him a little while immovable Fatall face cryed she to attract but more fatall and cruell heart to despise and to be so invincible against Love How what said I No no Argelois those pale cheeks discover the secreet flames of thy heart Thou art not exempt from his tyranny that wounded me Yes you cannot deny it and 't is Eliana too Argelois was extremely troubled at these words but Dardanus having before made him acquainted with her suspicion he was the better able to answer her Madam said he I hope you will have more charitable thoughts than to thinke I should offer so much dishonour to a princesse as to set my affection so aspiringly You judge of me by the greatnesse which I am ariv'd at by your immens favours and not by that which otherwise I am You may said the princesse deny it if you please but these are no arguments to contradict what I say for it is no voluntary action to love and I cannot account that an injury which one is impelled to Yes Argelois I know her charmes to be more attracting than mine and I will yeild her the victory but it shall be with my life Argelois would have answered her but that Eliana and Tribulus walking by the place caused them to joyne company with them where they passed good part of the day in those umbracula's in severall discourses whilst their hearts entertained divers Cogitations The next day Argelois having not visited Euripides a good while was walking towards his grot when meeting with Epidauro they discoursed together of severall particulars till they came to the Grove Argelois believing he should do Euripides a pleasure to let him hear some actions of Dardanus took his favourite with him Euripides embracing him gave him his wonted reception which was all kindnesse being as it were ty'd to him by those charmes that allwayes accompained his presence Euripides understanding for what end he had brought Epidauro gave him many thanks and presently prepared for the audition Epidauro understanding from Argelois what they desired of him was nothign difficult to perform that taske at the request of his masters greatest friend Argelois being desirous to repose himself or rather to give way to his wonted amorous meditations slung himself upon a bed Euripides and Lonoxia takeing Epidauro by the hand led him into another room where haveing placed him between them they invited him by their silence to what he knew they expected After a little recollection he began thus THE HISTORIE of DARDANUS MY years not exceeding those of the Prince declare that what I speak from his infancy were the dictates of those who were both this masters and his servants Palemon after that notable overthrow of Mark Antonie living in great fear of the Romans for the affection he had shewn that Prince retired amongst the Getes and pitching in Tomos lived amongst a people civilized by the swan-like notes of the Sulmonian bard Marying with Agauue the nece of Tarcondemus King of Celisia they produced Dardanus the fruit of that conjunction into the world About that time by a strange misfortune Palemedon son to Palemon by his other wife was lost being ravished out of the arms of his nurse by some wicked Assassius Euripides could not but but shew his interest in that speech by a sigh that he emitted but it not being noted Epidauro continued thus But sure the Gods fore-seeing the virtues of the prince my master shewed by this action that he deserved to be something more than second to the Crown There was great lamentation for the loss of that young Prince and the King had not been to be comforted but by the sight of Dardanus who now received the whole influence of the Kings love which else must have been shared between them After that the Romans had reduced Capadocia Comagena and other kingdoms into provinces and that the King saw they did not disturb him they removed to Chalcedon where he made his peace with the Romans And for some tribute which he was forced to pay them they assigned him Byzantium for his court and gave him good part of Thrace and in Asia all that along the Pontic sea In the mean time the young Prince Dardanus haveing tutors that were most excellent grew so expert in all the sciences that he shewed that the barbarity of the place where he was born had contributed nothing to his nature and made all expect the incomparable fruit of so fair blossomes He not only excelled in litteâ—ature but also in armes in which in a very little time he seemed to be rather a master than a tyro and soon exhausted all the knowledg of his preceptors In a word Nature had with a lavish hand bestowed those favours which might make him excell all men He was but young in years when the King perceiving that his tutors was not sufficient for his large cappacity sent him to Athens where in that nurse of the muses his pregnant wit ran through and peirc'd into the profundity of Philosophy I had then the honour to accompany him and to be his servant In that place it was that he fell acquainted with the amiable and no lesse generous Argelois The parity of their yeares their consimilitude of their featurs the profundety of their wits and the correspondency of thier affections composed an amity indissolvable but by the power of Eternall Night They were seldome a part and for all the submission of Argelois knowing Dardanus to be a Prince yet he would give him no other appellation than Brother and commanded him to do the like They were the mirror of Athens both for frindship and all things else at prizes they strove to make each other conquerer and to conâ—er the honour from themselves upon each other glorying more in one anothers victory than for their own There was no prize that could be got from them nor no â—â—â—rell crown but it addorned one of their heads whether it were for learning or Martiall sports This continued untill Argelois was sent for home by his too indulgent father this mesage raized a war betwixt love and obedience in Argelois but the last lecture he had read being so full of paraenetick instructions concerning obedience to parents he was forced to leave his friend Dardanus by the strong impressions thereof This separation was not without teares and reciprocall ingagement on either side to overcome time and absence by their constant and intire affection They vow'd that friendship which was to last eternally and which was not to be defaced by any accidents of Forune or Time He had not long lest the Tritonian towers but that my master found the miss of that incomperable man in his eyes the Muses had accompained his friend and left their ancient seat The graces were no where to be sound and the City seemed dissolate and melancholy since the absence of Argelois Epidauro said he to me I can no more find that delight a suavity in these dull lucubrations
too apt to have taken upon themselves in such a place and on such an occasion The consideration of his Love was the chiefe motive that caused him to give his consent and he had no sooner done it but Peomontile came to his pallace to complement him from the Queen and to tell him that she desired him to justifie himselfe of a crime she had objected against him Our ignorance my Lord said Peomontile must plead for your pardon that we have not rendered you those civilities which we ought but truly we are hardly excusable and our reason might have told us that those actions we have seen could not proceed but from a man of merit and of quality It would have been a kind of injustice my Lord replyeâ— Araterus for me to have mentioned my birth or nobillity since the goodnesse of her Majesty hath raised me to that pitch of honour and glory that it hath obscured whatsomever I was before and I must professe whatsomever I hold of noble or High is from her donation But le ts go waite on heâ— Majesty since she honour us with her presence Peomontile is reselved to accompanying him they went immediately to the Queen She received Araterus with a galantry peculiar to her selfe and by a kind of gentle crimination blam'd him for dissembling his birth Araterus answered her with wonderfull submission and compliments telling her that I had committed an error though glorious for him yet unpardonable because it had put her Majesty to the trouble of taking notice of it I am become Meador's protecteresse said the Queen and since it is thorow my default that he hath confest it you must not be so injust as to blame him for it 'T is by his pardon that you must acquit your self for the wrong you have done us in making of us so disrespectful to your quality by the ignorance of it You may command me Madam returned Araterus and since you are bocome his protectriss there 's none in the world can hurt him But I must professe that the honour you have done me was the thing that made me forget that I ever was before I had the happinesse to see your Majesty This convertation it may be might have lasted longer but that one of the officers of the Queens came to give her notice that some of the chiefe of the City whom she had sent for attended her pleasure The Queen telling Araterus she would not be long e're she return'd desired Marina to accompany him and being led by Peomontile she left Araterus Marina after much ordinary discourse being 't was towards