usage of me which is such that it may with too much reason perswade them to believe I am sooner capable of any thing than of such a neglect I hope Sir Surena reply'd though this may be other mens belief yet it is not your resolution for that sacred contract you made with me was not conditional but absolute so that no ill usage of hers to you can render legitimate a resembling return of yours to her The knowledg I had of your Passion and of the impossibility of her receiving and rewarding it made me intently careful to leave you no way of violating your engagement but by violating your oaths which will raise more to revenge such a performance than your Power can to hinder it This resolute and true reply so incens'd the cruel Orodes who by the then coming into the room of many of his Guards and Courtiers to learn the result of their meeting now no more apprehended to disclose what he was confident could not be prevented and which he only fear'd the discovery of upon that score told my Brother with a furious Look and Tone Traytor that canst have reason enough to make thy Kings actions appear as Crimes and wantest it when thy own are more undeniably so The Tyes thou hast to Parthenissa are but accidental and those thou hast to me are natural yet in thy late Rebellion thou couldst with lesser scruple violate thy Allegiance than thou now reproachest me with violating my Promise Thou didst in thy performance leave me a latitude for the acting of mine and canst not reproach me but with that for which thou art my Example Nay that Contract thou hast so often mention'd and by which thou wouldst tye my hands sets them at liberty especially to the punishing of thee for having attempted it For 't was thy Rebellion gave thee that seeming Power of making one of my Vassals confine me from acting my pleasure upon another now that force being dissolv'd by which thou didst this Crime I have much more reason to punish thy having extorted such a promise than thou hast to demand the performing of it since I but assume a Power I indisputably had before thy Treason eclips'd it but thou canst not exact the performance of a forc'd engagement but thou must remember what thou didst to procure it and that will vindicate me for not observing it Thou by cancelling the first obligation hast taught me to punish thee in the repetition of thy fault and by making Force to be Justice thou hast render'd that Art which destroys Thine to be much more so Surena sensibly wounded with this language reply'd You reproach me Sir with your own Fault for 't was you not I which cancell'd the first obligation and though this was but then evident to a few yet by what you have since menac'd the fair Parthenissa with you have render'd it now so to all and made my performance as clear to the world as it was then to me The obligations between you and your subjects are mutual they promise you obedience and you them protection you then first broke your Engagement before I did mine and I never drew my sword against you but to keep you from a greater Crime than that it self was And though you alledg my confinement to you was natural and to the fair Parthenissa accidental yet when you consider upon what score I ty'd my self to her Interests you will find it was deriv'd from a Duty unto which that you challenge is much subordinate 'T is the Duty I owe the gods and that obliges me more to preserve the Innocent than my birth does to obey you especially when your commands are of a quality that carry in my disobedience the justification of it Whilst you govern'd within your own Laws I gave you that observance due to you in them and was more prodigal of my blood to defend and encrease your Power than when you misemploy'd it I was to oppose it Nay after you were seemingly converted I brought you home a Victory from a people that hardly ever knew what it was to lose one I was in hope the gods by shewing how successful my Sword was for you would have invited you to Actions which it can only be employed in But I now fear you will render me unavoidably guilty for drawing my Sword against you for her cannot render me more criminal in your esteem than the not doing it will render me so in the judgment of the gods and of men Here continued Zephalinda Arsaces's fury was uncapable of a longer silence which made him interrupt Surena by saying Traytor Thou hast not only the wickedness to run into a Rebellion but to declare that performance a greater Duty than the not having acted it That Power which thou shalt know and feel is absolute thou wouldst make conditional that it might not punish thee but that Sin thou shalt be convinc'd is one even in the punishment of it And because thou alledgest thou never drew'st thySword against me but to keep me from a higher crime than that it self was I will repay thy kindness in the imitation of it and by thy Death hinder thee from a greater Sin than the commanding of it is yes I will punish in thy intended Rebellion what thou tiedst me from in thy acted Rebellion and the gods who knew how unjust that concession was thou extortest from me involve thee in new Crimes that thou might'st be rewarded for the old My Justice only is clouded with this misfortune that thou hast but a single Life to appease it with since thy relapse deserves the deprivation of that and consequently thy first Sin will continue unpunish'd Orodes at the end of these words turn'd to the Captain of his Guards and commanded him to seize on Surena who seeing his Life was lost and consequently yours or your Honour resolv'd whilst it lasted to act some such performance as might repair the shortness of it and the length of those Miseries it had so unfortunately involved you in Therefore as the Captain of the Guards came to take his Sword he drew it and past it through his Body then crying out to Arsaces You shall go with me Sir into another World to learn this great Truth That to kill you is a less Sin than that you intend against Parthenissa or the permitting it he ran furiously at him and though so many hands endeavour'd to stop him yet all they could do was to put his thrust so much aside as that what was intended to the Body only pierc'd his Clothesâ— Surena more troubled that he had mist his design than at the punishment he knew attended his having assum'd it was returning and though with a fury but equal to his former yet certainly had had a superior success when all that were present flew upon him and forced his sword out of that hand which if any longer left had doubtless acted a greater piece of Justice than the Guards did in preventing it and
that which so much contributed to this easie Victory was the deep consternation amongst those few friends of Surena's which were present who not fancying he would have put things to so precipitate and high an issue fell into an amazement which prov'd as fatal to him as if it had been their Treachery The pale and trembling Arsaces observing Surena was disarm'd and that some of his Guards were going to revenge his danger and their Captains death by the acting of Surena's cry'd out to them Hold I command you on your Lives not to touch him for the inflicting of a sudden Death will relish more of Passion than of Justice and his Crimes make him a fitter Sacrifice for the last than the first Then commanding a Gentleman who he made in that instant Captain of his Guards in the room of him that had freshly lost that Office with his Life to look to Surena as he would answer it with the loss of his own he forthwith gave order for a Scaffold to be erected before the Palace-Gates and solemnly protested That on it before the Sun-set Surena should lose his Life He heard these last words as he was carrying away and therefore turning about with a Countenance altogether quiet and serene he told Arsaces I thank you Sir and I conjure you to keep your vows for the next satisfaction to the prevention of Parthenissa's dishonour is not to survive it Arsaces only reply'd by a shaking of his head and by a second Command having made Surena to be carried away forthwith sent to the chief Tribunal of Justice in Selutia to sit and condemn him This Order was no sooner publish'd but a Proclamation was also That whosoever appear'd in the Streets with Arms except those of Guard should dye without Mercy and those that any way related to Surena which were found in Selutia after the expiration of one hour should be liable to the same penalty This so precipitate and brisk a proceeding with the securing of Surena's person and the placing of Soldiers in every convenicnt Post so terrified those Partizans of his already in the Town that wanting a Head to employ their Swords they pay'd an exact Obedience to the Proclamation and involv'd such of their Companions as they met coming to Selutia in the same Crime Surena therefore was tamely brought before his Judges before whom he only would say That all the ill he was guilty of was That he had not acted what they were condemning him for having attempted This short Reply made the Trial the like so that immediately he was adjudg'd to lose his Head and by Orodes's command who all the while was present was sent to the Scaffold to have the Sentence perform'd This advertisement being brought me I went to the cruel King not to beg Surena's Life but only the permission of seeing him lose it Arsaces granted my request either not to disoblige his pretended Solicitress or to punish my being so in the sight of so fatal a spectacle I found my poor Brother on the Scaffold who seeing me there assum'd a joy I thought his condition uncapable of but I soon observ'd from whence it proceeded for immediately he told me You see Sister I am now going to lose my Life for her to whom I had given it and if the now cause of my Death could but extinguish the just provocations she has had so often to wish it I should esteem it at a higher rate than she can deplore the loss of it Tell her I conjure you that with joy I embrace my present condition since I consider it as inflicted on me for having obstructed her desires and from thence I cannot but conclude That since the gods so exemplarily punish a Passion which never had any other design than to be voluntarily approv'd of and rewarded they will doubtlesly act much more to the magnifying of their Justice upon a Flame which already is burnt into desires of Lust and they will as certainly perform it while Arsaces's desires are but desires lest if once they were turned into action they might be as uncapable of a fit punishment as he of a resembling sin Conjure her Zephalinda to make this use of my Death that it may bring both her and me a satisfaction which it may be any other way will be deny'd to both I confess the gods have made me so miserable that all my performances have hitherto evidenc'd my adoration was not a debt to her but to my self I do therefore beg you by that Friendship and Relation which is between us and by my last Breath That upon my score you will pay her all the services you are any ways capable of that one of the Family may in some degree repair the Sins of him that was the chief of it that parthenissa may thereby know what my unfortunate performances have not clearly manifested that my Care of her was for her which I hope she will not doubt of while I lived since the effects of it will continue when I am dead My last Request is If ever you see the generous Artabbanes beg him when he remembers what I have done that he would also remember what 't was invited it and then he cannot judg the fault greater than the inducement of it he will be too generous to hate me in my Grave and I more than hope his resentments will dye with the object of them Surena having thus spoken embrac'd me and took his eternal leave Then going to the other extremity of the Scaffold he conjur'd the people to prevent their King's Sin since they could not but participate in the punishment of it for the gods would consider every Accessory as a Principal and esteem those as guilty which hinder'd not Parthenissa's dishonour as him that acted it This was all he said to them lest a longer discourse might have been interrupted His Soul after she had thus disburthen'd her self seem'd to have more than a knowledg of those happy Fields whither she was taking her eternal flight for when he was laying down his Life he did it with much more resolution than he had that took it from him who perform'd it by separating the Head from the Body at one stroak The Spectators at that fatal blow gave one common groan and by killing the Executioner shew'd how much they detested the Execution Their Grief too had not contented it self with so mean a Sacrifice had not Orodes in person at the head of a thousand of his Guards come and by killing some of the Multitude disperst the rest The poor Surena's Body I carry'd away with me in the same Chariot I came in and lay'd it in the Sepulcher of our Family Here said Emilia the fair Zephalinda's weepings put a period to her words in which just duty the sad Parthenissa kept her such faithful company that one might have concluded she reserved no Tears for her own misfortune she gave so many on Surena's Happy Surena that in one single performance couldst
King to sign his Commission and strictly to enjoyn him to repair to his Charge by the break of day his absence will give us that liberty which his being here will deprive us of and consequently render unfortunate SVRENA Oh gods how many thousand distractions did the reading of this Letter involve me in I that resented the torments cannot describe them at first I was pale as Guilt and an universal trembling seiz'd upon all my Body yet presently the consideration of all my wrongs inflam'd me with so much fury that had Parthenissa then come in I had sacrific'd her to it But at length I cry'd out great gods where shall Virtue inhabit if Parthenissa be not a fit Mansion for it and who shall ever expect a recompence for his Fidelity when mine is thus rewarded then looking upon that cruel instrument of my undoing I told her Ha! Zianthe how could you thus long conceal this Treachery Sure Parthenissa's wickedness is contageous else your pity if all other motives had fail'd would have made you disclose what the just gods could no longer conceal The wretched Maid finding my Choler rais'd to the highest pitch flung her self again at my feet and with a flood of Tears told me The concealment Sir of your being so long betray'd was as great a grief to me as the knowledge of it is to you but I could not reveal that treachery without being guilty of one to Parthenissa and drawing by it a ruine on her as certain as just My innocence shall bear me witness how I labour'd to divert her from an action so perfidious but when I found all was in vain I was forced to submit to what I could not oppose yet with a grief which equalled the greatness of her crime but since the gods have so evidently declared themselves in revealing a treachery so secretly carried I think it rather a Charity than a Sin to acquaint you with that which I hope will prove your cure After that Surena began to possess the Kings esteem I found a beginning of a coldness in Parthenissa for you and something of inclination for your Rival which increast proportionably as Arsaces favour did and that being come unto the highest degree this resembl'd it in a word I cannot compare the greatness of her passion to him more fitly than to that she formerly paid you but perhaps you may wonder why they should write to one another having the opportunity and freedom of conversation To which I answer'd Surena was suspicious that all Parthenissa did profess in his favour was but meerly to gain time and to free her self from the Kings importunities who never left solliciting for his Favourite Now he knew Letters were a proof that she could not deny when she might her words therefore he put her to that tryal and besides he shewed them to the King as an evincement of his victory which as he said Arsaces would not credit but by some such undeniable testimony Things being come to this height all their designes were how to delude you which truly they were so industrious in that I have as often admir'd at Parthenissa's Art in dissembling as at her treachery it self Amongst all those Presents which Surena sent her she places on none so much value as on a little pocket Looking Glass which of late you have seen her wear and though the excellency of the Workmanship might induce her to value it yet the esteem she places on it proceeds from another cause for between the Glass and the Case in a little Drawer which is artificially shut with a screw there is her Lovers Picture and as if all things had contributed to undelude you yesternight something being amiss in it she left it off to be mended Zianthe without straying to know whether I had a mind to see it went and fetcht it to shew the truth of what she had alledged The Glass I very well remember'd having seen Parthenissa lately wear it and set even a doting value on it but the rage of being so egregiously deluded stifl'd those resentments my fury inspir'd which silence Zianthe attributing to my attention she thus continued her discourse I have Sir given you a clear Narrative of my Mistresses Infidelity which indeed is so excessive great that I hope you will think it a sufficient happiness to have mist her and your Rival sufficiently punisht in obtaining her in my opinion the crime is so odious that with the first opportunity I will abandon her service and think it more contentment to have but a bare subsistance where innocence is cherisht than to possess all the plenties of the Court where Vice has so much dominion all that I have to beg of you is that you will make the best profit of this discovery without revealing the Author of it for it can be no advantage to you and will be an unavoidable ruine unto me Zianthe thus ended her discourse and filld ' me with so much fury that without saying one word I left her but as I was going out I met a Servant of Surena's who mistaking me for one of Parthenissa's menial ones desir'd me to tell Zianthe that her Princess lay that night at Surena's with Zephalinda and that he was come to wait on her thither This additional proof of her inconstancy made me say to my self Is she then not onely contented to be wicked but to glory in 't and has she no sooner led me into misery than she forsakes and insults over me but yet I continu'd why do I blame this action for since she has stain'd her Beauty with infidelity 't is an obligation to me not to hide it Then without so much as answering Surena's servant I went to my Lodging but in such a posture that had I met with any betwixt that place where I received so fatal a poison and my Chamber my actions had discover'd my condition Being come home I flung my self into my Bed and by a thousand extravagancies exprest the miseries I groan'd under at first I resolv'd to kill my self having so much out-lived my hopes but the horror of so barbarous a crime and to leave the world without revenge retain'd me Then casting up my Eyes to Heaven my Tears invok'd that Justice my rage hinder'd my words from demanding At length I cry'd out Great gods Why do you tempt frail Man so justly to destroy himself and yet make it a sin to do so Or why is life esteem'd a blessing when without it we could not suffer misery Then pausing a while and after starting up I continu'd Ah! no were to destroy my self no sin I would not do it First those that have injur'd me shall dye and then the triumph of my revenge will be pleasing Yet Parthenissa must not fall her Sex preserves her but to kill her Lover will be a more sensible grief to her and consequently a more pleasing joy to me But couldst thou I continu'd Artabanes look upon her with any satisfaction were her
