had little Beauty That hee had made him see so cleer into the Purity Innocency and Sincerity of that Affection that in stead of blaming him for having abased his Spirit to a Subject so inferiour to his Birth and Condition hee esteemed him the more judging how faithfull would hee bee to his King who had so religiously preserved his Faith to so mean a Creature That for these considerations imposing Silence to his Father and Mother and rejecting the Pretensions of the three Rivalls his Will and Pleasure was by vertue of his full and absolute Power and of his Royall Authority that that Marriage should bee celebrated by the Arch-bishop who had disannull'd the former and that immediately in the presence of all that Company the Rustick Almeria having been brought secretly into the Palace for that purpose by his Command These last words pronounced with a serious and Majestick accent stopt the mouth not without an extream impatience of the irritated Mieslas who intended to do no less then kill Almeria with his own hands or make her bee poysoned within few dayes after her Marriage What discourses in the Thoughts what Thoughts ran through the Minds of the three Rivalls what pain had they to hold their peaces in so fair and so pressing an occasion to speak One onely thing gave them the respit that Heart-breaking Grief denied them which was that this ceremony was onely to contract Iphigenes to Almeria the Marriage beeing remitted to a more pompous solemnity insomuch that they promised themselves during that intervall to use new indeavours to breake that alliance and procure the accomplishment of their own pretensions For if betwixt the Mouth and the Glass arrive diverse accidents severall means might bee found in that interim to divert that blow which was so fatall to their Hopes Besides not daring to oppose the King's Will in his own presence every one remained in silence when the King turning himself towards the Arch-bishop asked him if he was not ready to recive the Promises of the future Marriage of the Palatine of Plocens with the Shepherdess Almeria Whereunto the Prelate made answer that he saw nothing to hinder him from obeying so Just a Command in regard Kings may dispossess their Subject's Parents of the Power which they have in such cases over their Children and dispence these of the Obedience which they owe to them the Regall Authority as a grand Sphear imbracing the Paternall under it For Kings are above the Lawes and Favorites sometimes above the Kings This Conceit made the King laugh Then the betrothed Pair beeing demanded the Commission of bringing them in was given to Boleslaüs who beeing the maine Engine in this stratagem whilest the King was making his Speech had made Virgenia retire herself into a Gallery neer the Closet whilest hee drest Liante in a Woman's Habit plain and modest but decent and honourable enough then having ordered his Hair and rendred his Complexion more tawny by the application of some of that liquour mentioned in our Rurall recreations no body could discerne him to bee other in that equipage than the same Almeria whom Pisides Argal and Pomeran had seen in the inchanted Forrest of Plocens The houre was purposely appointed in the Evening and the King's chamber disposed in such sort that all the light that appeared was directly in the Eyes of the Assembly those that were to be contracted remaining on the darker side When they saw Iphigenes come in imbellished with all the advantages of rich Ornaments leading the comely Almeria by the hand the difference of their Complexions made every one compare them in his imagination to a black Pigeon paired with a white What other thoughts passed through the severall fancies of the Spectatours your Conceptions must supply the defect of my Expressions The Queen and the Infanta Florimunda cherished an Opinion that hee had purposely made choyce of that Creature to cover his imperfection having to that end implored the assistance and goodness of His Majesty The three Rivalls who knew themselves Greater and more Beautifull many degrees believed that their Splendor would easily dissipate the Clowdiness of that obscure and homely Mistris Mieslas was inraged that hee durst not speak Aretuza was ready to die with apprehension seeing the moment approach that would discover her deceipt Onely the Arch-bishop saw cleer through all these shades the rest ravished with astonishment held all their Thoughts suspended and their Eyes fixed sometimes upon the incomparable Beauties of Iphigenes sometimes contemplating the Countenance of Almeria in whose Gesture and Grace they could read nothing of Rustick Beeing placed at the best advantage for their Design Iphigenes having premeditated his Speech said That preferring his Faith above all the Honours and Wealth in the World hee was come thither under His Majestie 's Favour to testifie in the Face of the whole Court that which hee had given to the vertuous Almeria in the obscurity of the Plocensian woods and shew her as shee had been his onely consolation during his disgrace that hee would make her partaker of the Favours wherewith His Majesty was pleased to honour him That hee was not ignorant of the severall censures the World would make upon his Choyce saying that for a Man whom Fortune by the Favour of a great Monarch had raised to such eminent Dignities hee was unworthy of that happiness suffering his thoughts to crawle after a subject so disproportionable to his quality But hee was able to justifie his action by examples as well sacred as profane of the greatest Kings and Princes of the Earth who had not disdained to make slaves their Wives hee was not however so much invited by their imitation as his own inclination Affection proceeding from Election not those other considerations which Humane Prudence dictate's to those who prefer its Maximes above their own contentment That the Repose of the Minde wherein consisted the greatest felicity on Earth was not an Effect of the multitude of Riches or Honours since to the contrary they begat Inquietudes and Trouble but of the satisfaction which every one draw's from himself by setting limits to his Desires and Fortunes That the King his Master had already made him too great since hee was elevated by his Favour to Dignities beyond the aym of his most aspiring wishes That beeing supported by so high a protection hee might have pretended to a more advantageous Party but seeing himself raised to an eminent Condition which permitted him not to content himself with an ordinary Match Hee had made choyce of a Wife whose quality was extraordinary mean according to the Judgement of Men but whose Vertues and rare Perfections had won his Heart and rendered him entirely her's That in time hee would make appear that Almeria's extraction was not inferiour to Modestina's to whom hee did no injury since the Justice and Judgement of the Church had declared their Marriage void That hee had divers other Reasons to oppose against the Pretensions
