had obay'd her she look'd upon him a prety while with great confusion at last she broke her resentment thus Cruell man said she softly with what heart art thou able to despise one that lies wounded at thy mercie how canst thou tryumph so insultingly over those wounds thy self hath given Ah! inhumane that hast forced me to breake those chaines of pudicity that should be inseparable to our sex and especially to those of my quality Was not my death able to move thee no I saw Joy seated in thy eyes when thou thought'st this wretched life would have expir'd would to all the powers of heaven I had lost these poor remaines of Beauty and life together since they have not power enough to compell so stuborne a heart to pity Argolois not enduâ—ing to hear her go on Madam said he give me leave to tell you you wrong me in saying I rejoyced at your sicknesse or hop'd for your death the gods know how innocent I am and what resentments I endured for your sake I had deserv'd to be eternally accursed if I had not prefer'd your life and content before my own But how often have I told you that the cause of my neglect of those favours you would do me which are so far beyond the capacity I am in that I cannot wiâ—â—hout sinning against your greatnesse have the least shaddow of a thought of receiving them Do's your highnesse do iustly to call me cruell and inhumane for my respect No Madam could I obey you without dishonoring you by so abject a creature as my selfe it should be seen how unwilling I should be to loose the crown of so great happinesse I know madam that the prince Arizobanes who adores you to be so far before me in desert and able to give you that crown which he hopes once to possesse that I should deserve the worst of torments if I should depâ—ive him of his hopes and you of a happinesse I am no ways able to give you by obaying you in yielding to amatch so inequall These are the ordinary caprichioes of a goddesle that torments chiesly the estates of princes replyed the faire Pannthea bur your excuses cannot hinder you justly from my accusations you 'r to cruell to take any pitty on a wretch that is forc'd by a power uncontroulable to beg it of you No I looke upon your excuses as feigned and as invented to deprive me of all hopes of obtaining him that I most Love whilst I live Ah Gods would you had made me lesse noble or this cruell inhumane more pitifull Madam said Argelois extreamly troubled at her words I truly honor you and I should account it the greatest happinesse the Gods could send me if they gave me but an occasion wherein I might shew you how little I esteem this Life when it might be employed in your service Dardanus casting his eye aside saw by his friends looks he desir'd to be eas'd of that paine he was in which made him returne with Eliana to the couch and placing themselves by them pass'd away the morning in divers discourses That strange fire of Love burnt so inlie the heart of Argelois that at last its hidden flames began to appear in the pale ashes of his face and to discover to others the torments he suffer'd so secreetly He never beheld that bright Sun but that his heart breath'd forth scorching sighs enkindled by its beams and endured perpetually a torment unexpressable when he fancied her conjoyn'd to his friend Dardanus He in the mean time not imagining the true griefe of his friend hid nothing of his procedings from him but told him the progresse of his sute and how reserv'd he found Eliana But one day above the rest finding forth his Argelois I am come said he to tell you that Tribulus hath promised within a short time to accomplishmy â—esires he saith that the princesse looks upon me worthy of the blessing of her self but she is extreamely avers to marriage However it will not belong my dear Argelois that we shall stay in this melancholy castel we will remove to the Court that we may have devertizements for you For I intend our Hymenean tryumph shall be glorious which cannot be except you discusse this sadnesse This was but small comfort to Argelois who found cruciations in every word yet endured the torments because they came from his friend I know none said he sighing that is worthy of the faire and virtues Eliana but your selfe and I admire that she can be insensible of all those charmes which accompany you and which are enough to allure the whole world to your obedience Modesty must be found in maidens and it is out of a pudicity and desire of being courted that makes her seeme so negligent of that which she most desires you are a good Interpreter of her thoughts reply'd Dardanus smiling but shall I beleive the like by you and take your words to be contrary to your desires if so my sister were happy after all her torments My Lord said Argelois I cannot heare those termes said Dardanus it is contrary to the law of our contracted friendship you put me in minde of them when you speak of the princesse Panthea replyed Argelois or else the transports of that Love you honor me with would make you utterly forget what I am and make my selfe unmindfull of my own condition Love reply'd Dardanus is not to be limmited to lawes it respects persons more than conditions you cannot but be assured that her Love is intire and you know that her pudicity would not have let her discovered the torments of a small flames they are unuterable and unexpressable were you sensible of the Cyprian torment yout self you would at least pitty another Argelois could not refrain from ingemminated sighs at those words but fearing he might discover himselfe by their continuation I am not said he so insensible of the princesses trouble and of