since for my preservation he had undertaken so great a hazard that my duty would be resembling his care I too well knew those words related to my passion for Perolla which since the impossibility of declining was as great as the injustice I thought that as my silence was the best way of expresâ—ing my resentments for his affection so it was the civilest of assuring him of my legitimate obedience I know not whether he imputed it to my respect or my wilfulness for he went away without speaking one word which might be as pertinently attributed to his satisfaction as his aâ—ger Four days after the Senate sent a solemn Embassy to him to congratulate his success and to furnish him with a Garrison to secure it Though this soon came to Hannibals knowledge yet he was necessitated by the Pretor Cneius Fulvius besieging the City Herdonea to suspend a while his design upon Marcellus and Perolla but to appease so many Lybian Ghosts as were lost in Salapia and perhaps the loss of Izadora had some share in that fury he offered the unfortunate Pretor Battel whose courage being greater than his judgement accepted it and by that fault was rendred uncapable of ever committing any other being killed by Twelve of his Tribunes and the most of his Army That unhappy Plain near Herdonâ—a proved an unfortunate Theatre for the Fluvius's two of them in one year both Pretors and both Generals received the same fatâ— in the same place by the Carthaginian who raised by this accession of Glory march'd directly to Venusia where Marcellus and Crispinus were joyned the better to oppose their common Enemy But because I have not undertaken Hannibal's but Perolla's Story I will pass over all those memorable accidents which happened that active Summer by telling you that Hannibal knowing Asdrabal his Brother as well in Glory as in Bloud had crost France and was coming to him with neer 100000 men as a Torrent to throw down all opposition declined a Battel though often provok'd to it by Marcellus who being not ignorant of the danger of two such Men and Armies joyning thought himself always too far from his Enemy if not fighting with him resolved to remove his Camp to a Hill covered with Wood which lay betwixt his and Hannibals and not suspecting his Fate took Crispinus his fellow Consul with him 200 Hetrurian Horse for their Guard and went to view the commodiousness of the place where alas there lay in ambush above 1500 Numidian Horse who invironing those unfortunate Generals charged them with so much fury that all those false or timerous Hetrurians fled and left the two Consuls no hope but by a glorious death to justify how unworthy they were of so private a one and that Rome without losing a Battel might resent as high a grief as such a loss could inspire Perolla as the gods would have it had been that night upon a Party and was not returned when the Consuls went to perform so fatal a curiosity but he was no sooner come into his Tent than the Alarm of their danger was given by a timerous Hetrurean which Perolla understanding took the first horse he met with and ran full speed to the Theatre where this Tragedy was acting and where the first object he saw was a Numidian Officer that coming behind Marcellus ran that great Man through with his Launce but though my generous friend could not prevent yet he reveng'd his Death and by a furious blow sent that Affrican into the other world to see how great his Virtues were whom he had so treacherously kill'd in this Perolla having thus sacrific'd his Generals Murtherer to his Manes he rescued first the young Marcellus his Son and then perceiving that Crispinus was pierc'd with two Darts and thereby render'd uncapable any longer to defend himself he abandon'd his own Horse and vaulting up behind the Consuls upheld his tottering Body with one Arm and with the other forc'd his passage through a hundred Numidian Swords and brought him into the Roman Camp where their fears had so far clouded their judgements that they only remembred but did not relieve their Consuls danger Never Rome had at once a resembling misfortune and never was that Empire in worse condition to sustain it and though Hannibal was more satisfied at Marcellus death than he could have been at the cutting in pieces of the Roman Army without it yet he was so generous as to be content with the joy without giving any open demonstration of it For he first wept the fall of so eminent a person then in a military pomp burnt his Body and having put the Ashes in a Silver Urn and on it a Crown of Gold he sent it in great state with a condoling Letter to the young Marcellus and executed some Numidians for offering by the way to rob Marcellus Reliques of a Crown which his noble Life and valiant Death so justly merited Spartacus was extreamly satisfied to observe that Izadora's resentments did not silence her justice and that though she were an Enemy to Hannibal yet that she was not so to his Fame and Virtue But she continu'd though Crispinus was mortally wounded yet his care for the publique was as great as if he had been to live and enjoy the effects of it As an evincement of this Truth he sent certain Spies into the Affrican Camp to learn what advantage the Enemy propounded to himself by his success these perform'd their employment so happily that they brought the Consul word that Hannibal having an unextinguishable desire to be reveng'd on the Salapians and having too by the possession of Marcellus Seal which with his body remain'd in the Victors power found an expedient to effect it He had sent false Letters with the true Signet to Blacius in the dead Consuls name to let him know that that night he would come to Salapia and commanded all the Garrison to be in Arms without the Samnite Gate for some exploit he intended to employ them in Crispinus no sooner receiv'd this intelligence than he sent for Perolla to communicate it to him and knowing those concerns he had for the preservation of this place gave him Commission to command the Garrison till Hannibal had lost the hopes of taking it Perolla declin'd it because Blacius was Governor but the Consul told him that it was not to intrench on my Fathers authority but to strengthen him in it for he was confident Hannibals assault would be so vigorous that Blacius could not but think so powerful an assistant a blessing rather than an affront and that he was no true friend to Rome if for a temporary suspension of his power he hazarded so important a place Perolla finding Crispinus was unalterable took Horse and with that speed which Love and Revenge inspires came to Salapia where he soon found the truth of the Consuls intelligence and that all the Garrison were drawing out of the Samnite Gate which was the opposite one to that which
and then retir'd to his Lodging where what reasons he rais'd against his Passion I am ignorant of though not of the strange effects they produc'd for two or three days after he came to visit Izadora where he was hardly known and where constantly afterwards if she were alone he never mention'd any thing of his Passion but would only look fix'dly upon her fold his Arms and groan and say he was not yet Conqueror But if Blacius were there he would court Izadora with a countenance as full of joy as his heart was empty of it and if he admir'd at Flamminius pining away he protested 't was an inward disease but not one of the mind nor of Izadora's neglect This was his practice for twenty days the Night of the last he came again to visit Izadora and in Sighs and some Tears implor'd his Pardon for his Passion Importunities and so long disobedience and protested that he would shortly so vindicate her on himself that she should acknowledge her Interests and satisfaction were much dearer to him than his own Flamminius after those assurances without any more words immediately withdrew himself and the next intelligence we had of him was that he kept his Bed of a disease whose nature the Physitians were as ignorant of as of the cure and that though Blacius by many reiterated and passionate conjurations begg'd again to know whether Izadora's coldness were not the efficient cause of his sickness yet he could never receive any other answer but that she was not at least if the gods impos'd not that affliction on him for so aspiring a Passion Six days Flamminius Feaver was so violent that he despair'd not the Seventh which in that disease was the first critical day but to be able to obey Izadora Therefore calling to him a Page of his who was his Confident he commanded him to bring him some Paper on which though with much difficulty he writes these few lines FLAMMINIVS to the fair IZADORA HE that lov'd where he should have but ador'd to repair his Sin from your Lover makes himself your Martyr Let your resentments fair Izadora dye with the object of them and be so merciful as to believe I find more satisfaction in Death since 't is the effect of my obedience than I can in life having lost the hopes of what my ambition desir'd and your justice deny'd me THis Letter being seal'd he commanded the faithful Youth by all the strictest tyes he could invent to deliver it with his own hands and without any witness to her to whom it was addrest For if Blacius or any other discover'd what it contain'd he should spend those few hours he had to live inso much despair and horror that those torments would almost equal Izadora's hate Judge Perolla if ever Gallantry was rais'd to a greater height than to have so particular a care for the preservation of one 's own destruction and whether you have not cause to glory in possesing a Beauty which could produce such rare effects and in a Constancy that was not mov'd with them at least no further than Pity could extend I answer'd continu'd Perolla Callione's words only with a deep sigh that the reflection of having been cursed with one Rival too full of Power and another too full of Virtue drew from me which made her thus continue But though the circumspection of the Master and the Servant was great yet it was fruitless for having deliver'd Izadora the Letter as privately as he was directed Blacius who always suspected Flamminius denials proceeded rather from his goodness than his Truth and who observ'd an admirable vigilancy over Izadoras actions was no sooner advertis'd of the Pages coming to his House than he stole to his Daughters Chamber who had scarcely read her Lovers fatal generosity but she fell a deploring it with Tears and in so great disorders that in the heighth of them Blacius surpriz'd her with the cause in her hands which he violently snatcht from hers and having perus'd it contracted so transcendent a rage for her to whom it was sent that his Ponyard was twice out to have quench'd it in her Bloud but perhaps believing to kill her would be rather an obligation than a revenge he resolv'd as the most sensible one he could invent to carry her to Flamminius and force her to give him some such pregnant evincements of her conversion that he should not doubt it and which if afterwards she broke might render her as unworthy his Affections as Resentments Blacius being thus fixt commanded a Charriot to be made ready in which he took Izadora with him to Flamminius's to whom he commanded her to be askind as she had been cruel or as he merited which if she declin d he protested by Oaths that to be repeated would give one horror much more to have broken them that if he could hire no murtherers to destroy you he would do it with his own hand and that then he would force her to marry Flamminius or Diana's Nunnery The fear as she vow'd to me she had for you the pitty of Flamminius sufferings and virtue and the duty to a Father made her more incline to obedience than her own safety which the gods by the condition they had reduc'd her to had render'd the least of her cares As soon as they were come into Flamminius's Chamber the poor Gentleman seeing Blacius with Izadora began to exclaim against the Fates cruelty and not hers that had given him no obstacle but want of health to enjoy a Felicity as transcendent as her Beauty This discourse the generous Lover held for he was ignorant that Blacius knew the cause of his danger his Page not daring to acquaint him with it lest what was his misfortune might have been esteem'd his fault but he was soon put out of that Faith by Blacius shewing him his own Letter Oh gods who can tell you those sad words Flamminius utter'd at that discovery they were such that I as much admir'd as commended Izadoras Constancy not to have been shaken by them But her Father who had solemnly sworn that nothing but Flamminius's recovery should convince him of his Daughters change withdrew himself to a window lest the dying Lover might attribute Izadora's kindness to his presence and not her conversion Flamminius perceiving 't was with design instead of employing so kind an opportunity to implore his Mercy in receiving and cherishing so pure and bright a flame made use of it only to invoke her pardon that the assurance he had sent of his obedience had prov'd so unfortunate a Duty and then protested with Eyes and Hands elevated to Heaven that if her justice would not invite her to believe he intended not to make use of Blacius authority her reason should be convinc'd of it by the demonstration of his death and lest that might be consider'd as her act he would by a Letter and before witnesses seal with his last breath 't was not her disdain that
in not only being content to save my mortal'st Enemy when too she contributed nothing to his ruine but the performing of her Duty but also in making the purchase of that safety the loss of my only Child she obey'd me whilst she knew I was ignorant of what I did and disobey'd me when she ignor'd not what I enjoyn'd but that also the injunction was just besides after I had preserv'd Perolla's life when I had both Power and Justice to extinguish it by her receiving his prohibited visits and by making a contract of passions with him she thereby endeavours to induce me to detest Charity by converting the effects of Mine into so sensible a gief and when for my successful endeavours and duty to the Roman Empire I became Hanniba'ls prisoner she invites an assistance for my Liberty which I had declar'd in her hearing was a greater misfortune than that execution I was menac'd with whereby she did offend either my professions or me the first by not crediting them or the last in acting against them if she believ'd their Truth nay she acknowledg'd she was apprehensive of losing her happiness in attempting to preserve a part intending her Lover by the former and her Father by the latter thereby becoming so impious as before Perolla was her Husband to give him a precedency only due unto that relation She is so earnest to disoblige me that she impudently confest she put her self in the highest perplexity she was capable of to involve me in a resembling one When I was got out of prison in the hurry of that change she endeavours to extort a declaration from me that in a setled temper of mind she knew my judgement would deny gives Perolla unjust praises to make me give him an unjust reward and would render that an act of Friendship for me which was but one of Friendship to himself as you may be pleas'd to remember I then largely evinc'd but when the second time I was taken whether it proceeded from their revenge or my own misfortune I will not positively determine Alas Sir how ungrateful was her carriage she says that she came to preserve my life but her actions say 't was to preserve Perolla's and when her Fathers and her Loverslife came in competition she gave up the first a Sacrifice to preserve the last from being one neither can she alledge this impious proceeding was an effect of a precipitate election upon a suddain emergency for after she had publish'd her Love was the god over her Duty Hannibal startled at a Declaration which was even a Monster in Nature gave her not only leasure to reflect on her crime but power to recall it yet she to demonstrate that the murthering her Father was a premeditated design and not a hasty choice perseveres in and repeats her impiety when he that was to receive the advantage of it condemn'd and detested it which action of Virtue her depraved reason makes a confirmative argument for her continuing in her vice This Sir which I alledge would be I believe the reasoning of a stranger which has any but now I beseech you let us take her own sence upon this way of proceeding she first alledg'd that I had not been gratefull enough to Perolla's Virtue and that now she was to act my part she would make him know what his performances were and what my gratitude should have been by her Retributions To this I answer that besides my former saving his life after his Father treacherously endeavour'd to take away mine the condition I then was in sufficiently confirm'd my Gratitude for the same Proclamation which gave her a rise to save my life by her declaring who 't was that fore'd the Prison for my deliverance gave me the same power for no one was excluded by the manifest which my Gratitude made me decline and rather elect to lose my own life than secure it by hazarding my preservers for I was confident the Guards were too strict to have admitted his going out of Salapia and though as in this action I evinc'd that I preferr'd my Gratitude before my life so I did too too that I preferr'd death before any alliance with Pacuvius's Bloud yet she persever'd in a passion which tended to that or a more unlegitimate end Hernext allegation is as vain as the first for to justify she murther'd me with a good intention she designs to murther her self as if one crime could expiate another or as if having kill'd one of the Family the destroying of the residue were a sufficient reparation No Sir she loves Pacuvius's Bloud so much that she has a hatred to her own for being the object of his and so weds his resentments that she executes her Father herself and consequently all her family to act them but my enemy wasmore merciful than my Daughter for I receiv'd that life from Hannibal which Izadora deny'd me and though those Crimes her Constancy in a forbidden Flame and her seeking Death because of a supposed loss which she knew was my satisfaction might have induc'd me to consider her sufferings as an immediate justice of the gods for her want of duty yet as soon as Hannibal threaten'd to be their instrument in it I not only hazarded my Life and Fortune to prevent it but also embrac'd her satisfaction with so much concern that rather than continue her languishings I intended to set a period to them by giving her to Perolla which I had effected had not he at the same time I was acting his felicity been robbing me of my Glory for though he attributed his immediate leaving of Salapia after Hannibal's repulse to a design of suppressing any jealousie his continuance in it might create yet I was perfectly inform'd 't was his Ambition not his Respect that caus'd it and his speedy return to the Camp was only to ingross an honor to himself which in a good proportion was built with my Bloud neither did his long abstaining from justifying himself to me proceed as his Mistriss said from his ignorance of my resentments but from his being conscious of the justice of them And though she magnifies Pacuvius's Sons gallantry in crediting my Change I must only his Reason since in that only by what I had already done he might well credit any thing I should doe But after that by Perolla's new affront I had alter'd my resolutions by esteeming him unworthy of my Allyance that esteem'd me unworthy of justice and after that by my former concessions I had manifested to her my present resentments were effects of my Reason and not of aversion for her Lover yet she was so far from sympathizing with me in my legitimate resolves that when I presented her Flamminius who wanted nothing but the being of Pacuvius Family she was notonly content to decline the Husband I approv'd but elected one I justly abhorr'd and when his being more intent in Affrick on her Revenge than his Love which might have something lessen'd hers
