hither he should be met by some freind of Cartagenes and called to an account for his death Disturb not your mind with those suspicions replyed Rolimon to her for he hath in this province a more redoubted name than that any body should quickly be as rash as was Cartagenes to commit the like indiscretion of assaulting him Have you then so ill an opinion of the courage of Cloriastes said Dorame to him smiling as to beleive that he will not fight upon my account I hold him for a man of heart returned Rolimon to her but since he knowes not that Alcidor is your Lover would you have me imagin that there will be a combat between two persons who have nothing of quarrell Let us not amuze ourselves in prognosticating a mischeif of which there is no probability that it should quickly if at all fall out but let us think of seeing Alcidor here at dinner for my part I have strong hopes that we shall for I am sure there is nothing of expedition which he will not use when he knowes that you desire to see him The night had not shades so thick as to hinder him from travailing and besides when he undertakes any thing he makes his way through all nor woods nor rocks nor pitchy darkenesses are unpassable to him I have practised him enough to know him and I speak no more than what I know to be true of him To this Dorame was going to say something when they saw enter the coverd walk where they sat Limonides with a look though not so overcast as when he brought the newes of the death of Cartagenes yet very legibly inscribed with something of sadness As soon as he came near them have you some new unhappiness prevented him Rolimon to informe us of that you carry so melancholick a face Have your pains been unprofitable in seeking Alcidor or have you met with him and some ill hath befallen him Almidon Sir replyed Limonides to him hath followed Cartagenes Alcidor hath made him pay at the point of the sword for the outrage that he did him in reporting what was false of him to Cartagenes What â—ighting is here cryed Dâ—rame sighing This is not the way to let us quickly see Alcidor as we expected This will not all retard his coming Madam said Limonides to her you will see him with you within an hour You tell me what will be enough to my contentment Limonides said she in answer to him provided it proves true There is nothing in the world more true Madam returned Limonides to her than that he intends it I shal make no more question of it replied Dorame to him but tell us what you know of his fighting with Almidon Being conducted Madam said Limonides by Alcidors lacquey to the house of Meonimus a freind of his which is not far distant from that which was my Masters while he lived nor from that also of Almidon I there found him and delivered to him your Letter which when he had read he told me there was no cure that I could have brought him like that for the greif with which he resented my Masters death Saying little else but that little enough to make me perceive that he had some business which he was in hast to dispatch with somebody he jumpt on horseback and galloped away To see whither he went I followed him with as much speed as I could without being perceived by him but I was not able for some time to set eye upon him At length I discerned him above a hundred paces from me with his sword in his hand against a man whom at that distance I know not Riding as hard as I could to the place I had scarce discoverd his adversary to be Almidon but I saw him run into the body by him and fall When Alcidor saw me by them confess before Limonides Almidon said he the wrong that you have don me in reporting to his Master those things that were the occasion of his death I can by no meanes excuse returned Almidon to him what you charge me with and therefore if I may say that I forgive what is just I forgive you the wound which you have given me and which is apace letting out my soule At these words Alcidor dropping some teares upon his misfortune as he had don upon my Masters stopt his wound with his handkercheif set him upon his horse and conveighed him to the house from which we came There we said as Almidon desired us to say and said himselfe that an enemy who had met him by chance had given him his hurt and the Master of the house endeavouring to inform himself of the name of that enemy he would never tell him but desired him to content himself with this that he was a gallant man who had just occasion to set upon him and that he died satisfied with him not knowing how to complain of his action which he was free and valiant He said but little more and died in the armes of Alcidor who his eyes being closed commanded me back to you with assurance that as soon as he had taken order to have him caried home he would come away by the light of the moon to render himself with you Limonides having said thus and holding his tongue It is indeed Alcidors happiness said Dorame that those whom he fights with and kills die his freinds but I am notwithstanding that very much troubled at these occurrences That said Rolimon is the part of honest persons that come to be so unfortunat and these incounters indeed said Vindorix though they are to be accounted good in regard that Alcidor hath had the better in them yet they are not so in regard that two men and one of them a man of true gallantry have in a privat quarrell lost their lifes by his hand But we shall have the less reason to be troubled provided Cloriastes increases not the number of those unfortunats and we have reason to hope that he will not because at present he does not think that he hath any occasion of falling out with Alcidor and if he should think so hereafter he must also think that to fight with him is not but to augment his trophes For one to have two such combats one upon the heels of another said Melian and in both to kill his adversaries without being at the cost of a drop of blood does not