the evening led him into the pallace Garden where the beauty of the place found them discourse for some time but at last having seated themselves in a house of pleasure in the midst of the Garden you are indebted to me fair Marrina said Araterus a relation which by the â—ueens consent and your owne promise you ought to have pay'd me before this and this opportunity is so faire that I cannot let it slip without putting you in minde of it and telling you that I am ready to hear it if it will not be troublesome to you to relate it Marina having nothing to say against so just a request told him she would deferre it no lonâ—er but give him the content he desired after she had sate silent a little time she began thus The Queen being the daughter of Amarisia King of this mighty dominion and a Princesse of the neither India was brought up in her infancy according to the way and manner of this Kingdome She had two younger sisters but they and her mother dying when she was very young they left her to receive all the care and love of her father who indeed brought her up according to the tendernesse and delicatenesse of her spirit Her beauty in her infancy gave an assured sign that 't would be raire and admirable and her wit in every thing was seen comparable She had the features and beauty of her mother the wisdome and understanding of her father the one being the beautifullest of her time the other the wisest and most prudence of his so that this conjunction in the daughter gave the whole Kingdome hopes of an extream happinesse assoon as she was capable to Raigne Amaisia as if he would not hinder her from making use of those gifts the Gods had given her dyed 'T is five years since and though she were then but fifteen yet the whole Kingdome can testifie they never enjoyned a more peaceable and happy time till those late warrs Her prudence and wisdome being showne in a thousand occasions both that the same of her beauty spreading thorow the whole East begot her as many lovers and adorers as there were Princes in the Orient There is hardly any of them but either came or sent to lay their Crowns at her feet and all desired the happinesse of possessing her All propositions of Marriage she carried with so much addresse that she still kept her selfe free and incensed none But at last the Prince of Sinana having heard of her by the mouth of fame thorow the large extent of his fathers dominions came as others had done with a traine sutable to the quality of so great a Prince to Sinda This Prince though indeed he is the most potent and mightiest in the world yet pleased the Queen less then all the rest of those that proffered her their service For she having a noble and transcendent soule regarded not so much the greatness of their Kingdomes as the habit and virtues of their minds She had also a pierceing Judgment and could take an exact knowledge of their inclinations by the least of their actions She presently found this Prince of a most turbulent spirit rash heady and fierce which was very inconsonant to her gentle disposition which made her little regard either his beauty handsomenesse or greatnesse believing that she could not be happy but with those whose dispositions should agree with hers as well as their affections However she used him according to his birth and though she had a great desire to be rid of him yet she entertained him nobly and royally The Prince no sooner saw her but being very susceptable it seems fell in Love with those ardencies impatiences as she had not seen before though truly Iam perswaded 't was rather an effect of his ambition than his Love truly I think he lov'd his Kingdom better than her and if I am not greatly mistaken 't was that he sought and these wars hath made it appear so Neverthelesse the Queens speeches neither gave him hope nor dispare but using him gently according to her own nature he remain'd with her agreat while I will never stand to trouble you with the protestations of his love nor addresses since they were all false feign'd but her replys were still modest agreeable to her condition At last he grew so troublesome to her preffing that she
had satisfied themselves with beholding them they delivered them again to Meador who translated them into his vernacular speech and made them speak thus MAURISHIA HIS ORATION Seigniours THis which my Lord Peomontile hath moved in the Counsel I must confess with him is of great concernment to the kingdom and ought not to be proceeded on temerariously or without deliberation Every one here ought to speak their minds freely and fully and not to be swayed by the favour or fear of others And I hope noble Seigniours that you will candidly interpret what I shall speak and believe that the scope of my speech is for the good of my Prince and welfare of my Countrey I must needs then declare that in my opinion this marriage which my Lord Peomontile moves cannot be for the good and welfare of the people My reasons I 'le give you in a word because I will not tyre you with prolixity A little reform your judgements and do but consider the disparity between them I mean not in age but in quality Is he any more then what the goodness of our Queen hath made him Hath he any thing but what depends on her sole donation Some say he is a Prince what proof have we of it but himself and who would not attribute Titles of honour to himself where he knows he cannot be disproved a likely matter that a Prince should be driven so far from his own Countrey and be so willing to remain here without the least desire of returning I will not give you my thoughts of him because the Queen hath made him honourable But I pray consider in opposition to his inferiority the Queens greatness Look on her as a Queen as having aâ— her command a kingdom nay one of the greatest richest and most potentest in the East and tell me then the great disparity that is betwixt them She is a mark fair enough for an ambitious man and who would not pretend greatness for so great a glory The Queen out of her generousness and goodness hath left the management of this affair to us and we ought now to regard how to confirm our future happiness and to provide for a continual peace that our posterities may enjoy the fruits of what we in our wisdomes have acted for them It may be that we may never have the like occasion as this let us not therefore conjoyn such disparing peeces and make a structure that may not out last half our dayes Methinks I heard you ask me why this disparity should be any obstacle to the happiness of the kingdome or should be a just let to this marriage I answer you that concord amity and peace things so essential to the happiness of the kingdome cannot harbour long in persons dispar in quality age or manners Disagreement is like to happen and the disparity after some small time will quickly breed dissentions Do you not think that the queen knowing him to be her Creature and so inferiour to her will not still exercise her authority over him and though he be in the place of an husband account him in that of a servant Do you not think that he haveing attained the dignity of a king and the place of a husband will be ever able to bear it and not rather endeavour to subjugate her to his Will will not this think you breed divisions discords and dissentions will not the queen still consider her dignity and his inferiority and will not she think you be obedient or obsequious to him whom she hath raised as her place and case of matrimony requires will she not rather look that he should obey her and cede to her will in all things which thing consider your selves how prejudicial it would be to a kingdom where a King cannot freely act but by the consent and will of another A thousand other wayes is this disparity of births capable of begetting disunion disagreements and disjunctions which were they in a private family or in lesser persons of quality were nothing but in this case in persons so eminent as the King and queen disunion and disagreement cannot but be very prejudicial to the kingdome and greatly to its disadvantage This is a thing so obvious that I need not mention what sideings jealousies factions â—hat complotings what treasons this may produce what murther it may cause what ruin and confusion it may infer when through disunions and disparity the one seeks the destruction of the other Examples of this kind are frequent which might induce us to be wise by others harms But suppose that none of this happen as the gods grant it may not if this marriage be effected but that they live in peace and happy concord and agreement nevertheless consider that Araterus is one of whom we have had but small experience 'T is true that he hath shewed himself valiant and a good Captain but every good Captain may not make a good King he may prove fortunate in the field and unfortunate on the Throne good in the Camp but bad in the Court the discipline of which are far different He may know how to govern an Army and yet not know how to rule a kingdome Princes are only indued with a capacity from the gods to rule others to obey It may be you object in your thoughts that he hath merited the dignity by his valour and having saved the kingdome deserves