and deny'd it to a Democratical Besides in Commonwealths the giving of none the Superiority gives all a desire of it and makes that every ones hope by being no bodies possession so that those Abilities and Courages which in a Monarchy manifest and vent themselves for the increasing the State in other Governments are employ'd to possess it I confess indeed that there must be many weak or perfidious to ruine a Commonwealth but then there needs but one able and honest to preserve a Kingdom which proves that to make your happiness you must have many blest with those virtues which one needs but have to make ours so that as much as 't is more likely to have one able and honest man than many so much 't is more likely that Monarchy should be a better Government than a Republick Neither are Commonwealths free from personal faults for never was any King more cruel avaritious or unconstant than Athens and Carthage and though the Body of the People are exempt from some particular Vices only because they are inconsistent with many and inherent to one or perhaps their not knowing them or not having the power and means to act them yet those that govern being particulars are not at all free from them and that which was the pretence of depressing Monarchy in Rome was the real cause of depressing the Decemvirs for 't was but the Son of the King acted the Rape on Lucretia but 't was Appius Clodius in person and a Decemvir that would have acted that of Virginia had not her death reliev'd her misfortune It was doubtless too the justice of the gods to shew the People that sin in a Governor which they had so severely punish'd but in a Governors son As to our being necessitated to take a womans word for our Kings if there be any misfortune in it you must except not against us but the gods who have made them witnesses in their own Cause yet that great Trust invites them to a proportionate virtue and 't is also the onely proof you have at Rome of that so ador'd Title of Patrician That there is Ventidius reply'd a necessity of a Power to which all final Appeals ought to be made cannot be a greater Tâ—uth than it is that That Power is best plac'd in the Representatives of the People since what ever can be said for the having it in a King can be said for the having it in Those Representatives and much more also For besides the high obligation of Trust which is common to both and indeed the chief if not the Onely upon Kings at least if we credit what they say That they are accountable to none but the gods That Authority is likelier to be careful in making and maintaining of Laws to which they and their Posterities must submit than that Authority which is so far from receiving a prejudice by ill Laws that thereby it receives an Advantage for the less the People have the more the King hath Neither can the Law be more the Monarchs Guard than it is the Peoples for as a King owes All he hath to the being Above the Law so the People owe All they have to their being under it so that Both deriving Both their All 's from that Principle 't is likely the Concern for maintaining it will be equal for though a King may lose more in quality than any Individual in a Commonwealth yet he cannot lose more in quantity for the greatest Loser never knew a degree beyond All where All is lost the disproportion may be in the losing but cannot be in the Loss Neither has the aspiring of any Individual more or oftner involved Commonwealths in War than the same Passion in Subjects or next Successors has involv'd Kingdoms so that that fault is not produc'd by the ill constitution of that Government but by the ill inclinations of some under it for where Ambition does Reign those desire to do so who are possest by it under either Government And if those ills are unlikest to be attempted or acted which are likest to meet with most opposition then doubtless the design of Usurping the Sovereignty is less like to be undertook under the Government of a Commonwealth than under that of a Monarch for if the intended Usurper have success against the Forces of a King he finds the People prepar'd to embrace that form of Regiment but though he have success against the Forces of a Commonwealth he will find a new difficulty in constraining the People to submit to Monarchy in one He is to destory but the Governor but in the other the Governors and Government The People too are much more apt to fight in defence of Both of those than in defence of One especially their own concernment being in the Last and but their Rulers in the First Besides Reason the health of the mind is much more satisfi'd the Possessor of it should acquiesce in the certainty of having no Superior than run a hazard of that to have no equal so that 't is the rational part of man which keeps him to the Government of a Commonwealth and the Passionate onely which makes him an Enemy to it which evinces that as much as 't is likelier that Reason should actuate Rational Creatures than Passion so much 't is likelier that a Commonwealth should be quiet than disturb'd I confess indeed that you need but One exactly Wise and Honest to make your Government happy and that we need Many to make ours so yet 't is much probable that Choice should find Many Wise and Honest than that Nature or Education should alwayes make the Eldest of One Family to be so to which be pleased to remember the discovery of your Governors Crimes creates the trouble but the discovery of ours ends it I acknowledge Commonwealths have been ungrateful to deserving men but I cannot acknowledge nor can you I am confident prove that their having been so proceeded from their Form of Government But because you have instanc'd some Examples of their Ingratitude lest thereby you would cast that aspersion on the Government which is due but to the Governors I will name some celebrated Kings who have been guilty of the like Crime that either thereby you may acknowledge the Error of such a misdistinguishing or else that I may make use of it to retort it on you and evidence by your own Arguing that if the faults of Governors must be ascribed to the Regiment Monarchies therein are equal with Common-wealths The first instances shall be in two Kings of the Iews the Father and the Son whose Subjects do glory in being as it were the Menial Servants of the God they worship and do owe the Institution and Progress of their Government to Miracles their names are David and Solomon The one signal for the Sword of War the other for the Sword of Peace The first a Man after their Deities own heart and the last a Type of that great Prince their Prophets
came towards us the care he had of the Army and of some wounds he receiv'd in the Fight hindring him from being a Witness of their beginning But the Prince seeing him coming went to meet him and told him so many handsome things of me that I could not have been more pleas'd to have deserv'd than I was asham'd to hear them The next day the Funerals of the Dead were celebrated and in one general Fire the Parthian and Armenian Bodies were reduced to ashes The season being very ill to prosecute the War and the numbers we had lost rendring us unable to do it Pacorus resolv'd to return to Nineveh whither he commanded me to attend him that the people as he said might see their Deliverer Artavasdes also waited on him When we came within twenty furlongs of that great City Arsaces and all the Court came to meet the Prince and congratulate his success Pacorus would needs present me to the King and expressed so much affection to me in the relation of that late Battel that my blushes will not permit me to repeat it not the civility Arsaces honor'd me with But all these favours were as so many obstacles to hinder me from waiting on the fair Parthenissa which after a thousand importunate Ceremonies I did Who can express the vast Felicity this favourable interview did bless me with the many commendations coming from that fair Mouth those Raptures of Joy for my safe return or those Holy Vows of Constancy but why do I dwell so long upon this Subject since it was but momentany and serv'd but as a Prologue to those Miseries which are as endless as they are great Artabanes would have continued his Relation but that Callimachus being acquainted by his Servants that Supper was ready besought him to defer it till the day following which Artabanes obeyed and having only taken as much nourishment as would suffice Nature he retir'd into those magnificent Lodgings Callimachus had prepared for him where he past the Night as he was accustomed to do which was in the contemplation of his sad condition that furnisht him always with so many Arguments for the impossibilities of its alteration that it made Despair to appear Reason PARTHENISSA THE FIRST PART BOOK II. THE morning was hardly old enough to permit a visit with civility when the impatient Callimachus went to Artabanes Chamber to beg a continuance of that Story whose beginning had so satisfied him But Simander assur'd him that his Prince was gone an hour before into the Grove of Cypresse to entertain his melancholly Callimachus whose Curiosity was so great that it was uncapable of Delay went presently to find him out which after a diligent search he did in one of the most retir'd and obscure corners of it and in a posture better expressing Sadness than Eloquence could his Back was lean'd against a withered Tree his Eyes erected towards Heaven his Arms folded one within the other and so many Tears running down his Cheeks that if moisture could have reviv'd that dead Trunk it had needed no other Rain for its recovery And that his words might express what his gestures did Callimachus heard him cry out Ye Gods must I never be acquainted with your Power but onely through those Miseries you cast upon me by it alas Why do ye furnish me with so much Frailty and yet provoke me so much to despair or Why do our Priests teach us there is a Providenc when you are so careful by your Actions to evince the contrary then hanging down his Head he continu'd in a perfect silence till he himself drew it by a second Deluge of despair which drowning both his Devotion and Reason necessitated him to expostulate thus with whom it was a Crime to do it But what sins have I committed to deserve so deep a suffering yet allow my Guilt had been too great for your Mercy your Justice might have inflicted a punishment on my person which might have equal'd my offences for you are no gods if you are not infinite in all your Attributes but being so why did the fair Parthenissa suffer for my fault or else was it a more sensible way of persecuting me to do it through Her If this were your Design O gods I have more reason in exclaiming against you than you had for imposing on me that which provokes me to it and to it and to afflict the innocent to torment the Guilty does rather argue Malice than Justice This impious reasoning frighted the good Callimachus who fearing lest it should continue discover'd himself and by a sharp and eloquent Reprehension disclos'd his anger and the justice of it To which Artabanes reply'd That if he were acquainted with his Miseries he would impute what he had then utter'd to his sufferings and not to his irreligion Alas Artabanes said Callimachus how does your Passion blind you For you do not consider that Sin is as odious to the Deities as inseparable from Humanity that 't is an unexpressible Mercy they do not inolve us in all those Miseries their Power and Justice is capable of and whilst there is any Curse not yet inflicted on us we have more reason to esteem them unjust for their Clemency than for the contrary 'T was with such Truths as these that at last Callymachus disperst those Clouds of Dispair which so darkened our unfortunate Lovers Piety and then conjur'd him to finish that Relation he had the day before begun To which Artabanes reply'd I entertain'd you the last night with the beginning of my own story but now I must in order to it acquaint you with that of my Friends the generous Artavasdes who was taken Prisoner as you heard in the Battel of Arontes and whose Gallantry had receiv'd a Punishment almost as great as it merited the contrary had not I had the happiness to prevent it The King of Armenia with the Reliques of his broken Army retreating into his own Kingdom attempted a small Town of the Parthians call'd Offala imagining by the taking of so little to disguise a loss which had been so great The Garrison being inconsiderable as well for their Numbers as Resolutions at first summons condescended to a Treaty and then to a Surrender but had four and twenty hours given them for the packing up their Baggage during which the Armenians had free access at their pleasure which proved fatal to the Parthians for Artabazus's Soldiers whether to revenge their Companions deaths at the precedent Battel or out of some dispute which happen'd betwixt those of the Army and the Garrison as the Armenians gave it out put all that were in Offala as well Citizens as Soldiers most barbarously to the Sword which news as soon as it came to Arsaces knowledge so infinitely transported him that he vow'd the generous Artavasdes Bloud should expiate his Kings Crimes and be a sacrifice to the Manes of his murder'd Subjects And though Pacorus represented how unjust a Revenge this was being a violation of
not give her the leisure of making it and therefore I hastily continued but Madam if I have cause to be satisfied with my Fortune I am certain I have not to be so with my condition for though the first gave me those ensignes yet the last necessitated me to present them to another when you stood by at whose feet I have prostrated them with much more joy than I took them but alas my condition forces me to performances against my inclination which yet would be something extenuated if as you are convinc'd of that truth in this particular you would pardon it in another Altezeera by not taking notice of what I desired and feared she would did it in my opinion sufficiently and obligingly But that I might make no sinister or advantageous construction of her silence she told me The victory you have so presently obtain'd could not have been more just than you be in so bestowing those signes of it so that I am more oblig'd to your intention than I should have been by your performance and yet in the first I discover how concern'd you are to oblige me since rather than not do it you would commit an injustice Would to the gods Madam I hastily reply'd with a deep sigh you had the same indulgence for me but Madam I continu'd will you permit me sometimes to believe you speak what you do not intend by being now convinc'd you do so for you cannot be so ignorant of your own power and the duty I owe it as to imagine I can owe more or so much to any other creature The fair Altezeera who apprehended the continuance of this dispute might prove a continuance of her trouble to put a period to it told me coldly I see Artavasdes you must be victorious in all you undertake and to be conquer'd by your civility is as unavoidable for your Friends as to be so by your Sword is for your Enemies Ah Madam I reply'd if you see me not what you say you do you may when you please and by permitting me to be victorious over your Disdain you may make me triumph over the Enemy I most apprehend and thereby render me as uncapable of losing as of needing any other Victory Whilst I was thus speaking the fair Altezeera assum'd a countenance so full of Severity and Majesty together that I understood her answer before she spoke it though it contain'd these cruel words Since Artavasdes you will force me to understand you unless I would acknowledge my self as insensible as I fear by your thus proceeding you believe me I must tell you with a plainness as great as yours that the first time you speak to me of your Passion it shall be the last and if you desire the continuance of my esteem you must neither sollicite my Love nor acquaint me with yours since if you do I shall not onely revoke that but try if my Brother will be more successful than I have been in teaching you the respect you owe and ought to pay me She had no sooner done speaking then she retir'd into her Closet in which she lock'd her self up and left me in confusions as great as their cause O gods what did not say or think against my Princess cruelty since it even proportion'd the vastness of that Passion which was the object of it I had longer continu'd in that fatal entertainment had not some of her Women come into the Chamber and lest they might guess at the occasion of my sadness by the visibility of it I forthwith went to my own Apartment where I spent the residue of the day and the succeeding night in all the Agonies and Tortures of a great and fruitless Passion Many days I struggl'd under that burthen to which doubtless I had yielded if Altezeera's safety and the honour of having it committed to my Sword had not been the most predominate Celindus in the mean time assum'd a Resolution of storming Artaxata in the open day in a confidence by so braving an attempt to efface his late affront knowing that in all Wars especially Domestick ones the people judge of the progress by the beginning and that whoever does lose his reputation will soon after that lose his Hopes and Army This intelligence was brought me by a faithful and intelligent Spy who came from Celindus's Camp and who had seen the scaling-Ladders the Faggots and the rouling Bridges all fitted This Advertisement I instantly communicated to Artabazus and the Council who were all astonisht at Celindus resolution and believ'd he durst not have assum'd it were he not favour'd by some of the Garrison the probability of which opinion made me have a care of securing all within as well as opposing those without The night before this intended assault not knowing whether I should out-live it and to render my death pleasing or necessary I went to Altezeera's Apartment where having begg'd and obtain'd the honour of a private conference with her after a small silence and great disorder I told her I should not Madam have presum'd to appear again before you to discover my repeated Disobedience had not I faithfully endeavour'd to the uttermost to have avoided it but having found that the Passions your Beauties do inspire are not to be cur'd but by you or death and that that Truth cannot be a greater one than that is that you are resolv'd to decline being my Restorer I am come Madam to conjure you by your own quiet and mine to permit me in this following occasion to seek out and embrace a cure your Justice or cruelty denies me Did not I conclude that the ending of my life now would be more advantageous to you than the continuance of it could prove during the Siege and Danger I would rather groan under my Miseries than ambition for them such a period 'T is not much fair Altezeera that the miserable Artavasdes implores for he begs not that you would make him happy but that you would permit him to be no longer miserable which will not onely act his cure but your revenge also for having needed it On which latter he is as intent as on the former and desires it as much on your score as his own These words deliver'd with a Look and Accent that were very moving prov'd so with her to whom they were addrest who with a countenance that told me so reply'd Though I confess your perseverance in your Passion and Disobedience does much trouble me yet I know not whether your death would do it more and till I have resolv'd that doubt I desire you not to do it and if that be not sufficient I command you it and shall judge of what you would perswade me by observing whether what I say can perswade you If Madam I reply'd my sufferings were with hope I might by my Reason raise my Fortitude to the requisite height and therefore I do now in some sort rejoyce at the unpromisingness of my condition that as my Flame
