durst hardly look upon this Prince the difference of his condition though it made her more obliged unto him in her soul yet was it the reason why she treated him so coolly Philoxypes would have presented the whole Family but they all refused to receive any This mean while he was still more unhappy for though he loved Policrite passionately and that he valued her more then all the world besides yet could he never put on a resolution of making any one acquainted with this his so meanly placed passion He would certainly have been able to live with Policrite in any desert Island but he knew not how he could avow the marrying a Maid of her condition to the world yet did he still love her with a respectfull affection not giving way to any sinfull desire That pure and unartificiall vertue which he saw in Policrite infused into him a greater respect for her then if she had been seated on a Throne he then perceived he loved without hope of ever finding a remedy for his evil upon lesser termes then resolving to abandon the Court and Kingdom and to ask Policrite of Cleanthes upon so vexaatious termes but that which most of all afflicted him was that he knew not how he stood in Policrite's affection he found her milde and civil he observes no marks of hatred in her countenance but there was therein also so great a reservednesse and so exact a modesty as he could not penetrate her thoughts He thought also that Policrite was grown somewhat more melancholy then she had formerly been and indeed he was not mistaken for Philoxypes his handsomenesse his good behaviour his wit and civility being things not to be seen without liking young Policrite could not see her self belov'd of such a Prince as he without having her heart a little toucht with acknowledgement yet seeing her self in a condition so far beneath his and out of a sense of vertue she must resist this budding affection she could not but be afflicted at this conquest which she had made and to bemoan her self thereof to her dear Dorida who had wit enough Sister said she unto her how happy are you in comparison of me who can take pleasure in walking abroad in gathering of flowers in hearing birds sing and the fall of waters and in not being reduced to a condition of complaining of too much good fortune For in fine Dorida Philoxypes heart is a conquest which I am sure the greatest Queens would be proud to have made yet whilst they might innocently rejoyce thereat I must be therewithall afflicted I could wish I had never seen him or at least I think I could For when all is done though me thinks I could heartily desire that he would love me no more yet am I glad to see him But if love replied Dorida be so powerfull a thing as it is said to be how know you but that Philoxypes may love you well enough to Marry you Ah sister answered she as I would do nothing misbeseeming me so neither would I that Philoxypes should do any thing that might misbeseeme him to do But said Dorida belike then you love Philoxypes since you interest your self in his honour against your self Policrite blusht at this discourse and looking confusedly upon Dorida if you were better acquainted with this passion then I said she I would tell you whatsoever my soul is sensible of to the end I might know what to think of it But I cannot yet believe that this dangerous disease be yet got into my heart for if you remember well we have heard Cleanthes say and we have read it more then once that love makes one lose their reason that it causeth a thousand pains and vexations that it sometimes makes people do amisse and I thank Heaven I do not yet feel any of all this Me thinks my reason is free enough and I am well enough pleased with the melancholy which possesseth me For t is true I oft times talk I know not what but I delight in doing so and though I would not love Philoxypes yet there are certain moments wherein I am well enough pleased that he should love me But as for any thing of fault so far am I from being willing to commit any as I protest unto you that were it for no other reason then not to lose Philoxypes his esteem and good opinion I would die a thousand deaths rather then do any thing that should be unjust You may then believe that whilest I love vertue and would become worthy the affection of so great a Prince I will never do any thing contrary to reputation I believe you answered Dorida but for all this Sister mine you deceive your self if you believe you love not not Philoxypes For in a word you do not love what you lov'd before you knew him you are somewhat more comely you consult oftner with the Christall fountains and you are quite another thing then you were Ah Sister replied Policrite if that were true which you say I would quickly take order for it I would never see Philoxypes but to use him harshly to the end that he hating me I might no longer love him These two young people having entertained themselves thus upon the bank of a little rivolet Cleanthes and Megisto who had altered their mindes came thither and bidding Dorida withdraw a little Megisto began to say Policrite it is not many dayes since I told you that in respect of your condition you should never look upon Philoxypes but with a great deal of respect but fearing lest through that inequality which you may believe to be between you and him you may not appear to be so much obliged to him for his affection as indeed to put somewhat too great an estimation thereupon Cleanthes and myself have resolved to tell you that your true condition considered you are not bound to behold Philoxypes at any time but with a great deal of indifferency For in a word said Cleanthes not to disguise the truth from you any longer you are what you think not your self to be and we are likewise that which you know not and what you shall not as yet know because the Gods have not permitted us as yet to let you know it But to shew you how much you are more obliged then you think for to be vertuous know Policrite that you are of as Noble blood as any is in all Greece And how answered Policrite interrupting him am I not what I alwaies thought to be No daughter said he to number Kings amongst your Ancestors is not the greatest mark of honour that you make boast of There is somwhat of more August in your race then what I speak of Therefore that I might raise up your heart I thought it good to trust you with this important secret which I charge you not to reveal to any one as also to let you know the better how much bound you are not to doe any thing unworthy of your Fathers
he out why was I not so happy as to dye in fighting with Mexaris rather then live to see my self in such a miserable condition I would I could conceal my follies as hitherto I have from you but since I cannot chuse but testifie my passion by my grieving at the good fortune of the Princess Panthea I had rather confess my crime and have recourse unto your discretion then to deny a truth unto you which you know but too well I do confess therefore Doralisa that I do love the Princess and have loved her with as much zeal as I now do ever since I was capable of loving but with such a violent zeal as I wonder I have not dyed a thousand times yet notwithstanding there was ever so much purity in my Love that I never had the least hope no nor so much as wished for any thing but that she should never marry Abradates Yet this Abradates who is going to marry her is he who makes her a Queen and sends me to my grave and happy were I if I were in it before that fatal day of solemnization Perinthus pronounced all these words with so much vehemency and in such a concerning manner that the heart of Doralisa who did infinitely esteem him was much moved unto pity and she began to comfort him I ever imagined said she unto him that you were in love with the Princess but I do confess I never thought your passion so violent Oh Heavens said he could you ever think that one can love the Princess with any mediocrity and how was it possible you should know for know it you did the Reason why I denyed obedience unto the Princess Commands in applying my self unto your service and not beleeve my Love of her most violent Did you not know that it was Panthea only that could hinder Perinthus from loving Doralisa and there is no question but since I did so highly esteem you I should also have loved you if my heart had not been already engaged and therefore without any accusing me of insensibility towards you I beseech you pity me and help me to conceal for a few days which I have to live that which I have with so much care concealed all my life But can you not possibly suit your mind unto your fortune said Doralisa Did you not ever know that you could never hope for any thing from the Princess no not so much as to endure your passion Yes replyed the sad Perinthus and sighed Why then are you desperate replyed she Because the only man who I would not have had happy answered he is now upon the point of being so This seems to be rather a symptome of hatred to Abradates replyed Doralisa then any testimony of love to Panthea Ha Doralisa cryed he out how ignorant you are in the effects of Love for if I did not love Panthea certainly I should love Abradates yes Doralisa as predominate as my passion is I must needs acknowledg him to be a most excellent qualified man but the more excellencies he hath the more I envy his good fortune and the more he renders me miserable Time replyed she will happily cure you Yes if I live so long as to wait for its Remedies answered he but I beleeve I shall not nor is it my desire In the mean time since I would not have my despair appear and since it is impossible to to hide my sorrows and since I cannot go to the Princess but I shall express some signs of my Love it is my best course to retire my self Since I have been a long time without my health it will be an easie matter perhaps to make the world beleeve that the indisposition of my body is the cause of the indisposition in my mind this will hide the cause of my melancholy from those few which I shall see Doralisa hearing Perinthus speak in this manner did with all her arguments perswade him to strive with himself and not to reclase himself from the society of the world but she found no possibility to divert him from the design he intended and therefore she left him he desired her at parting not to speak a word of his passion unto the Princess and I do not well know whether he did not in his heart desire she would tell her something yet she told her not a syllable knowing very well that she could not understand of the passion he had to her and the condition unto which he was brought without either anger or sorrow or perhaps both But though she would not disturb her Joys in telling her of it yet she told it unto me in particular and when I saw she knew it as well as I then I related unto her all that I did know and truly both of us were so full of pity to him and so sorry such a compleat man as he was should be in such a miserable condition that we apprehended the good fortune of the Princess with less satisfaction then otherwise we should Yet since we hoped that time would be a Comforter unto him it did not keep us from being very pleasant and indeed Doralisa had a hundred jolly conceits upon the avarice of Mexaris and generosity of Abradates which she told unto the Princess she told her also that she was much happier then ever she hoped to be in finding so soon that which she had sought for so long and could never find to wit a compleat man which never loved any but her self then she desired the Princess that she would not command her any more to be kind unto Andramites since now she had no more need of his solicitations unto Croessus Since Andramites replied the Princess is a friend unto Perinthus I should be very unwilling to cast him off Doralisa was about to answer her but the Princess prevented her by asking where Perinthus was wondering he did not present himself and his complements of joy Doralisa would not tell her she came newly from him but told her she knew not where he was Then presently after the Prince of Clasomena sent for Panthea to tell her what his resolutions were so that the rest of the day passed on without any thoughts of Perinthus But the next day when Abradates came to visit the Princess as one whom he was to marry and when she remembred that no news was heard all that while of Perinthus she began to wonder and to ask me whether I knew what was become of him and when I said no she sent one of her servants to him and to tell him that she took it ill he should not come to rejoyce with her for the happy success in her affairs and that unless he were even at death door she should have much ado to pardon this neglect After he whom the Princess sent unto Perinthus had delivered this message Tell the Princess replied he that since I shall obtain a pardon at my death I shall hope e're long to die in her favour since
trouble you but since it is necessary that you know it both for your tranquillitie and mine own I must tell you that though I should consent yet it is a thing impossible for you ever to be happie in the enjoyment of Cleodora since she is so incensed against you that it may truely be said she now hates you as much as she loved you before it is because she hates me replied Belesis that I hope she will love me for if her soule were only upon termes of indifference or that she scorned me I should for ever have despaire of pardon but since she does not I beseech you let me have no other obstacle but Cleodora her self moreover said he unto him I know that she gave you a picture which indeed she could not give because she gave it unto me first therefore I pray you restore it unto me But is it possible said I unto him and interrupted him that this you say should be really true Can I beleeve that the man which within this eight hours said he could love none but Leonisa should now love none but Cleodora I cannot well expresse my thoughts said he unto us for there is such a multitude of things which at once do overpresse my heart that I cannot utter them all I can say unto you is that I know the gods are resolved to punish me for my inconstancie and therefore I do most cordially repent of it I am confident that within this eight hours neither Cleodora nor Leonisa hated me yet by a most fatall turne I am like to lose them both and that in the most cruell manner For Leonisa is ravished from me by a man whom of all liveing I most scorned and Cleodora by him whom I most dearly loved To speak my minde really unto you said I and interrupted him you can blame none but your self for your misfortune I know very well replied he that I am culpable I see my request unto Hermogenes is not just yet since the love of Cleodora took first root in my heart me thinks Hermogenes might pitty my weaknesse I doe very much pittie you replied Hermogenes but me thinks I ought to pitty my self also However my dear Hermogenes said he unto him I beseech you for heavens sake oblige me and tell me sincerely whether you think Cleodora does really love you or whether it be only spite against me that moves her to let you serve her I know very well your merit is much above mine and therefore since I had the honour once not to be hated it may not be impossible but she may now love you However I begg this favour from you to tell me what you think protesting unto you that if you will swear as you are a man of honour that you think she loves you as well as she loved me I will never seek for any other remedy against my misery but death All that I can tell you is replied Hermogenes who could not tell all his thoughts that I am perswaded Cleodora hates you and I know she consents that I shall marry her This is enough to let me know replied he that you are not upon such good tearmes with her therefore I conjure you to permit me so much favour as to speak once more in private with Cleodora For if she love you so well as not to value my repentance you will be the more happy And if I be so happy as to reduce her unto the same tearms she formerly was you will be a gainer by that also since it would have been but halfe a happinesse for you to marry a woman whose affection was but weak towards you therefore I beseech you deny me not this request I confesse that since I thought the request of Belesis to be something reasonable I endeavoured to perswade Hermogenes unto a consent but he would not by any meanes harken unto it In the mean time the more he denied the more hopes Belesis had that he was not quite rooted out of Cleodoras heart so that having no hopes at all from Leonisa but conceiving some glimps from Cleodora his passion did much increase Seeing then that Hermogenes would not by any means consent he should speak unto her he began to ask the picture which he had But Hermogens replied that he ought not to take any notice whether it was his or no it sufficed that he received it from Cleodora and therefore he would not restore it to him As I had blamed Hermogenes a little before because he so obstinately refused to let Belesis speak unto Cleodora so afterwards I blamed Belesis for pressing his friend to restore a picture which he had not from him In the interim since I did extreamly fear that being alone with them I could not hinder them from being too sharp and high I told them that being both possessed with one too violent a passion to speak of their interests with moderation I desired that for the time to come they might know each others pretentions only by me Adding further that when they were seperated I should tell them something which I could not tell them in their presence So that temporing thir minds as well as I could I got them to part without a quarrell After which I went sometimes to the one and sometimes to the other not knowing which side to take For when I was with Belesis he repented so bitterly of his inconstancy that he moved me to pitty him and when I saw Hermogenes he would perswade me that right was on his side for said he unto me if Belesis had never forsaken Cleodora I should then not only have never falne in love with her but if I had I should have restrained my self out of respect unto the lawes of friendship But since he forced me to see her often and entreated me to dissemble love unto her and now to barr me from seeing her any more but to ravish out of my heart a love which he himself caused that is a thing which I neither can nor ought nor will do on the other side said Belesis to me is it just that because I intreated Hermogenes only to see a Lady whom I loved that he should therefore rob me of her does he not know that ever since the first time he asked me leave to discover my inconstancy unto her I told him that I would never suffer him might he not well imagine that I neither would nor ought to do it but out of resentment of love though he gave it another phrase Can one be Jealous without affection unto the party of whom he is Jealous might not Hermogenes rather think I loved two persons at once then to think me jealous of him without being in love with Cleodora Afterwards said he unto me my demand was but just when I propounded to let Cleodora judge the difference between us and that he would suffer me to see and speak to her for if after that she would have chosen him I would have left
I find my self in least favour of them all But who knows said he and interrupted himself whether all this be true Ah no no alas alas it is too too true were he only one Rival who boasted of her favours I should think he had belched out some horrid lye but there is no likely-hood that Poligenes and Agenor both should be cheats especially being Brothers Let it then be most certainly concluded that there is no assurance in any since not in Elisa I have not so much consolation in my miserie as that can in reason call her Perfideous since she never promised me her affection only assured me that if she did alter her resolution of never marrying then it should be in my advantage yet it seems she preserves her liberty only to engage her self unto two at once But O Heavens am I not unjust in speaking this of Elisa Can Elisa love any and not Phocilion Can she suffer others to speak of Love and impose eternal silence upon me Alas Elisa said he and sighed since your heart can admit of division why had not I a part But what do I say said miserable Phocilion No no Elisa I will have no shares in your affection I had rather a hundred times you kept your self neutral and that you mocked at me and all my Rivals then to enjoy a moiety only of your heart I had rather Elisa be hated by you then to be loved with another Take heed Elisa lest this divided affection should purchase you none at all As for me who have entirely given you my heart I cannot be contented with a half However unjust and ungrateful Elisa I have this satisfaction that I am revenged of you even by those whom you preferred before me for they talk of favours conferred upon them without any rapture of Joy and without any discretion They talk of these favours with delight only because it suits with their vanity and I doubt not they will ere long be blabbing to the world those things which they talked in private Alas Elisa what an ill choice have you made if you desire to have secret Lovers But to say truth she who can favour two at once never thinks upon any discretion which they ought to use I Heavens knew never had any favour to conceal but when you did at any time look upon me without scorn I did conceal it almost from my self Yet Elisa you prefer two men who love you only out or vanitie and who love you more for their own sakes then yours If I had but one happie Rival to deal withall I might hope that after I had defeated him I my self might be your Favorite but that Elisa should have two Favorites this opens a door for all my Rivals and renders my happiness impossible since I cannot endure to be in a divided heart But since it is granted that Elisa is not the same she was thought to be ought I in reason to continue the same I was to her should I adore her that is not worthy of any adoration or ought I to love her who loves many or at least who tampers so with two of my Rivals as if she did love them But on the other side How should I not love Elisa Elisa who is Beautie in the abstract Elisa whose charms are inevitable Elisa who has my heart in her hands Elisa whom only I find fair and Elisa whom only indeed I can love Go on then Phocilion said he and reprehended himself hate thy Rivals and not Elisa pitie only her weakness and be revenged on them for her injustice since thy respects will not suffer thee to do it upon her These Madam were the ravelled thoughts of Phocilâ—on all that night not being able to resolve upon what course to take In the mean time be pleased to know that Poligenes and Agenor after they came out of the Grot continued their walk as I told you and still talked of Elisa And since Poligenes knew that he never told Elisa he was in love with her nor had any hopes of being loved he took another course to defeat Agenor in faining still to be in Elisa's favour Since it is the will of Fate said he unto his Brother with as much seeming ingenuity as he had subtilty in his heart that we must be Rivals and Rivals both in favour in lien of disputing who shall yeild up Elisa unto the other let us both equally forsake her since she is almost equally perfidious to us both and thus by a generous disdain and surmounting our passions preserve our friendship and for a full revenge upon her let us forsake her whole Sex in general Let us look upon all Beauties only as bare ornaments of the Universe without any doting upon them but with the same freedom of spirit we use to look upon fair flowers in meadows or upon blossoms of trees or buds or fountains or such like Why should we lose our rest and reason Gallantrie is confessedly a dilectable thing but a violent passion is meer folly Let us therefore Agenor quit this unjust woman who cannot content her self neither with your love nor mine for what she does to us she does the same to all our Rivals Let us not omit any thing that may blunt the edg and beautie of her charms My dearest Brother said Agenor craftily your expressions do infinitely joy me but since you are able to quit Elisa out of jealousie spite and reason doubtless you can also quit me out of pitie generositie and affection No no replied Poligenes deceive not your self I am able to quit Elisa if you can but I cannot forsake her unless you can also As good hap was some companie came and broke off their discourse for considering the disposition of their souls it was to be feared that perhaps they would have quarrelled if none had come to them In the mean time Poligenes and Agenor parted with different thoughts for Poligenes went away extreamly jealous but so did not Agenor for he did not give any credit to his brothers words neither did he fear that Poligenes would tell Elisa how he bragged of being in her favour for knowing that it was not so and that he never had so much as a favourable word from her as her Lover he imagined that Elisa would never accuse him of any such invention but that she would rather think it the device of Poligenes to put him out of her favour Thus was he extreamly joyed at his finding some reason for not yeelding Elisa unto his Brother and at his making him jealous hoping that verie spite would make him forsake Elisa yet was he not sure as he imagined for Poligenes was no sooner up but he went unto the house of Straton and to the end he might have the opportunity of speaking with Elisa without any witness he made choice of the morning and for a better pretence he told Straton that some Ladies in the Countrie had desired him to send them some Jewels
of telling that which I have promised never to reveal Can you not guess at what you desire to know Let it suffice I tell you for the opening of your apprehension that it is neither policie nor hatred or scorn which moves the Queen to denie you Philimena After all this Myrinthus I pray tell your self that which I have not power to tell you especiailie when I call to mind the promises which I have made to the Queen never to tell it Myrinthus hearing Stesilea speak in this manner began to apprehend what she hinted at but he apprehended it with so much astonishment and so much perplexitie of Spirit as he thought that he misapprehended her his thoughts were so ravelled as he could not unwind them to the bottom yet to run no hazard he answered Stesilea a little from the matter The thing which it seems you would have me apprehend said she unto him is so verie full of wonder as I fear that I should commit a crime in seeming to apprehend it No no Myrinthus replied Stesilea it is no crime to understand me but you will be extreamly too blame if after you understand me you do not what I conceive you are obliged unto Alas Stesilea cried Myrinthus I cannot comprehend how I can believe you unless I should fail in my respects unto the Queen no no her denial is not caused be any reason you would give me and I think it better to misunderstand you and to accuse you as an Imposture rather then to accuse the greatest Queen upon Earth of so bad a choice Stesilea seeing Myrinthus either would not or would not seem to believe her did so circumstance the matter unto him as at last she convinced his belief and he calling to memory a hundred several passages especially the manner how the Queen denied his Marriage with Philimena he did not at all doubt of the truth Since he was not at all satisfied at the last conference with Philimena he could not imagine himself loved by the most illustrious Queen in the world without some thoughts which elevating his heart did exhilerate his spirits and ambition did so swell his soul as his imagination was full of Thrones and Scepters and Crowns The beautie spirit wisdom and virtue of Cleobuline did so stagger his thoughts as for a while there was an interregnam in his heart In the interval of which he thought he could give it unto which he pleased and stronglie phancied to give it entirelie unto Cleobuline and that he could quit Philimena But this inward tumult which glorie and ambition had raised in his soul being a little calmed his love to Philimena began to revive and made him think this honour which the Queen did him as a thing which would render him the most miserable man alive This serenitie of soul was no sooner established in his heart but turbulent clouds began to bluster again and he was so full of contradictions in his talk to Stesilea as the trouble of his Spirits was evident I beseech you Stesilea said he unto her before I tell you my thoughts promise me never to tell the Queen that you have acquainted me with any thing for Stesilea if she should know I know it I have nothing in the world to do but die at your feet since it is impossible I can appear before her the most ungrateful and unjust person that lives amongst men I have already told you Sir replied she that I would not have the Queen know I have discovered her secret unto you 'T is true said he but I am so sensible of shame that I am not so joyed as I ought to be as I am at an extream Dilemna for I must confess unto you that my fidelitie to Philimena makes me ashamed of my crime against her as well as against the Queen and I am perswaded that if Cleobuline and Philimena did see the thoughts of my heart they would both of them be equally incensed I am forced to consess that I cannot apprehend my obligations to the Queen without such agitation of mind as I am not able to express I would willingly die a thousand times to do her service I would leave loving Philimena and onlie adore her I would I say sacrifice my life and render her eternal homage But presentlie after when I think upon Philimena I wish the Queen to hold me in a state of neutralitie and indifferencie and indeed to hate me provided she will let me love Philimena Judg then Stesilea I beseech you in what a sad condition that heart is which is tormented with such various and contrarie thoughts However it be said she I conceive you owe so much reverence to the Queen as not to think any more of Philimena I wish to the heavens replied he that I were able to follow your counsel I do not ask any thing which is unjust said she For since the Queen would not have you know she loves you and though you did love her yet would she have you not tell it unto her I will not oblige you of necessitie to love her but onlie to ease her of so much sorrow as to see you love another and this I conceive to be the least you can do for the most wise virtuous and most accomplished Princess in the world Alas Stesilea said he I know that my dutie is to do all things but the great difficultie is to know what I am able to do against my self and against Philimena And since all your arguments are not strong enough to stagger my constancie or render me perfidious you would have me leave Philimena for the greatest Queen in the world 't is true but it is for a Queen who will not have me know she loves me and who would have me love her and never speak of it No no Stesilea such a passion as this is not able to make a man perfidious who is accustomed to tell her he loves that he loves her A man I say who has leave to sigh and libertie to let his love be seen in his eyes and to seek for some advantagious thoughts in the eyes of his Mistress which her tongue dare not utter But what if upon capitulation the Queen should let me know her thoughts and let me tell her mine Am I yet the Master of my own heart Can I dispose of it as as I will Alas alas said he and sighed how miserable am I and how far from that power Could I be innocent either towards the Queen or towards Philimena my heart would be at some ease But to speak truth since I cannot be faithful unto Philimena until after I have tried not to be so my constancie is almost guiltie and as for the Queen though I am culpable against her with abundance of repugnance shame and repentance yet still I am guiltie Thus not knowing well what I am I dare neither justifie nor accuse my self but still remain in the most lamentable condition in the world Since it seems
beleeved that what he told unto one who was a friend both to him and me was true that he did all things possible not to love her But Sir all was in vain love made a wonderfull strange alteration in him Untill now he seemed to be the most sincere and faithfull friend unto me of all men that ever I did meet withall but he became upon a sudden the vilest cheat upon the earth We met many daies but not a word of Amestris as if he had never seen her He did so cure all my jealousies of him by this cunning that I desired him to let us visit her sometimes but he denied it very stifly and indeed he was many dayes and never went unto her But to my misfortune I knew afterwards that he had seen her thrice in the Temple twice walking in the Garden of the Kings Palace and once walking upon the banks of the River Orontes where she often used to walk Artabes then seeming unto me to be farre from any design upon Amestris I kept correspondency with him I spoke to him concerning my Passion and asked his counsell When I told him that I had not yet followed his counsell in discovering my love unto her as soon as I could because she did shun all such occasions then he answered me thus When I counselled you to speak of your passion so soon I did not then know Amestris But oh Gods Aglatidas said he I have much altered my opinion upon sight of her and finde that the grave modesty which I observed in her countenance doth tell me you must not discover your love too hastily and lightly unto her Beleeve me said this treacherous friend you must not think to tell Amestris of any love untill you rendred her a hundred services and untill you have brought her to that passe as she cannot deny you without ingratitude This way said I is very far fetcht Yes it is so said he but it is very sure and the other very dangerous for said he what if she should be displeased when you discover your passion if she should forbid you to see her if she should shun you or if she should hate you what course would you take then Surely replied I I should die But continued I if she be never acquainted with my passion if I never must tell her but let my Rivals be more favoured then my self and speak of their loves how can she come to know of mine Would you have her recompenâ—e me for that which she is ignorant of I would have her know it answered he but I would have it after such a manner as will not displease her I would have her heart engaged a little to embrace your love when you tell it openly But who shall engage replied I this illustrious heart of Amestris Your endeavours your services your reverence and your silence answered he whereas others procure her hatred by their importunities And believe me Aglatidas although I am not acquainted with matters of love more then by report of others as I have examined the passion in it self knowing the cause I can guess at the effects Be assured then that if you love Amestris will come to the knowledge of it Love is a fire which shines as well as burns and cannot be but be discovered Therefore Aglatidas rest contented concerning that Let all your cares be to finde out waies of serving her whom you adore and make her plainly know your love without telling her Thus Sir this cunning Artabes who knew well enough my disposition caused me to resolve not to discover my passion more then I had already unto Amestris or any else But though all the Court did suspect me to be in Love yet I confessed it unto none but Artabes And though many others did appear to be before me yet I kept my self within the limits which my unfaithfull friend prescribed me I promised to order my self according to his directions and he also promised me to take off one of my most dangerous Rivals not conceiving it as he told me that this design was advantagious unto Megabises Indeed he promised very fair but alas all was for his own ends as afterwards you shall know Then Sir the true reason why he would not go so often unto Amestris was not only to hide from me his love unto her but also that the counsell which he intended to give unto Megabises his brother might not be suspected In the morning therefore he went into his chamber where he found him alone and after discourse of a hundred indifferent matters he asked him how he would bestow the day Megabises who did not suspect the subtilty of his brother answered him ingeniously that he would spend the day with Hermanista You should have said Amestris answered Artabes laughing and scoffing at him for what vertue is there in Hermanista If Amestris had no beauty I believe you would not visit Artambaces so often It is true answered Megabises but what do I more then all the Court does Aglatidas who is your special friend is not he continually with Amestris as well as I Yes answered the false Artabes and I would to heavens he were not so for loving his quiet as I do I wish he would not trouble himself with a design which cannot be advantagious unto those who are so much bent upon it I know very well replied Megabises that love is a restless passion which affords no serene delights yet for all that if Artabes did experimentally know it he would not be so forward to blame those who are possessed with it and would finde that how rigorous soever the pains of love do seem to be yet it affords more delight then all the pleasures in the world which are not caused by it Yet this wherein you are engaged answered Artabes is so full of danger that I would do any thing in the world which were in my power to divert you begin then with Aglatidas said Megabises embracing his brother and beleeve me I shall be more obliged unto you for curing his disease then mine I 'le do my best replied Arabes and perhaps I have already done more to him then you Oh heavens replied Megabises is it possible that you can divert Aglatidas from prejudicing me concerning Amestris Certainly answered Artabes I will do all that is in my power that Aglatidas shall not prejudice other lovers of Amestris But deceive not your self and know that it is not with any intention that Megabises shall get any more interest in her by it But on the contrary I wish with all my heart that he would prejudice others no more then I would have Aglatidas prejudice him What then would you have me do replied Megabises I would answered Artabes have you strive to stifle a passion which has much weakness in it in generall and will in this particular procure you much unprofitable trouble for said he there are a hundred more which promote the same design and which is more you