the Queen But consider hath he not been royally rewarded and must he of necessity have the Crown for his pains he hath saved it and may be may also shew you he hath the art to ruin it Some let me tell you have been very partial in ascribing so much valour to Araterus that hath ecclipsed that of all the Sornaleans against all equity and justice and as if he himself had beaten all the Sinanans without either help or assistance Did not many other valiant men venture their lives as freely and exhibit their valour as couragiously though they came off not so fortunately nor their deeds so much acknowledged 'T is true my Lord Peomontiles life was saved by him but yet I hope my Lord knows how sufficiently to gratifie him without making him King Some of you it may be at this instant would tell me of the affable courteous and loving disposition of Araterus his excellent parts sweet and winning behaviour his many vertues moderation and generosity I cannot deny but all this appears in him but who knows not that these are sutable exhibitions purposely prepared to forward his high designes And who knows but that he endures it with regret enough through aspiring hopes of a kingly dignity till he hath attained that place wherein he may exhibit his own nature and disposition freely and uncontroulably This difference there is between a Prince and one of his condition the one hides himself through fear the other exhibits himself freely having power enough to back his enormities so that his vertues will appear nakedly he acting without
Object Sol beginning now to immerge himself in the Atlantick ocean I retired from that place and with gentle steps retrod the path upon the bank of the river Tagus extreamly affected with the intuition of that delicate but unknown Object I found divers agitations in my spirits which at I first took to be the ordinary effects of divers beautifull objects which have a certain opperative virtue on a gentle soule so that they can hardly be intuited without affection and desire all delectable and amiable objects being desireable in themselves and especially to soules who are adapted to Love My soul was too tender not to receive the impression of that venust exhibition and not to be delighted with that Lovely object but yet my former thoughts made me strive to stop the discursion of my Imagination and to extinguish the species of the object but for all my endeavours it would still present it selfe to my fancy and awake all the powers and faculties of my soule to an intense contemplation of that I endeavoured to discusse Nor did time the consumer of all things annihilate this species for in the space of a week I sound it got ground upon my will and was become almost habitual I also perceived my former dolors decrease as this augmented this begining to engrosse all the working of my fancie to it's selfe So that at last I had quite lost or extinguished my former trouble I was yet so simple as not to know how to denominate this passion and I durst not think it was Love being affraid of that monster which I had heard had precipitated so many soules but in fine it grew so turbulent and molestuous that I knew not whether to thank the Gods for taking away the afflictions of my minde or increpate them more for these new disquiets But though these disturbances seemed greater than the other yet were they mitigated with a kind of titillation or delight which moderated the sensibility of them and made as it were a kind of pleasure in the midst of paine with an admirable mixture Remaning in these disturbances I frequented every evening the place where I was first intoxicated but I alwayes mist of my desirâ—s of seeing her which did but beget greater ardencies In the mean time having acquired a perfection in the Spanish tongue and divers others especially the Roman before I came over I made a disquisition to know who they were that dwelt in that amnick I le and after much search I understood that none inhabiâ—eâ— there but of the feminine sex and that the Lady was a virgine and daughter to the prince of the Turditans who since the reign of Augustus had lived though not with so much Regality yet with as much honour as formerly in the City Hispalis situated upon the olive bearing Betis in the provence of Batica And that the ladies name was Atalanta who by reason of the great affection she bore to that place and the desire she had to be sequestred from the sight of any but those of her house was permitted by her father to inhabite there when this was verified by the relation of divers that knew it I found it exuscitate divers and contrary motions within me which agitated all the faculties of my soul and I found not more encouragements than disanimations for the placeing of my Love I exhibited all the difficulties and precipices I could imagin to divert my selfe from this passion but all was too weake to deturb it insomuch that I was enforc't to cede to it's power and seek to feed that fire I could not extinguish All the difficulties I resign'd to that power which had first wounded me and relied only on his advantages who useth to effect things very repugnant and over come all difficulties by his power Under his banner then I placed my selfe and with prayers I entreated that Amorous god for aide Whilst I was agitated with this passion I assiduously traversed the bankes of Tagus and sedulously watched for an appearance of that bright Sun which had begot those restlesse desires I oft circumvagated that I le and left neither banke unvisited which stood opposit to it still hopeing to attaine that desired sight but her great seclusion made some weeks passe away without the attainement of that invisagement which had left me almost bare of hopes My sedulitie yet continuing and frequenting that place as I used to doe I sat me downe under the covert of certaine trees tho row whose bows I had a favourable prospect to the house At that time having long contemplated on divers things leaning my head against the body of a tree I was suddenly deprived of the act of sense resolving all my Imaginations into the Kingdome of sleep which acting upon the species of visible objects exsuscitated many pleasing dreames that held me past my wonted time of return which was usually presently after Sol had left our Hemisphere But awaking from the pleasing fancies of sleepe I found that the night had begun to inherit the place of day and faire Cynthia in her perfectest forme began to enlighten the superficies of the waters with her refulgent beames I was about to depart when a sudden noyse in the water surprized my eares which made me circumspect to see what it might be creeping without obstrepancie under the obumbrating boughs close to the banke of the river I perceiv'd that it was the dashing of oares in the water that had reverberated the aire to my eares The fulgency of Luna made every thing perspicuous on the river so that I saw the remigers of the little boate which seemed newly to be put off from the little Island were six virgins whose tender armes performed that office very artificially the water willingly giving way to their gentle strokes At the head of the boate under a canopie of silke Sate two women for whose pleasure the others made many turns upon the water with their boat to delight them with that aquatick recreation I avidiously attracted the boate towards the shore with my eyes believing one of them to be the same I had beheld with that perturbation that had accompanied me ever since This unexpected incounter made me to watch the motion of the boate with great diligence which at last came gliding down the stream close by the banke where I lay so that I perspicuously saw one of them to be a woman of great gravity but imediatly leaving that object I cast my eyes upon the other whom I presently knew to be same faire one that had involved my soule into such perplexities This sight caused a generall shivering through all my body and I could not behold her without perturbation I had little time by reason of the swiftnesse of the boate to behold those perfections but by the dimme light of the Moon I saw they surpast those which I had before seen at a distance and her Idea was more perfectly renewed in my soule and with a more absolute power