and they not only informed me in what I askt but they also conducted me to her and left me with her that which Anaximenes the Captain that had the Custody of her though it was wholly against the command which Lucimon had given him was so far from opposing that busying himself about something of his charge which required his present care he gave us sufficient leasure of entertaining one another We had indeed not only that first day but also during foure dayes that I staid at Suchieu as much liberty with one another as before that Lucimon was jealous of it and I made as frequent and as free vissits to her as I desired Anaximenes being very happily to our advantage so passionate of Leonora that she made him act what part she would After this rate of correspondencies persisted we to live till Dorilas escaping out of prison into his Uncle Lucimon's army and there hearing from that grand enemy of our loves all that he knew of them came himself to Suchieu and there charged it upon his Sister with very sharpe reproaches Advertisement hereof she sent me by Alexis whereupon though she assured me withall that not brother not Uncle not all whosoever should either by fair or foul means be ever able to divorce her heart from me I nevertheless with close and serious thoughts represented to my self that her quality beauty wisedom vertue rendring her an equall match to the possessor of a throne for me to aspire to the possession of her was to go about to debase her from her just height to be guilty of an arrogance of which the fruite would be common envy if it succeeded if it succeded not publique derision and to pull upon me from her relations a loade of malice under which I must necessarily fall From these and such like premises I drew a conclusion to beware for the future how I nourisht an affection of which nothing could in all likelihood come but unhappiness But write this conclusion to her in relation to whom I made it I durst not I only sent her word by Alexis that since her brother disliked that pious fire with which I offered my heart in sacrifice to her I would for some time hide it under the ashes that so I might not kindle in him a design of destroying me but yet during that reserve would not fail of seeing her if it was possible or at least of writing to her Which message in what sense she construed I know not but this I know that from that time I nor saw her nor heard from her till after I was taken prisoner This turne of my fortune having if I may speak it without vanity by an uninterrupted â—rosperity of my armes climbed to a suâ—â—icient eminency of reputation I had at first no other sense of than as of a fall the disgrace and dammage of which was very hardly if at all to be repaired but it afterwards proved of very profitable consequence to me Polianis tooke notice and care of me as of some body considerable he appointed me no other jayle but his court no other jaylor but my parole he gave me a thousand rich experiences of his goodness he earnestly prest me to ingage in his service and I should without doubt have done myself the good office of satisfying him had he been of the same religion with me That he was not was the argument that I used to him for my dispensation and he took it not ill only when by far better fortune than merit I was demanded to be released in exchange for three the meanest of whom was of much more value than Alcidor he obliged me to promise him that I would change my side when he changed his faith While I lay prisoner at the Court I was told by severall of credit that Florisa was erelong to be married to Eridan prince of the royall Blood Whereupon what I had before carried by rote I confirmed by decree that I would consider her no more as my most adorable mistress but only as my illustrious freind But though I was fully bent to retire from her bonds I notwithstanding went to waite upon her as soon as I was at liberty and in our converse I used all the skill that I was Master of to veile my intentions from her But we had not been long together before she told me that she after my long absence observed a constraint and alteration in me which was very strange to her I endeavouring to make her loose that opinion and particularly excusing my absence by my imprisonment and upon that occasion speaking honourably and as I was in gratitude bound of Polianis she rejoined that she was affraid the favours and vertues of that victorious prince had overcome me so as to make me at once abandon the interests of her family and grow cold in the affection which I had vowed to her To this I was shaping an answer with which I hoped to satisfie her but was prevented by the coming of Dorilas which gave me no more leasure than to slip away without so much as bidding her Adieu and I had no more opportunity of seeing her before that her suspicious brother carried her away to a place where she was more straightly guarded than ever At length the King after he had seriously deliberated of the concernements of religion making a turne which pleased some displeased others brought over to him the most remarkeable Lords of â—he Union and rended Lucimon allmost desperate with a most propitious condescension challanged me of the promise which I made him when I left his prison and I readyly followed whither the loadstone of his authority and goodness drew me not without the honour of having the incomparable Lisantus to beare me company Him he presently made vice Roy of a province of China to me he