detract from its lustre and through which it will not shine with a splendency able to overcome it 'T was not cloathes that made her but she that made her cloaths beautifull And as the richest ornaments cannot contribute beauty to a face in which there is none so the meanest cannot detract from a beauty of it selfe naturally sweet though I confesse ornaments are not without their peculiar graces and settings ost to meaner beauties but Eliana's was so transcendent that as the meanest dresse could not detract from her beauty so the richest could adde nothing to it Argelois being diverted by Panthea from beholding that faire skin which carried albitude extraordinary and a heate through the gentle live of her bed which concorded with that of his heart he walked some turnes with those fair Princesses's and telling them the reason of his stay the last night made them acquainted with his engagement that day to visit Euripedes Panthea unwilling to be deprived of his company so long desired to accompany him and proposing it to Eliana she consenting they told him their intentions I had thought Madam said he to Eliana that you durst not have adventured into those woods again considering the danger you were in the last time you see there You see therefore said she I fear nothing under your protection Panthea interposing told them they ought not to let Euripedes expect Argelois whilst they spent the time in those discourses and give him cause to thinke he was capable of breaking this word Eliana following her councill they left him joyful that he should enjoy their company and went to put on those robes sutable to their qualities and estate They spent little time in dressing them having but very little humour to that court vanity and yet their ornaments wee so rich that they seemd to vie with their beauties Eliana had drest her self like one of the Nimphs or the goddesse Flora and as if she meant to sute with the time of the year she had put on a gown of a verdant hew branched with leavs and flowers so artificially that they made raire knots and poses which served for compartments to her gown Panthea's was a bright azure in which shone so many bright stones that it represented the firmament in its greatest lustre of starrs and by the which she would have intimated the constancy and charity of her affection Having sent for Argelois they entred a clariot and putting off their traine took none with them but Tribulus and their two confidents with the squires of Dardanus and Argelois Beeing arrived at the grove they sent back their Chariote and entring Euripedes groate received all the welcomes of that generous old man You will not increpat me for my stay said Argelois seeing I have brought such company that may excuse it 'T is enough said Euripedes and this company is so glorious that could my wishes be effected I should break that law which I have impos'd upon thy thoughts since I have turn'd Philosopher wish now to be great and potent only that I might give an entertainment some wayes corresponding to their virtue and greatnesse But were I a Prince it were impossible for me to recompence the decima of this favour in illuminating this darke grote with the incomparable lustre of their beauties Eliana and Panthea reanswering him vicissively made him at last leave these termes of perfection Meador who by the virtue of those oyntments which his carefull master had applyed found so much ease that he would not put this Princesse to the trouble of coming into his chamber but being helped on with his cloaths he was led into the chamber where Argelois and the two Princesses with the rest of the company stayed to hear him acquite himself of a relation which he knew they expected at his hands Euripedes had entertained them before with those civilityes that were to be expected at his hands therefore there being nothing now to be done but to audite his relation they caused him to sit down who obeyed and after he had taken some pleasure in beholding the beauty of his auditors directing his speech to Euripedes he began THE HISTORIE of ARATERUS VIrtue what ever the vicious thinke although she be often banded against by that power to which we attribute the name of inconstant and mutable at length overcomes her triumphs over her and wears the crowns of her victories with an immutable fortune But yet should she not receive this reward whilst the soule remaines in the domicill of flesh I am confident the Justice of the Gods would return it a hundred sold after she is departed to the Elysiume some indeed they reward here yet not denying those hereafter and pay their perseverance with rewards corresponding to their deserts Amongst the rest Araterus has tasted of their bounty which is in consideration of his virtue and though what we are able to do in consideration of those deities is nothing and not worthy the least rewards yet they are just and repay our wills and devoyres with happinesses transcending our merits and actions Had you seen the perills and dangers we past and the continuall prosecution of our ill fortune with the marchlesse patience of Aratearus you would have thought there had been no other powers than those which continually seek the destruction of mankind especially the virtuous but as he endured all mischances without murmuring so at last the Gods have repayed him I think without example I know by your own relation that the elapsion of so many years hath not made you forget the place and manner of our losse and I believe that your kinsman had the sight of those implorations of yours to the Gods which may be were the cause of his preservation After we had got those small preservations of life which grew on the verging branches of the green trees we returned to that place where we left you but finding neither you nor the child which fortune had cast on that place I know not whether we were more amazed or grieved At last griefe bursting forth into words and teares Araterus wept forth such complaints that testified how ardently he affected you but amazednesse sometimes stopping his speeches gave him time to consider which way you could be gone indeed sometimes he accused you for leaving him sometimes he inveighed against heaven and then against himself that he dared to speak against either But at last turning all against fortune he made her the sole cause of this accident For my part seeing you gone and believing that 't was impossible for us to escape death by famin in that plâ—ce I would have anticipated it by a voluntary precipitation into the sea which like a mad man I had effected had not Araterus by force more then entreaties deterred me After we had somwhat mitigated our grief by the effusion of our tears and emission of our complaints that we might not be guilty of our own deaths Araterus having changed my
though I were sensible of the paine yet I esteemed it as a pleasure and rejoyced in my own discontent I accounted it the happiest condition and pleased my self with my own phancy but now the experience of years with the dictates of Reason hath pulled away the vizor from the face of Love and now I see it nothing but a sense-pleasing phancy which banisheth reason from its Residence making a man lose that which makes him almost equal with the gods and submit to a passion altogether servil Argelois a little smiling said Surely love in an extraordinary manner hath crossed you that you are so much his adversary I will not go about to defend him though it be a most noble passion at least I think so because I know not but hereafter I may have cause enough to complain and speak against him and for that it is requisite that I cede to your more tryed experiences which makes me desirous to know the miseries love hath caused you and the good and bad fortune of your Life and if my poor condition may any wayes be able to stand you in stead you may assure your self of my service I thank you for your generosity replied the Love-opposing stranger my condition is too base for the help of so noble a hand I shall most willingly relate the full story of my life although I know you not but believe so generous a soul cannot harbour my destruction yet the apparent danger and hazard of my life in discovering my self might be a sufficient excuse had I not a more inward perswasion of your noble and generous disposition and an extraordinary impulse upon me to make known my various fortunes I have no other end that pricks me to this relation by which I lay my self open to dangers but that pity which I mention that impulse I speak of for I was not able longer to hear your complaints and not render to the assistence and if possible to snatch you from a precipice I see you even falling into all my Humanity Philosophy and experience Let it not seem strange that being thus a stranger I should thus freely disclose my self if I have any knowledge left in phisnomy I read in your face a generous and heroick soul which will not give the weaknesse of a kind heart an ungentle acceptance and consture this freedom in the worst sense I cannot but believe a good Fate in this accidental meeting therefore I am so free and plain Argelois much pleased with the strangers freedom and having a great desire to hear his fortunes and who he was told him the content he should receive by his relation and that he might not be interrupted through fear protested that whatever he related to him he might assure himself should never prejudice him or any way redound to his hurt The stranger giving him thanks for his verbal assurance and well satisfied in his behaviour and gentleness after a little pause to collect things in some method seeing him attend the motion of his tongue he began thus THE HISTORIE OF EVRIPEDES GOod fortune alwayes attends not an illustrious birth and great men are not alwayes happy for if a great birth could have engaged fortune and my former riches obtained my felicity I had not been in this condition which now you see me though I must confesse in this estate of Poverty and solitude I find more content then in my former greatnesse and tumultuous engagements in the world In the Countrey of Cilicia I first drew breath and not farre from the famous City of Nicopolis was I bred the greatnesse of my parents was eminently known in that Countrey though so great an estate through me hath found an overthrow I will not tell you of the nobility and and antiquity of my predecessors nor the great opulency of my parents I being their only child I wanted for nothing procurable neither for littrature nor armes to the latter of which in my youth I was much addicted The exercise of these employments took up my age of puberty and having been well grounded in both I desired to make use of my armes abroad but my parents denying me so dangerous an imployment I was constrained to abide under their indulgent wings being the joy and comfort of their old age I had scarce attained seventeen years when to my grief my mother departed into the Subterranean walks of the Stigean grove and before two years more had passed my father ran the like fortune being suddenly struck by the hand of the inexorable Parca My father seeing a stayednesse in me which was not usual to such young years left me sole Gardian to my self and with his death surrendred up those possessions which were sufficiently great Some time I spent in just tears for my parents losse till time had consumed the moisture of my eyes and wore away the sadnesse from my heart then having the reines in my own hand I purposed to put those resolutions into act which the indulgency of my parents had deterr'd For which end having two Uncles one the brother of my father the other of my mother I desired them to look to my estate at home whilest I sought renown abroad I made known my desires and urg'd them to grant my request they endeavoured to disswade me but in vain which seeing they promised to my joy to fulfil my desires The eldest son of my fathers brother named Araterus knowing my resolutions with great importunings got both my leave and his fathers to accompany me Having spent some time in furnishing our selves with what we wanted we departed from our own Countrey of Cilicia having none in our company but a faithful servant of my own named Meador Having furnished our selves with a ship at Tarsus with a prosperous winde we failed along the Tyrrhenean sea and for that our desires extended beyond the limits of an ordinary travel we were resolved to pass into the Atlantick Ocean and to view the utmost limits of the Romane Empire and so returning at leasure view the places of more fame This our resolution carried us beyond Herculus's pillars and passing the streight we entred into that vast and spacious sea which beats upon the coast of the Iberians The winde as it were repenting his former kindnesse on a sudden began to rise and Boreas with a full gale oppos'd out prow making Neptunes watry surges bear the ship aloft mounting it so high on those liquid rocks that it might receive the more dangerous precipiet we endeavoured to gain the shore but a contrary winde contraried our design and in spight of all our endeavours carried us far into the Ocean where we ran every moment the danger of death and to aggravate our miseries a dark and pitchy night overtook us with the continual assaults of this furious tempest against our floating Castle which sometimes had almost yielded to the battery of the winds having so unsteady a foundation as the waters When we perceived our endeavours