wherein we were but I wonder at the capritious humour of Fate For Anatisa was wrapt up into the height of joy to see her self preferred before Amestris by Aglatidas who neither preferred her nor loved her Megabises for his part he was infinitely glad to be called back by her who had for ever banished him though she which called him back did it not out of any affection she bore unto him onely Amestris and my self who if we had rightly understood one another had been the happiest of all we were the most perplexed souls upon earth Mean time though Megabises thought himself very happy in being with Amestris yet the remembrance of his brothers death and the sight of him who killed him did so reflect upon his heart as he had no good minde to be where I was Madam said he unto Amestris I should make a doubt whether the command which I received from the King could work so prevalently upon my spirit as to hinder me from my just resentments against a man whom I see before me if the respect which I owe unto you did not restrain me Therefore Madam fear lest this respect should not be strong enough to resist the apprehensions of bloud and nature I most humbly beseech you to pardon my incivility and give me leave to leave you Upon those words he made a very low rerence unto Amestris and without staying for any answer he went out of the Garden She who only staied him to anger me was not forward to retain him As for me Sir who never understood what they said I no sooner saw him gone but I was in as great a chafe as I was to see him enter imagining that he only went out to disguise the appointment which Amestris had given him Not being to stay where I was and thinking I should better hide my perplexity in walking then staying there I proposed a departure unto Anatisa who consented unto it But she more out of vanity then complacency would needs do what I could go unto Amestris thinking it would be a Triumph unto her to carry her slave whether she pleased Then we went to meet Amestris and Menasta and as we came near one another Anatisa not telling me her design began to speak unto Amestris whereat I was so angry that I was in a minde to leave her and be gone from that place where the object of my love and the object of my hatred were together I neither durst nor would look upon Amestris I wished with all my heart that Megabises were there that I might fight with him Sometimes I thought Amestris lesse fair and Anatisa more But O Heavens that sometimes was quickly over and I thought Anatisa ugly and Amestris Angelike fair yet Anatisa who as I told you would needs triumph and better assure her self of her Conquest spoke very spitefully unto Amestris and in accosting her I am very happy said she unto her to meet such good company in a place which is used to be very solitary and I have reason to think my self so since expecting only the pleasure of the walk I have met also with the delight of company My company answered Amestris very coldly is so far from pleasant that you have rather cause to complain if you had not some other to divert you If you should put to Judges replied Anatisa maliciously I am sure Megabises who I saw with you would not be of your minde and as for Aglatidas he is no competent Judge for he would give sentence in my behalf As for my part said I in a great confusion I do not doubt but Megabises findes Amestris to be incomparable in all things and I confess said I changing colour that he has good cause to publish that the conversation of Amestris is the most complacentiall of any in the world when she pleaseth Ah Madam replied Anatisa who was ravished with joy to see such signs of anger in the face of Amestris be not now of that humour and be pleased to suffer all those commendations which I will give you I deserve so little answered she that I will not advise you to imploy your time to so little purpose There is a kinde of humility replied Anatisa which honour will not admit of Yes replied Amestris and there is also a kinde of false humour which covers oftentimes abundance of basenesse I suppose answered Anatisa that neither you nor I are guilty of either I know nothing replied Amestris for none do know themselves very well It is much more hard said I unto her to know the thoughts of another especially of those replied she who do counterfet to be generous and sincere but indeed are not so I am confident said the malicious Anatisa that Megabises cannot disguise his thoughts Those who like him answered Amestris thinking to spight me do affect true honour do never use to do so there is none but base men use to dissemble their thoughts I confess unto you Sir thas I was infinitely perplexed to hear Amestris thus express her self that I could not possibly stay any longer in that place As I came not into Garden with Anatisa I thought my self not engaged to stay with her Furthermore I was not in a condition to observe an exact correspondency in my actions I had seen Megabises pleased so well I observed Anatisa so well content I saw Amestris so fierce contrary to her custome and I found my self so sad so angry and so desperate that at last being stirred by my Love my hate and my Jealousie I left this both dear and intollerable company I went then out of the Garden with an ill intent resolving to be revenged upon Megabises for all the wrongs that Amestris had done me And to that end in lieu of entring into the Town I went to conceal my self in the house of one of my acquaintance with intention to send the next day unto Megablses to meet me with his Sword I would not advertise Artaban of my design because I knew he would contradict it but alas I did not know that I should have been the happiest man upon earth if I had seen him whereas now I am the most unfortunate In the mean while Amestris who had not treated Megabises so well but only to anger me had no sooner lost the sight of me but not being able to endure the company of her Rivall she thought out a pretence to leave her and went to complain of her misfortune in secret unto her dear Menasta As for Megabises it may be said that his good fortune was but a flash and away which ending as soon as it begun made it more dusky and intollerable then before And as for Anatisa though her joys to be preferred before Amestris did last a little longer yet it was but to torment her more sensibly afterwards For my part Sir I never thought my self so unhappy as now I found my self At the first time when I saw Amestris favourable unto Megabises I had this
Sea you have nothing to hope for but a gentle gale nor any thing to fear but a furging Tempest Pirates replyed I in such a tone and after such a manner as might make her think I was not one are not originally out of the Sea as your Goddess is but they are born upon Land as others are and indeed Madam said I and blushed my Shipwrack may tell you that Pirates are not always amongst the waves You give your self a name said she which suits so ill with your discourse that I do not think it belongs unto you I do confess said I unto her that I have not always had that title nor did I take it up my self but since people bestow it upon me I shall keep it until it please Fortune to take it away again Thus did I hold the fair Alcionida in discourse until all those Ladies which were with her were making ready to depart and I thought it long enough for my first visit So that giving Phedima a Complement of gratitude and desiring the honour to visit her as long as I stayd at Gnides I returned to my Lodging Leosthenes who all that while had only the company of a stupid blockhead complained against the longness of my visit but my mind was so taken up with my new passion that I knew not well what he said nor answered him much to the purpose he judging therefore by my actions that I desired to be alone left me and went unto the Port to see whether the trimming up of our Ship went forward I then was no sooner at liberty but remembering my firm resolution which I had taken in going unto Alcionida not to love her I began to question my self whether I was free or whether I was a captive I examined my reason and my heart upon it but oh Heavens I found the first of these so engaged and the other so prejudicated that I was not a little amazed at it I called for the ayd of ambition since I heard say that Passion of all others was able to resist the power of Love but all was in vain and Ambition did submit unto Love yet for all that she did not quite desert my heart but on the contrary notwithstanding the predominancy of Love she redoubled all her strength and I esteemed my self a hundred times more unfortunate in losing my Dominions since I knew Alcionida then before because now I looked upon my misfortunes as an invincible obstacle unto the happy success of my new passion If I were absolute Soveraign in Milete said I I might almost be certain to obtain the favor of this fair one but since I am an Exile and passing for a Pirate I can never have any hopes in pretending to any share in her affection and I must prepare my self to suffer all the torments that both Love and Ambition can inflict upon me Moreover what will the wise Thales say unto me what will the King of Corinth think what imaginations will the Prince of Mytilenes have and what censures shall I incur from all the Princes and people of Jonia in particular and from all Greece in general when they shall understand that a Prince unjustly driven out of his Dominions abused by his Enemies betrayed by his own Subjects and deposed by a Bastard a Prince I say who should think upon nothing but revenge and honour and not suffer himself to be weakly overcome by the fair eyes of Alcionida without any resistance Resist then for shame said I unto my self and do not yield my self a Captive without a Combate But oh Heavens said I presently after what Arms should I use against her what can I think or do not to love her Can I discover any blemish in her beauty or can I find any fault in her mind and can I suspect that her Soul is not so generous as her face is fair and her wit is charming Let me try if any thing can cure me Let me visit her dayly and keep a close observant eye upon her and enquire whether this fair one who doubtless is beloved of all that know her do not also love some one or other and let me neglect nothing which may free me from that misery which torments me Thus did I reason with my self and could not contrive any other way to deliver my self but by discovering some defects in this incomparable beauty or else to find out that her heart was already engaged The next day then I enquired with all possible diligence of what I desired to know which I could with more ease do because at the same Lodging where I did lie there quartered also a man of good fashion a stranger as well as my self who had been at Gnides a long time to harken after news with him I did comply to effect my desires the sooner I understood then from him that Alcionida was loved by all reasonable men which ever saw her but none could ever move her heart and he told me so many things in her Commendations that I made no question but her Soul was as excellently fair as her face and as great as her wit Sometimes I despaired of finding any of those defects which I sought for and sometimes again my heart whether I would or no would extreamly rejoyce at the knowledg of her excellent perfections I could not chuse then but submit Sir and love the fair Alcionida but for all that my hatred of the Prince of Phoceus Alexidesmus Melasia Philodicea and Anthemius was not extinguished on the contrary I wished them worse then I did before because the miserable condition into which they had brought me was the obstacle in my love So then not neglecting my Milesian Affairs I resolved to please Alcionida if I could so that I was not a little busily employed about it Since Euphranor had some suspition that I was not of that quality which I spoke my self he always treated me very civilly and took it kindly when I came to visit him and the ofter I saw Alcionida the more charming I found her and me thought she did not look upon me as a Pirate yet was I not at all the happier for I knew she would not look upon me as a Lover I oftentimes had a desire to hint something unto her which might make her guess my thoughts but presently after I checked my design and my fears to be ill used moved me to be content with her civilities to me rather then to expose my self unto her anger for said I unto my self If I should acquaint her with my Passion and not my Quality she will treat me as a Pirate Also if I should tell her the condition I am in what hopes is there that she should give any entertainment unto an Exile and unfortunate Prince In conclusion I resolved to make her know I was in love with her and that she should still think that I was not of that Quality I appeared in but not to let her know directly that I was
a Prince which was thrust out of his Dominions but it was so difficult a task to keep an even way as not to speak either too much or too little to infuse this knowledg into her that I looked upon it as a business almost impossible and lived a most vexatious life Mean while Leosthenes who had a bold and an attempting wit fell into league with a Cousin of Alcionida's who dwelt with her and that so deep as I wondered at it for this woman was full of friendly expressions to him 'T is true he had prepared her with many little presents which he bought privately in Gnides and said he brought them out of a far Country such as Essences Powders Perfumes and such knacks and since this woman was of free disposition she imparted all that ever she knew unto Leosthenes Upon a day then as she was in discourse with him she pressed and conjured him to tell her truly who I was and since he imagined that happily this curiosity did not proceed from her self he pressed her as earnestly to tell him why she desired so much to know it so that according to her usual freeness and ingenuity she told him after she had made a mighty secret on it that her reason was because Alcionida had a great desire to know my quality for she could not believe that I was really a Pirate As good fortune was Leosthenes answered her as I would have appointed him if I had known of it for he fretted and fumed and answered so ambiguously that he made her believe Alcionida was not mistaken As Leosthenes had plainly perceived that I was deeply in love with Alcionida so he thought it would please me in telling how inquisitively she had enquired who I was and indeed the relation of it did so much joy me that having no power to hide my passion I discovered all my thoughts unto him and made him my Confident not that I thought him very fit for it for his spirit was a little too insolent but because the truth was I had no other to chuse and because I could not inclose the violence of my passion in so close a place as my own heart Oh Heavens how many pleasing minutes did this curiosity of Alcionida afford me and how many fears did I apprehend when I did imagine the knowledg of my misfortunes would bar me admittance into her heart However I did visit her every day and every day I loved her more and more violently The most powerful of her charms was that all those vanities which usually young people are most taken up in were much below her this alluring Lady did never do any thing as a diversion only her dress was most ornamental but so as it did not require half a life to the putting it on as most women use her discourse was never upon any trivial vanities moreover all the Gold and Diamonds of the East could never adulterate her mind but she could at the first visit discern a compleat man though in meanest habit from a stupid Ass in the most magnificent clothes upon Earth and notwithstanding his outward lustre she would be so just unto real merit that she would be more respective unto a very Pirate who was owner of good qualities then unto a Prince who could boast of nothing but his vices I finding then so much wisdom and vertue in this admirable Lady how could I chuse but love her I remember being one day with her and leaning against the window in the end of a Gallery towards the Sea whilest other Ladies were walking behind us See said she and shewed me the place where my Ship was bulged yonder is the very place where you were like to suffer shipwrack Pardon me Madam said I hastily unto her that is not the place where I was most like to perish for indeed it is not so far off you Truly said she and did not understand the mysterious meaning of my answer you do not know so well as I do the place where your Ship was in most danger for these eyes did see it at that time but I believe you were so busie in giving order what to do in that extremity that you did not observe the place I know very well Madam said I unto her that my shipwrack was like to have been in your presence but yet for all that those who are ready to perish know the place better then any lookers on For my part said she and laughed did I not conceive your Soul to be very resolute I should think that fear might at that instant have a little disturbed your reason for I can assure you it was at the foot of that great Rock where you were in greatest danger And I am most certain replyed I and notwithstanding the respects which I owe you I must maintain that it was against this Rock against which I am most in danger and not that which you speak of Alcionida being not accustomed to find me so full of contradiction did then suspect there was some hidden sence in my words and blushing at it I am to blame said she to argue with you concerning a business of no importance for since you escaped the danger it is sufficient and I may well be satisfied without more discourse upon it But truly said she and laughed still those who say a wise Pilot will never split twice upon one and the same Rock do not know how difficult it is to prevent it since you who seem so wise do not know the place where you were most in danger however let us speak no more upon this Subject but fall upon something else which will better please you and tell me I beseech you when your Ship will be ready to put to sail for I do imagine you wish for your departure as much as all they who know you do wish your stay I was much non-plust at this question for though it gave me a handsom opportunity to discover my thoughts unto her yet there appeared in her eyes so much severity mixed with her sweetness that I durst not reveal it I only told her that I thought it not possible to be very earnest in hasting away from that place where she was and since common civility might well exact as much as I did say she returned me as civil an answer and all the rest of our Conference was such as this I had been divers other times with her and never durst expose my self unto her anger in declaring my love unto her and I understood from Leosthenes that since the first day Alcionida never spoke a word to her Cousin concerning me In the mean time I deferred the mending of my Ship as long as handsomly I could and I could have found in my heart a disposition to break some things which were whole purposely to gain time so that in lieu of three weeks I made it six that I stayed in the Port of Gnides But at the last the wise Thales whom I had
of Assyria hath done you rather as an effect of his good Fortune then any extraordinary testimony of his affection But after all this he hath delivered her said he and methinks I see the Princess bestow upon him a thousand expressions of acknowledgment Yet were I assured that this divine Princess did wish in her heart that it were I who had done her this good office I should be satisfied but liberty is so sweet that it is most difficult not to love the hand that gives it Oh ye rigorous Destinies said he why would you not let me have the honour of breaking her Chains asunder Had ye been so propitious unto me I should have thought my self the most happy Prince upon Earth But now though I have won so many Battels conquered so many Kingdoms nothing resisted me all obeyed me the King of Assyria himself thrown out of his Throne and compelled to yield unto the fury of my Fate yet this unfortunate Prince is now a thousand thousand times more happy then Cyrus who has been reputed the greatest Favorite of the Gods of all men living How dare I appear before my Princess and how can I contain my impatience to see her in his hands When he was in Babylon he was less dreadful to me then now for then Mandana looked upon him as her Ravisher but now the case is altered and he is her Deliverer and all that ever I did for her was not so advantagious to her as this act of his at this time Yet I am much to blame to grieve now my Princess rejoyceth and yet were I mad to rejoyce at the glory of my Rival Perhaps I am deceived and my adored Mandana is most just and will remember that though I did not deliver her when I returned from the Messagettes when I saved the life of her Ravisher yet it was because I knew him not and that though I did not deliver her in the taking of Babylon it was because the King of Assyria did take her away the second time and though I did her no service at Sinope it was because the Prince Mazares to his own misery and mine did carry her away Therefore when she considers that the King of Assyria has been her Ravisher and Detainer whole years together it may be this last adventure of his will have no great operation upon her heart But no no said he presently after let me not flatter my self past services are small in comparison of those which are at present and a thousand good intentions are nothing equal to one real good office effectually done though it cost him who did it but little and therefore unhappy man that I am I may in all reason fear that the King of Assyria hath this very day gained more upon the heart of Mandana then I have done in all my life Afterwards when he began to consider that in drawing lots which side of the River either should take all his wisdom and pâ—ety could not keep him from murmuring against Heaven What have I done O ye just Gods said he to merit this misfortune Have I not during all the Wars that ever I made preserved your Temples and your Altars Have I not offered Sacrifices and Oblations unto you Was I ever unjust cruel or bloody I loved Mandana it is true but I loved her with unparallel'd purity I loved her most passionately I confess but since you made her so hâ—ghly accomplished and made me know it it had been a sin to do otherwise and I could not possibly love her less and yet you inflict upon me as severe â—orments as those who are most culpable could be punished with I would gladly cease â—y murmur but I cannot Fury doth command my mind Jealousie disturbs my Reason and I cannot endure that my dreadful Rival and my mortal Enemy should be Mandana's Deliverer After this being out of all patience that it was not yet day he rise â—p and taking horse maugre all perswasions to the contrary he would have them march and because he would be exemplary to the rest he was the first that groped through the thick of darkness having in his mind a more gloomy melancholy then the obscurity of the night which was so dark that no objects could be discerned in that great Forrest The End of the third Part. ARTAMENES OR CYRUS the GREAT The Fourth Part. BOOK I. AFter a long and blind March day did by little and little appear And Cyrus came to the River side where the Guides being within their aim again conducted the Prince to the place where he desired to be at the last he came to a place where he discovered Coaches and Souldiers going before him This sight seemed something strange and made such a mixture of joys and sorrows love and jealousie hopes and fears in his heart that he knew not what to think on it He looked upon Feraulus and pronouncing the name of Mandana shewing him the Coaches and doubling his pace Come Feraulas said he unto him let us go and enjoy the happiness to see our Mistress or at the least disturb the joys of my Rival putting on then very fast he overtook some horsmen which were two hundred paces behind the Coaches and Troops and knowing them at the first to be Meades Is the King of Assyria said he unto them with the Princess Mandana We know not that Sir replied they for presently after the Combate yesterday against Abradates when he perceived that in lieu of delivering the Princess he had only taken the Queen of Susiana he turned all fury and took another way with part of his men How said Cyrus is not Mandana in this Coach which I see before me No Sir replied they the King of Assyria had intelligence that she was on your side of the River so that desiring to come unto you and share in the deliverance of her he took a nearer way which his Guides did shew unto him and thereby stop the King of Pont's way after he had passed the River at a place the name whereof we have forgotten hoping also to overtake Abradates and meet with you But since we see you here we know neither where he nor the Princess Mandana is especially since it appears you hear nothing of him but return without meeting with him Cyrus was so astonished and sad that the Princess Mandana was not delivered and to know that if he had followed the way he first took he might have done it and that his Rival might perhaps be fighting for her at that very time whilest he was speaking on it that not staying any longer there nor going to the Coach where Panthea was he faced about in all haste sending Araspes to have a care of that Queen he returned then unto the first place where he might have pass over the River and marching almost as fast as if he had been alone he was so much transported with anger against himself that he had much ado to contain himself within the
especially since the Prince Artamas would remain a prisoner of War and lest this should keep the Princess Mandana from going out I pray tell me said she unto me What are the best courses to be taken First it is requisite said I unto her that I have the honour to see the Princess and secondly the same honour is desired for him that is the chief actor in the enterprize who is now in the Captains Chamber who brought me hither and who desires to receive his orders from her own mouth There is no difficulty in all this replyed Martesia provided you will have a little patience for I believe the Princess of Lydia will leave her presently But in the interim said she I pray tell me who is this generous Liberator How can he get us out from hence And when shall it be For I wish it were this very hour if it were possible You shall know the two first of your questions in good time replied I and as for getting you out from hence it shall be within this three daies if the Princess please If she please replied she Ah Orsanus I warrant you it will please her since though the King of Pontus be as respective to her as he is unjust I am confident she would do any thing to get out of his power In the mean time said she that vve may the sooner see vvhether the Princess of Lydia be retired and the sooner see our Deliverer I pray you follovv me In saying so she carried me unto a little Closet over against the Princess Chamber but so neer it and the partitions so full of crannies for you must know the places of War are not built like Palaces that any thing might be heard which was spoken Being then in this place where we could hear all the discourse which passed between the two Princesses we began to hearken in hopes they would end their discourse quickly and presently I heard a voice which was unknown to me and which Martesia said was the Princess Palmis who complained extreamly against the malignity of her Fortune For my part replied the Princess Mandana I hardly dare complain against mine for since the conformity which is in our misfortunes did make you love me and in some sort caused the friendship which is between the Prince Artamas and the illustrious Cyrus methinks I ought to indure it patiently Ah Madam said the Princess Palmis I beseech you do not give so bad a foundation unto the affection which I bear you and seek not for that in the suitableness of our miseries which cannot be found any where but in your rare merits and if you please to look a little neerer into things you will find a notable difference between the misfortunes of Cyrus and those of Artamas and also between yours and mine Yet in many things they resemble very much replied Mandana for as one hath been exposed to many dangers so hath the other as one changed his own name for that of Artamenes the other assumed the name of Cleander in lieu of his own both of them are brave and gallant both of them have been Conquerours both of them in Love and if there be any difference it is in that the Prince Artamas loved by reason and Cyrus only by inclination Had you changed the name of Artamas for Cyrus said the Princess Palmis your discourse had been just I beseech you let me end it said the Princess Mandana and see whether I have not reason to attribute unto the likeness of our miseries the pity which you have of mine Besides all that I said before these two Princes have had the favour and affection of these two Kings whom they served they have both of them been imprisoned by them for whom they have hazarded their lives a thousand times as Croessus was displeased with you because you favoured Cleander so Ciaxares hated me because I esteemed Artamenes Indeed what should I say Cyrus and Artamas brought us hither Have they not persecuted you as well as me And as Adrastus and Artesilias died for you did not the unfortunate Mazares perish for me Are we not now both prisoners together And must it not needs be confessed that since you cannot love me for any resemblance of those admirable qualityes which are in you and not in me Heaven has a design to make you love me because I resemble you in your misfortunes To shew you replied the Princess Palmis that the Love I bear you proceeds from nothing but your merits and not at all from any resemblances of our adventures I must needs let you see that they are infinitely different so that in reason it cannot be said they have any resemblance and by consequence you ought not to believe that the affection I bear you hath any such cause The adventures of Cyrus and Artamas are much different for when Cyrus was only Artamenes he knew that he was Cyrus and was not ignorant of his own Quality whereas on the contrary the unfortunate Cleander did not so much as know who himself was but thought himself so far below my Quality that he did condemn his Love no less then I should if I had then known it Artamenes had nothing else to make his condition known to be equal unto yours but only to say he was Cyrus But Cleander for a long while durst not so much as wish to know who he was lest his condition should prove disadvantagious unto him if it were known These false Names under which both of them did pass was given them variously for Cyrus took the Name of Artamenes upon him to disguise himself and Artamas not knowing his true Name received that of Cleander from Thimettes who gave it him not thinking he should ever leave it 'T is very true both of them are most gallant men and both Conquerors but with a notable difference since Fortune hath almost confined the Victories of Artamas to the Kingdom of his Father whilest she hath stretched the Conquests of Cyrus over all Asia The original of their Passions is also as different as the merit of those two persons who caused them The Prisons also in which both of them were are very unlike and proceeded from several causes The jealousie and wickedness of Artesilas caused the Imprisonment of Cleander and the prejudicate opinion of Ciaxares was the cause of Artamenes his Imprisonment though I must needs confess there was equal injustice in them both Moreover the hatred which Ciaxares bore unto Cyrus proceeded only from a misunderstanding of the Menaces of the Gods but the King my Father hated Artamas because he thought I loved him and by consequence the cause of his hatred cannot cease as the cause of Ciaxares his hatred did Moreover you cannot in reason say there was any equality in their last Imprisonment since that of Cyrus lasted not above an hour at most whereas that of Artamas lasts yet and he was dangerously wounded besides But I beseech you let us
