while after we understood that Decius had beene slaine in the Appian high-wayes and Marcellin confessed to us he had caus'd it to be done for our sakes which gave me a great satisfaction and brought so much ease to my sister that for recompence she dissembled not to give her selfe to him Since that there hath beene no kind of assistances wherewith he hath not pleasur'd us and for which wee account our selves much oblig'd to him But to his misfortune went shee on smiling Melintus is come from Syracuse who furnished with merits that cannot be refus'd any thing hath made me endevour to pull out of my sisters affection a man that she was much ingaged to and to set Palamede there in his place I tell you not these things to let you see that you are beholding to me nor yet to entreat you to pardon Marcellin in consideration of us but that it may appeare to you that having had so much power over my sister as to put that person so farre out of her heart I may be able also to put him as farre out of her sight Melintus who heard this discourse with much attention and in the meane time gave his censure to himselfe of the lives of these women that had caused all those tragedies not beleeving that all such jealousies happened without cause and knowing that women that live with honour have not such disordered fortunes dissembled neverthelesse those thoughts to give her this answer Madam you alwayes give mee so great testimonies of your friendship that I shall remember them every day of my life but it is not reasonable that for our occasion you should be ingrate towards Marcelline I had rather for your sakes pardon him than you should detest him for mine one feare have I onely knowing Marcelline by your discourse to be a man of bloud that we be not forced to goe from Rome or depriv'd of your sight to avoyd the effects of his hate and you may judge how unpleasing these two things will be to us Melintus said Emilia doe not thinke of leaving us I had rather lose Marcelline for ever than the sight of you one moment It may be replide Melintus Camilla had not the same desire Assure your selfe said she that she for the most part does what I perswade her to Madam answered Melintus what ever we doe it will be the most expedient to dissemble on your part as well as ours and in the meane time to keep us to our guards I beseech you therefore continued he to intreat Camilla that she would not use him so hardly for making him declare against us and then we must needs depart this City where hee is too powerfull and lose you for ever Emilia taking him by the hand answered we will doe all you desire doe you but something in our favour and love us but as much as we desire to be loved of you Madam replied he it is impossible for me to love you more than I doe and this I call the gods to witnesse that know the secret of my soule I will beleeve this said she for my owne satisfaction then she left him to go tel her sister what they had devis'd together to keepe them a longwhile with them Melintus seeing himselfe alone beganne to entertaine his thoughts thus Faire Ariana what would you say if you were present Would you accuse me for feigning an affection to Emilia or would you rather pitty me for the constraint I endure To accuse mee would be but injustice in you for dissimulation is here too necessary and why should you refuse me your pitty knowing that I suffer so much paine but for loving you well But seeing she is not present how unnecessary are these discourses This faire creature is now in Sicily who knowes not my griefes or if shee imagines I am not exempt from them for her love shee thinks I am not vexed but with the cares of absence not being able to fancy this cruell burthen that is come upon mee Yet for all this why should she not know my troubles If I love her is she not in my soule and if she be there is she not witnesse of all the torments that accrue to me for not failing of my fidelity to her This beauty that alwayes forbade me to discover my passion to her doth not for all that despise it but desirous to judge with more certainty of it shee hath lodged her selfe in my very soule where finding she was loved with so much ardencie and adored with so much respect she leaves not that place but beholds with joy the crosses which afflict me as faithfull proofes of my love and her deserts What consolation could I have if my memory did not let mee see as oft as I please this divine image without which my life would be insupportable Upon this meditation he rested him and shutting his eyes to have Ariana's beauties the better represented to him with all the graces and lights that accompanied them in his imagination in this pleasing trance hee made these Verses REmembrance deare as my desire Sweet entertainement of my fire Doe not confine me to this place But for thee surely life had left me Even from the time I left that face Which of my liberties bereft me Griefe for an absence importunate Horrour of being unfortunate That intercepts all hope of ever her espying My violent desires where no effects are gained My cares my furies barre my life to be sustained But thy lovely object doth forbid me dying Dresse thy selfe then with all thy charmes And glister in thy fairest Armes Happy subject of my torment Reigne alone within my memory And sustaine my dayes extent For my love onely and thy glory Divinest imge of my faire one A trusty consort and rare one Who still to follow me had dreaded no distresse Who tak'st not in disdaine my lot of misery Cast from thy splendour but one beame to comfort me And dissipate the cares that vex my quietnesse Then my Soule in part relieved Of the evils she was grieved Shall live content with thy decree Thou shalt be securely feared And in a place pure like to thee Please thy selfe to be adored I perceive my cloud to separate Already this same heavenly pourtrait Dispels my troubles with her Soveraigne-ruling eye Shall I e're well endure the brightnesse of her light Now I see her now she comes entirely to my sight As faire as Phoebus seemes within the elearest skye Victorious of all my paines Heavenly Bewty that ordaines Such happinesse for all my woe Now that such a rare delight Makes me forget all my sorrow Let nothing take thee from my sight I care not much in this content Though they prepare me punishment Although they doe conspire besides my life to take Full of repose my thoughts I 'le have in order placed While they consider thee and hold thee still embraced Since that 's the onely good my passion can partake While Melintus was carried away with
feare she might heare of his infidelities and when they were alone together he began thus History of Palamede Melintus Emilia and Camilla DEare sister my humor being so welknown to you I beleeve you are al in a readinesse to understand many follies when you desire to know what my life has beene since I left Sicily And sometimes as I am considering upon my unruly dispositions I thanke the gods for having given mee a sister whose vertue oftentimes reclaimes me by her example and a friend whose good counsels correct my evill inclinations and are remedies for those errors my pronenesse makes me incurre I will tell you therefore that from Syracuse to Rome no very remarkable thing arriv'd to us neverthelesse we wanted not recreation for the pleasant wit of Melintus produc'd such merry occurrences that our Ambassadours themselves could not live without us and having had experience of his vivacity and prudence and some freedome in me they deliberated of nothing without communicating it to us So wee came into this City where Melintus delayed not long to bee made knowne and to gaine us the friendship of those that held an estimation of honour and good birth By little and little we put our selves into the knowledge of the most powerfull men of whom there were but few that were not pleas'd to be visited by us yea many times they came to seeke us out for to goe together to the publike exercises and to enjoy our conversation wherein I admir'd the force of Melintus worth that made homage to bee given it in an age so corrupted I vow to you that the stately glory and magnificence of Rome beganne to dazell mee I despis'd our Townes and the rarest things I had ever seene in Greece or Asia I found nothing so majesticall as the Emperours Court nothing so grave as that August Senate nothing so pompous as the Roman Ladies which appear'd to me so many Princesses In the end I forgat all that ever I had heretofore accounted wonderfull to tye my selfe to these rich objects and admire them but in stead of abasing mee by the consideration of their greatnesse my courage was bold to advance it selfe close to them and to pretend to make me considerable even with the most illustrious Melintus regarded all these things with another eye and in stead of advancing himselfe to them by admiration and astonishment he abased them under him yet not by too severe a wisdome but by a wholesome knowledge of the vanity of these grandeurs which he could make no esteeme of but when they served for ornaments to vertue You know that my heart cannot long time endure without passion and having left with the ayre of my Countrey the affections also I had there I thought the time long till I were already engag'd in the search of some one of those great Ladies with whom I promis'd my selfe more felicity than the gods themselves taste of One day when they carried us to the Theatre to see the spectacles I happened to be very neere to two Ladies whose beauty presently drew my eyes that way and they were so fastened on that consideration that Melintus being aware of my great attention pass'd his hand before my sight and said to me laughing You are seeking to have your selfe hurt beleeve me and retire your selfe I was at that time ingag'd in the choyce I was to make of one of these two and that surprize did something divert me from my thoughts though not from my designe I confess'd to him that I found them very handsome and that I would be very desirous to be able to come neere to them but the prease was so great about them that that was impossible for me They were set upon rich seats having cushions under their armes and under their feet and that delicatenesse pleas'd me infinitely they that were about them did their duties with such respect to them that this very honour added yet much more to the estimation I beganne to have of them She that was nearest me seem'd to have more sweetnesse and more familiarly to treat those that spake to her The other appear'd more severe and of an humour to usurpe a great Empire over them that sought to serve her For me that desire not to employ so many dayes in the pursuit and when the quality of these Ladies and the quantity of suters perswaded that I should but lose my labour I was resolv'd for her I found most easie and that seem'd also to have something in her more agreeable I enquir'd after their names and learn'd how they were call'd Emilia and Camilla two sisters widowes whose beauties were of a very high estimation at Rome the one of them which was Emilia had not any favourite in appearance using contemptuously all her lovers and governing her selfe with much discretion and the other that was nearest call'd Camilla amongst those that serv'd her had the rumour to bee entirely possess'd by Marcellin one most powerfull neare the Emperour The authority of this rivall a little amaz'd me but yet it made me not discourag'd but contrary I beleev'd I might more easily obtaine a good that was granted to another and when I was at my lodging I beganne to muse and walke about a great pace Melintus that had observ'd how I had staid my selfe long upon Camilla's face set him also to walke up and downe and muse as I did and after many turnes he came neere me and said Hide not from mee your thoughts and I will tell you mine Never said I to him have I conceal'd any thing from you I will tell you then sayes hee that within these three or foure houres I am extremely in love And so am I also answer'd I. Can that be possible replyes he But may I tell you the subject of my affection As freely said I to him as I shall tell you mine I love saies he one of those Ladies that sate neare us at the Theater I answer'd him and so doe I but which of them pleases you best Shee that shall please you least said he to me But I assur'd him that I would alwayes receive law from him so farre was I from prescribing him any thing I will tell you then continued he that I love Camilla I said to him a little astonish'd and I also then recomforting me I added but for a small matter you shall give me at my returne I quit her to you upon condition you will assist mee to gaine Emilia And I sayes he to me laughing give you both of them for the interest I pretend in them Then comming to my selfe and knowing he would mocke me I said to him that he would thinke himselfe wronged to have these Dames accounted worthy of him But for my part I was not so delicate and would ever seeke out pleasures proportionable to my humour and my power I feare me said he lest your humour carries you to a place where your power shall not be receiv'd then seriously he
have beene glad to have beene at Syracuse with Ariana for that he suspected lest Marcelin losing Camilla's favour might not make his addresses to her and give them many crosses that way And so had he purpos'd but that which confirm'd Melintus in that apprehension was because Marcelin impatient to see againe at leisure her that had so well touch'd him with love in so little a time staid not long to counterfeit a desire to goe see Palamede and parted from Melintus to goe into the other chamber where he found her no more so as he was forc'd to entertaine her brother thinking he might have need of his helpe to see and be well receiv'd by her but they had strange plots one upon the other That entertainment was not of continuance because when there is question of feigning the discourses are not long-breath'd each fearing to discover himselfe and so the time pass'd away the greatest part of it in silence As soone as ever Melintus could come to speake to Palamede he counsel'd him to goe out of that lodging that very day and told him he had perceiv'd the displeasure Aristides tooke for finding them there that it were better he went his way alone than stay for him that they were to tell the Ladies how Aristides weary of the journey was fallen sick for him that he would follow him the day after and so they ought to retire one by one for feare the depart of them both might not at one time too much surprise them Palamede resisted some time this advice for the passion he had to Camilla whose sight he enjoyed with such commodity Neverthelesse it became him to give place to that friends counsell he had too much neglected to his losse and this resolution taken they were to take leave of the sisters Emilia that had never observ'd in Melintus any strong passion what-ever favour she had exprest to him began to be in doubt of the cause of his coldnes to her since the arrive of Ariana This stately woman who all her life time saw her selfe ador'd without having ever any love died for despite to finde her selfe sleighted and when she heard the newes of his retrait at first shee gently replied to the courteous words of Melintus but to his replies shee us'd reproaches and from reproaches she enter'd into fury That rage brake all the chaines of discretion and modesty What said shee after I had disdain'd the most powerfull men at Rome am I brought to this passe to become suppliant to a stranger and a man