your incredulity concerning Love for none are able to imagine his power without they feel it nor believe the relation of others unlesse themselves have experimented it But I had rather you had remained in that condition than feel it to your own sorrow You know I have made you the depositary of my secrets and have trusted you with my life and honour I hope my being in your power will not give birth to any dishonourable suggestion for be confident my life which I brought to have sacrificed to love shall be as freely violented to save my honour Were I capable to reanswer your love these speeches might be inoffensive but you must take what I have spoken for a fable if you think I can hear them without disturbance You say you crave nothing but pity but alas alas what good will that pity do which is not accompanied with help If I were capable to help you I should pity you pity you I show I do pity you and desire your good by desireing and councelling you to subvert the structure of this new love before it be too fast setled crop this bud before it pullulate too far Account me as a shadow who am about to pass away I am leaving not only you but the whole world what mean you to love that which is going hence Your courtefie hath obliged my respect but I shall injury you by my stay if my presence augment your flames And doubt not but if my presence have kindled a fire that my departure will leave water enough to quench the same These words said Bruadenor though they were a corasive to my heart yet pronounc'd with so sweet an accent that it mitigated the sharpness of them and were as if vineger and oyl mixt together by love and anger had been given me in a potion to drink I had time but to telâ— her that she might assure her self that my life should a thousand times depart my body before I would harbour the least thought prejudiceable to her honour and not correspondent to the rules of vertue when my mother entring the place where we were put a stop my speeches and her return The next day I presented my self armed in her presence and would not rise off my knees till she permitted me to go my self to find out Subelta and to be her Advocate and that I might do some small service for her as the mark of my growing affection which yet had greater regard to her safety than my own Love I immediately departed and to be the less taken notice of took no company but my Squire and so went straight to the Santons Countrey I travelled without any disturbance till being almost at my jorneyes end very early in the morning I met three men disguised with a woman behind one of them whom I judg'd by her tears and lamentations to beforceably born away by those villanies Though the number were unequal and the danger I should incur to oppose them were enough to deter me yet invited by the lacrymations of the weaker sex especially when espying me she implored my assistance I could do no less than resolve to aid her though it were to the hazard of my life Riding up to them I sought with gentle speeches to convince them of an error in which they were resolved to persist Bruadenor saith one of these disguished ones who had the deplorable creature behind him thou hadst more need use thy tongue to save thy self than perswade us to leave this prize thou art the only man I desir'd to meet to render this friend into thy bosome drawing out his Rapier that thou mayest acknowledge thy error when it is too late to repent the gods propitious to my designes have put thee into my hands from which thou shalt not so soon escape Whilst he uttered those words with a disagreeing tone I had time to draw my weapon and his fellow-Camrades to disburden his horse of the Subject of our strife We reiterated our blows with forceable verberations and with many endeavours wounded one another at last fortune sending a gentle aura upon my devoirs with a vigorous thrust which struck into his shoulder bone I turned him over the crooper of his horse Whilst his body was precipitating to the earth one of the other whose soul possest not the least spark of generosity with a cowardly blow made me feel the like fortune as my opposer Enraged at this vile usage receiving no wound through the goodness of my armour under an upper coat I soon recovered my leggs and with a thrust passed the other off his horse who had got the damsel behind him and before any of them could assail me with a leap I ascended the horse before her making him show the nimbleness of his heels to my opposers He that had not lost his horse pursued me with the like velocity till we had lost the sight of the other two Not induring to fly before one I let the damsel reside the horse and met my adversary in his carrere where with many thrusts we sought to end the quarrel by unmortallizing one another Whilst we pursued our advantages the last man I had made to kiss the earth reincountred me both using the utmost of their skill to kill me but their fury carrying them without the guide of reason made them disreguard all the rules of Art and gave me many advantages to annoy them In the mean time he that received the first fall though wounded had recovered his horse and overtook us but leaving the other two to decide the quarrel he seased upon the damsel who stood quaking to see the event Her screeks gave me notice of her Ravisher and turning my head aside I saw notwithstanding the strugling that affrighted one maid he had laid her before him upon his horse and to be assured of his prey he made a forward fugacity The desire that possest me to rescue the damsel out of that fugitive's tallents gave me a vigor not ordinary so that passing and repassing my sword through one of my adversaries I laid him on the earth to breath his last and the other fainting sunk from his horse I made no stay but pursued the abacted damsel quickly overtaking the Ravisher being hindred much by her striving and the tardiness of his horse onerated with a double burden Stay base villane said I thou art not so soon escaped the hands of Justice nor shall thy slight be able to hinder the just vengeance the heavens will inflict upon thee by my arm for the wrong done to this damsel I gave him no liberty to reply but adding more wounds to his former I reduc'd him to supply the defect of his vigor with his tears and with a confession of the injury done to the damsel to beg his life at my hands After I had taken off his disguisement I was a little astonisht to find it was Subelta and straight began a combate between passion and reason whether to slay
see the cause But since you have been pleas'd to take off that vail and to let me know the cause give me leave to tell you that I see no reason why you should afflict your self And I wonder that you account to Love a crime since it is enforced upon the will with so much rigor and violence we do not use to impute the crime to them who are forced against their wills to the commitment nor count them noxious that are forced contrary to their own spirits to commit an errour it is the consent of the will that makes us culpable which cannot be laid to your charge seeing there is so absolute a forcement and without the least indulgencie on your part your repugnancy shewing how unwilling you were to lose your liberty It is not in this as in other things where the will is able to make its choice for we are able and have so much power left us that rather than lose our honour with a generous resolution to sacrifice our Lives but in this we are so suddenly surprized that even the will is forced to that which you call a crime and then to offer a Life is not a choice but an expiation but of what of that which even the gods themselves had forc'd us to which would be blasphemy to say their actions are worthy of expiation and therefore you need not imagin that a crime nor think your self guilty when you are clear You see with what confidence aâ—l the world entertains this Deity few or none escaping the touches of his flame being once arrived at the age of puberty though some have it more violently injected than others There seems mighty difference in the actions of love in some he seems to be the causer of vice in others the causer of vertue which hath made some account him as they have seen his effects whether good or bad which difference is not to be imputed to the nature of Love which is constant pure and unchangable of it self but to the different dispositions of those people that possesse him and cleaving to the habit of their mind is regulated according to their dispositions and though in effect it keep its Soveraignty over the Will in that it cannot chuse but Love yet it leaves it free to act and gain the object that it Loves according to its own disposition or inclination and this is it that makes so many different faces in Love as there are different humours in men And this is manifest in that we see some to gain what they desire through the passion of Love become most mercilesse Tyrants seeking all the wayes of vice painting their way with blood using all wayes their evil hearts may suggest and yet in appearance caus'd by the passion of Love Others by the same passion seek to attain their wish'd desires by the rules of Vertue submission duty and obedience all things contrary to the former which makes Love either a virtue or a vice according to the actions and several dispositions of men or women therefore to Love is no crime but the impudicity of our actions that makes us criminal But Madam as the basenesse of our actions who are troubled with this passion be a disgrace to Love in the eyes of those who are not able to judge right of him so the goodnesse of their actions that are virtuously possest with the same passion redound to his Complement and without doubt having suffered by the impudicit action of others and knowing the severity of your humour he hath call'd you from all the world to restore him the good opinion he once had in the eyes of the world and lost by the folly of others Therefore Madam fea rt not that this deity will do any injury to so considerable a servant but expect him to infuse the like virtue and the like passion into the object of yours if he hath not already effected it and for the rest wherein my duty and fidelity is expected you need not doubt having vow'd my life to your service but that I will employ it to the utmost of my abilities In this manner Melanthe sought to ease the disquiets of Amenia who returned her an answer to what she had said and being somewhat setled reposing much in the abilities of Melanthe she made her to return to her bed and gave her self to a repose that might fit her for the intuition of the next dayes sports Had I had but that happinesse to have known with what affection Amenia beheld me I should not have felt those torments which I did endure that night and many others for her sake having past it over with Loves usual disquiets and very little sleep I arm'd my self with those flames which represented those within my breast and in the same manner at the hour appointed I entered the lists as I had done the day before I shall be brief and pass this over only I may tell you and I think without vanity that I dâ—d more that day than I had done both the dayes before to the admiration of all the Spectators not being moved out of my Saddle at the decursion of all those who that day I made to kiss the earth The better part of the day being spent and the long intermission since any had appeared to oppose me made us think the sports had been ended and we were about to break them up when there entered at the other end of the lists a Cavalier of a good port having his sword ready drawn armed with fair green armes and over them a strong paludament his caske was plumated with green and white intermixed he attracted all the eyes of the beholders upon him but his motion was so furious that it gave them hardly leasure to behold him His furious pace soon brought him up to me and being come near with a voyce that shew'd anger had prepossess'd him he said Proud man is this the way to raise your glory having ambitioned a happinesse thou art not worthy of by the breaking of a few reeds which is rather a sport for boys than an exercise for men if thou hast not lost all that courage which fame hath told us you shew'd against the Romanes let us see it in defending thy self against me who am thy mortal foe with as much animosity as thou hast shewn pusillanimity in maintaining these juvenile sports I am come purposely to deprive thee of a Life before these Spectators which cannot be in safety so long as I live and to let thee see on what weak foundations thy aspiring hopes are built He spake these words so loud that they were easile heard by Lilibilis Amenia and those that accompanied them Lilibilis thought he knew that voyce but the unexpected evenement and his bold carriage took off his imaginations from calling to his remembrance who it might be and only took care to prevent a combate he saw so much desir'd on both sides For whilst he uttered his audacious speech I