that trouble which you impute to me the cause but that I have wished my selfe a thousand times of a birth sufficient to satisfie her desires and it is only for her sake that I deny my selfe so great a happinesse it may be others would not be of my mind but I cannot doe so great an injury to a princesse and the sister of Diadanus as to compare my basenesse to her greatnesse This might and should have been remedied at the first if I am the cause by my abscession but your commands made me stay to her detriment you know that this removall was chiefly for that end that she might forget that sight that was so fatall to her and now she is come hither you are the only soliciter of her sute Alas give leave that I may either die or depart rather than be the tormenter of so good and faire a soul or yeild to that conjunction which would be contrary to the will of the King and disgracefull to the princesse and your self I 'le speak no more of it dear
and spare them not that would rob Lilibilis of his right it grieves me that I shall not live to have a share in your glory I knew she particulariz'd her self but the answer I return'd her could give her no light that I understood her so I made her a very low obeysance and left her but Lilibilis hearing her speak of death cast himself again into her armes from which embraces I saw he was not likely soon to depart and having heard he had before bid his Daughter farewell my impatiencie made me immediately depart to Amenia's Chamber whether I alwayes had a free access She had disposed her self to receive me kindly and had none but Melanthe with her I entred not without trembling for fear I should break at last what was impos'd upon me Assoon as I saw her I cast my self at her feet and embracing her knees fully transported I was not able to utter one word I remained some time in that posture till my ingeminated sighs had clear'd the passage for some words Madam said I this favour is so glorious and so far beyond the merits of Euripedes that it hath over and above satisfied for all trouble teares and sighs which the most violent of passions and most severest of Commands have afflicted me with Ah how glorious a recompence I find But may I Madam continued I trembling and shewing that fear which possest me by my eyes and faultring of my speech may I have leave to break that I could not go on through the appehension I had of offending her but casting down my eyes I exhibited my shame for going about to transgresse Amenia's silence gave me liberty to lift up my eyes full of teares to hers which I saw fix'd intensively upon mine and to proceed thus Consider Madam ushering them with a sigh I am going whether the Gods only know if I ever may return nay I shall account it no disaster but a glory to die in the service of Amenia If I am troublesome to her or if I have offended her my death will be most welcome in â—hat it will take me from the world wherein I have no life but what I enjoy by her presence rewarding me for my presumption it will deter a farther arrogancy and through her goodnesse may expiate that crime I have committed in aspiring to love her but with so much purity that the Gods themselves could not be capable of more pure affections and if my death content her it will also content me being her Joy and her Grief are inseparably mine But if Amenia will out of her goodnesse not regarding the meannesse of my merits let me not to be so indifferent to her as to desire my death but rather that I should return in safety that also confirm'd by her fair mouth will give me this comfort if I die that Amenia not regarding my presumption in exhibiting my passion had out of her abundant goodnesse pitied me and not seen my death without regret this will be glory enough for Euripides with that of dying in her service and would give him no other cause of trouble but that of leaving her Ah Madam vehemently sighing again have I not observ'd your Commands hitherto though more terrible than death how far easier had it been for me to have died then to have observ'd this silence you have impos'd upon me must I still stopping a little then with a supplicating Air and must I depart without telling you I dar'd not to proceed but stopping with a fear that seis'd me least I had proceeded too far and should abuse the favour she did me I fell into a trembling that made her extreamly pity me My passionate words accompanied with more passionate actions and gestures not to be expressed but by those whose passions inspire them naturally rais'd so great compassion comitated with that great Love she bore me that made her say more than she had intended and forc'd her severity to give place I cannot but admire considering the vehemency of her passion which she protested to me afterwards that she had been so long Mistris of it Observing the trouble I was in and being mollified with compassion she rais'd me from my knees with these words Euripedes I have bid thee already hope that thou maist not be indifferent to me I do not yet forbid thee to hope it and I think I have in some part exhibited it by this reception though I confesse I owe more to the merits and services of Euripedes Euripedes is going to conquer Euripedes is going to expose his life against my foes and to redeem our Liberty with the expence of his own blood and could I do lesse than give Euripedes this favourable reception at his parting I would not have Euripedes think I can take any content at the losse of a Life which I have with all my abilitie endeavoured to save No think not Euripedes that I can part without trouble and do not believe but the sweet conversation