have need of our Charity and since she is of our imbeciller sex we will not feare to satisfie our selves with a better discovery and see to what acts of charity the Gods conduce us with this strengthning our selves with a close adjunction we aproacht you and not perceiving you to breath I forc'd my self to so much hardinesse as to feel whether your body had been destitute of heat by the relinquishment of your soul which â—ction it seems awaked you I madam replyed I that gentle touch hath rais'd me from the grace of my distresses and your continuall presence will consolidate all my happinesse for which felicite evenement I am indebted a hundred thousand prayers to the Gods and as many lives if I had them to your service other discourse we had till those maiden strokes had brought us to the landing place where we left our floateing house and set our feet upon the more solid element The envious darkness wrapt in obscurity all the rarities of the place and denied me the intuition of those pleasant gardens that circundated the habitacle of Atalanta But by the sicke sight of the nights gubernatrix I could perceive that the place gloried no lesse in its siteâ— and all the happy adornments nature could out of her greatest benignity afford than in being the blessed habitation of one of the greatest bauties in the world Art could likewise challenge no lesse share in the conservation and imbellishment of its pride and deserv'ed no lesse praise for its exact and exquisite Imitation every thing being methodiz'd into a naturall wildnesse so that it was hard to say whether nature Imitated art or art nature in those compartments and indentments of groves and walkes It was a place fit indeed to be the receptacle of so fair a creature and where pleasure seem'd to glory in becoming a servant to her greatnesse Between that object of all my desires and her tutoresse I was conducted along a most pleasant walke which led from the place where we landed to the house being set on each side and mingled alternately with yellow and orange coulour fruit-bearing trees which gave so fragrant a smell that would have reviv'd a benummed sense and which surpassed the odours of the Arabick forrests The fruites like those of Alcinous hung with a continuall fairenesse and those golden apples fairer than those of the fabulated Hesperides hung like aureated studds amoungst the fresh verdure of their tremulous leaves which delighted the optick sence with their sight and the odorate with their fragrancies Between these pleasurable trees treeding upon a continuall spring of virdant grasse we walked till we came to the house which in all things equall'd the concinnity of the best and corresponded with the greatnesse of Atalanta Being entred Atalanta renewed her welcomes with many strickt embraces and at last saluted me as a token of her Love and frindship The touch of those Rubies had allmost extracted my soul totally from my body which fled to the portalls of its structure that it might with more ardency receive the impression of her lips My senses hardly exerciseing their functions for some time after the receipt of that inflaming kisse I exhibited an amazednesse in my looks and hardly answered sense to what she said but at last recovering my selfe and perceiving she took notise of it I excused it the best I could with these words Madam Truly I had lost my selfe in the Maeanders of your goodnesse which contemplation had so implicated me that it was imposible for me suddenly to returne I cannot but see that my greatest acknowledgement will be but as it were ingratitude if compar'd to the excesse of that goodnesse you exhibite for in beholding the exiguitie of my deserts I find the immensity of your favours No marvell then if I am amazed being none besides your self could perswade me that my senses had the fre exercise of all their functions but that these immense favours were but the pleasing phantasmes presented in the Kingdome of Morphâ—us Atalanta answered me with no lesse grace than the Queen of Heaven her words exhibiting her to be the daughter of Mercurie I beseech you said she do not magnifie these small testifications of my amity to so great a magnitude for I professe they are so much below the desires I have to accommodate your goodnesse that I will not own them farther than the diminitive of my will and that by this minute service you may Judge the cordiality oâ— my affection Other discourses we had in which she exhibited her wit and goodness till she had conducted me into a chamber where riches and decency strove to accomodate beauty After she had put off an accessary mantle which serv'd to keep off the cold blasts of the night and that we had seated our selves Atalanta in very good terms pray'd the audition of my foruntes I then not without fear of triping told her at large this sigment with many circumstances and imbellishments which I will tell you in two or three words I fain'd my self to be niece to King Juba though I was borne after his death I told her a brother unto that King hearing of the voluntary death of Juba and that he saw the hand of fortune resolv'd to sling that kingdome into the lap of the Romans loath to follow the example of his brother and yet loath to become a slave to the Romane greatnesse fled from that unfortunate place and passing beyond the mountaine Atlas natures bound-mark to the Roman Empire he found a habitation in the court of the King of the Getulans where at last he was maried to a neece of the Kings from which conjunction I feign'd my self to be produc'd My father I told her dyed when I was very young and whom I could not remember my mother I feign'd liv'd till I was fourteen years of age who in her life time had bred me in an extraordinary way of behaviour and civility contrary to the custome of that Rude people And that after her death my small formosity increasing with my years made one of the chiefest in the kingdome desire me but that I not enduring the great incivility and rude nature of those Getulans despised him and forbad him ever to mention his sute any more But he I told them more enflam'd with Lust than Love sought one day having an opportunity to have forc't me a crime of the smallest nature amongst them and seldome punisht but by laughter However I made my force to resist his violence and with helpe to preserve my chastity and that my complaints and teares to the King at last procur'd his banishment which filling that wicked Getulan with enragement lawes being of too small force to curbe his Insolency watching his opportunity stab'd the King and having a party ready set the whole Kingdome into a combustion and flames of war I said that hearing the truth of the Kings death and fearing death lesse than to fall into the hands of that parricide
since the absence of Argelois as formerly These schooles are too melancholy and sedentary I do not intend to be a docter or sophus I am well enough skilled in this speculative knowledge armes ought to be my profession and though literature and the sword have an equall share in the regiment of a Kingdom yet there is no pollicy like to that of experience Nothing like to example precepts are nothing so vively represented nor so soone caught nor so long retained A great pollitition in the school most times proves a meer fool in the Court. As if that variety of changes and actions of men were to be tyed to the rules of the school No Epidauro I shall learn more experience and gain more knowledg in being on yeer at Rome than I shall in spending ten here But if it were for no other reason but to divertize me from the trouble I receive by the absence of Argelois I am resolved to put it in execution I will to Rome and vew that City that imposes Lawes to the whole world I had allwayes a great fancy to travell so that he jumped with my desires yet knowing him to be a Prince on whose life the happinesse of a kingdom depended and my master I did my duty in perswading him to the contrary and in declaring the dangers perils accidents that always attended travell I represented to him his minority his parents trouble the Kingdomes sadnesse with every thing that duty and the exiguty of my intellectualls were able to dictate But he that was non of those that could be turn'd every way by the wind of perswasion stuck to his first resolutions and commanding me as a master I obayed him as a servant After I had according to his command prepared every thing ready for his voyage to Rome we left Attica and with a very prosperous wind a rived at that Citty which extended her authority from the orient to the Hesperian wave That Citty had not recovered those sadnesses and habits of mourning she had assumed for the death of Drusus when we came so that its luster seemed obnubilated with a sable vaile and iâ—s glory a little yeilding to the occasion of the time But yet it had so much beauty in it as to inchant the minde of Dardanus and to make him resolve for to stay some few years The Prince hiding his condition took a lodging amongst the Knights of Rome And though it were not altogether correspondent to the Quallity of a Prince yet it might answer to that of a noble man He soon grew acqainted and with that winning carriage and attracting speech proper to himself he bound many slaves to his courtisie and civillity and overcoming envy it self made those who were enimies to virtue to acknowledg him scarscly to be parrallel'd Three whole years remained we in that City in which time 't is incredible to declare the pollicies the experiences and the observations he had gained His greatest divertizment was in the Martian field in which he gained the praise and acclamations of the whole City Amongst the rest of his numerous acquaintance was that monster of men the wicked Caligula son to the good Germanicus and whom now for a fatall plague to themselves Rome hath chosen Emperor My master soon saw the evil of his condition and though he keept them from publique noteing it may be hoping for the Empire yet those that used his company saw his vices perspicuous enough and his frequent and intollerable debauches odious I verily believe now he hath attaind that dignity in which