unknowne This ingratefull man this Traitor after receiving so much honour at my house after having bin drawne by me out of the hands of death dares yet forsake me and refuse a few daies at my intreaty Melintus to stop the current of those words said to her Madam I am neither traytor nor ungrate I have lost neither the respect I owe you nor the passion I had for you it needs not to employ intreaties where you may command and that which makes me be accus'd for disacknowledgement is that should rather let you see how well I can acknowledge the cares it pleas'd you to take of me since I desire to free you of them Will you reduce mee to that never to be able to satisfie the obligations I have to you by never ending my importunities and that I suffer all my life to be serv'd by you without a power to doe you service Beleeve you that when I am at home I shall have the lesse affection to you and will you not so much as permit that I put my selfe in the way to render you my duties Although I honour your favours extremely the excesse of them begins to be weighty upon me seeing I no more obtaine them by my services Madam if you have hitherto taken pleasure to expresse so good will to me envy me not at my turne the contentment of offering you my cares and obliging you by my submissions to continue this affection to me I beleeve that to a person of courage there is no punishment comparable to this without ceasing to receive and never give and this is that you would have mee eternally endure Emilia something stayed by these speeches stedfastly regarding him said How happy should I be Melintus if you were true but I feare this faire language proceeds not from the heart too much order has it to expresse a passion and you seeme rather to affect to speake well than to love well t is no matter I will beleeve you so you will grant me yet two dayes more stay during which you may find your selfe in better health Melintus not willing to put her into desperation answer'd her that shee might dispose not onely of two dayes but all those of his life without asking him leave So they were at accord together And Camilla much better assur'd of Palamede's affection not being made to oblige her by any compulsion suffer'd him to goe his way well knowing she should ere long see him againe The displeasure this stay brought to Melintus came from hence that hee saw himselfe depriv'd in that time of seeing Ariana and knowing Palamede would not faile to report to her the cause that retain'd him he would write this Letter to her Melintus to Ariana T Is not my sicknesse now that retaines me here but another's that is more insupportable to me than my owne rather out of despite than pitty I have of it 'T is a cruell thing to be unfortunate by too much good fortune and not to be able to escape out of that is in my owne power I beleeve I am destin'd to contemne all my time the good things are offer'd me and to consume my selfe by desiring those I cannot possesse When Fortune uses me the most cruelly she makes me become cruell too then ordaines a punishment for my disdaines in stead of rewarding them being so just But since she is blind I appeale from her to your judgement and aske of you not that which I refuse to take of others that were too great presumption but that I even refuse them which is a little compassion though it may seeme I am unworthy of it in that I deny to give it Melintus gave this Letter in Tables to Arcas his faithfull Free-man to whom alone was the secret passion of his master disclos'd who would not hide himselfe from him in many things he had occasion to employ him This good servant the day after that Palamede was return'd to Maximus with his father tooke the occasion to goe see how hee did from Melintus and gave his letter secretly to Ariana who receiv'd with it so much content that after she had read it she promis'd to give him an answer Never had she done him that favour but having lately had intelligence of so many vertues and merits by her brothers report of the contempt hee had made of one of the fairest Ladies of Rome for not giving offence to her love of the honours he
not beleeve thee so wicked But what reasons canst thou alleage to colour the usurpation of what was his For if thou hadst no meaning to keepe it why didst thou mocke at Telephus when he advertis'd thee not to aspire to the daughter of Aristides by the support of those riches because Hermocrates sonne was living and if thou wouldst not beleeve that why didst thou not restore those goods to them of the race of Hermocrates since they belong'd not to thee See there then the treasures thou hast acquired without running Fortune either by sea or land see there the excessive gaine thou hast made returne of giving nothing in exchange for so many possessions but thy faith and thy conscience which thou hast forsaken This Trafficke was made within thy selfe and thou hadst nothing to doe but to deliberate whether to get that estate thou wert not to betray thy soule Thy avarice disputed against thy fidelity and the decree thy judgement gave in behalfe of it is the sole title of these new acquisitions But 't is but to abuse the cares of the Iudge and of the people to seeke for other proofes after a case so cleare it stands thee then upon to disavow the writing of Hermocrates and thy owne too and after that to report the titles of all thou art possess'd of and all this being impossible I demand of the Syracusians that they condemne thee to restore the goods thou injustly detain'st from me whereby I might from henceforth sustaine the quality of my birth and that they ordaine for thy infidelity that punishment it hath deserved When Melintus had made an end of his speech all the people began to clap their hands and to cry out Condemne Diocles but the Judges having made the noyse cease commanded him to speake Then he requir'd time for to consider upon his justification and said that hee could not answer in the field to all Melintus his impostures that he well knew how to defend himselfe from them but that he must have some leisure to make the falsnesse of what he had said appeare They gave him the writings that Telephus brought in and demanded of him if he knew them He could not disavow his owne hand-writing nor that of Hermocrates but hee said all this made not against him but that he might have gotten the goods before his depart The Judges enquir'd of him if he had the Contracts of the sale that passed betweene them He answered that they were at his house and that he onely desired time to produce them They order'd that hee should send his sonne Amyntas who was present to goe bring them but then he sayd they were not in place where he could finde them and that he himselfe had need of terme for to put them in order All these answers being but shifts and the people never ceasing to cry out against him the Judges assembled together to deliberate and after a long time speaking what they had to say some excusing Diocles that had to that time beene ignorant who Melintus was others shewing more severity and saying that how-ever the case stood he was willing to retaine what appertain'd not to him In the end the Magistrate pronounc'd this judgement That Diocles was condemn'd not onely to restore into the hands of Melintus all those goods he held of Hermocrates but besides to pay him the revenue for the time he had possessed them and that for the infidelity he had committed he was banish'd for three years The people by their applauses seemed to be well satisfied for this sentence and Melintus making a signe with his hand that he would againe speak all was silent and he said I have hitherto onely demanded justice of you and now I demand a grace at your hands which is to revoke the banishment of Diocles in my favour and for the revenue of my estate for the time that is past I give it to Amyntas whose good qualities I esteeme and will be a friend to him Every one having admired the generousnesse of Melintus towards the father and his liberality towards the sonne he obtained all that he desir'd and this last action brake off the assembly Melintus tooke Ariana's hand who was full of satisfaction for the happy successe of their desires and brought her backe to her house with Palamede and their friends Diocles full of sadnesse and shame retir'd him to his owne house not knowing whether hee were to complaine of Melintus or commend him from whom in so small a time he had receiv'd so many displeasures and so many graces Dicearchus who had not assisted at the playes because of his place which he quitted to his Nephew learn'd this newes of a friend of his that presently went his way to advertise him of it for to advise together how they were to live with Melintus since hee was knowne for the sonne of Hermocrates When they were upon that doubt Melintus comes in bringing Ariana Palamede made the recite to Dicearchus of all had passed and so to Melintus his advantage that he was oblig'd to confesse to him that he rejoyced for that good fortune But after all was retir'd when Palamede said to his uncle that they were to esteeme themselves very happy in this that nothing hereafter could be found wanting in Melintus for giving his sister to him since his birth and estate were as great as he could desire them to be Dicearchus answered how that deserv'd well to be thought of at leisure and for that time could get nothing else from him This acknowledging of Melintus for sonne of Hermocrates was cause of the death of two persons Diocles whether it were that he was seized with griefe for seeing himselfe fallen from so great a fortune or whether hee repented for having committed so great an infidelity was found dead the day after in his bed and Hyperia who till then beleev'd she possessed an inestimable good having a sonne so accomplish'd as Melintus receiv'd a farre greater affliction when she knew she was not his mother than she had done when the newes was brought her of his death and not able to resist this dolour lost her life some dayes after Melintus having much resented the losse of a person that held the place of a very affectionate mother to him could not for all that keepe any long time this displeasure in his minde being too much diverted by his hopes and seeing himselfe restor'd to the possession of all that could appertaine to him he thought nothing could now retard his contentments being assured of the affections of Ariana of Dicearchus and of Palamede He came every day to visit them and had conceiv'd too high an estimation of his felicity receiving every moment new testimonies of Ariana's love had it not beene for some coldnesse that Dicearchus made apparent to him though he endevour'd to hide it with a feined courtesie Pisistratus too rendred many duties to Ariana and Melintus seeing that Dicearchus made more esteem of him than
darknesse that encompasses them and in stead of cherishing the vertue of those that excell them they hate and shun them for feare of being over-ruled Misander being return'd to his house makes himselfe sicke and refuses to eat they aske him what his griefe is he is angry and spightfull hee knowes not to whom to take him for to wreake his choler on and his whole project is but to counterfet the mad man and inraged in testimony of his aversion to his sisters designe Ardania doubted that all his transports came from the declaration had beene made him whereof she was well advertis'd and knew not how to speake to him in this unquiet humour At last he tooke him to his bed and then sent for his sister to come to him and when they were alone he said to her Well sister I knew at last the cause of your coldnesses and of all the refuses you made of the parties were offered you I perceiv'd my suspitions were well grounded when I could not approve such secrecy with Polydamas I know well 't is from your advice that he makes you be demanded in marriage See if it be a thing you have resolv'd on I can no longer hinder your purposes will signe you what consent you will have me but assure your selfe that I will not live two dayes after Yes I will dye and make him dye too for having mock'd mee all his life and abused my freedome for to deceive me and you also There fell in continuation a torrent of enraged words against Polydamas and Ardania and after that his fury had taken some respite she told him that she knew not why he should be so transported that she was ignorant of Polydamas designe but that if he had an affection to her he honour'd her by it that shee would tell him truly that if he consented to it he should doe her a great pleasure for she could never be happy but with him I would rather said he to her throw my selfe downe headlong and strike a poynard into your bosome No no I shall hinder the effect of your fancies well enough or else bloud shall be seene spilt Ardania perceiving that his transport made him speake strange follies left him without expression of any great care she tooke at his words and they both pass'd away a night that gave them but little repose I had beene chosen continued Melicerta by these two lovers to be their confident during the traverses which they had foreseene and it was impossible for them to see one another after that declaration Misander having shut up all the avenues so as Polydamas the next day came to see me to know what had passed I told him that affaires were much embroyled and that there was a rumour in the house that Misander was mad and Ardania resisted his rage the best she could But it was a strange thing to see the small force of Ardania shee could not indure her brothers choler and seeing that he would not eat she went to beseech him not to be angry and she would doe nothing contrary to his will I durst not tell Polydamas of this weaknesse seeing to what point of sadnesse he was brought because Ardania had not spoken with so great a resolution as he expected She on the other side seeing her brother pacified recover'd her forces and express'd affection to Polydamas Misander then made the mad-man as before and constrain'd his sister to give way to him That combat betweene Ardania's love and Misanders rage endured a long time and when this was cooled the other had the advantage In the meane time Polydamas seeing no more Ardania that put not in effect what she had promis'd him was tormented with many cares and unquietnesses and the more facility he saw of executing their designes the more griefe he had to see that she could not resolve to despise her brother But to come to the infidelities I told you of said Melicerta which were punished one by another I will let passe all the strifes Ardania made then the weaknesses which made her release with all the complaints and reproaches Polydamas us'd to her who yet was so discreet as he never complain'd of her but to her selfe and to me He had beene false to Elusina without her knowing of it and she too had beene unfaithfull to him in abandoning him to deliver her selfe from misery although shee beleev'd that he still lov'd her Love to revenge Polydamas on Elusina made her being married have her husband in such a contempt that she feined not to seeke to Polydamas againe who despised her Againe to revenge Elusina on Polydamas he caused Ardania to forget the greatest affection that ever was and I beleeve that which made her unfaithfull was the fidelity of her glasse which representing her complexion to her effaced with cares What now said she shall I lose my beauty that procur'd me so many vowes and commendations to maintaine my love that brings upon me so many mischiefes No no let us quit this love the trouble of my soule and the ruine of my dearest treasures and forgetting it for ever let that beauty returne which for one lost lover shall gaine me above a thousand See her then deliberating to become handsome againe and for the recovery of her good lookes quite unwilling to heare speake of Polydamas any more I wondred with my selfe at so strange a change and when I reproach'd her for her lightnesse she had the boldnesse to deny to me all she had told me when she lov'd Polydamas even thus farre as she would have made me beleeve that shee never had any affection at all to him At that time a young man call'd Cyllarus sought her he had loved Danaide a woman he had beene beholding to for all the civility he knew with Ladies for she had taken the paines to instruct his youth whereupon Cyllarus being ingrate renounc'd her friendship and pursued the affection of Ardania Love that had already taken vengeance of Elusina and Polydamos was revenged at one blow of two unfaithfull persons joyning in marriage Cyllarus with Ardania to punish them one by the other This delicate woman that thought her charmes so puissant could not stay that wanderer who was no sooner married but that he return'd to Danaide and without considering of the displeasures he gave his new wife sought by all the wayes he could to re-enter into her good graces Danaide in revenge of her selfe mocked him a long time whereat he receiv'd so many sorrowes as he could not hide them before Ardania She on the other side seeing her selfe despised began to regret her faithfull Polydamas she had forsaken so as being both of them in bed they lay off from one another as farre as they could and suspired each of them apart one for Danaide the other for Polydamas But a while since Cyllarus has found the meanes to re-joyne with Danaide and this is that Ardania but now told me said Melicerta at least she