of Euripedes hath gain'd too much upon my spirit as not to make me extream sensible of his losse nothing but the hopes of your return with victory and more glory than ever could mittigate a lawfull trouble for your departure therefore by that power you say I have over you I command you not to expose that Life to unnecessary dangers which shall be still priz'd by Amenia I have not disregarded your obedience and you cannot utter more than you have done already I can see that it continues without your declaring it by words what need you tell me you Love me if I believe it These words tincted her cheeks with a new Vermillion but she went on without stop I have bid you hope and were I not prohibited by the Lawes of Duty I would say more what can you desire of me Euripedes is not this sufficient She uttered these words with her wonted sweetnesse which wrought that effect upon my soul as you Argelois being so deeply touch't with this passion may conceive in the like case They had cast me into extraordinary Raptures and I hardly remembred what I did but casting my self at her seet though she sought to hinder it Ah Madam said I I shall find a very different death from what my sorrows would have caus'd If I expire now it will be in the greatest content in the world and will hinder me from seeing any more trouble and were not my Joy mittigated with the consideration of leaving you it would so exceed that it would work the same effects as a killing sorrow Alasse what is Euripedes that you should have thus felicitated him with a more sensible happinesse than if the Gods had plac'd him among themselves I cannot fear my enemies now were I to encounter with the whole world Amenia forc'd me to rise and shedding some teares I know not Euripedes said she what it is that thus afflicts me but I never felt a sadder heart in all my life and I cannot but fear that
me to part with you having you in my possession and could I believe you would stay with me willingly I would never constraine you it is nothing else but fear of losing you and of depriving my self of that happinesse of seeing you that makes me act thus altogether against my inclinations I have not been free from all those fears love uses to suggest since your departure and having recovered that sickness which my grief had caus'd there yet remained some suggestions of hope and now to satisfie my self in part be not offended if I detain you by constraint I would not have you think so ill of me but that my grief was real for Lilibilis his death and that though so much against the interests of my love I could wish him alive again but seeing that is impossible it would be a folly to precipitate my self to death by thinking to lose you also and whilst my duty oppos'd I had so much power over my self as to withstand the incitements of my love and deny my self the taking of these liberties but now my love is so powerful that it banishes all those considerations of modesty and decency She was once again going to embrace me when casting her eyes on the other side of the bed she espied Lascaris whom her passion before had not given her leasure to take notice of though she had seen him she knew him to belong to Amenia which made her face seem all of a fire being troubled that she had made any other besides my self witnesse to her weaknesse withdrawing from the side of the bed with an action that shewed her trouble how came this man to accompanie you said she I answered her demand as well as I could and told her he had left the Citie in that confusion when the Romans entred it and found me out to give me notice thereof hoping I might relieve it in that necessitie and that since that time he had waited on me being I had told him I would bring him to Amenia to whom he belongs I know he doth very well answered Clotuthe and I see the gods are resolved to make my foes acquainted with my follies I cannot believe Madam returned I that any who have the honour to wait on your daughter in Law can be your foes She was so extreamlie shamed at this surprisal that she would not speak a word more but with a face as red as fire with anger and shame she cast her eyes towards me and turning her back was hastning out of the room I was very unwilling to let her return without some more knowledge of Amenia and I had not the patience to stay for another visit this desire made me to recall her by these words Madam you sent me word you had something of importance to let me know I hope this is not that you promised besides you promised that I should know what hath hapned since my departure and what is become of Amenia I pray do not defer it till another time That which I have to tell you said she I will not declare before any witnesse and I have spook already too much for my shame If you please to procure leave for Lascaris to go out said I he shall be no obstacle to what you have to say She was very willing to utter her mind and she saw that I was unwilling she should depart and I believe she did not mistake the cause but after a little pause she bid her woman to go forth into another room with Lascaris and being left alone with me she returned and sat down upon the side of my bed After she had sat silent for some time with her eyes very intentive upon me I will no longer dissemble with you Euripedes said she nor hold you in suspence of that which you desire to hear Amenia is not dead but I know you had rather wish her so then where she is I am not ignorant of your affection to Amenia and that she was the only obstacle that hindred the fruition I desired no Euripedes it was not the consideration of Lilibilis nor of vertue so