esteem or value with that Nation Neither is less exploded there this saying of an imprudent Empress That nothing was unlawfull for Kings to act if it but pleased their humor For in that Kingdome whatsoever concerns the Power Family and Function of the Monark it is all so regulated that Hee cannot deviate or out-strip his bounds in the I east without drawing upon himself suddain Rebellions and most formidable Combinations The reason thereof proceeds from this respect that among those People who are as free as fierce and no less generous then haughty the Kings are Elective Succession having no interest in that Crown unless a Son by his vertuous deportments and valorous Actions render himself worthie with the approbation of the Orders to ascend into the Throne of his Progenitors From this libertie which the Polonians have of electing their Monark ariseth this Restriction of the Royall Authoritie within such confined tearms and limitations that it is no more possible than lawfull to exceed them without altering the Harmony of that Direction which hath there been establish'd beyond the reach of humane Memory and exciting in the State Revolutions or rather Convulrions of most dangerous consequence It is to be observed that the Ecclesiasticks and the Nobility only have votes at these Elections the third Order which is the Common People is excluded and must receive for their King him that is lawfully chosen according to the form and custome of the Country by the other two Orders Who after the Election though they leave to the King the honour and prebeminence in all things rendring him the homage and reverence that 's due to a Sovereign and all those whom the hand of Providence hath raised that high Dignity reserve to themselves however the power of governing and administring Justice by which Kings reign and by which they maintein the Regencie of their Kings and Lawes As for the Ecclesiasticall State That hath its Policie apart which particularly regardeth Spirituall Affairs and the Conduct or Cure of Souls And the Secular which concerneth Politicall matters as the exercise of Justice aswell Civill as Criminall and the administration of Government and Military functions is chiefly in the hands of certain great Officers named Castellains Palatines who are little Sovereign Lords or Petty Kings every one in his own Territorie For instance The Castellains are those who have Lands Citties Burroughs Villages and Seignories under their subjection as for matters concerning Justice and their Authority is so great that their Jurisdiction is without Appeal Moreover in case of troubles they have power to levie Forces impose Taxes raise Monie to pay and beare the charges of their Miltitia and do other Actions in this nature which in other Monarchies are reserved only to the Sovereigntie The Palatines are like Governours of Provinces but they are so absolute in their Governments that they command the Castellaines and the People at their pleasure exact Tributes press Souldiers appoint quarters give Commissions in a word they are like petrie Kings in their Palatinates such suddain and exact obedience is rendred them so Supream and uncontroulable is their Power Insomuch that the King to return to the Proverb before mentioned commanding as King over the Palatines and Castellains is in this consideration called KING OF KINGS that is of the Palatines who are in effect petty Kings and LORD OF LORES that is of the Castellains who are like little Princes The History which I am about to relate obligeth me to represent this form of Government as being the Basis and principall foundation thereof by reason of the Power almost Tyrannicall of one of these Palatines who shall appear upon this Scene we are now opening and who would seeme strange nay altogether extraordinary to the Reader that should fancy to himself a Country ordered according to the Rule and Policie of FRANCE or SPAIN where the Monark being more absolute the Authority of Governours is much lesse not unlike to that of the meaner Lights of th' Heaven which have no light or luster before the Sun of Sovereigntie whereas on the contrary in Polonia the Palatines do execute their Charges and exercise their Jurisdiction in the presence of their King as if their Authority depended rather on Monarchie then on the Monark nothing being able to make them be deposed or dispossessed of their Commands but State Crimes which make them lose their Dignities with their Lives Under the Reign of him that preceded MONSIEVR of France then Brother to CHARLES the IX and Duke of Anjou and who was afterwards HENRY the III. of France having forsaken the Crown of Polonia A certain Lord Castellain by name Rosuald who though not descended of very antient Nobility nor much in favour with Fortune for matter of estate was elevated for his valour to the Palatinate of Podolia Governments and great Offices are like Vessells full of liquor whereinto if you cast a spunge though ne're so dry and hard it will presently be filled and pierced through Rosuald was so able and understanding a Man that without oppressing much his Subjects or exacting any thing in his Province that might render him any way odious or blameable by subtile and probably lawfull means he became so rich that Peace by vertue of his mediation and good conduct reigning among all the families where hee introduced Concord Abundance entred within his Territories insomuch that it might be said of him That Glorie and Riches were in his House That his Garners sunk under the burthen of Corn his Cellers were overflowed with Wine That out of the very stones burst Rivulets of Oile That his Coffers were not capacious enough to contein his Treasures In sum That hee was one of the most opulent Palatines in Polonia But the inexorable Parca that pardons no body and who being blinde cut 's the thred of life when she pleases without distinction of Age Condition or Sex stopped the course of this Noble-man's dayes in the full Current of his Prosperitie at such years as but just passing out of Virility hee saluted only the first and freshest time of Old-Age by an unexpected accident which made him bring Death with him home from Hunting His Lady who was then big with Child though otherwise verie chast and vertuous yet a woman that is to say as litle capable of constancie as a Reed of steadiness suffering her self to be transported by the excess of an inconsolable sorrow precipitated her deliverie in the seaventh Month and after a Son which she had brought forth into the World but one yeare before She was made a Mother at this second and last labour of a Daughter which had life but by her death For whether her grief and conceding anguish hastned the birth of the Child or whether because her Body was no less cruelly afflicted with the Pangs of her Travell then her mind for the loss of her Husband the Daughter remaining with the living layed her Mother among the Dead leaving these
time beeing bound by a certain respect which Vertue and Verity do usually imprint in the most brutall and least tractable Spirits So having calmed his countenance hee replyed Iphigenes I see that contrary to your custom you grow cholerick and that your Passion transports you beyond the limits of that reverence which is due to mee I thought I had had more power with you and a greater credit in your Dominions than I finde I have But you are to remember that how eminent Dignities soever the King hath conferred upon you no humane Law can exempt you from the obedience which by the Precepts of Heaven you owe to mee as your Father In contradicting mee you plead against your self For do you not see that what I do is for you that I scrape together onely to make you rich Will you undoe what I design for your good will you preserve those whom I seek to destroy to establish you Are not you like the Peacock which uncover's the House where hee roost's or Ivy which pull's down the wall that hold's it up Sir answered Iphigenes Every one act 's according to his understanding and is the Artificer of his own good or bad Fortune I will not ground mine upon the maximes which you hold nor therein imitate your ways If I am an honest Man I have Wealth and Honours enough already by the meer liberality of the King my Master If I am wicked I have but too much And I hold as an especiall favour of Heaven this image of disgrace which hath absented mee from Court and thereby hinder's mee from atteining to that utmost degree of Fortune