which has produced so much gallantry cannot be low or inconsiderable or if it be so in its self your Virtue will change it into the contrary but he continu'd I cannot fancy why the granting of what you ask can work so powerful an effect as even now you mention'd Alas Sir I reply'd you mistake my meaning for I am born in a Family that is considerable enough both for Antiquity Honour and Wealth and indeed has no other effect or unhappiness but what is caus'd by your aversion to it I fear after this Declaration you can no longer doubt but 't is Pacuvius's I intend whose unfortunate Son I am Is this said Blacius starting to try how far my gratitude can extend or else is it a real truth 'T is the latter I answer'd and though I apprehend by what I observe that this discovery will prove my ruine yet I had rather derive it from my Extraction which is a crime I could not avoid than by deluding you which is a voluntary sin and consequently might justly authorize your hatred Blacius having cast upon me a hundred furious looks at last told me You are then Pacuvius's Son Oh unjust Fates must I owe my life to a cause which makes me detest it and must my misery be so great that to have dy'd by the hands of murtherers hir'd by my enemy too had been a happiness Is Life left me onely to know that not to have been kill'd was a misfortune Then folding his Arms one within the other he fetch'd with great steps four or five turns about the Chamber and on a sudden striking one of his Hands upon his Breast he continu'd No no I am not so wretched as my Passion would perswade me for Pacuvius design was not only defeated but was defeated by his Son and Perolla by receiving wounds in this Quarrel wounds his Father who cannot consider the means why his ends have fail'd but the knowledge of the former will increase the misery of the latter neither can I justly complain when my mortal'st Enemy instead of a pleasing revenge embraces a double affliction besides after knowledge of what Perolla has done he must either hate or love him if the former the intricacy is both admirable and obliging for the self-same action makes the Son preserve an Enemy and loose a Friend and the Father loose his revenge upon his adversary and his affection to his Son If the latter his being in a place which forbids his visits and assistants will be no small trouble and the doubts that I will take away Perolla's life will be Pacuvius's torment whilst he imagines his Son is living and the knowledge when he is not so will continue it after he is dead and since he lives more in Perolla than in himself his unequall'd treachery will justify my killing the most of him that I can After many such strange reasonings as these he drew out a Ponyard and came towards me to act what he had determin'd I must confess I was somewhat startled at this proceeding but when I consider'd the averseness of his nature was such that probably I could never obtain his consent of possessing his excellent Daughter I had no more the desire than the force to resist him and therefore just as he came to the Bed-side I uncover'd my self and shewing him my naked Breast I told him Here Sir this is the place you aim at and therefore it shall not be defended by me I am guilty because you think me so and since I am so miserable as to be hated by you that death which you threaten me with will be a justice as to your revenge and a charity as to my condition That action and those few words produced a strange effect for upon a suddain his high disorders began to lessen his Face to dispel those clouds which darkn'd it and at length fetching a sigh from the bottom of his Breast he declar'd some expressions to this sence What shall an intentional injury from Pacuvius be more prevalent with thee than a real obligation from Perolla shall the First-fruits of that life which thou holdest from his generosity be to take away his which has given thee thine shall he be murther'd because he hinder'd thee from being so and shall the residue of his Bloud be spilt by thee when all he has already lost was shed for thee besides thou deriv'st the advantage thou hast now over him from his protection for had it not been for that thy death had taken from thee the Will and the Power of Revenge Yes he continu'd addressing himself to me and sheathing his Ponyard you shall live Perolla not only free from any attempt of mine but securely also from my acquainting Hannibal who you are from whose resentment you might expect as hard a destiny as from Blacius's but the services you have done the Romans and me in particular bind up my Hands There is I reply'd a third way of destroying me as certain as those two you have exempted me from and that Sir is the denial of my first request which to disswade you from I may truly prosess that all that bloud hated you was spilt for you for which I bless my fortune that made me perform what was good by losing that which is ill All my new Bloud I have bred up with such firm inclinations for you that had it deriv'd its original from your self it could not be more at your devotion I must acknowledge too the justice of the gods in making me receive those wounds which Pacuvius intended for you and to divert and reclaim him from such criminal designes I shall make it my constant Prayers that they may all have the fate which this had and that by my sufferings I might prevent all those that are intended you Blacius at these assurances wholly banisht those cruel looks which made me so much suspect my fate and with an obliging accent conjur'd me to tell him what use I could make of his condescending to my desire I should then I reply'd by a continual succession of services have some hopes to obtain your permission of making my addresses to the fair Izadora This spoke unadvisedly having flatter'd my self into a belief that in the temper Blacius was in I might procure some engagement which his generosity though he should afterwards repent would not permit him to recall but alas I soon found my expectation deceiv'd for after this declaration in an instant he arm'd himself again with that severe countenance he so late had laid aside and with a Tone as cruel as his words he told me Is Izadora then the object of your design 't is very like indeed I should present her to his Son that executed her Uncle would have murther'd his Father and who to satisfy a private malice has given up his Countrey to the Enemies of it These truly are obligations to court a Mistriss with Sir I reply'd somewhat mov'd you still reproach me with anothers crime if
liberty of going from their own they could thereby ruine or at least interrupt ours Oh How I did also inwardly exclaim against my Fathers Tyranny who pretended a power over me after that by death the Bond was cancel'd that that he would be so much an Enemy to my felicity as to deprive me of mine he would involve himself in the like Fate But whil'st I was preparing such an answer for this imanary Ghost as might render my disobedience a justice I was diverted by a noise so confused and loud that that death it seem'd to threaten had been rather to be elected than avoided since therein I had been exempted from hearing so much horror After half an hours suspence and fear a Servant of my Fathers came into my Chamber with a lighted Torch and to remove my doubts told me he believ'd that 't was some false alarum which Hannibal had given to try the readiness of his Soldiers for there was no Enemy near enough to give him a true one and whil'st he was fortifying this conjecture by some other allegations we heard a noise in the Garden and suddenly after I perceiv'd a Gentlemen all arm'd and cover'd with blood coming towards me and leading another whose hands were loaden with Irons As soon as the first was come to my Beds-side he kneel'd down and told me Your commands Madam have not onely given me the desire but the power to serve you and since my hazarding a life that I fear is but indifferent to you I have preserv'd one that you highly value I shall find in the action the Reward Then rising and turning towards the Prisouer he continu'd You are at liberty Sir and if I had had the power to free you from your Chains as well as from your Prison you had long ere now been eas'd of that burthen but that office I must leave to some happier hand lest by my continuance here the joy of your freedom might be extinguish'd by your knowledg of him that gave it you Then faluting us with a humility as great as his obligation without staying for any answer he went out of the house the same way he came in and left us in so deep an astonishment that for a long while we could not get out of it The first thing I perceiv'd after my amazement vanisht was that the fetter'd Prisoner was Blacius ah How pleasing was that surprize and how I detested my disorder which had so long suspended and separated me from my joy which wrought so powerfully on me that forgetting the posture I was in I flung my self out of my Bed and at my Fathers feet by a thousand irregular actions testified the greatness of my satisfaction which the more I reflected on the less cause I found to suppress any effects which proceeded from or illustrated it neither can my amazement for the greatness and suddeness of this alteration be attributed to the weakness of my Sex since Blacius whose courage had out-brav'd many dangers resented a resembling one And 't was a long while and by many extravagancies that I withdrew him from his which when I perceiv'd entirely vanisht I embrac'd his knees and cry'd out You are then alive Sir and the gods have heard my reiterated prayers and tears for your deliverance Yes Izadora he reply'd I am once again at liberty and doubtless owe that blessing immediately to those powers to whom thou hast address thy weepings for certainly those prodigies of valor acted for my relief were too much transcending a humane strength But alass he continu'd turning about and perceiving none in the Chamber but his unfortunate Daughter What is become of my Protector He is gone Sir I answer'd and his departure has left as high a testimony of his modesty here as even now he did of his valor in the Prison His modesty said Blacius is as injurions as his courage was obliging for in acquainting me with a new Gallantry he has depriv'd me of expressing my gratitude for the old If I reply'd he could but hear your resentments in his favour I am so well acquainted with his disposition that I dare assure you he would esteem not only too plentiful a reward for what he has already done but for those services he hopes to pay you in the future but the apprehension he had that the same fate which attended Perolla might wait on him and that what his valor did create your knowledge of his condition might destroy made him so suddenly vanish and rather elect to leave you a good opinion of him by not knowing his Name than hazard the contrary by a revealing of it I am then he reply'd still so unhappy that to know and not to know to whom I am indebted for my life must prove an equal misfortune No no Izadora he continu'd I conjure you by all the gods if you are acquainted with my Deliverer and would have me relish what he has given me inform me who he is and where he resides for rather than leave him so ill a character of my resentments I will repeat greater dangers than he has freed me from and to assure him of my Gratitude I will undertake it may be to perform actions of as transcendent a quality as those which created it This I command you as a duty and this I beg of you as a charity neither can you suspect in this discovery the same destiny which attended Perolla the difference of the action justly silencing those apprehensions For though it be true that the ends are the same yet the ways are extremely different Perolla perhaps was surpriz'd into his gallantry This acted it with premeditation that freed me onely from the hands of an apparent violence but this from a seeming Justice That did but the duty of every man in suppressing Murtherers who are the destroyers of humane Society and who knows whether his seeing my distress did not put him in mind of what his own might be as soon as my death had given those that were acting it in the liberty and the power and so that which you term his giving me life might be in order to preserve his own But this generous Stranger had no motive to invite his assistance but his gallantry which makes him attempt an action where the undertaking of it is as great a wonder as the performance and has thereby so bound me to gratitude that I believe were it Perolla that had thus obliged me I should almost suppress my just resentments for his Family and that performance which gave me my life and liberty might give him my affection and friendship Sir I reply'd Perolla's actions are of too high a quality to need any commendations but what they carry in themselves but were not my duty more prevalent with me than truth I should perhaps aver that your comments can no more diminish their natural luster than mine can add unto it but since you are pleas'd to place so right an esteem upon this Strangers services and
at least an hour which was not yet half expirâ—d I received this assurance with exceeding joy and immediately conjur'd him him to conduct me to the cruel Hannibal who he had told me was an assistant at Blacius Tragedy The good old man would have disswaded me from seeing an object which would but augment my grief but I begg'd that favour of him with such earnest words and expressions that at last he yielded to me but it was so long e're I could vanquish him that what he designed for a proof of his care had like to have produced a strange and contrary effect For just as I came under the Scaffold I perceived my poor Father preparing himself for the fatal stroak with a courage which render'd him unworthy of it so sad a spectacle made me hasten to Hannibal's seat where at last I came and with a countenance more suitable to my resentment than condition I presented my self unto him and told him Sir I beseech you command a suspension of Blacius's death till I have acquainted you with some things that may perhaps induce you to pardon him The Carthagineans who then consider'd nothing but my Sex and motion with a look as barbarous as his Countrey reply'd Woman the offences of that Traytor are too transcendent to expect a pardon for any thing thou canst reveal thou mayst well therefore spare thy self a labour which will proveal together fruitless Then turning about he commanded some of his Guards to carry me down again At that cruel order I flung my self at his Feet and embracing his Knees I thus continued I am Sir come to invoke that justice which has hitherto made you as famous as your success and will not stir from this posture till you assure me I shall not be denyed it Those few words I spoke so loud and so distinctly that most of those Salapians which were near the Scaffold heard them which putting them in hopes that it might be something that would conduce to Blacius advantage whom I told you they extreamly loved they cryed out to Hannibal Hear her hear her which voices as is common in the croud were seconded by those that neither understood the cause nor the approvers of that motion The Carthaginians finding the City so pressing and unanimous forbad his Guards to meddle with me who were already beginning to force my Hold and not only enjoyn'd the suspension of the execution till I had done speaking but told me I might be as consident of his doing me right as of Blacius's death than which nothing the Oracles did tell could be more certain Sir I continu'd you will soon find how great a confidence I have of your Justice since my relyance on it makes me offer my Life into your Power who am the unfortunate Daughter of this Blacius that it seems has offended you in such a degree as nothing but his Bloud can be your reparation in pursuance of which resolve you were pleas'd under sacred Oaths when his Prison was forc'd and thereby your revenge frustrated to publish That whosoever would reveal unto you who were the Contrivers Causers or Actors of his liberty should have granted any one thing the said party could ask that was in your power this Proclamation which I here present you is my witness and the assurance you are inviolate in your engagements has brought me to discover unto you who is the offender that has so exceedingly transgrest your Laws but before I disclose this secret I must beg a reiteration of that assurance which to induce you to with the less reluctancy be pleas'd to receive mine that the same minute you confirm your first engagement I will put into your power the crimital person which procur'd my unfortunate Father his short liberty so that the same action which makes you satisfy your word will give you the power to satisfy your revenge too All those which could hear my request gave their approbation to it by a loud shout for they car'd not upon whose ruines they built Blacius's deliverance and Hannibal who was always as ambitious of Glory as of Revenge repeated and confirm'd the Oaths and Promises of his Proclamation which being finisht I thus continued Since by a generosity which I ever expected from so great a Prince you have silenc'd all those doubts my own constant unhappiness and not any suspitions of your Virtue did create I shall boldly acquaint you that your justice receiv'd that affront from Izadora and though my Sex exempted me from actions of that nature yet by my Prayers and Letters to a young Roman Gentleman I rais'd that power which cast you into so great disorders and for the punishment of which you have made such unlimited promises Thus Sir I have satisfied my engagement not only by acquainting you who committed the offence but by putting the offender into your hands And now I shall expect as punctual a performance from you Then as I was beginning to make my request the Carthaginian who suspected by my resolution that it would be Blacius's Life wherein he was not deceiv'd suddenly started up and with a furious look told me If thou art so mad as to beg thy Fathers Life for this discovery in expectation afterwards that thy Sex will induce me to pitty thee know that thy Crime will make me pass by all considerations and raise a fury which by all the gods nothing but thy destruction will appease this I acquaint thee with that thou mayst owe thy death to thy wilfulness and not to my resentments which I tell thee once more will prove so severe thou wilt soon repent thou e'r didst raise them but if thou wilt yet decline that request thy Sex and Relations will invite me to pardon what I know I ought to punish Sir I reply'd nothing terrify'd at these threatenings I desire not to be oblig'd to your Mercy but your Justice neither can I lose my life more gloriously than for him that gave it me My duty in this case is most predominant and I know nothing can make me more worthy of death than how to avoid it therefore Sir I conjure you by those gods you have invok'd by that Empire which derives its gâ—eateâ—t Glory from your Virtue and by that Father whose memory you 〈◊〉 to reverence were it onely for giving the world so gâ—eat a 〈◊〉 At the end of these words I heard a voice which stopt me from pâ—oceeding any farther by saying Hold hold Izadcra be not 〈◊〉 to be genâ—rous not accuse your self of a fault which if it be one I by your own 〈◊〉 am only guilty of it This voice which I too soon knew was Pcrolla's made me turn about where â— immediately saw my generous Friend breaking thâ—ough Hannibals Guards that would have stopt him among whom he had staid awhile where he had heard all that had past and â—linging himself â—t his Enemies feet told him Sir You have bound your self by obligations too strong to leave me any suspition