he may commit them without fear of taxing he will not stick to exhibit in publique what before he Committed in private The good nature of my master was not able to work upon that monster who like the spider extracted poyson out of the fairest flowers He would have been lesse ingaged to him but that the innumerable favours which he receiv'd from him caused him to answer his civillities with his company and to indure those insulsities which he saw him dayly commit That monster Caligula seemed every day more affectionate than other to my master and as if he had been courting his mistresse he would with new coyn'd words seek to exhibit the affection he bore him My master being but a child in impieties could not imagin that turpitude that was lodg'd in the putrified breast of Caligula After a while he brought him acquainted with Sejanus that great favourit of Tiberius and his great instructor to all cruelties and impieties This was he that was to usher in the beastly and abominable desires of Caligula who had made him his counceller and deputy to effect his wickdnesse Dardanus after that Seajnus had one day with the best of his Rhetorick and with many words exhibited the extream love and affection Caligula bore him and that it rested in him to make Caligula happy by a continuall and more near convers promised very innocently that there was nothing that Caligula could desire from him but he should be both ready and willing to pleasure him and that he should count it no small happinesse to enjoy his company often My master here served Sejanus with some of his own Cities compliments speaking what his heart denyed for I am sure of all men living he cared least for those two Sejanus and Caligula But Sejanus had enough and I believe judged my masters words by his own beastly thoughts Assoon â—s he was gon the Prince call'd me to him I cannot but wonder Epâ—dauro said he at Caligula he knowes well enough that my resentments of his debauches are nothing corresponding with his he sees that I am not inclined that way and yet if he speaks true he loves me more than all the world What do you think Sejanus came for it was but to tell me with the best of his language the great love and affection of Caligula For my part I would soon ride my self of their convers but that it may be the Gods hath design'd me for their instruments to reclame them from their vices and for that end haith stirred up this affection in Caligula which I cannot believe to proceed from his own wicked nature See how innocently he interpreted the affection of that beast but I having heard of the common crimes and abominable actions not sitting to be named done upon men by the beastly buggerers of that City I suspected Caligula's affection and desirous that the prince might beware of him Sir said I your thoughts are too pure and innoâ—ent to imagin the turpitude and abominable vices of this age inormity is the greatest desire of Great men for not being content with that gender which Nature hath given for the venting of their Lusts they harbour desires so odious that they are not to be named In the fairest grasse lurkes the greatest serpent and under the most specious words the greatest deceit I have good reason to suspect Caligula for his evill nature and frequent debauches declares he cannot
swarth complexion had something of handsomnesse and beauty Araterus although he longed to have returned into his own countrey and though our travells as all others were accompanied with danger and peril yet novelties breeding a desire and curiosity he past into the country finding a wonderfull pleasure in seeing the variety of places people conditions manners and climates Spatiating for some few dayes that region we past a large extent of land which like a tongue ran far into the sea Being arrived on the other side we espied another large sea into which Araterus would needs commit himself resolving now to visit the utmost limits of the earth Indeed we stayed very little in a place but were continually peregrines not knowing which way to return home Those seas were very dangerous at that time of the year in which we sailed them and in few dayes after our imbarquement we were incountered by so violent a storme that 't is past the skill of a better capacity than mine to describe it The end of it was our shipwrack almost within sight of land The blacks being almost halfe fishes and most expert swimmers scorned those helps we were glad to make use of and trusting to the strength of their armes and skill in swimming advanced before us towards the shore The gods I believe angry at their pâ—esumption tooke away their soules out of those darke Lanthornes the one before he was out of our sight was devoured by some great fish the other we afterwards found dead his braines having been beaten out against the rock and his body cast upon the sand where we at last were thrown by the beating of the waves with those pieces of the ship on which we saved our lives Having returned thanks to the Gods for our preservation and having bewailed our faithfull blacks and buried him we found dead on the sand we went into the country to know into what place this dire chance had cast us We presently found that we were in a rich soile fruitfull pleasant stored with all things fit for life and ornament not so hot as those countreys we had passed but we perceived we were very near the Orient The Land was full of Cityes of a vast greatnesse and Towns so stupendious that they exceeded the quantity of our ordinary Cityes besides very popolous and well stored with delicate woods and watered with abundance of rivers The people were extreamly civill courteous to strangers witty pleasant and very well favoured We found nothing of barbarisme or rudenesse there but all things in a kinde of Harmony and great politennesse Araterus was extreamly taken with the countrey being one of the pleasantest he had ever entred You are not to doubt said I to him but that the prophesie of the Druidae will be fulfilled seeing that the Gods with miracles have effected thus much of it we are now in the Orient from whence it seems we are like never to return but 't is no great matter seeing that you shall possesse so rich pleasant and fertill a Kingdom which will be great inducements for your forgetting your native countrey especially when you shall be joyned to so sublime a beauty as the prediction specified I am not replyed he so much in Love with my country as that I cannot live any where else if that I see the will and providence of the Gods so ordering it but yet were it now in my election I should rather choose my little estate in my native country than to enjoy the greatest monarchy here But yet I shall cede to the will of the Gods let them prepare what they will for me And indeed I do not flatter my selfe with the accomplishment of the Praediction although these occurrences might induce me to believe its verity We had travelled some few dayes from the sea side and entertaining our selves with such like discourses we came to the side of a very large river which rowling down with liquid-silvered waves made us suppose it another sea but that the clearnesse and freshnesse of the water contradicted that opinion We travelled up this river with wonderful delight viewing the ships and boats that continually sported upon its surface till we met one of the country who by the signes we made him to know the name of the river told us 't was called Ganges This man seeing we were strangers lokt upon us very wishly and finding I know not what pleasing air in the face of Aratreus he caused us to go with him to his house which was fituate hard by the river and encompassed with a wood 't was built flat on the top after the fashion of the countrey four square and of an indifferent bignesse 'T is impossible for you to imagin with what affection and love this man entertained Araterus and there wanted nothing but language to make their friendship compleat and though 't was in a mute language that he expressed himself yet love was perspicuously seen in every sign and gesture In few dayes Araterus had so won upon our entertainer with his sweet carriage that he would not permit him to depart but as we understood him by the signes he made desired us to continue with him and learn the language of the country Araterus being well content returned him by signes that he would obey him and give him thankes and service for his kindnesses Being setled in this resolution we spun out the thread of two yeares continually obliged to this man for his manifold courtesies and favours In this time we had both of us perfectly attain'd the language which sounded almost like the Arabick and our entertainer accounted himself sufficiently recompensed with the admirable discourses he heard from Araterus and the recitall of his life and fortune Araterus having often requested him to let him understand the condition of the country which he was in one day as we were in a house of pleasure on the famous Ganges he acquitted himself thus This country said he wherein you are is one of the fairest richest and pleasantest that the glorious star of Day sees in his perpetuall course If the Gods grant that you reside amongst us you will experience this verity and say that 't is worthy of all Eulogies and commendations I am perswaded that in the small time that you have been here and in the like experience you have had of us that you cannot but see we are no Scythians or Hyperborean inhabitants but that there is a certaine politenesse in our words and actions If it were handsome for me to praise my own countrey I might expatiate in the collaudation of its site fertility delectableness continuall verdure wholesomenesse richnesse and populosity Besides in the conditions of the people their formofity gentle nature virtuous actions and warlike spirit And lastly of its government and tranquillity in which it hath exceeded all the Kingdoms of the East But this a little time and experience will manifest to you better and fuller than the best of Rhetorick can