much as that of your love Yes it was the beauty of Amenia that had preposses'd you and that rendred mine so despicable in your sight and that hindred me of all I could desire of Euripedes So long as hope was remaining you might persue your love as you thought to your advantage but now there is no hope of enjoying her who lives in the arms of Mandone you will not exhibit so great a follie as to persist in it still and to love her who never lov'd you for if she did complie with you in any thing it was in consideration of her own interests and in hope of that benefit she might reap by your labours and that you may know it was nothing else when she saw you were no longer able to withstand the destiny of her Countrey she abandoned you fighting for her and ran into the arms of Mandone without any regard to your love and services and that she might not have any thing to do with you see here the letter you sent her which she left with me that she might not have any thing near her that might cause her to remember you You may imagin by the relation of the Love I bore Amenia how much this discourse perplex'd me and for all the resolution I had taken not to exhibit my Love if she had certified me of her death I was not able in this sudden knowledge of her unworthinesse to withstand the assaults of my passion nor to with-hold the giving of a perfect knowledge to Clotuthe by my actions of the great love I bore Amenia all the blood in my face and all other parts was run to the heart to strengthen it which had need of all its forces at that time to with-hold it from falling under that burden this fatal news had charg'd it with it had so supprest the passages of my speech that I could not express it but by actions At last I confirm'd my self in the opinion by knowing the letter that I sent Amenia to be the same Clotuthe presented me I was so afflicted that I was not able to bring forth one word but sinking down upon my pillow I gave Clotuthe time enough to prosecute her discourse and I remember though with much ado she said thus Ah fortunate Amenia to be so highly lov'd by Euripedes But ah unworthy and base Amenia to require it so basely and persideously But Euripedes said she taking me by the hand she deserves not to have any thoughts bestowed on her acquit her to Mandone and let her enjoy him whom she hath acquired through her persideousnesse to you If her beauty were more esteemed by you than mine yet my love far exceeds hers and all other mortals Euripedes be not so cruel to Clotuthe as to let her so often sue to you let the basenesse of Amenia oblitterate that affection you bore her und let
what love is able to do I shall have a nearer sence of your trouble than ever and already I cannot but wonder at the greatnesse of your courage in undergoing that torment which I find by the first libament to be intolerable I confesse there wants more courage to be a lover than a souldier and that the wounds of love are far more dangerous than those of war Despair not of Eliana for by this manifest providence of the Gods you are bound to believe that what they do is conducing to your felicity and that that fair one was created for no other than your selfe Assoon as if I have satisfied these first impetuosities of my affection I will return in the mean time be carefull of your owne life as you regard the welfare of your inseparable friend Dardanus Argelois could not but find some comfort amidst all these sadnesses by that letter in that the providence of the Gods had so ordered the love of his friend that his own passion should breake that marriage which he would have frustrated for his sake yet it was a long time before he could frame himselfe to believe that he who had withstood the charms of Eliana should be pierc'd by the shafts of any other Epedauro was brought to the two princesses who desired him to tell them what was become of his master he following the order he had receiv'd from Dâ—rdanâ—s told them that in his way towards Bizantium he had met with an accident that had diverted his jorney and that he was then in Paphlagonia intending a sudden return from whose mouth they were to expect a relation of what had happned They seeing Epedauro was not to make known what they desired would presse him no further but contented themselves with what he had told them But he assoon as he had the oportunity to speak with Argelois intimated to him that he had something to deliver to him and the princesse Panthea apart Argelois meeting with the princesse told her the commission of Epedauro and desiring her not to defer the audition they walked into a pleasant Aestiva and sending for Epâ—dauro told him that they expected to hear what he had to say The princesse having commanded him to sit down which he was forc'd to after many refusals he began thus My Lord the Prince Dardanus having rod hard all that day he parted hence and good part of the next stopped about the hottest time of the day under the umbrella's of certain trees which stood hard by a great forest whose skirt reacheth to the Euxinian sea After we had refreshed our selves the Prince mov'd by I know not what good Genius commanded me and Chiron to follow him and walking amongst the thick-growing trees of that wild place he thought he heard the sound of some plaintive voyce Standing still the better to inform himself he was assured what he heard was a humane voyce which seemed to be at some distance the wispering wind bringing it by intervalls and inarticulate to his eares Desireous to know who it might be that was in that place which seemed to be altogether desolate or a habitation fit for none but