all her lovers but contempt and indifferency yea some had shee handled with so much cruelty that despaire had reduc'd them to extreme resolutions for there is no doubt but she hath charmes unavoydable to any other but Melintus and is skill'd in the managing of wits with so much dexterity that she acquires an absolute command over all that approach her among the rest she was more continually serv'd by one call'd Trebacius Captaine of the Emperours guard who for all the passionate duties a lover could performe had proved all the rigours that a Mistris could inflict But that woman that had brought forth so much love without receiving any did at this time take without giving any At first meeting she receiv'd with joy Melintus offers as a conquest she had desir'd having then no other plot but to keepe that acquisition yea she dissembled not to glory of it and to signifie her contentment to her other lovers the more to provoke them she us'd them with more cruelty and contempt than ever in such sort that Trebacius not able to indure such sensible objects of ill intreaty and jealousie was in the end forced to resolve with himselfe never to see her more But love that would be reveng'd of all her disdaines made her observe so many perfections in Melintus and sweetnesse in his conversation that she began to feele cares and unquietnesse when he was absent and motions of joy which were not ordinary with her when she saw him She would have rejected those torments which were not knowne to her but by the complaints of them she had made suffer so much but it was impossible for her and in the end she was brought to that passe to comfort her selfe in this beleefe that Melintus felt no lesse torment for her Melintus soone perceiv'd the effect as well of his words as of his duties and thought it fit for the good ordering of this advantage that he must faigne not to seeke out of discretion what he shunned out of designe He gave me advice of all and we had so order'd the matter that for not provoking of Marcelin I was not before him to expresse any purpose for Camilla but rather to make him beleeve that we had too much respect to him for to enterprise upon his loves This assurance wee gave him and some good offices wee did him gained us intirely his friendship even so farre that he made report of us to the Emperour and made him desirous to see us Then lived I happy enough because Melintus willing to avoyd the occasions of being alone with Emilia that he might not have cause to presse her had found out a device to deliver himselfe out of that pain and give mee much commodity and content For having observ'd that Marcelin made himselfe a states man and would seeme able to speake upon any kind of subject yet and sought his entertainment to make it appeare that he loved no company to that of the learned at what time Melintus saw him most busie about Camilla he entred in his discourse with Emilia upon subjects that were very high and Marcelin lest he might seeme to recule for ignorance left Camilla to joyne himselfe to those discourses which Melintus knew how to prolong and then to begin others wherein Marcelin was so farre ingag'd that he lost the remembrance of Camilla and so left me the place free while Melintus also deliver'd himselfe from the discourses he had beene oblig'd to hold with Emilia altogether contrary to his thoughts Since the cruell answer Camilla gave mee I dar'd not take up that language any more fearing I might wholly ruine my selfe only I rendred her little devoires and complaisances staying till Melintus might oblige Emilia to speake something in my favour in the end was this occasion presented Marcelin had spoken of us to the Emperour and amongst other of Melintus qualities had commended him for making excellent Greeke verses and had said of mee that I could play on the Harpe nay more that therein wee had beene Victors in Greece at the Olympique games these were then the dearest pastimes of that Prince to compose and repeat verses upon the Theatre and to play and sing in presence of the people to the envy of those that were acquainted with such exercises Melintus and I having saluted Nero he commanded us to prepare our selvès two dayes after to ascend the Treatre with him and dispute the prizes appointed for the Conquerours It was against his will that Melintus resolv'd to obey and appeare in an action so little becomming the greatnesse of his courage But yet though it were some shame to see so great a Prince so passionately to seeke for honours so vaine and so unworthy of his Majesty when I saw my selfe upon the Theatre proudly clothed with the chiefest men of the earth upon cloth of gold and purple the Emperours guards about us and an infinite number of people showting with acclamations and applauses my heart conceiv'd joyes my mouth is not able to expresse Only I will tell you that Melintus appeared in his rang attir'd like Orpheus when he went to hell to demand Euridice and repeated that Elegant Poeme you have sometimes heard him speake of with which he so ravisht the peoples eares that the end of his repetition was followed with a thousand acclamations of applause I was disguised into Apollo and had a laurell neare me to represent him when Daphne whom he pursued was chang'd into that tree and accommodating my voyce to the Musique of my Harpe I sung these verses LOvely daughter of Peneus That hadst compel'd mee to thy lure And is thy life departed from us Into this wood a tree t' endure Alas for to avoyd my love Thou many cryes to heaven didst send Thy voyce hath mov'd the gods above A God could never make thee bend Lesse quick I wished thee to be Heavens smiling when I prayed Immoveable by rendring thee More than I desir'd have stayed Thy running did me much importune Thou wert in dread of my embrace And our desires by this thy fortune Were heard and turn'd to our disgrace O Daphne what funest desire Hath made thee thus the light despise Sweet Daphne or to life retire Or else restore my liberties Why doe I tempt a thing impossible I lose my words that lost my way If when a Nymph she was insensible These branches heare not what I say Let thy leaves be greene for ever Laurell of my ill glorious Let them alwayes my head cover And front of the victorious Camilla and Emilia were not very farre off us and I was more pleas'd that Camilla approv'd with a nod of her head that I had sung than with some clapping of hands that followed in my favour When all had beene presented in their turnes and they were to judge of the prizes Nero was proclaim'd Conquerour Yet the second honours were adjudg'd to us Melintus receiv'd a crowne of gold inrich'd with diamants and pearles and I
first motion she told him it could not be done but being overcome by his intreaties and importunities she had in the end promis'd him and the day after Marcelin having studied upon that occasion came to find her and propos'd how Ariana might be deceiv'd by representing a false deity that should perswade her to love him Virginia said that at the beginning she approved not this device being unwilling the Temple should be prophaned by a fraud but that he was so skilfull in conjuring her by representing to her to what extremity his passion was reduc'd as at last shee permitted him to make ready all his engines and how to give him time she had remitted Ariana to the eight day after Then she told her how her brother had drest the Chamber with the riches that were his owne and chosen an excellent Ingineere to set up stately Theaters and make all manner of representations and they together had consulted to take in the vault of that little Temple and make a heaven of it that within it they had set a musique with store of Torches which made that light and that the darknesse was caused by meanes of certaine clothes they had hung before the windowes to make the place afterwards more lightsome by the torches That the Diana was the most faire and famous Comedian that was at that time in Rome the children were also accustom'd to the Theaters and had their shafts rubbed with a composition that kindled in water that all this descended and ascended by meanes of little wire threds untwist and strong that were tied to their scarfes as it were invisibly Ariana was full of wonder to heare of a deceit so well carried but she was as full of shame when Virginia confest that Marcelin saw her when she went into the bath through holes he had made about the pipes of the cisterne and that she her selfe had beene curious to see so many beauties which she protested she had never seene the like After that she assur'd her that if she had thought her brother would have used violence the entrance into the temple had never beene permitted for his inventions Whereupon she ask'd her pardon for having expos'd her to that danger being over-reach't by the prayers and assurances her brother gave her Ariana answer'd her that she wonder'd not if she had done some thing in favour of the friendship she had to her brother and press'd by his importunities that she had a great obligation to her for quitting the interests of a person so neere to have care of hers and for discovering this trick that might have kept her in errour and trouble all her life They parted asunder after some other discourse and Ariana went out of the temple with an oath never more to seeke to purifie her selfe in Rome where chastity was subject to be corrupted by so many artifices She confest to Melintus he had reason to suspect some couzenage and after she had made this relation which he himselfe found strange they gave their judgement how they were to distrust that man who would never rest there since he sought out such rare and powerfull practices In the meane time Marcelin perceiving his designes either discover'd or at least made unusefull was resolv'd to demand Ariana in marriage of Aristides being in no hope otherwise to asswage his passion He communicated his purpose to Martian his father and told him she was daughter to Aristides one of the chiefest men in Siracuse neece to Dicearchus who was the most powerfull in that City and had no children and that they both drew their pedigree from one of the most noble houses in all Greece His father would have put him off this because she was a stranger but he could not doe it what ever remonstrances he made him of the injury he did himselfe that might pretend to any of the nobiest maids in Rome In the end Martian that was already accustomed to endure all the vitious passions of his sonne because he was of use to maintaine him with Nero could well be pleas'd with this that was an honest one and consent to that he desir'd With this permission Marcelin addrest himselfe to Maximus having thought him fit to mannage the affaires and declar'd his designe to him back't with his fathers consent and intreated him to make the proposition of it to Aristides of whom he hoped to be receiv'd with contentment being the sonne of a Senator if he could resolve to leave his daughter at Rome or else dwell there himselfe and in that case that he would obtaine for him the quality of a Citizen of Rome that Palamede had obtain'd already that if he had any familiarity with Ariana he besought him also earnestly to dispose her to wish him well Maximus considering of the quality of Marcelin his credit and authority about the Emperour thought he might gaine a great support to himselfe if he were able to doe him any good office and finding this proposition honest promis'd him all the assistance he could expect That very day he mov'd it to Aristides who at the first could not consent to quit his daughter Neverthelesse the greatnesse of that party dazeling his judgement he began a little to give way to the reasons of Maximus and at last promis'd to communicate the businesse with his sonne and daughter and that very houre he wrote of it into Sicily to his brother Dicearchus Maximus finding he was so fairely forward advertis'd Marcelin of it who seeing that his good fortune partly depended on the good will of Ariana fail'd not to appeare at the Temple proudly cloth'd with a great traine to make her see what honour she should be mistresse of if she consented to his desire and omitted not to make great expressions of his respect to her serving himselfe at the same time for divers ends both with pompe and with humility On another side Aristides having made overture of it to his children Ariana was in a great wonder to heare him mention it as a thing he desired Yet she continued mute to her fathers reasons and left the taking of her part to her brother who not enduring to have any thing more spoken concerning a man he had so much cause to abhorre and his sister also for his sake was forc'd to say he beleev'd not that so good a father would marry his sister to a man that had twice attempted upon his life that he could no longer hold from confessing to him that it was Marcelin that would have murther'd him with a troupe of men from which the gods only preserv'd him that after that feigning to send him an ointment for his wounds he had sent him poyson not ever thinking he was advertis'd that he had beene the head of those that had assaulted him by night that he had beene constrain'd to dissemble that treason especially knowing that the Emperour was of the party But what cause said Aristides had he to wish you so much evill