whom she kneâ— Agenor continually was that she resolved to take her for the object of her anger and revenge though she did never voluntarily contribute any thing unto the infidelity of Agenor For as Elisa did never subject any hearts with any design so to do so I know of a certainty that she looked upon Agenor as a verie pleasing friend but yet as a very dangerous Lover and that there was not a man upon earth of whom she was more afraid to be loved then of him For she being of a most piercing Spirit did most perfectly know his who being full of boldness craft and vanity could not love long without prejudice to those he loved or at least persecuting them a hundred several wayes In the mean time it was so natural unto Elisa to inspire respect unto all those who came neer her and her stateliness was so faithful a Guardian of her beauty and virtue that Agenor as bold as he was durst never attempt to make a serious Declaration of his Love yet he could not forbear sighing in secret and suffer a thousand torments which yet he would not suffer to appear And he would often say that those puling languishing lovers who are continually sighing and lamenting were good for nothing but to trouble those they loved but that on the contrary the way to get Love was to please and the way to please was to be pleasant and merry and that since Love is alwayes represented laughing he concluded that sighs and tears were not so fit for him as joy and divertisements Also that since Elisa was of a merrie nature he conceived his best course to be diverting her without any serious talk of his passion Likewise considering her humour he thought he should never obtain that liberty therefore his design was to accustom her insensibly unto a permission of telling by way of rallarie that he loved her conceiving that since she knew the world and understood rallarie she would not be offended at a thing of this nature which he told her laughing and in the presence of much company hoping by this way to hide the truth of his passion from the eyes of his brother whom he suspected to be in Love with Elisa as well as himself and whom he would not have thinked that he was his Rival And indeed Agenor being one day with Elisa in a great companie they began to tell him of his inconstancie to Lyriope for this imprudent woman was not less scandalized for breaking off with Agenor as she was for contracting amity with him and so much the more because they said that the Queen intended to send her home unto her parents and was much incensed against her for her ill-carriage of the business Agenor then seeing them put a hundred questions to him concerning his inconstancie resolved not to let a day pass without putting his design in practise so that he put them all off with Feasts and was wonderous jocand For my part said Elisa and laughed If I were in your case I should rather say that I never loved Lyriope and that I only made a shew of being so then to confess as you do that you are unfaithful since in cases of Gallantrie inconstancie is as great a crime as cozenage for to the last of these is only requisite wit boldness and invention but the first proceeds only from weakness Also I am perswaded pursued she it had been less dishonorable for Lyriope that you never had loved her then that you should cease loving and quit her Since my passion was quenched by the rigour of Lyriope said he with a dissembling modesty I am perswaded that my inconstancie is neither dishonorable to her nor my self Never excuse your self by the rigour of Lyriope said Poligenes who was glad he could accuse him before Elisa for I am sure that before she began to be severe you began to be inconstant and out of your own lightness left off loving her before she did contribute any thing to it 'T is true answered Agenor and laughed as if he spoke only in merrie rallarie I am forced to confess that I left loving Lyriope before she thought of treating me with severity but yet it was not out of my own lightness good brother What other reason besides could you have replied Elisa sharply My reason was replied he looking upon her and raiseing his voice that all the companie might the better hear him because you use to make all those inconstants who look upon you and because I cannot be with her and with you too because I am often weary to see no company about the Queen whil'st all the Gallants of the Court are at your feet adoring you and because I would do as all others do that is see you hear you admire you and to tell you boldly before all this companie that which I am sure not one of your Adorers dares do in secret Agenor speaking this with that blithness which was his natural way and which did verâ—e well become him all the company began to laugh 〈◊〉 Poligenes who blushâ— So that Elisa not daring to take that seriously which so many accomplished persons took as a piece of gallant rallarie she began to laugh as the rest did yet it waâ— after a scorning way and with a blush But she answered Agenor as in reason she ought without any anger and interpreting the matter as a bare piece of merrie wit and indeed Elisa thinking it to be so I pray Agenor said she unto him make not me an umbrage for your weakness nor loaden me with the hatred of Lyriope So you can admit of my love said he never care for her hatred for thanks be to the heavens I am verie well cured I assure you replied Elisa I had rather Lyriope should love me then you and I fear her hatred more then I do yours As for my hatred Madam said he unto her You are safe but as for my Love believe it you are not for since I have made you some expressions of it before so much companie it concerns my honour to go a little farther But replied she and laughed as it concerns your honour to go further so it concerns mine to hinder you and therefore I conjure you to be silent unless you will verie seriously have me take the part of Lyriope and chide you extreamly for quitting so fair a person And I pray tell me said she and laughed still what assurance can I have in the affection of a perfidious Apostate The assurance is replied he That you will not treat me as she did and that I hope you will invert the order which she kept with me for she was sweet at the begining and severe in the end and I hope you will be sweet in the ending as you are severe in the beginning Indeed Agenor you are much deceived said she unto him I am no Changeling like your self that which I am once the same shall I be as long as I live and
Castle where he did see the Princess Mandana and how the last night they were all very apprehensive of that noise which the burning of Ships did cause and how the King of Assiria call'd for his Sword and never rested in a place that he having a desire to go unto the Princess Lodging found it lockt but found no Souldiers which used to guard the Fort and especially that place that he call'd for his Servants and broke open the Chamber-door but found no body in it afterwards when he desired to go out of the Fort he found it a thing impossible by reason of the fire That after all this he often went unto the top of the Tower where too deeply resenting his disasters he resolved every minute to throw himself either into the fire or the water Thrasibulus could make no further Relation because he arived at Sinope but the day before so he left Artamenes in his Chamber who at their parting assured him he vvould move the King to make him satisfaction for his Ships which had been burnt Thrasibulas did highly commend his Moderation because in all these sudden and unexpected sad disasters he did not deject himself by unprofitable sorrowes but Couragiously endured this so considerable a Loss Artamenes did wake away the night in such disturbed imaginations as cannot be conceiv'd by any but himself Behold said he in his melancholy minde the place where my Princess is abus'd Me thinks I see her with a dolefull memory think upon me and where perhaps she mourns for the misfortunate Artamenes Without doubt she hath spoke something concerning me for by what other way was it possible the King of Assiria could know that Artamenes was more then reall Artamenes I who during the time I was in the Court at Cappadocia passed for no other then such a one as Philidaspes a sillie Knight though perhaps I was as amorous as he and by consequence as unlike to delude But alas my most divine Princess how fatally comes it to pass that I should be here in your Prison and that I should finde your Ravisher here but not you I finde a Rivall upon whom I cannot with Honour exercise my revenge I have lamentably lost a Princess whom I know not how to follow Her Beauty which vvas my highest Glory and only Happiness I finde now to be cause of my dire disasters and her own miserable misfortunes She has met with many adorers but yet they are such as are without becoming reverence In what places soever she came she procured Rivals unto me and enemies Ah Divine eyes cried he out how comes it to be possible you should infuse such injust and so irregular resentments You I say which never charm'd my heart with any other thoughts but those of fear and reverence I who never durst presume so high as to say I lov'd you I who never lookt upon you but was Planet-struck and trembled I who have long long adored you in the secret of my Soul I I say who had rather die a thousand deaths then any one of all my actions should in the least degree in â—ur your displeasure But for all this you are Courted by hearts who are most unworthy of you hearts which never study that reverence which is your due but aym only at their private satisfaction for my part I cannot repent me of my humble Passions and in spite of this misfortune in missing this soul of my life I had rather be Artamenes then Mazares not but that he is happy in his very Crime for he sees her speaks to her and has the opportunity to discourse of his Passions but doubtless her answers are all disdam and those eyes which are his glory and delight will become his punishment when they sparkle anger at him In a word I had rather lodge innocently in the heart of my Princess then lie an offender at her feet But oh Heavens cried he out in a sudden passion will you permit this terrible tempest to continue and be her ruin As he was musing thus in these melancholy Imaginations he heard a great noise without and presently Chrisantes coming hastily unto the Chamber Sr said he the King of Assiria will escape or to speak truth I think he is gone for Araspes hearing a noise in the Kings Chamber within which out of reverence unto him he did not lie opened the door but found no King we went all immediatly out and searched diligently we finde that under his window which is directly opposite unto a fireruined house there is a great heap of ruinous rubbish which hath filled up the Mote under the Castle in that quarter so that it raised up a high hill of combustible ruins by which we suppose the King escaped Artamenes though he was much moved at this unpleasant news yet sent out Orders immediatly unto all the Ports of Sinope and went himself to seek his Prisoner As he was at one end of the Town he discovered a Troop of Men in Arms at the other end and who endeavoured to become masters of the Port he hasted thither but all too late for the King of Assiria was already gone and had charged through the Court of Guard These were some who were commanded by Aribes and who every one did beleeve to be dead but he did lie close under the rubbish of that ruin'd house which seem'd to bury him alive This Man to gain more time for the King of Assirias escape began a skirmish notwithstanding all the wounds which he had formerly received Artamenes no sooner saw him but said What Traytor art thou risen again to betray thy Master if thou wilt escape with thy life then thou must give me my death In saying so he made at him with such a furious impetuosity as Aribees though couragious enough was forced to retreat a little yet it was but to retard his death one moment longer for Artamenes did press so sore upon him as he had enough to do to defend himself and must needs fall under the valour of him who never fights but conquers In conclusion he bestowed upon him such a fatall blow across his body that in spight of his Curass he fell at his feet Before he died he confessed that being so concealed under that heap of rubbish he rallied as many of his men as he could and hid them amongst the ruins of houses and having in the interim enquired what Chamber the King of Assiria did lie in he got up to his window in the beginning of the night by that heap of cinders and half-burnt wood which was under it and so with as little noise as possibly he could he helped the King of Assiria to escape At the end of this Confession this perfidious wretch lost both his speech and his life both together All his complices seeing him in so sad a condition betook themselves to their heels Artamenes could pursue the King no further by reason of the nights obscurity Upon his return unto the
to be consented unto without much Joy But do you think Sir that Amestris does resent it with the like gladness Amestris answered he does not yet know of it but I beleeve she is so well educated to be obedient unto her Parents who I know do desire it as much as I Sir said I to him I would know it from Amestris and not from Artambaces It is your own office replied my Father to inform your self of her thoughts and desires I leave you to judge Sir how infinitely I was joyed at such welcome news it was so abundantly pleasant that I relished it but imperfectly and it moved such violence in my soul that I could not resent it as I ought Oh Heavens how oft did I wish the perfidious Artabes were there to be a witness of my good fortune and to ask him pardon for the displeasure Megabises did resent Mean time because I thought it strange that they should marry me Amestris before I had acquainted her with my Love I took an occasion the next morning to visit her and it was my happiness to finde her alone I observed that she did often change colour and I imagined as indeed it was true that she had been acquainted with the intention of Artambaces concerning our Marriage of which he had spoken unto her an hour before I came But alas Sir what strange inquietudes did this fair and amiable divinity afford me and how great were my fears that she had no dislike of me because they had propounded it unto her Madam said I to her almost trembling dare Aglatidas be so bold as to ask the fair Amestris whether the many changings which he perceives in her fair face be a good or a bad omen for him I think said she blushing very much that I have heard the Magi say that men ought not to consult with any but the Starres to know their Fortunes and not to trouble themselves at such lame and slight observations I think replied I that those who desire to know whether they shall be Rich or fortunate in War ought to do as you say but I beleeve that they who would know nothing else but what the heart of Amestris thinks ought to consult with nothing but her eyes and ought to ask their good fortune from nothing else but them Amestris answered she is is not considerable enough to give Felicity or bad fortune unto any But Aglatidas may believe that Amestris will never seek her own good fortune but by the will of those who ought to dispose of her But Madam said I if those whom you speak of should advise you unto a thing which is repugnant unto your minde would you obey them without murmur I would doubtless replied she as long as I have life and I hold it better for my self to do that which I ought then to do that which pleaseth me It is a most severe virtue replied I and methinks it is a little too blind an obedience for Madam unto how much despair would that man be driven who should be so happy as by the choice of your parents to be a husband unto the divine Amestris if he should afterwards know that she obeyed her parents only and married him by constraint I would hide my thoughts so close answered she that he should never know it Ah Madam said I to her do not abuse your self so much this is a thing which cannot be Therefore Madam I conjure you by all that is most yenerable and holy to tell me ingenuously upon what terms am I in your heart for I cannot think my self more unhappy then that you should be ignorant how you are absolute Commander over mine yes Madam said I you know that since the first minute I had the honour to see you I have loved you with unequalled passion that I have served you with as much reverence as any can the Gods and secretly adored you with every atom of my heart Then Madam it 's your part to let me know whether I must hope or fear whether you can endure me without aversion or whether you like me out of Complacencie without compulsion it is absolutely in you to determine upon either my good or my bad fortane I have already told you replied she that I have no power in my own felicity and therefore by consequence cannot have in anothers But Aglatidas since I have received a command from Artambaces and Hermanista to entertain you when you speak of your affection let me tell you with much sincerity that I think the choice which they have made for me is very advantagious for me and so much that when I understood it I was in much confusion and if you observed any alterations in my countenance doubtless it was because I was ashamed to be no more worthy of the honour which you do me then I am Amestris pronounced these words with such reservedness that I could not discover her heart which put me into great perplexity and melancholy I was at this time almost angry with my father for so soon putting forward my good fortune for said I to my self how should I know now whether or no Amestris loves me Amestris I say who is the wisest Lady upon earth and one who would dwell with the ill-favour dest man if she once married to him So very much was I possessed Sir with this kinde of unquietude that I could not hide it from Amestris Madam said I to her you see here before you the most happy and the most unhappy man both of all men upon earth The most happy in the noble hope which Artambaces gives unto my father that Amestris will not refuse me but the most unhappy in that I cannot know whether Aglatidas be the choice of Amestris or Artambaces What will it advantage you to know it or to know that which I know not my self For as I have ever been strongly of this opinion that I ought not to dispose of my self so I am contented to deny my heart my own choice and submit my self unto a blinde obedience Then Madam said I unto her if your Parents should command you to accept of Megabises or Otanes would you obey them I have already confessed it if I be not much mistaken replied she Oh heavens cried I Madam why will you not make me happy I will not deny you happiness answered Amestris if my consent be necessary unto it But Madam said I interrupting her how shall I be assured that your consent is more then a constrain'd obedience since you tell me that you will obey though never so repugnant to your minde You are very unjust Aglatidas said she to me to desire that I should tell you my thoughts and I only to guess at yours therefore endeavour to discover them if you can and content your self to know thus much that Artambaces has the heart of Amestris in his power and if he dispose of it unto you as very likely he will then you shall have an absolute
Lady called Anatisa one indeed of great merit and beauty yet one whose beauty had never made many conquests and was doubtless far less fair then Amestris yet fair enough Chance would have it so that the same day whereon I had consented to try the remedy which Artaban had prescribed I found her in the walks of the Garden in the Palace where I had not of a long time been because I had shunned company as much as possible And as I neither had nor could have any particular inclination unto any nor had any liberty to chuse in a time when none but Amestris could please me Chance I say making me meet Anatisa sooner then another I did not refuse discourse with her as I was used to do with all other Ladies since my return to Ecbatan I mean as much as civility would permit me I spake then unto that Lady divers times that day and although our discourse was upon nothing but upon very indifferent things she thought her self much obliged to me because I had done more unto her then unto any other Lady since my return to Court. And certainly it was advantagious to me that the solitude wherein I had lived did help me to perswade the world unto that which I would have it believe else doubtless it had not been so easie for me to deceive it as it deceived it self and likewise if Anatisa had not helped me to delude it For Sir I did not think that the complacency which this fair Lady rendred me was any effect of my merit but on the contrary I plainly saw it had a reflexion from Amestris it being most certain that Anatisa would not have treated me so favourably as she did but that she conceived it did redound much unto her honour that the man who had formerly loved the fairest Beauty of the World should quit those fetters to be captivated in hers This petty jealousie of Beauty caused Anatisa then to treat me with all possible civility and I finding so much facility to execute what Artaban advised me unto did transact as he would have me Not Sir that I could ever resolve to tell Anatisa that I loved her as well because in very truth I had no such passion in me as because I thought it did too much trespass upon the Laws of Generosity yet my manner of living with her did tell the Court as much and likewise told the thoughts of Anatisa the same for I did visit her very oft I almost spoke unto none but her I appeared very melancholy and disordered so that all the world took these things to be effects of a fresh passion Anatisa on the other side did see that I was chained unto her society and that I did upon all occasions which were offered commend her that I refused the company of all other women but she and that in our Discourses I did often appear as if I were a little frantick not knowing what I would say But alas all these which she took to be effects of my love to her were onely effects of that which I bore unto Amestris how perfidious soever she seemed to be unto me Really I did sometimes repent the following of Artaban's counsel and all others also when I began firmly to resolve of loving Anatisa and to banish Amestris from my heart and memory Change change said I to my self this feigned Passion unto a real one and be no longer faithful unto one that hath betrayed me do not betray one that has nothing in her but sincerity for me 'T is true Anatisa is not so fair as Amestris yet perhaps she will love me more faithfully Tell her then that thou lovest her said I to my self although thou yet dost not so that being obliged by Generosity not to lie thou maist no longer remain in any fears of returning unto inconstant Amestris or to ever see her or speak unto her when she returns as they say she will This thought Sir did so fortisie it self in my minde that I went three or four daies together unto Anatisa with intentions to tell her I loved her but some intervenient passage or other hindred me from executing them but when I found the opportunity notwithstanding all my determinate resolutions I was dumb when I was about to speak unto her I diverted the discourse my tongue would not obey my heart revolted against my will my will it self altered and was unsetled and indeed not desiring that which I desired but one moment before I dejected my eyes as being equally ashamed of what I did and what I would have done But Oh Heavens that which should have destroyed me in the opinion of Anatisa did confirm me for she supposing that the love and reverence which I bore unto her had caused all these disorders which she discovered in my minde she did treat me more kindly and would not see it All the Court Sir beleeved I was in love with Anatisa one of my Cousins did write as much unto Menasta who as I have told you was with Amestris but this Lady who writ did mention it very obscurely knowing that such news would be resented with sorrow and therefore she would not plainly tell it untill she came to Ecbatan to see it Mean time I heard of two things together which much grieved me the one was That Amestris would presently come back and the other That Megabises would very shortly be in Town This business which fell out onely by accident did seem unto me a thing agreed upon and I did absolutely conclude that the voyage of Amestris was caused by the absence of Megabises though I could not guess at the reason But as jealousie alwaies inclines more unto that which will augment it self then that which would lessen it I did not busie my self to reason the matter from whence I might perhaps draw some conjectures unto my advantage but I sought out those conjectures which would more torment me They return said I to triumph over my miseries before my eyes and they cannot esteem themselves happy unless I be the witness of their felicities However perfidious Amestris you shall not have so much satisfaction as to think that I am unhappy I will carry the matter so with Anatisa as you shall not so much as suspect that I love you But as for you Megabises never hope to enjoy your conquest quietly for though I will pretend no more unto her yet I will take away the enjoyment from thee in taking away thy life or at least dispute it unto the last minute of my life These tumultuous thoughts being a little appeased I had some comfort to think that Amestris should believe I was in love with Anatisa and I was for a certain time so closely with her as I my self did wonder at it In the mean while Amestris came to Town and Menasta was much confirmed in her belief of my new passion yet notwithstanding she would speak with me before she would absolutely condemn me and she
notwithstanding she thought it convenient that Amestris should not resent me so culpable as formerly she did therefore she brought her an hower sooner unto the Walk then she appointed me to the end that she might have more time to prepare her As they were then in that little Wood where she led her the fair afflicted Lady did her self begin to contribute unto the design and begun a discourse of which my Cozen was very glad It must be acknowledged Menasta said she to her that the misfortune which thus persecutes me is very rigid against me since it will not suffer me to have that comfort as to know what Aglatidas does think of my misfortune He is so taken up with Anatisa that perhaps they mock at my Melancholy destiny and perhaps Aglatidas thinks my Marriage rather an effect of my humour then as a misfortune whereof he is the reall cause But said she my soul is a little more reasonable for I cannot forbear wishing two different things at once I no sooner had wished to know that Aglatidas was sensible of my misfortune but presently after I desire for my own quietness to understand no more of him never to meet him as long as I live nor hear no more spoken of him but alas all these designs have but an ill bottom in my heart and I have more reason to resent my Marriage as a great punishment for any loving such a perfidious man I wish said Menasta that you had never thought him such a cruell man or that you would no longer think him so but as I think you are more unhappy by resenting him so What said Amestris interrupting her should I not beleeve that Aglatidas was perfidious and can I think that he is not so still Ah No No Menasta I must not think him otherwise and for the future I must not perswade my self of any thing that may justifie him I wish only that he would repent of his crime to the end that he may be a punishment unto himself But know that as long as I do not think Aglatidas repentant and unhappy he does not put the stability of my soul unto any dangerous triall And it would be more cruell unto me to tell me that I was deceived that Aglatidas was never culpable that what I have seen was but an illusion that he hath been alwaies faithfull unto me That he never loved Anatisa and that he hath ever loved Amestris I confesse Menasta that if I could be perswaded of all this then I should be more unhappy then I am and though I should not become more criminall yet doubtless I should become more unfortunate But this is a thing which can never be and a thing which I need not fear I would to God said Menasta to her it were possible you never were acquainted with the innocency of Aglatidas The innocency of Aglatidas replied Amestris Ha I do entreat you not to make merry at my misfortune it is too great Menasta to be used for your diversion and I am more your friend then to be treated so No No replied she I speak seriously Aglatidas it is true was very unwise but he was ever faithfull What replied Amestris did not Aglatidas love Anatisa Aglatidas answered Menasta never loved any but you O Heavens cried out this wise Lady merciless and cruel woman that you are why do you speak thus unto me If this you tell me be false why do you tell it and if it be true why did you not either tell it sooner or eternally conceal it from me I could tell it no sooner replied Menasta because I knew it no sooner and I could not hide it because Aglatidas is resolved to tell it you himself Oh replied she with a quite altered countenance whether Aglatidas be culpable or innocent I will never see him as long as I live if he be culpable he is not worthy of it and though he be innocent yet I shall be criminall to suffer it therefore Menasta talk no more of him he does but too much take up my memory he is but too much in my heart and I wish to heaven he were less After these words she was silent and Menasta seeing her minde was so much troubled did repent of her promise and was a good while before she durst speak any more unto her After some minutes had thus passed on Amestris looking upon her with eyes swimming in tears and beginning to speak with less violence But yet said she Menasta what moved you to speak thus unto me I durst tell you no more answered Menasta for seeing the innocence of Aglatidas did torment you as much as if he were criminall I thought it better to speak no more of him neither as faithfull or as inconstant Know Menasta replied she that I love you so much as to pardon such a fault and know said she blushing that I desire you to tell me all you know concerning Aglatidas and disguise nothing from me Menasta seeing Amestris desired it told her all she knew concerning my adventure to wit how I came to be jealous by seeing Megabises with her in the Garden how that moved me to leave writing unto her how I did not cease to love her how Artaban had counselled me to love Anatisa or at least to seem as if I did and how I challenged Megabises and hid my self to no other end but to fight with him and in conclusion seeing Amestris hearken favourably unto what she told her then she told her further what I had told unto her and confessed she had discovered in me so many signes of absolute despair that she was not able to deny me one request which I made unto her which was that I would be a means that I might once more see her In conclusion Madam said she that you may not be too much surprised at it be pleased to know that I induced you hither only to the end that Aglatidas might present himself unto you Ah Menasta said Amestris what have you done unto what have you exposed me how do you think I can endure the sight of a man whom I have made so unfortunate and how can I deny that unto a man who might have made me all happiness Yes Menasta you have done me great wrong if this meeting should be discovered would the world not think it was by my consent What will all the Court say what may Otanus think unto how much danger do I hazard my reputation No no I must never consent unto what you have promised him how would you have me speak unto him what would you have me say Shall I tell him I love him still alas I cannot do so without a crime or at least it is not hansom to do it Shall I tell him that I hate him Ha good Gods how can I say it I who did not so when I thought him perfidious Speak then Menasta I conjure you you have wit and virtue and discretion I beseech you advise me and advise
he could not recal who it should be so that longing exceedingly to know more of this adventure he went to look amongst the dead if there were none amongst them which had been known unto him and viewing them he found one who by reason of a great wound received in his right hand and another in his throat which made him speechlesse so that he was not to be understood by any thing but signs this wounded Cavalier no sooner saw may Master but as we might conjecture by his signs he knew him although none of us could remember him or ever saw him and to say truth it was not strange at all since it is very ordinary for thousands to know the General of an Army whom he knows not again This man as soon as he saw my Master near him seemed to be very joyful and exceedingly desirious to make him understand the adventure but the more he endeavoured to explain himself the more he puzled Artamenes for he could not pronounce a word or a syllable nor was there any way to draw any conjecture from him Sometimes he would point towards that way which the unknown Cavalier had taken as if he wished us to go after him Sometimes he would point towards that place from whence they came as if he expected some relief from thence afterterwards he would look about and make us view that Pavilion which the men belonging unto that unknown Cavalier had left and carried away the Ladies which were in it In short all his signs and actions did but augment the disquiet of Artamenes who to see if he could find any thing in that Pavillion which might better inform him lighted from his horse and went in but though he could not meet with any thing which could add any thing unto his knowledge yet notwithstanding he could not leave it sometimes he was in a mind though he knew not why to go after him whom he had so opportunely relieved otherimes he resolved to tarry there in hopes that some would come and give him better intelligence of the accident and sometimes he would chide himself for losing so much time which was so pretious what shall I do here said he and interest my self in other mens businesse when I may be drawing neerer my Princesse and as if he were ashamed of that fault he went out of the Pavilion got upon horsback and commanded one of his men to take up the wounded man behind him untill he came unto the next house where he might be dressed and from whence he might send to bury the dead who by their Arms seemed to be Cappadocians that which was most advantagious unto us upon this occasion was that there was none of us wounded except Chrisantes who received a slight scratch in his left Arme. Artamenes remembring that there was one of these twelve Cavaliers which turned back as if he went to fetch relief would needs stay a while to see if any came notwithstanding the counsell of Chrisantes to the contrary for indeed he supposed if there came any men they would be numerous and that Artamenes was not in a condition to resist them yet it was not that reason which hindred him from staying longer But seeing that the wounded man was in much danger and that his throat with strivinge to speak was so swelled that the man almost lost his senses and fearing it might choak him he marched in all hast unto the next house or town as soon as he came there he sent for a Chirurgion to search the wound in his neck and to try if there were any possibility to recover his voice For three dayes together this wounded man could not speak a syllable nor was there yet any likelyhood Artamenes seeing that commanded the Chirurgion to have a great care of him he gave his Recompence before hand and continued on his Journey He did enquire of all those whom he met with in the house where we were whether there were any men seen lately in armes but wee found none neither there nor any where upon the Road who could informe us any thing Artamenes was so possessed with a profound musing that we marched all that day and the next within six hours of night without pronouncing one syllable But when we came to the banks of Thermodon and within sight of Themiscira where the King told him he would stay till his returne â—oy did then a little move his heart and turning himself towards me who was next him with a pleasant countenance At the last Feraulas said he to me I see the place where my Princess is and by consequence I hope to see her presently But O heavens shall I find her the same I left her shall I obtaine from the sincerity of her vertue so much happinesse as to hear her say she thought upon me in my absence Sir said I to him although the Princess do not tell it you yet you may well believe it for I am most certaine it is impossible she should do otherwise Indeed I had good reason for what I said for a few dayes before we parted from Themiscyra Martesia had so much goodness in her as to trust me with al the advantagious thoughts which the Princess entertained concerning my Master But she did so expresly forbid me to speak of it unto Artamenes that I never durst reveal them giving him only some hopes in generall of being beloved without particularising any thing And to tell you the truth I saw him so grieved at his absence from the Princesse that I made no question but if he had known all these small circumstances which I have told you he would not have died for grief But in conclusion Sir after much such like discourse between my Master and me in comming near Themiscyra and after much rejoycing in hopes of seeing his Mandana we came within a hundred paces of the gates where we met one that was a servant unto the Princess Artamenes no sooner saw him but rode towards him in all hast and asked him very earnestly concerning the King and the Princess Ah Sir said the servant would you had come four dayes sooner At these words my Master began to look pale and presently to convert his hopes into tears and his joy into sorrow he looked in the eyes of the servant for the cause of his discours but not being able to divine it what said he is there any disasterous accident chanced unto the King or the Princesse yes Sir replied the servant and doubtless the greatest that could chance for the King has lost the Princesse his Daughter How replied my Master desperately confounded is the Princesse dead No Sir answered he but she is carried away I do think it very happy Sir that the minde of Artamenes was taken up with the worst resentment first for indeed I am fully perswaded if the thought of her death had not instantly preceded his thought of her being taken away he would have sunk down dead upon the place