gave twenty thousand Takes in present to repair the expences that I had been at in maintaining the War against him and foure thousand Takes in pension causing me withall to be saluted by Feonice the ruling object of his affections and by her Sister Astasia a principall beauty of his court These things were not done with so little noise but that they reached the eares of Florisa and as Alexis brought me word she fell sicke with the hot alarum which she took at them By him therefore I wrot back to her that she ought not to take it ill that I had quitted a party whom I at length had found to be most unjustly and disloyally armed against their Soveraigne or that the danger which I saw and she knew I was every moment in by the ill will of her relations had made me think a little of acting as my preservation demanded of me and that as long as I lived she should have cause to beleeve that I had for her a just veneration a thankfull memory and a faithfull service It followed by some intervalls and I have done when I have told you it that Lisantus and
apprehended you would lay upon her afresh Retire therefore without any disorder and leave me to manage her return and the whole affair I will labour both for your contentment and of all that are concerned Certafilan in obedience to what the King said withdrawing better satisfied than he hoped to be was no sooner come into his doors but Floras came to him exprest a very affectionate regret for his Ladies flight and offerd to find her out wheresoever she was and to carry her to whatsoever place he should appoint Beleeving â—he spake from his heart he heartyly thankt him but withall told him that he was now so far remote from any such purpose as he before desired him to assist him in that he had no longer any suspicion of his wife and that the King having promised to reconcile them he made no question but what had past though it seemed to be very much to his detrimâ—nt would turn as much to his benefit While Certafilan was thus growing convert from his jealousy though she who had been the object of it little thought of his change yet having reached her retreat in which she saw she was out of danger of the tormenting effects of that his raging humor knowing also that she had in Feonice a better second with the King than that she needed fear his anger experimenting besides in the company of Alcidor the difference between kind respects and barbarous indignities she relaxed her mind tied up as it had been to a diet of sorrow to feed at large upon delight Alcidor also made much of the liberty which he had of her society and congratulated himself in it as a most blest man But yet amidst these inchanting sweetnesses they both of them had so much consideration that Alcidor by Astasia's approbation left her the next morning and went to the King to give him an account of what they had done Which being performed and the King having read the letter of Floras to Astasia it is by this said he to Alcidor holding it in his hand what we shall still the complaints of Certafilan who yesterday demanded justice of me against you I suppose Floras will not want the courage to maintain to his face that not being able to execute what he desired without an odious baseness he thought himself bound by the Laws of humanity to give notice of it to her against whom it was intended I will therefore in your justification send for him and ingage him publickly to own himself the author of what you have been the agent Your Majesty replied Alcidor will I make no question bring the affaire to such an issue that the vertue of Astasia the honesty of Floras and my fidelity shall lie under no ill name He had scarce said so when Floras came into the Chamber whom the King as soon as he saw him asking what brought him thither so early he answerd the service that he owed his Majesty But how said the King can I beleive them my servants who league themselves with Certafilan to carry on his tyranny over his wife altogether contrary to my will If your Majesty returned Floras will be pleased to let my speak for my self I make no question but I shall so fully clear my innocence in that which you accuse me of that you will deigne me instead of your disfavor your approbation Trouble not yourself Floras replied the King you may by this see therewith he shewed him his letter to Astasia that my accusation of you is only feined But it is requisite that you maintain before me to the face of Certafilan that he desired you to be confederate and executioner of that detestable peice of violence upon his wife of carrying her to the place which he intended to make her jayle and that having a horror of it you as you thought yourself in honor bound discovered the contrivance to her Your Majesty said Floras requires no more of me than what truth common equity and my own credit render my duty and what I am therefore ready with all my heart to do Certafilan will not I am sure deny that the evening before his wife went with her Sister to the Waters carrying me into your Majesty's garden he there told me that he was resolved to shut her up and keep her in Close imprisonment all her life discoverd to me the plott that he had laid to effect it and conjured me to be the Conductor of it that which I promised him to be though at the same time I determined the contrary Hearing him say so the King sent a page for Certafilan who presently coming allmost out of breath with haste oh Certafilan said the King to him here is Alcidor now against whom you yesterday demanded justice of me tell me therefore if you are in the same mind to day The offence that he had done me Sir replied Certaiflan is greater by much than that unless I am unsensible