other carelesly stretched upon the bed but yet in such a fashion that it kept her from being easie to be uncover'd Her bosome that this way of sleeping gave repose to and breathing at ease was not cover'd but with the end of the sheet that by chance met there the rest was very modestly compos'd I stood confounded to see her so handsome for it seemed her eyes in despight that they were not open for securing her from me pierc'd through their lids to wound me so strangely did I feele my selfe moved And yet not satisfied with what I saw I softly uncover'd all her neck but I vow to you Melintus I never saw any thing so faire I could no longer containe my selfe then but bringing my mouth thither I press'd her a little more than I should have done and made her wake That was a strange spring of hers she gave when she saw her selfe betweene my armes at her awakening and with ease delivering her from me because I would not anger her at this first encounter she inveloped her selfe in her sheets and after blaming my boldnesse for comming into her chamber while she slept prayed mee to goe out then asham'd to lose so faire an occasion I put my selfe upon her bed and embracing her urg'd her by all the prayers I could devise to ease my affection and in this while I put her to a little paine hoping to obtaine what I desir'd by a sweet violence but she after some resistance at last lift her selfe up and said to me with a confident looke Palamede I beleeve you are not so unreasonable as to have a thought to take that by force from mee which is the dearest thing I esteeme in the world it may be you hope I will be vanquish'd with your importunities but know this that there is no punishment so cruell as that I shall make choyce of for you and then for my selfe too after the losse of my honour my condition hath diminish'd nothing of my courage let it satisfie you therefore to have attempted this the crime is great enough to go no further and I shall never pardon you while I live if you leave me not now presently in as much repose as I was in when you found me If you goe on in this vile intent your labours will be but all in vaine nor shall the difference of our fortunes keepe me from having your life in revenge of your indiscretion She spake these words with so severe a fashion that I had no heart to presse her any more I besought her to excuse the rapture of my love and would not let her alone till she had pardon'd me Afterwards I had alwayes a great opinion of her vertue and was not wanting to doe her all the services I was able untill I went my voyage to Athens I protest to you sayes Melintus breaking him off I am greatly delighted to heare such generous demonstrations of a courage doe but consider a while how vice serves to advance vertue for there is no doubt that without that wicked desire in you to attempt upon her honour you could never have knowne to what height she had brought that honour I will avow to you replied Palamede that since that time I respected her as much as she had beene the most noble of our condition and the more practice I had with her the more I observ'd qualities in her that could not proceed but from a good birth as you shall understand by this that followes Then he goes on Before my depart for Athens I was aware that Epicharis seeing my over-free humour chang'd into a respect and my violent passion into a vertuous love had also somewhat moderated her too great rigour to oblige me with an honest friendship and no occasion to serve me was presented but she perform'd it with a great deale of care but so modestly withall that I could not imagine it were to gaine me any way besides It seem'd onely that shee exprest to have some obligation to mee for the affection I had to her and during my voyage I continually receiv'd proofes from her that she remembred me At my returne I had a great contentment when I knew my uncle meant to give her to my sister and the day she was to part out of his house I went thither to see her but at my entrance I perceiv'd in a corner the poore wretch Asylas busie at a great reckoning to which he was so attentive that he saw me not he had a little booke he was looking in then he counted one while with his fingers another with casting counters but I well saw he could not make his account right At last I had pitty of him and ask'd him what hee did Hee was asham'd to be taken at that occupation neverthelesse I offered my selfe in so good fashion to helpe him that he desired me to count for him It was a number of yeares wherein there were many dayes to be added and many also to be taken away but I had a minde to know what the meaning of it was He confest to me that after he had a long time sought the good graces of Epicharis at length he could obtaine of her nothing else but that after six yeares service she might receive his affection and how moreover they had put into the agreement that according to the quantity of the services shee might take away some of the daies and in like manner she might adde to them as she pleas'd if he did any thing to displease her either wilfully or by misfortune that for this purpose he made use of the little booke to keepe a true account withall and now Epicharis was going to dwell out of the house hee would see in what estate affaires were I began to laugh within my selfe seeing his simplicity and this device of Epicharis wit to mocke him When I had therefore comprehended his meaning I look'd into the booke and saw how every day that pass'd was taken away and that sometimes there was writ for one service foure dayes to be diminish'd but by and by after was set downe in another hand for not saluting with a good grace ten dayes to be added for speaking indiscreetly fifteene dayes and all that was to bee augmented so was written with Epicharis hand I refrain'd from laughing as well as I could and after a true supputation I found that he had still above eight yeares to serve and there were two past already since they made the bargaine When I had stayed his account and he saw himselfe so farre backward he could not choose but weepe I comforted him what I could with a promise so to use the matter with Epicharis that shee might oftentimes diminish the dayes for my sake But he ceas'd not weeping and said he should not find out so many occasions more to serve her and I answer'd him there should not be so many occasions neither to displease her After I had somewhat restor'd him againe I went to
tell this encounter to Epicharis with whom I laugh'd a good while at Asylas affliction for finding himselfe so backward in his account She confest she had invented this way to rid her of him and for merry pastime when she desir'd it But in the end I said to her And for mee how many yeeres will you ordaine mee There needs many said she because it may be you would often find the meanes to oblige me and I should feare you would never doe any thing to displease me If that were so answer'd I you ought to wish the terme might soone end to possesse him that would not displease you Looke you then sayes she there must be some other person besides me to make you happy but I sweare to you also I should never give my selfe to any lesse than you And if fortune restores me not to a higher condition you may be assur'd no man shall ever enjoy me in that I am now in The greatest of my desires is come about that I may live with the divine Ariana your sister 'T is with her I will end my dayes in the height of felicity I sweare to you Melintus that hearing her speake with so great a heart I knew not what it was kept me backe from taking her by violence out of my parents hands to give her liberty and marry her after but knowing she her selfe would never consent to that for feare of angring Dicearchus Aristides and Ariana I did nothing but augment my love by the experience of her vertue Some time after she pleas'd me againe so well that I was neere upon the losing of all respect or consideration I beleeve you were then in the Countrey with Telephus when my sister made a dance of Egyptian women I have heard said Melintus of something there was done in my absence which I shall be glad to heare of You know replies Palamede how Epicharis sings and playes on the Lute very pleasantly We were all assembled at my uncle Dicearchus his to receive this Masque I saw her enter with three other women in the number of whom was my sister and when the noyse was appeas'd she recited these verses in Musicke FOure Sisters we be come from Egypt together To appeare in these parts Vnknowne were the loves of Cypris our mother And Mercury god of Arts. Our father at our birth left us for portion Dexterity of hand And Venus she gave us beauty in proportion Mankind for to command Now seene shall it be if any of this City May easily escape If our hands he avoyd our eyes farre more witty Shall finely him intrap I was one of the nearest of the spectators and so rapt with seeing and hearing her that I had lost the use of my other senses to make happy those of sight and hearing onely which made me I tooke no heed when one of these Egyptians put her hand into my pocket in the meane time and tooke away what I had there When the recite was ended and the dance following it they that saw I was robbed made shew to looke if they had lost nothing by these she-robbers I did as much and instantly cried out that I had beene robbed and ran to Epicharis to intreat her to give me againe what they had taken from me then to my sister and the rest of them but they all denied the theft and I had no newes of it till the next morning when I saw comming into my Chamber a young boy I knew not that brought me what I had lost with a little paper wherein were writ these words The Egyptians are content to let you see that they know how to get more than they desire to keepe acknowledge their power and thanke their courtesie I urg'd this young childe to tell me who sent him but he would never be knowne of it and all I could get of him was to give me leisure to make an answer And I went to write thus To the most Gentile of the Egyptians IF you had purpos'd to returne me all you tooke from me I should have found a heart amongst the things it pleas'd you to restore but if you thinke it fitting I consent it stay still with you as earnest of the fidelity I sweare to you All these Gentilesses gave me intirely to her and yet since that time I serv'd her with a great respect because the commodity at our house being the fitter to make attempts upon her I perceiv'd that she did the more refraine expressing her good will towards me for feare I might not take the more boldnesse but I confesse to you that what ever intreaty she made mee I never left commending in my minde her carriage My sister was very well pleas'd with my affection knowing this wench to be very discreet and was perswaded she would find the way to moderate my over-hasty humour if I tooke pleasure in obeying her She alwayes therefore us'd me very seriously but one time when I assur'd her of the love I had to her And may I said shee have some proofe to confirme it I was amaz'd and glad withall she desir'd some service at my hands and made offer of all I was able to doe to please her Know if it be possible said she to me of Dicearchus what my birth is for I beleeve certainly hee knowes it 'T is not that I am weary of living as I doe for to serve Ariana I would forsake the most free condition of the world but I should have cause to rejoyce in waiting on her service purely out of good will and not out of necessity I commended her desire and promis'd to use all the intreaties I could to that end then I added would to God my faire maid our conditions might in some fashion meet one with another I should have as much cause to joy at that perswasion as you your selfe for I beleeve I shall never have power to dispose of my selfe untill I see what fortune shall have resolv'd of you I will not answer'd she make any profession to you how much I am oblig'd to your affection for that were unusefull but if ever the state of my life may change you shall finde I will not forget the least of your respects I prayed her to beleeve I would alwayes serve her after that manner and proffer'd my selfe in case my uncle gave me no light to know what she were to goe to the farthest parts of the world that I might learne the truth of it But when I had put Dicearchus upon that discourse I could never draw any clearing of the question from him He told me indeed that he had her of the Pyrats upon the Sea coast towards Camarine but that made me never the wiser and I was very angry for having understood nothing else to satisfie Epicharis desire Presently after the occasion of going to Rome was presented and when I bade her adiew she said Take heed fortune upon the Sea make not you of my condition and by equalling you
affaires to all I met Epicharis looking on Melintus ask'd him If you were in love would you not have a friend to be confident in I never knew any yet said Melintus I durst be assur'd of in so important a secret And doe you not thinke answer'd she Palamede loves you enough not to deceive you I should doe an injury said he to doubt of it but he might be deceiv'd himselfe and not thinking any thing discover that which I should have much adoe to keep secret my selfe And what would you thinke of me replies Epicharis that I might be brought to reveale any thing if you had trusted me with a secret that was to be kept with discretion I confesse to you answered Melintus that you are the onely person I dare be confident of for a thing that were so deare to me Let it not grieve you then said she taking hold of his hand that I am acquainted with the whole secret of your life but live most assured for all that that I would rather suffer death than one word to be drawne from me of that you desire should be conceal'd And because thereupon he stood still in a great amazement she added Melintus I had not so freely spoken to you but that I am resolv'd to employ my life at your service and I desire you to beleeve there is not a man I honour so much as I doe you and that my minde shall never be contented unlesse yours be so too since your interests so neerely concerne those of my Mistresse Melintus seeing how she knew so much as she did said to her Is it possible Epicharis she should tell you any thing of this for I beleeve you have perceiv'd nothing by me not so much as from my eyes Doe not seeke to informe your selfe said she how I come to know it let it suffice I am not ignorant either what you are or how vertuously you love her and I have no greater joy than when I hope my services may be of some use to you Then is my soule answered Melintus and my life in your hands but I am not sorry for it assuring you that next unto her there is not a person I esteeme as I doe you nor of whom I desire more to be esteemed Melintus replide shee beleeve this the affections I have to you are not of the common sort and if I doe you no extraordinary great services the fault shall not be for want of employing all the powers are in me I well know said he what you are capable of and I shall thinke my selfe happy in this onely that your will is good Palamedes returne brake off that discourse who came to tell them there was never a Ship in the harbour and that there was none expected there notwithstanding they determined to continue in that desart place untill there might some arrive About Noone Epicharis walking about met with a little house that leaned against the backe of the mountaine whereinto entring shee found an old man and his wife of the same yeares that got their living by making certaine houshold commodities of wood which they carried to sell at Cumae After she had inquir'd of their manner of life she perceiv'd they had two or three beds and ask'd them if they had any children Presently the teares came into the eyes of these good people and Epicharis