that is envied by all the World and which cast's those who are elevated to that height into the publick Hatred and tearms of continuall apprehension when Hope can promise them no more And to declare freely my sense I had rather be reduced to the extreamest Period of Misery than live splendidly by the unjust acquisition of another's Estate beeing resolved if I do Marry the Princess Respicia to renounce all that I can pretend of Modestina's without compelling her to intomb herself alive within the walls of a Monastery much less to force Liante's Genius which hee hath so oft professed to mee to be averse to Learning and an Ecclesiastick Life and wholy inclined to Arms and Martiall Exercises and it may happen if of a good Souldier hee become's a good Captain that hee may make you restore by force of Arms in his Majority what you have usurped of his during the weakness of his Minority For my part I will not mingle the Good with the Evill that is what I have justly acquired by the King's Bounty with that which you shall rake together by such unjust practises This discourse said Mieslas is the Child of your Scruples and proceed's from the little experience you have yet in Worldly affairs You think it is but to open the Sailes and receive the Wind of Favour as you have done hitherto But if once Fortune knit her brow you will catch at what you can and to uphold yourself you will grasp with both hands as well as others But I perceive through the ashes of the counterfeited coldness which appeareth in your Speeches certain coales that are yet burning in your Brest for that Modestina whom you call your Wife although shee was no more joyned to you in Heart then in Body according to your own confession since you acknowledge never to have consented but with your Lips to her Marriage And you are so simple as to consider Liante as your Brother-in-Law although hee hath not the least relation to you I say still answered Iphigenes that I never was greatly in love with Modestina but my Friendship can admit of no out-vier For if our Faces tan insensibly by beeing in the Sun and cloaths are perfumed by lying neer sweet odours it is impossible but that the long education you have given us together should have planted in my Soul the roots of affection which make's mee desire her happiness and detest that which doth her mischief I may say with much truth I love her as my Sister and by the same reason Liante as my Brother and in this quality wee have so often joyned hands of association that I should esteem myself a Traytor and an execrable Monster both to God and Men If I should imbrace the thought of doing them any injury Therefore Sir I conjure you by all that hath any power to move your Heart to give order speedily that no harm be done to Modestina otherwise I will go my self to rescue her If it be your pleasure to re-imprison her in the same Castle where shee was untill the arrivall of the Dispensation for my leaving her my Consent shall attend your Will but upon this condition that finding another Match you shall give her a Dowry according to her quality otherwise I will settle upon her of my own Estate as much as you detein of her's protesting to do the like for Liante what is more to become their Protectour in such manner against all their enemies that I will prosecute with Fire and Sword whosoever shall do them any injury I fore-see then replied Mieslas sparkling Fire out of his Eves that you and I must have ae quarrell Sir said Iphigenes I shall kiss your weapons and lay my Standard under your Feet whensoever you appear but excepting your Person I shall esteem my mortall Enemies those that shall attempt any thing against Creatures who are so much my Friends If I suffer for so good a cause I shall bless my Persecutions and hug Death if shee seizeth on mee in so just an action humbly beseeching you to excuse mee if for the lawfull defence of my Friends I use these words of Precipitation and exceed the terms of a respectfull Modesty I see said Mieslas that you speak like a Palatine in your own Palatinate that is like a Sovereign and not a Son But Fortune may so turn her wheel that you will bee glad to creep under the shadow of my wings and shelter your self under my Authority Sir you see that I do what You will and I judge to be reasonable I marry without injoying my Wife I unmarry I marry again and all this more to satisfie your desire than follow my own inclinations you are the Rock I am the Polypus I receive my colours but from you I am as Wax to your impressions and yet if I speak in favour of a friend you presently cry out against my disobedience Pardon mee Sir if I tell you that you requite very ill the sincerity of my intentions and that you give mee cause to make use of that liberty which the Heavens gave mee at my Creation the liberty that is in my Soul which Soul I received by their infusion having nothing from you but this wretched Body which I can no less than abhor when I contemplate it's misery yet in the greenness of it's youth you will bind
fortune to his prejudice which was a thing repugnant to the Laws of Chivalry and Honour and that hee might find wayes enough to advance himself about the King without going to trouble or thwart his pretensions to the Princess Respicia to whom Hee was Servant and ambitioned to be Husband intending likewise by Marrying her to make Cassin his Son in Law therefore hee wished him to desist from pretending to that Alliance which hee heard was projected betwixt him and Simphoroza and that betwixt Clemencia and the Prince Cassin Otheriwse Hee being obliged to resent so injurious an Affront was resolved to revenge it with his Sword Iphigenes answered very mildly but with a resolution full of generosity That Hee should be very sorry to make any advantage of another Man's detriment That thitherto Hee had so managed his Fortune that no body could frame any complaint against him for that respect That Hee knew too well the honour which was due to His quality and what Hee owed to his own Modesty to begin with Him to disoblige by any prejudice persons of such Eminence That for his alliance with Simphoroza it was not onely unlikely but impossible and whereof hee never had nor should imbrace any thought although it might be done without tentering his Conscience his affections beeing already so ingaged to Modestina that if shee were not his Wife hee never would have any other And therefore hee might rest satisfied for that point As for the Marriage of the Prince Cassin with his Sister Clementia it proceeded rather from Respicia's own seeking than any motion of his and for that hee did appeal to the Testimony of the Princess her self to whose Alliance hee did neither hinder him to pretend neither would hee barr Cassin of the free liberty to choose his Daughter or Clemencia Who could have ansered with greater moderation respect and sincerity Yet the Savage Sarmation drawing vanity from the sweetness of this reply like Spiders which make venim of Roses rudely thus retorted that is was not enough that hee pretended nothing to Simphoroza but that Clemencia must not be Married to Cassin Adding with a proud Bravado That there was not that Man living that should dare to look upon her Mother but should receive Death from his Hand At which words Iphigenes with an accent no less civill then resolute said My Lord Palatine I have already told you that the Mother is left to Your self That I pretend nothing to the Daughter and as for my Sister shee hath never yet seen Cassin neither hath shee any will but that of her Parents who are discreet enough the management of such matters belong's particularly to them and they know best what they have to do Marriages are free and Violence ought to