hardly believe you but if it be true that that little beauty the gods have given me have had such power over you the respect you alwaies bore me pleads for the mitigating of a severity which this confession might have made me resolve upon and tells me that it is injustice to passe any other sentence then to command you to live and if the power of my words can contribute to it I shall not only command but intreat you to conserve a life that is so considerable to our interests and if I may say so to me too and that you banish those thoughts that may any waies disturb your repose I know proceeded she after a sigh which forced its passage in spight of her suppression it will be a sollie to command you not to love me if your passion be so strong as you exhibit it but I must impose the same silence which hath accompanied you to this hour concerning this thing and not to trouble me with an affection I am like never to reanswer you are not ignorant my father hath destin'd me to another and I shall never contradict his will Live therefore Euripedes but live as you have hitherto done and by that you will testifie your love more than by all the words you can use to me however if it be possible withdraw your affections if it be not I shall judge of the purity of them by your actions Is there no hope then replied I this apprehension made me a second time faint in her presence and so long it was before Melanthe could fetch life in me that they both thought it had utterlie abandoned me at last as the fates would I opened my eyes but I beheld Amenia's so full of tears that I could not but draw comfort in that she pitied me ' Live Euripedes if thou wishest me any content and if I must say so hope Euripedes that thou mayest not be indifferent to me She presently held up her hand before her face to hide that rubor her words had suscitated although I thought she spoke thus favourable to me to hinder my design of dying yet I could not but draw a support from them ' But must I live Madam said I with that severe imposition can any one having a passion like mine live in a continual restraint and not be permitted to utter the least part of what they suffer for others ' Go not about replied Amenia to force me to that I cannot consent to if I were not my self restrain'd by the Laws of duty Euripedes might have more libertie you force me to speak being asham'd she had spoke so much which she testified by pulling her vaile over her face that which I believe I ought to have conceal'd ' If the gods intend me my life said I which I will not seek to frustrate seeing you command me to live to serve you I shall endeavour to satisfie your severity by the patient enduring of that pain which the restraint you have impos'd upon me will bring Lilibilis entred at the conclusion of these words with Clotuthe to see me they both expressed their resentments for my indisposition when I comforted them by telling them some of my paines were mitigated and that I thought I had passed the chiefest brunt which gave me hopes the gods would preserve my life this gave my deplorers some comfort but none except Amenia and Melanthe comprehended the drift of my speeches They were soon caus'd to withdraw by the Chirurgions order for fear of disquiing me who desir'd me to be as silent as I could and to give my self rest I found my self better able to obey his proposition since I had made known my minde to Amenia then before but I spent the chiefest part of that day in recounting Amenia's speeches whereas I could gather for my self little hope so I could gain nothing to make me despaire neither could I blame nor excuse her severity I resolved to obey her and in that obedience to perish or gain my satisfaction Amenia soon invented means to entertain her self alone with Melanthe and being entred her closet together ' Did not I tell you Madam said Melanthe briskly that the gods would be so propitious to your love that you should have no cause to complain that passion wherewith he is imbued is no slight one and he hath given sufficient testimonies of a grand respect be you careful therefore that you draw not upon your self your own miserie by your too too much severitie I hope you will pardon my audacitie Madam in proffering you councel who are able to administer it to the whole earth but even the wisest prepossest with this passion desire it from those of less abilities than themselves not being able to be their own Physitians though they become very good ones to others Melanthe replied that dear one I accept of thy speeches as coming from that zeal and love thou bearest for my happinesse but I cannot see that the gods are about to favour me so much as thou thinkest but involving me more deep into a passion that giveth me not a minutes repose will at length bury me in its ruines this I foresee which takes away part of that joy I otherwise might conceive for Euripedes Love How can I propose to my self any thoughts of enjoying him whom to thee I must confess I dearly Love when my father hath already given me to another and whose will I can no waies contradict before I might have only bewail'd my own unhappiness in affecting him who might not have regarded me but now to augment my miserie I believe he loves me yet I dare not admit one thought of ever enjoying him Before I onely deplor'd my own loss but now his pains and sufferings which I may cause though I cannot help overwhelmes me with more sad considerations Do not think I can see his afflictions and not be partaker with him nor his miserie without accounting it my own I cannot obey my own inclinations because I cannot disobey my father who engages me to one I can never love though my duty may compel me to obey him O dear Euripedes too dear ever to be forgotten pardon my severity since it is an affliction to my self and as insupportable as it can be to my dear Euripedes I confess I have inflicted a punishment upon thee too too rigorous but it is as great a one to me in that I debar my self so great happiness Melanthe was fain to interpose and with reasons never wanting to that witty wench still gave her some beam of comfort in her deepest afflictions ' The gods said she ought not to be distrusted before you only complained that his inclinations were unknown to you you considered not the diffiuclties which now you propose or if you did at least less considerable the gods having been thus propitious it should induce you to believe that they intend your content and will give happy issue to your love Do but your endeavour to conform your
her own inclinations and cruel because they will require her death rather than the breach of them she must be obedient to him who hath that Soveraign authority over her which were it otherwise Euripedes might not receive so sensible afflictions nor her self such cruciations If my counsel be not too presumptuous I should advise by no means to break that Law she hath impos'd till necessity require it content your self in that she both sees knows and feels your afflictions If I have been too lavish of my tongue I doubt not but you will treasure up in secret what I have told you that I may not be accused of infidelity to her whose severe humour could never pardon me The afflictions I saw you suffer ingaged me to let you know this that from it you might exprome comfort in your greatest distress I could not chuse but embrace Melanthe at the end of these words and give her to understand how extreamly sensible of these obligations I was both by my transports and words We had a great deal of discourse tending to this matter whereby I found great ease in the assurance she gave me that it was not want of affection in Amenia in that I was condemn'd to silence and in that she was so severe but only in obedience to the rules of her duty and dictates of a natural severiety After she had given me new assurances of her service in every thing she was able without being unfaithfull and disloyal to Amenia she left me in some repose betteâ—han she found me She was no sooner departed but I set my self to contemplate on that which I understood from her and giving way to believe what I desired I began to possess my self with most pleasing imaginations but I had not long entertained my self with them when I was diverted by hearing one at my Chamber door I had then no servants with me by reason I had bid them leave me alone that I might with more freedome entertain my thoughts which made me open the door my self where I found one of Clotuthe's women whom I had seen alwaies the most familiar with and who constantly bore her company in her visits to me Being entred my Chamber I began to enquire after the health of Clotuthe she told me she was very much afflicted and that without a speedy relief she was like to perish under a disease which she had hid from the eyes of all the world What said I being startled is Clotuthe sick then yea Sir answered the woman and if it were not for some hope which I have inspired that one who can recover her if he will will be so mercifull to her as to do it she had been by this time past complaining 't is my perswasions alone keeps her alive and a hope which I have inspir'd O gods cried I can that man live who is able to recover Clotuthe and will not believe himself made happy if in doing her the smallest service he receive his death O gods must he be entreated nay and hath she but small hopes he will do it Let me know this Monster that with the point of my sword I may make him more sedulous and desire not only to help her but to lose his life a hundred times were it possible for her preservation Sir replyed this subtle woman I can hardly believe but that he will seek her preservation being the most generous man living and truly Sir it is your self must either kill or cure Clotuthe I was so startled and confounded at these words that I had no time to enter into the meaning of them nor perceive the scope of this womans speeches but stepping back replyed amazedly How I hath she perceived so much ingratitude in me that she hath so little hopes I will not sacrifice a thousand lives if I had them to do her service I beseech you explain which way I am able to do her any service for I am so confounded that 't is past my imaginations to comprehend which way her life depends on me This woman thinking she had sufficientlie prepared me and seeing how eager I was to do her service doubted very little but that she should accomplish her design Clotuthe her self said she shall illuminate your understanding though I cannot believe you can be ignorant which way to serve her and in that service to redeem a life which is about to be sacrificed to your Hallucination With that she drew forth a letter out of her sleeve and presented to me Her last words astonish'd me more than the former but beâ—ieving the letter would dissipate all doubts I greedily open'dit where I read to this purpose Clotuthe to Euripedes THese black lines suitable to the nigritude of my crime cannot blush nor fear those titubations which might accompany a verbal confession so absolutely against the pudicity that should be inseparable to our sex and especially in the condition I am in Let these confess what my pudor could never utter though assisted by time and opportunity I had thought that my actions my looks and ambiguous words might have exhibited my passion without so open agnition but you were either wilfully blind or else very obtuse in your apprehensions not to see that which gave me so terrible cruciations and which I exhibited plain enough to be understood by any lesse wilfull or less blind than your self This is it that hath brought me to that pass that as I have no desire so I have no hope to live without the compassion of Euripedes I have preconsideâ—ed how criminal I am and what inverecundity I use to make known this perturbation but being brought to this exigent I cannot die satisfied without letting you know I die for you and that the grave may witness my affection I desire no longer to retain a life so culpable but till I have heard that cruel sentence which I must expect from one so just as your self to perfect my tragedie Yet O generous Euripedes let this crime after my death be sepeliz'd in the grave of oblivion but if you remember me with regret consider too that I dy'd for the expiation of my fault though death be too small an expiament for the crime of the guilty and unfortunate CLOTVTHE I Read not this Letter without exhibiting by my face those perturbing passions which it suscitated in my breast I a hundred times changed colour and my trouble was so great that I could hardly accomplish the reading of it That gestatrix perceiv'd my perturbation yet I believe she knew not whether it presag'd good or ill she was about to assure her self by words when I cried out The gods have undone me I expressed my affliction by iterating those words often without being capable of uttering more Why have the gods undone you said she composing her countenance as well as she could I rather think they have made you happy were you able to see it I thought what would become of your great protestations to do her
of yielding to her that the more I thought upon her the more odious she seem'd to me and in consideration of Amenia I rather began to hate her than love her My thoughts likewise exhibited to me the great trouble and vexation was like to ensue if she persisted in it but if my disdaine should cause her hatred as it was very likelie it should I saw on that hand as great danger and trouble as might be on the other I fear'd nothing but ruining my pretentions for Amenia by stratagems never wanting to inraged women My life I valued not but I fear'd she might procure my banishment which would be far more gâ—ievous than death A thousand thoughts came thronging into my mind all representing some disaster to ensue and methought this evement had already ruined my hopes I complain'd against the gods inveigh'd against Clotuthe spoke against my self and in these transports I spent a good part of the night before I came forth of the closet When I was in bed my imaginations hardly suffered me to take any sleep sometimes me thought I saw Clotuthe like a fury assailing me and endeavouring to tuine me by and by she was represented acting part of her resentment against Amenia using her with violence and rigor this gave me real cruciations though it were but a thought and made me often exclaim against her with the bitterest words I could invent then I saw her in my imaginations acting her own Tragedy this caus'd me no less feare and trouble on the other side in consideration that she was the wife of Lilibilis whom I very much honoured and lov'd these troublesome thoughts took away sleep and rest with some that love injected for Amenia and I hardly gain'd a slumber that night which also was interrupted with dreames of the like nature those Idaea's exhibiting themselves in my sleep The next day I was visited by Amenia and her presence dissipated part of those troubles which continually employed my imaginations and gave me that relaxation which nothing besides her self could do We passed our time as we us'd to do in very ordinary discourse and though she lov'd me well yet had she hardly the confidence to six her eyes upon mine when she spake and when she perceiv'd how intentively I beheld her my eyes taking that libertie which was denied my tongue it made her blush out of the