her presence the very comfort of my life I returned to finde her and after I had searcht all the walks groves and topiares about the house I found her in a virect which was enclosed with ramiculous trees very low at the further end of that I let close by the river side The maide I met at the entring into the place returning towards the house her eyes exhibited by their rednesse that they had been paying tribute to grief in moist teares But passing on without exchanging any words I saw Atalanta but so changed that I was amazed and admiration stopping the motion of my body I stood as if I had beheld the head of Medusa She was laid upon the gramineous earth her head leaning against a low cypres tree her armes in a carelesse manner cast abroad her eyes with a kind of â—emisse intentivesse were cast up towards heaven the bottoms big with limpid teares which were but newly stopt through the extremity of her grief her cheeks bearing the dry markes of those silver currents and her strophium rorated with their moistures the stilness obscurity of the place agreeing to make every thing doleful it seemed to me a kind of horror to dwell there After some time I approached her endeavoured with all the words I was able to exprom out of a heart truly sensible of her grief to give her some consolation But all that I could do or say gained nothing from her but abundance of teares and sighs that I was very troublesome to her griefe having a kinde of pleasure in it and thinks it selfe wrong'd by the interruptions of any When I saw I could give her no allevament by my words I sat me down opposite to her and looking upon her with eyes springing forth tears I accompanied her in her lacrymations When she lookt upon me and saw the torrents than ran over the swellings of my cheeks and trickled to the ground like another Alpheus running after his Arethusa shaking her head she wept the more and her teares still exhausting mine we made a torrent betwixt us of our mingled waters tears still begetting tears and the sadnesse of the one still continuing the sadnesse of the other that we sate like two Niobes drowning our cheeks with continuall tears In this posture we were found by her governesse who together with her maid came to endeavour to draw her out of her great sorrow and by her grave counsel to absterge her tears what with the power she had over her and with the sound speeches she used she something mitigated the efluence of those argenteous currents and at last caused her to leave that place when we werein her chamber perceiving that she desired privacie I left her with little lesse mestitude than her self finding my self interrested in her grief and troubled for being ignorant of the cause The next day I visited her and I found that grief had not altogether so powerful an opperation upon her but that she had power now to ask pardon for the trouble she had put me to the day before and for the little regard she had of my consolations I proceeded to comfort her all I might and though I knew not the occasion of her plangor yet speaking generally of grief I told her that teares were but a vanity and tormenting our selves for things irrecoverable past and done was but a weaknesse and that it was a passion whose excursions ought to be stopped and moderated and that it might be effected by a resignation of our wiâ—ls to the superior powers to be content with whatsomever accidents they shall be pleased to send and that we should not immoderately desire any thing by whose loss we might run into despair Such other counsell I administred which my self was not able to follow but she answered me not but with abundance of suspirations thereby testifying that her griefe proceeded from more than common causes and that there was something extraordinary in it The space of a whole week she continued in this manner though not with that excesse as at first yet growing more upon her and takeing at last root it became the more dangerous When I saw that I expected in vain when she would tell me the cause of her trouble and that with all the art I could use I gave her very little comfort I was so troubled that my looks exhibited how grear a share I bore in her sorrow One day Atalanta having given me the slip to feast her Melancholy thoughts with funebrous meditations I at last found her in a solitary place amongst the taxeous shades compassed about with those sepulchrall trees mingled with the fruitlesse Cipresse She had newly began to bedew the fair roses of her cheeks with the most pertious liquor of her eyes and those pearl-bearing rivulets springing from the marvellously limpid fonticules ebbed flow'd according to the variable tyde of sorrowful thoughts My presence gave some check to their outflowing and made her wipe away those moist characters of her grief with her ricula but their impressions on my heart could not so soon be absterged I ran to her with my wonted confidence and flinging my self on the grass by her I took her fair hands and giving them many suaviations and bedewing I at last broke forth my resentments thus Ah sister Atalanta my teares accommpanying my words have you not so much confidence in my fidelity to entrust me with the cause of this dolor how can I live and behold you in continuall mourning and give no comfort and how can I administer consolation correspondent to your griefe and be ignorant of the cause of it either let me dye or else not live so great a stranger to your thoughts If there be any thing that may be acquired for your allevament though with never so great danger make use of