I have observed as great an opposer of my Felicity as of my Conquests and thereby too create as many Enemies as Soldiers in my Army yet I will observe your Orders Yes Madam I give Perolla's life to your commands and I give you Blacius's without them who for having bestowed so great a perfection on the World merits rather my esteem than revenge My zeal to your service stays not in that dull method of only obeying what you command it lays hold on that which it thinks is your Will without the revealing it I could not have the patience to let him proceed his Words and Actions were too generous to delay my acknowledgements for them which I exprest prostrate at his feet in the most moving and humble manner I was capable of I will not Sir said Izadora trouble you with the repetition of them though they were so satisfactory to him to whom they were addrest that as an acknowledgement of it he went immediately himself unbound both Blacius and Perolla and presented them to me with an humility so far beyond his practise that the standers by admir'd as much as I was pleas'd at it But to obscure this joy some of Pacuvius's friends seeing the danger his generous Son had been in went to his House to inform him of it for he out of gallantry would not be present at his Enemies death though he had Hannibal's example to authorize that action As soon as he had notice of it he went with so great haste to the place of Execution that those which saw it thought that his affection and not his hatred was the cause of it The croud about the Scaffold was so great that it was with much difficulty and with an often repeating of his name to which all paid a deep respect that he got at last to Hannibal and it was just at that instant that the Carthaginian had unbound Perolla and given him to me Pacuvius was suddenly informed of all that happened which every one assured themselves would render him a large sharer in the general joy but alas he soon put them out of that belief by thus speaking to Hannibal I were Sir unworthy the friendship of so great a Conqueror did I value any relation above it 't is upon that principle that I have detested Perolla who hates as much your Person as your Glory and if I hitherto conceal'd that horrid attempt against you which he himself has now publisht 't was not Because he was my Son but out of a belief that I might convert him for I knew a courage which was capable in so green an age to attempt so bold and high a design which was more advantageous to you to be gained than destroyed but since that valour the gods have given him has been imployed to ruine what it should have advanc'd I am come to implore your justice against one who is as much an Enemy to nature as to Carthage punish him for intending your destruction in a place where not to have sacrific'd himself for you had been as great a sin Yes Sir punish him for designing your death and punish me in him not onely for concealing but likewise for not revenging it and let one execution repair both our crimes you see generous Hâ—nnibal how I contemn my own interest when yours comes in competition with it which I imbrace with such a concern that I had rather extinguish my Family than continue it by leaving so great a stain upon your Justice and danger to your person as the saving of Perolla will amount unto Besides Sir shall that courage which hitherto found nothing so easie as to conquer leave the blemish behind it of having been vanquisht by the eyes only of one of our enemies shall the Romans derive their Triumph from a Sex which never merited higher than your pitty 〈◊〉 such a pleading Desire as Revenge and such a Virtue as Justice be supprest by an unworthy passion which like madness none believe they ever were possest with when they 'r cur'd of it Let not Sir I beseech you the cause of your disorders be worse than the effects but by a generous Conquest over your self shew you are capable to vanquish all obstacles and let your enemies in that very action which they esteemed would prove your shame find an argument that you are invincible so he that can overcome Hâ—nnibal cannot but be thought to do the like to Rome and all the World The Carthaginian who knew no other cause of Pacuvius's hatred to his Son than what he had alledged not only upon that account excus'd his passion and expressions but replyed had I not already given Perolla's life to the fair Izadora's commands I now had bestowed it on Pacuius's generosity and find in what he alledges more cause to suppress than to creat my Revenge He that could sacrifice the hopes of his posterity for my interest had too much misplac'd his friendship if for a return to it I would not silence a Revenge especially when the acting it will prove the destruction of so generous a Family in which my misfortune is the onely fault of any one of it for Perolla wants not Virtue but I the felicity to merit it and though he continued with a smile you upbraid me with being vanquisht yet I cannot but acknowledge I am more pleased in this defeat than with all my former victories I have too this satisfaction that I was never conquered but by a Sex which the gods themselves could not resist who if they can for their subjection produce thus much beauty they carry their justification in the cause of their fault if it be one so that I commit none unless it be one to imitate those we adore I will not particularize all the dispute betwixt them since it serves but to acquaint you that Hannibal remained unshaken in what he had done and then came to me and told me I should Madam with the lives of Blacius and Perolla have given you too their liberties were it not that the grant of the first of these has been too great an exasperation to my Army to increase it at the same time by the last I will therefore hope for your pardon if I obey you but by degrees since otherwise I might hazard the losing of a power which is not so dear to me upon any score as out of a confidence it may serve you yet still for your sake they shall have no other Prisons but their Lodgings and as soon as I have fashioned my Officers to approve of their liberty I shall restore it to them with as much joy as I have lost my own Though this hard Declaration however moderated both by reasons and civilities did extreamly perplex me yet I only begg'd him to shorten their sufferings as much as might be and to perfect what he had so generously begun for I durst not be too earnest on so tender a subject lest it might create his suspitions that my love as much
me to Flamminius but I will give my self to Perolla or to Death if the former will have me he must return suddainly or he will find I am in the possession of the latter lose no time then generous Friend since the least dealy will leave you nothing to love of Izadora but her Memory and her Constancy No no I cry'd out fair Izadora having twice read this Letter I will lose no time but go and relieve you from your Fathers Tyranny or by my death remove the cause of it then turning to the Messenger I told him come my Friend I am ready to obey you and Izadora's Commands and the gods knowing the justice of my obedience will doubtless contribute to so necessary a duty Sir he reply'd methink as yet they do not favour your desires for they have ty'd you to celebrate a Tryumph and confin'd you to Affrick by an opposite wind Alas said I interrupting him how ill thou understandest me to believe that Triumphs or the Empire of the World can one minute suspend my serving the fair Izadora Nor those nor the Winds shall stop me a moment I 'll force the Sea to be my Friend or Ruine by perishing in attempting of my Duty Let us go then reply'd Izadora's Servant That Gally which transported me is now at Tunis and expects but our return she has a gallant Ginge and nothing but a storm great enough to swallow us shall hinder our arrival in Italy Thou rejoycest me I reply'd for the best fortune next to our intended Harbor is a wrack go then and prepare all things that we may set to Sea within this hour for before that time be expir'd I 'll be aboard The faithful Messenger without reply gallop'd away and in an instant in a cloud of Dust we lost sight of him But my Passion for her that merited a higher was so great that till the fair Izadora's Servant was gone I took no notice that Massanissa and all the Army had made a stand whilst I was receiving so fatal an intelligence to repair their rudeness which nothing could excuse but the cause of it I rid up to the Numidian King besought him and who had known the effects of Love from the fair Sophonisba's Eyes to pardon those which proceeded from a resembling perfection That generous Prince at the name of Sophonisba look'd pale and sigh'd and then told me he was sadly skilful enough in the operation of Beauty not only to excuse what it produc'd but was bound by his knowledge of those effects to offer all his assistance to them and therefore he begg'd me to make use of five excellent Gallies of his which lay ready behind the Promontory of Carthage well mann'd both for the Oar and the Sword that if Blacius continu'd his Tyranny I might have wherewithal to disingage Izadora from it and that I should find a plentiful Sanctuary in his Kingdom which was at my devotion by my having reduc'd it to his This transcendent Civility I declin'd with all the submission I was capable of and assur'd him that it was by more humble Arms than those he had so generously offer'd me that I would vanquish Izadora's Father but since by what he had mention'd he gave me the confidence to implore something of him I would make use of those humble Prayers to beseech him to Apologize for me to the Consul for my iâ—stant departure since an hours delay might be the Eternal ruine of a Virtue greater than ever yet had shin'd on earth that my crime was the more extenuated by my resigning those Forces he trusted me with to the great Massanissa's care and after they had obey'd his Commands That virtuous Prince undertook what I implor'd and bid me not doubt but Scipio would listen to all excuses of Love from him but to those which concern'd himself he spoke these last words in high disorders which the Consuls sad Commands concerning the fair Sophonisba had created From Massanissa I went to make my excuse to those Troops I had commanded who exprest as much sadness for the cause of my departure as for my abandoning them Some of them were so gallant as to offer me their Swords and Lives which they might dispose of being all Voluntiers I would not make use of so obliging a proffer but having declin'd it upon the same score I had Massanissa's I immediately took leave and only follow'd by Strato I soon lost sight of the Army and recover'd Tunis where I found my Gally had weigh'd Anchor and stay'd upon her Oars for my arrival As soon as I came aboard I animated the Slaves by Gifts and Promises of excessive rewards and in the joy of those hopes they chearfully began the voyage but we had not crost half the Sea which separates Carthage from Naples when a â—urious Northern wind began to whistle so hollow and so loud that though it rais'd a storm of it self yet we knew it was but the fore-runner of a greater which soon follow'd with such extremity that the Mariners and Slaves were as much troubled as the Sea and as deaf to all my Prayers of continuing their Navigation as the Wind. But at length finding the Pilot had put the Gally before the Wind and was steering for Tunis I ran to him and presenting my Sword to his Breast I vow'd by many horrid Oaths that if he did not change his Course whatever become of the Gally he should immediately receive his Fate That which too increast the horror was an Ecclipse of the Moon which those Superstitious ignorant Souls attributed to a divine forewarning of their wrack and not to a natural Cause but I had whilst study was my employment so great propensity to Astronomy and made some such progress in it that I knew perfectly the cause and duration of Eclipses and having by a former calculation found out how long this would continue what with my threatenings what with my engagements to them that if the Moon did not recover her former Luster which I said she had only lost in horror and detestation of their fear within three hours I would be content to return with them I made the trembling Pilot tack about and the gods of the Wind and Sea with the Queen of Love who sprung from that Element so favour'd my resolution which had for end the relieving of a Beauty as fair as she and which presented her more votaries than all the residue of her Sex that after the Moon within the time limited had assum'd her former light by a friendly South Wind we safely arriv'd in two days at Naples where leaving Izadora's Servant next night I came Post to this City but in disguise lest the rumour of my arrival might prejudice the intention of it Immediatly after I lighted I went towards Blacius's House to learn by what intelligence I could get how to form my resolutions and though there was no light in the streets but what the Lamps of the Shops and Windows did afford
and by a thousand such unworthy submissions endeavours to make me question his Mothers Faith which I should have done did I not know one of the greatest vices is to suspect she hadany for in a long succession of years there were none legitimate of our Line till the degenerate Perolla but with their milk suck'd a hatred for that of Blacius's but he had no sooner gotten his health and lost his liberty but more joyful of the last than of the first he quits Salapia without paying me the duty of a visit which was the pretence of his coming thither and his impiety not being yet come to the height of attempting my Life with his own hand he endeavours it obliquely by taking up Arms for the Romans against the Carthaginians in whose party I was so engag'd that he could not prosecute their overthrow and effect it without involving me in their ruine and when the great Hannibal had justly censur'd Blacius to death for his pactice with the Romans Perolla that I might not suspect the first service he did him was by accident but design engages all such of his friends as he could seduce and with them employs his Sword and Life to redeem my greatest enemies in which attempt as you have heard he had a success proportionate to his desires and after that Blacius was found out and brought to the Scaffold there to receive the punishment of his offences lest I might yet doubt he lov'd his Enemies as much as he hated his Father he voluntarily embraces Death to justify that Truth Judge Sir if ever there were a higher injury than this and if by it my hatred be not as just as great for in this one action he destroys that Life he knew maugre all his ingratitude I yet lov'd best to preserve his whom I hated most but he was preserv'd from death by Izadora's Tears Izadora I say one of Blacius Family which had he had any generosity he should rather have suffer'd than ow'd his deliverance to such a Deliverer For my part the cause of his safety took away all my joyes for the effect and made me celebrate his preservation in Tears but though Hannibal pardon'd his life yet he kept him in prison where he had still retain'd him had not the generous Maharbal given him his liberty which he had no sooner obtain'd than he employes it by bearing Arms under the Romans for his destruction that gave it him but perhaps he will say he redeem'd that fault by giving Maharbal his life to which I answer that was no satisfaction for the old Crime but the acting of a new one for he was only treacherous to his friends to repair his ingratitude to his Enemies and thereby committed one sin to act another he makes the publique pay for his particular fault and redeems his own unworthiness by depriving the party he serv'd of so considerable a prisoner besides what happen'd was but an accident but his taking up Arms was a design Thus you see those actions he most glories in being diligently enquir'd into are found contrary to what they appear'd and if his best performances are crimes what are then his others He was an earnest persecutor of Hannibal my greatest friend while he continu'd in Italy all my perswasions and Prayers not being able to hinder him so much as from acting against him in his person and as if the knowledge of the affection I pay'd that great General were a sufficient cause to creat Perolla's hatred for him he left his own Countrey and his Izadora too to prosecute him under Scipio in Africk and at that famous Battel at Zama a thousand times ventur'd his own life to deprive Hannibal of his and though he alledges that he preserved him when he might have acted his destruction yet I shall beseech you to consider he is but his own Witness and whether it be likely he would have neglected that opportunity had it been offer'd which he has since sought out over all the world and never declin'd whilst there was any possibility of finding it He was not only content to injure me in my Friend but does it too in my Enemy and that I might not doubt his perseverance in his former courses by stealing away Izadora in which Sin every accessary is a principal he violates both Humane and Divine Laws and rather elects the committing of so high a crime than that I should want testimonies of so proportionate a Truth â—y by his own confession would have Married her and joyn'd those two Blouds together that never till then were united but when they ran from Wounds and mingled on the ground and would thereby have ty'd my Hand from revenge or forâ—'d me to act it thorough my only Son Lastly and that I hope will not prove in your judgement inferior to any when your victorious Arms had struck such a terror into our Citizens that we were going to present you our Keys and Liberties he by his unfortunate perswasion and example made them take up Arms and forâ—'d you to purchase your Victory by Blood reduc'd his Countrey and Friends to a fatal subjection or death or to owe to their Deliverance to a Mercy they have so highly offended that they are unworthy of it but if you execute the rigor of War upon us and that your Justice involves Perolla in the publique Fate I shall then find my happiness in my destruction and more commend Fortune in revenging me upon him than be displeas'd at her for my own and Salapia's ruine Spartacus and all the assistants were infinitely surpriz'd at so strange a reasoning and request But my Prince put a silence to the general murmur by inviting Blacius to speak who thus obey'd him I attest the gods said he lifting his Eyes and his Hands to the place of their residence that from the time Perolla preserv'd my life it has been my misfortune for if ever since I deriv'd any joy from this Woman pointing at Izadora 't was only learning by my own sufferings in her want of Duty what Pacuvius's were in his Sons immitating her crime but because she has told her own story with so much Art that it may induce you to consider my resentments as an injustice I shall briefly give you a true Comment upon it I confess she had my Command to cherish and esteem him that preserv'd my life but she had it not to give those retributions to Perolla That ignorance which I believe procur'd my safety procur'd that injunction I found him my Friend when I gave him my affection but she knew him my Enemy when she gave him hers Observe too I beseech you how confident this young man was of having it when the argument he us'd to make her declare that Truth was only if she avow'd it not he would kill her Fathers Enemy that which was a just motive to silence her Flame was his inducement to invite her to disclose it in which one action she doubly injur'd me