have no place in such Sacred ties And I told you replyed Stanislas that that doth prejudice mee that I am the first pretendant to that Alliance and no Man shall come to tread in my steps but I will make him repent it let him be ne'r so much in Favour and his quality ne'r so eminent Hereupon Iphigenes presently made this answer It seeme's Stanislas by the word Favour that you address your speech to mee as if I were the Subject of your discontent I wear by my side where withall to give satisfaction to persons of Honour and you must know that I am no Man to suffer such out-braving Language What I have said already ought to satisfie you if you are reasonable but if you are beyond that I know the way to make you return to Reason The Proud Palatine who aymed at nothing but to pick a quarrell perswading himself by the weakly proportion of body and the unsouldier-like countenance of Iphigenes that a stout Heart could not bee harboured under so fair a Face besides seeing himself at that time not onely better Horsed but advantaged with a great Sable or Cimeterr which hung by his side replied There 's too much said Men of my Birth and Quality are not accustomed to bear such words I must take thy Life and so deliver Polonia from the Tyranny which thou dost exercise over their Soveraign Whereunto Iphigenes immediately thus I owe nothing to thy Birth nor to thy Quality they are both equalized nay surpassed by mine and since my Mouth could not satisfie thee with Reason my Hand shall punish thy unreasonableness with Justice This said they parted to give their Horses a turn Stanislas being mounted upon a stately Courser came with his Sable in his Hand as if hee would have cleft Iphigenes to the twist who riding upon a little Hungarian Nag very swift and well managed the nimbleness of the Horse together with the dexterity of the Rider rendred the direction of that Thunder blot of no effect And the Nag being very ready answered the least motion of Iphigenes Hand so that making a quick turn hee presently gained the crupper of Stanislas and sheathed his Sword in his Reins of which wound being mortall hee fell immediately from his Horse The two Troops that attended on them a loof off were no sooner come up to them but Stanislas being at the last gasp seemed to remain alive onely to acknowledge his fault which declaring in all their hearings hee demanded pardon of Iphigenes and of the Heavens after which hee expired protesting that nothing was more just than Heaven nothing more unjust than his Jealousie and Choler This incounter as that with Augustus highly augmented the glory of Iphigenes even the same persons that accompanied Stanislas condemning the unjustness and blindness of his Passion The King hearing this and fearing lest this Temerity of Stanislas might imbolden other envious persons to attempt some malicious design against Iphigenes commanded that the Process should be made against the memory of the dead Offender and that his carcass should publickly suffer the shame of an ignominious punishment But Iphigenes begging upon his knees before His Majesty mitigated the severity of his resolution deriving the fault upon Love which doth frequently over master Reason and blind the cleerest Judgements This increased the praises of Iphigenes and made all his deceased Enemie's friends profess themselves his servants The King though overcome by perswasions to pardon his Honour would however make his Estate suffer the confiscation whereof hee gave to Iphigenes but hee refused it having not the heart to triumph in such mournfull Spoyls yet afterwards seeing the King would bestow it amongst his Courtiers who like Ravens or Kites do fly greedily at such preys to preserve it for the Orphaline hee accepted it and took a singular care of advancing the posterity of him who so barbarously sought his Life rendring like a Flint for unkind Blows the sparkles of Favour and Courtesie The Shoulders of the Princess Respicia were eased of no small burthen by this Palatine's Death for besides that it lay heavy upon her his pursuit being become not onely importunate but odious to her since shee had cast her Eyes and affections
would please to demand for a Dowry Liante well contented with those triumphs and trophies which they erected to a Victory that cost him so little perceived thereby how vain the judgement of the World is and that as punishments are not alwayes inflicted on the most wicked persons but the least fortunate So Glory was an infamous Courtisan which cast herself not alwayes into the Arms of the most valiant but most successefull And to incite Olavius the more to press him to accept a Present which hee so passionately desired with an artificiall modesty hee pretended that he was unworthy of so much favour beeing at that time a distressed Gentleman banished from his Country and dismantled of all his Estate by an injust Confiscation Whereupon Olavius falling of himself into the Nets replied That the restitution of his inheritance would bee the least part of the brave Prisoner's ransom wherewith hee had inriched their City and that hee ought not to stick upon that consideration in regard hee had alwayes respected him more for his Vertues than his Fortune esteeming it more advantage for his Daughter to have a Man that wanted means than means that wanted a Man But Liante demanding time to deliberate more at leisure upon that business desired him to thinke of treating Iphigenes with such Civility that hee might have just occasion to commend rather than complain of Lithuania Which was performed in such honourable manner that if the gallant Iphigenes had been Governour and Master of that rebellious City hee could not have received greater respect Hee had no other Prison than his own Parolle Liante rendering himself pledge for his fidelity Since the beginning of the Siege the two Palatines of Troc and Minsce had secured their Wives Children and what they had of most considerable value in the Castle as the place of greatest safety there Liante likewise had his Quarters neer which they conducted Iphigenes into a Chamber so richly furnished that in the King's Pallace hee could not have been lodged more splendidly Good Cheer was no more wanting than all sorts of Games and honourable divertisements The company of Ladies was his ordinary attendance For they had no sooner tasted the inevitable charms of his conversation but they became more licourish and greedy of it than Bees are of Flowers or their Hony-combs If that beautifull Face which shewed to Mortalls the image of the Angells had infected with it's pleasing Poyson the Court-Ladie's hearts imagine you how those of Lithuania could be exempted from that delicious contagion you would have said that this new Sinon had been come to bring the Grecian fire to reduce that Ilion to ashes and that beeing a prisoner in Body his design was to inthrall and torture all their Mindes For that agreeable venim which is swallowed by the Eyes according to the variety of Spirits conveyed into their hearts such secret flames and those flames caused such torments that hee seem'd to have the same destiny as Sejanus Horse who put all places in disorder where hee was received Bogdales had a Wife so advanced in years that the blood of her veines which ought by the course of Nature to have been Icie seem'd exempted by the benefite of her Age from those ardours which are onely excusable in youth with her was retired into that Castle a Daughter which Hee had married to a gallant Nobleman of Lithuania who not delighting to bee inclosed within the walls of that besleged City kept a flying Army in the Field accompanied by the Palatine of Trod's Son his Brother-in-law His merit was sufficient to have made all