my Service and you shall see my affection so strengthen me that I shall be able to overcome all oppugnances and what you it may be may think impossibilities â—ive me not cause to thinke I inherit not the place of a sister when I am an alien to your thoughts But consider not I beseech you this audaâ—ity as an effect of my curiosity but of my affection for did I not think my self capable of serving you I should be content to ignore it for ever yet seeing you have interessed my affection far beyond my deserts let me conjure you by that Love you bear me and in the name of a sister which your goodnesse hath imposed upon me to let me know the cause of this trouble which you so carefully hide from me Atalanta joyning her face and tears to mine stopt the rest of my words When she had cleared the passage for her words with a thousand heart-labouring sighs her teares also suffering a new reflux she said Dear Sabane It is not thy fidelity that I mistrust nor any other consideration but shame hath hindered me from imparting the knowledge of it to thee and fear
fell to mending the tackle which had been shaken by the wind and to do their endeavours to return out of that incognitous sea Bearing for some dayes to the North-East a youth at last from the summit of the Mast discovered land which was no small joy to the weaâ—ied Mariners and affrighted Passengers Having attained to that shore we had seen we entred a large river which after many â—alls from the mountain embosom'd it self there into the Sea Clearing the mists of sadness from our eyes we went on shore where we found a sufficient shelter against the penetrating beams of the Sun falling almost perpendiculâ—r ore our heads in large and overgrown woods which were stor'd with the light-heel'd-harts and branched horn'd stags After we had stor'd our ship with Venison and with the crystal liquor of the river we left that land and the Pilot necessitated to make use of the utmost of his skill bore towards the West and being got into the main we tacked about setting our prow opposit to the Artick Pole we had but just then shaken off that fear which the impetuosity of the last storm â—â—d put us into when the wind saluting us with a whistling noise made us 〈◊〉 t was but the Praecursor of his Forces We soon found by reiteraâ—ed 〈◊〉 that he had given us that truce that he might overcome us with the moâ—â— glory His forces being augmented from playing with our streamers he began to toss our ship and contradict our passage with an impetuosity fâ—r greater than the former The storm still increasing made us reassume our â—eâ—â—s and many to deprecate those Deities which in safety they scarce thoughâ— of and who they would assoon forget after their dangâ—r This lasted thrice as long as the former and with an extraordinary swiftness drove us continually to the South as if it had purposed to have driven us to the utmost end of the earth At last the storm ceased but left us destitute of all knoâ—ledge where we were we saw nothing but waters which seemed yet to threaten us the world seem'd turn'd up side down for we had lost the sight of the North Hemisphere and then beheld a new heaven of stars which before we had never seen The Sun was North of us which had like to have deceived the Pilot for bearing towards the South we perceived by the sâ—ars and new face of the heaven that we had passed the Equinoxial We imagined our selves irrecoverably lost the Pilot professing his art at an end knew not which way to steer Sometimes we ran a hundred Leagues one way then as many another but espying no land we had no hopes of returning To augment our miseries our provision failed us our water was spent and what remained stunk and was corrupted so that many in the ship with the extremity of heat and lack of Victuals died Araterus indured these adversities with wonderfull patience and amongst all the imprecations that anguish wrung from the mouths of those distressed people there was not heard the least murmur fall from his At last in our greatest distress we espied land to the East of us which sight was extreamly welcome to us Having attained the land before we could disembarque we experienced that the torrid Zone contraâ—y to the opinion of Poets was inhabited for upon the shore we saw aâ—â—embled a great many people which continually wore Sables The Sun had with its excessive ardour imbu'd their skin with this innate black wearing nothing that might hinder the penetration of his beams so that their Children were born with the same nigerous hew their hair crisped and short seem'd just like wool their noses flat and something deformed their stature mean but their envie and malice implacable These people which at first sight seem'd like so many Daemons affrighted those in the ship who naming the place the land of Devils would rather have endured the miserie of starving than to expose themselves to the mercy of such Creatures Araterus wearied of the sea perswaded them to go on shore without fear telling them without doubt that those creatures were humane and of necessity they must perish or gain some sustenance at their hands At last he perswaded them to land which they did but were oppos'd by those blacks who at a distance shot at them arrows the points made sharp and hardened in the fire for they had not the use of Iron or Steel which wounded many and slew some But Araterus encouraged them and with great hazard to his person fell in amongst them who affrighted at us and our glittering weapons with a terrible howling and noise sled from us some of them we slew