had like to have render'd her disobedience without excuse she determines to abandon her Father and the World rather than a negligent Lover and was satisfy'd with no way of being reliev'd from her Distress unless she increases her own Crime by making Perolla act another nay so much abhorrs any thing from her Fathers recommendation that Flamminius coming to her upon that score she will rather hazard her Lovers Bloud than spare his To conclude that her impiety might be uncapable of any accession and to resemble her Servant as perfectly in Sin as in Affection she like him by stealing away violates all Divine and Humane Laws and her not being Married which she alledges to qualify her Crime is an aggravation of it for flying from her Father to her Husband had been only an offence in giving Perolla that Title but flying from her Father to her Lover she must be more oblig'd to Mens Charities than to her actions if they have not thereby as bad a Character of her Chastity as I of her Duty These Sir said Blacius are my reasonings and as I believe they are not much dissonant from Truth which gives me a confidence that if your justice be proportionable to your power you will right an injur'd Father but if her Sex moves you to pitty Perolla's I hope will not your punishment of him will obliquely repair my wrongs for either his death will be the occasion of hers or if she revive him her torment or her cure will be my satisfaction This discourse did but increase that wonder Pacuvius had given a being unto And my Prince was preparing himself to declaim upon a Theme which would have furnish'd reasons to a Judgement as ill as his was excellent when he was diverted by a noise and suddainly perceiv'd the occasion of it was the coming in of Granius Furiles and some other Officers of his Army that presented him with two Salapians whose very sight almost depriv'd Pacuvius and Blacius both of theirs and of their Lives Spartacus observ'd it and so did our generous Lovers but being ignorant of the cause they expected with much patience to learn it which they soon did by one of the Salapians addressing himself to Spartacus in these words Sir we are come to beg Justice of you for you These two Gentlemen pointing at Pacuvius and Blacius whose guilt is as much in their Faces as in their Hearts observing in the Assault that my Companion and I employ'd our Lives somewhat prodigally for the defence of our City inferr'd from thence that we would hazard them to be reveng'd on the Conqueror of it and in this Faith came severally to us and by assurances of excessive rewards hir'd us by our treachery to destroy what we could not by our Swords This office we accepted were seemingly wicked but to be really the contrary and undertook to kill you that we might preserve you for we apprehended our declining their overture might have induc'd them to invite some others to embrace it where the greatness of the reward might have cover'd the greatness of the crime besides Sir for us to have undertook such a design had been a Sin against Gratitude as well as Honour for we are two of those that receiv'd our Liberties when we expected our Deaths and if we employ'd those Lives against you which we receiv'd from you 't was not only by your permission but by your command and since to obey you we durst draw our Swords against you you cannot suspect we will decline any other obedience The Salapian had no sooner done speaking than Blacius first and afterwards Pacuvius acknowledg'd by their words what their tremblings and disorders had confest and though they severally alledg'd that the ignorance they then were in of my Prince's virtue and their knowledge that in him only consisted the Life and Soul of his Army had induc'd them to that revenge yet all the Assistants but the generous Lovers were so enrag'd at them for their Tyranny to their Children and their intended treachery treachery to so mild a Conqueror that there was nothing heard in that great Assembly but Cryes that Spartacus should revenge himself that he should extirpate such Monsters out of the World and pay with their Lives those Crosses which they had given to Izadora and Perolla Granicus too and the other Officers that came with him inform'd Spartacus that they had been already condemn'd by a Court-Marshal upon that Article That whosoever endeavour'd the death of the General should receive his own for his punishment so that he had nothing to do but to give the Law its course which in that case to oppose was not to be merciful but unjust All this while the generous Lovers were so confounded that had not their innocence been known their disorders and trouble had been taken for their Guilt but my Prince having whisper'd something privately to Euriles he went to Izadora and her generous Servant begg'd them to excuse an execution which Blacius and Pacuvius merited had it been only for their cruelty to them that in their deaths they might read the justice of the gods by rendring their vices which had been the cause of their own troubles the occasion of their Parents punishment and of their own quiet that since for him to be just would make them happy he hoped they would pardon a revenge which he inflicted as much upon their score as his own Then my Prince bid Euriles carry away the Delinquents to receive the censure had been giventhem At that sad command both Izadora and Perolla cast themselves at Spartacus Feet which having a while wash'd with their Tears they begg'd him either to alter his sentence or permit them to participate in it that if the death of their Fathers must be the only way to their union they would be content with the being eternally deny'd it rather than purchase it at that rate that they should be more miserable in the loss of their Parents than in their cruelty and lastly they protested by inviolable Oaths if they suffer'd they would perpetually banish themselves from each others company and either by grief or resolution suddenly follow them Then rising up from my Prince they prostrated themselves at their Fathers Feet where they again reiterated those engagements and in such passionate terms and moving actions implor'd their pardons for those disobediences their Lovers not they had committed and which they would suddainly repair by embracing a resembling destiny to theirs that my Prince could not abstain from crying out Tyrants are you so much fortified against Virtue that so powerful an assault must remain fruitless can Fathers see that without pity which Strangers cannot can Nature be insensible against the attempts of Nature Whilst Spartacus was speaking many things of this quality Izadora and her generous Servant had by their weepings so laid their Fathers rage as showres do storms that those Clouds of hatred which had so long hinder'd Reason and Nature from shining began
that it lay not in the power of any thing but a Miracle to recover him at this fatal declaration the King fetching a deep sigh fell speechless on the ground and Surena perceiving so high demonstrations of his favour made such excellent and passionate retributions for them and so admirably exclaim'd against Fate not for ending his life but for not permitting him to end it in so generous a Princes service that all which heard him found his impiety rather a justice than a crime Arsaces being by many remedies recovered from his fainting was before he had the strength to speak carried out of his Favourites Chamber who no sooner perceiv'd it empty of all but his Domesticks sent one of them for the Princess Zephalinda who being come was conjur'd by him to obtain from Parthenissa for him the honor of a visit to whom he protested he had some secrets of Importance to communicate which should he dye before they were reveal'd would leave too great a horror on his Conscience The fair Zephalinda immediately obey'd his injunction and came to wait on Paâ—thenissa when she and I were admiring at the occasion of your silence The sadness which so visibly appear'd in Zephalinda's Face was at first attributed by us both entirely to that unimitable Friendship that generous Princess paid you but we soon found that Nature had a large share in it When she had inform'd Parthenissa with the occasion of her visit your fair Mistriss was extreamly starl'd at it whether it proceeded from a Prophecy of what she afterwards learn'd out of sympathy with Zephalinda or from that sad banishment which would inevitably follow by your Rivals Death but to contract your suspension I will not inform you of all those pressing motives his generous Sister us'd to obtain her desires since 't is enough you know they were successful But Parthenissa was no sooner retir'd into her Chamber to make her self ready for the intended visit than one of her Servants came to inform me that a countrey-man which had sought me at my own house and mist of me there being acquainted where I was was come to speak with me having a Packet which he said was of some consequence zephalinda though she knew 't was you which had reduced her Brother to that extremity never lessen'd her friendship but was so generous as to profess she was confident 't was â—urena not you that was the cause of her misfortune and was so earnest with me to satisfy her opinion which was that those letters were from you that to obey her I was uncivil and left her alone to go and receive them The superscription I scarcely lookt upon when I knew it to be your hand and transported with joy I ran up to Zephalinda and with her into Parthenissa's Chamber where I assur'd them that not only I should now know your condition but the cause of your Duel but alas assoon as I open'd my Pacquet I found a Letter for the King and another for Zephalinda but none for her which did most desire and most merit one I confess my disorder at it was not far short of hers but she attributing your silence to any subject rather than the true one and believing my Letter might discover the cause conjur'd me to peruse it But oh gods what astonishment was mine when I found what it contain'd it made me a long time continue silent and trembling and Zephalinda had no sooner ended hers but it ingender'd the same effect Parthenissa who could not fancy since you were living as appear'd by your Letters what strange accident could produce such an operation broke her own silence to learn the occasion of ours Alas Madam I reply'd you will be more happy in theignorance than the knowledge of it If said she I knew not Artabanes to be living your words would make me suspect he were dead No no Madam Zephalinda answer'd the certainty he is alive is not greater than having committed his Crime he is unworthy to continue so Is it possible said Parthenissa that he can commit a crime which may render him worthy of death in your judgement Yes Madam she reply'd and when you have read this Letter presenting him to Parthenissa I believe you will be of my judgement whilst he was the destroyer of Surena I excus'd the action upon the belief I had that he was invited to it by justice but now I have discover'd he can suspect your Constancy and convert a passion of Love unjustly into one of hatred he shall find I can from his Friend become his Judge and when his actions are ill not fear to term them so Whilst Zephalinda was thus speaking the unfortunate Parâ—henissa read her Letter and no sooner found what was in it than fetching a languishing sigh from the botton of her heart she only said alas Artaâ—â—nes how ill do you reward the purest Flame and then fell down at our Feet without giving any signs of Life Zephalinda who thought the sight of her Letter would have rather inspir'd her with resentment than grief a thousand times condemn'd her own rashness and by an abundant weeping discover'd her repentance for it but at last what with her help and mine we brought Parthenissa to her self again but indeed she employ'd that life we restor'd her to to torment her self so excessively that we found our charity was a disobligation Yes Artabanes had you but seen how she deplor'd your inconstancy and how transeendent her passion was even when she thought you unworthy of it I am confident the knowldege how yor were lov'd would have sufficiently punish'd your belief that you were not Surena in the mean while finding his forces very much diminish'd and apprehending he should not have life enough left to disclose that which would make his death a less misfortune sent a servant of his to know the cause of Zephalinda's stay who finding Parthenissa so well recover'd as not to need her help went to give her brother an account of her employment but he hardly was inform'd of what had happen'd when he conjur'd his Sister with fresh impatiencies to beg Parthenissa to afford him the blessing of seeing her before he dy'd for he had something to reveal which might set a period to her grief and which he protested was of so high a concernment that she should never repent the visit With this message Zephalinda return'd and though Parthenissa was in extream disorder yet we both so effectually employ'd our Prayers that we obtain'd what they desir'd and were no sooner come into Surena's Chamber than he begg'd all but your fair Mistriss to go out of it which being perform'd he told her Madam I know the incivility of putting you to this trouble and of leaving you alone in this room is so great that nothing but my weakness could render it excusable I know too that as some expressions of my joy for this transcendent Honor I should cast my self at your Feet but Madam what is my
sent thither who seeming to take him for one of yours desir'd him to tell Zianthe that you lay that night at my Lodgings with Zephalinda and that he was sent purposely to wait upon her thither You know Madam continu'd Surena that all that night you honor'd my Sister with your company for when you were returning late I caus'd one of the wheels of your Chariot to be so dexterously broken that upon the first motion it fell all to pieces so that you were necessitated to remain at my house which the deluded Artabanes attributed to a coâ—trary cause and though that to put the greater Complement upon me you evaded allowing him the honor of taking leave for his being made General and his resolution of going next morning to his charge was so suddainly divulg'd that I am confident all Nineve except those of my house knew it in an hour but there I had taken such strict order that none should speak of it that it came not to your knowledge Artabanes therefore without so much as answering my Servant retir'd to his own house where had I seen the defects my delusion produc'd I had it may be repented it But Madam his Griefs had another operation than I expected for I believ'd the being so egregiously abus'd would have made him decline any resolutions but those of hating you and have induced him to vent his despair upon the revolted Tabienians in which time by the assistance of your resentments for his so abandoning you and my humility and constant passion I was not out of hopes to gain what he had lost but it seems he abandon'd himself so entirely to revenge that as he had lost the hopes of possessing you so he resolvd to endeavour I should wear his Livery in pursuance whereof he sent me a challenge which I could not decline for he that has the courage to adore you cannot want it to dispute you which I did but the gods who will not suffer infidelity to prosper in Love it self where 't is least unlawful gave him an advantage over me which perhaps upon a juster subject he could not so easily have gain'd Whilst Sillaces said Symander was making this relation my poor Master was in so many several disorders that in my life I never saw a subject fitter for pitty but no sooner had his generous friend disclos'd this fatal treachery than he cry'd out O gods Sillaces what is it you tell me I tell he reply'd that which if your unjust suspition had not been too predominant Paâ—thenissa would have inform'd you of and thereby exempted her self you and all your friends from that misery your precipitate and voluntary banishment has cast us into but be not so cruel to your self as to interrupt me in that which makes your wound and not permit me to apply the cure Alas said Artabanes 't is not in your power for though Parthenissa should by an excess of goodness pardon my crime yet that it self would but increase it by demonstrating I have offended the greatest Mercy as well as the greatest Beauty You are said Sillaces very ingenuous to persecute your self and your wilfulness is admirable you will run into a storm and then refuse the Harbor No generous friend Artabanes answer'd that which you call a wilfulness is a justice since for a Criminal to embrace Life when his Conscience will be more severe than his Judge can be is to become as much an ememy to himself as to Justice If said Silaces you will not permit me to finish my relation for the interest you have in it yet at least let me obtain that favour as a reward of those sufferings I have undergone to bring you news which I thought would not have been altogether unacceptable I beg a thousand times your pardon said my Prince if the effects of my despair have been so uncivil but as a pennace for it I will no more interrupt your Relation but listen to it with as much silence as my miseries will permit Surena said Sillaces had no sooner ended this discourse than perceiving how strange an influence it had over Parthenissa he thus continu'd Alas Madam all the hopes I had in my misfortunes I apprehend are groundless for I expected by disclosing my fault to obtain a pardon for it but I find by your disorder that you are more inclin'd to Justice than Mercy I confess said Parthenissa you have by your relation made your self very unworthy the latter for by your own acknowledgement you are no longer wicked but because you can live no longer and 't is not your repentance but your death which makes this discovery 'T is true Madam Surena answer'd and thereby learn the power of your Beauty which violently forces me to actions against my Inclinations and against Justice But Madam I have greater hopes of your forgiveness by submitting than disputing and the more to induce you to it consider that if I am the only actor in this fault 't is because I only had the means to act it that none would have declin'd my crime if he had had my hopes that it lay in my power to continue as well as to create your troubles for I understand Artabanes is too perfectly deluded ever to return of himself and discover the contrary consider too Madam that I have given you an ill opinion of me to restore you to a good one of my Rival that you will render my death as full of torment withour uour pardon as of quietness with it and excuse my fault upon the score that the purest flame was the creator of it and that as it was my first so 't is impossible but it must be my last All the while Surena was thus speaking his sighs accompany'd his words and had so efficacious power over the generous Parthenissa that she told him Yes Surena you have my forgiveness and I beseech the gods that it may render your death as full of satisfaction as that crime which made you need it will I fear â—ill my life with misery At the end of these words she went out of his Chamber and coming where Zephalinda and I were she told her passing by Ah Madam your Brother has forever ruin'd me That virtuous Princess was as much surpriz'd at this Declaration as Parthenissa had been when she learnt the cause of it But Zephalinda perceiving your fair Mistriss was too much possest with grief to desire an explanation of what she had said contented her self to suspend her curiosity till a fitter season and having waited on her to her Chariot return'd to Surena who she knew by the emotions of such a visit would remain in too sad a disorder to abandon him but assoon as Parthenissa was got home she learnt Zianthe had absented her self which so confirm'd Surena's relation that Parthenissa immediately fell into a violent Feaver and the distempers of her mind so well conspir'd with the malignity of the disease that for seven days together all the Physitians were