the Affections of his Wife terminate in his Person but the Perfections of the beautifull Prisoner so perverted her Reason that as the Primum Mobile by a violent motion drawe's all the other sphears after it shee could not hinder her Heart from following her Eyes whose too inconsiderate looks betrayed the licentiousness of her thoughts So that the Mother and the Daughter were both taken in the same snare at once Neither could Olavius Wife as wise and reserved as shee was withhold the motions of her Minde from Dancing the same brawle And as if that rare Object had been formed on purpose to ruine the constancy of the most continent few saw him without taking pleasure to behold him and few beheld him without strange allarms and agitations of Spirit That fire must bee very fierce which presently take's in green Wood. Amiclea who never yet felt any resentments for Liante that deserved the mentioning was presently all inflamed with that Feaver whose fits are so agreeable that those who resent their Heats and Colds fear nothing more than to bee cured of that Disease On a sodain of ignorant shee became knowing in the Art of Love judging by the pains which shee indured that which shee had caused to Liante's Heart Oh Liante you will bee henceforwards but a difformed Esau this white Jacob will supplant you and you will see the ruine of your pretensions arise from the same ground whence you expected your establishment Onely the poor Oloria remained constant in her affection to him who despised her For her Soul beeing filled with the Idea of that first Object was insusceptible of any other impression If Iphigenes had been a Man what vanity would he have conceived in his thoughts seeing himself the blank of so many desires But beeing such as Nature had created him those Roses were to him but Thorns and those Adorations Importunities To relate the distemper which these new Passions bred in those weak Brains I dare not undertake much less to express the confusions that imbroyled their thoughts For Love Envy Despair Jealousie Shame Desire were as many Worms or rather Vultures that gnawed continually their Brests Even the Men that were too attentive in the contemplation of that Angelicall Face had not their minds free from disturbance For believing him a Man they wished him of the other Sex that they might in some kinde settle their complacency on his perfections And the Ladies who thought him not a Woman esteemed themselves as happy to have amongst them that beautifull Prisoner to whom they were all slaves as the Trojan youths were to injoy that samous Beauty of Greece within their walls Oh Iphigenes as those who cast artificiall Fire-balls are burn't oft-times themselves So among so many storms which thou excitest thou art not without some agitation With what Pencill shall I delineate the division of those Spirits The old Ladies were ready to die with Despair and Shame to see themselves in an Age which according to the Lawes of Nature protected them from the Tyranny of that little Boutte-feu which inflames Heaven and Earth become Subjects to unjust and infamous Desires whose sweet cruelty was more redoubtable to them than the pangs of Death and bee afflicted with a languishing Pain that could expect no other remedy than the Grave Bogdale's Daughter a Lady full of Honour and who would assoon have cast herself
as deep into that Favorite's brest as they had done in Liante's what great matters would hee have promised to his Ambition But besides that hee knew Iphigenes was Married to Modestina and was not ignorant of the Designes of the Princess Respicia seeing the great indifferency that beloved Captive shewed for all Women as hee lost the Hope of atchieving so high an advantage hee quitted the thought of desiring it Which made him turn all his pretensions towards Liante promising himself to obtain of the King by Iphigenes what hee should demand of Iphigenes by Liante If this Palatine had an ambition to make Liante his son-in-Son-in-Law Liante was no less desirous than Hee to contract that alliance But hee was not so simple as to take the Elder for the Younger there was no darkness impenetrable to the sight of such a Lover Since Oloria had turned her Eyes towards Iphigenes beeing transported with the ravishing Garbe of that beautifull Object shee slighted Liante's scorns The same cause made Amiclea disdain the esteem which Liante made of her and nothing was so irksome to her as when hee entertained her with the discourse of his Passion Melindra Daughter to the Palatine of Troc beeing assaulted on one side by the Legitimate Affection and Fidelity which shee owed to her absent Husband and on the other by the Charms which the presence of Iphigenes cast into her thoughts felt Combats of Love and Honour in her Heart whose convulsions approached the torments of a Woman in travell who would but cannot bee delivered The Conflict or violent opposition that Heat and Cold make in the concavity of a Clowd is some resemblance of the Contradictions in her Minde And after many passionate Complaints continuing to aggravate her sore with a thousand various imaginations shee impoisoned the Humour more and sometimes shunned the remedy sometimes desired it with impatience Nevertheless shee remained so firm in the steps of Vertue that although her languishing looks broken sighes and tears discovered plainly enough her distemper to Iphigenes yet shee observed a severe silence never giving her Tongue the liberty to say any thing but what was within the bounds of a modest Civility Wherein shee made appear as much vertue as the two old Palatinesses shewed little For they were grown so jealous of their Daughters having discovered their inclinations that like Furies they were perpetually haunting them and reprehending in them a fault which they authorized in their own deportments I will not stain their memory with the extraordinary means which they used to inveigle this Fish into their Nets Imagine you onely what Women can doe or rather what they cannot do when animated with a violent Passion and in an Age whose weakness redouble's the other's force At length Despair had made them commit a treachery and change their inclination into vengeance if the Publick necessities had not retarded them in their Private animosities So they borrowed of Time and Patience the succour of Hope which is alwayes ready to assist the most miserable But Iphigenes who had been beaten with fiercer and more dangerous storms at Court laughed at those Feminine divisions and looked as from an eminent place upon those fraile Vessels agitated with that violent tempest as a Shittle-cock in the Wind and the subject of his Disdain The assault which I am now going to relate was otherwise resented for it came from the Place that was onely capable of putting Iphigenes beyond his Temper and Art of Dissimulation You may conceive already that it proceeded from Liante whose Spirits beeing settled after the motion which Iphigenes transvestment had caused in his brest relapsed into the vehemence of his Passions for Amiclea whose Scorns befrosted his Pretensions as much as her Graces inflamed his Inclinations At length the Eyes of those that love beeing very quick-sighted hee perceived it was onely the presence of Iphigenes that ruined his Designes and that his Idoll was so possessed with the Idea of that beautifull Palatine that no other could finde admittance into her Soul This presently bred Jealousie in Liante and so much power hath the Tyranny of Love above the ties of Friendship that hee felt the later diminish as fast as the other dilated it self in his thoughts Hee wished hee had some occasion not to love Iphigenes so well but his indearing deportments his vertue and