Philoâ—ophers and despairing lovers we crope very softly towards the place from which me Judged the sound came We came so neer at last that we could dissinguish the words some of them being these interfalk'd with sighs groans Yes fair princess I do obay your severe command I believe you were ignorant that the same words that banished me your presence also commanded me die it being impossible for me to be deprived of that sight which made me happy and Live Ah! I must never more behold those fair eyes that gave life and vigor to my soul cruell banishment but now thou art allmost at an end and these testimonies of my martyrdom it may be will exuscitate a pity in that breast which could never entertaine Love These words were uttered with so moving an air that it extracted teares from all our eyes The voyce seemed as if it had not been altogether alienated to our eares but for the present neither of us could tell who it was being somwhat changed by that doleful aire and sighs that interfalcated almost every word Presently we heard another voyce which with sobs and tears implor'd the other not to persist in so cruel a manner to murther a soul so far surmounting others At least said he if you will fall under these cruel and detestable lawes of love permit me not to survive ah tye me not to I execute so horrid a perpetration but let me have that comfort to serve you in the Stygian shades as faithfully as I have served you here Peace replyed the other the remaines of my life are but small give me leave to finish what I am about before Aâ—ropos cut the twine The Pâ—ince was not able to call to mind where he had heard those voyces for the more he heard them speak the more he called to mind that he had formerly been acquainted with them At last we crope so near to them amongst the bowes that we discovered them with our eyes but the spectacle was so horrid and amazing that we had schreckt out had it not taken from us that power by the astonishment it caused Those we saw were cloathed in very mean cloathes agreeing in everything with the Rustick he that seemed by the duty and obedience he owed the other to be his servant kneeled before him with his back towards us so that we could not discover his face mingling his teares with the others blood which hath made a little torrent by its effusion The bowes environing his head so obscured his face that we could not satisfie our selves or know who he was by that sight He sat upon the side of a fountaine which seemed to be the habitation of some Naide or only fâ—amed by nature for the refreshment of the animalls of the wood Before him stood a stone which served him for a table on which was spread a very smoth rine of a rtee on which he was writing with a stick sharpned for that purpose but that which was so amazeing was a large wound in his side from whence slowed a purple spring and into the which he dipt his reed forming crimson characters with his latest blood The grasse was distained with its colour and the abundance that ran from his wound had made a riverse larg enough for love to swim in By his action he seemed as if he desired to inspire his pen with the last breath of that fair soul or to make those bloody characters speak more pathetically mixed spirit and life with his blood Whilst he was in his action and our amazednesse permiting it longer than we ought he that kneeled before him seeing his palenesse bespeak his approaching death could not but break the silence his master had imposed Ah! cruel Panthea said he insensible princesse Behold a Prince sacrificed to your obduratenesse Ah! wretch ceâ—se said the other
deepest meditations and casting himselfe at her feet would have spoke but that her anger prevented him For rising up extreamly mov'd at his presence pierc'd the soul of that prostate Prince with whole showers of angry darts which she sent from her eyes and before he was able to open his mouth stopt it for ever with these words Disturber of my repose I cannot bear your sight but with impatiency If you intend to oblige me you must never more see me These words more killing than the greatest thunder bolt struck Arizobanes as dead at her feet she departed from the place with Arâ—elia and left him miserably extended on the grasse when he saw she was gon he got up and looking after her with eyes that testified his distresse perceived that she said something to me I hasted to the Prince being in the garden all the while and expected by the Princesses words to find him as I did Lamedon said he hide not the confirmation of that doom which but now I have received hide it not from me but tell me truly what the Princesse said to you I did not dare to dissemble with him so that I told him the truth which was this That she bid me tell him she was forced to infringe the laws of civility since he was filled with so much importunancy and that she could no longer breake her repose for his pleasure and therefore she desired him to leave her and disturb her no more with his presence These words wrought the like effect as the former and it was a long time before I could recall his senses from a banishment which had like to have been eternall Ushering his words with heart-breaking suspira's Yes Panthea I will obey and give you that repose you desire it may be my death may be gratefull to your eares when you are assured you shall be free from your tormentor I confesse I have been too impudent and too bold but I will endeavour to exterminate a monster so horrible to your sight He was not to be comforted and therefore I permited him to ease his passion with such ejaculations without interrupting him That night