it there would be two inducements to it but since that which should revenge it would not only make it publick but indelible and that the highest good in such an ill was not to know it since there was no possibility of proving a Woman Chast he esteem'd it handsomer and better to tell Altezeera of her Faults that she might banish both me and them or by her doing neither render the disclosure of her offence so necessary that the necessity of it might render it a proportionate Justice But Labienus durst not use too many reasons to prove Silence was good lest that might have prov'd one to Phraates not to keep it Whilst they two were disputing of our Sin I came to my self again and discover'd that which gave a rise to one of them to call it and to the other to believe it one but the restauration to Life had been much worse than Death where at least my griefs had ceas'd as well as my hopes which had been an advantagious bargain had not immediately my Princess too recover'd for Nature finding none come to her assistance went to her own Oh gods How was I surpriz'd to find my self in a posture of Felicity and not in a rellish of it and how confounded was I as well as Altezeera to find how much more obliging the effects of my misfortune had been than those of my Constancy and Innocence but alas I had much more cause to be so when not only the Princesses Women came running in to her assistance but when they also found her in a high Fever that threaten'd to cast her into an eternal Death as soon as she was restor'd from a temporary one So many witnesses hinder'd her from speaking to me and they beginning to undress her hinder'd me from continuing longer in the Chamber which I left without receiving any other fruit of my being Innocent than the knowledg that it had been more for my quiet I had never been so Ah when I was retir'd to my appartment what did I not say against the cruel Destinies which had form'd mine so perversly that transcendent punishments attended as well my real Fidelity as my seeming want of it The next Morning I knew by the publick voice of the Court for I durst neither satisfie my apprehensions or duty by a personal Visit or by employing any of my Domesticks to do it that the Princess was in a Fever which by giving so little hopes in the beginning made the Physicians with tears apprehend the conclusion but it was too violent to continue long our suspensions and I was satisfied of her recovery before any symptoms of it by knowing the gods would not give me so certain a cure of my Misery as the Death of my Princess and consequently mine At last her Fever left her when the Physicians had done so and the generous Pacorus who had ty'd his Fate to Altezeera's began to cherish his own Life when he was assur'd of hers but till then he contributed all he could to accompany her and the more certainly to effect it he had seiz'd on a Poniard which he lay'd by him in expectation of the fatal News 'T was in this I disclos'd and perhaps Altezeera too the disproportion of our Passions for I needed but the bare knowledg of her Death to act my own whereas Pacorus to reach his must have been necessitated to make use of his Resolution as well as Love It may be this knowledg invited Phraates a while to a silence which his Virtue would not have kept Pacorus and I who were most concern'd in Altezeera's Health as if it had been by a sympathetical operation recover'd our own proportionately as she did hers This was the cause that the first day I went into the Palace-Garden upon which my Appartment answer'd Altezeera went thither also 't was the first time I had seen her since her sickness or recovery I will omit my confusions and my disorders whilst I congratulated the latter which as soon as I had as if it had been without design by degrees she separated her self from the Company and after having received some fresh convincements that I was Artavasdes she acknowledg'd no small joy that I was restored from a Sickness which she justly consider'd as a tribute to hers but being determin'd not to lose so happy an opportunity to learn my Fate which the Authors of it too presented me I told her If I consider Madam my recovery with any Joy 't is only because you seem to do so and out of a hope that that Life which has by twice preserving Pacorus's twice establish'd the felicity of yours is still continu'd by the gods for the same end though by the same way Yes Madam I am ready not only to employ my Life but to lay it down in so glorious an occasion though it were as full of Felicities as in those happy days wherein my Princess was as much mine by Promise as she is now my Rivals by possession But Madam Did I not conclude the gods restor'd my Health upon this or some resembling-score I should esteem it as transcendent a Misery as I shall a Blessing if they have done it for that end Neither need I for the only cure of my Miseries be oblig'd to my Resolution but Reason which convinces me 't were a less Misfortune to have Artavasdes in the Arms of Death than to have him see the fair Altezeera in Pacorus's The gods shall be my Witnesses she reply'd pulling down her Vail to cover her blushes that if I yielded not to my last Sickness 't was more upon Artavasdes's account than my own who had I known him still to be what he is neither the safety or satisfaction of Pacorus Artabazus or Armenia should have made me hazard his or recede in the least degree from those professions which his Person and Services but much more my inclinations induc'd me to make him but alas the gods contributed to my delusion You cannot doubt Artavasdes but 't was one and not a Design for 't is not rational that I should willingly act what turn'd most to my own Torment Yes Artavasdes I say my own Torment Judg then what that grief must be which makes my being the Wife of so generous a Prince as Pacorus be esteem'd one by me I have liv'd purposely to tell you this for perhaps you may resent some satisfaction by knowing she that has divested you of all your felicity has in that very performance done the like to her own These words and some Tears which accompanied them were so sensible to me that I could not abstain from saying in a higher tone than before Great gods Have not you already render'd Artavasdeâ— sufficiently miserable by the loss of his Princess's affection but you must make him more so by the restoration of it And are you so inveterately bent to continue me so that rather than not act it you will make contraries produce the same effect 'T is now
Passion acquaints Orchamus Leucothoe's Father with her stolen Amours and though the betray'd Nymph in a posture as moving as her tears represented the glory of such an Alliance and that to please one of the gods could not be a sin against the rest yet the cruel Orchamus buries her alive with her Crimes the Sun frighted at such a Prodigy hides his face in clouds and weeps such showers of tears that the world by his sorrow knew his Love 'T was well for Mortals that he was confined eternally to his Ecliptick otherwise to act his revenge he had descended on the earth and reduced all to the same Ashes his dear Lucothoe was which the Fates having render'd him uncapable of he immediately converts her dead body into an Incense-tree whose sweetness seem'd to reserve something of its first principle and though dead as much to charm the smell or when living the sight In another place of the Picture was Clittie who Phoebus now hated as much as he had adored running from one top of a Mountain to another to overtake and be near her Lover who to deprive her of his sight as well as Company or perhaps having put on mourning for the fair and unfortunate Leucothoe travelled still in a gloomy Cloud which he had perpetually worn in revenge and grief had not mortals by incessant sacrifices but especially by those offered of the new Incense obtained the gods command to assume his former brightness which at least he did but then Clittie found her self doubly burned by her heat and by his you might have seen her sometimes threatning sometimes imploring her Lover now invoking his power then his justice and finally crying out Either stay thy course or give me the wings of thy Inconstancy to overtake thee her Prayers her Tears and her Cries operating no more on Phoebus than that Nymphs she had betray'd did on Orchamus she fix'd her Eyes incessantly on her Lover and by that Posture and her unmoveableness in it by degrees took root and by the gods were converted into a Marygold who all day constantly gazes on the Sun and all the night turns her head towards the Earth as if she strove to force a Passage with her Eyes through the Centre to the Antipodes not to be at any time deprived of seeing her Lover Our two Hero's found not only a resemblance in Beauty but in Fortunes betwixt those two Nymphs and their two Princesses * For Artabbanes was confident the gods had taken his Parthenissa from the Earth but to marry her to one of them in Heaven as the lovely Psiche was and in that Faith he almost apprehended to go thither since that could not but be Hell where he should see his Princess in another's Arms. And Artavasdes thought that what Orchamus had done to his Daughter Artabazus or misfortune had done to Altezeera who he considered as buried alive in Pacorus's embraces the gods having deprived our Hero's of seeing their Princesses the best felicity they could allow them consisted in seeing what so much resembled them on which they had as constantly and perhaps as eternally fixed their Eyes as Clittie did hers on her Phâ—bus had not Callimmachus acquainted them 't was time to offer the sacrifices of Perfumes and Turtles which ceremony being ended they all went out of the Temple and immediately the Prince of it having given the signal the essusions of Wine and Milk were made some small tufts of hair which grew between the Horns of the Bulls and Heifers were cut with golden Sizers and flung into the Flame which had no sooner consumed them than in a moment all the Beasts were knocked down by the Victimaries and their Entrails torn out and presented to Callimmachus who considered the Prophetical part of them with so sublime a joy that it forced him to whisper to our Princes that the gods without a Miracle and without ruining the Laws they themselves had established could not long delay their felicities for never were greater promises in Victims than in those This assurance brought our Hero's different Hopes Artabbanes was joy'd in a belief that the gods would command him to act his own Death since he could not fancy any other way to quiet And Artavasdes interpreted he should derive his satisfaction from their removing Pacorus and placing him in his Felicities but they were both diverted from any further reflections by the Augurs giving liberty to the Swans out of their silver Prisons who immediately directed their flight to Heaven as to acknowledg their deliverance from thence and were intended thither as a sacrifice of quicker ascension than that of Incense All these solemnities being finished those which assisted at them return'd again into another Isle of the Temple where stood a Statue of Venus which took up as much and as justly the Beholders admiration as the Deity could which it represented it was all of Mosaick work and the peeces cimmented with such excellent Art that the most critical Anatomist could not have miss'd so much as a Vein a Sinew or an Artery The Beauties of colours of Air and of Features were as exact as those of Cimmetrie and for Eyes the Statue was imbellished with two such refulgent Diamonds that their very lustre like that of the Suns hindered them from being considered but by reflection and thereby rendered the boldly contemplating the Deities face as great an impossibility as a Sin 'T was at the feet of this admirable Statue that Callimmachus prostrated himself having in the same posture on either of his sides one of our Princes who with perfect attentions and equal devotion heard him deliver this short Prayer Fairest of all Goddesses thou who first derivest that Title from Nature and then from Iustice Thou from whom all other gods receive their votaries since only by thy sweet influences Mankind is created and continued and sacrifices too behold prostrate before thee two of thy votaries who have never offered on thy Altars False or double Fires but have so constantly preserved those wounds thy Son first made in their hearts that ever since they were and are fit examples for thy subjects to continue such Though even their sufferings have at least proportionated their Constancy do not great Goddess so justly deterr Mortals from that virtue as to render it the ruine of those who most perfectly possess it nor give those who already doubt thy Power or Iustice so much provocation to continue their Sin as thy continuing the misfortunes of these Lovers will amount unto but by investing them in felicities as great as the Beauties they adore evince that the tryal of Constancy is not the punishment of it Callimmachus having ended his Orizon gave the Tripos to the Virgin who on it was to deliver the Oracle and then with her and our two Hero's only went to the Vault where they were to receive it which was adorned with a Dome That shot it self so high into Heaven that none which doubted not that was the
and I had carri'd her in our Arms to those Stairs which lead to her Appartment her breath but not her words were come to her again so that Artabbanes by pressing and kissing her hands took as we all thought an eternal leave and in whispers conjur'd Emilia to hinder her Princess's despair from making her the sharer of his Fate as she had but too much been of his Misfortunes Emilia neither answer'd nor indeed heard his request for all the faculties of her Soul had resign'd themselves to grief My Prince having spoke those few words with a languishing look took a second farewel from his Princess who by being then insensible was more happy than if she had been otherwise and going to the Guard return'd them thanks for their Civility and desir'd them to do their Duty The Captain mov'd with so sad a separation told him Would to the gods Sir I durst for then I should carry you to Liberty not to Prison Whilst this little discourse past between them I had represented to Emilia that 't was fit I should wait on my Prince and had obtain'd not only her permission but commands to do it 'T was therefore that I came to the Captain and desir'd his leave for it which he more readily granted than my Prince and accompani'd his Civility with this Protestation That nothing which could be condusive to Artabbanes's satisfaction and which was not positively forbidden him but should still find the same return By this time we were come to the Garden-Gate where we found a Chariot ready into which my Prince made me follow him the same Officers and the same Guard brought us to the Castle which is a place as impregnable as Art and Nature can render any the Appartment allotted for my generous Master was very large and magnificent to supply his being deny'd the liberty of the Gardens and finding he was to be a close Prisoner he commanded me to get a Pallate and to lie in his Chamber where he resign'd himself to so transcendent a grief that I knew by the greatness of it 't was not for himself but Parthenissa who Emilia told me afterwards had assum'd a proportionate sorrow both for the quantity and the cause My Prince found nothing in his Imprisonment no not the very end in order to which it was so intollerable as the being deny'd the sending to and hearing from his Princess who as soon as she had learn'd she was under a resembling misfortune concluded Surena's design was exceeding criminal since rather than permit her to know his actions he elected to give an exact Lover the fears such a relation unavoidably inspires and thereby contracted a worse opinion of him than his very worst performance could almost create Ten days after Artabbanes's Imprisonment during which time he never saw or spake with any except the Captain of the Guards and me finding so long a suspence as bad as execution he earnestly conjur'd him to learn what Surena's intentions were and if possibly what his usage was to Parthenissa The Captain promised to endeavour both and about four hours after return'd but with a Countenance that spake his intelligence before his words did which acquainted my Prince That for the last of his Commands so strict a watch was kept in the Palace that thereby all his endeavours therein had been fruitless but as to the first of them he came into Surena's Chamber when some of Merinzor's Partizans were disputing with him not whether you should be put to Death but of the way of it he alledging that in regard of your quality especially in Media you ought to have so much respect as not to be a publick Spectacle on an infamous Scaffold and that to execute you in your Chamber would be of as much advantage less scandalous and more secure for the Captain continu'd the Inhabitants of this City are so great Reverencers of either the Arsacian blood or of Moneses's Family that Surena has sent for a thousand Parthian Horse out of his Brothers Army to keep Arsacia from Tumults which he apprehends it will fall into let the execution be never so private on the other side Merinzor's servants alledged that since you were the first Prince of the Blood the execution ought to be publick that the Medians might be convinc'd of the reality of your Death and thereby cut off their hopes with your Life for it has been no unusual thing from the obscure Death of Princes to set up Counterfeits which have prov'd as dangerous as the real ones could that it would look rather like a Murther than an execution were it done in private and that by so covert a proceeding it might give the Arsacians an opinion we want either Justice or Power the former will make them believe 't is honest to relieve him and the latter that it is safe Though said the Captain I heard the debate yet I was commanded to withdraw when they were to form the result but yet I learn'd that whatever it were it would not be put in execution 'till the arrival of the thousand Parthian Horse who are hourly expected Any continu'd Symander that had heard this Relation would have thought he that made it had spoken of himself not of my Prince who found more satisfaction in learning his destiny than trouble in learning 't was so fatal a one and doubtless had not his just apprehensions of the fair Parthenissa's despair or at least excessive grief ty'd his hands he had by one generous stroke exempted himself from the infamy of dâ—ing on a Scaffold or composing a publick Trophy for his Enemies but that Parthenissa might be convinc'd his Life was dear to him since it was to her he determin'd if it were his fortune to be put to Death not to act it himself that she might not condemn but deplore his Fall To the Captain he gave such eloquent and admirable consolations that he went away full of satisfaction but I cannot say whether it proceeded from an assurance he thereby received of his going into a better world or that the brightness of his virtues render'd him any longer unfit for this We had not been two hours alone which we heard all the Streets of Arsacia eccho with Trumpets which we knew proceeded from the arrival of the Parthian Horse who were immediately distributed into several advantageous Posts in the City the better to suppress all disorders Artabbanes was advertis'd of this by his former Intelligencer who told him withal that a Scaffold was erected before the Palace-window and though some said it was for his execution and that Parthenissa might be a Witness of it yet he had been assur'd in private the execution should not be so and that the Scaffold being rais'd there was but the more artificially to delude the people and that Surena's opinion of doing the business obscurely had at length been assented to My Prince was a little surpriz'd at the first part of this intelligence not upon his own score