not think of any milder way to conquer it then by making Mandana Queen of Assyria That the Law which forbids any stranger to marry the Princesse ought not to be objected against him since by right the Cappadocians are his subjects That the reason why he did not ask the permission of Ciaxares was because he certainly knew that all the Medeans hating the Assyrians both Astyages and Ciaxares would not consent he should marry the Princesse That as he is not a stranger unto the Princesse of Cappadocia no more is she a stranger unto him So that he hopes the Queen Nitocris will approve of his designe and receive the Princesse Mandana with much joy There are many other things in the Manifesto Sir added he which would be too tedious to rehearse During all this discourse Artamenes said not a word not that he hearkned unto it with any serenity of soul but on the contrary one might discover in his face such visible marks of turbulent passions that he would make all that looked upon him to pity him but the reason was because he perceived that he could not speak without discovering too much excessive sorrow unto a man in whom he had no confidence and therefore he thought it better to keep close the vastnesse of grief unto himself Chrisantes easily observing his disquiet went away in all hast as soon as the servant had ended his relation Yet Artamenes not knowing well how he should endure the sight of Ciaxares without too open a discovery of his despair sent Chrisantes to see how the King did to the end he might have more time to prepare himself for so difficult a transaction My Master seeing onely me with him looked upon me in such lamentable manner as would have infused pity into the hardest heart of stone Feraulas said he to me Mandana is carried away and carried away by Philidaspes Philidaspes I say who I could have killed severall times But oh heavens cried he out is it possible the great Antipathy between him and me whilest I took him to be my Rival should ever let me mistake the Ravisher of Mandana and let my own arm assist my most mortall enemy What my most Divine Mandana said he all in fury were you in that Pavilion which I saw and was that unknown stranger Philidaspes Perhaps it was you I saw lift up the hanging of the Tent have I both destroyed you and my self have I slaine those which would have relieved you Did I hinder them from killing Philidaspes was I in a condition to deliver you and did not did I help him to carry you away And could that Traitor Philidaspes who questionless knew me accept of the assistance of his enemy Alas Mandana are not you in Themiscira are you in the power of Philidaspes But oh heavens was it not too much you should do all this by violence but I must contribute unto it must the injurious Philidaspes carry you away by the assistance of my hand and my valour But never think Philidaspes added he quietly to enjoy such an Illustrious conquest In what part of the earth soever thou art it shall cost thee thy life Yes though thou shouldst be in Babylon the greatest and strongest City of the world in the midst of all thy guards sitting upon the throne of thy fathers yet will I punish thee for this most injurious Act. Nothing but thy blood can wash it out of my memory and nothing but thy death shall be the penalty of thy crime oh heavens said he unto what dire misfortunes am I destinied Ha Thomiris that your unjust passion should cost me so dear and that I should be so rigorously punished for troubling your tranquillity But divine Princesse said he who was pleased as they assured me to pronounce my name when they took you away will you remember me in Assyria shall not the tears of Philidaspes charme you will you not pardon his crime will not the magnificence of Babylon blind your eyes and that great court invite your mind will you not praise the violence of Philidaspes to be excesse of love will you not be the same upon the Bancks of Euphrates which you were wont to be upon the bancks of Iris and Thermodon oh divinest Princess shall not Artamenes be preferred before Philidaspes and Cyrus before the King of Assyria Alas said he further did the gods the first minute that I saw Philidaspes move me to hate him that I should serue him in such an unjust occasion as this how was it possible my Rivall could so disguise himself I knew him when I ought not to have knowne him and I did not know him at that criticall time when it was most important for me to know it was Philidaspes and who Philidaspes was Imagine Feraulas said he to me how great would have been my joy if the gods had permitted me to have knowne the truth when after I had fought and vanquished Philidaspes I should have gone unto the pavilion where I should have found my Princess and delivered her and brought her back unto Themiscira But you may imagine how extream is my sorrowes and my despaire since it is I only who am the only cause of her loss it is I who put her into the hands of Philidaspes and am accessory to the taking her away I might have Ioyned with those who assaulted him but alas I assaulted them I might have saved Mandana but alas I have Lost her yet I must repaire the Losse if it be Possible or at the Least be revenged of him who was the cause of it Assist me O ye most Just Gods with constancy enough to support this dismall accident and not die I know that death is a remedy against all misfortunes and that this remedy would cure me of all mine But divine Mandana you have at this time done that in me which the most affrighting dangers never could yes my Princess that heart which never apprehended death amidst the most bloody battles has now some fears of it under the heavie load of his discontents I do fear my Princess I do indeed but I think it is not a base and feeble fear but since I fear not death for any cause but to expose my life to gain your liberty doubtless you will pardon me but alas who can tell whether ever you shall speak again unto Artamenes or Artamenes ever speak unto Mandana how ever said he I am sure I shall look Philidaspes in the face though he be the King of Assyria and it shall not be long before I disturbe his felicity As Artamenes was thus resenting his fate Chrysantes returned and told him that he might see the King but since his returne was divulged more then half the Court was assembled about Ciaxares which newes not much pleased him fearing nothing more then to have too many spectators of his sorrow The sight of the Castle where he saw the Princesse last redoubled his sadnesse the presence of the King did so
my weaknesse to you and that I disabuse you The King who could not reconcile these two things answered him only with a sigh and being set down by his bed side Philoxypes ask'd him pardon for the trouble he had put his Majesty to and desired me to acquaint the King with what I knew of his adventure desiring him not to be offended that I had not told his Majesty the truth since unlesse I should have drawn down the anger of Heaven upon me for perjury I could not have revealed his secret after the Oaths that he had made me to take to the contrary I then began to acquaint the King with all that I knew touching Philoxypes love but all I could say to him appear'd to be so incredible as it was a long time before he could believe it At last he told Philoxypes that unlesse he should let him see Policrite he would not believe what he had heard Philoxypes perceiving the Kings obstinacy told him that though he was very ill he would be carried to Claria in case he were any thing better the next morning imagining he should sooner recover his health being near Policrite then if he should stay at Paphos All this while the King did not believe what I had told him sometime a man might see some sign of rejoycing in him Ha! my dear Philoxypes would he say is it possible that you were not my Rival and that I was deceived if it be so I think I shall adore that Policrite you speak of instead of blaming the love you bear her since thereby I shall not be inforced to yield up what I hold dearer then my life and that my confident will not prove my Rival But observe Sir the extraordinary effects of love Philoxypes was very sick when he sent to desire the King to come unto him but when once he had any thought of returning to Claria he grew better he slept all the next night quietly enough and the next day was carried in a Litter to Claria whither the King went to lie that night The next day Philoxypes left his bed and the following day notwithstanding all his weaknesse he got on horseback together with the King waited on but by very few and came to the foot of the mountains where they were to light Being there the King followed by none but Philoxypes and my self went towards Cleanthe's Cottage which as soon as we discovered Philoxypes who had need enough howsoever to rest staid a while and shewing it to the King Sir said he strangely confused see the place which made me forgo Paphos see the inch of all the earth that likes me best and where you go to see one who peradventure will rather make you Philoxypes his Rival then Philoxypes shall prove yours He spoke this with a smile by which it visibly appear'd that the hope of reseeing Policrite had brought joy into his heart yet did he fear dispeasing her and to anger Cleanthes by bringing the King thither but there being no remedy he resolved to do it neither did this fear justle out his joy When the King had sufficiently considered the greatnesse of Philoxypes his affection in respect of the meanesse of Policrites Cottage and that he had notwithstanding acknowledged that there was somewhat of wilde in that desert which was not displeasing we went on and came at last to that little Palisadoe of Lawrels wherewith Cleanthes his Court was inclosed We entred thereinto and Philoxypes stepping before the King went to the house where he found the dore shut he knock'd but no body answered which made him at first believe that Cleanthes his whole family was gone to the Temple where he once saw Policrite Yet since there might be some body there who might not hear he knock'd again and knock'd so hard that a young slave who served Cleanthes came and opened the door who very well knowing Philoxypes told him after that Philoxypes had ask'd him where his Master was that he could not tell him what he desired to know and that all that he knew was that Cleanthes Megisto Policrite and Dorida were gone from thence and were not to return thither any more that they had carried along with them the women which they had brought from their own Countrey and that his Master had commanded him to wait his further directions there not knowing wherefore he was gone nor why he left him there Philoxypes surpriz'd and afflicted at this Discourse was a good while without speaking The King thought at first that there was some trick in it and that Philoxypes had made me say what I had said only to abuse him but at last this young Slave being stept into the House and returning presently Sir said he to Philoxypes when Policrite was ready to depart from hence she drew me aside unseen by any one and gave me this which I give to you ordaining me so to do if you should come hither Philoxypes taking immediately what the Slave presented him with opened the Letter whilest the King did me the honour to speak with me and read these ensuing words POLICRITE TO PHILOXYPES I Know not Sir whither it is that Policrite is convey'd but I very well know that Philoxypes is the cause of her exile not being peradventure likely ever to have the Honour to see him I thought I might without blame let him know my minde by this Letter which I refused to acquaint him withall the last time which I spoke with him He may then be pleased to know that at first not esteeming my self worthy of his affection by reason of my birth I with-held mine from him as much as I was able but that having learnt since that I am not of the condition I appeared to be and that there have been Kings of my Race I confess I was gladded that I could not reproach Philoxypes for having an inclination too disproportionable for his degree and that I thought it became me to let him know what I am to the end he may not think he doth any thing unworthy of himself if he sometimes think upon Policrite who will alwayes with much contentment think upon his worth whether his fortune be to lead his life in a Cottage or in a Palace POLICRITE PHILOXYPES as soon as he had read this Letter came to the King and presenting it unto him Sir said he your Majesty may read in this Letter my innocency and my misfortune The King began then to read aloud what Policrite had written but good God in what pain was the unfortunate Philoxypes that he could not interrupt him but as soon as he had read it out looking upon him with a fixt and grieved eye how say you now Sir said he am I yet in love with Princesse Aretephile or am I not the most unfortunate man in the world the King imbracing him aâ—ked him pardon for his suspitions and of the trouble he had given him but my dear Philoxypes said he I shall be sufficiently punished for
of you as well as I concerned in this publike interest said he unto all about him except Persians It is your Tyrant who is in prison one whom all the Magi say will subvert all Asia and become our Master And if any thing can perswade me that Artamenes is Cyrus it is his most prodigious exploits But Sir said the king of Hircania all his prodigious exploits conduce unto your Majesties advantage All his Combats Victories and Conquests are yours and he findeth no other share in them but his Fetters No replied Ciaxares because by the favour of the gods I have prevented him But said he in looking upon Feraulas does Mandana know he is Cyrus Sir replied he I know nothing concerning the Princesse further then that I am certain there is no criminous intelligence between her and my Master and that his affection towards her did never cause him to neglect his respects neither to her nor you The affection which your Master has replied Ciaxares very sharply is onely an unlimited Ambition and a thought of horrible revenge he intends to punish Ciaxares for that which Astyages in the behalf of all Asia did intend to do in his Cradle but I shall without any scruple at all do that which he attempted not without much fear fo 〈…〉 have more convincing Arguments inducing me unto it and also morâ— convincing Rea 〈…〉 〈…〉 ied the king of Phrygâ—a to avert you from it Cyrus replied Ciaxa 〈…〉 but 〈…〉 le to hurt But Cyrâ—â— is 〈…〉 lpable for t 〈…〉 thing and to execute what he 〈…〉 It 〈…〉 â—lso a man who attempts 〈…〉 execute all 〈…〉 Cyrus 〈…〉 very true 〈…〉 you ser 〈…〉 Ra 〈…〉 King in 〈…〉 He comes 〈…〉 Court and 〈…〉 in a disguise 〈…〉 was to â—educe the minde of my Daughter Doubtleâ—se 〈…〉 discovered himself unto her he has infused Ambition into her soul She looks up 〈…〉 as the Conqueror of all Asia And without considering that he cannot make him 〈…〉 Master o 〈…〉 unlesse he throw her Father out of his Throne she hearkens unto him 〈…〉 uffers him she loves him But thanks be unto the Heavens I am able to punish them 〈…〉 h at once since if she love Artamenes as I make no question but she does then she 〈…〉 ill suffer a death in the person of this rash man untill I can get her unto such a place as 〈…〉 shall make her suffer in her own Oh Sir cried out all the men which were in the Chamber we beseech you either grant us the life of Cyrus or else we beseech you give us our deaths How replied Ciaxares extreamly astonished my Subjects my Vassals and my Allies all ask life for their Tyrant or at least will be so one day We beg the life said they all with one voice of a man whom the gods did send to be the Legitimate Master of all men and have adorned him with Vertues accordingly and one who although he was able to have got out of prison added Hidaspes yet would not attempt it A man pursued Gobrias who would not live but to do you service You may say added Gadates a man who would never have vanquished but for your Glory A Prince pursued Thrasibulus who has made all the Wise men of Greece adore him And one added the king of Hircania who has converted all them whom he has vanquished to be his friends Say rather pursued Feraulas one who has made his most mortall enemies admire 〈…〉 Adde unto these said Aglatidas that the destiny of Artamenes is so extraordinary and glorious that his most mortall enemies do owe their lives unto him You may further say added Artibies that those who hardly know him are so much charmed by his Vertues that they are ready to die for him For my part added Thimocrâ—â—es I should think my life could never be better employed then in saving such an Illustrious Prince as he Indeed replied Philocles your lot would deserve envy if you could obtain that favour for what applause did not that man deserve who should have the honour to reprieve so vertuous a Prince A Prince replied Megabises who is valiant in the highest degree Who is as liberall as valiant pursued Artabases who is as prudent as couragious added the Prince of Licaonia Who is as milde and sweet after a Victory as he is furious in fighting replied Madates Whose reputation is fam'd thorowout the World said Leontidas Who is owner of all the Vertues added the Prince of Paphlagonia And to summe up all in few words pursued Ariobantes he is a man who never did any ill but alwayes good 〈…〉 ow said Ciaxares in a great fury did Cyrus never do any ill has he not rendred himself so prevalent and powerfull in the mindes of my Friends my Enemies my Allies my Neighbours and my Subjects that it seems as if I durst not punish him Is not this crime great enough to ruine him to the end that I may teach others to be more respective unto me But as it possible added he that there should not be one amongst you all who loves his liberty and is a hater of that man whom so many Predictions might move you to look upon as a Traytor In the meane while since you neither respect my Interest not your own nor the Interest of all Asia I will look onely to my self and will punish this pretended Cyrus as a man who is come into my Court to betray me as one that has conspired with my daughter against my life as one that has voluntarily let the king of Assyria escape as one that holds a criminous correspondency with him and as a man who indeed would ruine me Take heed Sir said Hidaspes what you do for after all this Cyrus is not your Subject and the King my Master knowes well enough how to be revenged upon you for such a piece of high injustice In the name of the gods Sir said the king of Phrygia do not resolve upon any thing in the heat of your choler In the name of the gods replied Ciaxares speak not a word more unto me either concerning Artamenes or Cyrus But be ye all assured that I take him for my secret Enemy for a 〈…〉 uce 〈…〉 f my Daughter and for the Tyrant of all Asia and nothing shall save him and therefore 〈…〉 since his destruction is inevitable prepare your selves to hear presently of 〈…〉 th In saying so he caused Feraulas to be guarded a 〈…〉 d left them Immediately 〈…〉 r the king of Phrygia was advertized that Metroba 〈…〉 〈◊〉 given Orders that the 〈…〉 s should suffer none to come into the Town from the Camp none to go out of the 〈…〉 So that when he made it known unto the king of 〈◊〉 and all the 〈◊〉 〈…〉 s about him they â—â—d 〈…〉 oubt whether they sho 〈…〉 have liberty â—â—go out 〈…〉 le and whether Artamenes were not already dead For Metrobates spoke unto 〈…〉 alow voice since he came into his Chamber and
not consent unto a thing of that nature at the request of Timasias but at hers If that be all said she I humbly beseech you command him to restore it unto me presently I can only intreat him said Policrates for I am not his Master You may command me Sir in all things said I unto him but as for this I conceive it would be so unjust to do it that I cannot beleeve you will And what injustice is there in it replied Alcidamia since it is but to render me my own In truth said the Princess you have less right unto it then Leontidas for did you not give it unto Acasta Yes replyed she but though I did yet Leontidas has no right unto it For my part said Policrates I find that Alcidamia is not to blame And I find said the Princess Hersilea that she has no reason to have it from him for since Acasta was so careless in loosing it and Leontidas so careful in keeping it it is better in his hands then hers Oh Madam said I unto her how infinitly am I obliged unto you and what sufficient thanks can I possibly render you Whilst I was thanking her and shewing such reasons as might more convince them in my favour I saw Policrates speak low unto Alcidamia and her laugh as well as he and methought afterwards I saw them smâ—le once or twice priâ—ately at one another and indeed Policrates was displeased at Alcidamia since she confessed she sufferd me to speak unto her concerning my love and the more to oblige me told her that he beleeved I was really in love with her but for further satisfaction he said unto her Will you continue obstinate all this day in desiring him to restore your picture How Sir said she all this day speaking in a low voyce to him Yes and all my life long or at the least until he do restore it Yet since I did not hear what he said and since I saw Policrates smile very often whilst Alcidamia pressed me to restore the picture I was much unquiet in my mind But as the Princess took my part and was glad that the affection of Policrates heretofore towards Timasias whom she loved not did lessen towards him and increase towards me she said that absolutely she would never suffer me to restore this picture for said she to Alcidamia in my behalf you have no more right unto it since you gave it unto Acasta and she has no more right unto it then you since she lost it so negligently but Leontidas has more right then either of you since he found it so fortunately since he has won it by his valor since he has prevented him who stole it from injoying it and since indeed he deserves it Then Policrates to divert himself a little longer said unto Hersilea that it were more just that the picture remained in his hands But without giving him so much time as to tell his reasons the sentence of the Princess was followed Alcidamia always declaring that she would never consent unto it in conclusion the Prince retired and I also then after I had examined my memory concerning all the accidents of that day I found more bad then good fortune in them indeed I was extreamly joyed that this Picture which I had was not given and that I might almost say it was my own and might look upon it without any circumstance of secresie But I was extreamly troubled when I found my friend and my enemy were both my Rivals for I might very well imagine that Theanor would never have perswaded me that this Picture was given unto him who lost it but in hopes thereby to make me alter my designe nor could I be ignorant considering the manner of Timasias his action that he was deeply in love with Alcidamia and afterwards calling to memory the seriousness of Policrates in looking upon the Picture how he whispered with her and divers times smiled at her remembring I say all these trivial circumstances I imagined that this Prince was in love with her also so that to speak sincerely unto you I was no less jealous of him then I was of my friend and my enemy I might have had so much consolation if I had known how to have taken it rightly as to have thought that Alcidamia did neither love him nor Theanor nor Timasias but I apprehended it with so many tormenting fears as if I had known that certainly she was in love with them all for if I had apprehended it so then all my jealousie would have had but one object whereas now I suffered as many torments as if Alcidamia had loved them all one after another On which side soever her sensible soul inclines said I I have great cause to fear that every one of these three terrible Rivals may move her heart Theanor is a very compleat man wise complacential discreet and witty able to act all that a passionate love can inspire and ruine me before I know where I am so that if Alcidamia do affect the Courtship of such a man I have great reason to fear him Again If she be affected unto Fame Valour and Liberality Timasias is a brave and gallant man who may easily attract her inclination But Oh Heavens said I If she be ambitious what satisfaction may she not find in Policrates if she affect glory there it is to be had if she love riches since he is Master of the Seas he can fetch her more if his own will not content her and thus repenting in my mind all the good qualities of Policrates I endured unimaginable torments especially when I considered the good fortune of this Prince which always was waited upon with success in all his enterprises No no said I all I have to do is to inform my self whether Policrates loves Alcidamia for if he do certainly she will love him afterwards when I considered that of all my three Rivals there was only Timasias against whom I could vent all my resentments for the other two one of them was my friend and the other my Master then did I almost lose all my reason so that I passed away that night most unquietly yet was I not fully resolved in my mind that Policrates was in love with Alcidamia I did but only suspect it not believe it for commonly I began with fear afterwards I suspected and after that to believe what I feared and suspected to be really true After then a tedious and vexatious night Theanor came unto my Chamber in the morning who being still resolved to conceal the truth and to take my love off from Alcidamia if he could came now to tell me how glad he was of the advantage which I got the day before over my enemy but yet he was very sorry to observe me every day more and more inclined to love Alcidamia yet if I would permit him to deliver his disswading reasons he believed that I would think no more of it The most prevalent reason
in her closet into which he durst not enter but he was so urgent with him to tell it unto them both that thinking the business was of some great consequence that he went in and returned presently back to bring him in But Sir he was no sooner stepped into the Closeâ— but the Queen rising up was extreamly surprized I am very glad said she unto him to see you in a better condition then you were the last time I saw you in Bythinia and when I mistook the Illustrious Artamenes for the unfortunate Spitridates Madam you give me a very glorious name replyed the right Spitridates for indeed it was he whom the Queen Arbiana took for you but yet I wonder that you should not know me The Princess Aristea taking a candle and looking him in the face Madam said she unto the Queen without all doubt he whom now you see is my brother and not Artamenes Spitridates who had several times been taken for another in his travels was not less surprized then if he had not been formerly mistaken therefore telling them many passages which none but they could know they then knew him and expressed all the signs of joy and tenderness that possible could be at the meeting of one so dear unto them whom they never thought to see again Since the Queen his mother did alwayes love him she had used all possible endeavours to mollâ—fie the incensed spiritof Arsamones but she could never move him unto it yet because she would not perplex this Prince at the first meeting she spoke not any thing concerning it unto him but only told him after some two houres conference that he must not let it be known he was in Heraclea until she had spoken with him After this he went a back way unto his chamber where some tears were bestowed upon the memory of Euriclides and the Princess Aristea staid with him who had not seen him since the death of Sinnesis in the memory of whom both sighed but before he entred into discourse of any thing else he asked concerning the Princess Araminta I cannot Sir express the sorrows which Spitridates resented to see himself in that place where first he began to love the Princess and she him nor can I describe his grief of heart when he considered that it was his own father who was the cause she was not here now Moreover when he fancied her to be in the clutches of Artanus he was almost out of his senses and it was long before he could give satisfaction unto the Princess his sister who desired to know what adventures he met with since she saw him But after many sad condolements he told her as we knew afterwards from himself that when he was disguised in Paphlagonia he writ a Letter unto the Princess Araminta to ask her whether it were her pleasure he should come and offer himself unto the King her brother who was then beginning the Cappadocian war and that in lieu of receiving such an answer as he expected he had received from the Princess the most cruel Letter in the world and such a one as made him amazed to see it And as the princess Aristea told him that without all manner of question there had been some cheat put upon him he pulled out those two Letters which he alwayes kept about him ever since he received them and shewing them unto her she found them to this effect ARAMINTA unto SPITRIDATES Come not hither to offer your self unto the King my brother but rather seek out for your self a Sanctuary in some place of the world so far from me that you may forget even the very name of ARAMINTA Oh brother cried out the Princess Aristea my eyes tell me that the princess Araminta writ this Letter but my reason assures me that she never thought it Afterwards without staying for Spitridates his answer she opened the other and found these words HESIONIDA unto the Prince SPITRIDATES IT grieves me to tell you that Glory is above all things predominate in the heart of the Princess and she it so peremptorily resolved to obey the King to quench her affection unto you and to forget it that no arguments under Heaven can alter her Conform therefore your mind unto your fortune if you can and since you are generous strive to forget her who is absolutely resolved never to remember you HESIONIDA I leave it unto your imagination said the Prince Spitridates as soon as the Princess his Sister had done reading these two Letters what I apprehended after I received what now you have read I do easily imagine said she but since I am certain that some or other has put a trick upon you I am not surprized at it for truly said she as long as the Cappadocian war lasted I continually received intelligence from the Princess Araminta as I was wont to do she always enquired concerning you with extream care she has secretly done us an hundred good offices and until the time she was taken away by Artanus we ever held a good correspondency together especially since the war began between my Father and the King of Pontus Moreover when the Illustrious Artamenes came into Bythinia and when we thought it had been you who returned thither she expressed abundance of joy when I did intimate it unto her by a Letter and I am certain that she was as sad when we acquainted her with our mistake But said she I must compare this pretended Letter from the Princess Araminta with some which I have and saying so she opened a Cabinet which was upon the Table in her Closet and taking several Letters out she set her self to observe them very exactly and she found much difference in many Charactars At the first sight all the world might have been deceived but none could be so deluded that saw the false Letter compared with the true one Spitridates was so overjoyed at his hopes of being deceived that for a quarter of an hour he could hardly perswade himself that it was a cheat but seemed to doubt of it to the end he might move Aristea to give him mine assurance of it and to have a pretence to look longer upon the great difference between thâ— hands But how may it be imagined said Spitridates this cheat should come about Pharnaces was out a man likely to do it No said the Princess but Artanus may probably be such a knave and indeed Sir as we afterwards came to know it was he who having discovered that Spitridates had sent unto Heraclea by that Captain of the Tower wherein he was a prisoner caused this man who had the true answer from the Princess and me to be followed his Letters were taken from him and carried unto a man who was excellent at imitating of hands to be counterfeited It happened for the favour of his cheat that this man who had the Letters was brought up in the house of Artanus his father unknown unto Spitridates so that knowing him to be
cruel thought said I canst thou ever suffer that prophane hand which did it to be employed in any thing but reaching a Dagger to my heart But Sir said Leosthenes unto me you are not in any fault it was a meet chance which gave Alcionida that fatal wound After this I stood a long while silent and my mind was so filled with variety of different thoughts that I was not Master of my self If she dye said I I must follow her into the grave if she recover still I must dye for she recovers only for Tisander who is already her husband and ever must be he who perhaps though Tisander had not been in love with her as he was yet might he well perceive I was by the disorder of my soul which appeared in my eyes so that he could not possible be ignorant of it and he stood between us in such a silent Dilimma that none durst interrupt him Alâ—iâ—nida averted her looks from me and I did court hers whilest Tisander observing us both did discover that Secret which I would have locked up in my heart After we had been an hour with Alcionida Tisander impatiently desiring to clear his suspitions told me in most civil language that it was convenient to leave her at rest that day and moved me to go out with him into his Chamber I was no sooner there but seeing none in presence I beseech you my dear Thrasibulus said he unto me Tell me one thing truly which I much desire to know Since it was long before I answered and he suspected that I would disguise the truth Nay do not go about to colour the matter said he for perhaps I do not stand in need of your help in the knowledg of it If so said I unto him why do you desire to know that from me which you know already Because replied he I desire to be infallibly certain whether or no I am so unfortunate as to be the cause of this deep melancholy which I perceive in your mind Tell me my dear Thrasibulus Has not the sympathy of your humour with mine caused us both to love one Lady and am not I so unfortunate as to deprive you of Alcionida I do confess that what resolutions soever I had taken not to reveal unto Tiscander the reason of my passion yet now it was impossible for me to disguise it I was so non-plust at these questions and my eyes were so troubled that my face did so betray the thoughts of my heart as this Prince not doubting any longer did cry out with extream generosity and most sensible sorrow Alas my dear Thrasibulus how sad is my soul that my felicity should be your misfortune for since we both of us do love one and the same Lady we shall both of us be miserable all the days of our lives That would not be just said I unto him and sighed my heart melting at his obliging discourse and therefore ask me no more Believe if you can that it is ambition only which is the burden of my soul Imagine your self happy and that I am still the same insensible Thrasibulus who condemned you for loving the fair Sapho and quietly enjoy your felicity in the Divine Alcionida I confess that being transported with the excess of sorrows that notwithstanding the friendship between us I did not rejoyce at your satisfaction all that reason and remembrance of that friendship could do was to oblige me not to disturb it I ask your pardon generous Thrasibulus but withall I beseech you remember in my excuse that I loved Alcionida before you did and must love her as long as I live perhaps more then you for since she was the first so doubtless she shall be the last that shall ever move my passion But least this confession should too much incense you let me tell you that as my love of her is so purely innocent that it cannot be offensive either unto her vertue or our friendship or the Gods themselves so also is it so extreamly violent that I cannot endure her sight or yours for so miserable do I esteem my self that now I am past all hopes of Alcionida's love Since your passion is so purely innocent as you tell me and since also I do believe it answered he I will promise you so great a share in the friendship of Alcionida that though it cannot make you absolutely happy yet at the least it may afford you some consolation for since she knew you it is impossible but she must needs esteem you and therefore I shall hope she will love you for my sake Therefore my dear Thrasibulus though you cannot be compleatly happy yet do not you render your self absolutely miserable nor by your misfortunes interrupt my happiness I do once more declare said I unto him that the glorious luster of Alcionida's fair eyes which has enflamed my soul is as pure and splendent as the rayes of the Sun But yet most generous Tisander you must needs know if you know how to love that though a Lover do not always enjoy the beauty of a beloved and adored Mistress yet would he have the sole and absolute possession of her whole heart and mind to himself so that since I cannot desire so great a happiness without a wrong to you nor indeed never hope for it I have no way but to die and let you live happily But that I can never do replied he if you do not live happily as well as I Then are we both most unfortunate said I unto him Time said Tisander may perhaps produce some remedy which you cannot think of Since those remedies said I unto him are commonly long in curing I do not think I can stay the issue I believe death would sooner work the cure then time However I beseech you think that if you had not forced me to discover my misfortune unto you you should never have known it But since you screwed out that secret which I desired to hide it is but just in you to rid your self of a vexatious Rival who shall be always a disturber of your happiness When I doted upon Sapho replied he I did not think it possible ever to be cured of that tormenting passion which possessed me yet her rigour to me her compliance with another and the all commanding charms of Alcionida has made her most indifferent unto me It is not so with me said I unto him for though I believe Alcionida loves you and most certainly know she will never love me yet can I not banish her from my heart But for your part said I with a most incensed mind perhaps you can quit Alcionida for another as you quit Sapho for her and I shall perhaps hereafter hear that the same which would be my heaven of felicity is not so to you But most inconstant and unjust Friend said I if ever you leave adoring this divine Lady you will be the most undeserving man that lives I had no sooner spoken this but