I believe I shall give you some satisfaction to tell you briefly in what posture at present we stand This Kingdome hath by a peculiar providence for these three hundred yeares been most commonly governed by Queens neither sex being debarred from the regency and by our lawes the first partus of his or her Majesty that reignes is evermore proclaimed successour to the crown whether it be male or female and although many males afterwards be born yet the first succeeds although it be a female The reason for this is because we believe that the Gods haveing the sole disposing of the conception and forming of the Embrio will create it according to their sole wills and pleasures from them as disposed and ordered by them to govern and rule us But if the eldest dye then the next succeeds according to the order of their birth If we have a good Prince we rejoyce and thank the Gods for him and if we have an evill Prince believing it to be the wills and pleasure of the Gods to have him so we yield to him without murmuring And if it may be accounted a blessing to a Kingdome as sure it is to have good and wise Princes we have been extreamly happy and as I have said though we have not had but two Kings this three hundred yeares yet we have enjoyed all those blessings under the female sex that we could have expected from the other the Gods having poured upon them all the influences of the regall and Majestick starres and inspired them with prudence and Magnanimity But least we should receive any detriment by the mariage of our Queens 't was so ordained that they ought to have the consent of their council which consists of the chiefest men in the Kingdome before they may contract themselves to any but yet this good law hath not alwayes been kept and many have married without putting it to the councill Indeed I liked it so well that I would have made it to have reached Kings as well as Queens and I urging it when the father of our raigning Queen was to be married being very young and fearing least he should choose one not Qualified for the place and considering that we were in little leffe danger by the marriage of our King as well of our Queens when they permit them by their affection to incroach upon their authority I say urging it that the King might be brought under that Law I gained his disfavour and being ever after looked upon as one repugnant to his interests I was ejected from being one of the councill I tooke it patiently enough and retireing from the court have ever since enjoyed the sweets of a private life without the least aspiring to my former dignity He dying about fewer yeares since left his daughter and his only Amarillis to succeed a princesse I confesse filled with the divinity of the Gods who beareth the perfect image of themselves So glorious and transcendent a beauty our Eastern world could never yet glory of she is beyond compare both in the goods of body and of minde she is filled with all the rarest endowments the Gods and nature could infuse and though she hath scarce compleated the fifth lustre of her age she hath exhausted all the learning of the Gymnosophists and Brachmans We have lived hitherto extreamly happy under her raign she allwayes mixing lenity and prudence with all her actions but now some evill Daemon disturbing our quietude hath set the whole Kingdome into a combustion We are invironed with many great and formidable Princes on all sides with whom we have continually kept a very good correspondence and maintained our interests with policy Most of them seeing the beauty of Amarillis our Queen so transcendent have desired the possession of her either for themselves or their sons but she shewing her selfe averse from marriage by her gentlenesse and good behaviour hath pacified most of them On the East side of us is the most mighty Kingdome Sinana the greatest and largest in the whole world being divided into fifteen provinces every one of which is as big as most Kingdomes in the world the one side of it butteth upon ours and runneth all along to the great gulfe of Bengan It is incredible if I should tell you of the number and vastnesse of their Cityes and towns and of the innumerable company of people that inhabit them Those are the subtillest people in the world but indeed they aâ—e pufillanimous and fearfull cowards as the weapons with which they annoy us may well declare They seldome dare to incounter us with weapons like to ours wherein mâ—nhood and strength doth consist in the using but with a strange diabolicall engine murther us at a distance and with which the most saint hearted coward may do as great execution as the most valiant man these engines are made of Iron and steel mixed about four foot or more long hollow throughout into which they put a composition framed in the stygian Kingdome and I believe taught them by some of Tlâ—to's servants 't is of a sulphurious matter to which they give fire with reeds twisted together at a little hole made on purpose at the higher end of the engine After they have put in their hellish powder they ramme down upon it certain stones of a plumbeous substance or peices of Iron or such like matter then collimating it at us they give fire it with their reed which sends the globulus's with such a lightning flash thunder clap that they strike us often dead above have of the same sort so big that they drew them on hundred pace distance Besides those they carrs with which they batter batter down our towns and slaughter above a hundred of us at a time With this sort of weapons they have made themselves so formidable that himself King of Kings governour of the whole Earth and son to the Sun They are feared of the whole east who otherwise are the veriest cowards in the world Those that make the engines and that black dust which causes the slaughter they keep continually prisoners in a large house made on purpose containing about ten thousand of them not suffering them to passe beyond the limits of the wals lest they might teach any other nation the use of them And though that we have gained many of the engines from them yet not knowing how to make the composition they are inservicable to us so that we have slung those murtherers for so we call them into the rivers not knowing what use to make of them The King of this potent and formidable people calls call the Sun their genitor because he arises at the utmost limits of his Kingdom The Son of him that now reignes in this Kingdome of Sinana was lately at the court of our Queen where he stiled himself her servant in hopes to possesse her but going away not long since in great discontent hath sent a Herauld that Proclaimed warrs against us threatning the utter
ruin and subversion of us all unlesse the Queen yielded her selfe to his demands we dayly here out of Sinnana of the great preperation that he makes to invade us which enforces our Queen to raise her forces for her defence resolving to withstand his fury and defend her selfe against his injuries So that peace is now leaving the stage which she hath Kept so long and Mars is coming to act a new and bloody scene Cleoputulus so was our Entertainer called thus ended suscitating a desire in Araterus by this relation of the Wars to go and present himself to the Queen and desired to be listed amongst the number of her Soldiers He made his Hospitator acquainted with his mind who immediatly commending his intentions strengthned his desire and profered him any thing that might further his intentions Araterus after he had resolved upon it and had cloth'd himself after the manner of the Countrey in loose thin garments he took his leave of the kind and generous Cleopotulus and according to his directions took the way towards Sinda the chief City in that kingdome of Sornalea which stood at the ingulfing of a very long river into the sea of Bengan and which sprung from a lake amongst those mountains which serve for an impregnable Mure against the Tartars incursion into Sinana In this famous City Queen Amarillis kept her Court and to which after a few weeks travel we arrived All the Cities that ever we had seen before was nothing to this both for the extent fairness and pleasantness of it Should I tell you the bigness of it you would think it incredible and believe that I fabulate but those that are any thing acquainted with the buildings of the East will not so much wonder at it we