in my Courage that it brought no small accession to it But when out of respect I was helping the Queen to walk he so expresly prohibited so dangerous a civility and she to take away the opportunity of my continuing it went so hastily from me that thereby I got an occasion of telling the fair Statira whose incessant weepings seem'd to reproach my having not paid her commands of never abandoning her Brother that obedience I owed and have faithfully promised them Madam had I followed my highest inclination and my greatest duty for so I shall always call that observance your orders exact from me I had now freed that generous Prince from his misfortune or not liv'd to see you so deeply deplore it But his injunctions on me of following him with the Army which by reason of Craterus wounds he would not trust with any other and his reiterated Vows of apologizing for me to you has made me guilty of a Crime which by what I see and feel cannot be greater than my punishment But Madam I am now going by some eminent action to dry up your tears and wash away my guilt or else to convince you by my death that I did not altogether merit that cruel Command of your Brothers which at once was to separate me from waiting on him and from obeying of you These words brought fresh tears into the fair Princess's eyes and seem'd so to contract her breast with sorrow that she was only able to tell me The poor Atafernes has told me all which you have now spoken and I think I have not been accustom'd to give your words so little credit as to provoke you in so fatal a way as you mention to invite me to believe them no Callimachus though the gods have so signally punished the Royal House of Pontus as to deprive it of that unhappy Prince the uncertainty of whose death has hitherto hinder'd grief from acting mine yet I believe their Mercy will place limits to their Justice and not deprive it at the same time of so considerable a Friend for whose particular preservation I shall as concernedly pray as for the publick success A hideous cry occasion'd by some of Nicomedes Soldiers who thirsty after blood or pillage had much advanc'd themselves before the rest of their Companions render'd me uncapable of hearing what she farther said or of speaking any more unto her so that having hastily again recovered my Horse I moved eagerly towards that Enemy the shedding of whose blood could not be but a just and necessary expiation for their having caus'd Mithridatia to shed so many tears I will not here enumerate the various accidents of that bloody Day it may perhaps suffice to tell you That Mithridates having seen the Streets of Nicomedia run with the blood of his enemies and his subjects he at last saw after a little Battel in a great Piazza that by the last the first were expell'd the City in which they left so considerable a part of their Army that had they been alive they had been enow to have kept it against the rest I was not solicitous to follow the execution too far lest I might have repeated the generous Atafernes misfortune and thereby have left Statira without a Defender when she had honoured me with that Noble Title Besides I was not without apprehensions that Nicomedes might believe it a more hopeful design to cut off our Foot under Megabizes than now to take Nicomedia and might with such celerity attempt it that if any time were lost that part of the Army might be so too Having therefore first diligently search'd for and at last found the poor Craterus Body which yet seem'd to have some life in it and of which I took all imaginable care I hastily caus'd that wide breach by which the Enemy had entred and had been expell'd to be made up and whilst that was doing I went to the King gave him an account of what we had done begg'd his permission forthwith to attempt those who interposed between Megabizes and me and being join'd to camp in those great Fields which Neighbour'd the West-port that our men having a Night's refreshment they might be the earlier refresh'd for a Battel which I was confident Nicomedes Ariobarzanes and Murena would so pressingly offer that I must either accept it or draw into the City in which our Horse would be famished before Pharnaces could come to our Relief and by which our Army would be as much dejected as the Enemies heightned who also might when Pharnaces came near silently rise in the Night and fight him before we could get notice of their remove wherein if they had success all would too probably be lost whereas if he permitted me to decide the quarrel in the Field if we did not present him with Victory yet at least we should so much diminish our Adversaries Numbers that our Friends should find an easie way into it Mithridates and all his Council believed this too hazardous a Resolution but I so confidently perswaded them the contrary was so that at the last they condescended to what I proposed I was beginning to take my leave and to return to my Men when the King perceived some blood drop from my Arm at which he seem'd as much concerned as if it had been from his own and forthwith sending for a Chirurgeon to dress me and for a Scarf to support it the Queen not having one about her and fearing 't would take up too much time to send for one she desired the fair Statira to spare me hers for by a happy accident she had one which she had prepar'd for the unhappy Ataâ—ernes This that obliging Princess did and I received it from the hands of Monyma who by an excess of civility would needs put it on her self though I endeavoured by many entreaties to free her from so low a trouble But whilst she was ordering of it I seem'd by my looks to acknowledg Mithridatia's goodness more than the Queen's and that the first had more oblig'd me in granting the Request than the last had in having made it and if I was capable of any dissatisfaction in so much happiness 't was only in deriving my Obligation from any but my Princess But finding my hurt had more befriended me already than it could injure me unless by longer expectance of one to dress it which it's inconsiderableness needed not I went away having first paid my humble acknowledgments to the Princess and the Queen and so fully assur'd Mithridates of success that he seemed to be then as desirous of the Event of my Enterprize as formerly he had been apprehensive of it My Soldiers having during this taken a little refreshment which the over-joy'd Inhabitants willingly presented them were all in Arms at my return I told them we were again by another Victory to join with those which we had obtained a Victory to separate our selves from This was so requisite a performance that it appear'd such to
desire I should credit I will do it though perhaps the strongest motion which induces me to it â—ill be your satisfaction Madam I reply'd I had much rather you would believe it for your own which would bring no small accession to mine and which to invite you to the more powerfully I dare protest by all the gods and by that which Artavasdes adores as much that if he will resent any trouble at what I have this Day perform'd it will proceed only from his not having paid you the duty Altezeera blusht at this assurance and as she was about to make me a reply the Prince Phraates who rid came to the Chariot-side to console his Sister but his words could not so much do it as his looks did the contrary which carry'd in them so visible and contagious a sorrow that then I began to assume an affection for him which the Character I had of him and his earliest Actions had made me thitherto deny him which affection you may imagine was not small in its very Birth when it was not supprest though I had thereunto so much invitation as his hindering me all the way to Selutia from entertaining my Princess The Night that succeeded this Day I took no rest more from the trouble of my Mind than my Wounds which indeed was more hurt than my Body 't was during the Night that I had more leasure to reflect on the admirable Revolutions of the day which forc't me to say Great gods what has the miserable Artavasdes done that makes you so ingenious to persecute him was it such a Crime to adore what was your excellentest Work and most resembl'd you as well in perfection as in tormenting me was to be constant to a virtuous flame a Sin if neither of these can bear that Name 't is with injustice that I bear your plagues for I am guilty of no other offences was it not enough that you made Pacorus ravish my Right my Reward and my Felicity from me but you must afterwards constitute me his Tutulary-Angel and not only make me present whensoever any danger threaten'd him but make me also preserve his life and in so unfortunate a way too as not in that performance to lose my own there could not be a higher torment than to save a successful Rival unless it were to out-live that act both these yet you have made my Destiny and you are not content with this but that little satisfaction which attends so much suffering you deprive me of by rendering my concealment necessary You can make me undertake the danger but you will not suffer me to receive the Reward The revealing of Innocency which to others is a recompence to me must be a Punishment as great as Guilt for the Reward which attends the disclosing of mine will be the trouble of Altezeera and the Banishment of Artavasdes To continue neer her I must be unworthy that Honour and to make my self appear worthy of I must be banish't from it if I remain near Pacorus I am eternally destin'd to preserve him and if I go from him I must lose that sight which preserves me Great gods either put a period to your Cruelty or to that Life which is the object of it for whilst you continue both you cannot make me more miserable than you make your selves unjust These irreligious reasonings ended not but with the Night and the Day was as full of torment though Altezeera did visit me for she did it as she her self told me to obey Pacorus And alas though it were to me yet it was not to Artavades My cruel Fate made me still Artavasdes when 't was to receive a punishment but when 't was to enjoy a blessing it made me Pharasmanes Whilst Pacorus and I were healing of our Wounds I receiv'd such incessant Obligations from him that I found my self as much ty'd to him by Resentment as by Fate and the higher Powers did every day so far remove me from my hopes that I began not to despair but thereby I should remove my self from their Cruelty but I had no sooner form'd so flattering an expectation than they immediately ruin'd it and by that infinite Power they shew'd in tormenting they manifested they only wanted the Will to oblige me which alas I fear'd was as great a deficiency as if both were wanting That my generous Friends continu'd Artavasdes which I have now to tell you will perhaps make you think what I have said proceeds from my reason not my irreligion for though by an internal Consumption I was so much pin'd away that the Physicians assur'd me if in few dayes there did not happen as strange an alteration in one extream as there had happen'd in the other my recovery would be a fitter subject for their Prayers than Art yet I struggl'd with my infirmity not to conquer but to contribute to its Victory and therefore 't was that every day I constantly waited on the Prince and Princess in their several Appartments who were both so Generous as to be inâ—initely concern'd in my visible Declination One afternoon I went to the fair Altezeera to pay her a visit but some of her Servants told me she was newly gone to Regeliza's who said Artavasdes I forgot to tell you continu'd her Mistresses favour and was married to a great Lord in Selutia she being in extream danger in her delivery had passionately beg'd from Altezeera the Honor of a visit since probably as she said 't was the last time she should ever receive it This News did exceedingly trouble me because I knew it did the fair Altezeera whose return I resolv'd to expect in her own Appartment not only as the distance between hers and mine was such that my weakness made my going to my own and return to hers a greater trouble than my attending could amount unto but also I elected the latter to learn the certainty of Regeliza's condition in which both positively and relatively I was not a little concern'd I had not continu'd two Hours in this Expectation when the Princess return'd but with Eyes so fill'd with Tears that I too suddenly read in that effect the cause of it As soon as she was come into the Chamber in which I waited for her all her Servants withdrew themselves and finding they did it as duty to her Grief I was going to imitate them which as soon as she observed she told me You may stay Pharasmanes if your going away proceeds from any consideration of me Madam I reply'd the deep sadness which I too visibly perceiv'd in your Looks makes me conjecture the cause of it is the Death of Regeliza whom I know you too justly deplore to offer yet or hope to lessen or interrupt your Tears 'T is true said Altezeera Regeliza and the Son she went with are both Dead but she has told me something before her Death which has but too powerfully consol'd me for it and which perhaps if you knew you would confess
if there were any Justice in my shedding some Tears for her loss it should proceed from a contrary cause than to that you ascribe them to I have Pharasmanes my heart too much contracted to tell you now what it is that does it but if to morrow you will visit me you shall know what I believe will invite you to excuse my not being able to acquaint you with it now Altezeera had no sooner ended those words than in fresh weepings she did retire hastily into her Cabinet and it being somewhat late I did to my Chamber where I past the Night in a thousand several conjectures what this strange accident might be but it so perfectly merited that Name that I was so far from imagining it as I could hardly believe it when Altezeera told it me At length as soon as the impatiented hour came I went to the Princesses Appartment I found her on her Bed all alone and in passions of Grief which transcended those I had left her in which thereby I concluded had a high cause when a proportionate Judgment and Fortitude made time bring an accession to them The Chamber though it were day had nothing of Light in it but what it receiv'd from a few silver Lamps and the Princess who as soon as she saw me and that none else was in the Room which she had expresly given charge of she told me Come Pharasmanes and see the miserablest Creature living one which so justly possesses that Name that though the gods granted me my wishes they could not yet divest me of it Would to the gods Madam I reply'd struck to the heart with those sad words that my Death could restore you your quiet you should soon and experimentally know there is nothing so dear unto me No Pharasmanes she said 't is my Death not yours must restore my quiet if any thing has that power nor would I be long from receiving that remedy did I not apprehend it would prove none to me I must Pharasmanes I must languish in Torments for they are as fit for my Crime as my Justification but that you may know my despair is just I must communicate a secret to you though I apprehend your knowledg of it will infect you with so transcendent a sorrow that it may even bring an accession to mine Regeliza the Princess continu'd finding her self past hopes of recovery importun'd me by so many several Messages to come and visit her that at last I did it though I fancy'd all the effect it would produce would only be an aggravation of my Grief and no diminution of hers which alas though in a different way prov'd too sad a Truth I was no sooner come into her Chamber than she desir'd all the rest to leave it and then with some deep sighs she thus told me I should Madam despair of the gods pardon in the other World did I leave this without obtaining yours and though what I have committed be of a quality which was authoriz'd by duty and extenuated by the event yet I cannot but call it a Crime and nothing shall make me term it otherwise but your esteeming it none which if you do I shall leave the World with as little regret as if you do the contrary I shall with horror Know Madam That not long after Artavasdes went to Rome Artabazus sent for me privately into his Closset where after all those flatteries which he thought most effective he told me Regeliza My satisfaction and that of Armenia now entirely is in your hands both of them consist in the breaking that Passion which is between my Sister and Artavasdes Whilst I consider'd Tygranes as my Successor I was as much concern'd in the consummating of that Marriage as now I am in the interruption Whilst Altezeera was like to be a subject I esteem'd none that was so more worthy of her than him she had elected but since Tygranes Crimes both against me and the Romans has render'd him as unworthy my care as their Mercy I consider Altezeera now as what she shall be and in that quality I cannot without horror contemplate her placing her self in a lower degree by her election than the Gods and Nature have destin'd her unto nor in one performance so much injure my Sister as to deprive her of her best Subject to make her self one This continu'd Artabazâ—s I would have told Artavasdes before his departure had I not apprehended his despair would have involv'd Armenia in new Wars and that Altezeera was too far ingag'd in her Passion and Vows to let any political consideration absolve them I therefore elected to effect that by Art which I concluded was any other way unfeizable and therefore before Artavasdes departure pretending a flame for a new Mistris and that she would not be convinc't of it but by a slighting Letter to my former and an assurance of my Passion to her self under my hand one day in Artavasdes sight I so well counterfeited an indisposition to Write and so extol'd his Stile above my own that having acquainted him with what I have you at length I procur'd two Letters from him to those effects I desir'd and mention'd which I said I would copy but which indeed I have reserv'd for another use for by their help and yours I make no question but to raise such a Fraction between the Lovers as nothing but a miracle shall discover it or unite them This said Artabazus I have done by the advice of Crassolis who is confident and so am I if you will place Artavasdes Cypher on one of the Letters and contribute to the delivery of it by a Servant of his whom we have suborn'd for that effect and who will leave him in his Journey to Rome it may shake her constancy which soon after we my ruine if the other Letter which addresses it self to his new Mistris be presented to Altezeera by you as miraculously found in Theoxcena's Closet who we have thought the fittest person to give Altezeera a jealousie not only for her perfections but that Artavasdes before his leaving Armenia so assidiously visited her though we know 't was on Phanasders score This will doubtless produce the effects we mention and when it has I will engage the Prince Pharnâ—ces the great Mithridates Son to make his addresses to her which in the rage of her Lovers inconstancy will certainly prove successful and when once she is Married I will not much apprehend the disclosure of the Fallacy If continu'd Artabazus you esteem of my Friendship you will not deny me this proof of yours and if you value Altezeera's advantage you will grant it me upon that score neither can your refusal prevent it for if you should reject this Design you will but constrain me to act it a more offensive and perhaps bloodier way for I am determin'd at whatsoever rate to perform my intentions This was the effect Madam continu'd Regeliza of what Artabazus spake to me though he gave