knowledge that she understood those dumb orators yet was she so cruel as not to take off her imposition At last Amenia made me acquainted with her mothers sickness but she knew not the cause she desired me to go along with her to give her a visit I was afraid to discover it to Amenia by denying to go and I knew my presence would do her hurt in consideration that I was the cause of it I was very loth to do Clotuthe so much wrong as to discover her weakness to any which made me go after two or three times invitation wherein I could not deny Amenia I was troubled though least Clotuthe might discover her self by some action that my presence might cause but my chiefest trouble was least that visit might give her any encouragement to persist in her love or cause her to believe I would not be altogether averse from her or might yield to that which was so odious to me With this trouble I accompanied Amenia to Clotuthe's chamber we found none there but that woman who brought me her letter for Clotuthe desired few of her other womens companie being all ignorant of the true cause of her grief After Amenia had rendred her what she thought was required from her and testified what share she bore in her egritude by many words full of sweetnesse and compassion I approached her bed side but with so great fear and trembling that I could not express my self a great while her colour went and came very often at my approach which shew'd an extraordinary motion within her ' Madam said I after I had stood a while silent I cannot yield to any in the world that superiority of having a more sensible affliction of your egritude than my self and I cannot believe I injure truth if I say I feel little lesse dolor than your self How joyful should I be and how happy should I account my self if by the sacrifice of my life the gods would recover you to your pristine estate I should offer it with more content than I ever shall receive while you are in this condition and were your sickness depending upon my life only this moment should be the last of your grief She understood these words and perceiv'd what I meant by them I saw they had rais'd an extraordinary colour in her face and her eyes expressed the great desire she had to speak but Amenia's presence deterr'd her she was not more sorry than I was glad that she was there but that subtle woman who knew her desire found means to draw Amenia to the window and Melanthe who attended her stood at a distance out of respect Clotuthe glad of this opportunitie answered me softlie but so as I could hear her distinctly ' Eurâ—pedes said she without looking me in the face but hers was tinctured with â—eâ—â—â—â—ion all over I cannot reproach you for your virtue nor call you cruel though you slay me I am not ignorant what virtue is though I have not the power to folâ—ow it It shames me to our-live a fault I have committed against Lilibilis my own pudor and your virtue by the over-ruling of that implacable tyrant Love but I am so carefully watched that I cannot gain an opportunitie to expiate the crime of Lilibilis his wife by the victim of Clotuthe I have confessed O Euripedes that I have loved you I cannot deny it and to my shame I must still own it in that love I must die the bonds of dutie were too weak to restrain me from letting you know it and I should not have accounted it acceptable if you had been ignorant of it I die Euripedes and I die for you or rather for the fault of loving you if it can be imputed to me since the gods inspir'd it and forc'd my inclinations to it I know you are too generous to divulge it and if the fault of Clotuthe might give you an occasion to do it yet the love you bear Lilibilis will restrain you After a little respite Your heart cannot be capable of pity continued she no no Euripedos let me die to ease my self of that pain which is insufferable but I do not believe you desire I should live since you alone are the cause of it Her tears stopping the rest of her words she gave me time to answer her O Madam said I I have told you and do again that I never had more affection to do you service than now I have and shall ever retain it so long as my honour may not be blemish'd nor the precepts of vertue broken I value not the expiration of my life
rest I replied that I desired nothing lesse than life and that to accelerate my death I used all the meanes they had left me and which they were not able to deprive me of they dressed my wounds as it were by force and much against my will and they were all fain to beg with teares in their eyes and upon their knees for me to take sustenance and not so wilfully to persist in my death they exhibited their love by an unanimous imploration which made me use violence against my own inclinations to satisfie some part of their love and care by taking what they desired and by letting them endeavour to preserve my life only to avoid those implorations which they daily continued but I would not mittigate the least part of that grief and dolor that I endured through the apprehensions of her death and they were so violent that without doubt I had continued much longer had I not been miraoulously preserv'd One and twenty dayes had now past over sine the last battel wherein I received those wounds which with the augmented grief for Amenia's death had kept me in bed when some of those few men who accompanied me going out aswell for provision as to hear whether there was no hope of recovering their own out of the Romans hands had met with a man who made an earnest enquiry after me he was disguised which made them not think it safe to discover me but being prest very much by him and seeing he was but a single man they at last brought him to me They first certified me how they had met him and his desire to speak with me though I was incapable almost to take notice of any thing yet at last I bid them bring him in So soon as he was entred my Tent I knew him to be a young man that belonged to Amenia the sight of him renewed my grief Ah cri'd I out with vehemency art thou come to confirm that which I already know but too much for my repose or to reproach me in that I retain a Life after the losse of Amenia's speak for thou canst not augment the dolor I have conceiv'd by the confirmation of that which makes me asham'd of my self in that I live so long after the first knowledge of it The young man not knowing my meaning shewed he was something amazed by his silence but at last seeing I expected his answer he replyed Sir I believe you are not ignorant that I have the honour to belong to Amenia 't is in her behalfe I have sought you to give you this Letter Whilst he was a pulling it out I replyed hastily why where is Amenia what is become of her is she alive or no prethy tell me all that thou knowest and hide nothing from me Sir replyed the Lad I know nothing of her destiny nor what is become of her but two dayes after we had heard that you had lost the last Victory against the Romans we understood those that came from Lancia were almost at our walls those souldiers that were in the City being terrified at their approach abandon'd us to their fury and with abundance of the Inhabitants left the City I was in it when I saw the great confusion and tumult of those that fled which made me haste to the Pallace and going up the staires into the outward Hall I met Melanthe descending in very great haste Assoon as she had espied me I never met thee said she more gladly than I do now nor in a time wherein thou mightst expresse thy fidelity to Amenia so much as now thou mayst I was going to seek one whom I might entrust with what I desire and I know none more capable than thy self of doing it with thy wonted fidelity After I had given her all the assurance I could of it and of the Joy I conceiv'd that I should do any service acceptable to Amenia she proceeded thus You are not to take thought what will become of us in this approaching danger only you are desired by me to depart the City immediately with this Letter which she put into my hand and enquire after Euripedes if he be alive deliver it to him if he be dead bring it back again to me but use all your diligence to find him out and with all the speed you can for in doing it you will do Amenia the greatest piece of service you ever did her in all your life and if the Gods preserve her she will requite you for it She had hardly ended these words when three or four men in very great haste came to her saying they all waited for her and conducting her away in great hast left me alone upon the staires I immediately preparing for my Journey departed the City within an hour and for all the diligence I have us'd I could never hear the least word whether you were living or no till this day being almost out of hope after so long search I met with those who have conducted me hither to deliver this Letter with which I was entrusted I heard him with hope that he might give me some knowledge that she liv'd but seeing what he had said neither confirm'd nor contradicted it I remained in my former perplexity but said I as I received the Letter from him dost not thou know that Amenia is dead Sir said he I know nothing of it and I have related faithfully all that I know it may be the Letter may give you more light I then fell to opening it but with mortal apprehensions of what it might contain I dreaded the confirmation of that which had so debilitated me but unclosing it I found it was Amenia's hand which gave me as much Joy I could possibly receive in that condition My teares for some time hindred me the reading of it through those apprehensions that continually assaulted me but at last with some hope I began and with a world of consolation ended the reading of words to this effect Amenia to Euripedes SEeing that the gods after the ruine of our house have imposed a necessity of my being a captive I had rather to be so to Euripedes than any man living and to live under his protection whose fidelity I know and in whom I can confide without distrust Duty which before compel'd me not to think on Euripedes cannot now oppose my inclinations being taken away by the gods to make me more ingrate if not having that excuse I continue in my severity to Euripedes and if I do not consider him according to the justice of his services merits and virtue Euripedes I declare therefore I am a prisoner because I am forc'd against my inclinations to him whom Lilibilis had assign'd for my husband though my inclinations were ever averse and though I believ'd that the gods would some way redeem me from it but now having my will at liberty I am forced by constraint and abreption to leave this Countrey and to abandon you whilest for my sake
the tapstry where I might hear and see what was spoke or done in theroome But not to be tedious in recounting that which is odious I there beheld with an imparallel'd agony the confirmation of my Jealouâ—ie there I saw her whom I had so long and so ardently lov'd embraceing another without blushes in her armes I should have manifested my indignation at that time had I not sworne to the maide not to discover my selfe for fear of detecting her which oath I kept with great difficulty With the helpe of my concealeresseâ— I departed but with how much griefe I cannot represent I confesse I was all most distracted through the continuall torment that it gave me The next day I departed for Cilicia with an intention never to returne more But being there and finding lesse likelyhood of possessing my estate then before Epamondas having through his power ruin'd the cheifest and ablest of my friends and also being throughly agitated by Love and danger I returned back to Thessalonica that I might in venting the one quench the other for notwithstanding this the fire of anger had mixt but contiguously with the flames of Love In that short time that I had been absent from her the exceeding grief and anguish of my soule had debillitated and dejected my body so much that she could hardly credit her eyes when she saw me returne in that condition When she knew the bad successe of my Jorney and in what condition my affairs stood she attributed my sadnesse and dejection to those evenements which she sought to drive away by unwonted expressions expressions of Love and kindneâ—â—â— which being but coldly received by me made her wonder at my cariage The more Love she expressed to me the more aversion I had to her and the more she sought to please me with adulation the more was my spirit excited against her dissimulation I had been there but a little time when I perceived that enemy of my repose to frequent the house of Cynthia as formerly which fight so stimulated my indignation that I was not able to smother it any longer and my anger then overcame my Love which till then it had struggled with He entred one day into the house when I was with Cynthia in her chamber who at that time full of blandiloquie sought to know the cause of my discontent and expressed very much affection and Love to me I was about to answer her when I saw this gentleman through the glasse window to come a long the Court which sight so excited my passion that poynting towards him I told Cynthia that he was the cause of all my trouble at which words I observed a very strange alteration in her countenance but she desireing to know in what he had offended me I told her that their too much familiarity had exsuscitated a Jealousie that could never be cured She seem'd with a world of Indignation to detest it and denying it with great passion and anger she would have left me useing many bitter words against me but taking her by the arme my eyes sparkling with indignation Ah false and perfidious woman said I canst thou with such impudence deny that which the Gods and thy own conscience do testifie to against thee For what reason did you deter that which I was about to prepetrate against my self had your mind desired my death why did you not effect it by persevering in your former rigor or in any other