whereby the people of the ship were satisfied that they were poor simple naked people rejoycing that they were landed they quenched their thirsts with a river that we found and stopt their hunger with some wild fowl which we caught without any other cooking than rosting it against the Sun We had but just satisfied our selves with our late caught food when we perceived coming down the mountains an innumerable company of Negroes who being rear'd by those that sled from us came to repell us out of their Countrey We sought to retire to our ships when we perceived their subtilty had deprived us of all hopes of escaping for a whole troop of them getting between us and the ship oppos'd our passage I know not by what Gâ—nius's good direction it was but a little before I had brought Araterus's armour out of the ship which had saved his life in this Exigent He had hardly buckled it on before we were assaulted at a distance with a cloud of arrows which falling upon his armour rebounded back to the amazement of those that jaculated them But many of our companions ended their lives in the first brunt for although they were but slightly wounded yet those wounds being made with empoysoned arrows they immediately dyed Dispair oftentimes the mother of great exploits made our companions fight so vigorously that they obscured the earth with their dark bodies and made a kind of a sable and sanguine field But what avails valour and animosity when 't is over-powered strength may be mastered by a multitude and courage made effectless The power of these Monsters increased and the more we slew the stronger they were by the continual supplies that came It was a kind of miracle to behold how many lay breathing their last and slain by so small a company Indeed they were naked and almost weaponless their chiefest being empoysoned arrows and clubs to whose tops were made fast a kind of stones of a plumbeous substance but their numbers were so great that the weight of their very armes had been enough to have depressed us all to the earth Our companions slew so many of them and had bespread the whole face of the field with their carcases that had you seen them you would have judged by the Clades that it had been the depreliation
to save the ship and our selves were vain we committed our selves wholly to the protection of the Gods and let the ship follow the fortune of the waters being carried along with the impetuous blasts of the enraged wind The night so dark that we could not see our own deaths nor the imminent danger we were in at last vaded the wisht for day appearing but with a troubled skie clouds accumelating with that crassitude as if in despight of the Sun they would transvert the day into night The winde having this day and the ensuing night vented its fury began to diminish its rage of its self or the gods pitying our condition gave a countermand to the encounters of the inferiour windy and watry Deities At last our weather beaten ship and both affrighted and tyred Mareners were driven upon the coasts of a small and unknown Island joyful we had escaped this danger we desired to ease our selves on the Land and there on a sure foundation poure out our prayers to the gods Some of us passed into the Island in a boat which we had for the like occasions whilest the others remained in the ship We wondred we could find no harbour for our ship nor scarce could we attain Land with the boat Araterus and I being desirous to see what place fortune had driven us to and to know of the inhabitants in what Countrey we were after some repast on the shore we left the rest of the ship giving them orders to stay our return Not knowing what dangers might occur we put on our armour and with Meador my servant passed into the Island We intended not to go far because the evening approached but entring a walk beset with green fair-spread trees by the side of a small clear rivulet which with a gentle murmur hasted into a bigger river which carried it as a tribute to the Ocean we had passed farther then we were aware of the pleasantness of the walk stealing away our denotation of the time The end of this walk conveyed us into a most dilectable grove in the which was the most pleasing walks that might be a place as we thought consecrated to Diana and her nimphs But that which made us wonder was that in this pleasant Island we could neither see man nor beast nor the â—ooâ—ing of any living creature for which cause we gave it the name of Dâ—solaâ—â— Curiosity led us into this Grove still filling us with admiration that these pleasant should be uninhabited places and the silence of the place struck an awe upon our spirits that we durst not communicate by the tonâ—ue the cogitations which lay in our breasts for fear of breaking a Law which seem'd to be imposed on those that entred besides a Majesty accompanied the place which made us think it no lesse then sacred We were now about to return finding it already night in that obumbrated place when we found the musings we had entertain'd had made us lose our Judgments for return the path that brought us into this Labyrinth could not be retrod though searched by the memory of us all and the more we thought to extricate our selves the more were we intangled in this Dedalian Grove Seeing necessity caused our stay and that our hopes for departure were abolisht we left retriving the path to seek some convenient repose hoping the next Sun would accommodate us with light to finde that which then we sought in vain I had many times pitcht upon places for our repose and as often