desirous to know the cause of their displeasure they told her they had lately but one daughter remaining alive whose husband dying a yeare agoe left her two children and about a moneth since having them in the wood with her a shee-wolfe carried them away to be devour'd after shee had strangled the mother Epicharis lamented with them that accident and to stay their weeping gave them some money then she ask'd them if they would lend her the beds they had to spare for two or three dayes They offer'd her all their house and Epicharis well content that shee had found out a lodging whilest they could depart went to advertise Melintus and Palamede of her adventure and brought them to this poore house where they accommodated themselves as well as they might They lived on that they brought day by day from Cumae and one while Melintus another while Palamede went a horsebacke to the Port to see if there were any vessell come They passed thus eight or ten dayes with much incommodity and wearinesse for this stay was very grievous and deferr'd great joyes as well from them as from those they desir'd to deliver out of paine in Sicily One day as Palamede was at the Port of Cajette hee perceiv'd a man a horsebacke that look'd upon him all astonished he knew him to be Arcas and brought his horse close to his to embrace him The poore Arcas was so confounded that he durst not yet be sure it was Palamede and said to him Alas and is it you I am seeking for dead and doe I finde you living 'T is not a shadow answered Palamede thou seest but the good friend of thy Masters And what is become of him replies Arcas Hee is not very farre from hence answers Palamede and I long very much till hee see thee Arcas not able to recollect himselfe out of his amazednesse Palamede prayd him to come away to goe to Melintus The gods saves Arcas favour all your designes for the good newes you tell mee alas does my Master then live still and have the gods had care of your innocency I thinke the time long ere I see him and embrace his knees after so many feares and griefes that tormented me when I thought him dead They went on then in their way to goe to Melintus and in the meane time Palamede knew that his father and his sister were happily arriv'd at Syracuse and had nothing else to trouble them but the extreme displeasure for leaving him in so great danger But Arcas reserv'd the report of the voyage he had made since their landing at Syracuse where he had presently left them to returne to helpe his Master if he might be so happy as to come to him in time They went in such haste that they were soone come to the little house where Melintus and Eurylas being at the doore and seeing a man comming with Palamede afarre off knew not what to thinke but when they saw 't was Arcas they went for joy to meet him He cast him downe at his Masters feet and embrac'd his legges without being able to take himselfe off Alas said he my deare Master doe I see you once againe Melintus stooped downe also for to embrace him and with excesse of contentment held his head with both his hands at last he ask'd him how they did at Syracuse Very well answered Arcas and when they shall see you againe alive they will doe better yet But went he on with a great sigh how is 't possible you escap'd out of the Tower By the assistance of this young man sayes Palamede shewing him Eurylas to whom we
never the farther from loving me At that time I gained also the affection of Misander if I may so call the desire he exprest to see and speake with me fot doubtlesse you will laugh at the humour of that man I have heard say interrupted Ariana that he is of Reggium and comes often to Syracuse but that he is very melancholicke It is impossible replide Erycine you should imagine to what degree he is so He came one day to see me in the company of Amyntas that was his friend at that time Hyperia my mother was very sicke and in danger to dye my affliction which he found to have some sympathy with his sad humour caused as I beleeve the good will he had to me His discourses were to make me see that I had cause rather to bee afflicted than comforted his wit affording him no reasons for to vanquish my griefes and after he had employed some words to expresse the part he tooke in my sorrow he thought he had sufficiently declar'd his affection to me since it may be I was the first he had obliged by that compleasance Thinking therfore he had got familiarity enough with me by this first encounter he came to revisit me when my mother was in better health and I rejoyced at her recovery my jollity truly made not his affection dye which my sadnesse had produc'd but standing mute to all the discourses wherein I express'd a satisfaction in him he would peradventure have had mee beleev'd that his silence proceeded from love and some dayes after seeing me to receive him with a great deale of kindnesse as I am accustomed to use all that come to see me he tooke the liberty to complaine of me and would have mee thinke that I dealt unjustly with him not to acknowledge the affection hee bare me although he had made none at all appeare to me whether by discourse or any other way For my part having no cause to satisfie him it was no difficult matter to me to keepe him in that plaintive humour and every time he saw me he seem'd to have obtain'd what he desired for when I us'd him with harshnesse or contempt he set himselfe to discourse that he was the most miserable of men that those women that had a sweetnesse for all other had nothing for him but disdaines that his encountring was so unfortunate that at the same instant he appeared he inspir'd refuses and rude usage into them he desir'd most to be esteem'd of that in his very presence they affected a favouring of others to give him the greater displeasure To end upon the subject of the misery of his life there came a torrent of words from him which was impossible to be stopped I laugh'd within my selfe that he was satisfied after that fashion in making all those complaints and reproaches to me his soule loving to feed on nothing but such ill nourishment as this You describe a man to me interrupted Ariana of a very strange nature and yet pleasant enough withall I cannot replide Erycine sufficiently represent this miserable humour for I have observ'd that it 's impossible to please him giving a sense to all things that confirmes his opinion of being miserable If I us'd him with any sort of kindnesse he tooke it for feining if I treated him with coldnesse it was a certaine contempt If I spake to him it was said he in a certaine fashion whereby he perceiv'd well enough the small account I made of him if I held my peace it was to let him see that he was troublesome and to give him leave to be gone In the end I found very true what I had heard my brother say of him that of all the passions he thought he had none but the displeasant and unfortunate ones as sadnesse feare jealousie despaire distrust and the rest And upon this subject he made an observation which I have found a very pretty one and am like to retaine it in my memory that the most things have two faces which diversly regarded make effects as divers As in a combat a man of courage considers nothing but the glory of vanquishing and makes sure of it a poltron regards nothing but death which brings horrour and trouble upon him Even so Misander being within corrupted with this same blacke humour regarded but the ill sense of all things and interpreted all my actions to his disadvantage I had two servants then very differing one that complain'd incessantly without having cause the other that alwayes satisfied himselfe what-ever rigour he receiv'd I confesse to you Amyntas displeas'd me not for the other you may judge if he were love-able yet although he were a man I had reason to banish my company the softnesse of my nature suffer'd me not to anger him enough to drive him away Amyntas knowing by the intreaty I made Misander that himselfe was not ungracious with mee ceased not seeing me and had not failed of greater attempts but that I made him know his duty and my modesty altogether stayed him Misander had so contagious a melancholy that he was a vexation to all he came neare Amyntas brought me his acquaintance but he repented him sufficiently of it for my sake and more yet for his owne because Misander never left me and hee could not entertain me as he desir'd 'T is true that if I had an enemy I should wish him to endure the love of a man of this humour for I beleeve there is nothing in the world more insupportable If you stay at home they will besiege you cruelly without speaking sometimes a word in a day and will weary out the most resolute that might thinke to attend their depart to speake with more freedome if you have businesse abroad they will still accompany you and not give you so much as one houre of respite and in the meane time they will have their sighes be taken for the sweetest entertainments of love their silence for an admirable discretion and their importunity for services that cannot be sufficiently rewarded I remember one day Amyntas came to our house feining to save himselfe from the raine he was taken in as he had ever some pleasant excuse to come often thither and finding Misander there whose presence importuned him sufficiently without adding to his trouble any thing by this sorry humour he was not able to endure that constraint and went out to be delivered of it in spight of the raine that still continued but when hee was abroad the storme so increas'd as he was forced to come backe againe to us where we passed away a day as blacke as can be imagined as well because of the weather as for the humour of Misander On the subject of that raine Amyntas the day after gave me these verses Last day faire Erycina with a storme assail'd At your house I beleev'd I should have shipwracke fail'd As at some happy Port by heaven granted me Soone by their radiant beames your eyes me dried But
off feinings to speake more open and plainly to me It was a strange resolution of mine I wished he would love mee and thought I lov'd without being loved but when I saw him submit to me without knowing my designe I tooke upon me so absolute an authority over him that I would make him suffer as rigorous a government as if I had hated him and would put him to the cruellest trials of it Since that time he liv'd with me as before thinking I had receiv'd his excuse neverthelesse I would not stay there and my desire was admirable I had a minde that he declar'd himselfe to me and was for all that resolv'd to take away all hope from him So I sought the occasion as well as he did and one day as I spake to him of a dreame I had had he told me hee had put one of his into verse which he shewed mee that very time they were these FOnd man what have I done ah wretched bold device Have I then dar'd to breake theice Of a respect so long preserv'd And hath my fury then at last usurp'd this licence Me speake of love she heard And for this I am banish'd evermore her presence Those faire eyes without mercy more to justice bent Have added for my punishment Fierce anger unto Majesty I feele their venging fire she flyes away unkinde To a woods privacy And I in following her lose both force and wind Stay cruell one to satisfie you I entend For if my mouth could you offend My hands to right you shall not spare But all is darke as night and reaching but my arme I take but a light aire Gods I 'm in bed and but a dreame is all my harme O fortunate awake that favours innocence What her anger and my offence Are they into ayre vanished My respect triumphantly laughs at these Chymears And my senses ioyed Are safe from such fantasticke miseries or feares Goe dreame the terror of soules amorous Bearer of visions hideous Brother of shady ghosts and spirits Cruell impostor goe and plunge thee in the deepe Of hell devoyd of lights Where nought but crimes and monsters sadly keepe Are you still then said I to him upon this restraint not to dare declare your selfe Ah Madam answered he you have given me a lesson not to put me to that hazard All women said I are not made of this mould I told you before replide he that she without giving you offence is made just as you are I pray you doe not desire me to runne that fortune lest aspiring to blessings I dare not hope for I deprive not my selfe by imprudency of those I now enjoy I see her I speake to her and content my selfe with the esteeme she makes of me since I cannot pretend to be lov'd of her But replide I what can you hope will become of your affection if she have no knowledge of it He answered me Since she will not heare speake of it before shee knowes it she must know it before she heare speake of it What know you said I to him but that she knowes of it already and that there remaines not something more to be done besides assuring one another Promise me said he that she shall not be angry and I will take that liberty I promise it you said I for the power I have over her He answered me you have all the power over your selfe and for this cause I presume once againe to tell you that it 's you I love and that you are to be fully perswaded of it since you know well there is not a person in the world besides you that I can love You imagine said I coldly to him to make me answer againe in the name of her you love and to try me the second time No return'd he there is no feining at all in this I tell you now and what ever severity I may prove I am forced to say it by the excesse of my affection and by the assurance you have given me not to be offended I will not be angry with you said I since I have beene so oblig'd in the businesse but I forbid you ever speaking of this affection if you love me you will feare to disobey mee and if you love me not I will never heare your dissimulations Then growing pale as if hee had receiv'd an arrest of death hee durst no longer endure my sight and casting downe his eyes he said to me Madam at this time I am not faulty but for having obeyed you and since to obey your commands is to faile my disobedience to that you ordaine me shall not be any more a crime You are for all that answered I him to resolve you on this or never to see mee This last blow confounded him altogether and tooke his speech away some that came in upon us found us in a great silence which hee never brake but in his going out when he said to me I had rather be depriv'd of speaking to you than of seeing you and since you are so cruell I promise I will obey you all my life Neverthelesse he could not refraine from taking up this discourse againe another time whereupon I alleag'd the promise hee had made mee and would heare him no more The day after hee let mee see these Verses YEs I have promis'd and will keepe my word Hard-hearted woman whose record Holds onely what exasperates my paine To suffer alwayes and to hold my peace Inhumane inhumaine Keepe then as I doe all your promises Those eyes that hid a soule without all pitty Vnder a vaile of amity Assur'd me to your grace to dare pretend But now they are my cruell'st enemies Where me they should defend Why doe not they observe their promises When I resolv'd to send unto your prison My heart together with my reason Your beauty promis'd them so sweet a bondage Vpon those hopes to irons they were led But to endure your out-rage Is this to keepe what you have promised I grant a spirit without love as you May live as well and ne're be true But I alone will make my promise certaine And heaven that laughs at lovers perjuries Shall never be in paine To mocke or pardon my disloyalties Againe I vow to hold my peace for ever And if I chance to faile hereafter I will endure the worst of your disdaines All things will speake for me my paine will speake That on my face remaines And tell the griefes I suffer for your sake My silence more disert than my discours Will be ready at my succours To let you know the evils that compasse me And this amaze which your perfections In your presence give me Will tell you the excesse of my affections When you consult your glasse early or late The two bright Planets of my fate So worthy to be lov'd my love will tell And without crossing that you me enjoyne Your owne faire mouth as well Shall tell it to you in default of mine I confesse to you