misery as to observe that the Princess of Lidia was very averse against this new Rival but yet he knew that the Prince Atis did encourage Adrastus in his thoughts of the Princess his sister For since the King of Phrigia had no children and resolved never to marry again Adrastus was in all appearance to be King So that conceiving this marriage would be advantagious unto the Princess he became his Advocate to perswade her and Cressus unto it He pressed the business so very violently in favor of the prince Adrastus that since she saw that all her reasons in excuse of her coldness to him would not rid her of his importunities she resolved to employ that power which Cleander had over the mind of the Prince her brother being still ignorant of the interest which he had himself and not knowing that he had already used his best endeavors that way She sent then for Cleander and causing him to come into her Closet after she had used a Complement or two unto him to prepare his consent unto what she should desire of him and after he assured her she might absolutely dispose of his very life What I shall desire of you said she unto him is not perhaps so easie a business as you imagine since to satisfie my desires it is to resist with all your power the will of a Prince who you love very well and who also loves you infinitely Indeed you must perswade the Prince my brother from soliciting me so earnestly in behalf of the prince Adrastus and that it is enough he protects him in this Court without any further importunities upon her though I know well enough I have no reason for my aversion to him since I know he is of an illustrious extract and shall in all likelyhoods be a King that he is handsom and of a Soul that he testifies much affection to me that the King does not dislike his design that the prince Atis does assist him and that my Soul is not engaged any other way But yet for all this I have so strong an aversion towards him that being out of hopes to overcome it nor ever intending to try I conjure you by all that 's dear unto you to employ that perswasive power which I know you have over my brother to prevent him from persecuting me any further since I never opposed his affection unto Anaxilea which was not very justly grounded so do you keep him from opposing my strong aversion to Adrastus which I do confess also it is not well grounded neither I leave you Madam to judg what joy Cleander had to understand from the mouth of Palmis her self that she hated one of his Rivals But since he was desirous to hear her express as much against another Madam said he unto her with much reverence I find the prince Adrastus so unhappy in your hate that it were a kind of cruelty not to pity him yet I do interest my self so much in any thing which concerns you that I must needs tell you there is nothing without all exceptions which I will not do to deliver you from his importunities But Madam if after your goodness to command me any thing in your service it be permitted me to speak sincerely I shall tell you that one thing which most moves the Prince to protect Adrastus is his hatred of Artesilas and he thinks he cannot do him a more sensible displeasure then to be a cause that you should prefer a Phrigian Prince before him Therefore Madam if I be not too presumptuous in speaking thus it is your part whilest I transact with the Prince to transact so with Artesilas that he be no obstacle to my obtaining what you desire I have already told you replyed the Princess that my affection is not engaged unto any So that though there be not such an antipathy between me and Artesilas as there is between me and Adrastus yet since I am very indifferent towards him it will be an easie matter for me to satisfie the Prince my brother in that provided he let me have the freedom to be rigid towards Adrastus Artesilas shall have no great cause to commend me for compliance with him When Cleander heard the Princess express her self thus he was so exceedingly transported with joy that I wonder he did not make her perceive his love to her by the delight which sparkled in his eyes It is very true this joy did not continue long for when he began to consider that the Princess did not suspect any thing of his passion to her and that by all appearances he should never be able to obtain from the Prince of Lidia what he desired his melancholy did succeed his joy But yet his certainty to know his Rivals not loved was such an essential cause of satisfaction that his joys did overcome his sorrows again and he appeared before the Princess very well contented that he had dived so deep into her Soul Yet sometimes when he considered that the foundation of his joy was only because the Princess was not in love with any Oh Heaven said he am I not out of my wits to rejoyce at that I ought to lament for is it possible ever to be happy and not be loved and is there any hopes of being loved when she that is loved does not so much as know it It is true I am assured that the heart which I would be possessed of is not enjoyed by any yet I may be certain that it must never be enjoyed by me so that which way soever I look there is no hopes of any contentation to be found The greatest felicity that I can expect is only to see my Rivals as miserable as my self However he began to be obedient unto the Princess and since the prince Atis was a Debtor unto him for his life ever since the Missean Wars and moreover since he knew that the Prince was much pleased with his discourse he used all his ingenuity and favour to disswade him from protecting Adrastus but yet all his perswasive arguments could not bring it about For besides the aversion which this Prince had unto Artesilas he had another predominate motive to affect Adrastus which Cleander in the end discovered which was because Adrastus was he who had reconciled Anaxilea and him together So that this Lady being desirous to gratifie so good an office kept him still in favour with the Prince so that all the wit cunning and credit which Cleander had with him could not alter his setled resolution he attempted to win Anaxilea unto his design but it was impossible for she had a secret grudg to him in her heart because he refused to counterfeit a love unto her and so exposed her fortunes unto danger besides she did conceive it to be a kind of scorn of her when he refused that office Cleander then being out of all hopes to obtain any thing for either of them was in a hundred minds to quarrel with Adrastus
earnestly to tell him her reasons why she hated him and why she loved him for said he unto her I am certain the change was not in me but your self This unexpected Question did so surprize Amestris that she blushed and gave him 〈◊〉 satisfactory answer yet she told him that as long as her Father lived the disposition of her self was in him and after his death she was resolved to marry according to her own affection but she spoke this with so much disorder in her countenance that Ottanus changed colour as well as she Then urging her no further he went to walk by himself as one of my intimate friends who was also a friend of his did tell me and revealed all his secrets unto me But oh Heavens what odd phantastical thoughts did come into his mind during this walk and how severely did he punish himself with his own capricious phancy Then he called to mind all the severity which Amestris expressed towards him he remembered all her scornings of him and the great difference which she made between him and Aglatidas or Megabises and did not forget any act which this fair and virtuous Lady did either in contempt of him or in advantage unto any of his Rivals However said he after a memory of all these things I am the Enjoyer of Amestris and all my Rivals which in appearance were then more happy were yet really more unfortunate What then would I have said he and what do I want to compleat my happiness Then would he walk a while in a more calm temper and thinking he had setled himself in more tranquility of mind he gave over the thought of these things and began to delight himself in the variety of flowers which grew in the Garden where he walked he quitted that shady melancholy walk which he made choyce of at first and took one of a more open ayr but notwithstanding the enamelled beauty and variety of flowers as soon as he had changed places he began to make comparisons betwixt himself and his Rivals and he could find no reason in the world why Amestris should make choyce of him before them and though it be the custom of all the world to flatter themselves and seldom to do Justice when they are their own Judges yet Ottanus in this business did censure himself with all severity possible he concluded then that Amestris ought not to have made choyce of him since she had no prepossessed opinion of him or affection to him as he knew she had not For said he the very day before my happiness she was intolerably incensed against me I never found her more cruel or uncivil towards me in her life then that day and the next morning the fit took her to marry me and did so though I could never conceive any Reason why she should think of so much happiness for me But what matter is it which way our good fortune comes so we enjoy it Amestris is mine and all my Rivals go without her nor is there any likelyhood they ever had any shares in her heart since she made not choyce of any amongst them as if she had pleased she might have done but preferred one whom they loved not before them all Yet for all this said he Amestris did not love me two days before she married me and I am most certain I used neither any charms nor enchantments to change her heart nor did I so much as ask that favour from the hands of Heaven because I saw so little probability of obtaining it yet upon a sudden I became happy and Then he stayed a while and went no further Afterwards repenting himself of what he had said and what he thought to have said But am I very well assured that I am happy and is it not so that I have only changed misfortunes And indeed Ottanus as my friend whose name was Artemon of whom I already spoke since told me after he had well examined the matter and sufficiently tormented himself could never resolve with himself whether he was happy or unhappy but he went home very reserved and melancholy He resolved to get the mastery of his mind and wrastle with those thoughts which disturbed his good fortune and indeed for some certain days did endeavor to be contented As for Amestris her thoughts were as far from any calm serenity as the spirit of Ottanus was and she thought her self the most miserable woman upon Earth especially since she knew the innocency of Aglatidas for before that though she had an extream aversion towards Ottanus yet she had some consolation in her hopes to undeceive Aglatidas in the opinion he had of her and if he were once undeceived then had she cruelly revenged her self upon him But as the state of things were knowing that if she had not married Ottanus she might have been happy and Aglatidas contented she suffered unconceiveable torment of mind she could find no consolation in condemning him who was the cause of her sufferings nor in any thing else but condemning her self However Aglatidas at parting having sent a Letter unto Menasta to give unto Amestris she quitted her self very faithfully and gave it unto her though with much ado to move her unto a reception of it For since Amestris was as virtuous as fair she conceived it something against the Rules of Virtue to receive any expressions of love from Aglatidas yet after Menasta promised her it should be the last she should be troubled with she read it and this was the Contents The miserable AGLATIDAS unto the unfortunate AMESTRIS I Can never consent to go far from you before I have asked Pardon for being a cause of your sorrows I would I were able for your tranquilities sake to wish you would absolutely forget me but I do confess my weakness and acknowledg that I cannot be so generous but on the contrary I desire that the remembrance of my constant Passion may be the greatest torment of your life As for mine I do promise you it shall be so miserable that unless you be the most unhumane woman in the world you will have so much goodness as to let me know you pity me lest I should dye with despair AGLATIDAS After Amestris had read this Letter with tears in her eyes though she refused to receive it at the first yet she kept it at the last and would not give it again unto Menasta and talking together concerning the crossness of these accidents Menasta told her that since things past and done cannot be recalled and undone the best way was to make the best of things one could and to comfort ones self Ah Menasta said Amestris how difficult is this counsel to be practised and how hard a matter is it to find any comfort when one is forced to see him continually whom one hates and never to see him one loves and I assure you that since the time Aglatidas did justifie himself in my opinion the aversion which I ever
and certainly not without cause for as soone as Oltanus came home hee had a phansie to make a strict search in the Chamber of Amestris The house-keeper opened all the doores but onely of that Closet of which hee said hee had not the key Then Oltanus pretending to take something out which he would keep for Amestris he broke open the doore and went in onely with a servant of his called Dinocrates whom he trusted with all his secrets hee searched in all the drawers and boxes in the Closet hee lifted up all the hangings and looked in every corner hee was ready to goe out againe very well satisfied that hee found not what he sought for but Dinocrates lifting up the hood upon the table hee found this little Cabinet in which were the Letters of Aglatidas Dinocrates cryed out as if hee had found some great Treasure and Oltanus coming towards him with a panting heart tooke it and opened it with all hast and violence But oh Heavens when he saw the Letters and the names of Amestris and Aglatidas upon them hee was in such a fury at it that it was a whole houre before hee read them yet at last hee began but was so much transported that hee knew not what hee read hee sent immediately unto Artemon who coming presently unto him see said hee whether I have not reason to be troubled then hee told him how he broke open the Closet and how he found the Letters and gave him one of the Letters which hee had found Artemon perceiving it was writ whilest Artambares the Father of Amestris lived and when it was thought Aglatidas should have marryed her told him that hee could not finde any fault at all in Amestris for this How replyed Oltanus do you think her innocent in keeping Letters of gallantry and courtship after shee was marryed No no Artemon said hee shee cannot excuse it for shee that would keep the Letters of Aglatidas would doubtlesse keep the affection of her heart for him also Then he shewed him that Letter which Aglatidas writ at his departure here said he is it which speaks me the most unhappy in the world I doe but too well see the cause of Amestris her being so reserved Artemon perceiving that the Letter was writ since the marriage of Oltanus and that consequently there must needes be a correspondency betweene them was silent a long while and could not speak a word meane while Oltanus talked faster then a man that was not jealous could thinke in a whole day But at last Artemon stopping the fury of his frivilous language Is this all the Crime of Amestris said hee unto him if it bee you are not so unhappy as you talk of for I cannot finde by any circumstance in the Letter but that since Aglatidas prepares himselfe to bee miserable it is Amestris which hath banished him Moreover doe you not see that none knowes the cause of his departure therefore I must needs thinke the vertue of Amestris to merit much commendation I can conceive no such thing Replyed hee for it was the duty of Amestris to refuse all manner of Love-Letters since she was my wife much lesse ought she to keepe them Artemon used all his arguments to excuse Amestris but all would not appease Oltanus who without any thoughts of his businesse which brought him to the Town returned into the Countrey the very next morning however Artemon would not leave him but whether he would or no went with him In the meane while Amestris was full of Feares and when shee saw him returned so unexpectedly before it was possible he could dispatch the business he went about her heart drooped wanted but a little of falling into a sound As soone as Oltanus lighted from his Horse though Artemon would have hindred him yet he went strait unto the Chamber of Amestris and comming to him in a most uncivill fury Madam said he unto her you are beholding to mee for bringing you so quickly that which doubtlesse you forget and left at Ecbatan and in saying so he threw upon the Table all the Letters of Aglatidas I leave you to imagine what operation the sight of these had upon the heart of Amestris yet since she knew her selfe not so culpable as Oltanus thought her shee recollected her Constancie and without any great dauntednesse Sir said shee unto him since you know it was my Fathers Command upon me to look upon Aglatidas as one who should afterwards be my husband me thinkes you should not thinke it strange that I should receive Letters from him but the last of these Letters replyed hee admits not of that excuse so that though you were not faulty in receiving the first yet it was an unanswerable Crime to keepe them any longer or to receive the last I doe confesse said shee that I was not soe prudent as I might have beene in not burning them when I resolved to marry you but truly the Crime is not so great as you apprehend it and as for this last Letter received since indeed it was impossible for me not to receive it yet I can assure you that I did never returne any answer unto it and that it was not in my power to send it back unto Aglatidas However replyed hee it seemes hee is much in your favour Sir said shee unto him give me leave to tell you onely two things for the satisfaction of your minde The one is that I shall never see Aglatidas againe And the other that I will never receive any more Letters from him nor shall hee from mee It seemes to mee said Artemon who was present at this angry conference that Amestris does offer more than is reason for knowing her vertue as you may do although she should see a man who was in love with her yet there is no necessity you should be troubled at it But how can I be assured said Oltanus to Amestris not harkning unto Artemon of this which you tell me Sir answered she you may leave me here and not let me goe to Ecbatan where Aglatidas perhaps may hereafter be Solitude reply'd he and shoke his head is very fit for secret meetings Then carry me to the town answered she that all the world may eie my actions all the world may know reply'd he all in fury your crime and my misfortune But who was it which brought you this last Letter one who was unknown to me answered she having no mind to bring the name of Menasta in question where is Aglatidas at this present asked Oltanus I know not replyed she for I hold no intelligence with him nor enquire of his being And why said he unto her did you marry me since you loved Aglatidas I thought answered Amestris that my preferring you before all others would have obliged you not to use me as you doe I thought said he that though you did not love me yet you would have loved your own honour and done nothing unworthy of your selfe Truly
happier then himself sad because Mandana was without a Protector especially since the Prince Artamas was both taken and wounded They were also very much grieved to see that he was known by two Lydian Captains who had a good desire to have saved him but durst not Then they went to advertise him who commanded in chief and to give him some testimonies of their victory they carried with them the Prisoners which they had taken that is to say Cyrus the King of Assyria Anaxaris Tegeus Sosicles Ferulas and some Caviliers At their coming out of the wood Cyrus and the King of Assyria viewed all their forces which were drawn up in the plain and as they went these two Rivals observing by their manner of using them that they did not know them did agree together not to discover each other in case they could finde ways to escape and finding an opportunity to hint the same unto Feraulas as he was witty so he made it known unto the rest of the Prisoners hoping that not being known they would be more negligent in guarding them and so they might perhaps recover their liberty Yet Cyrus did extreamly fear to be carried unto the King of Pontus and when he remembred how oft he had conquered him and how that Prince had been his Prisoner the present condition of his fortune was most insupportable unto him yet he marched on though he knew not whither they would conduct him The King of Assiria asked the question of a Lydian Souldier who answered that they were to be carried unto Andramites who in absence of the King of Pontus commanded in chief and as he was enquiring more precisely into things an Officer came and broke off their discourse imagining that the King of Assiria was suborning the Souldier to further his escape After this they marched and were not permitted to speak so much as to one another each of them contemplating upon his own misfortune Cyrus was so generous as not to upbraid the King of Assyria for being the cause of their misfortune since but for him they had not come unto that place where they were taken Mean while they marched on and at last came unto the place where Andramites was who knew Tegeus and Sosicles as soon as he saw them so that not looking much upon any others I think my self very unhappy said he unto them for he was one of their friends that you should fall into my hands but since you know what belongs unto honor I hope you will not think it strange that I should speak unto you as Prisoners of War and not as unto my friends therefore I pray tell me what you were doing in the wood what number of men you had and what was Prince Artamas his business whom I know is wounded and a Prisoner We cannot tell you answered Sosicles very prudently what was the design of Prince Artamas for we only followed him and never enquired further but we can very well assure you his design cannot be very dangerous since he had only fifty horses with him And I do verily believe his designs were rather intentions to promote peace then war But where passed you over the River asked Andramites Since I will not prejudice that Prince whom now I serve answered Sosicles you must excuse me if I do not tell you where we passed over But where is Cyrus asked Andramites I saw him in the Camp yesterday when we came away answered Tegeus seeing Sosicles not answer quickly After this Andramites having bestowed a civil complement upon them commanded an Ephesian Captain to guard them Afterwards looking upon the other Prisoners he found something so great in the aspect of Cyrus the King of Assyria and Anaxaris though their arms and habit was very mean that he called Tegeus again to ask him of what quality these Prisoners were And as he answered that they were only common Caviliers If all the rest in your Army were such said he unto him Cressus will most infallibly lose the first battel he shall fight for I must needs confess he hath none such After this he commanded that the Chyrurgion belonging to the Army should go unto Prince Artamas and consider which was the best way to carry him For since he knew that Cressus held the Governor of the Castle of Hermes in suspition therefore he durst not go thither lest he should render himself suspected so that resolving he should be carried unto some place nearer Sardis and understanding that his danger was not great he commanded the Troops to march All the Troops then beginning to advance and all the Prisoners yet staying for want of horses because their own were either killed or taken by such Souldiers as could not be found they saw appear many Coaches in which were many women This sight made the hearts of Cyrus and the King of Assyria to beat and both of them advancing at once towards the way side by which these Coaches were to pass But when they espyed Mandana there O heavens what were their thoughts their souls were disordered their hearts trembled and were so transported that they thought to discover themselves and if shame to appear before Mandana in such a condition had not restrained them certainly they had staid the Coach and done some act as bold as their loves were violent But the thing which most of all disordered their reason was that whilst the Princess Palmis next to whom Mandana did sit was speaking unto Andramites on the one side of the Coach Mandana did cast her eyes upon these Prisoners so that knowing Cyrus and the King of Assyria she could not possibly chuse but cry out which reaching the ears of these two Rivals produced different effects though sad in both However the Princess Palmis turning herself at the cry which Mandana made and asking her what she had seen which caused her so to do that prudent Princess imagining notwithstanding the disorder of her soul that Cyrus was not known considering the condition wherein he was did ask the Princess Palmis pardon for it But said she unto her I could not chuse but be very much moved when I saw a man amongst the Prisoners who had served the King my father in a time when I thought my self very happy In the mean time Mandana seeing their Coach went on still desired the Princess Palmis to obtain of Andramites the liberty of this Cavilier not daring then to tell the truth unto the Princess lest she should be overheard Palmis desiring nothing more then to oblige Mandana desired Andramites to let the Coach stay and this Lieutenant General obeyed her Then did she entreat him to do her the favour to give unto her one Cavilier which Manda saw among the Prisoners which he had taken Madam said he unto her you know I ought not to do it I know very well said she that according to the exact and strict rules of war you are bound to deny me but withal I know that being
invented to come out of that Town clothed in white when it was a Snow and afterwards being in Sinope how the same passion was predominate over his generosity did prompt him to deceive her and carry her away both from the King of Assyria and the illustrious Cyrus and how to punish him for that rash act the Gods permitted him to suffer shipwrack Madam replyed Orsanus when you shall know what I intend to relate I know not then how you will interpret the intentions of the Gods since at the same instant when they brought him to the very brink of Ruine then they rather saved him But before I explain this Riddle unto you I must tell you that it was the greatest and most admirable effect of the Princess Mandana's Beauty so to disturb and pervert the Reason of this Prince as made him capable of doing any unjust act since certainly there was never any of his Quality whose birth inclination and education was better Moreover the dispositions of Nature drawn from his Parents could not chuse but be most excellently good since it is most certain that never Prince was more virtuous then the Prince of Saces nor any Princess more heroique then the Queen Tarina my Masters mother But since her virtue was famous throughout all Asia I will speak no more of it only say this that if the Prince Mazares her son be not as victorious as any it is strange But as an addition to all you know or possibly can know of him it is requisite I tell you that the night preceding the Princess Mandana's shipwrack and whilest the Prince Mazares out of his respect durst not come into her Cabin he was sensible of as much sorrow as a generous heart could possibly comprehend and let me tell the illustrious Cyrus that I am most confident if he understood the sorrows which he apprehended after that sad accident he would sooner pity then accuse him he repented of his crime though he could not of his passion above a hundred times and resolved as oft to expiate it afterwards when he looked her in the face and observed what alteration in her complexion so short a time had produced his heart was so strucken with remorse as he went in all haste to the Pilot for fear he should alter his mind and commanded him to take the way of Sinope with intentions to restore the Princess either into the hands of Ciaxares or the illustrious Cyrus But oh Heavens how fatal was this Order as just as it was unto him that commanded it and unto her for whose sake it was intended For as soon as the Pilot received it and in obedient order thereunto intending to carry Mandana unto Sinope he turned the Rudder but overturned the Ship and left us all in a perishing condition Never since did I think it permitable to censure the intentions of the Gods when they do either good or evil unto men But that it is much safer to admire their Providence then to dive too far into their Reasons And indeed to speak according unto meer natural Reason who would not think that a Prince in love who had her he loved in his power and who had so much virtues as to repent the taking her away and resolved to set her at liberty again that such a one I say did rather deserve a Recompence then Punishment and yet the Prince Mazares suffered shipwrack he thought himself the cause of that Princess death whom he adored and suffered more torture of Soul then ever any did and the violence of his despair was much more like to be his ruine then his shipwrack and doubtless it had been his death had not the Gods most prodigiously sent him relief Be pleased to know Madam that the owner of the Cabin where the illustrious Artamenes saw Mazares dying and where he received from his hand a rich Scarfe which was the Princess Mandana's being gone to fish a little before the storm did rise and adventuring so far into the Sea that he could not recover the shore he was constrained to let go his Boat unto the mercy of the Wind and Waves was at last driven to the foot of a Rock which rise up in the Sea and where a Ship had been split but where his Boat being light did safely arrive so that he got upon the Rock and holding his Boat with a Rope he resolved to rest there till the storm was over and so he did until the Tempest beginning to calm he discovered an old man upon a plank which kept him above water and who endeavoured to gain that Rock but he was so weak and so far off that needs must he perish unless the Fisherman relieve him Plain pity then moving the heart of this Fisherman he made unto his assistance in his Boat and took up this man whose name was Tyburtus by Nation a Greek who was alwayes with Mazares as a Tutor to read all Sciences befitting his Quality unto him He was no sooner in the Boat but so weak he was that ready he was to fall into a swoond Yet when he was recovered he told how he had been shipwracked but told him not how it was in carrying away the Princess Mandana lest it should abate his zeal to serve him So that this Fisher-man cheering him up after his homely manner he offered him his Cabin to retreat unto which Tiburtus accepted of in hopes to hear some tydings of some that were shipwracked with him or whether his Master perished among the rest The Sea being then smoother then before this Fisher-man began to row about but since he had lost one of his oars in the Storm he was a long time before he recovered his shore and so long indeed that he came not to his Cabin until Artamenes was gone away You may imagine Madam hovv Tiburtus vvas amazed to find the Prince Mazares there and in that case for he vvas not yet recovered out of his svvoond vvherein the illustrious 〈◊〉 left him as soon as he savv him he vvas extreamly joyed but vvhen he savv him in that pitiful case his extream joys vvere converted into extream sorrovvs yet since he vvas a man of an universal knovvledg in all things and reasonably vvell versed in Physick he endeavored to try vvhether any life yet remained in that Prince and whether there were any possibility of helping him and upon his careful observance he discovered his heart did beat so that using all the helps which the poverty of that place would afford him he employed them so well that Mazares revived but vvith a spirit so little of himself that spying Tiburtus at his beds side he asked him vvhere Mandana vvas Aftervvards he pronounced the name of Artamenes four or five times and being for an hour after in a confused distraction of Reason he knevv not vvhether or no Artamenes vvas his Rival or vvhether Mandana vvas alive or dead or indeed whether himself was living But at last Tiburtus endeavoring by his