I should easily forget it or pass it by To this Alcidor having his mouth open to repart If you think Certafilan said the King that in having delivered Astasia from your ugly and unsufferable oppression Alcidor hath committed a great offence you must seek else where to have him punisht than of me and perswade me to chastise myself It was indeed by my order that he conveighd away your wife whom I knew Floras who is here present was by your order to carry away to make her miserable all her life I would not yesterday tell you this because I expected that you would of yourself confess your fault but finding you still in the mind to persist in it I would have you know that Kings have intelligences which their people have not Hear Floras speak against you he is a wittness whom you cannot refuse Presently Floras offering to convict him see Certafilan proceeded the King the Letter which hath discoverd your conspiracy and obliged me to take into my protection the deare Sister of Feonice and give Alcidor command to carry her away Certafilan having read the Letter with the name of Floras to it Just heavens cried he what means you have to take vengeance on the wicked causing them to be detected by by the same persons whom they would render partisans of their wickedness I see Sir added he that he who I expected would have favoured my enterprize hath accused me of it but I am so far from taking it ill at his hands that he hath used me thus that I very much esteem him for it knowing that he hath herein been a true freind as well to my happiness as to his own honor I confess repent renounce my bruitishness towards Astasia and I will no more be governed with that madness which hath hitherto made me continually see things otherwise than they have really been Hearing him in this strain mens hearts said Polianis do sometimes change on a sudden but that Certafilan whom all my Court have for his usage of his wife reckoned not much
Hearing these words come from him we have reason to beleive my neice said Rolimon that Alcidor speaks from his heart and to what purpose should these many ceremonies be used where marriage is the substance aimed at My opinion is that you should make a mutuall contract of love after which there will be no fear that any body else should pretend to either of you You speak Sir replied Alcidor to him like one that knows how to find the knot of such an affaire as this in hand And I swear Madam addrest he himself to Dorame that if you will think of no other husband but Alcidor I will think of no other wife but Dorame And I protest returned Dorame to him that if you will have no other wife but Dorame I will have no other husband but Alcidor He having as soon as those words were out of her mouth with a gracefull veneration kist it they again by Melian's motion solemnely promist to marry one the other as soon as she had completed her year of widdowhood Which tie being made and thereby that which all the Company desired as firmely secured as could be wisht to be at present they with a generall pleasantness continued conversing upon that and other subjects till they were called to supper and after supper till the late houres commanded them to bed The End of the third Book The Fourth Book ALcidor rising early the next morning as being kept from sleeping by his thoughtfull love found that Dorame whom he beleived yet in bed was gotten up before him and walkt abroad Finding her out he entertained her with what she had been entertaining herself his affections and she changed not the subject till they were interrupted by Rolimon Melian and Vindorix who came to bidde them good morrow and farewell together The Lovers endeavoured to retain them but they gave them reasons for their going away which induced them to allow it Betaking themselves therefore all together into the house they had been but a few moments there when Meonimus arrived and he had not been much longer there before he told Alcidor that he mother of Almidon was about to inform against him for the killing of her son advising him not to deferre getting a pardon by which to put himself out of all danger from the Law At this notice Alcidor was not at all disturbed knowing that Polianis had a better opinion of him than to be quickly imprinted with a bad one or indeed to deny him any thing that he should ask but Dorame was very much troubled and choosing rather to deprive herself of her contentment in his company for a time than detain him with her when his stay might be disadvantageous to him conjured him with all speed to make a journey to Paquin to the end that he might prevent his enemies and put himself under covert against their malice This counsell being backt and urged by the rest of the Company he only staied breakfast and badde Dorame adieu Rolimon Melian Vindorix and Meonimus going a long with him to his house they all staied there that night and the next morning parted the three first to go home and Alcidor and Meonimus to Court Here Alcidor going to the King and reporting to him his adventures with Cartagenes and Almidon and the danger that he was in of being prosecuted for their deaths he very graciously gave him his pardons for both and caused them to be allowed by the Counsell of twelve Auditors the Letter which Cartagenes wrot before his death to Dorame and the testimony of Limonides serving very happily for his justification Polianis farther by the contexture of Alcidors business understanding that Dorame was his Mistress exprest severall times to him that he was very much pleased with it one time in particular there is nothing brave Alcidor said he to him which obstructs your loves for Florisa is courted in marriage by my Cozen Eridan