way besides defaming and defileing your self if you did never love me as I am sure you did not or if you did not count me worthy of it why did you use so much dissimulation and so much hypocrisie as to make me beleeve it but if you say you have Lov'd me and did intend to have effected the mariage according to your promise why have you so meretriciously been defil'd by another Ah cruel woman ah base and trecherous woman thou art not worthy of those servants that would sacrifize their lives at thy feete I confesse I have lov'd thee and that to the undoing of my self but the gods inflict upon me all the plagues that lye in their power to impose upon men if I thinke any more of Loving thee but of detesting thee as a monster and unworthy the name of a princesse After a little pause perceiving her in some astonishment I do not this proceeded I out of conjecture or stimulated only by Jealousie no my eares have been wittnesses of your amorous night discourses and my own eyes witnesses of your unchaste embraces I then discovered to her where I stood and when it was that I discovered their base doings When she saw that to her shame she was detected and that she could not denie a thing so palpable and so punctually prov'd against her enraged through shame she ran out of the roome leaveing me amidst the pangs of grief and returning within a short time with her fornicatour stood by to animate him that he might tragedize me but being too weake for that enterprize with three wounds I lay'd him at my feete and had slaine him had not Cynthia to save him cast her selfe upon him between my weapon and him offering her breasts to be pierced for his safety imploreing me with aboundance of tears not to spare her if I intended to take away her lovers life The sight of that white skinn and those teares so affected me that I could hardly utter these few words for the overflowing of my teares Ah Cynthia said I how much cause have I to detest you and how little do either of you deserve at my hands your lives are now in my power and I should not do any injustnesse if I sacrifized them to my just resentments But you shall live I will not murther that which once I adored when I thought vertue had been link'd with your beauty you shall Live that you may feele the heavy punishments of your Conscience which will plague you for your misdeeds and it may be cause remorse for what you have done against me for your sake I spare him who hath not to much power so wrong me by his strength as he hath by his effeminate beauty Live then to your owne shame Cynthia and let the Godesses of punishments inflict castigations equall to your deserts whilst I seek to deracinate thy memory out of my minde With these words I left Cynthia and immediatly after Thâ—ssalonica and returned to some friends in Cilicea where within a month after I heard that Cynthia had maried this gentleman which though I had resolved to forget her gave me so much grief and trouble that it put me into a violent feaver so hard it is for a deep rooted Love and settled affection to be decussed But time and patience which effects all things put a period to my sicknesse and restored me to my former health I then consulting with my friends and by their advice gained the help of the Romans who knowing of the great wrong I had
furious ardency I sat said Lonoxia to Euripedes altering his tone immovable at these words but the immotions within exhibited themselves so perspicuously in my face that the Confident of Atalanta might have seen them had she not been so intentive upon her relation I had much ado to with-hold from crying out when I heard this second surcharge of my misfortunes for I fear'd whither 't would tend but amazement fear and trembling ty'd my lips and I heard her without interruption continue her discourse thus That imperious fire raging in the breast of this stranger he sought for nothing but to allay its heat by the waters of fruition for the gaining of which he rely'd more on his facundity and outward graces of his body than on any vertues that accompanied him It s pity that golden boxes enchac'd with precious stones should be the Conservers of poyson but it is more pity that men adorned with all the outward gifts and embellishments of nature should be possess'd with souls implete with Stygian vices and obsest with incarnate wicked Daemons This Marcipsius soon out-went all his Corrivals and gaining the heart of Atalanta's father with a wondrous dexterity he admitted him to lodge in his pallace when he knew he was the Nephew of King Bogadus and using him with all the respect his birth oblig'd him to he gave him convenience and opportunity though unwillingly to vitiate his own daughter Never was there a more indulgent father Atalanta being the comfort of his age and her mother and sisters being dead so that he gave her all the liberty she could desire believing her discreet and wise She began now to loose her self in Marcipsius and abated that pudicit severity which she had shewn to all others She lent some ear to his flatteries and without check gave him leave to court her In a word she began to love him and to feel the tyranny of that cursed caitiffe Cupid The first day that she saw him ended her happiness and began her misery On the other side that caitiffe Marcipsius play'd his part so cunningly that neither Atalanta's father nor she her self could perceive that he lov'd her or rather had a desire to abuse her He had a peculiar way of speaking very gracefull and taking whereby he would charm ears to his discourse with many other natural endowments which were all obscur'd by his vices he was possest In a short time he had wholly overcome that severe heart of Atalanta's and subjected it under the yoak of his Tyranny before she knew from him that he sigh'd only for her sake At last believing by the affability of my Lady that his suit would not be molestious he very secretly but with wonderfull passion made it known vowing with wonderfull execrations to light upon him if he broke them to live only for her service and to resign at her feet his life and liberty It is more hard to dissemble our joy than any other passion it being apt to exhibit it self with a sprightliness in our eyes my Lady yet so much mastered her self that although she desired nothing more she seem'd very cold to his addresses and shewed part of her natural severity contrary to the motions of timorous Love But yet she did not absolutely forbid him the addressing himself any more in those terms if she had I doubt he would not have credited her tongue to run parallel with her heart Not to exaggerate these works of repentance in summe he nothing abashed at this first redargution continued his protestations with such passion that it was no easie matter for Atalanta to withstand the letting him know she accepted of his services considering how she lov'd him Almost a whole year expired before she let him understand that she bore him any affection or that his services were accepted in which time he shew'd the greatest passion and obsequiousness that could be imagined At last Atalanta believing that his fidelity and his love could not have ended but with his life gave him that happiness of knowing her mind when he least expected it and in letting him understand that his services and devoyrs were acceptable to her when he almost despaired of it If I should recount the oaths the vowes and the Stygian attestations that he made at that time with the horrid and Erebous execrations he invok'd if he prov'd perfidious it would make you tremble to think that any man should be guilty of such perjurations and curses For our parts we thought it impossible for him to illude the gods or that after those vowes and oathes he could violate them for fear of being punisht with their thunders so that we gave the more trust to his words and innocent Atalanta as it were rendred her self up to him Who would think that wicked men should take upon them the habit of vertue the better and more securely to act their impieties and to attain their vicious desires O flagitious Marcipsius could'st not see thy happiness was it not enough for the desire of the whole world to do thee homage but that thou must seek to vitiate and desile so precious a soul Oh base twy-faced Hypocrite so to dissemble the actions of vice under those illustrious ones of vertue Ah Madam Sabane never was there a greater dissimulator breathing nor one who so often vow'd what he never intended I cannot make use of words too bad for so impious a wretch the very double-fac'd dissembler that is and very abstract of wickedness We had time enough to try his vertue and in another year which for the most part he spent in the company of Atalanta largely recompensing her father with many Princely gifts he seem'd to continue his love with so much ardency and obsequiousness that it was impossible for us ever to expect the least change My Lady if it be not a crime to confess it lov'd him intirely and granted him all in honesty he could request so that at last pressed by his continual prayers and judging him worthy of what he desired in my presence she desponded her self to him and promised him to confirm it by the Hymenaean pact so soon as he could dispose her father to it He seem'd to desire nothing more and exhibited all the Symptoms of joy a man could be capable of He a thousand times confest his own unworthiness and her goodness with the great felicity and content so free a promise gave him This nefarious man harbouring nought but desires to scelerate innocent and beguiled Atalanta never sought to ask her of her father but plainly seeing the love she bore him began with wonderfull adulation to gain favours from her hands and from trifles proceeded till he had subverted the fortress of her chastity From leaving the empresses of his lips upon her hands he gain'd them off her lips and then her bosome till at length she had rendred her self too weak to withstand his flattering incitements And having such opportunities his love never suspected by Atalanta's
what love is able to do I shall have a nearer sence of your trouble than ever and already I cannot but wonder at the greatnesse of your courage in undergoing that torment which I find by the first libament to be intolerable I confesse there wants more courage to be a lover than a souldier and that the wounds of love are far more dangerous than those of war Despair not of Eliana for by this manifest providence of the Gods you are bound to believe that what they do is conducing to your felicity and that that fair one was created for no other than your selfe Assoon as if I have satisfied these first impetuosities of my affection I will return in the mean time be carefull of your owne life as you regard the welfare of your inseparable friend Dardanus Argelois could not but find some comfort amidst all these sadnesses by that letter in that the providence of the Gods had so ordered the love of his friend that his own passion should breake that marriage which he would have frustrated for his sake yet it was a long time before he could frame himselfe to believe that he who had withstood the charms of Eliana should be pierc'd by the shafts of any other Epedauro was brought to the two princesses who desired him to tell them what was become of his master he following the order he had receiv'd from Dâ—rdanâ—s told them that in his way towards Bizantium he had met with an accident that had diverted his jorney and that he was then in Paphlagonia intending a sudden return from whose mouth they were to expect a relation of what had happned They seeing Epedauro was not to make known what they desired would presse him no further but contented themselves with what he had told them But he assoon as he had the oportunity to speak with Argelois intimated to him that he had something to deliver to him and the princesse Panthea apart Argelois meeting with the princesse told her the commission of Epedauro and desiring her not to defer the audition they walked into a pleasant Aestiva and sending for Epâ—dauro told him that they expected to hear what he had to say The princesse having commanded him to sit down which he was forc'd to after many refusals he began thus My Lord the Prince Dardanus having rod hard all that day he parted hence and good part of the next stopped about the hottest time of the day under the umbrella's of certain trees which stood hard by a great forest whose skirt reacheth to the Euxinian sea After we had refreshed our selves the Prince mov'd by I know not what good Genius commanded me and Chiron to follow him and walking amongst the thick-growing trees of that wild place he thought he heard the sound of some plaintive voyce Standing still the better to inform himself he was assured what he heard was a humane voyce which seemed to be at some distance the wispering wind bringing it by intervalls and inarticulate to his eares Desireous to know who it might be that was in that place which seemed to be altogether desolate or a habitation fit for none but Philoâ—ophers and despairing lovers we crope very softly towards the place from which me Judged the sound came We came so neer at last that we could dissinguish the words some of them being these interfalk'd with sighs groans Yes fair princess I do obay your severe command I believe you were ignorant that the same words that banished me your presence also commanded me die it being impossible for me to be deprived of that sight which made me happy and Live Ah! I must never more behold those fair eyes that gave life and vigor to my soul cruell banishment but now thou art allmost at an end and these testimonies of my martyrdom it may be will exuscitate a pity in that breast which could never entertaine Love These words were uttered with so moving an air that it extracted teares from all our eyes The voyce seemed as if it had not been altogether alienated to our eares but for the present neither of us could