I had a great power with my selfe to use him so cruelly for there was not any thing in the world I could esteeme like him nor that I had a greater desire to please yet knowing that he valued nothing so much as a vertue separate from the common and that he would love me the better for thus resisting his first attempts I thought I must live with him after that fashion But judging then that I had proved him enough and full of joy to see him so touch'd with love it became me to yeeld a little and changing my countenance I said to him with a smile Lepantus I will have you obey me all your life time by never speaking of your affection for I will be altogether assured of it thinking you too vertuous to be a deceiver Hee was so surpriz'd at this discourse never dreaming on so happy a fortune that taking me by the hand he could not tell what to answer At last he said to me It suffices that you have knowledge enough of your selfe and mee to be instructed what you are to beleeve of either And you have reason not to desire any words for your assurance since all the actions of my life shall declare nothing else to you Lepantus replied I you have sufficiently knowne how much I esteeme you If I must love something it cannot be but you I permit you to beleeve this and prescribe you no law for your manner of living with me hereafter being certaine that all your desires are regulated by vertue Madam said he to me kissing my hand my passion hath for its object a thing too perfect for to permit me a thought that may be unworthy of the cause of it and I receive no small joy for the assurance you are pleas'd to have of it whith makes me beleeve that you judge it as great as it is indeed though that be very hard to doe Let us leave said I to him these common protestations and live without doubting one of another 'T is not your words that have taught me what to thinke of you and one word onely from me ought to assure you of my friendship since I durst say it There is no more to be done then replide he but that you order how it shall please you to have me live whether you desire I should declare my selfe or else keepe still my affection hidden It were better said I to him not to discover us so soone because at that time Callias sought me you know added I what my father desires and I must breake that blow before it be knowne that I have another desire in the meane time live so discreetly that none may perceive your designe I receive answered he this ordinance for an extreme favour and you shall see in what sort I shall observe it From that time we liv'd together in a most perfect confidence which we conceal'd with a marvellous discretion and there were very few that could suspect us of intelligence which made us both severally be thought insensible of what belong'd to love as finding nothing worthy of us I advertis'd him of whatsoever passed whereupon he gave me counsell and receiv'd it of me also in that which concern'd him I told him good tales of those that attempted to love-me how they behav'd them in it and in what fashion they were receiv'd he pittied some and laugh'd at others If there happened any thing to me I longed to see him to make my report to so did hee also make mee so exact an account of his life and satisfied all I desir'd of him with so much care and respect that I became too much assured of the power I had in him But I sweare to you nothing was so agreeable to me as his discretion nothing seem'd so farre from any designe of loving me as he He never dissembled in presence of all and of my father too to speake what he had to say to me or knew of me under termes so pleasant and with so much dexterity whether in making any relation or to the purpose of what was spoken in the company that without being understood of any body we did understand one another as well as if we had spoke openly For the space of a yeare we lived after this manner but in the end having broke the marriage of Callias with much adoe and seeing how difficult it would be for me often to make the like resistance to the duty I ow'd my father since he express'd that he had no other desire than to see mee very soone married to one of the chiefe of Corinth I counsell'd Lepantus to lose no more time but to discover himselfe though I foresaw many difficulties for notwithstanding that my father esteem'd him as much as was possible and saw his condition as considerable as his owne yet was he farre from having a thought of him being unwilling to make an alliance out of Corinth Wee therefore consulted together of the wayes we were to take and although Lepantus receiv'd with much joy the permission of demanding me yet he never left fearing for all that for he saw that if fortune were contrary to him he should not onely lose the benefit of having me but besides the commodities he enjoyed before as to see and entertain me with so much facility Well for all this we were to resolve and I promis'd him to expresse in his favour whatsoever my honour might permit nay I gave him all the assurances of my affection he could desire and upon the sadnesse I saw him in I told him Lepantus are you not content with the words I give you tell mee what you would have them and you shall see if I have not a purpose to doe all I can for you Madam answered he the honour you doe me is so great that my silence in part is for not knowing how to give you thanks I have nothing to desire of you but what it shall please you to command me I had rather from henceforth be obliged to your good will for the favours I shall receive of you than to the promise I have drawne from you but give me leave a little to apprehend the hazardous fortune I am running there is no mid-way for mee I must either be the happiest of the world or dye for be you assured that if I see my selfe depriv'd of living with you the readiest death I can find shall be my deliverer Lepantus said I to him fortune it may be will not be so cruell to us and before you lose all hope I must first lose all sorts of meanes whereby you might have satisfaction The power answered he you have herein is so great that if you employ it I make no doubt of my happinesse you have a father that loves you and that has no cause to hate mee I dare say our conditions are equall but a light difficulty many times overthrowes important considerations 'T is not here as with ordinary marriages where after the proposition is
and the Gulph which but very lately had the name of Lepanto given it since that unfortunate Lover had precipitated himselfe into it told him they were very neare it and they were then to cast anchor to stay in that place His advice was followed and the two ships separated for not falling foule one of another Eurymedon having seene that his hurt was not very great applied to it a drogue which he was sure would close up the wound by the next day Then Melintus prayed him to make knowne his fortune to them being impossible they should better employ the time that remain'd untill night and when they were all retired into a Chamber he began the history of his life thus History of Eurymedon and of Pasithea I Beleeve there is not a person in the world that can better testifie than my selfe how much important to the life of men is the encounter one meets with to be bred and brought up for if I have done good actions hitherto I am altogether indebted to this nurture for them and if ill I hope to be excusable by the same You will confesse this truth when I shall have told you wherein I employed my time since I came to have any understanding for of that which hapned to me before I could never be able to learne any thing Within the Ionian Sea there is an Island call'd Corcyra upon one of whose sides looking towards Epire is a retreat of Pyrats where it is impossible to assault them I was brought up amongst them in that place without ever having knowledge of what parents I was borne onely they made me still beleeve that I was of an illustrious bloud I know not whether they stole me from some King being but a little childe or if it were onely to put more courage into me but I have alwayes observed that they bare a great respect to me and that from my very infancy they ordained some of their number to serve me and since that as soone as ever I was able to beare armes they voluntarily submitted them to my obedience and thought their conquests most assured when they could have me for their Chiefe I cannot tell from whence the opinion came they had conceived of me or whether some divining Astrologer had not promis'd them some great fortune if I commanded them At last I found them ever ready to obey me excepting onely in that which most concern'd me to know in what part they had found me Neverthelesse I thought them to be excus'd for refusing me that contentment when I confider'd they were in feare to lose me and that as soone as I were restor'd to my Countrey I should seeke their ruine in stead of serving their fortune I beleeve that which made them hope for something out of my courage was an action I did being not fully yet nine yeares of age Some of the Pyrats had made a prize and comming to part it before me two of them tooke a quarrell against one and to make him quit what hee had held their swords in their hand against him I could not suffer that unequall combat seeing him that was alone ready to be kill'd though he employed all his industry and courage to defend himselfe and without dreaming of my age or the danger I tooke into my hand a little sword I had and went to set upon one of the two I know not whether he fear'd to offend me or whether by despising me hee gave me the more facility to strike him but I tooke him a blow into the belly that made him dye in the very instant Presently those that were present came to embrace me and gave me a thousand praises for not having endur'd the cowardlinesse of those two that had assaulted one alone As soone as I came to be twelve yeares old they began to carry me to Sea and whatever care they tooke to hinder my getting out of the ship when they were going to fight with another they ever found me in the middest of the Combat my sword in my hand and having some enemy under my feet At length when I came to have about fifteene yeares it hapned that he that commanded all the Pyrats dyed they chose me for their Captaine rejoycing as they said for that they should from henceforth obey a Prince the ceremonies that are usuall to them in such elections were observed and they made me an oath of an inviolable obedience provided I should maintaine their privileges A little while after to shew my selfe worthy of that charge I went to Sea with two ships onely and sail'd to the Coasts of Egypt I was so fortunate as to take five great Vessels laden with Merchandise and with them I return'd to Corcyra where I made part of my booty to all my companions who ceased not commending me and calling me their good and their valiant Prince In two yeares I made them richer than their last Captaine had done all his life time yet I will not repeat to you all the prizes I tooke nor all the hazards I ran to come to that which has beene the most sensible thing to me in all my life I attained with age more understanding and having alwayes lived among them in this error that the greater the massacre and booty were the greater also was the glory by little and little I began to be of another opinion for it seem'd more glorious to me to pardon the vanquished than cruelly to kill them and I tooke a farre greater pleasure in giving away what I had gotten than in making treasures of it That made me consider that the life of these Pyrats was miserable and that their actions were repugnant to those that generous courages ought to put in practice That which finish'd to bring them into detestation with me was that for my good fortune being gone very farre in course within the Helespont we were surpris'd with the winter at our returne constrain'd to stay in port a of Greece until the Spring While those that were with me counterfetted Merchants to be safe in that place and sold what they had taken I lost not my time but went through all the fairest Cities of Greece resting some time in every one where I learn'd lightly the exercises that are proper to them that follow arms and the civilities I saw observed by the most Noble In these Schooles I well knew that that where I had beene bred was founded upon wicked Maxims and that which our men call valour and glory was properly assassinate and robbery Notwithstanding after having staied more than six months to instruct my selfe thus I failed not to put againe to Sea with my companions to returne to Corcyra The second day after our parting we perceiv'd a great ship that came from the coasts of Asia and seem'd to take the same course we did presently we resolv'd to set upon her and having a while coasted her at length we invested her and entred in The sight was well