Astasia is lately dead and Carmelia hath taken the hahit of a Religious See I say if there be any thing to keep you from pursuing and injoyning your present affections since of your three former Mistresses there is but one of them retaining to the world where also she is so straightly guarded that nobody can have her Company but the Prince whom I now spake of I am not ignorant of the Love which she hath had for you her brother having recounted to me that which he knew of it by their Uncle who hath many times had purposes of sending you out of the world upon that occasion But she now gives hopes that she will entertain that new Lover and not only Dorilas wishes you as well as you can desire but Lucimon also is disarmed of the choler which he hath had against you knowing that the offence which he beleived you to have committed proceeded not from you but from his neice These two Princes I have made your freinds and I would have you as soon as you can joine myrtles to your laurells so that Hymen as well as Mars may render your life glorious The many powerfull reasons Sir replied Alcidor which I had to hold Astasia in esteem while he lived render it imposible for me not be troubled for her death If Florisa is loved by Eridan and acknowledges the merit of that Prince of your blood the success will be far more advantageous to her than if she had nourisht an affection for one so unworthy of her as myself For Carmelia I reckon that she could not have betaken herself to an abode more convenient to regret the loss of her deare Clidantus than that which she hath so sagely chosen And for my own particular I have abundant obligation to your Majesty for the acts of Grace which your Clemency hath granted me without that by an excess of favor you should procure me the good will of two Princes whose ill will I have allwayes been apprehensive of and as much as I could shunned the means of provoking If the Princess Florisa hath done me the honor of testifying some kindness to me I never have abused it nor have I ever had the temerity to aspire to things contrary to reason and my duty and if for having before them quitted the party which they headed they have wisht me ill why did they betake themselves to the same obedience that made me acknowledge you my King Have not they been constrained to subject themselves to the Laws of your Majesty as well as to those of your Kingdome You have acted Alcidor resumed the King very well in every thing and with the services that you have done me since you have restored your self to your allegiance I have so much reason to satisfie my self that waiting for some better gratiâ—ication of them I at present make you my leiftenant of my Company of men at armes Lisantus is dead Alcidor pursued he and my regret for his death sufficiently declares what esteem I have for men of courage At these words Alcidor could
War and the things that affright and molest were scarce so much as mentioned all the discourse was of love of the chase of dances of feasts of all the more elegant recreations of humane life There indeed spread a felicity over all the Kingdome Heaven blessing it with a serene tranquillity and an exuberancy of good things But the tranquillity was at length disturbed the workers of the past tempests raising new ones Liampo forgetful of the mercy which the King had shewed it when at the next door to ruine renewed its old factions and the Isle of Varella was powerfully and sharply assaulted by the Japonoises Aftertaind of this the King who armed with speed to prevent the mischeif with which he beleived the Isle of Chapasi threatened commanded Alcidor to put himself into it and it was in an instant that he had set foot on ground there with a great number of Gentlemen who reckoned it a fair glory to fight under his colours To help him make good his charge there was quickly sent to him by the diligence of the admirable Orestes eight thousand Foot and fifteen hundred Horse and with these aids he so well disposed the Iland to a defence that the Japonoises coming three dayes after to view it found it too well fortified and managed to be assaulted After this the King seeing that the designe of Callimorus was wholly set to force the I le of Varella caused a good part of Alcidors forces to be joyned with others and make a descent thither and the success was that they compelled the Japonoises with great loss to retire to their ships Callimorus being gone Ariances who came with him fled also back with him to take refuge at Meaco Alcidor who had not as yet stirred from Chapasi was orderd by the King to go Feild-marshall to the seige of Liampo He was again upon intelligence that Roâ—ilus had forces in the Feild which he intended to put into Liampo or else to divert the siege with them ordered by him with eight hundred Horse to go seek him out and sight him and taking with him Silvanus and Dolompus the latter of which the newes of the arming had brought from Mongul where he had been dangerously wounded at the siege of Teudac he made his course but could no where meet with them that he looked for Returned to the Kings quarters he had past but few dayes there before he received the newes of the sickness and within a few houres after of the death of Florinda newes which filled his great heart as full of greif as it could possible hold and not break and which put his two Sonnes all in sadness He had Condolers of his unhappiness the King and all of his acquaintance and when seeing the change of his habit they had learnt the cause of it the whole army the King withal together with others his freinds reading lectures to him of patience and comfort He had indeed for arguments of quieting himself that