tell who it was being somwhat changed by that doleful aire and sighs that interfalcated almost every word Presently we heard another voyce which with sobs and tears implor'd the other not to persist in so cruel a manner to murther a soul so far surmounting others At least said he if you will fall under these cruel and detestable lawes of love permit me not to survive ah tye me not to I execute so horrid a perpetration but let me have that comfort to serve you in the Stygian shades as faithfully as I have served you here Peace replyed the other the remaines of my life are but small give me leave to finish what I am about before Aâ—ropos cut the twine The Pâ—ince was not able to call to mind where he had heard those voyces for the more he heard them speak the more he called to mind that he had formerly been acquainted with them At last we crope so near to them amongst the bowes that we discovered them with our eyes but the spectacle was so horrid and amazing that we had schreckt out had it not taken from us that power by the astonishment it caused Those we saw were cloathed in very mean cloathes agreeing in everything with the Rustick he that seemed by the duty and obedience he owed the other to be his servant kneeled before him with his back towards us so that we could not discover his face mingling his teares with the others blood which hath made a little torrent by its effusion The bowes environing his head so obscured his face that we could not satisfie our selves or know who he was by that sight He sat upon the side of a fountaine which seemed to be the habitation of some Naide or only fâ—amed by nature for the refreshment of the animalls of the wood Before him stood a stone which served him for a table on which was spread a very smoth rine of a rtee on which he was writing with a stick sharpned for that purpose but that which was so amazeing was a large wound in his side from whence slowed a purple spring and into the which he dipt his reed forming crimson characters with his latest blood The grasse was distained with its colour and the abundance that ran from his wound had made a riverse larg enough for love to swim in By his action he seemed as if he desired to inspire his pen with the last breath of that fair soul or to make those bloody characters speak more pathetically mixed spirit and life with his blood Whilst he was in his action and our amazednesse permiting it longer than we ought he that kneeled before him seeing his palenesse bespeak his approaching death could not but break the silence his master had imposed Ah! cruel Panthea said he insensible princesse Behold a Prince sacrificed to your obduratenesse Ah! wretch ceâ—se said the other
of two great armies Their strength could not run parallel with their courage their minds and wills fought though their armes were no longer able to strike a stroke They fainted and were slain being overcome only by their own courages and with the heat of Titan not being accustomed to that ardor which they there felt They died but yet with victory and triumph thousands lying about them whose souls they carried in triumph into the neather world I had almost forgot to tell you Araterus is yet invincible though he cannot wrest his companions out of the arms of death he sees them die with regret oreprest with the number of those melaneous Aethiopians this instigates his fury and causes him to make Structures of their carcases and sable rivers of their blood There was not any surviv'd but Araterus and my self he being my buckler against their number receiving their darts upon his armour that did him no hurt which so amazed those ignorant ones that they believed him to be invulnerable and seeing the prodigious strokes that he gave on their defenceless bodies they did not dare to come within his reach but assaulted him afar off with their darts and slings Araterus at last not longer able to endure the intolerable heat of the Sun under the burthen of his heavy armour fainted They no fooner saw him fall but with a strange howling noise they came all running towards him I was fallen upon my knees to have given him breath being almost distracted at the misery to which we were reduced yet at last recollecting my self I hoped by their ignorance to work our delivery Assoon as they came I strove by pointing up to the heaven and then towards Araterus several times to impress into them that he was some celestial Deity They understood my meaning and with a kind of admiration beheld him touching his armour and striking their javelins ends against it Araterus at last coming to himself seeing them about him began to struggle which made them immediatly deprive him of his sword and holding him made a shift to bind his hands and feet Having serv'd me in the same manner they carried us upon a kind of a Chariot on their shoulders thousands of them following us making most hellish noises In that manner they carried us two dayes to the Pallace of their King which stood in a wood built with mud and timber after a course manner After they had waited some time at the gate of the Pallace we entred a kind of Court in which stood a large Tree under which on a kind of Throne sat their King naked having a kind of Diadem made of Ostridge feathers with a kind of linnen Mantle about his middle Round about him stood his noble men who with dejected countenances shew'd the reverence they bore to his Majesty At his elbow stood one different in habit from all the rest having a strange kind of fantastick garment compos'd of all sorts of feathers his head was shaven and covered with a cap of the same This man as we afterwards understood was the Oracle of the King and the high Priest of the Countrey and to whose Council all adher'd After the King had with great admiration satisfied himself with the sight of Araterus and with feeling and trying his darts against his armour he made many signs to us which I supposing were to know from whence we came pointed up to the heavens endeavouring to make them think Araterus a god The Priest till then stood mute but seeing the King bow his head to Araterus he fell into a fearfull ejulation and afterwards as if he were possest uttered some speeches which we understood by the signes of the people and their often nominating their great God that he made known we were to be given for food to their great god Arqcebusqez Interest had possest him for surely he believed that Araterus being taken for a God he would have been some detriment to his order By the signs that were made us we understood our doome and wondring what their god might be we expected our expiration with patience We were presently carried into another spacious Court compassed about with high poles stuck fast into the ground and intertexed with smaller sticks At the further end of this place was a kind of Temple it seems the habitation of their God which shone with gold and corruâ—cing stones Right against the entrance of this Temple were we set upon the earth bound the King retiring to a window that look'd into the place and the people beholding us through the Poles that encompassed the place The Priest after a certain ululation called upon his God to come accept the viâ—tim he had prepared By and by we heard a wonderful fibilation and presently came forth a monstrous Serpent at whose sight the people fell flat upon the earth as also the King and all his black Candidates Araterus at the sight of that monster forc'd himself so strongly that he broke the bands about his arms and taking forth a dagger that he had under his Cassock cut those that tied his feet then presently freeing me he met that monstrous serpent and assaying his skin in many places could find no entrance for the point of his dagger The Serpent with his anguinious tail beat him down several times which made me fear that he would have yielded his life between the jaws of that Hydra After a long resistance he found the belly of the Monster passible for plunging his dagger several times into it he let out a stream of veneniserous and stinking blood with the life of that monstrous Serpent and false Deity The King Priest and People all amazed at the puissance of Araterus and the death of their God expressed it by their countenances and posture At last the oraculous Priest seeming to be possest howled forth certain words which we know by the effects were to perswade the King that Araterus was the chiefest Deity in the celestial orb and that I was an under god who had left the heavens to attend him and that he should place us in the Temple and cause us to be worshiped in the place of that ancient Deity which they had worshipped so long The King that never contradicted what he said came into the place to us and falling on his knees before Araterus with erected hands which through our ignorance of their language we could not understand The Priest doing the like whether out of ignorance or subtilty I know not engaged all the people to a profound devotion I perswaded Araterus not to contradict them telling him it was the only way for us to escape them He permitted it with a heart that attributed nothing of it to himself and did but accept it for his own safety After many ceremonies they conducted us to the Temple where having seated us in an high seat placeing me at the seet of Araterus there entred many under-Priests deck'd after the same manner as their High-priest with
be ignorant of it and that it was requisite she should know it being best able to remove it for she doubted not but that some of her subjects had given him some cause for discontent unjustly and that I should therefore discover it though my Masters generosity would not permit himself to do it that she might punish the author of it for an example to others After I had heard this I told her that 't was requisite she should be obeyed in all things that I was sorry I could not exactly obey her commands for that I was ignorant that any of her subjects or any other had given him the least cause for discontent that I believed he had so acquired their loves by her favours that none would be so malicious as to do any extraordinary action that might disquiet my master and that I knew it was no small thing could move the tranquillity of his mind This answer nothing satisfying she prest me to tell her if that none oâ— her Subjects had given him any cause for this sadness and whether I were ignorant of the cause of it I knew not what to answer presently to this demand but bethinking my self I told her that certainly that though her favours were so immense as to make any man forget his own nâ—tive Countrey with joy having the happiness to be entertained in her service yet that I believed he could not remember his friends without a just and unblameable regret seeing at what a distance fortune had brought him from them I know not what it was whether she could perceive any thing by my countenance she did not believe me She told me that Araterus had given her the knowledge of the passages of his life and that not being tyed by the bonds of affection she did not believe those of nature could cause so great trouble and that if it were so she knew he would have desired her assistance for the reward of all his pains and good services for to have returned into his Countrey I replyed that it might be he could not be so disrespectfull as yet considering the esteem she had of him and the favours she had done him as to ask a thing which he imagined might be displeasing to her that although he were inferior to no Prince in his own Countrey and that the gods had given him an estate according to the Nobility of his birth where he might injoy all the happinesses there that he now enjoyed except her presence and service yet I believed that he preser'd that to all the rest and made him so back-ward in asking a thing which he could not but desire This I spake for the interest of Araterus and to beget a good opinion of his Nobility and birth in the Queen which took very good effect and much advantaged his love I am sorry said she that Araterus never intimated thus much to me before and I must lay all the blame on my ignorance that I have not respected him as I ought I know Madam replyed I that he esteems your service the greatest honour and happiness in the world That sha'nt excuse him said she for hiding from me his birth and quality But is it so as you tell me added she earnestly I saw that it would be for the interest of Araterus and if he prosecuted his Love I thought it would be impossible otherwise to arrive at a happy end thetefore being imboldened I amplified his birth and gave her such an ingenuous relation of him making him no less than a Prince that I saw a kind of joy sparkling in her eyes before I had finished my relation Many things concerning his Countrey and our adventures on the sea she had heard from him before and finding them to agree exactly with what I speak she made no question of the rest and believed that he hid his birth out of a generous humour having told her never any thing exactly of it Have you told me every thing said she have you omitted no passages But one Madam said I which I am not sure that I may tell without an infidelity to my master This made her the more pressing to know and I at last seeming vanquished by her impoâ—tunities told her how he met with a Prophesie that had fore-told him all had hapned to him since and that there were somethings in it yet remaining to be effected which it might be was the cause of his grief but that he kept them so secret that I doubted I had been unfaithfull for speaking so much I thought said she that you were not ignorant of your Masters sadness and I know not what good genius made me not to believe you but for your fault you must of necessity tell me what it is I seemâ—d extreme unwilling to tell her though I did all this out of a design but after that she had commanded me many times promising me that it should be no prejudice to me I told her I thought it did not become me to captuilate with her highness yet if it would please her Majesty not to ask me any more questions I would answer her I promise thee said she 'T is love then Madam said I that causeth Araterus's trouble I am conscious I have spoke too much but neither entreaties nor torments shall extract any thinâ— more from my mouth and I hope Madam that you will keep this last thing as a seâ—ret that I ought not to have told lest the knowledge of it cause my master â—o reward my infideliâ—y At that instant that I told her the câ—use of Araterus's sadness the Queen changed her countenance and notwithstanding her endeavours she could not hide some alterations in her face But I taking no notice of it made her an obeisance for a chain of Diamonds which she caused to begiven me and so dismist me bidding me not to fear but that she would do as I beg'd of her Returning presently to Araterus I gave him an exact account of what I had done telling him the oppinion of his birth would prove very advantaâ—ious for his Love neverthelesse I could hardly perswade him to acknowledg that for truth which I had spoke of him so far was he from accumulating honors to himself which he was conscious did not belong to him though he were assured that none there could convict him of an untruth I was fain to tell him if he would not acknowledge what I had said of him for a verity I should be accounted an impostor to the Queen which would reflect on him and it may be bring himself into such disesteem as not to be believed That what I had done was for his fidelity that on it depended the good or bad success of his love that 't was impossible otherwise to arrive at the end propos'd That he would both ruin me and undoe himselfe and both he looked upon I not better than impostors with such like reasons I was forc'd to perswade him to a thing which others would have been