through my unsettled thoughts rejected them Thinking to find some better than the last I had pitcht on I made a further search into a place thicker than all the rest entring the place I espied a large Cave the entrance being paved with mosse This place I thought most convenient to shelter us from any annoyance of the heavens The entrance was impleat with a silent darknesse and with a little discent we went but few paces within the mouth least we might precipitate our selves in that obscure place We soon betook our selves to enjoy that rest which nature requires and of which through our danger at sea we had been much deprived Araterus and my servant had soon entred their living death whilest my agetating thoughts had kept open the windows of my senses But endeavouring to suppress the motions of my minde I heard certain emotions within the Cave which gave a check to my thoughts and a stop to my desire of sleep and attending what might ensue I perceived the noise to approach and suddenly felt some blows which I could not see acted because of the obscurity of the place This engaged me to rise and with my sword to defend my self the noise I made in striking which light on nothing but the sides or ground of the Cave awaked Araterus who half amazed and discomposed at being so suddenly awaked had like to have offended me more then my unseen adversaries for hearing our blowes he engaged himself in the dark and with a forcible blow a little wounded my head I made known to him his unseene perpetration and gained him to retire leaving me to defend my selfe from the unseene blowes of my unknown adversaries I wondred when feeling their blows they cut not nor struck as if in the hands of a weaponist and so consusedly both behind and before as if I had dealt with many adversaries that I knew not how to defend my self nor offend them for my blows though struck every way could never be fastned on any besides none answering to my demands made me begin to think them some Phantasmes or some unknown terene Deities which inhabited the Island these thoughts made me retire to the mouth of the Cave and not being pursued I would not enter to disturb the sacred Araterus had for the wound he had given me applied some drogue which he usually carried about him After this disturbance we took up our lodging at the very mouth of the Cave and not trusting to my imagination one of us watcht whilest the other slept and in this sort we spent the night Assoon as the day began fairly to display it self we arose and resolving to see whither my thoughts of those Phantasmes were true conceptions we entred the Cave and the light demonstrated the wounds I had given the earth where I had that strange combat But passing farther we came into a four quare room arched with stone and in the middle of it a Tomb more fair then rich with a certain inscription which we could not understand our perquestions could find no creature that might give us any light into these novils which made us depart altogether unsatisfied It was not without trouble that we found the path which led us to the place where we left our boat but arriving there we found that both the ship and it were departed we could not conjecture why they left us except they thought we were devoured by wild beasts or some other accident had hapned us
this choler he left our house threatning what he would do but the joy for his departure took away the regard of his threats My Parents considering what an irritated spirit might attempt were something troubled at his deportments and blamed me for my temerity I sent for him whose fidelity had attracted my heart to make him acquainted with Subelta's deportments and to enjoy those caresses which the company of Subelta had impedited We met when that silence was spread through the earth and the bright Goddess held the chief Regency in a little grove into which a back door out of my Chamber opened We passed the time in those sweet caresses and pleasances that are enjoyed by Lovers and are delightfull to those that are entred Loves pleasing bondage and servitude When the night began to wear out her sables we parted appointing the time of our next meeting which I believe was heard by Subetla who I suppose might be hid in the grove and heard our discourses for that when he carried me away he uttered some words which I spake concerning him that night My thoughts are grounded on this because this night which is past being the time I appointed my Confident to meet me we had no sooner seated our selves in the grove but that Subelta and the other two disguised entred upon us I knew Subelta by his voice who gave no time for Phineriaz so is he termed to draw his weapon but with his ready drawn thrust it through his body Seeing him fall with a crimson stream slowing from his wound I gave a sudden screek and swounded in Subelta's arms In that condition they abrepted me half an hour expiring e're I came to my self again but when I saw my self in his power whom I hated carried away from him whom I loved I am not able to represent the dolor of my soul but at last breaking the bonds of my silence Wicked Subelta cruel Subelta said I is this the effect of your passion is this the end of your oaths is this the termination of your affections is this love that useth violence Oh heavens pity my estate and aid me against this Ravisher Who would have thought that this treachery could have been acted by him whom love as he said had attracted to my service whom affection had rendred a slave and whom oaths had bound to use me with respect Ah treachery