she was fallen into a sleep for which it was below a soul of true courage to torment it self and from which all his Stock of Tears and sighes could not awaken her that the Queen and Court had taken all the care and pains about her not only which humanity but which also a zealous tenderness could suggest and that he had neither himself nor any other to complain of for his not seeing her in her sickness the first moment that she fell ill a Curâ—ier being dispatched to him with notice of it and she dying within six hours after of which also he had as quick a messenger But after all he had an earnest mind to throw aside his charge and arms and go weep over her that which stop him from doing it was a just consideration that his sovereign had present need of his service and demanded it and that therefore to leave him would be to incurre an opprobry from which he should never be able to clear himself Let us wait therefore said he to himself to go pay our last duties to that part of our dear Florinda that remaines till this rebellious City which is at the even of its being subdued be fully so It is not now the first time that we have received an infelicity of this kind we have too well learnt the sad usage of resenting a wife's death to forget it and shall we make less resistance against the oppressions of affliction now than heretofore when our spirit had more of impurity than now by the advantage of age it hath The exercise of Tears is to be left to women we have reason to shew ourselves more constant And besides into what region is Florinda gone that we should do nothing but lament for her Is she in an abode that is inaccessible to us Is she not there where all faithfull souls have a place reserved for them and where it is not long before we shall see her again Let us forbear then to sigh over her state of bliss and resume the temper which we had before the loss of her that so we may the better imploy ourselves as our duty and necessity require in things importing to the speedy reduction of the enemy This resolution tooke and followed Alcidor and by his advice and example his Sonnes also very much to the satisfaction of the King in regard both of the benefit which thereby they would receive themselves and of that also which would accrew from it to his own affairs The Japonoises having a good mind to succour Liampo but in regard of the invincible obstacles that stood in their way contenting themselves to appear upon the sea and retire the beseiged though they had thereby their hopes frustrated continued obstinately enough to defend themselves but at length great numbers of them being destroyed by the arms of the besiegers and greater by sickness and famine so that the Town made hast to be desert of inhabitants they were necessitated to beg the Kings mercy and what they necessarily begged he freely indulged Having mastered this City which three Kings his predecessours could not do and re-establisht there the old Religion of China he returned in triumph to Paquin and thither Alcidor waited upon him and then applied himself to perform the supreme honours to Florinda When he came to see her body in the Coffin he was wholly possest with greif and his sentiments were more equitable than to be blamed but his reason after a while making good its empire and tempering his passion his Cheif care was taken up about her funerals and he laid her in the grave with a State in which Mourning was renderd full of Majesty While the King continued at Paquin Alcidor was always about him and new occasions calling him abroad he and his Sons attended him They were of his Cheife assistants when he forced his way through the barricades and other obstacles that shut it up and dissipated those that opposed it releived Baiador that was straightly beseiged upon the Prince
endearing conversation and proceeded from one kindness to another untill they seemed at strife which of them should shew most and till Alcidor began to argue with himself from Carmelia's freeness that she had so warm a Passion for him that if he would but take the confidence to try she might be brought to grant him what in colder modesty she had forbidden him to aspire to While such thoughts past up and down in his mind she who suspected nothing of them but was willing to indulge as much to his and her own affections as she thought she well might without infringing her duty to Clidantus and the rules of decency curled his locks and kist his forehead with little less allurement than if she had a mind to dress a party against her Chastity Confirmed by these her more innocently intended dalliances in the opinion that if she was importuned she would not refuse him that which places a Lover at the â—â—p of his happiness and interpreting the amorous wiâ—hly regards which he observed â—he cast upon him as a summons to make use of that conveniency of the place for the performance of what he had a mind to he had his flames so animated that thinking no longer of any thing but quenching them with those delights which have the Vertue both of quenching and re-accending the thirst of Love he solicited her to what was so disagreeable to her that starting up from the place where she was set and looking as pale as if she had recieved some blow that made her heart fail How Alcidor said she to him dare you entertain me with so foul a baseness a baseness which unspeakably astonishes and offends me together Think you that to gratifie your brutishness I will betray my honesty Go make your prayers to lustful women it is at their temples that you must address your offerings With these words fetching a deep sigh and on a sudden growing as red as she was before pale she hastily turned to