read them so well as you spoke them I beseech you give me leave to read your words yet Callicrates could not get the paper out of Parthenia's hands who kept them whether he would or no perhaps if you desire to see what was writ in this paper that you might see the difference between the wiâ—t of Polydamas and Parthenia But Sir that a sister which I have who waites upon this Princesse did tell them unto me yet I cannot remember them yet certainly nothing could be more different from another then the answers of Parthenia and Polydamas In the meane time this conference of Callicrates and Parthenia which began in rallerie did end in a more serious discourse for passing insensibly from one thing to another Callicrates moved Parthenia to confesse she could not but wonder Polydamas should be so Amiable and have so little Witt. For Heavens sake Madam said he unto her doe me the favour the first time you see him and are in discontent with him turne away your head and winke that you may heare him and not see him and if after that you doe not confesse you have no cause to love him I will for ever forsake those hopes I have that you will never hate me for really Madam there cannot be a greater difference between any two then between the Princesse Parthenia and Polydamas Therefore Madam take my advice prophane not those excellencies which the Gods have given you by giving your selfe to one who cannot halfe understand them but finde one out that is able to know and adore you This Sir was the conference between Parthenia and Callicrates who left her with much satisfaction that he had so well prospered in his designe and indeed ever since that day Parthenia was Mistresse of her selfe and disengaged her heart able to look upon Polydamas as a lover whom she would condemne unto despaire which was no small joy unto Callicrates who as ofâ— as he met Polydamas did treat him most cruelly and abuse him in the presence of Parthenia yet in such a manner as Polydamas did not perceive it because it was by applauding him for things which were not at all commendable and in admiring all he said and making an Elogie upon every word he spake and he had been more gross in his abuses if the Princess had not imposed silence and forbidden him to use him so In the meane time the Prince of Salamis continued to see and serve her though he made no great progresse into her affection and observing that Callicrates was much in her favour but had not the least thought of his being in love though it was already noised in the world he indeavoured to oblige him and made him the confident of his designe but Callicrates having no minde to turne solicitor for another in matter of love told him that he could doe nothing for him and that Parthenia was one who would take advice from none but her selfe But since he perceived that Polydamas was not yet enough out of Parthenias Bookes he hinted such things unto the Prince of Salamis as moved him to apprehend that as long as Polydamas was a visitor of Parthenia none ought to be pretender unto her yet he told this as a mighty secret for his designe being to make the world beleeve Parthenia loved him he would not publish that she had any inclination to Polydamas But he told him all that he could devise which might move the Prince of Salamis to hate his Rivall and to make him quarrell with him hoping thereby to be quit of two Rivalls at once either by killing each other or by banishing them for fighting and indeed his plot did hit and that which did advance it was the Prince of Salamis being one day in Parthenia's closet she went out for something and left this Prince with others in it and the company coming out presently after left him in the Closet expecting Parthenia's return so that looking upon divers things which lay upon the Table he found a paper which the Princesse had left and forgotten and it proved to be that which Callicrates writ with the answers of Polydamas and Parthenia for the Princesse would not burn it because she kept it to cure her spirits in reading of them so that the Prince of Salamis seeing the name of Polydamas and Parthenia took up the Paper and would see the contents of it yet seeing there was much to read and fearing the Princesse would returne before he had finished and being transported with a curiosity as great as his love he took it and went away before the Princesse returned into her closet but he was strangely amazed when he saw it for it passed all mens understanding nor he could not thinke that Parthenia who had so much witt could thinke well of all that Polydamas had said nor could he imagine it writ by Callicrates with her consent though he knew it to be his hand nor could he beleeve considering his suspitions that Parthenia loved Polydamas that she should take any delight to see Callicrates full of such raillery against him so that not knowing what to thinke he resolved to make him who writ this fantasticall Dialogue tell the truth he sent then to seek Callicrates and rather then faile of finding him went himselfe to look him but since this man maugre his vanity he had in being thought to be Parthenia's Idoll and her lover had many other passions lesse honourable then that the Prince of Salamis could not easily finde him though he went unto twenty severall houses to enquire but at last accidentally seeing him come out of a house which he never thought of he sent for him and conjured him to tell him what was his designe in writing those answers of Polydamas and giving them unto Parthenia Sir said he with an answer as quick as his witt I wonder much you should not understand my designe and that you should not see I have no other but to doe you service in letting faire Parthenia see the odds that is between her witt and your Rivalls Ah Callicrates said the Prince of Salamis why would you keep secret my obligations unto you and why did you not let me know Parthenia suffered you to abuse Polydamas As she hath much witt replyed Callicrates what resentment soever she hath she makes no expressions of them However it be said the Prince of Salamis all will doe no good since after this I see Polydainas in as great favour as ever Callicrates perceiving that this Prince was not jealous of him he kindled it against Polydamas by a hundred cunning expressions so that when he left him he left him more jealous then ever but with more hope of revenge also against his rivall imagining that since Parthenia out of her prudence had winked at Callicrates his jeering raillerie she would be also discreet as to hide her resentments at his quarrelling with him The Prince of Salamis having this Fancy it was not long before he put his
her stupiditie and silence was only affected and that she would disguise her selfe therefore he continued on still hoping she would speak more but long did he stay before he could get any thing from her unlesse a yea or no yet at last he found his error for a man of Amathonte coming to her she told to him so freely after the rusticity of her country as fully undeceived Timantes and since there was not one woman of any reasonable quality in all the assembly which he had not spoke unto or heard speak he satt downe but so sadly that he minded nothing which passed in the company yet they forced him to dance but it was so carelesly and far from his accustomed garb that Policrite could not chuse but chide him In the mean time since I thought the Ball would quickly end I went out to render an account of my observations unto my Sister and told her exactly to the least circumstance all his actions naming all the principall Ladies of the assembly which Timantes talked with not forgetting the Lady of Amathonte I told her also that I thought there were men about the house watching who entered but I did not think they could know me because it was very dark After I had told all I knew I went out at another dore then I intended at But Amaxita had no sooner well informed Parthenia of all passages but Timantes came unto his accustomed place However Parthenia the more to deceive him wore many Jewells that night more then usuall for though it was dark yet there was so much dim light from the Moon the Starrs and Candle which was at the further end of the room as might make the Diamonds sparkle so that Timantes knowing that Parthenia was better dressed then ordinary he thought then that she had really been at the Ball though he knew he had spoken unto all the Ladies and knew that none of them was her he talked unto then Moreover since he understood from his spies that there entered none into the house but one man he thought againe she was not at the Ball so that he was driven to such a cruell necessity as he knew not what to think But to compleat his amazement Parthenia no sooner saw him but not giving him so much leasure as to speak Well Sir said she unto him what think you of the spirit of the Amathontine Lady with whom you talked longer then with any Lady of Paphos doe you not feare that all the Ladies of our Court should hate you for preferring a Lady of that Country before them and doe you not further think I may well be Jealous I pray heavens Madam said he that it be the last of these for since that passion cannot be in your heart but it must arise from another I should think my selfe very happy for then you must love me and let me see you and consequently I must not be driven to the cruell necessity of seeking you out every where and finding you no where but here where I cannot see you with a full satisfaction But Madam I beseech you tell me sincerely whether you were at the Ball or no Is it not a sufficient answer said she to tell you all that passed in this meeting and then she told him all that Amaxita had related unto her and so puzled him that he knew not what to think But yet said she unto him who would you wish me to be of all the Ladies you saw with Policrite I wish you were none but your selfe replyed he and that I could know who you are for if you use me thus long I shall infallibly lose my witts and reason Very well answered Parthenia and smiled I begin to think so and that which makes me most feare it is that unlesse you had been out of your witts and reason you would never have offered me such a rich gift which I could not accept of without a stain unto my vertue You may think it from another conjecture Madam said he unto her for after you had sent me such a glorious example of generosity and sent me back my gift with another more rich then mine yet I keep it and keep it without rendring you thanks yet I shall keep it no longer then untill you are pleased to honour me with your picture which you have not forbidden me to hope for So did my woman tell me replyed Parthenia but I must tell you there are many things to be done before I give you my picture for I will be first well assured of your heart for ever but untill then I pray tell me who doe you think of all the beauties you have seen in Cyprus does in your judgement best deserve the prize You have so accustomed me to make no use of my eyes said he unto her that I think them to be very ill Judges of beauty for since I think upon none but that of your soul and mind and cannot see yours I cannot tell whether I should love the fair or the brown Parthenia did then exceedingly presse him to tell her whether he liked the beauty of Policrite or Aretaphile better purposely to prepossesse him with what he should hereafter find hers to be but doe what she could he could not clearly expresse himself because he knew not the complexion of her he spoke unto but striving to divert the discourse hee told her how all the men and women in Cyprus except one woman whose judgement was opposite to all others told him that all the beauty he had seen was nothing comparable to the beauty of the Princesse of Salamis Parthenia hearing her self named did think at first that perhaps Timantes knew who she was but she was mistaken for Timantes going on with his discourse 'T is true said he I doe beleeve this singular woman as much as I doe all the rest especially because she is one of a good wit Wit replyed she is not so necessary to judge of beauty But there is a necessity of Justice and Impartiality and without envy at the beauty of another But I pray tell me said Parthenia who is the woman which speaks thus in disadvantage of the Princesse of Salamis Timantes thinking of no inconveniencie by naming this Lady needed not many entreaties But he had no sooner named her then Parthenia began to wonder at her injustice I beseech you Sir said she unto him do not judge of the Princesse of Salamis and her beauty by the reports of this woman who without reason hates her But if she be so amiable as they sâ—y she is replyed Timantes how is it possible she should hate her No no Sir replyed Parthenia doe not deceive your self you must never judge of the beauty of one faire one by the reports of another beauty For I am confident that amongst a hundred you will not find two that are just but every one will think to adde glory unto themselves by detracting from others The truth is said Timantes I did wonder very
man he knew not and a man of Quality He offered any thing unto him if he would tell him unto whom he was to give that Letter but all in vain insomuch as he was driven to the necessity of conjuring him not to tell hee asked the question So that my friend giving me the Letter which could have no suspition I sent unto Parthenia who found these words The unfortunate and miserable TIMANTES unto his cruell unknown one MADAM IN thinking to spare me the sorrows of bidding you adieu you have drowned me in them What can you think Madam will become of a man who adores you who knows not who you are nor whither you goe but is ignorant whether you will ever return for him or ever return at all For heavens sake Madam have some compassion upon my constancy and never fear that the Princesse of Salamis will dri 〈…〉 you out of my heart I doe admâ—â—e her I confesse but I will not love her as I told you before I will not see her In the mean 〈…〉 e I beseech yoâ— put not my patience to the utmost rack unlesse it be your 〈…〉 gn to makâ—â—e despair or unlesse you would put me to death not only for love but also f 〈…〉 riosity 〈…〉 urn Madam I beseech you if you be gone or shew your self unto me if you be not For truly I cannot imagine where you are or who you can be and I am perswaded that if your inhumanity last a little lâ—â—ger I shall not know my self Yet I am most certain that nothing can prevent me from being the most faithfull of your Lovers and the most zealous of your Adorers TIMANTES This Sir was the answer which I sent unto Parthenia who writ many times to Timant 〈…〉 and he also unto her Yet since the beauty of this Princesse who he saw in that little Temple which is in the way towards Amathonte did make a deep impression in his heart he spoke of her very much so that Amtimaques who was in love with Donida and would have been even ravished with joy to see him marryed unto Parthenia he alwaies was hinting unto him that was only this Princesse that he could marry with honor and not with an unknown woman who perhaps had no beauty or at least was of some fantasticall disposition Timantes then did remember him of his promise not to condemn his passion if the unknown Lady did refuse his present But Antimaques answered that when he said so he did not think there was in Cyprus any match for him so advantagious as this of this Princesse but now he undeâ—â—â—ood that the Prince Philoxipes did really wish that he should marry his sister he could not be any longer in his first opinion For I pray you Sir said he unto him do but compare your unknown Lady with Parthenia a little as for her quality it is most certain it cannot be more high nor so high for there is none in all the 〈…〉 e that is comparable unto her as for her beauty according to your owne description the comparison must needs be as unequall as for her vertue â—ou know what high reputation she hath and as for her spirit the world knowes no equall and would you preferre you know not who before her Doubtlesse I would replyed Timantes for I love her and she does not hate me as for the Princesse of Salamis though I could love her and though her ravishing beauty should force me to be perfideous yet it were very doubtfull whether she could love me for I have heard say she is of a nice spirit and few men can please her though many not without some merit have courted her therefore I pray you talk no more of this Princesse whose Idea is but too deeply imprinted already in my imagination In the mean time Dorida who for the interest she had in Antimaques desired that Timantes might stay in Cyprus used all her arguments to perswade Policrite that she would importune the Princesse of Salamis to quit her solitude so that unknown to Parthenia Philoxipes Policrite Dorida and Antimaques plotted her marriage with Timantes and truly it was happy they did so for otherwise I think Parthenia would never have made her selfe known unto Timantes for since her reason was not quite prejudicated she would often think her proceedings with him so fantasticall that she could not beleeve Timantes could really esteem her and as an effect of this opinion she did so firmly resolve never to discover her selfe but to break off absolutely with him that Amaxita quite despaired of ever altering her In the meane time Philoxipes knowing that Timantes thought his Sister very faire he thought that if he could make her like him aswell as he liked her the design so much desired might happily take effect But since she could never like Timantes unlesse she saw him and since Philoxipes knew not that she knew him aswell as he did he resolved to carry him unto the Princesse and to surprise her in her solitude But Timantes excused himselfe saying he respected her more then to force her to see a man whom she did not think worthy of that honour and had denyed it before adding further that it would be a meanes to make her hate him so that Timantes refusing to goe in a civill complement Philoxipes knew not what to think But Antimaques who was acquainted with the passage told it unto Dorida to the end she might tell Policrite that the reason why Timantes would not go to see the Princesse of Salamis was because he would not expose himselfe unto the danger of falling in love with one who perhaps would be insensible of him So that Dorida preparing the mind of Policrite and Policrite the mind of Philoxipes it was plotted and resolved amongst them to get out Timantes under colour of taking a journey of pleasure and in lieu of carrying him unto the pretended place to carry him unto the Princesse But since the Prince Philoxipes knew the humour of Parthenia it was thought expedient to gaine Amaxita therefore he made a visit unto the Princesse and negotiated the matter so dexterously that she found an opportunity whilst Parthenia was dressing her selfe for it was very early to talk with Amaxita in her chamber and imparted unto her their designe of marrying the Princesse his sister unto Timantes Let us tell her said he to satisfie her concerning the Oracles which she received that he is fallen in love with her reputation and with the commendation which every one gives of her spirit At first Amaxita thought that the Prince Philoxipes knew something of the passages between Timantes and Porthenia but she was greatly undeceived of that by severall passages he told her so that seeing it was the zeale and earnest desire of this Prince to promote this Marriage she resolved to impart the secret of all the story unto him conceiving that if she did not perhaps the Prince Philoxipes when he saw the amazement that Timantes
transported with the violence of his Love Philimena is so essentally necessarie unto the felicitie of my life that I cannot live without some hopes of enjoying her As for hope replied Cleobuline with extream grief and anger I will not take it from you for some men will often hope against all manner of probabilitie but as for Philimena I will never per 〈…〉 it if you marrie her it shal be without my consent I know verie well said she that after so much goodness as I have formerly extended towards you it may seem somthing strange I should denie you a thing which you â—o earnestly desire and denie it without giving you any reason for my denial But know Myrinthus that this reason is of such a nature as I cannot tell it yet it is so strange a reason that it is invincible and if you did know it you would confess that if you were in my room you would do the like And I assure you it will not be a greater difficultie for you to cast off Philimena then for me to consent that you should ever think on her therefore Myrinthus solicite me no more in the matter for all will be in vain Let if suffice that of two passions I shall satisfie that which 〈◊〉 used to be most difficult to content and if you will be happie over come the other couragiously Alas Madam said Myrinthus and sighed it seems your Majestie is only a lover of glorie and virtue since you think it such an easie matter to drive out of my heart a hot-burning passion which keeps a most violent possession No no Pbilimena will not out so easily Doubtless I may resolve not to marry her and die but I cannot leave loving her and live therefore Madam it is in your choice whether you will glve me death or Philimena The reverent duty which I owe your Majesty tan go no further If you doom me to death I will endeavour to receive it without murmure but if you grant me life and Philimena what would I not do to testifie my acknowledgments Consider Madam I beseech yoo that your last words will be a sentence either of life or death unto a man whom you have so much esteemed as to honour him with abundance favours and benefits Consider I say that if you permit me to enjoy Philimena I shall serve you all the rest of my life with unutterable zeal And consider also that if you forbid the bains those cruel words will be poyson which passing from your mouth into my ears will pass from my ears unto my heart and there most infallibly will be my death a death the most severe and tormentive in the world since pronounced by the greatest Queen upon earth and whom I held in such reverent esteem for the most certain truth is Madam that I have yeen as zealously devoted unto your glory as unto Philimena and I do protest that I am as faithful a subject unto you as I am a faithful lover unto her Then yeeld obedience replied Cleobuline unto those orders which I command and obey them willingly I wish unto the heavens Madam that I could replied he but since I cannot unless I die I beseech you command them no more let it suffice I wish that I loved Philimena less and believe it I most humbly beseech you that if I were able to quench those flames which offend you I should most joyfully do it knowing very well that a Princess whose heart is sensible only of glorie would the more esteem me if mine were not so sensible of Love But the case is unalterable with me Madam 't is you must pronounce the fatal words of life or death Live then said Cleobuline unto him scarce knowing what she said but live without Philimena unless you will both live and die in my displeasure I will live Madam if I can replied he since you command it but since I am confident that I cannot I shall die in my sorrows that I cannot know why I die but I shall die with this satisfaction that I shall die the most faithful though the most unfortunate of all your Subjects After this Myrinthus made a most low and reverent Conge unto the Queen with such a sad and drooping countenance that any other then a Lover would have pitied him No sooner was Myrinthus gone out of the Queens Closet but Stefilea entred and she was no sooner entred but Cleobuline commanded that none else should enter and then she related unto her all the passages between Myrinthus and her self and that with so much agitation of spirits that the passion of her soul was very discernable Did you know said she unto her with what zealous earnestness Myrinthus asaed leave to marrie Philimena you would wonder how I could denie him or you would wonder I should not hate him and admire how I could conceal the jealousie of my soul yet to my unspeakable miserie the more he seemed in Love with Philimena the more he blew the flame of my affection unto him Alas said I unto my self whilst he was talking how happy should I be if Myrinthus were as affection unto me as unto another and when he protested that he was as much devoted unto my glorie as unto Philimsna I had much ado to withhold from saying that his neerest way of happiness was to be as much devoted unto my person as unto my service But thanks be to the heavens my reason rowzing up to aid me I abhorred a thought so base and unworthie of my self and I was more then half resolved to allow the marriage of Myrinthus with Philimena thereby to drive Myrinthus out of Cleobulines heart but my mouth would not obey the offers of my minde which neither my heart nor reason did not command Thus my dear Stesilea I have denied Philimena unto Myrinthus and I have still kept Myrinthus in my heart notwithstanding his extream love of Philimena yet 〈…〉 these violent flames of affection which I saw in his soul did inspire such 〈◊〉 mine and I could not be more angrie if Myrinthus had been ungrateful and perfidio 〈…〉 â—ut presentlie after my anger ceased and I accused my self of the most horrible 〈◊〉 in the world Indeed I must confess unto my shame that one could not be 〈…〉 â—ust then I 〈…〉 business for as violent as my affection to Wyrinthus was 〈…〉 â—ould never 〈◊〉 that he should know it and that though he had loved me 〈◊〉 â—id not allow 〈◊〉 so much boldness as to sell me of it so that it must needs bâ—◠〈◊〉 the greatest â—olly and 〈◊〉 in the world to 〈◊〉 Myrinthus miserable But for all that I pha 〈…〉 so great a consolation in seeing him out of love with Philimena and I found so much delight in making my self believe that he loved me and knew not that I loved him as I could not by any means consent that he should either love or marrie Philimena yet for all this I am perswaded that he
not endure without infinite grief to hear him aggravate the violent affection of Myrinthus to Philimena nor without a strange confusion hear of the great inequalitie of his qualitie and his Sisters But that which stung her most was to see Basilides desiring this marriage and she was the only one who did not wish it and to consider how she incurred the hatred of Myrinthus whom in spite of all her power she loved with extream tenderness so that the verie thought of being hated did excessivelie grieve her but yet she had a more sensible cause of it afterwards for Myrinthus being recovered and having some important business of State with the Queen he went unto her and she found him so altered since she saw him last as thinking his alteration rather an effect of his souls sorrow then any sickness she was fretted to the verie heart yet that was not the only cause which put Myrinthus into such a Meager complexion since certainly his ambition did also much perplex him For Sir before I relate their discourse I must tell you that Myrinthus being forced to go unto the Queen with whom he had not been since Stesilea acquainted him with her affection unto him his heart was full of inexpressible apprehensions his greatest disquiet was his fears least the Queen should know that Stesilia had acquainted him with her amorous thoughts of him Alas said he in himself if so how dare I look upon this Princess or how can she look upon me But afterwards upon his consideration of the Queens great virtue he believed the thing to be as Stesilea had told him so that his soul enjoyed a little more serenitie But when he came unto the Palace Gates and saw the Guards there and likewise saw there the great concourse of people going and coming in and out which deliniates the grandure of Kings when he saw I say abundance of all sorts of men in the Halls Presence Chamber Privy Chamber and every where else in the Court waiting all only for a verie sight of the Queen When he saw all the magnificent furniture wherewith the Chambers were adorned his imagination was so swelled with a thousand several Idea's of grandure and magnificence as he began to be sensible of the sweetness in being loved by her unto whom these Guards this Palace all these stately magnificences belonged and unto whom all those men with bended knees did pay their homage insomuch as his ambition beginning to revive in his heart there was a new combat between this proud passion and his love of Philimena which was not decided when word was brought that Cleobuline asked for him Myrinthus no sooner received this Summons but he ordered himself for entrance into the Queens Closet where then she was but in the way how full of phancie was his mind he had a mind to exclude Philimena out of his heart and immediately after he reassumed the image of his dearest Philimena into his phancie to the end he might better guard her against the Queen and indeed not well knowing whether he was faithful or perfidious he went unto the place where Cleobuline was but he entred with such a melancholy countenance and so much disorder in his eyes that the Queen thinking the alteration proceeded more from his sorrows that she denied him Philimena then from his sickness she could not chuse but out of a secret spite look with less sweetness upon Myrinthus then she was accustomed So that Myrinthus beginning to fear that Stesilea had told the Queen all his and her discourse he was so dismayed as he did not answer her much to the purpose The Queen surprized at the disorder in Myrinthus his mind asked him from whence this confusion of thoughts and words proceeded which she was not wont to observe in him Is it because I do not well understand them or because you did not hear me It is neither Madam replied he for your Majestie doth alwayes both understand and speak verie well and I alwayes hearken with a most attentive ear in hopes you will command me some service But it is But it is replied Cleobuline and cut him short because you have left your mind where you have bestowed your heart If I had power to have bestowed it replied Myrinthus pitifully non-plust Philimena should not have had it but I should have otherwise disposed of it yet Madam Philimena hath violentlie taken it from me whether I would or no Since the Law of Nations replied the Queen permits one to repulse force by force and that one may take ones own where e're he finds it take back from Philimena with the same violence that heart which she took from you But if you will take my advice be sure you do not take hers in lieu of your own for you will be a loser by the bargain I wish to the Heavens Madam said he unto her that I were able to do as I ought in doing as your Majestie would have me for I am so devoted unto your commands that I had rather be an obedient subject then a faithful Lover Myrinthus pronounced these words with such a faint and hollow accent as he surprized the Queen for his tone did testifie that he had some mental reservation in his words she no sooner had this conceipt but she changed colour so that Myrinthus seeing her blush for anger he grew pase with fear and blushed presentlie after for shame The alteration in the Queens face caused the alteration in Myrinthus and the new disorder which appeared in the mind of Myrinthus did also disorder the Queen So that the confusion of the one redoubling the shame of the other they could not endure each others looks but heartilie desired a separation and indeed they parted for the Queen dispatching her business with Myrinthus in two words she dismissed him by a sign with her hand without one look upon him and stayed by her self in an unconceiveable turbulencie of mind Myrinthus did strive with himself and would have said somthing but she beckned again with her hand to be gone and go he did with a heart swelled with two violent passions which did most strongly tyrannize over it But as the soul of Myrinthus so the soul of Cleobuline was most cruelly tormented for since she had a most penetrating wit she perfectly discovered by the looks by the words and by the tone of Myrinthus that he either knew or guessed at the thoughts which she had of him insomuch as extraordinarie shame and sorrows full of anger against her self did make her an intolerable sufferer Is it possible said she that my own words and my own eyes should betray me since they have both of them been so long so faithful For I know very well that at that time â—hen Myrinthus asked my consent unto his Marriage with Philimena he had then no suspition of my passion But what 's this I say said she and reprehended her self It cannot be either my words or my eyes which have
full of melancholy thoughts On the other 〈…〉 de Basilides thinking that the Queen opposed the Marriage of Myrinthus only because she her self loved him and fearing also that she would break it only perhaps with a design to make him King he was so far from looking upon Myrinthus as a Husband unto his Sister as he hated him as a Rival though he knew him to be in love with Philimena and not with Cleobuline These two Lovers then being both of them full of restless imaginations came both of them to Court together They were no sooner entred then the Queen hearing of their coming caused them to enter into her Closet She had no sooner given this order but she had some suggestions in her heart to talk of some other business and to defer the execution of her design unto some other time But as soon as she saw Myrinthus and looked upon him as a man who knew her weakness and who perhaps blamed her for it her very desire to readmit her self into his esteem as well as to justifie her self in the opinion of Basilides did rouze up a greater strength in her resolution then she imagined and Philista whom the Queen sent for to be present at this action told me she admired that a person so passionate as Cleobuline was could so well overcome her self She therefore no sooner saw Basilides and Myrinthus enter into her Closet then causing them to come to her she began to speak unto them both in a most surprizing manner Since I know said she unto them that the business which I am to speak of does concern you both I desired to speak unto you both together Know then said she and addressed her speech unto Basilides that as I have hitherto hindred the marriage of Philimena and Myrinthus out of some prevalent reasons which I never told you so now those reasons being changed I have also changed my opinion insomuch as since I do now like of that which I disliked then I do not only consent unto this marriage but I desire that it may be consummated as speedily as preparations for such a solemnity will permit Basilides and Myrinthus both were so surprized at the Queens words as they never thought of any answer but the wonder was to see the Brother of a Lover to thank the Queen sooner then the Lover himself For though Myrinthus was unexpressively in love with Philimena and was extreamly joyed to hear that he should ere long enjoy her yet knowing what thoughts the Queen had of him he durst not be too forwards in expressions of gratitude for the favour which she did him for fear of incensing her Also his ambition strugling a little in his heart he could not so suddenly quit a Queen for Philimena without some little regret of mind So that not knowing upon a suddain what to do or say he let Basilides speak first who apprehending that nothing could be more advantagious unto his design upon the Queen then this he was transported with such a joy as permitted him the full freedome of his spirits and he returned his thanks in very crafty phrases I assure you Madam said he unto her your Majesty hath not only done an Act of Justice in consenting unto what Myrinthus so much desired but an act of Clemency also in preserving that life which the tyranny of his passion would have ruined Myrinthus hearing Basilides speak in this manner though he had a good mind to contradict him yet he durst not nor durst he out of his respect unto the Queen aggravate a passion which he knew would but displease her therefore puting a handsom gloss upon his resentment he began to speak Since I cannot evidence my gratitude unto the Queen said he unto her without giving her some cause to think that I murmured against her when she denied me that which now she is pleased to grant I had rather publish her goodness unto all the world then to thank her my self Therefore Madam I beseech your Majestie to dispence with those thanks which I owe you and in exchange give me leave to applaud you in speaking of those many honours which I have received from you and to publish unto all the world that though I die a thousand deaths in your Majesties service yet the vast debt of my gratitude is not discharged In saying you will give me no thanks replied the Queen and blushed you have given me too many In the mean time I do not only dispense with you for your thanks but also for all those high applauds you give me and I hold you discharged of all you owe me provided you will be fully perswaded that both in denying and giving you Philimena I alwayes had strong reasons for those contrary acts though they were unknown unto you and as I place Justice in the first rank of all Kingly virtues so I do abhor that my Subjects should ever upbraid me with any deficiency in that virtue If you can be accused of any injustice Madadam replied Myrinthus most respectfully it is in conferring more favours upon me then I can merit But since goodness is a virtue as well as Justice I shall hope that without any blame to your Majesty for the favours you have done me that may be attributed unto your goodness which cannot be unto your Justice However it be said she to finish the discourse since the greatest joyes are doubled when they are made publique we will not hinder you Myrinthus from publishing yours go therefore and tell This Princess would have said Philimena but she abruptly stopped and the disorder of her spirits was so great that in lieu of saying Philimena according to her first intention she said unto all the Court and said it with a blush So that fearing lest her constancy should stagger she dismissed Basilides and Myrinthus who both of them retired very wel satisfied yet Myrinthus had som secret pangs of sorrow in his heart for as he went out of the Queens Closet and turned his head back and saw her lifting up her eyes unto heaven with a sigh so that not doubting but that he was the cause of those sorrows in the most illustrious Queen in the world his joys were so dejected until the fair eys of Philimena did revive them as he could hardly speak unto Basilides yet he was no sooner in the presence of that fair one but Love began to fill his heart with extream joy Yet whilst he was tasting all those dilicious sweets which he had a long time most earnestly wished for and which a full satisfied hope could afford the Queen did find some tranquilitie in the Victory which she had obtained over her self and was somtimes joyed at it Well thou imperious passion did she say before Philista which art accustomed to conquer the strongest reasons thou hast now been conquered by mine Thou Tyrant I say who hast caused the most illustristrious persons to run headlong into a thousand crimes and inconveniences and