night when I had made a thousand complaints I bethought my selfe to implore the succours of her voyce which as they said was still remaining in the world for to favour me with an Oracle This sacred Sybil at last had pitty of my evils and I heard the divine voyce speake to me in these verses Lover of Constancy undaunted Thou shalt perceive thy griefes decay If thou return'st without delay Where to thee thy birth was granted Epicharis Melintus and Palamede interrupted this discourse by taking them to laugh and said all at once Was it you then Lepantus we gave that same Oracle to Looke you continued Melintus in shewing Epicharis there 's your Sybil that pronounc'd the verses and I it was that made them on the place Lepantus was so amaz'd that he knew not what to say having beleev'd untill then that he had beene divinely assisted whereupon being all confounded Cyllenia Eurymedon and the rest that knew nothing of that incounter prayed Epicharis to tell them what it was She recounted to them how being escaped they three out of the prisons of Rome and flying that City they hid them one night within this den where hearing a man that complained to himselfe and implor'd the ayd of the Sybils voyce she resolv'd to counterfet that voyce and to send backe this wofull man to his owne kindred Lepantus returning out of his astonishment said to her Faire Epicharis is it possible this you say 'T is even so answered she and beside I call you well to my remembrance because now I know 't was you that passed by us the next day morning 'T is true said Lepantus that I saw some body that would have stayed me but I was so satisfied with my Oracle and the gods assistance that nothing was capable of holding me In the meane time said Epicharis see how beyond all thought I have prov'd true for you have found here by my meanes your fortune entirely changed and to me you are beholding for all your prosperity 'T is true replied Lepantus that you are my Sybil and the sole goddesse I am bound to adore since of you alone I hold all the contentments of my life and had it not beene for you I should still be within that grot Everyone admired this rencounter and how casually they had repair'd to that same place and beene inspired to render him the Oracle that was the truest and the most wholesome the gods themselves had beene able to have given him Lepantus gave many thanks to Epicharis and to the gods which had spoken to him by her mouth The he went on Although I beleev'd the gods tooke care of me and would deliver me out of that miserable life I was in yet I could not imagine for all that they were able to heale me otherwise than by the forgetting of my love in such sort that albeit I followed the command of that Oracle it was without all hope of good fortune because I would not be cured on that fashion I tooke the way of my Country with languish and disdaine enough finding my selfe forced to goe thither by a power that seem'd fearefull to me and yet abhorring the very places I sought That caused me to make no very great haste for avancing my way and being arriv'd at Rheggium after many dayes I was well content to find no shipping there to goe to Corinth because the more I drew neare it the more feare had I to arrive At Rheggium I had an host a very ancient friend of my deceased father whom I resolv'd to goe see never thinking he could have any knowledge of my miseries to the end I might so journe some time in that place This good man that was called Menander having knowne of me who I was made as much of me as was possible and knowing that I stayed at Rheggium but whilest some vessell parted for Corinth he prayed me to dwell with him as long time as I pleased and express'd to me that he could not receive a greater contentment than to see the sonne of his good friend I was in this house a long time because they were not weary of me and I thought not of going away not yet being able to resolve of any thing Menander knew very well my minde was troubled and having many times labour'd to know the cause of it he could never learne any thing whereupon not willing to presse me any further he onely tried to divert me He had a daughter was married at his house nam'd Melicerta that was a very pleasing woman and of a most gentile wit he commanded her not to leave me without entertainment and she perform'd the charge with a great care and more grace withall Every day I knew the City newes which shee was well inform'd of and when the time furnish'd none of it selfe shee related to mee things that had passed before and so agreeably made her recites that she rendred my mind attentive to her discourse and gave it no time to consider of its melancholy But since we have leisure enough I must needs impart a story of hers to you that so possessed me when I heard it from her and in such sort diverted me for seeming to concerne my affaires that I beleeve I shall bring some pleasure to you too by the repetition of it One day I saw come to her house a Lady call'd Ardania to visit her and by the kinde entertainments they gave one another I knew that they were intire friends This Lady had much sparkling but her beauty seem'd to have encountred some great sicknesse because her complexion though very delicate was pale and decayed and her eyes that were very full and of an agreeable bignesse had no quicknesse in them and were so languishing that they seemed to regret the losse of their lustre and charming vivacity I perceiv'd how my presence made their discourses indifferent and hindred them from speaking freely together so as I tooke Chares apart that was Melicerta's husband and entertain'd him for to give them all the liberty I could I saw well I had done them a pleasure for they were more than an houre in secret together and at length Ardania resolv'd to be gone Chares would wait on her home because it was at the latest and left me alone with Melicerta that said to me a little after Here was a Lady that has beene a great deale handsomer than she now appeares for but her griefes have caus'd that change I attributed said I to her that palenesse to some sicknesse for there is no doubt but she still retaines the marks of an extraordinary beauty I will not conceale from you continues Melicerta that for an inconstant woman she is as well punish'd as could have beene desired and when I consider the accidents that hapned to three or foure of my acquaintance I finde that love is very just when he pretends to be revenged he advises sometimes to punish infidelities after a pleasant manner and though Ardania be my
his house and could not sufficiently wonder at the great courage of Melintus and his resolution for the safety of Palamede Emilia was well pleased to have Melintus in her power and was casting in her minde what kinde of death she should give him being resolv'd to kill him with her owne hand Then word was brought them how Palamede had beene saved and there was a souldier that accus'd Dicearchus for having beene towards the prison thereupon those that guarded him being not to be found they conjectur'd that Dicearchus had gained them whereat Trebatius being offended made him be put into the same dungeon where his Nephew had beene before neare unto that wherein Melintus was and was resolv'd to put him to death for having dar'd to corrupt his men and save the enemies of Caesar and at the same time he made Pisistratus be banish'd from his presence On the other side Palamede being got out knew not what to thinke to see all the City in a rumour and yet considering of nothing at that time but his owne safety he regained the lodging of Arcas never enquiring what the matter was But he was greatly amaz'd when he understood that Melintus was gone out with eight souldiers and he could not imagine for what designe he had stollen away from his troop in that equipage Instantly he would depart for to goe seeke and succour him but he was hindred by the arrive of Arcas who learn'd them all that had passed The faire Ariana who began to dry her teares for her brothers return felt then a new affliction that open'd afresh the source of them Every one was in such a despaire at this calamity for the affection they bare Melintus that in stead of comforting her they express'd by their extreme griefe what cause she had to afflict her selfe Palamede seeing in what sort he was oblig'd to Melintus for having conceiv'd so generous an enterprise for his safety was fully resolv'd to render him the like but he could not yet invent the meanes to effect it and he onely mingled his despite with the extreme displeasures of his sister Lepantus and Cyllenia In the meane time Emilia that meditated of nothing but the meanes of intirely satisfying her vengeance having in her hands the subject of all her furious passions consider'd that if she could get Ariana into her power she might have wherewith to punish her for being cause of her torments and an occasion besides to aggravate the punishments of Melintus by the resentments he should have at that she would make Ariana suffer before she put him to death and doubting that she might be in the same place since Melintus was met there with Palamede and Epicharis she made a further search in all parts to have her in her hands But Arcas knew so well to divert the scrutiny that might be made in his house that she could never learne any newes of her Many dayes were thus consum'd in this search about the City and some places adjoyning in the end not able any longer to deferre her revenge and Trebatius urging her to put an end to the life of Melintus for to give a beginning to his happinesse she resolv'd one morning to goe her selfe and kill him with her owne hand She tooke a ponyard and Guides to conduct her to the dungeon then being sure that Melintus could not defend himselfe from her because he had his hands tyed behind him and irons at his feet she sent away those that were with her to enter alone into that obscurity with a torch in her hand having yet some shame left to commit that action in the presence of another What said she to her selfe in entring it seemes I tremble and that my body feares to execute what my minde has so resolutely undertaken Can I yet doubt whether I be to revenge my selfe having run over so many Seas to finde the occasion No no let this cruell man feele the fury of a woman justly provoked and repay all the torments he has made me endure She encourag'd thus her selfe for to fortifie her heart that seem'd not over much assured and went her way towards Melintus conducted by the torches light in designe to make him have a sense of the death shee would give him Melintus knew her presently and seeing that she sought him among the shadowes he would prevent her and said Come Emilia that you bring me is very agreeable to me Those words troubled her because this voyce heretofore so loved surpriz'd her and she thought not that Melintus could know her beleeving her dead and seeing her in the habit she was in Ha! traiterous Sorcerer said she at length what spirit hath learn'd thee that I am Emilia Yes I am that Emilia the object of thy contempts and thy ingratitudes that am come from hell to ravish from thee thy perfidious soule and abandon it to the furies Well then replied he gently dispatch Emilia doe that you have enterpriz'd behold my brest uncover'd strike the ponyard in and assure your selfe that the death you are going to give me I shall receive it not as a punition for having offended you but as a recompence for the good service I have done you Done me good service replied she instantly Ha! Villaine call'st thou that good service to have mocked at my love and to have rewarded my cares with disdaine and ingratitude call'st thou that good service cruell man when after thou hadst escap'd from me by subtilty thou wouldst no more thinke there remain'd an Emilia in the world to whom thou wast so much oblig'd call'st thou that good service thou ingratefull wretch when neither the sicknesse that hapned to me for the regret of seeing thee no more nor my death so neare nor my very death it selfe could oblige thee to give one visit to our house Emilia replied Melintus to what purpose serve these reproaches since you are resolv'd to make me dye Dispatch Emilia see my brest ready for you give the blow and beleeve that you never yet oblig'd me so much as you shall doe at this houre by taking away my life No answered she I will know first wherein traytor thou hast serv'd me Ha! Emilia said Melintus will you have me to your shame present before your eyes so trouble some remembrances Did I not serve you well when seeing that this same Emilia whose wit and vertue I had before admir'd let her selfe loose to desires that were not very honest I endeuoured to asswage that heat by my coldnesses for feare she should bewaile all her life time the fault of a few dayes Did I not serve you well when deploring with my selfe the wandring of your soule and comparing your abasement with the honour of your preceding life I was not willing to take advantage at your blindnesse but maintain'd you pure at least from ill effects since I could not hinder the impurity of your desires and thoughts And did I not well serve you when seeing that my presence rather
not beene for a mischance that befell Palamede for his foot slipt when he was going to redouble his blow and he was constrain'd to quit the bridle of the horse which carried away his Master so farre that he could never overtake him Palamede was forced to returne the way he came and having found his owne horse againe he rode backe into the City when the daylight began to appeare Being come to his lodging he told his adventure to Melintus and the rest and counselled them that without troubling themselves more about their wedding they should depart as suddenly as they could because Pisistratus having escaped out of his hands would not faile to goe to Maxentius if his wounds hindred him not This newes brought no small trouble againe to the contentments they expected Ariana then besought Melintus that he would no more desire to have their marriage perform'd till they were in a place full of repose and security and said he should first of all thinke upon his owne safety and afterward she would endevour to make his life as happy to him as she possibly could Melintus was constrain'd to obey her and Euphrosyne approving the wisdome of Ariana was of her opinion Instantly they all considered upon the retreat and they repented them for having sent away the vessell because they would have sav'd themselves more certainly by Sea although the way were longer neverthelesse they were resolv'd to goe by land and to put their baggage into Carts and they were perswaded that there being above fifty of their troop counting the traine they had nothing lesse than an Army would assault them So they encouraged themselves to depart that they might get out of Epire before Maxentius the Governour were advertis'd by Pisistratus and having bought as many horses as they needed they put into the way trusting in the gods and their owne courage This troop so faire and so persecuted of men had the good fortune to passe Epire in three or foure dayes journeyes and at last arriv'd in Thessaly without any adventure They wanted no diversions or pleasures having at least with them what they made most of for which they accounted themselves so happy as it seem'd they desir'd nothing but the continuation of the same kinde of life Yet Melintus gave not over his admiration that misery should persecute them with so much eagernesse and not permit them so much as one day of repose for to let them enjoy a blessing they desir'd and which ever escaped them when they thought to have attained it and upon this thought one day he made these verses FOrtune incessantly adverse Eternall source of miseries What mean'st thou by a new reverse To hasten our calamities O gods by what severe decree Are you inrag'd so suddenly When we beleev'd you were appeased For me I can no more complaine Thinke you to make me feare the paine Of death which you have me refused 'T is surely some immortall strife Whereby the Stars are all conspiring To vex the pleasures which my life Has beene too earnest in desiring These Stars in their malignant spight Some storme or other still excite Iust as I thinke at Port t' arrive Then forced by my innocence They mitigate their violence And dare not me of life deprive 'T is true the blessing I desire Transcends all mortall faculties And I preferre where I aspire To that of having sacrifice Heaven be not jealous any more If I see her and her adore For there my pleasures all abound Then temper thy excessive rage Since in this blessing I asswage My other vast desires around Tedious griefes before her presence Durst not make attempts upon me Fierce anger and impatience Fly from me when her face I see And then despaire as in disgrace Forsakes me too and giveth place To mirth and sports of innocence Love quitting then his envious spights Offers me all the deare delights Wherewith he ravishes our sense Alas one feare does onely hant me I speake too unadvisedly If heaven knowes how thus I vant me I shall have some new misery Conceale my soule this joy of thine That jealous eyes it may decline If long thou wilt thy blisse enjoy Or soone this heaven inexorable To render thee more miserable May take thy happinesse away Thus did Ariana's presence give a great ease to the love of Melintus but in all the troop there was not a more afflicted man than Palamede who regretted Epicharis and met