entred it when the Sun had scarce ran two hours of his diurnal course and before we could attain the Pallace which stood in the midst of the city and though we went on horse back he had past as many from the Meridian It was so populous that you would have thought all the people of the Kingdom had met there as at a fare The houses were extream fair and well built being most of stone Round that large City ran a wall with battlements and towers with about a hundred gates so strong that it rendred it impregnable on the one side as it was washt with the river and the South side butted towards a kind of sine which breaking forth of the gulf came thorow the City to the Pallace walls on which continually floted thirty thousand boats And though there were so many people and that it was so vast a City yet every thing seemed so decent in so good order that in all that ever we had seen there was no thing like it At that instant one of Euripedes servants came to give him notice that their dinner waited on them which made Meador stop and give liberty to Euripedes to incite his guests to accept of that small repast which his Grot could afford Every one shewing the pleasure they received in Meadors relation could hardly be perswaded to spare so much time but at last following Euripedes they entred another room which they found furnished so deftly that it expressed he had been one of great estate After the handsome excuse of Euripedes for his mean accommodations for so illustrious persons they fell to their repast which they soon finished having a great desire to hear the conclusion of Meadors relation After they had dined they return'd to the same place where they were before and being seated Meador knowing their desires directing his speech as he did before to Euripedes he thus proceeded in his relation Having glutted our eyes with beholding the variety of Objects as we passed thorow the City we came at last to the Pallace about the time I have mentioned Having provided for our horses in those houses for entertainment we went to view the Pallace which we found agreeable with the rest of the City full of state and the structure mixed with strength and beauty It was mounted upon a little rising hill which made it shew to the City as the head to the body both for ornament and command It was not only the head of the City but of the whole kingdom at that time for in it sat her Majesty with her great Councel to determine concerning those things which the necessity of their affairs made them to resolve upon Having viewed the external part of it Araterus somewhat boldly for a stranger ascended a pair of staires which led us into divers stately Halls passing many of them we at last had lost our selves and knew not which way to return at last trying every turning and entrey we descended a pair of staires which brought us into a very large garden in which were near an hundred Partizans At the farther end of this garden was the Councel Chamber in which the Queen and her Council then was these Partizens being their common guard Ignorance often causes boldness for not knowing the custome of the Countrey we entred the garden which it seems was present death for any to do whilst the Council sat without the Certificate of the High-Priest to shew their urgent occasions The Partizans presently flocking about us asked us for our Certificates but our looks demonstring to them that we were ignorant of what they meant they streight-way cryed out Traitors and Spies and collimating their Javelins at us began to make us know into what error we had run Araterus would fain have had them understand that ignorance an I fortune had brought him ro that place but their noise and eagerness of endeavouring to deprive us of our lives took away the audition of his words and made him see that if his sword could not prove more effecacious thâ—n his speech he was there to finish his life after his travels and miseries We both drew for our defence and did what ever could be expected from men hemmed in on every side with death-threatning weapons We had both received many wounds but for every wound Araterus gave a death and for every drop of blood he shed whole pools of theirs and did things through desperateness that were ever after esteemed Miracles Valour must have at last given place to number and life to death if we had not been immediatly rescued The noise that proceeded from this Encounter was heard amongst the Councel which at the first approach imbued them all with fears of treachery and complottings All desired to know the cause of what they heard but every one was affraid to leave his seat least at their first peeping forth of doers they should meet with the instruments of death many of them knowing what belonged to a gown but very little to a sword they could order but not act At last Peomontile uncle to the Queen and one in whom Mars and Mercury made a pleasing conjunction left his seat and entring the garden found us both at the
with her guard to the next town where she was accommodated as well as the time and â—lace would afford As soon as the Sun appeared in the East chaceing away the horrors of the night with his splendid beams the General gave order for the burning of the bodies of the slain and the inteâ—rement of the chiefest Captains being very many slain on both sides This being effected and the Chirurgions permitting the General to travel they returned to Sinda with their banners displayed the insignâ—'s of their enemies trailed on the ground trophies of their armes carried in Chariots before them and with all the signes of joy tryumph and magnificence that could possibly be imagined They were scarcely lodg'd in Sinda before the Queen received word by the Posts that her other Army in the Frontiers had received a great overthrow through the unskilfulness of their Leader and that the enemies troops advanceing apace came accompanied with victory fire and sword This news put a damp upon the Generals rejoyceing and made them see their danger was not over The Queen sending for Peomontile and Araterus told them this newes and withal that she was not to expect victory from any other hands than from the sage Peomontile and the valiant Araterus that it was for their glory that her army had received the overthrow the gods having ordained that none besides themselves should contribute any thing to hers and her kingdomes happiness And that it was them alone that she ought justly to stile her Protectors and deliverers These speeches were answered by a great deal of submission and humility by them both they testifying that pride could make no advantage on their souls by the praises of the Queen but rather inspired them with a generous valour and desire of serving her After they had assured her of their utmost endeavours and given her their Council how to proceed they received her commands to go meet them with their victorious army She could not chuse but express her sad resentments for their so sudden departute which she did with notable address and in general terms but Araterus might have seen that if it might have stood with his honour and her safety he should have stayed behind The Soldiers having received a largess from the Queen with promises of greater rewards marched with a courage and resolution that already assured them of the victory over their enemies The General that received the former overthrow hoping to regain what he had lost was so rash and unadvised to hazard another battle wherein he resolved to dye or regain his former honour knowing it would be an in supportable disgrace to appear any more before his Queen having lost it through his own unskilfullness more then his cowardize But fortune resolving the victory for Araterus he lost both his life and the better halfe of the Army in the Conslict so that the enemies came flesht with their victories and tryumphing till they heard of the loss of their other Army which gave such a check to their exultancies that it half conquered them before the other Army could come to oppose them Fortune that seem'd to be sworn now to Araterus's side gave us the first victory in which the enemy lost a hundred thousand men and twenty thousand Elephants Seeking still to ingage them we obtained two or three one after another in all which sights Araterus did such actions that the most envious of them all could not but contribute to his glory seeing they tended to theirs and their kingdomes preservation 'T was more then once or twice that he saved the life of Peomontile he slew with his own hand two of the enemies Generals and by his examples inspired others with such courage and animosity that he often turned the fortune of the battle and although reduced to extremities and Exigents he still came off victorious and tryumphant Having oftentimes discomâ—ited them with extraordinary loss strong holds there not being regarded to retard a War but determining all with pitched battles the War was soon finished and in halfe a year there was not an enemy that dar'd appear in the Kingdome and of so many hundred thousand men very few returned into their own Countrey Peace being setled in those parts we returned to Sinda where Peomontile and Araterus were received