ah falshood ah deceit let not the words of men be credited Let not this force O Nemesis pass without thy just resentment let thy plagues pass upon this Ravisher And O Vitunus inspire a new soul into that muther'd creature whom Love hath exposed to this wretches villany Such exclamations as these I uttered grief making me uncapable to know what I said nor regard the opprobrious speeches Subelta uttered In this condition proceeded I with these Ravishers till the just heavens helped me by your hands At the conclusion of these words said Bruaâ—enor we met certain Gentlemen who were going to seek Artesa but our incounter put an end to their trouble and returning together we soon reached the place from whence she was carried where we met her Parents almost drown'd in grief for her loss The joy they conceived at her return gave them no leasure to consider me till Artesa bid them welcome the happy instrument of her deliverance pointing to me then turning to me they rendred many expressions of thanks for what I had done and immediately applyed things necessary to my wounds I remained with them some small time being respected according to that great service I had done them Phineriaz remained in that house under the Surgions hand being very danâ—erously wounded but they hoped he would recover it They could not understand by him how he came so wounded nor how he came there at that time of the night But I explained the doubt to Artesa's father representing the great love that was betwixt them and so far prevailed with him that he consented to their marriage This Artesa took as the highest piece of service could be rendred her and with innumerable thanks sought to express it Phineriaz conceived no less joy at the knowledge of it which festinated his recovery and when I left them every thing was prepared for their Hymen Assoon as my wounds were healed I urg'd my departure telling them the importunity of my business would admit me no delay They sought on the other side with all the words of invitation could possibly be rendred to keep me there And truly their affability and extaordinary Curtesie had gain'd so great ascendancy over me that it had detained me longer had not the spur of love pricked me forward for my thoughts were on Floria my care was for Floria my fears were for Floria and all my imaginations were taken up in the consideration of Floria so that it was impossible for me to stay without incurring some inconvenience by my passion This broke all bands and made me force my way through their courtesies for I knew not but Floria hearing of Subelta's return might go to effect her resolved purpose which thought made me leave Artesa and the rest loaded with their Courtises Love lent me wings to fly and accelerated my jorney whilst desire sent many precursary thoughts to visit Floria and at last I arrived where long before my imganition had carried me I soon gave an account to my Goddess of all my past evenements which I perceiv'd she heard with some content although she could not but resent the Joy Subelta conceiv'd at her death and thereby she perceiv'd that the unmortalizing her self before him would work no remorse in his conscience I saw the excited passion in her breast and conceiving whence it was suscitated I aggravated their circumstances knowing it made well for my interests and the effect answered my expectations for it shook the foundations of her Love to Subelta and rendred me more acceptable in her sight In the mean time Subelta enraged at the death of one of his companions who was a kinsman of his and at his evil fortune having recovered those wounds which he received at my hands he raised a band of men and began to invade some places under my jurisdiction I soon heard of his practises and for my security began to raise some men for my defence but he so vigorously proceeded that he had taken many places ere I could come to oppose him and arrogantly in the hearing of most of his followers had vowed my utter destruction at last with those whom I had hastily gathered together I gave him battle and by the disfavour of fortune lost most of my men with the victory This loss hightned the arrogancy of my enemy who following his good success won almost all the places of strength from me and followed me so close that I could hardly remuster the dispersed and fill up the bands with more men but at last I had gained a considerable body and was resolved once more to
of two great armies Their strength could not run parallel with their courage their minds and wills fought though their armes were no longer able to strike a stroke They fainted and were slain being overcome only by their own courages and with the heat of Titan not being accustomed to that ardor which they there felt They died but yet with victory and triumph thousands lying about them whose souls they carried in triumph into the neather world I had almost forgot to tell you Araterus is yet invincible though he cannot wrest his companions out of the arms of death he sees them die with regret oreprest with the number of those melaneous Aethiopians this instigates his fury and causes him to make Structures of their carcases and sable rivers of their blood There was not any surviv'd but Araterus and my self he being my buckler against their number receiving their darts upon his armour that did him no hurt which so amazed those ignorant ones that they believed him to be invulnerable and seeing the prodigious strokes that he gave on their defenceless bodies they did not dare to come within his reach but assaulted him