above all that incomparable Modesty which accompanied all his Actions wrested out of his Minde all thoughts of loving him less Afterwards considering to what danger that brave Palatine had exposed himself to save his Fortune and the promises hee made to raise him to the most eminent Dignities of Polonia if hee would follow his advice which hee had alwayes found as advantageous as sincere that expunged all manner of Gall out of his Heart and restreined him from doing or saying any thing that might be prejudiciall to so pure and inviolable a Friendship One of whose principall Effects beeing Confidence hee resolved to open his Heart to Iphigenes and discover to him as well the extremity of his Passion for Amiclea as the pricking torments of his Jealousie But when hee had displayed all his distempers the End of his Discourse was the Beginning of Iphigenes paines for fearing nothing so much as the loss of that Heart which hee desired to keep intire to himself it was an inconceivable torture to his Minde to see him so violently bent upon another Object Whereupon hee thus spake to Liante I marvell not at your beeing in Love for the Subject deserves it But your Jealousie put 's my senses beyond all temper for I pray what occasion have I ever given you to doubt of my Fidelity Observe Liante how far my Friendship extends if you had but said to mee Iphigenes I would not have you look upon such a Lady although her Image were ne're so deeply ingraven in my Soul I would tear it away or pluck the Eyes out of my head if they were so rash as to cast but one glance upon her I am sure if I had brought your's to this test it would not have indured the touch and you would defend your disobedience by the advantages that Love who is but a Child possesseth or'e those Spirits that are subjected to his Empire See Liante how I surpass you in all things and which is as much to your shame as my honour in the Prerogatives of Friendship which is vainly reported to equalize Friends since you are inferiour to me by so many degrees that you dare not think in my favor what I would willingly execute for your Consideration What imagination possesseth your mind do you think to make Amiclea love you against her will Certainly you understand very ill the motions of Love which have no other foundation but the Liberty of choosing and therefore it is called Dilection as if one should say an inclination of Election And you are very ignorant of the humour of Ladies who like shadowes do usually follow those that flie
in the Army that bore Arms This was the pretty Amiclea who upon the newes of Iphigenes Execution had taken a sodain resolution to die or revenge the Death of him whom shee loved with so much Passion And seeing that all sorts of People took Armes to follow Liante in that expedition shall a Lover said shee to her self be said to have less courage and fidelity than a Friend No no I must I will die gloriously for to survive such a loss is a thing impossible for Amiclea In this Resolution shee went to her Brother Polemander's Armory and having taken one of his Suits of apparell with an Armour shee mounted one of her Father's best Horses the Servants thinking her to be Polemander and in this equipage shee ranked herself among those that sallied and ingaged so far among the Enemies that shee remained Prisoner This was a singular testimony of Affection and Generosity and Iphigenes feining to requite this Obligation by consummating of her hopes was grieved at the Soul that hee could not recompence so great a Love as he could have desired If there was much joy within Minsce for the taking of Mieslas and a great deale of glory for the triumphing Liante there was no less sorrow for the loss of Amiclea no body could give an account what was become of her neither should they ever have imagined shee had done what shee did Some were of opinion that her Love for Iphigenes might perchance through Despair have made her make away herself in some secret Place a violent remedy yet frequently enough practised by weak Spirits Shee was sought for in every corner but found no where every one lamented her loss but the sad Parents above all in respect that beeing assured of Iphigenes Life they lost by this meanes the hope of an alliance which they held infallible by the imprisonment of Mieslas and the promise of Iphigenes Who beeing set at liberty by express command from the Castellain of Cracovia Generall of the King's Army took Amiclea with him to his Tent where beeing presently admitted He said Seigneur Castellain I beseech you do not refuse mee one grace that I shall demand at your hands Seigneur Palatine answered the Generall since the King denies you nothing I should be very ill advised not to agree to any thing that you shall be pleased to desire within the compass of that Power which His Majesty hath committed to mee especially being injoyned by particular Letters from him to give full credence to your Councells My Request replied Iphigenes is onely that you will give mee this Prisoner who is of such quality that I hope to get my Father exchanged for him Sir answered the Generall you may dispose of him as you shall think fit the Palatine your Father is the onely cause of his Misfortune For against all the Lawes of Arms having violated the Truce hee is but justly fallen into the Ditch which hee had digged for the Besieged My Lord said Iphigenes his particular disaster will be a benefit to the Publick For whilest hee is in the Lithuanian's hands wee shall be better able to conclude the Treaty of Peace according to His Majestie 's command and renew the Truce Mean time you shall see that this pretty Prisoner's Eyes are more redoubtable than his Sword and that naked he is more powerfull than arm'd with that lifting up Amiclea's Head-piece a long Tress of golden hair fell about her shoulders And judge you continued hee if I could perish beeing defended by such fair hands It is not needfull to relate the astonishment of those that were present at this agreeable Spectacle where Love and Loyalty appeared in a new equipage If diverse would have esteemed themselves happy to serve so exquisite a Beauty how happy ought they to account Iphigenes who was beloved and served by her with such proofs of Affection The Palatine of Plocens word obliging him to render himself prisoner again to the Lithuanians besides his own inclinations and the desire hee had to free his Hostages from further trouble of whom Pisides was one hee returned with his pretty Champion who not daring to appear before her Parents in that manner desired Iphigenes to make her Peace before shee came in their sight His excuses for Amiclea's disguisement were so well received that Olavius and his Wife commended her for that adventure as an Heroick Act and which would afterwards make her bee reckoned among the Amazons Mieslas beeing shut up like a mad wild Beast in a Tower where for his Son's sake hee was treated according to his Quality the Treaty of Peace went forwards The Truce was re-established more free than before the King disowned Mieslas for having acted against the Law of Arms and sent a Plenipotentiary power to Iphigenes to agree with the Lithuanians During this Conference there was nothing but Sports Turnaments Dancings Comedies Banquets and all sorts of rejoycing of both Parties infallible presages of an happy Peace Among other Playes represented at the Castle of Minsce for the recreation of the Besieged and those of the Camp that came to visit them Liante commanded the Players to act the Tragedy of Iphigenia Agamemnon's Daughter as beeing a lively Image of that which had passed in the deliverance of the Criminall who should have been executed in the place of Iphigenes Wherein there