the Tower and in seeing the Galley with which Ma 〈…〉 carried you away my deadness of heart and soul when I thought you perished my vexation to find you in the power of a Rival when I heard you were living my melancholy 〈…〉 when I delivered the Princess Araminta in lieu of the incomparable Mandana 〈…〉 see you on the other side of the River and I not able to follow you my grief to hear that you were imbarqued at the Port of Cicilie my sadness of soul to hear that you suspected me of infidelitie my unutterable grief when I took Sardis and could not find you in it my furie when I heard my Rival had found out an art to make you invisible my torment to be alwayes amongst my Rivals and still separated from you These Madam are the sorrows which I desire to talk of in hopes that judging of the greatness of my Love by the greatness of my sufferings you may know me better It seems we have long been separated replied Mandana with a modest sigh since you have forgot that though I permitted you to love me yet I could never endure you should speak to me of your Love My Love Madam replied Cyrus was at that time a hidden mysterie I durst not then tell any that I loved you but now since all the world knows me to be your Adorer and since Ciaxares himself approves of it it were not just that you onlie should be ignorant of my love For trulie Divine Princess there is not one Souldier in the King your Fathers Armie who knows not that he hath fought onlie for you I could never have any joy in all the Victories I have gotten because in getting them I could not release you I acquainted all my Rivals with my Passion Mazares himself would somtimes pitie me and would you Madam be the onlie one in all the Universe unto whom it should not be spoken Oh Madam this would not be just Speak on then said she unto him since there is no remedie But I pray Sir give me leave also to relate my sorrows I am afraid Madam replied he that they are not much different from mine for methinks I hear you aggravate your sorrows for being so often carried away and exposed unto so manie voyages so much pains and so manie dangers without your making me a sharer in them and how to my infinite glorie and delight would it have been if I had been the cause of your greatest sorrows But alas Madam I perceive you do not think me worthie of any such obliging expressions as to tell me I was any cause of them nor will you permit me so much as to think it Yet I assure you replied she that my fears lest you should perish in some of those dangers into which you exposed your self for the love of me was one of my greatest sorrows Your language Madam replied he is most obliging but since your sorrows might perhaps proceed onlie from generositie they were not of that nature which I desired For trulie Madam did you know how to love you would know that absence from the person loved is a most horrid torment But since the Gods have made you onlie to be loved and since they have infused love enough into my heart to make me endure this modest coldness which still opposeth my felicitie I will not murmure to see you no more sensible of my zealous Passion Yet Madam to my consolation I would gladlie believe that your modestie doth hide some of your thoughts from me and that I do not see all the advantagious resentments of your heart Being a Prince of so much virtue as you are replied Mandana and blusht and knowing me so well as you do I will freelie permit you to believe that I have all the advantagious thoughts of you all the esteem and tenderness which in any reason I ought to have of a Prince unto whom the King my Father is a debtor for his life and meny Victories and unto whom I owe my libertie and somthing more After this Sir be contented and ask me no more for as well accustomed as you are to get Victories you shall get no more of me At these words Cyrus did render a million of thanks unto Mandana for the Permission which she gave him and then they began to make short relations unto each other of all their adventures but it was in a different manner for Cyrus feared that he could never say enough to set forth the violence of his Passion and Mandana was so full of tenderness towards Cyrus that she feared lest she should say too much yet the conversation was most sweet and pleasing unto Cyrus for Mandana was not so absolute a Mistress of her looks and words but that Cyrus saw by the motion of her eyes that her heart was not insensible so that somtimes his excess of joy would silence him and he would gaze upon her without a word and somtimes again he would break into such raptures of expression as it was most plain his love was stronger then his reason I beseech you Madam said he unto her when he perceived the disorder of his own spirits pardon me if I cannot master my joyes for I profess they are so great that the more I consider you the more reason I find to devote my whole heart unto you for since I am now so neer the divine Mandana after so long and sad an absence after I believed her lost and bewailed her death this is so high a joy as is absolutelie unutterable when I call to mind the miserable condition I was in when I loveâ—d you at Sinope and compare it unto my present happiness Oh heavens what an advantagious difference do I find For I was then unknown unto you I durst not then tell what I was for fear of being hated though I knew I could never be loved unless I were known I had a great King to my Rival and another Rival in the head of a puissant Armie and I saw everie thing against me But now Madam I find the King your Father for me I see the King of Pontus without a Kingdome or any receptacle I have the Prince Mazares my friend in lieu of Rival and I see the King of Assiria a Prisoner unto Arsamones judg therefore I beseech you Madam whether the extravagancie of my joyes be not excuseable Since I am yet far from Ecbatan replied she I must confess I cannot resent the happiness which I enjoy out of fear it should be molested by some accident which I cannot foresee yet since it is vanitie to make imaginarie miseries I will hope that our happiness will be durable and that Fortune will be as constant in smiling upon us as she hath been in her frowns against us After this Mandana hinting unto Cyrus that it was late this Prince retired and went out of her Chamber with spirits so full of passion as he neither saw Martesia nor Chrisantes nor Feraulas who never stirred
seeing he was alone with that Princess whom he extremely loved and whose greatest miseries he had caused he found in his heart so much love and so much shame both as he was a long time before he could tell what to say unto her but at last not foreseeing what the sequel of his discourse would be he began to speak unto this Princess Though I doubt not Madam said he unto her but since you have honoured me with the promise of your friendship and to let me enjoy it as I did at Babylon you will be as good as your word since I have kept mine with you yet Madam I cannot chuse but beg new assurances of it For truly Madam when I think how unworthy of it I have made my self I dare not trust either unto your promises or your generosity and methinks I have reason to fear that since you cannot restore me to your esteem you cannot restore me to your friendship Since I find you the same at Cumes replied Mandana that you were at Babylon I will quite forget all that passed at Sinope and rank you amongst my dearest friends The Crime I did commit against you was so great replied Mazares as I dare not hope you can forget it unless you know somthing more that may extenuate it for truly Madam you do not yet know two things which I do most humbly beseech you to let me now acquaint you with and which questionless will the more willingly induce you to restore me unto that esteem and friendship which you are pleased to promise me It is sufficient for that replied Mandana that you have repented and that you are resolved to keep within those thoughts that now you have No Madam replied Mazares my repentance is not enough since it does only repair my Crime but the two things which I have to tell you will lessen it Then tell them replied the Princess for I assure you I should be very glad of new causes to esteem you Since you are pleased to permit me Madam replied Mazares I must tell you that it was passion which made me 〈…〉 ninal against you Methinks replied Mandana and blusht that this is but a bad way to me to restore you unto my esteem and friendship since it revives in my memory a thing which made you lose them I beseech you Madam replied Mazares seeing the disorder in her face do not fear that I will ever repent of my repentance and do not imagine I pretend that the passion whose grandure I would have you know shall serve me unto any other end then to lessen the crime which I committed in carrying you away No Madam I promise you never to tell you the thoughts of my heart as long as I live and that I will never ask any thing from you but this esteem and friendship which you promised me But for Heavens sake Madam give me leave only once to tell you with what imperious violence you commanded in my heart when you ravished away my virtue This is a favour which Cyrus himself if I asked would not deny but would give me leave to tell it for I profess Madam I desire not to talk to you of that love which made me criminal out of hope of any recompence but only to lessen my punishment and to justifie my self I do not beg permission Madam to tell you that I love you I desire only to let you know that I did love you to such a height as that I was out of my wits when I carried you away from Sinope To the end that if you do not look upon me as a wicked wretch who sinned without any provocation or repugnancy you may the more easily keep your word with me If to believe you loved me replied the Princess be all that 's requisite I had rather confess it then doubt of it to the end I may spare my self the pains of hearkening unto a discourse which cannot please me nor be at all advantagious unto you However Madam said he I beseech you let the greatness of my crime convince you of the greatness of my love which moved me to commit it I pray Mazares said Mandana and interrupted him do not infuse any scruple in my mind to poison that friendship and esteem I would have of you and know that the more you peswade me that you loved me the more I shall think you did not love me and the less share will you have in my friendship therefore do not expose your self unto a thing which perhaps may make you lose it For heavens sake Madam replied Mazares do not threaten me with such a dire adventure but give me leave to acquaint you with my real thoughts to the end you may entertain no unjust ones of me Think Madam I conjure you that I would never speak any thing that should displease you and that I court nothing but your esteem and friendship and that I will eternally fight against my self in your behalf that I will regulate my thoughts as I do my words I will forbid my eyes to shew you the thoughts of my heart and for a testimony of my reverent esteem of you I will serve Cyrus as if I had never been his Rival Judg Madam after this whether you can be so severe as to deny me the favour which I ask for I protest Madam that this is the last time of all my life that ever I will speak unto you concerning my self I will engage my self never to pronounce the word Love in your presence but I beseech you let me assure you that since love hath caused me to commit these crimes that I could never have done it unless it had been forced by such a violent passion as that which forced me to forget my reverence of you But for all this Madam I must tell you that never was repentance more real then mine nor more fit to repair a great crime for there is nothing upon earth which I would not do rather then to give you the least cause of suspicion that I do entertaine one thought which might render my self unworthy of that glorious friendship which you have done me the honour to promise me which I beg with all imaginable zeal and possible respect Mazares pronounced these words in such a serious manner as Mandana having no mind to insult over a Prince whose passion only had made him miserable did answer him with as much civility as virtue and spoke unto him in such a generous manner that if the love of Mazares had been capable of becoming friendship he had made the exchange at her instance But though he was not able to regulate the thoughts of his heart yet he did as much as ever he could and did regulate his words And solemnly protested unto Mandana never to speak unto her again of that love he had unto her at Babylon to the end She might give him new assurances of her esteem and friendship which Mazares received with joy though not
as he was ready to reply Arsamones left him and sayd that he saw so much turbulency in his mind that he would not have him answer confusedly but would give him time to consult with his ambition and his love after which he left him in a most perplexed condition For on the other side he found abundance of joyes in having a a possibility to enjoy the Princess whom he adored But when he considered that to enjoy so great a happiness he must give his Sister unto his Enemy betray his friend and usurp the Dominions of a brother unto his Princess by accepting it his Soul was in a very Hell Nor did he beleive that the Princess of Bythinia would ever marry him upon those tearms though he should promise her not to take any advantage of this declaration for he had heard her express somthing which intimated as much So that whether he considered his hatred of the Assyrian King his friendship to Atergatis the aversion of Istrina to the one her inclination to the other or whether he considered his duty to Spitridates and the high generosity of the Bythinian Princess he saw that Arsamones offered him a benefit which he could not enjoy upon such conditions though he did accept of them and consequently his sorrows were not mean In the mean time he knew not whether he should acquaint first the Princess of Bythinia or Istrina with it But going unto the Chamber of the Bythinian Princess and finding them both together he could not any longer let this vexatious secret lye lurking in his heart You may easily conceive Madam how these two Princesses wondred when they heard the King of Assyria was Prisoner and when they heard the King of Bythinias Proposition unto Intaphernes Truth is there wonder was so great as they both did extreamly blush though for different reasons But since the Princess Istrinas heart did extreamly hate the King of Assyria and was very tender towards Atergatis she was the first that spoke though it was not she unto whom the Prince Intaphernes addressed his speech Oh Heavens sayd she very heartily can Arsamones ever think of forcing me to marry the King of of Assyria Oh Madam added she and looked upon the Princess of Bythinia I beseech you pardon me if I do not obey him It is most just I should replyed that generous Princess since I am resolved to commit the same Crime my self For though I do esteem the Prince Intaphernes and have given him a higher place in my heart then ever any had yet I assure you I shall never consent he should take two Kingdoms from the Prince my brother nor be ever happy by making him miserable However Madam replyed Intaphernes and sighed I beseech you honour me so far as to allow me some comfort for refusing a benefit which you will not let me accept of and which Honour forbids me as well as my Sister since she cannot endure to be wife unto the King of Assyria rather then unto Atergatis Do but acknowledge Madam that the generosity of your Soule is the only Impediment and that if it were less you could consent unto my happiness I do acknowledge sayd she and blushed that I wish you were but if you should be capable of desiring it by any unjust wayes in lieu of wishing your happines I beleive I should wish the contrary But Madam not to consume more time in repeating the discourse of these three Illustrious Persons It was resolved that they should write unto Atergatis to invite his return and that in the interim Istrina should take upon her to resist Arsamones since Intaphernes had not power to incense a Prince who had made him such a motion as might make him happy if some unjust Conditions were not annexed to it But that which most troubled them was that they could not know whether the King of Assyria had denyed Arsamones but on the contrary had cause to beleive that he had not and that desire of liberty had altered his mind In the mean time the King of Bythinia who was ever wedded to his own will asked Intaphernes the next morning if he had considered upon the motion and that Prince in order unto their resolutions assured him that there was so much glory to him in it that he thought himself capable of committing Crimes rather then not accept of it but also he was obliged to tell him that he verily beleived that the Princess Istrina would never obey him if he commanded her to marry her Enemy To this Arsamones answered That a Prince who knew so well how to bring two Kingdoms into subjection knew well enough how to make Istrina obey him so that assuring himself of that he bent all his endeavours to perswade the King of Assyria But all to no purpose that Prince still telling him that you Madam and you only should Raign in his heart as long as he lived that he had nothing to do with Kingdoms that he had no need of any Army and that he only desired his liberty adding some expressions which denoted his extream aversion unto Istrina and Intaphernes of whom he spoke with intollerable scorn as we afterwards understood by one of the Guards in his Chamber Moreover when Arsamones did one day press Intaphernes to the Declaration which he would require of him never to restore the Kingdoms of Pontus and Bythinia unto Spitridates he perfectly perceived notwithstanding all his handsom answers that they did not proceed from his intentions So that being very angry and finding his design to be impossible he plotted another which he thought more easie by which he thought to be better revenged upon Spitridates and to hinder Araminta and all her family from having any part in his Dominions and this it was His design was not to speak of Istrina any more unto the King of Assyria thinking his aversion to her was chiefly his reason for not accepting his offer However Arsamones would have the Queen visite the imprisoned King that she should carry the Princess her Daughter with her And so they did who not being able to guess at his design were very glad to see a Prince whose Adventures were so extraordinary and who was so much talked of over all Asia Since you are all goodness Madam I hope you will give me leave without any anger to tell you that he received these Princesses with much civility and used many expressions which were full of spirit full of generosity and full of love to you for he did most earnestly intreat them to be Mediators unto the King for his liberty that he might go and recover yours And the more to oblige them unto it he fell into most high Elogies of you But after that since the naturall impetuosity of his honour could not longer be hid the Queen by chance naming Intaphernes this violent Prince fell into such an angry chafe both against him and Istrina also and used such unjust and injurious expressions that these two
Father she would not pronounce his doom with any words of sweetnesse But on the contrary she spoke so sharply that she was out of all patience Fie Madam sayd he unto her after she had absolutely charged him not to pretend unto her choise Can you remember my most violent and constant passion and treat me thus T is true pursued he I complained both against you and the King But Madam how could I do lesse seeing the injustice which was done me Might it not well be sayd that my passion was not worthy of you if my resentments had been lesse violent or had been more wise in my anger For the very truth is what have I not done to deserve you and in how great hopes hath the King put me to be preferred before all my Rivalls Moreover Madam can you think I am able to endure that an exile Prince should take a happiness from me which I have purchased by a million of services And because he hath been weather-beaten and found safety under the shelter of your favour therefore it must be I who must suffer shipwrack Think upon it Madam consider it seriously and do not force me to dispair Cleonisbe then thinking her selfe too blame for incensing a man who had some reason to complayn though he was much to be blamed for complaining so violently after the Ceremony she resolved to accord a misfortune which might happen and perswade him more mildly to receive his misfortune To testifie unto you sayd she unto him that you have no reason to accuse the Prince of Phoceus for your being no better in my thoughts I will open my very heart unto you and confess my whole weakness and injustice I will tell you then that since I am not a very stupid I know very well your worth I know your originall is great and that your Ancestors have been illustrious Citizens of Carthage and also Kings of Numidia Moreouer I know you to be a man of much spirit and courage and generosity Also I know how I am obliged unto you by a thousand services you have done me But I know also and I must tell it that there hath ever been such a kind of conceipt in my heart as I am not able to expresse and which would never allow you to love me Yet notwithstanding this naturall antipathy which I have in vaine striven against I was resolved to choose you and had named you upon the day of solemnity if my heart could have submitted unto my reason and my tongue have pronounced the word Bomilcar How sad a fate soever it be replyed he and fighed to be hated yet I think my selfe in some sort obliged to hear you say that you did not choose me because you hated me rather then because you loved the Prince of Phoceus And I wish unto the Gods Madam said he lifting up his eyes to heaven that you hated me half as much more so you could love him halfe lesse For truly Madam I am sure that if he were no happier then my selfe I should not be so unhappy as I am Yet Madam as hated as I am since you would have chosen me why did you not or why will you not I will not replyed she because I conceive that I should wrong you and very ill requite the affection you have unto me if I should inseparably tye you and your fortunes unto one who can never love you so that without charging either the King or the Prince of Phoceus or my selfe of any injustice attribute it unto a soveraign power against which nothing can resist and which causeth that I cannot be Master of my own destiny You have a friend added she who can witness that I he not and who can assure you that I have done all I can for you against my selfe how Madam replyed he did Glacidia know that you have hated me I did conceale it long from her replyed she but I must confesse at last I told her I could not love you and I asked her pardon lest she should hate me for it Then Madam replyed he I have no more to say unlesse this that as you cannot chuse but continue your hate so I begg that I may have leave to continue loving you After these words Bomilcar rose up and went away so sad and angry as no mortall man could be more As soon as he was gone the Prince of Phoceus came in and finding her alone he began to discourse of his passion with abundance of delight for since it was approved of both by the King and Carimantes Cleonisbe did freely permit him So that passing insensibly from one thing to another the Princess did let him know that Glacidia did know what advantageous thoughts she ever had of him and told him what discourse she had with her concerning Bomilcar Then both these two friends of Glacidia did in one day make severall and different Complaints against her For Bomilcar complained extreamly that she never told him how the Princess hated him and the Prince of Phoceus murmured very much that she should so long conceale from him the affection of Cleonisbe But this wise and discreet person did so well satisfie them that it was not fit for her to do otherwise then she did as they ceased all Complaints and held her in high admiration For truly sayd she unto Bomilcar as much hated as you were you were very near your desired happiness And as much loved as you were sayd she unto the Prince of Phoceus you were very neer to be discarded for ever So as desiring neither to hurt nor help you I would never impart such things as you could not know without drawing some advantage one upon another which I neither would nor ought to doe But Madam not to insist any longer upon things of triviall consequence it was resolved that the first day on which the Princess was able to stirre abroad the solemnity should be accomplished The worst was it could not be done in private because the Law required that the doors of the Temple should be open that day unto all men of quality in the Kingdom either strangers or others and it was much feared lest some tumult should arise Yet all possible order was taken to prevent it for besides the pretenders unto Cleonisbe the dispaire of Menedorus was much feared Yet since the custome was that the marriage should be solemnized within fifteen dayes after the first Ceremony there was hopes all might be passed over without any disorder and that if any of these Lovers would make any attempts it would be in this intervall But there was a mistake for the imperious humour of Britomartes looking at the shame which would reflect upon him if he were not chosen did endeavour to discover who it was whom Cleonisbe intended to choose to the end he might send him a challenge But being not well informed and because in common prudence she should rather choose Bomilcar then either of his two Rivalls he believed Bomilcar
you should be so unjust as to forsake me for him I assure you Sir replied Elibesis with much astonishment That I would go out of Issedon with all my heart but since I cannot do it with my honor I must stay here For truly how can I with any hansomeness go out having a father and a brother engaged with the Prince Ariantes but truly added she subtilly and purposely to appease him I cannot tell whether I should be able to deny you if I were sure his design would prosper but I pray Sir consider that Ariantes will know of my I departure and knowing will follow me and sending men after will bring me back and should be extreamly sorry to see you killed before my face or at least made a prisoner and therefore it 's better to sit still then to run such dangerous hazards Do not deceive both your self and me Madam replied Agatherses sharply for you can never perswade me that it is a fitting a woman of your beauty should stay under the power of an usurper who is in love with you when as you may if you please get out and I must go a little further Madam and tell you that though I were not your lover though you had never made me any promises of eternal affection and though you had no other inducement to go out of Issedon but your own honor yet you ought to go if you could and steal away even from your parents if they should oppose it unless you were resolved to obey the Prince Ariantes in all things without any exception you know Madam he loves you as much as possible and yet you will remain under his power Tell me I beseech you Madam what safety can you have of your Person when you are under the command of a Prince who to pull the Crown off his Sisters head doth violate all manner of Rights stifles all the Laws of nature and Justice and who to satisfie his ambition cares not to set two Kingdoms in a flame to make Rivers of blood and Mountains of dead men Consider Madam what he will do to satisfie his love which is a more quick lively and active passion yet you think yuur self safe under the power of such a lover but does not consider that he will be transported into the most violent extremities if you resist him If you do not apprehend all this Madam it is because you are resolved not to resist him for otherwise you would quickly take me at my word and get out of Issedon this very night However I must tell you thus much that to be the wife of a wicked â—usurper who doubtless will ere long be overwhelmed in the ruines of his new ill gotten Throne is a most miserable piece of Fortune and according to all probabilities Ariantes will shortly be in that condition But the truth is added he and lifted up his eyes to heaven that if he be not miserable untill after you have made him happie he will die with glory and I with unequalled despair Consider therefore Madam I conjure you what answer you will give me Think seriously what an amorous Tyrant will desire who is master of her he loves moreover I swear unto you by all the Divinities of Heaven and Earth that if you will not do what in all reason you ought I will do all that Love Rage Jealousie hatred and revenge can make a desperate Lover do either to ruine his Rivall or to be revenged upon his Mistress For I do profess once again I will never be a Subject either unto Ariantes or Elebesis Yea express your self so violently said she unto him that Sir I know not how to answer you and you answer me so coldly replied he that I may well enough understand you but since my love is above my reason I will not believe what your eyes do tell me and what your words do make me understand Therefore to give you a little time of repentance consider my affection to you I am violent its true but the same fire which inflames my anger when I am wronged the same makes my love so zealous and therefore do not upbraid me with my impetuosity I conjure you unless you will augment it and if it be possible cure your mind of so much weakness as to be dazled with the deceiving glister of Grandure though it be a ligitimate grandure and not usurped as that of Ariantes which is but a bubble of the people and will vanish to nothing within a while Consider well too ambitious Elibesis and act not both against your self and me and do not drive a man into dispair who is not master of his own thoughts when his love is injured Speak Madam I beseech you but be sure you speak as you ought to do Doubtless I shall speak as I ought to do replied she but I do not think I shall speak as you would have me for the truth is I cannot suffer my self to be violently carried away Oh Madam replied he and interrupted her this word violently do not sute with my intentions since I am so far from offering any violence that I would have you avoid it but I see you do not fear what the Prince Ariantes will do when he is master of your heart But Madam since he hath driven me out of it you must give me leave to do what I can to drive him out of the Throne which he hath usurped though I cannot drive him out of your heart And therefore give me leave to do the duty of a true Subject and a faithfull Lover in taking the Queens part Yet let me first acquaint you that whensoever you hear any Troops are marching against Issedon know that I am certainly in the head of them and when you hear that Ariantes is wounded or like to be be sure it is I who will do what I can to kill him In short Madam you may be sure that if the war continue my Rivall or I must die And be confident I will use the utmost strength of my power to leav loving you and to become all hate and revenge These Madam are the thoughts which you have inspired into a man who could have no other but to adore you if you would not change him for another You are so very violent replied she that I know not what to say You are so unreasonable answered he that the most patient man alive would be transported more than I am For Madam what one obliging word do you give me I tell you answered she that I esteem you as much as ever I did yet for all that I must act with prudence and therefore though I should be glad to go out of Issedon yet I must not since I cannot without a crime and without exposing my self unto the anger of my father my brother and exposing them to be ill used by the Prince Ariantes who would suspect them accessaries to my flight You are a very good daughter Madam replied Agatherses