ELIANA A NEW ROMANCE FORMED BY AN English Hand Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci Hor. Nihil est aptius ad delectationem Lectoris quam temporum varietates fortunaeque vicissitudines Hor. Aut prodesse volunt aut delectare Poetae Aut simul jucunda idonea dicere vita Hor. LONDON Printed by T. R. for Peter Dring at the Sun in the Poultrey next door to the Rose-Tavern An. Dom. 1661. TO THE READER THou seest here the fruits of some spare hours and of those which might justly have been given to sleep My desire is that thou mayest read them in the same manner as I wrote them that is Relaxare animum being tyred and wearied with more serious studies or weighty affairs By this means you shall neither tyre your self nor abuse your time using them for an innocent recreation This is but the first part of the whole Work and indeed but a kind of introduction to the rest This first appears as a Libament to your palate if liked it shall induce me to finish the rest if disliked I have already done too much and shall desist For I am none of those who dote upon their own fancies and Narcissus-like fall in love with the shadows of their own brain I make you my Judges and by your Votes I shall either proceed or give off Mistake me not I yield my self not to the mercy and judgement of those who are prejudiced against such writings in general and count it a part of their Creed to abhor them and whatever of good that appears under the title of a Romance These are not like the ingenious Bee who sucks honey out of the very weeds nor like the good Chimick who extracts the good and leaves the bad They fling all away in a lump despise the book for the covers-sake and disregard the matter because the title do'nt please them These I say sha'nt be my Judges nor shall their barkings discourage my future proceedings for they will be sure to condemn all though they never read a word They will cry out that they are bewitching frothy and apt to withdraw the mind of the Reader from graver studies But surely they are ignorant of the true ground and scope of these kind of Writings which is to depaint vertue and vice in their natural and genuine colours and to exhibit the fairness of the one the foulness of the other and the rewards of both They know not that Romances are not alwayes farc'd with Love-stories and toyes though those are intertexted for delight and that things Oeconomical Ethethical Physical Metaphysical Philosophycal Political and Theological as well as Amatory may be not unaptly nor unfitly exhibited The Divines will be angry if I tell them that many have found that in a Romance which hath induced them to be vertuous and converted them from the leud actions of vice which they could never find in their Sermons though they weekly frequented their Oratory The reason is it perswades more pathetically than they can a story giving life to the words and representing it in lively colours presseth it home upon the understanding where it is scarcely delible Neither do I submit my self to the Censure of those Critical Fellowes who would find fault with the Muses themselves or the Writings of Apollo I confess these will say I never took a nap upon Parnassus and that my pen was never dipt in the Heliconie fount The best is whilst I am unknown I can look over their shoulders and hear their opprobries without passion and ingaging my self to answer their follies I would have none to criticize or discant on any work till themselves have undergone the tryal of writing the like for 't is far easier to find fault than to know how to amend it I was of the same humour and in reading the works of others methought the most perfect seem'd sometime lame either in stile or story but in making tryal of my own invention I well understand humane frailty in a continued Series I confess the judicious may find matter enough to increpate the Author justly but the Critick may carp where there is no cause for they most times find fault where there is least need As I much regard the censure of the one so I very little value the carping of the other 'T is those Wits who have laid aside that Mordacity and who know how to distinguish betwixt the good and the bad which I constitute for my Judges With those fair and wise ones of the female sex whose delight I chiefly aim'd at If they find any thing that may content them 't will be inspiration enough for higher and better conceits and will be the greatest inducement for the perfecting of Eliana but if they pass hard censures upon this th 'le strike dead all desires of proceeding I am conscious of my own failings and that makes me remain incognito to receive either the disgrace or commendums of these juvinile Writings whilst I lye in obscurity and am ANONYMVS ELIANA BOOK the first FLora had new begun to spread her flowry-fragrant mantle upon the superficies of the Earth and to bespangle the verdant grass with her beauteous adornments thereby inviting troubled Lovers to ease those continual passions which possess their amorous Souls with the beholding the variety of her pleasing and delightfull Objects When the most passionate Angelois walking with a negligent pace and deeply ruminating on his amorolis affairs was entered into a grove free from the frequentations of any besides the ranging beasts and pleasing birds whose dulced Notes exulscetated him out of his melancholy contemplations Being well nigh in the midst of that solitary place he cast his eyes upon a bank which as if it had had some Soveranity over the rest of the earth thereabouts was more peculiarly crowned with all sorts of Sylvane flowers and the grass with a verdant lustre seem'd a repose for a troubled soul The Trees as if they had conspir'd together to guard the place from the scorching beams of Phaebus grew so thick with intermixing branches that it was impossible for him to peep on the beauty of the place whilst themselves bowing their proud tops did homage to its lustre And that there might not want any thing which might conduce to its exuperancy in quietude beauty and pleasure there ran not far from its verges a silver current which having a small discent made a pleasant murmur with forcing its way over the pibbles which opposed its quiet passage which noise seemed a base to the sweet trebles of the pretty birds who pearcht one every branch made a most harmonious noise Argelois seeing this place so agreeable to the solitude of his mind that he might more freely consider its beauty he cast himself upon that delightfull bank being under the thickest covert in the grove and letting his fancy for a space be carried about with these pleasing objects he lay beholding the beauty of the place and listning
to the pleasant notes of those wood Choresters whereby his senses with the pleasure were rapt into a sweet repose and for a season gave some ease to those inquietudes that possest his amorous breast But at last remaining in that kind of stupidity he was assaulted by a violent rushing in of those passions which had through that small repose received some stop to their wonted current but then overflowing the banks of his silence he uttered to the senseless trees that which his breast was too weak to contain Ah cruel and unsupportable flames said he that neither danger nor distress can quench what torments put you my soul to what cruelty do you exercise on a soul who so much adores your Deities and hath your power in so great veneration that it endures those pains you inslict without the least murmuring Why exercise you not your cruelty on those who oppose your regency and make them feel the heat of your penetrating flames Ah! no those polluted souls are not worthy your visitation nor their defiled breasts capable of receiving your sacred fires Seeing it is an honour to die by the hands of love I shall desire not to be freed its bonds but quickly to receive a welcome death for thus to live in continual torture is more than morâ—als are 〈…〉 bear And yet the continual sight of that fair deity the object of my love and passion makes me yet live to enjoy that blessed sight so that thâ—ough the assaults of pain and pleasure I am at once both kill'd and made alive It seems to me sometimes better to die than to live and sometimes better to live than die sometimes I pray for the one sometimes for the other But O you powers which rule us Mortals What need I sigh out my misery to you when you know and are the Causers of it Surely not for my disobedience but that I may know your power Ah! I must be content for ever to endure this torment which yet no other ever knew because hope is wanting I am like one who admires the Sun but may never reach him I love an object more requisite for the gods than man much less I who know not whence I am nor by what fortune I came into the world How dare I then aspire to serve a Princess so far beyond my reach I must blame ye Deities for binding me with an infragible chain so that it is not possible for me to live and not love Eliana whose very name transportes me Love her I cannot chuse that that I must do admire and adore her O Heavens me thinks I find some sparks of a generous soul which tells me I am not form'd out of the common earth of Plebians May your Divinities make known my stock and that may extricate me from this Labrinth of love and confusion or else with my life end my misery That I confess is the most feasible for such humble thoughts best befit mortals grouling at the shrine of such a supereminent divinity as I adore Dye ah that 's all my hopes The conclusion of these words shewed the unsuppertable burthen of his sorrowfull mind for pointing them with a sigh able to penetrate an obdurate heart he entred into so profound a cogitation with his eyes fixed on the earth that he heard not the obstrepency which one made in coming till he had approached him with these words Sir accidentally hearing the complaints of your too amorous soul and I know not by what power feeling your torments stirring up a pitty and curiosity together in my breast I have thus rudely adventured to approach you and also out of a desire I have prompted by a more than ordinary violence to enter a discourse with you and if it might be to shew you the precipices of this Tyrannous love by too many experimented Tryals I have before now observed your melancholy resort into these shades my habitation is nigh and unknown where I have a freedome to study at large Dictates of reason against such youthful excurrances Pardon Sir this rude addresse and exact what punishment you please after having given me the favour I desire Argelois at his first speaking had lifted up his eyes obscur'd as they were with the clouds of sadness to behold him who thus had disturb'd his melancholy humour and they were incountred with a gravity that allayed the cholor that began to arise through this disturbance but being suppressed through this grave object he arose and saluting him thus expressed himself Though it be the greatest of disturbances to be interrupted in these pleasing cogitations and nothing hardly lesse pardonable with a Lover yet the gravity which accompanies you and some intereor motion which moves me by I know not what power I am well satisfied with this your interruption and desire to know that laxating drogue which you seem to promise The stranger invited by Argelois seated himself by him on that pleasant bank exercising his eyes in beholding the incomparable features and most attracting graces which accompanied this Heroe and at last being not a little astonished that such a brave aspect should complain who deserved justly the title of incomparable I cannot but wonder said he that nature having dealt so favourable with you Love and fortune should so much oppose you for nature hath made you rather to be sued to by the fairest female than to sue to any whatsoever and given those graces which others want but love it seems crossing her intentions makes you leave that which you have to seek beauty where it is not to be found but in your self and fortune being of the conspiracy strives to make you equally miserable by hiding from you the knowledge of your extraction and birth this I understand by your complaints which though I may not help altogether yet I may give some remedy for those plagues of love I will shew you my experiences as marks to shun his deceits and shew you how my utter ruine came from thence which makes me have a just cause to complaine against sin and forwarn others that they may not precipitate themselves blinded with his deceits It may be sayes Argelois that the fault lay in your self not in Love and and through your own fault lost that which Love had ordained for you and so were the cause of your own misery which you impute to Love I know not iâ— I have err'd replyed the stranger but if I have it was because I was blinded for I account it altogether impossible for any to be deeply engaged in that folly for so I must term it and not to degress the precepts of wisdome I have had my share in it which made me hearing your complaints so far to pity your estate as to present my self before you to acquaint you with the experience I have had of him and though Love deal not with all men alike yet it is seen for a time he undoeth most When in my youth I felt those heart tormenting flames