was not any of the Spectators so dull but easily comprehended that the Hinde placed in Iphigeniae's stead represented the poor Souldier whom Mieslas made pass for Iphigenes that the Anger of the Goddess offended for her Stag expressed the indignation of the King for the imprisoning of his Favorite every one interpreted this Embleme according to his own fancy But no body could conceive that the Marriage of Pylades with Iphigenia had any relation to our Lovers and that Orestes beeing cured of the Furies signified the appeasing of Mieslas Fury Yet Hee began to bee more tame seeing himself a Prisoner And as there is no man so covetous who will not bee prodigall of his Estate to save his Life the Proposition of restoring to Liante what hee had so long detained from him and giving him one of his Daughters in Marriage seemed no more so strange to him There is no Creature so daunted as a Wolf when hee is catcht in a snare nothing so tractable as a cruell Man when hee is in his Enemie's power This fierce Palatine condescended to whatsoever they would esteeming it a favour if Liante quitting the pretentions hee had to Clemencia whom hee had promised to the Prince Cassin would take any of his other Daughters leaving him the benefit of his Estate during his Life But Liante seemed to slight his Offers not to give any occasion of distast to the Palatine of Minsce who was desirous to make him his Son-in-law Mean time the Article for the restitution of Liante's Estate passed among the Commissioners of the Treaty of Peace which at length was concluded by the diligence and dexterity of
Iphigenes who had all the glory of that good Office This Treaty beeing ratified by the King the Peace was proclaimed with incomparable rejoycings on both sides That done the Siege was forthwith raised the Souldiers disbanded Armes laid down the Prisoners released and Mieslas got off better cheap than hee expected Iphigenes was immediately repealed to the Court where both their Majesties burned with impatience to see him crowned with Olive-branches interwoven with Laurells and Palms There hee promised Olavius to use his indeavours to procure the King's consent to his marriage with Amiclea and Liante's to Oloria which the Palatine of Minsce held for a singular obligation and the two Sisters were infinitely pleased The joyes of Cracovia at the beautifull Palatine's returne may bee guessed by the regrets of the inhabitants of Minsce who by his absence thought they indured a perpetuall Eclipse and could almost have wish't that the Warr had still continued to have injoyed the happiness of possessing him longer To relate the Pomp and Magnisicence of Iphigene's reception were to undertake the description of a great King's entrance into some Metropolitan City For as the King to shew that the sending him into his Palatinate was a reason of State rather than a disgrace would have his Courtiers accompany him when hee left the Court At his return hee commanded all those that desired to please him should go to meet him that the World might see hee re-entred more in his favour than hee was before and that if formerly hee had loved him by inclination then hee cherished him for Reason and if a Subject can oblige his Sovereign by obligation So all those of the Court went to receive him at a good distance from the City even his Enemies who saw themselves his Foot-stoole rendered him that Devoir and although they had done him all the ill Offices they could devise they prudently covered under Dissimulation the Despight which gnawed their Hearts Mieslas besides his re-purchased Liberty was ravisht to see so many Laurells shadowing his Son's Temples and so many Praises and Benedictions showring down upon his head conceiving that hee had a share in those applauses in regard a vertuous Son is a Crown to his Father His Sister Clemencia who for his sake was much cherished by the Queen could not contein her joy to see her Brother appear like the Sun crown'd with Rayes As there was no interest that touched Iphigenes heart so neer as that of Liante his re-establishment was one of the first things hee moved to the King and having made His Majesty see into his intentions and consider the Despair which had inforced him to cast himself among the Lithuanians with an advantageous representation of what hee had contributed for His Majestie 's service to the Treaty of Peace the King who was a very gracious Prince received him into Grace and promised Iphigenes not onely to revoak the confiscation of his Estate but to re-establish him therein and contribute to the augmenting of his Fortune according as occasions should bee presented This was a good beginning for Liante who participated more than any other of the influences of his beautifull Star But shall wee say nothing of the contentment of the Princess Respicia who was now arrived at the top of her Desires For shee had received from Rome the dispensation that was required to make the Marriage of Iphigenes with Modestina bee declared void Insomuch that relying upon her beloved Palatine's promise shee held the consummation of her's unquestionable It is not my design to describe here the manner of the King 's and Queen's entertainments and reception of Iphigenes the pleasure of the Ladies and the joy of the whole Court at the appearance of that welcome Sun upon the Horizon of Cracovia I shall onely say that their Majesties beeing cured of the suspitions which the Malice of his Enviers had cast into their Souls conspired who should give the greatest testimonies of Benevolence to him whom the voyce of the People which is commonly that of God styled the PEACE MAKER of POLONIA the RECONCILER of the POLONIANS and LITHUANIANS the ANGELL of PEACE the GLORY of his Country the HONOUR of his Family and the JOY of all his Compatriots They often consulted together with what worthy recompence they should requite the Services and Merits of such a subject At length not beeing able to offer him any part of that Kingdome whereof they had onely the use not the propriety they believed that nothing could oblige his Noble spirit so much as some eminent Alliance that might approach him to their Parentage and the Honour of their Blood So whether it was their own motion or whether the Princess Florimunda the King's Sister had spoken any thing to the Queen having taken her part of the Court-vertigo by the infection of Iphigenes eyes yet had through Modesty concealed her affection Which way soever it hapned they determined to give him the Infanta in marriage with a dowry suitable to her quality In the presence of this great Star neither Modestina Respicia Amiclea nor any of the rest whose pretentions beeing hidden their flames were the more violent appeared with any luster there was nothing but Despair in their Hearts Sobs in their brests Sighs in their Mouths and Tears in their Eyes But how think you was Iphigenes surprised when the King in presence of the Queen told him in his closet the honour he intended to do him making him his brother-in-Brother-in-Law by giving him his own Sister to Wife At which words hee fell upon his knees before their Majesties and represented to them all the arguments hee could devise to divert them from that Designe which hee assured them would bee as ruinons to him as honourable For That lifting him aloft as the Eagle doth the Tortoize threatned him with a fatall fall That beeing raised from a Mole-hill to a Mountaine that Eminency would expose him to the outragious Tempests and Thunder-claps of Envy and Detraction that thereby hee should become the Blank and Butt of all the wounding Tongues of those who having seen him their equall would cast despightfull glances upon the elevation of his Fortune That hee knew not how the Lady Infanta herself stood inclined who perchance would bee unwilling to abase herself so low as to marry a private Gentleman who was nothing in the World but what it pleased His Majesty to make him That competent Fortunes as the most certain were the most desirable That hee beseeched His Majesty to consider his Enemies would attribute to his Ambition what proceeded from his Royall Benevolence That hee was too conscious of his own mean condition to entertain a thought of lifting his Eyes towards a Subject of so high a Dignity whose too great lustre would dazle him in stead of giving him light Therefore hee conjured His Majesty to preserve in him the work of his own hands and not render him unhappy by too much happiness That as Lamps if over-filled with