afar off with their darts and slings Araterus at last not longer able to endure the intolerable heat of the Sun under the burthen of his heavy armour fainted They no fooner saw him fall but with a strange howling noise they came all running towards him I was fallen upon my knees to have given him breath being almost distracted at the misery to which we were reduced yet at last recollecting my self I hoped by their ignorance to work our delivery Assoon as they came I strove by pointing up to the heaven and then towards Araterus several times to impress into them that he was some celestial Deity They understood my meaning and with a kind of admiration beheld him touching his armour and striking their javelins ends against it Araterus at last coming to himself seeing them about him began to struggle which made them immediatly deprive him of his sword and holding him made a shift to bind his hands and feet Having serv'd me in the same manner they carried us upon a kind of a Chariot on their shoulders thousands of them following us making most hellish noises In that manner they carried us two dayes to the Pallace of their King which stood in a wood built with mud and timber after a course manner After they had waited some time at the gate of the Pallace we entred a kind of Court in which stood a large Tree under which on a kind of Throne sat their King naked having a kind of Diadem made of Ostridge feathers with a kind of linnen Mantle about his middle Round about him stood his noble men who with dejected countenances shew'd the reverence they bore to his Majesty At his elbow stood one different in habit from all the rest having a strange kind of fantastick garment compos'd of all sorts of feathers his head was shaven and covered with a cap of the same This man as we afterwards understood was the Oracle of the King and the high Priest of the Countrey and to whose Council all adher'd After the King had with great admiration satisfied himself with the sight of Araterus and with feeling and trying his darts against his armour he made many signs to us which I supposing were to know from whence we came pointed up to the heavens endeavouring to make them think Araterus a god The Priest till then stood mute but seeing the King bow his head to Araterus he fell into a fearfull ejulation and afterwards as if he were possest uttered some speeches which we understood by the signes of the people and their often nominating their great God that he made known we were to be given for food to their great god Arqcebusqez Interest had possest him for surely he believed that Araterus being taken for a God he would have been some detriment to his order By the signs that were made us we understood our doome and wondring what their god might be we expected our expiration with patience We were presently carried into another spacious Court compassed about with high poles stuck fast into the ground and intertexed with smaller sticks At the further end of this place was a kind of Temple it seems the habitation of their God which shone with gold and corruâ—cing stones Right against the entrance of this Temple were we set upon the earth bound the King retiring to a window that look'd into the place and the people beholding us through the Poles that encompassed the place The Priest after a certain ululation called upon his God to come accept the viâ—tim he had prepared By and by we heard a wonderful fibilation and presently came forth a monstrous Serpent at whose sight the people fell flat upon the earth as also the King and all his black Candidates Araterus at the sight of that monster forc'd himself so strongly that he broke the bands about his arms and taking forth a dagger that he had under his Cassock cut those that tied his feet then presently freeing me he met that monstrous serpent and assaying his skin in many places could find no entrance for the point of his dagger The Serpent with his anguinious tail beat him down several times which made me fear that he would have yielded his life between the jaws of that Hydra After a long resistance he found the belly of the Monster passible for plunging his dagger several times into it he let out a stream of veneniserous and stinking blood with the life of that monstrous Serpent and false Deity The King Priest and People all amazed at the puissance of Araterus and the death of their God expressed it by their countenances and posture At last the oraculous Priest seeming to be possest howled forth certain words which we know by the effects were to perswade the King that Araterus was the chiefest Deity in the celestial orb and that I was an under god who had left the heavens to attend him and that he should place us in the Temple and cause us to be worshiped in the place of that ancient Deity which they had worshipped so long The King that never contradicted what he said came into the place to us and falling on his knees before Araterus with erected hands which through our ignorance of their language we could not understand The Priest doing the like whether out of ignorance or subtilty I know not engaged all the people to a profound devotion I perswaded Araterus not to contradict them telling him it was the only way for us to escape them He permitted it with a heart that attributed nothing of it to himself and did but accept it for his own safety After many ceremonies they conducted us to the Temple where having seated us in an high seat placeing me at the seet of Araterus there entred many under-Priests deck'd after the same manner as their High-priest with