not a passenger that he demanded not newes of her Besides he was in a kinde of constraint with Dicearchus not daring before him to let that affection appeare and so was depriv'd of this consolation at least in the power of free complaining Euphrosyne had no greater pleasure than to make Areas or some other relate the admirable life of her sonne and with how many marvellous qualities heaven had furnished him whereat she ceased not to give the gods thanks and esteeme her selfe very happy She had already passionate cares for the faire and vertuous Ariana whose respectuous duties she receiv'd with much contentment Lepantus and Cyllenia were no small ornament to this faire company but recreated them with their sweet humour and gentilenesse of wit and all of them together made up a troop of as pleasing travellers as could be found in all the world againe Already had they traversed all Thessaly and were approaching to Larissa which is neare the Sea when they entred a village where they saw all the inhabitants in great trouble They all ran up and downe divers wayes not able to finde security in their owne houses and not knowing to what part they should retire Melintus address'd him to some of these forlorne men and asked the cause of this affrighting and disorder They told him how a fearefull number of Scythians after having crossed Thracia and pass'd the Egean Sea was come to land in Thessaly and plonder'd all those coasts in drawing towards Larissa Melintus re-assur'd them the best he could and was of opinion they should all retire them into that Towne as speedily as they could that to be better receiv'd they were to carry with them the most of the Corne and other victuals they had he promis'd he would serve them for a leader and prayed them to have no feare This resolution being taken among them he rallied all those that were scatter'd and having made them load into Carts all the provisions they had he armed the strongest of them who made three hundred men besides those were with him then he appointed to set a good watch all the night and the next day in the morning he disposed the old people with the women and baggage in the middle and put those that might serve to fight part of them in the head part on the flanks and the rest in the rere He gave the vantgard to be led by Lepantus the rere-ward to Palamede and reserv'd to himselfe the grosse for to have an eye over all Hee would have given the command
out upon them Then they made no doubt at all but I was a goddesse thinking the arrow I had shot had bin chang'd into a Serpent to devoure them They cast themselves at my feet to adore me and exprest to me in their language which I understood not how they desir'd I should pardon them and keepe the Serpent from hurting them It happened by chance that the Serpent went away from them at the same time to hide her selfe in the hedges they signified by their actions how much beholding to me they were But when I would make use of this opinion I had produced in them of my being a goddesse to get away from them I found it no easie businesse for they came round about me upon their knees and prayed me not to forsake them On the other side I was rather willing to stay with them that were possest with this errour than fall into the hands of some others who might not be so mistaken as they were So I was resolv'd because I could doe no other to goe along with them and serve my selfe of their company for my defence against others I went in a stately pace and one while I threatned them with my bow another while I look'd with a more pleasing face upon them to give them hope of my assistance At last they brought me into a tent and presently made it be noysed among the Scythians that they had found the goddesse tutelary of Greece because I saw many of them come and open the tent borders and to looke upon me in great admiration I was much troubled how to demeane my selfe that they might not be disabused and fearing that having knowne me for one that had abus'd them they would make me suffer many indignities I resolv'd with my selfe since I could not escape from them to dye by hunger and this resolution serv'd to confirme their opinion the more for still refusing them when they offered me any thing to eat they beleev'd I had no need of the ordinary sustenance of mans life and I was in hope to dye in this fashion when they never perceived any thing So I passed away the night and yesterday too without taking any nourishment but in the evening seeing how they drank more than ordinary I had some hope to save my selfe I provok'd them my selfe to drinke and be merry and in the end they were so drunke that of seven or eight that were in the tent there were but two of them yet awake though their eyes shewed they would soone be laid upon the ground with their fellowes Then I still offer'd them wine which they receiv'd with respect being very proud I beleeve to have a goddesse their Cup-bearer and a while after they fell backward as well as the rest So was I left alone in that tent with open eyes and I resolv'd to save my selfe but being as much pressed with hunger as desire to be gone I confesse I tooke some peeces of bread and meat before I went out and as I made my escape I could not refraine from putting to my mouth instantly what provision I had But I was no sooner twenty paces out of the Camp but I heard Trumpets sounding on all sides I was affrighted at them and knew not if I should goe forward or else returne into the Campe but choosing all sorts of ill adventures rather than to come among the Barbarians againe I went onward and found a cave whereinto I had the assurance to enter having the bow in my hand and the quiver on my shoulders with an arrow in readinesse to defend me either against men or beasts I kept close a while within this place but hearing so much noyse I was curious to see what the matter was and went up to the top of the cave from whence I perceiv'd all the Scythians running away and so terrible a fray amongst them as they thought themselves pursued by those very men that fled I rejoyc'd at their defeat with a conceit I had that Alcydamas was chiefe in so bold an enterprize I spent above three houres in considering that sight which was not unpleasing to me and I began to wonder that all the field over there appear'd not a Scythian any more for now the day began to breake I was lifting up my hands to heaven for so great a victory acquired by the Greeks when I heard a noyse and perceiv'd two Barbarians that sought where to save themselves I was afraid they would have seene me and done me some mischiefe so as I entred the cave againe and a little while after perceived them comming into the same place with an intention to hide themselves there Then being unable to avoyd their finding me if they came any further I resolved because I saw them and they were not aware of me to shoot my arrowes and drive them away by striking a terror into them The first strucke one of them into the throat and laid him dead upon the earth the other Scythian hearing it whizze and beleeving some enemies were hidden there within began to flye His cowardise made me courageous and I felt my selfe carried away with a certaine ardour of glory to have the honour of killing the last Scythian So I set my selfe to pursue him with shot of arrowes and in the chace I was so happy as to incounter you And this my deare Alcydamas continued Ariana hath beene my fortune since I lost you whereby you could neither finde me nor I heare you when you called me in the Campe and I doubt not but you have had feare enough for my sake and that your enterprise was attempted onely for my deliverance Then they embrac'd againe and Amyntas related to the faire Ariana what he had heard of the two victories of Alcydamas in the day of the battell the death of the King of the Scythians by his hand his regrets afterwards for having lost her and the strange resolution he tooke with five hundred men to fight with the rest of the Barbarians Army that he might deliver her before they departed When they recited their adventures together the Thessalians that were scattered on all sides rallied in that place when they knew their Captaine to be there and they told him there was not a Scythian left alive in all the coast and that the few that remain'd had fled gained the plaine Sea in their shipping These Gentlemen were so well pleased at this glorious victory that they could not containe their joy for never did so few men defeat so great a number and Alcydamas having seene some of them too busie in pillaging prayed them to leave the booty because they were rich enough in honour but to make it appeare at their returne into the Towne how great a defeat was given and how many men they alone had slaine that they would load themselves with as many bows as each of them could beare to astonish Arimin the people with these very spoyles in their entry Every one
have discovered the secret but I asked Proculus whereupon he imagin'd I had mention'd any conspiracy to him and bade him name me but a man that were privy to the designe out of my pretended relation Hee was not able then to name any body and they began to mocke him that he grounded his accusation no better Rufus was well satisfied at my constancy and it increas'd the affection he had to me but although I had not beene convinc'd they were of opinion to retaine me prisoner for they considered that a thing not well averr'd might not be altogether false for all that Not long after came to passe what Seneca had foretold for this Scevinus having his minde possest with the designe of Nero's death troubled himselfe with the foresight of all he had to doe before dying in case the conspiracie were detected So impertinent was he as to make feasts for his friends aâ— if he were to take leave of them to make his will to distribute his goods to his servants to prepare binding clothes for his wounds and remedies to stay the bloud to serve him if he should chance to be hurt in the execution besides he wore this ponyard he tooke out of a Temple and could not refraine giving out that it was for some great designe but the thing that ruin'd us was that this ill advised man gave that same poynard to one of his freed men called Milichus to sharpen the point of it and make it very keene Milichus having considered all his Masters actions of late conceived he had some plot against the life of the Prince and expecting great recompences went to advertise Nero of it Scevinus was presently taken who denied what his freed man had said and reasonably well satisfied all they demanded of him touching those preparatives but when Milichus said how Scevinus the day before had beene long in conference with Natalis the intimate friend of Piso's and one of the conspirators Natalis was apprehended and they were examined apart upon the discourse they had together in that conference Their answers were different and then they would have had them to the torture but they could not so much as endure the sight of it and confest all they knew of the conjuration and nam'd the greater part of the complices Lucan was taken instantly and this man that made a shew of so much constancy was so trecherous and so unworthy as he accus'd his owne mother Piso and the other having bin arrested detected their trustiest friends and about that time they remembred I was in prison for the same suspition and they were in hope that having a delicate body I would never be able to suffer torments but discover still many others I was brought before Nero and commanded to name the rest of the conspiracie to him I would still deny that I had any acquaintance with it but at last when I perceiv'd the secret was discovered and Nero himselfe having enquir'd of me what it was that moved me to attempt the taking away his life Because said I to him with a confident looke and voice thou art a parricide incestuous and an infamous Stage-player because thou wilt exterminate vertue from the earth and the world can never be too soone deliver'd of thy execrable cruelties He blush'd to heare me speake on that fashion peradventure because he had never heard so free a language before being indeed accustom'd to commit crimes but not to be reproach't for them He commanded they should make me suffer all sorts of punishment to get the truth out of my mouth but as I went out of his presence I bade him be assured that my tongue should expresse as much courage in saying nothing as my arme had shewne in striking him It chanced that Rufus was not detected by any of those that were taken and to testifie that he was none of the complices he interpos'd himselfe strongly in the Emperors service to search and examine the conspirators and prevent the perill of his life When he saw I was destin'd to torments hee tooke upon him the charge of fetching the truth out of me himselfe and commanded his Souldiours to carry mee into a private place where he presently made ready the torture and some parts of my body were uncover'd Rufus had there only those he commanded and the greater part of them were of our conspiracy neverthelesse seeing himselfe reduc'd either to put mee cruelly to death or else to run a danger of his owne life by endevouring to save mee he knew not what to resolve on He betooke himselfe to a corner of the prison where turning his face from mee and leaning his forehead against the wall he wept he tore his haire and rent his clothes In the meane while his Souldiers attended his commands to torment me till at length a Tribune bolder than the rest that began to have pitty of mee went to aske him if hee desir'd I should be sav'd and that there was not a man of them who desir'd it not as well as himselfe But answer'd Rufus wee are undone if the Emperor knowes it Be confident in us replied the Tribune we are to make the world beleeve she died in the torments as it was very likely she had resolved to doe and then we will bring her to your house where you may dispose of her as you please Rufus let himselfe be perswaded and the Souldiours expressing much joy help't me on with my clothes againe and about evening led mee away secietly to Rufus lodging From that time I fell from one misery into another for Rufus having me in his hands renued his evill desires in the very middest of the unquietnesse he mought have for feare of being accus'd by the conspirators and after he had labour'd in vaine to vanquish mee by sweetnesse he began to reproach mee with the life he had conserv'd and to threaten that he would returne mee to the torture he had deliver'd mee from I let him see that I was as well invincible to menaces as to gentler words yet I beleeve he would have proceeded unto violence but for the succours heaven sent mee Rufus was ordinarily never from the Emperour and abusing the good fortune that they had not accused him shewed himselfe the more cruellin tormenting the conspirators to the end he might not at all be suspected In the end those he ordain'd punishments to being no longer able to endure that one of the complices should be the cruellest Inquisitor resolved to accuse him Scevinus being examin'd by him in presence of the Emperor and threatned with greater torments if he declar'd not the truth said to him There is not a man knows more of it than thy selfe Rufus stood confounded and knew not if he should answer or hold his peace his feare soone discovered him and at the same time the others that were interrogated with Scevinus convinced him the Emperour commanded he should be bound and a while after put him to death As for me