than for any inclination of her own that shee had entertained the thought of Marrying Iphigenes And that His Majesty like a kinde Brother beeing unwilling to press her to a thing which shee had given him to understand was as little agreeable as advantageous to her had desisted importuning or therein expecting some more eminent Alliance All this could not bee carried so secretly but that the Winde whispered it in the Ears of the Princess Respicia who upon intelligence of the King's Design of Marrying his Sister with Iphigenes besides the rumour of his impotency took the allarm so hot that her Minde tormented with severall resentments indured no less agitation than a Ship tossed in the contention betwixt the Winds and Tyde At length shee did like those that the Tempest drive's against the Rocks who save their Lives in seeing their Vessell split Shee fancied to herself that the Palatine beeing more jealous of maintaning the promise hee had made her than ambitious of the Honour that was proposed him by Marrying Florimunda had invented that Plot to dispense himself hand somely of that alliance which would have exposed him to the Envy of all the Grandees And as Desire is a grand Master of Perswasion shee easily believed what shee desired Reasons were not wanting to confirme this Belief For shee had never observed any thing in Iphigenes but what was Generous The proofs of his valour were not unknown to any but strangers All Polonia had seen him perform Exploits of Warr which Fame had not Tongues enough to celebrate If hee was so able for Mars could hee bee inept for Her whom Vulcan surprised with that God This is a Charity which his Enemies do him said Shee not without Sighes because hee hath the Face of an Angell they say hee is no Man and his Enviers call him Effeminate suppose hee bee so is he the less fir for Women That hee hath not accosted Modestina was because Mieslas alwayes hindered him It is upon the delicacy of his Complexion that they have built this Lye Thus did the abused Princess flatter herself in her own misfortune beeing resolved to see the effect of the Dispensation which shee had procured from Rome with so much trouble Having conjured Iphigenes herself and sollicited him by Mieslas to make good his word to her his answer still was that his first Marriage beeing declared void hee would marry her if shee were so contented Hereupon Shee importuned dayly the Archbishop to produce her Dispensation which was in his hands But nothing in this case could bee done in the absence of Modestina whom notwithstanding all the oppositions Mieslas could make the King incited thereto by Iphigenes commanded to be sent for to the Court. With her came Aretuza Mother to Iphigenes who though faithfully advertised of all these passages by Iphigenes and Boleslaüs was ready to die with Fear distrusting the success of that strange Discovery To repeat the reproaches Modestina made to her fair Husband the injurious tearms shee gave Respicia and the reolution shee took to oppose herself till Death against the dissolution of her Marriage I esteem needless Hee that can imagine the resentments of a Wife affronted in that manner may guess how far her Choller transported Her On the other side Olavius having intelligence of the Princess Respicia's pretensions of the arrivall of the Dispensation and of Modestina's and Aretuza's coming to Court conceived for the interest of his Daughter that hee was obliged to carry her thither So with his Wife Polemander his two Daughters Oloria and Amiclea hee took his way to Cracovia to see if hee could accomplish the two alliances which hee had projected with Liante and Iphigenes The Prince Cassin resolved to keep himself reserved in the research of Clemencia untill hee saw the success of his Mother's pretensions Simphorosa his Sister grew every day in Bigness and Beauty but shee was yet so tender that although shee was capable of breeding desires in others shee was not of entertaining any in herself And by reason of her youth and attractive sweetness she was called in the Court the Fair INNOCENT There was no body but the King Iphigenes Aretuza Liante and Boleslaüs that knew the Stratagem which was then to bee put in execution in the face of all the Court. Liante beeing importuned by Oloria gave her not much satisfaction but remitting himself to the King's will and deferring her untill hee were re-established in the Estate which the Palatine of Podolia detained from him hee amused her expectation The King to prepare all things for his design made Mieslas condescend to give Liante of all his Daughters except Clemencia her whom hee should fancy most promising to give her a portion himself and leave him the use of Liante's Estate during Life It was not hard to perswade the Sarmatian to imbrace this offer whereby besides the great advantages that accrued to him hee saw all sorts of Enmity Hatred and Contention cease As for those that were immur'd in the Cloister their Veils besides their naturall deformities were as a Buckler against all Worldly pretensions So that there was no remedy but to produce Virgenia who for her resemblance of Face and Fashion to Iphigenes was commonly called Iphigenia yet the World knew her not till then to bee Mieslas Daughter Against all the oppositions Oloria could make to hinder this alliance the King's authority served for a defence and excuse for Liante and although the Palatine of Minsce murmured against this proceeding hee was inforced to give over his suite the supreme Law beeing the Prince's Will That beeing thus determined the next question was to which of these three Graces Iphigenes should appertain to Modestina Respicia or Amiclea The beautifull Palatine who knew hee could bee injoyed by none of them gave himself to them all with so cheerfull and free a behaviour that each of them thinking shee had the preheminence in his affection raised the Trophy of her Hopes to the Glory of possessing him Each one presumed on her prerogatives and put her pretentions in the first place MODESTINA alleadged that in all Justice IPHIGENES belong'd to her For shee was married to him hee was her Husband RESPICIA founded her plea upon her high Birth and Riches AMICLEA drew her preheminence from her Beauty All three made their Buckler of the Word and Promise of the Palatine For hee had said to his dear Modestina whose disaster hee did really lament that hee would never leave her as long as shee would have him for her Husband Whereupon shee beeing resolved never to say otherwise held her victory infallible Respicia supported by the Paternall authority of Mieslas and the acknowledgement Iphigenes had made that hee never gave his consent to the Marriage of Modestina esteemed her Conquest no less certain And Amiclea recollecting in her Memory the many Caresses inamored expressions and severall demonstrations of affection wherewith Iphigenes had fed her Fancy in Minsce besides the immortall obligations