talk too much of their Wives and since it was so short a time since he was married that he talked of her more like a Lover then a Husband It chanced one day whilst the Commissioners were conferring together a friend of Sitalces told him in the presence of Adonacris that he had more reason then any other to perswade Agatherses unto an accommodation and to end the War For truly said he unto him it is one of the hardest adventures that can befall a man who having been whole years in love with a Beauty should part from her three daies after he had married her 'T is very true replied Sitalces the Adventure is very cross and I must confess I wish an end of the War as much because I would return unto Noromata as because I am a Lover of my Countryes Peace Whilst Sitalces talked thus Adonacris spoke not a word but sighed in secret Yet this friend unto Sitalces being a man that would put a hundred questions and Sitalces being one who though he had wit enough yet was not so delicate as to know one needs not answer precisely unto every question which is asked Such Questions and such Answers passed between them as made Adonacris desperate for this impertinent friend did oblige Sitalces not only to relate his passion unto Noromata but all passages since his marriage which Sitalces did aggravate in such tearms as so sadded the soul of Adonacris that he was ready to lose his patience and utter such things as might make it known that he was the Lover of Noromata yet he could not part from the place where he was because resentments of love would not let him forbear audience of all that could be said concerning Noromata But at the last he gathered some comfort from the words of Sitalces for his friend asked him after a hundred impertinent questions whether Noromata was not as sad at parting as she was glad of his company And whether she did not water her cheeks with tears Sitalces answered him that it seemed he never knew Noromata since he did not think her able to Mistress her self in all things For truly said he she hath such a command over her self that when I married her there was not the least sign of any joy in her eyes and when I parted from her there appeared not the least sorrow in her countenance And I am perswaded she can love and hate to the height if she please without being discovered and when I parted from her she did so well hide her thoughts from me that she seemed to be neither glad nor sad onely modest and serious As soon as Sitalces had said so the discourse changing subject Adonacris retired to injoy the consolation of thinking that Sitalces never saw any joyes in the eyes of Noromata since he married her and this thought was the sweeter because he remembred how often he had seen joy dance in her cheeks and eyes when he had given her any testimony of his love and how by a sweet communication of looks without any words she imparted her heart unto him So that not doubting but Noromata was capable enough of joy and knowing by experience that she was not alwayes a mistress of her self since she had more than once in vain striven to hide her thoughts he therefore thought to his comfort that she did not love Sitalces when she married him and that perhaps she loved him still at least grieved for him So that his love increasing he was so vexed that he was married as he had almost as much ado to keep himself from hating Argarispe as from loving Noromata For truely said he in himself since my affection to Noromata is not brutish onely grounded upon sence if I were sure that Noromata loved me as well as I loved her though she be the wife of Sitalces and as absent as I am yet I should entertain my self with many a pleasing thought and injoy many a sweet minute But alas how should Noromata ever believe I love her since I married Argirispe since she knows not how I was forced to it nor can consider that my affection to her is the cause of it Perhaps she is glad that my design of marrying did not take effect since I was so apt to change but alas Noromata you are much mistaken if you think so for Heavens know I never loved Argirispe but still you and shall do ever But alas what should or what would I have Noromata do Sitalces injoyes her she is all vertue and I shall never see her again stifle a passion Adonacris which will do nothing but torment thee and be not so foolishly fond as eternally to desire things impossible and to love where there is not the least hope Adonacris had good reason to consult with his reason how to quench his flames for I assure you his love augmented by suppressing it and he was the more overcome by striving against it In the mean time the Treaty being ended as I told you before Octomasades and Agatherses parted both very glad that nothing was done But as Adonacris was going away Agatherses came to him and speaking in his high and excellent Tone I Pray Adonacris said he unto him do me the favour to tell the fair Elibesis that it is not long of Octomasades but me the peace is not concluded and that I hindred Ariantes from being King by a Passion less interested then that by which Octomasades would hinder Thomiris from being Queen since his is ambition and mine revenge Since perhaps you shall be the Subject of Ariantes Sir whether you will or no replied Adonacris I will do you so good an office as not to tell my sister a thing which may offend her but will tell it her from my self Alas replied Agatherses in a fury and went away if ever I be Subject unto Ariantes be confident that I will be a very rebellious one After this Adonacris returned a sharp answer but Agatherses did not hear him And the truth is he did so dislike the proceedings of Elibesis with Agatherses that he retained the one half of his resentment out of a thought that she had done him wrong In the mean while as the state of things then stood a battell had decided the business and quite ruined the side which lost it and therefore both sides were very cautions of fighting untill they saw a great probability of being victorious But since both sides had officers admirably well known in Martiall affairs Since Ariantes of his side and Agatherses of the other were both very circumspect it was not easie for either side to suppress each other Moreover since Thomiris hoped every day to recover of her languishing disease which her sorrows for your departure Sir had caused she would not hazard her Army And to tell you truely what I think I am perswaded she had a mind to keep her Forces for another design then to punish Ariantes whom she alwayes believed would be reduced into his duty
pardon that I do not force my self unto more complacency Oh Madam said Adonacris It is most injurious to ask this pardon and I have more reason to complain that you will not tell me the cause of that sigh then complain of you for sighing For truly Madam methinks the least part that I can pretend unto in your confidence is that of your sorrows But Madam to shew that I am easily contented in my passion I will ask of you less then ever any Lover did and declare unto you that if you will be pleased to grant it I will never complain of you Though you may ask it Sir replied She as my Lover yet you shall never obtain it I will ask then as your friend Madam replied he since the name of Lover is offensive to you but I beseech you let it be as a friend who loves none else but you nor ever will I only ask the favour to know all your griefs conceal all your joys from me but I beseech you make me a Partner in your sorrows and let me know why you sighed After this I am confident you will not say I ask too much and that my affection is hard to be satisfied since I only ask to be a sharer in a sigh and to know the cause of it In demanding that Sir replied Noromata you ask perhaps more then you are aware and more then I can grant The truth is there are some sorrows which one cannot impart without being too much engaged and my humour is such that the most engaging thing which I can do for those I love is to trust them with mine and to make them sharers with me Then Madam replied Adonacris I beseech you tell me what it was which made you sigh for I must confess I cannot understand the cause of it Without further examination of causes replied She I assure you I neither can nor will tell you for the truth is Adonacris reason will not permit me to put confidence in a man whom I ought not to see and unto whom I ought not to speak as I do if I should keep my self to the limits of exact virtue And this is the last day I intend to hold any private conference with you and to behave my self so as you shall have none with me for I will never upbraid my self with doing more then I ought to have done Alas Madam said Adonacris if you do now no more then you ought it may be said that you do nothing for it is impossible one should do less then you have done But Madam if it be your resolution that I shall never talk with you in private after this day then you must this day regulate all the rest of my life and tell me what is your pleasure I shall do I do profess I will never either do or say or think any thing which shall displease you If so replied Noromata I will once in my life make use of that power which I have over you but Adonacris it shall be in commanding you to live as well with Argirispe as I am resolved to do with Sitalces and in conjuring you not to tell so much as your self that ever you loved me nor to think any more of any thing which may renew the memory of our friendship Alas Madam replied Adonacris if you would be obeyed you must command such things as can be done but here you command me three things two of which are absolute impossibilities and the other an extream difficulty I must Madam maugre you command tell my self that I do love you since it is not your pleasure I should tell you of it I must needs I cannot chuse but think of you since you will not give me leave to talk to you Yes yes Madam I must both think and speak of you since I can neither think or speak of any thing else not but that I have done all I am able to forget you But alas I have done it in vain for wheresoever I go and whatsoever I do my imagination is all on you I have been in the Wars and in the very heat of fight and most dangerous occurrencies my mind hath still kept to its ordinary object if I come into any company where you are not I presently lament your absence and value not their presence I never walk out but my mind is pleasingly fill'd with a thousand thoughts of what you have done and of what I have heard you say and my sleep is nothing but dreams of you And Madam if I could tell you without hinting my crimes unto you I would say that I did not marry Argirispe without a thought of Noromata as perfidious as She hath been unto me and if I could shew you the true state of my soul when after your example I did for ever engage my self you would see that my heart disavowed all the words of engagement which my tongue pronounced and I thought more of what I lost then what I got yet for all this you are so unjust as to command me not to think any more of you But let me tell you Madam that if the Gods be just they will force you to think of me and they will grant me so much favour as to cause you many an angry minute by my being much in your minde In wishing as I do replied She that the Gods will give you the same tranquility of mind which I wish unto my self I am more just then you are and consequently have reason to believe that they will rather hear my prayers then yours But Madam I beseech you said he unto her what hurt can a pure innocent passion do you when it is locked up in my heart And what matter is it when I am out of your sight whether I think of you or no So I could think that you do not think of me replied She doubtless it would not at all concern me but still it would concern you that you might be more at rest Then Madam said he unto her and looked upon her with amorous eyes I may hope when I see you not that you will think to guess whether I think upon you or no and consequently I am not so miserable as I imagined for it is some consolation to know that you have not banished me out of your memory though out of your heart Oh Madam for heavens sake added he with most passionate earnestness do not deny every thing to a Lover who is not of their humours which think felicity consists in the highest favours but on the contrary he knows how to multiply the delight by the price which he will set upon the meanest favours Permit me Madam I beseech you only to think of you and to believe that somtimes you do me the honour to think of me and I shall not murmure at your excessive rigour I should think that what I ask cannot offend you nor would it be a grand crime if I beseeched you to pronounce the name of Adonacris
she commanded me to say unto you for upon second serious consideration I canot beleeve she can continue in such unjust thoughts but will even abhorre her own injustice Since you will not tell me what Thomiris said replyed Cyrus you give me some cause to think that she does intend the most horrid cruelty in the world And that shee intends to loaden the Princesse Mandana with the weight of her Irons Anacharsis being desirous to make him feare the very worst did returne him two or three something indirect answers to the end that fearing the worst he might apprehend less fears afterwards So that Cyrus imagining that perhaps Thomiris intended to put Mandana to death broke out into such sad expressions as Anacharsis thought it time to tell him the truth and so in few words he accquainted him that Thomiris did accuse him for killing her son and commanded him to tell him that if he did not render himselfe within three dayes under her power shee would send back the body of Mandana in the same Coffin in which he sent the body of her Son Yet to your comfort Sir continued is Anacharsis I must in all tell tell you that the Prince Ariantes does all he can to justifie you in the opinion of Thomiris and you may be assured his disposition is such as that he will oppose the fury of this incensed Queen as much as ever he can Alas Anacharsis cryed out Cyrus in a sad dispaire nothing can stop the reveng of such an humour as Thomiris is off And I see my self in the saddest condition of any man in the world For my particular said Mazanes with much sadness I am perswaded that Thomiris for her own interest will not put Mandana to death But I am fully perswaded replyed Cyrus that shee will only be revenged upon mee unless I will ruine my selfe And I am fully resolved to do it rather then hazard this most excellent Princess However I must heare what the messenger from this cruell Queen will say Then commanding he should enter this Massagetan told Cyrus that Thomiris fearing Anacharsis should not fully deliver his message she sent him to let him know that if within three dayes he did not render himselfe unto her she would put Mandana to death and send him her Corps Will you unjust Queen replyed Cyrus sternly that within this three dayes shee that have my answer and tell her also that if shee offer any violence unto the Princesse Mundana I will not pardon one of the Prisoners who are in my hands and laying aside that respect which hitherto I ever bore her though shee was my enemy I will most hotly pursue her untill I have revenged the Princesse whom shee shall wrong Yet I will hope that you will find the mind of the Massagettan Queen changed when you are returned to her and that she will repent of her Injustice and cruelty against a Prince who never offended her But once more I charge you to tell her it is her best to take heed of injuring the Princesse Mandana assure her it concerns the lives of all the Prisoners which are or ever shall be in my power After this Cyrus having dismissed the messenger he was a while silent considering what to resolve upon At first he thought it best to march immediatly to the Tents Royall to force the passes and in the head of his Army to save the life of his Princesse but afterwards considering that the more he pressed upon Thomiris the more reason he had to fear Mandana and than the nearer the Massagetan Queen was unto her ruine she would the sooner hasten Mandanas he knew not what to resolve upon But as his great heart advised him to fight so his love perswaded him rather then to hazard his Princesse to put himselfe into the hands of Thomiris Provided she would release Mandana yet since it was not likely she would release her though he should put himselfe into her power he rejected that thought as well as the rest In the mean time considering the state of things he must either submit himself her Prisoner or endanger the life of Mandana So as not knowing what to resolve upon his mind was so turbulent as not being able to enclose his sorrows in his own heart for heavens sake said he unto all the company tell me each of you what you think to be my best course and what I should do not to hazard the life of my Princesse But I beseech you consider only her and never care what becomes of mee Advise me what I shall do to save her and never consider my Army nor my Conquests nor my life for I am so farre from all these considerations that I do not value my own Glory in competition of her safety And though it be a shame for the Conqueror of Thomiris to take her fetters upon him yet I am most ready to do it unlesse you can find out some other way to keep my Princesse from perishing I know ther 's none amongst you who dare tell me it is requisite to receive fetters from the hands of a Queen whom I have conquered but unlesse you find me out some better expedient I shall tell it unto my self For my part Sir said Anacharsis I conceive the best expedient is to draw the businesse out at length by returning a dubious answer and so gaine time for the Prince Arcantes either to perswade Thomiris unto reason or else til he get himselfe into a condition able to give a stop unto her violences Alas wise Anacharsis said Cyrus It seems you are ignorant of the height of that passion which possesseth me since you think it possible I should love even but a few dayes in such a cruel incertainty The truth is added Mazones most sadly minuts wherein the life of Mandana is feared seâ—m very long unto those who are neerly interrested in her Since I am well acquainted with the power of Love replyed Intaphernes I do easily understand your meaning but to speak unto the businesse as I do think I can never beleeve that Queen who had never made warre but only to make her self loved will ever give so great a provocation of hatred unto him of whom shee desires to be loved as this to put the Princesse whom he adores to death Since Thomiris is reported to be of a most hasty and violent temper replyed Atergatis what you say is no security for Mandanas life But my greatest hope is in the love of Arcantes for since his passion hath been so high as to make him forget his duty unto the illustrious Cyrus and so violent as to attempt so bould an act as to carry her away before his face doubtlesse he will be as forward and ingenious as to preserve Mandanas life and to find out away of stopping the violence of Thomiris Though he should not replyed Hydaspes yet I cannot beleeve that Thomiris will offer to make any attempts upon the life of the Princesse Mandana
by her writings you may as well infer that she is a souldier as in love Alas Democedes said he unto me the case is not the same for the very reading of Homer is enough to teach one how to speak of war but it is Love only which can teah one how to speak of Love For my part replyed I I know not how you argue but I am sure Homer speaks of Love as well as War and Sapho might learn to speak as he did Ah Democedes said he with a pensive look gladly would I beleive it was you who taught Sapho to write so passionatly as she doth for if you did not you would say as I do and swear that it is impossible any should write well of Love and not be in Love if you do but compare those expressions of Homer with those of Sapho you shall find a vast difference honest Homer does better set out the friendship of Patroclus and Achilles than he doth the Love of Achilles and Priseus had Sapho only used such high expressions as Love doth cause and not used them passionatly I should have beleived as you do that she might have writ of Love and not have loved any But Democedes she has such delicate tender and passionate fancies as are impossible to proceed from any heart but such a one as is in love the truth is I know it by my own experience for when I returned unto Mytelene I must ingenionsly confess that I did not know what Love was but in such a gross manner as I should never have understood the depth of Saphoes lines And that fair fool whom I loved in Scicily did inspire me with thoughts only propotionable into her own wit Therefore my love of Sapho hath taught me to know infallibly what is in her heart and I have now nothing else to do but to learn who that happy one is whom this fair one loves and inspires her with such tender and passionate thoughts Therefore my dear Democedes added he if it was not you who taught her this Art then help me to discover whom it is she loves to the end I may of two courses take the one of them either to cure my self or else to ruin my Rivall Seriously said I unto him once again I cannot possibly beleive that Sapho is in love with any for it is most certain that she neither loves the Prince Tysander nor Nicanor For these two Lovers kept such jealous eyes upon one another that they would have found it out had there been any cause of suspition given them and therefore friend you have no cause to trouble your mind with any such fantasticall and ill grounded jealousy I know not Democedes said he unto me how its possible you should think as you say For my part though I had seen with my own eyes and heard with my own ears a thousand passages which might perswade me that Sapho either is or hath been in Love I could not more confidently beleive it then I do Therefore if it be so that you are not in love with this fair person nor have any manner of hidden interest in saying as you do I conjure you to imploy all your ingenuity in discovering what I desire to know Cydnon loves you so dearly and you have so much wit of your own added he and flattered me that if you will you may quickly finde out who that happy one is which raigns in the heart of Sapho and inspires her with such passionate thoughts Oh! Heavens said he how worthy should I think my self of envy if the most admirable Sapho had such thoughts of me as she has of some other the greatest wonder to me is that he should have the honour to make her in love with him and that their correspondencies should not be discovered and how is it possible he should conceal so great a felicity After this Phaon used a hundred expressions which made both his Love and his Jealousy equally apparant and I did promise him to be as carefull in enquiring of what he desired to know as if i had been as fully perswaded of it as he was In the mean time I was certain that Sapho loved none unlesse she loved him and that her writing so passionatly proceeded only from a naturall tenderness of her Soul Yet for the satisfaction of my friend I asked my sister the question as if I had doubted it But I asked her in vain for she did not so much as tell me that she began to love Phaon so as telling Phaon that I could not discover any thing he was extreamly disquieted and confessed since that somtimes he beleived Sapho loved me and that her friendship unto my sister was but her umbrage to shroud her affection unto me In the mean time since he could not disvcoer any thing which might confirm him in his beleife he durst not make it appear unto me and yet he could not so constrain himself but that I perceived his soul was in a very Hell And indeed this fantasticall jealousy did torment him in such a cruell manner that all the world perceived it as well as I that he was extreamly troubled Sapho her self asked him the reason of the alteration in his humour but he durst not tell her nor durst he speak any more to me by reason of his jealous fancies so as he did live a melanchollick life Moreover since it was not possible for him but to hear many of Saphoes verses repeated every day this was a dayly fresh torment unto him for he could not hear them without a tremble of heart Again he kept an observant eye upon all the men which used to come often unto Sapho and also he was very vigilant over some who never came there And jealousy did never torment any person more than it did Phaon though he had no cause but was the only one that was loved of all Saphoes Lovers He knew not what to do noâ— what to think to clear suspitions So as he resolved to go into the Country for a while and try if that would cure him both of his Love and of his jealousy he took up this resolution without imparting it unto any insomuch as I was much surprized at his departure Sapho also murmured much that he would not bid her adue before he went and all the rest of his friends did nothing but ask the reason In the mean time so it chanced that I had some business which called me into the country and I went two days after Phaon I was no sooner out of Mytelene but the Prince Thrasibulus landed there to leave the Prince Tysander in that place whom the invincible Cyrus who then named himself Artamenes had wounded in severall places when both falling into the sea they had a combate together so admirably strange and extraordinary that the Prince Thrasibulus who was then called the Famous Pirate had as great a desire to save the life of his enemy who had so bravely resisted him as
please before it can be gotten Not but that as I said before there are some persons of great rank and quality who cannot have it for they want that naturall Mould which puts I know not what kind of spirit which pleaseth unto things least capable and infuseth into the most common talk a secret charm which satisfieth and diverteth There is I say I know not what kind of gallant spirit infused into the person which possesseth it both in his Wit in his Speech his Action and in his Habit This is it which doth accomplish men which renders them amiable and which makes them loved Indeed there is a kind of Byas or faculty in telling of things which sets a value upon them and those who have this faculty may oftentimes speak of that which others dare not so much as think but in my opinion the gallant Air in conversation consists principally in speaking of things in an easie and naturall manner To incline unto more sweetness and mirth then unto the serious and sharp to speak easily and in apt terms without affectation there must be also a kind of insinuating and flattering spirit to subdue the minds of others and if I could express my meaning well I would confess unto you that one cannot be compleatly amiable without this gallant Air. T is true said Alces that it is difficult to please without it but yet it must be confessed that those unto whom it is absolutely necessary are those who make profession of gallantry It is most certain replyed Sapho that a Lover without this air of gallantry is a most pittifull thing And the worst is continued he there are an infinite number of young men who are but newly stept into the world which beleive all gallantry to consist in the most fantasticall mode which some fond foolish Taylor invented and in being bold and talking much In going unto all houses whose gates are open having no business there but to talk of trifles without either Gallantry Passion or Wit There are some replyed Cydnon who think themselves very gallant men if they can but say they have seen all the gallant women in the town and brag that I was yesterday with such a one and the day before with that Lady I presented a third with a Serenade I treated Sapho and all her company with a banquet I was with another troop of Ladies the day following and so of the rest These sort which you mention replyed Sapho are not in the number of good Gallans for certainly they are very shallow witted and full of folly but I am much more afraid of those eternall languishors who are alwaies telling smooth tales who are deeply in love with the gray the black the brown eyes with equall fervency who think they are hugely dishonored if they have been an houre with a woman and not sighed For my part I cannot endure them and I am confident they say nothing unto him which they had not said a thousand times unto others so as I am not able either to hearken unto them or to return an answer I must confess replyed Phaon these universal sighers are a sort of strange men but we do know some brisk and fiery Lovers which are no more than they and all the company knows one who is in love with a great beauty who sweares all the oathes under heaven that he loves her more than ever any did or can that he will dye a hundred deaths to do her service that he will kill all those who dare displease her and would take it for a great favour if she will bid him go and kill any man for her service This man is so brutish replyed Erinne that he deserves not to be spoke unto but I would gladly know what one should think of certain merry gallants who never talk of Love but in rallary and yet are alwaies talking of it who being neither busibodies nor Lovers are continually walking from place to place to vent their jocund gallantry without any other design These greggs seldome stay long in a place nor do they much trouble me when I meet with them for some of them divert me but those who most anger me are such reall busi-bodies as have ten or twelve severall intrigues and plots without a dram of Love in any of them who have a hundred severall businesses and yet not one I assure you replyed Phylire those obstinate Lovers who are alwaies melancholly are never pleasing to me nor themselves and I know one who is always so sadly sober that I think him jealous or that he is thinking of killing his Rivall or poysoning himself Doubtless there are some such gloomy Lovers replyed Phaon who are as displeasing as you think them But amiable Phylire there may be some faithfull Lovers as sad who yet are not so troublesome This is most constantly true replyed Cydnon that there are very few men who are deeply in love and very gallant and who are less pleasing unto others than they are unto those they love And though love seems to be but a trifle yet it is the rarest thing in the world to find a Lover who can trifle it handsomly But yet said I and addressed my speech unto Sapho it is not just to examine only the gallants but it is better to talk of gallantry in generall to the end that the gallantry of Ladies in particular may also be talked of I assure you replyed Sapho there are some who are gross in their gallantry that it would be both a favour and an honour unto them not to talk of it Yet I must needs confess that women are to be blamed for the ill gallantry of men for if they did but know how to make use of those priviledges which belong unto their sex they would make men right gallants and would never suffer them to fail in their due respects Indeed they would never suffer a hundred uncivill familiarities which most new gallants would bring into the world for there is a great intervall between a constrained Ceremony and incivility and if all gallant Ladies did but well understand of the mystery of behaving themselves their gallants would be more respective and more complaisant and by consequence more pleasing But the worst is those women who have taken a crochet of gallantry into their heads do imagine that unless they be indulgent unto their gallants they cannot keep them and all those I speak of do neither care for their own reputation nor for the advantage of their own gallantry but only how to take off a Lover from this Lady to attract this gallant to preserve another and to engage a thousand if they could There are some also continued she which do worse and who keep a hundred private correspondencies â—n lieu of one T is true replyed Amithone I know some women whose gallantry is a very horrour unto any of any virtue and behave themselves so impudently as it may truly be said that they make it
I repented and found by his milde answer that he would love Alcionida as long as he had life however he gave me such sweet and generous language that he allayed my anger against him and I began to long until night did separate us that I might enjoy my own private thoughts and at last we parted Tisander was informed by some or other of the time when I was at Gnides He understood from one of Alcionida's women how I caused her to get hastily out of my Ship However we were both of us the next day much perplexed I durst not ask him how Alcionida did and yet I could not forbear nor durst I go to see her And Tisander I think as generous as he was had variety of resentments of it in one and the same day yet since he enjoyed the happiness and was well satisfied concerning the vertue of Alcionida it was an easier matter for him then for me to transact with Reason He was so generous as not to take any notice of a hundred follies which I expressed unto him and to speak unto me always with much affection But that there might want nothing to make up the full measure of my misfortunes it chanced that I being in a Chamber of his Ship which joyned unto Alcionida's I saw her there she not knowing I was in that place or thinking that all the partitions of a Ship being made of planks only one might easily hear all that was spoken out of the one into the other Since Alcionida was now much better then she was before Tisander thought it convenient to acquaint her with my desperate condition to the end she might not hereafter be surprized at it or else perhaps to discover her real thoughts of me I heard him ask her how I carried my self at Gnides what she thought of me whether she really thought I was a Pirate and as I verily think fearing lest she should take a displeasure at all these questions he told all he knew concerning my passion which did so much surprize her that she could not make any answer Yet since she perceived Tisander knew more then her self she told him sincerely what she beleeved concerning my Quality and partly what she knew concerning my Love Then he desired her to tell him whether she had any good esteem of me or no and she answered so obligingly in my behalf that I thought my self then much more miserable then I was before In conclusion he conjured her to comply with me as a man whom of all the world he loved most Your desire said she unto him is too dangerous for me to consent unto not but that I dare trust my self well enough with him but because I dare not trust you Tisander did then protest a thousand times unto her that he would never be jealous Yet notwithstanding all his earnest importunities she could not consent unto it For indeed said she if the Prince Thrasibulus do not love me he may easily forbear my sight and if he do love me he were most inhumane to continue his passion Therefore Sir I conjure you to solicit me no more When he was gone out I heard Alcionida call one of her women which she loved very dearly and commanded her to reach a Cabinet which she opened and took out many Letters for I found out a little hole in the partitions of this Chamber through which I could see all she did amongst many other Letters she found that which I had writ unto her which I knew very well and she commanded this woman to take this Letter and to teer it all in pieces and when it was dark to throw it into the Sea Why Madam said this woman unto her who used to be very free with her is it a greater fault to keep it to morrow then it was yesterday The reason is replyed she because I must banish out of my heart the remembrance of that Princes affection which without a crime I might have preserved when I thought I should never see him again but now since he is here I must not do so I must not look upon him as a Lover of Alcionida but only as a Friend of Tisanders What odd adventures do the Fates produce said she why did they send Thrasibulus unto Gnides only to be miserable and to make me restless Not because I do not esteem my self happy in the marriage of Tisander but because I wish with all my heart that the Prince Thrasibulus were not so unfortunate Yet did they both of them see the secrets of my heart Tisander would be less pleased and Thrasibulus would be more miserable For the truth is the reason why I did oppose my marriage with Tisander was because I had some hopes that Thrasibulus would return unto Gnides in such a quality as he told me and that I might innocently follow my inclination not to hate him Yet as the case is now I must suppress those thoughts said she and sighed and therefore do as I bid you to the end I may if I can preserve my heart solely for Tisander and remember Thrasibulus no more I leave it unto you Sir to judg what joy and what sorrow this expression of Alcionida did infuse into me The sorrow did so much triumph over the joy and that cruel resolution to forget me did so pierce my heart that against my will I made a great noise and since I was so near that I almost touched the side of her bed certainly she heard me for she was silent presently upon it and questionless was sorry she had been so loud in her discourse and I beleeve I should have spoke to her through the partition had I not heard some enter into her Chamber So that the knowledg that I was not hated and that I must for ever be miserable did drive me into such horrid despair that I suffered inexpressable torments of mind In the mean time Tisander who did really love me came to seek me and carried me into the Chamber of Alcionida entreating me and earnestly conjuring me to content my self with her friendship and esteem I went with him and at my entrance I heard her charge the woman whom she spoke unto to do as she appointed her This made me change colour and look so seriously upon her that she dejected her eyes I shall tell you Sir what our Conference was for I think there was never three persons did love one another so well and were all three so discontented as we were Tisander did most passionately love Alcionida and he loved me also very well but yet because I loved her he did I perceived that either out of his compassion unto me or out of some other considerations mingled with it he did not delight in my company Alcionida did questionless love Tisander and did not hate me but because my passion could not any longer appear innocent and since Tisander was not ignorant of it her mind was extreamly unquiet For my part I had as high an