go away but Alcidor who read his delinquency in her face and carriage and exprest his penitential distraction in his ovvn held her by the Mâ—ntle and throwing himself at her feet I acknowledg Madam said he to her that the cholar that you are in is no greater than is just and reasonable but if there be any thing in the universe that hath influence upon your spirit I by it beseech you to pardon the untuly violence of the passion which I have for you It is that which having deprived me of my reason haith been the cause of my impudence and if nothing else will satisfie you I have not a drop of bloud with which I am not ready to expiate it No No interrupted she him I have no body to blame but my self who have too lightly and foolishly permitted you familiarities which have made you hope as easily to obtain the spoyls of my Chastity But undeceive your self Alcidor and know that I should much more cheerfully love to dye than consent as you immagine I might be induced to do to the ruine of my honor I am sensible Madam replied Alcidor that my crime though it have love for its complice is of a very deep and ugly stain but any repentance if any repentance can be so is answerable to it I again therfore beg by all that you hold good and dear to pardon me and I beg you not to do it but upon condition that if ever I fall back into the same sin you banish me for ever from your favour without leaving me the least hope of Mercy Overcome with these words and other testimonies of remorse which he exprest in a plain and large Character since I have reason to believe returned she to him that you are really troubled for the offence that you have given me forbear trobling your self any farther I fully pardon you but withall I lay an indispensable charge upon you that you no more go against the law which I have by the Obligation of Vertue necessarily prescribed you I confess I love you entirely but if you imagine you shall be ever able to draw from me more than what I have told you I will allow you know I shall run to my grave rather than bring a blot upon the integrity of my life As for our wonted Caresses Provided you proceed not to unlawful propositions I will allow you them as heretofore but if by allowing you them you again encourage your self to abuse me assure your self you will oblige me to hate you as much as I love you I farther esteem my self very happy in being at present alone with you but least any ill should be suspected of us let us return to Clidantus who possibly may awake and send about in search of us if he finds us not by him To this he having replied with very ingenious acknowledgments of her goodness they sealed their reconciliation with some warm kisses and past next way out of the wood to Clidantus his Chamber where when they first came in they found him asleep but he presently awakened and signified himself very well pleased to see them about him It being a Month after this before his Physicians could with their best diligence advance his Recovery to any considerable pass they in that time enjoy'd all the contentments with one another that in the tye which limited them and in the place where they were they could soberly expect and in the enjoyment of them Carmelia's affection grew to such a height that she began to see by its effects that to love her lover more she loved her Husband less This enormity she made very assiduous effects to overcome but as often as she made them she so often experienced that the more she resisted the more the forces which she had to fight against increased and desires continually sprung up in her mind which were altogether contrary to her will and which made her wholly ashamed of her self but which her reason seting it self to oppose there was alwayes something which obtained the victory against it While she was in this rout which though she could not rectifie she very discreetly concealed her Husband by the advice of his Physicians resolved to return to Laquiâ— that which Alcidor liked very well both because he loved the abode of the Court and because he made no question of having more liberty with Carmelia there than where they now were and that which was now by his fartherance of it quickly put in execution The next day after they were come to the Royal City Alcidor going under colour of visiting Clidantus to see Carmelia found Felisbea with them whom he saluting with civility enough and a kiss which had more of manners than heat in it but which however so much dissolved and drew out her heart that she could hardly defend her self from falling in a swoon the same desires repullulated in her soul which had not long since agitated it and her humour withall shewed it self drest in lighter
colours than it had for a long time been seen in Of which latter Carmelia taking notice but not understanding the ground thought it sprung from the pleasure which she received in seeing her Brother recovered together with her Mother Alcidor knew better how to judge of it but thought not sit to alter the Opinion of the one by discovering the affection of the other But in whatsoever cheerful temper she was at first after their return and with whatsoever illness she was afterwards struck four dayes after she took her Bed and eight dayes after she was laid in her Grave She was a Sister whom Clidantus loved as himself the separation therefore workt so sharply upon him that it renewed his old illness and the ralapse had so ill a look that it made his Physicians look for nothing good to come of it They telling his Lady their thoughts she called up all her constancy to expect and bear with patience the feared event and she had withall Alcidors advises and comforts to assist her in that