by the Queen with such caresses of joy and in such state triumph and magnificence that the East never beheld the like These publick rejoyceings after many weeks beginning to lessen the Queen who was generous and noble having before acquainted her Uncle Peomontile and Araterus with her intentions who gave her their approbation sent for the Prince of Sinana He who thought it had been to receive the sentence of death came with so dejected a countenance that he disgraced the quality he represented and the apprehensions of which made him speak and do things so misbecoming a Prince that the Queen had much ado to endure him in her presence whilst she told him That he now saw the fruits of his insolency pride and temerity and that although she had respected him above his demerits and according to that regality which he bore yet that he had unworthily and altogether misbecoming a Prince behaved himself That he saw how the number of his men his threatnings insolencies and pride were overthrown by the gods who protected her innocency against his violencies That being her prisoner and guilty of such horâ—ible crimes she could justifie his death to all the world and that she ought not to have deferred it so long but yet for all this that she had given him his life clearly with his libâ—rty not that he had any wayes deserved the least favour but rather more than death by his pusillanimity and dejected carriage so unworthy a Pâ—ince but that she accounted him unworthy her revenge or anger and she permitted him to live that she might conserve him for the Subject of her hate and scorn The Prince received this sentence with some sign of joy and though it was so little to his glory applauded the Queens Mercy According to her order he was conducted to the Frontiers of the kingdome with all the other prisoners which she had taken with them she sent a letter to his father the king of Sinana in which she old him That 't was her desire to live in peace amity with all her neighbour-Princes but especially with him the interests of whose kingdome her Ancestors had alwayes made their own That she wondred he was so unadvised to follow the temerity of his son and to ingage himself in a Warre so unjust and illegal thereby breaking those Leagues which she ever had kept inviolable That what she had done was but in her own defence and to keep her and her Subjects from ruin and destruction and therefore that he was to thank himself and fortune for his overthrow and loss That for her part she desired not to make use of her good fortune nor advantages that she
was fain a little to make shew of her dislike and finding his humor imperious and base she saw that gentlenesse and gallantry could not work upon him Likeing him worse every day than other she would not permit him so often to see her as he used and by many other wayes a well as words she shewed her dislike of him though she entertained him with as great state as ever and omitted nothing of formalities for him to take exceptions at But she continued her cartiage so that he too well saw he was slighted which so dispighted him that it inspired him with more heat and anger than love for he thought the Queen respecting his greatness would not have denyed his suit Madded as he was he yet dissembled it and caused the fight on the Elephants to be kept in the City in honor of the Queen proposing the effigies of the Queen for the prize making no question but the adverse party would permit him to carry it away at last being a usual partiality where rivals do not meet if that he were not strong enough to oppose them The Queen willing to make use of this occasion sent for some of the chief of the adverse party and charged them not to use their usual respect but to do their utmost endeavour to obtain the prize The thing was effected as she would wish for when the sport was almost finished and that the Prince thought they would have retreated and left him victor he found himself deceived for pressing forward with exceeding violence they gain'd the place where the prize stood and in spite of all resistance took it away and according to direction offered it at the feet of the Queen who gave them a chain of pearls and diamonds for a requital The Prince was extremely vext at this disgrace though he dissembled it as much as he could but the Queen on every occasion brought it into his memory and in a way of gallantry jeared him handsomly but so as he could take no occasion to be angry In fine having received many repulses and beginning to dispair seeing the averseness of the Queen he began to set other instruments a work and employing all his art and subtilty by gaining those whom he perceived the King most favoured and by exceeding rich gifts and presents engaged them to fill the Queens ears with Encomiums and to perswade her to marry him by endeavouring to exhibit how advantagious it would be the kingdom The Queen notwithstanding all this would not conent but finding out his practises detested him the more for such undue wayes and actions Her prudence bâ—ook all his machinations and rendred all his wayes fruitless none daâ—ing at length to promote his designes When he perceived that he had lâ—st himself and that he despair'd of obtaining hâ—â— he begâ—n to break forth into sury and rage and his looks exhibiting the evil in â—is heart made the Queen so circumspect that he found it impossible to commit any out-rage or violence Having assigned his depaâ—ture to the joy of the Queen and ship'd most of his train he prepared to take his leave but chance favouring him he did it in an extraordinary manner That very morning which he intended to depart the quarter where he lay not being far from the Queens he was come to the gallery which looks into the garden to attend the Queens rising It seems from that place he had espied that one who attended the Queen came into the garden by a private pair of stâ—irs which was alwayes bar'd up but at such time as the Queen made use of them which was some evenings for her private recreations or when she went to bath in the night The Queen having gone that way but that night those bars that render the passage secure were not put up and the Prince knowing whether those stairs led and seeing the door open by the maids negligence had a desire to take leave of the Queen privately that he might the better testifie his displeasure Getting into the garden he ascends those stairs and finding the passage free he entred the Queens Chamber so unexpectedly that we were amazed She was but just risen and there being none but my self and two more of her Attendants with her she was afraid But whilst he stop'd to take a view of her neck and breasts which were not covered she recovered her surprize and taking a Mantle which I gave her she cast it about her neck attending what the Prince would say Rage was already painted in his looks and forgetting all the respect which he ought to have had he told her very boldly that he was not to excuse himself seeing fortune had so happily favoured his design for breaking a civility which he was not ignorant of That he could not say it was love that had caused that transport but that it was the desire he had to propound one question to her which was Whether she would grant him that grace for which he had so long sued or to see her Kingdom destroyed with an Army of twenty-hundred-thousand men The paleness which fear had painted in her Majesties cheeks anger at this demand had converted into red and answering with indignation she told him that it was impossible for him to gain that by threats which he could not obtain by intreaties That for her part she had long ago resolved in her self that she had rather meet him as a soe than consent to what he desired And in fine that she made no question but that if his temerity did participate him to such actions she should find men enough to chastize him for his folly This answer so enraged him that he could not distinctly speak a word more but mutteringly we understood that he vowed he would be as good as his word and make her sue for that which now she so superbously denyed Hastning thence within an hour he had set sail leaving the Queen very much satisfied with his departure and very little fearing his threats When he was arrived in his own Kingdomes holding his resolutions he sent an Herald to denounce War against her if that she had not bethought her self and would not consent to his desires The Queen sent him word that she could not yield to his demands but that if he would break that ancient League between the two Kingdomes she should be ready to defend her self against all his threats add endeavours After this she gave order to Peomontile for the mustering of her forces and the raizing enough sufficient to defend her Kingdome which was done effectually and augmented by your self for the Kingdomes happiness and your own glory the gods having determined their subversion by your hand Araterus had but given her thanks for this which she had told him when there came one to give them notice that the Queen was returned to whom they presently went Araterus spending that evening in her company for some following dayes he was wholly taken up in receiving the visits