he clos'd not his eyes but imagin'd all the precipitances as could be hardly tormenting enough to expiate his crimes The next morning pretending businesse into Itali he left Thrace and landing in Asia after he had traversed all the woods and solitary places he found out this cottage free from neighbours and very solitary Resolving to end his life in these woods he would have sent me away unlesse I would swear by those oaths which we account damnable to break not to contradict him but to let him follow those dictates which his love and dispair gave him I was forc'd to to do this strict obedience rather then I would leave him I hoped that my perswasions might prevaile against all precipitances and that at least if he dyed I might have the honour to accompany him We came to this cottage and freeing our horses of their burdens gave them the liberty of these spatious woods we exchang'd our clothes for these you found us in by the help of these two anent people and enriching them with all the gold jewels the Prince had about him purchas'd our living their love The wood where you found us was the entertainer of my Prince where he spent al the day somtimes most part of the night emiting the complaints that would have forc'd the heart of the princes to compassion had it been of stone or never so obdurate if she had hard them every day increasing not diminishing his sorrows he resolved to live no longer being too weak to undergo a burthen so insupportable he hid is intentions from me till this day bringing me to the place were you found us the ordinary place for his lamentations having pared the rine of a young tree to writ on with a reed for that purpose He sent me away to seek him such another but before I returned he had made the wound in his side and was characterising with his blood I ran to him and screching out would have stopt it but he taking up the dagger put me in mind of my oath and commanded me not to disturb him but to let him finish what he had begun to write I beseeched him not to let me behold so horrid a perpetration but to let me die with the same weapon No sad he you are to survive me and if ever you bore me any affection shew it at this instant in promising to obey my desires you must deliver to the Princess Panthea what I am about to write with my heart that is loyal though miserable I gave a great screech at these words and beg'd I might not be tyed to such an execution But that power which alwayes forced me to obey him constrained me to be silent and permitted him to finish his death so strangely I intended to have obeyed him but noâ— to have survived my obedience a moment But the gods pitying this Love-distroyed Prince hath sent you to do a miracle and to recal a life certainly past into the lower shades The Prince Dardanus having heard this sad and deplorable relation could not but blame you of too much temerity to precipitate a Prince so â—ffectionate Lamedon having fetcht him what the Prince had wâ—oâ— dyinâ— his Highness could not read it without sighs so moving it was After he had read it he put it up and promised the Squire to satisfie the Prince concerning it In a weeks time Chiron had brought Arizobanes to his senses and Dardanus presented himself to him and told him by what means he had been saved Ah! Gods said Arizobanes I cannot contest with your Divinities yet pardon me if I cannot give thanks for the saving of my life But is it Dardanus that is my Conservator how little reason hath he to preserve that which is unsupportable to his sister The Prince comforting him with words naturally sweet and moving perswaded him not to afflict himself so much and promised him to use the utmost of his power to make him happy Arizobanes presently called for what he had written the Prince believing his intentions got some more of that kind of paper and giving the right to the Squite bid him give it to his Master After he had looked it over and sigh'd he commanded him to burn it in his presence Dardanus unwilling that you should loose the sight of that strong testimony of his passion conveighed the blanks into the fire and preserved these unseen Arizobanes every day recovering of his wound began at last to leave his bed The Prince seeing the place so discommodious for his recovery would have perswaded him to have accompani'd him to Byzantium but Arizobanes would not be brought to it for fear of disobeying At last the Prince perswaded him to return to Paphlagonia and his wound being whole enough to permit him travel Dardanus would not leave him till he had seen him
beauty vertues and comly grace of that Princess though left destititute of a crown through the usurpation of the Romans gained so the heart of the King and Queen that they thought her a match fit for my Prince Dardanus on which there hath been many treaties with Tribulus who is to dispose the princesses mind unto it who without doubt will not deny to her selfe so great happinesse The King is allready preparing for this mariage at which will be those tryumphs which this part of Asia never yet beheld After Euripides and Lonoxia had made known the pleasure they received by this relation and had given Epedauro thankes for his paines they went to Argelois whom they found amidst his ordinary musings in the place where they left him 'T was almost night and therefore contracting his stay after some ordinary discourse he would have took his leave of them but they proffering to waite on him to the utmost limits of their praecincts they went forth into the Grove together Euripides joyning himself to Argelous went a little before Lonoxia and Epidauro Sir said he softly