occasion but they were neither of them so effectual but after some days a humor spreading it self through the sick mans Body which took away the use of his Limbs her grief wanted but little of proveing as mortal to her as his Palsey was likely to do to him But her former Physician taking in hand the cure of it it by little and little decreas'd that which was the cause of it at the same time growing every day worse than other Six Moons having filled and emptied themselvs and all the arts that were used and pains that were taken with Clidantus and all were used and taken that could be thought expedient serving only to prove that his Disease was incurable Alcidor who had for the most part of that time been employed by the King in expeditions of War finding him in this condition at his return resolved to draw all the advantage out of it that he could and as his passion for Carmelia flamed higher than ever to make more pressing declarations of it to her than ever serving himself therefore of the opportunity he entertained her with regrets for the illness of Clidantus with laments for her affliction and with complaints of his own unhappiness which brought thick clouds over her eyes and presently a large shower out of them That done he turned to his stile to Gallantries and the Amaenest Themes he painted his fires to her with most lively and withall most Venust draughts he with the most moving Rhetorick that he could weave represented to her how unreasonable it was that her florid youth and Beauty should be intombed in Melancholy and what vivid generous and elevated contentments those Lovers have who in tirely and without reserve addict themselves to one another and his success was that the air of her looks and deportment changed from gloomy to serene that from the picture which he made her of his fires she not only fancied that she saw them and felt them burn but also really contracted sympathetick heats more moveing than she ever before had felt and that she let him see as much as also that she approved of what he said by complying with him more liberally than ever and caressing him more profusely Perceiveing how he gained ground of her he stopt not there but followed her close with professions Blandishments Arguments Promises and by their importunate and insinuating fascinations wound himself at length as into the chief room of her heart so into that place in her Arms which Clidantus only was wont to hold but was now no longer capable of holding Not but that she still retained for that bed-rid Man those officious respects which were due to him from his Wife and with a tender compassion painfully edeavoured his ease and releif It was the same compassion though she might have some thoughts that of Clidantns his Widdow she should become Alcidor's Wife which compelled her sometimes to joyn with him in the Prayers which he made that since he could expect no other remedy death would be his Physician and release him his life was indeed drawn out with so much torment that it was a true kindness to him to wish the thred of it cut of and that Dolinda her self who had brought him into the VVorld continually desired to see him go out of it He having continued six months longer in this sad condition the wishes of himself and his Friends were granted his Soul taking wing and leaving his Body to be laid to bed in the Earth that which his Lady took care to have done with a magnificence which purchaced her a great Name and with tears which were her witnesses that though she had sometimes in consideration of his misery wisht him in his Grave she would have been very ready to have fetcht him out of it Clidantus gone Alcidor and Carmelia lived in Paquin in a corespondence of which there would have been good reason to have admired the sweetness if there had not been some occasion to have distruâ—ted the innocence The intimacy of it bringing the Ladie 's vertue into suspition the Ladies who were wont to frequent her company by little and little forbore visiting her Not able to overlook which disrespect or to question the ground upon which they built it she took occasion to speak of it to Alcidor that so she might clear her conscience and engage him to remove her disrepute by the Marriage which she daily expected from him And he fed her expectation with promises fitted to her palate but withal having no mind to come under the yoke which she would have put upon him he determined to disengage himself from her as soon as handsomly he could To effect what he had determined he concluded with himself to go pass some Moneths in one of his country Houses but to her he pretended that the King had commanded him upon his service into a remote Province that which she easily believed in regard of the equipage which she saw him provide for his departure and he withall perswaded her to retire from the Court and live privately in the Country during his absence that which she readily consented to All things being prepared for the separation and the day come he saw the grief with which she resented it flow with so large a stream in her Eyes and he had in his own breast such a reluctancy to it that he was upon the point of desisting from his purpose and of resolving not to leave her But considering that if he stayed with her any longer he must either unworthily abuse or else Marry her from both which he had many reasons that disswaded him he enforced himself to go on with what he had undertaken and what he saw necessary though harsh After therefore they had both sighed enough they bad the Court and one another farewel he takeing his way and she hers Come into his Province Alcidor by the Proofs which he gave of his qualities made all other the