to Argelois I cannot blame this sadnesse which I read in your face I am very sensible of your affliction Love and generosity make a kind of war in your breast the one pleads against Dardanus the other speakes for him I confesse Fortune could have found out nothing more Crosse than to make your great friend deprive you of that felicity you might have expected in obtaining Eliana The Gods can wittnesse said Argelois sighing that I could never frame a thought of so much happinesse to my self No Euripedes that were too high presumption I am criminall enough in Loving which yet may have some Colour of pardon for that it is not in my Power to forbid but thoughts being at my own dispose would render me in the highest degree guilty should I to please my fantasie think of any other happinesse than that of being her slave and servant Sir said Euripedes your have not acquitted your self of the promise you made which was the Relation of those remarkable passages you have run through what we have heard from Epidauro and which was contingent with the Life of Dardanus is defective though by the pleasure we received in that we may judge what we shall receive in the relation of the whole I will not contradict your error said Argelois though I can assure you there is nothing left worthy of your audition because I hope it may prove attractive to draw you past the limmits of your domicile to visit that place where I reside where I engage if the hearing of my fortune can do it to give you that content you propose to your self You may be sure said Euripedes it shall not be long e're I obtain it seeing it may be so easily purchased As they were about to proceed in their discourse they heard the sound of certain voyces which by the cicumlation in the aire strook their eares Stopping that they might the better hear from whence the sound came they heard the grons of a man which with a plaintive voyce seem'd to speak to some injurors Desire of helping the distressed as well as Curiosity caus'd this small company to presse through the thickest of the trees following the sound by their eares they paced a great way amongst the trees which being so thick debarred them of the sight of the men whose voyces they had heard They were come very near when stopping they heard very distinctly these words Obstinate man said one is it not better for you to give me the knowledge of what I desire than to endure these torments when what you preserve is for a man whom you have sought for in vain these five years and whom without hope of ever finding and your self believing him dead have given over your search Leave being thus injurious to your self and disclose that treasure which otherwise must perish with your self Wee'lshare it betwixt us and I promise you more than enough to make you happy for ever if not more rigorons torments than these shall force you at last to confesse or else death shall assault you by my hand Cruell and false wretch replyed the other think not that either your flatteries or your threates shall be able to extort that from me which I am resolv'd never to disclose All the torments that you are able to inflict my fidelity to my master shall make me able to bear No assassin there are weapons not fit to be touched by such murtherous wretches as you are for then they might become distructive to the whole earth why ceasest thou thy tormenting you see I am willing to suffer for that I account these punishments justly inflicted in that I have been so foolish as to declare those secrets which I ought not to have done And my years might have experienced that a covetous desire neither regards the lawes of Humanity noâ— of the Gods After these words they heard the strokes that were inflicted on the complainant and being desirous to free that miserable man out of the hands of his tormentors they hasted to the place where they found a man with his arms bound round about a tree and his feet in like manner bound and being stript from his shoulders to his wast was all over blood caused from the stripes of two who executed the commands of another that stood by They had worne to pieces severall reeds wherewith they tormented him and were receiving new from the hands of their master when these diliverers came They were exceedingly abashed at the sight of Argelois and his companions but their master forcing them to stay expected to know who they were Argelois coming to him demanded what reason he had to inflict such crueltyes on the man they say tormented He toâ—d him that he was his slave and that they might punish them without breaking any Laws or giving any account to any of their chastisements and that 't was not without good reason that he used such rigorousnesse to the man they beheld he that was bound to the tree hearing this expostulation and turning back his head shewed that his face carried no character of a slave and his hair and beard which was grown white with either time or cares exhibited an age that might have caused pity and reverence in his tormentors Who e're you be said he that are arrived to behold the cruelties of this man believe him not for I never yet was a slave to any one much lesse to him I have a perswasion that ye are generous enough to release me from this mans unjust persecutions without being perswaded by any other oratory than that of my blood and wounds which are praevalent enough to exussitate pity in any heart that professeth humanity He spake these words with such an indifferency that was incapable for the heart of a slave to have entertained Argelois commanded those who had been his tormentors to become his releasoâ—s and being