himself without envy and thought of rival-ship to deport himself with great correspondency to all to have consideration in his atchievements and Reason accompanying all his actions But the seene being altered by Love his precipitating affection suscitates such passion that he is not able to consider things as they are nor see another view that object in which Love interests him without envy passion and trouble making him deport himself with great incongruity to others and to fling himself inconsiderately into dangerous precipies banishing Reason from all his actions In the one state he is a Prince in the other a slave in the one he rules his affections and masters his passions in the other his affections guides him and his passion subdues him being carried down the violent stream of his desires full of blindness I speak this went he on because I had before my lovefollies judged those whose Amours had carried them into the like extravagances and now I judge my self to be most egregiously foolish in many unadvised actions But this hap'ned which I am about to tell you which manifested my folly A little before night there came into the place where these shews were exhibited a Roman Captain who had caus'd Amenia's picture to be painted on his Buckler Assoon as I had cast my eye upon it I knew the portraiture by the resemblance it had to that which I had seen in Bruadenors Castle Love fill'd me with jealousies and jealousies with envy so that I found a great combustion within me at the sight of this simulacre I immediately took him for my Rival and that sâ—in'd up a desire of obtaining that sheld wherein I thought I might greatly content my self in having that precious object alwayes with me These cogitations suscitated a desire of gâ—tting but considered not the danger of atchieving But Love that animates the heart to any bold action made me resolve to attacque him and how dear so ever it cost me to obtain it Whilst I entertain'd many projects for the obtaining of my desire I perceiv'd him to leave the company and to ride away marking the way he rode I abruptly left Bruadenor and taking one of his Coursers followed him with speed Assoon as I had overtaken him I asked him whether that beauty was exposed to sale seeing he so openly exhibited it to vulgar eyes This Quirinan suddenly answered that the purchase was the last drop of blood that could be extracted from the desirer I replyed that so exquisite a beauty deserv'd no less however I told him if he would give it me as a gift I would gratifie him with all the power I was able if not I was resolved to expose my life for the obtaining of it and that I had purposely followed him for that end I am not reâ—lyed he unwilling to hazard my life in the defence of this effigies and shall more willingly sacrifice it than cede to your unjust pretensions Our swords were immediately unsheathed and our words were turned to blows his in the just defence of his own mine in the unjust prosecuting my desires I sought by offending illegally to take away his right he sought by defending legally to keep his own he shewed valour by defending I cowardize by attempting It shamed me to think that I who should following the precepts of vertue have spent the utmost of my vigor in maintaining Legality should following the dictates of vice spend the utmost of my strength in performing an illegal action This consideration somewhat rebated the edge of my fury with his exposing that effigies against the edge of my sword which like a Medusa's head stifned my arm so that I had not power to hurt my adversary for fear of impairing or hurting that Image such absurd ceremonies had that infatuating Love impos'd upon me as to observe so much reverence to a shadow to the imminent danger of my life We were but in the praeludium of our combate when there arrived a Gaul whole valor against the Romans was well known This Gaul had received some disgrace by me in the exercises that day which it seems had stir'd up a revenge and for that cause he had watcht my actions for an opportunity of effecting it He took notice of my departure and therefore followed me but finding me already engag'd he harbored not so much of the Coward as to help my adversary nor yet could his eager revenge be content another should punish me Coming near us he drew his sword and directing his speech to my adversary Remit this combate said he and be a Spectator a while and you shall see your enemy punisht without your pains for your pretensions nor desires can be so great as mine to fight this opposer Whatsoever your pretentions or desires are reply'd the Roman I think my self able to afflict a punishment on him as your self nor will I be so much a Coward to leave a combate begun and see another finish it if I have the fortune to slay him you may be satisfied if he kills me you may then encounter him The Gauls hatred to the Romans was the cause he was so extraordinary moved for very furiously both with words and blows he reply'd Seeing with a fair remittance you will not give me leave to fight another being both enemies a like to me I will attacque you both The thunder of his blows took away the sound of the rest of his words and engag'd us both to a discreet defence against so sudden an assault for sometimes he spent his vigor on the Roman and sometimes I sustained the fury of his strooks I unwilling to give over my first combatant sometimes gave him many reiterated strooks and sometimes to oppose the Gauls furie I was fain to deal my blows upon him The Roman sometimes opposed the Gaul and sometimes requited me with the like I gave In this confused strife each had two adversaries and peril attended our promiscuous encounter for the rules of art could not be displayed in that confusion We had all of us receiv'd some wounds and were very hot in receiving and giving of more when Bruadenor ariv'd with three or four Gentlemen with him who having missed me and by enquiry understood of my departure imagined some duel and being very carefull of my well-fare he came himself to seek me As he arrived I had dismounted the Roman and seizing on his buckler I rent it from his arm having the possession of it I affresh opposed the Gaul but Bruadenor's arrival put a period to our treble encounter The nights sable mantles beginning to display themselves caus'd us to retreat and leave my Contenders there having first understood of the Gaul wherein I had offended him I shew'd Bruadenor the cause and manner of our sight yet so that he understood not the great affection I bore to Amenia or of my folly in getting the shield My noble entertainer as soon as we were returned had regard to my wounds which were inconsiderable and
could not detian me from exercising my self in those masks which were performed that night and which deter'd Bruadenor those wished pleasures till almost morning but the better part of the next day made him amends for the nights injury These nuptial joyes being finished and Bruadenor about to return to his Castle with his Floria I renewed my suit for my departure desiring him not to deter me any longer with his intreaties The regret he shewed for my departure manifested the love he bore me but seeing it was impossible to keep me any longer he was constrained to submit to this severation He supply'd my want of a Horse with one of the best he had and for my better defence made me clothe my self with some of his surest harness I had a thousand Eulogies bestowed upon me by this kind friend and his fair bride who distil'd some pearly tears at my departure After I had left them I directed my course towards Spain Amenia's beauty having the Magnetick vertue of attraction for she was the Pole-star to which I turn'd It was now the midst of Summer and Titans Aethon gave his greatest ardout so that I much frequented the shades and made my jorney through the thickest woods being glad of the benefit of the shadow-casting trees I had passed two dayes in my journey without any adventure but the third being entred a wood whose umbrage gave some refrigeration I slackned my pace and seeing a fair tree whose branches being spread with broad leaves and so thick that it denied entrance to Phaebus made an opacous dormitory on the verdant grass Being invited by some desire of rest I descended my horse and tying him to a shrub gave him the liberty to crop the grass whilst sleepy Somnus cast me into a repose I had not slept long under those cooling shades but the sudden neying of my horse awaked me doing me a greater pleasure then that of Dariu's did him when he was chosen King for I found the naked sword of my irritated Roman ready to light upon my undefended head Fear of so sudden danger made me forget my wonted ceremonies for I was forc't to take my adored buckler and hide my head which sustained the blow that else had perpetrated my life I gave him no time to strike a second but rising with that agility which my present danger requir'd I immediately drew for my defence Coward said I unworthy the name of a Roman I had not thought thy degenerated soul would have done so base an action but thy pusillanimous heart feared to see me waking He answered not but with his blows whilst I gave him more than he desired my extream anger at the baseness of his action made me do my best to kill him his skill had not sav'd his life nor had my passion spar'd it had he not being brought to the last exigent begg'd it with many words I was ever apt to forgive and letting him rise I told him the consequencies of such treacherous actions were alwayes contempt infamy scorn disregard and revenge both from gods and men on such as use them He told me how persevering he had been in watching for such an opportunity having vowed to sacrifice my life to his just resentments but he then swore ne're to seek my hurt any more forgiving the injury I had done him in taking away his shield being I had spar'd his life This evenement being past I prosecuted my journey and at last without any other adventure worth our observance I drew near Spain I presently heard of the war that was made against the Austurians Cantabrians and Gallicians which made me hasten my jorney desiring to help them for Amenia's sake For a more speedy passage I cast my self into the arms of the sea and with prosperous gales arrived amongst the Austures I hasted to Austurica hoping to gain a sight of that fair one whose shadow had already made me her captive Enquiring for Lilibilis I understood he was then in Austurica intending with all speed to appear at the Randezvouze with some auxiliary troops that he had raised This Lilibilis was a valiant person and honest enough only he lov'd to rob and spoil his Neighbours with war which was the general fault of those Lusitanians but now joyn'd together against the Romans I resolved to prosecute my intendments and as soon as I came to Austurica I enquired for Lilibilis and being brought before him I told him the great desire I had to do him service in those wars had brought me to Austurica and how that I accounted it as great a glory to oppose the rising power of the Romans as I should have accounted it a shame for me to have oppos'd them in the defence of their just liberties I said I was a stranger and interess'd in neither Nation only a desire of glory and honour made me so voluntarily offer him my service I bid him reward me according to my deserts and make me happy by regarding me as his servant And shewing him the Shield with his daughters portraiture I further told him the impudency of a Roman Captain his enemy in bearing that portraiture had caus'd me to make him surrender it for the save-guard of his life that I might preâ—ent it to the Princesse his daughter avowing none worthy the glory of carrying her â—ffigies without her leave Lilibilis received me with great kindness and civiâ—ity and told me he gathered a happy Augury and hoped the gods would be propitious to his Armies since they had sent strangers to own his Cause which was for the liberty of his Countrey against the pride of a potent enemy And that he should endeavour for encouragement to others to reanswer such merits Many other generous words he uttered which shewed that ability which accompanied his Lordship but at last that which I most lookt for and desired he told me that immediately I should go and present the shield to his daughter which he knew would be welcome in regard of her great hatred to the Romans Immediately a maid of hers who of all others was most deare to Amenia gave her notice of my arrival and of the passages betwixt Lilibilis and I and set me out extraordinarily more than I deserv'd that Amenia prepar'd her self to give me a good reception What I shall tell you says Euripides concerning Amenia of those things which were done unknown to me then she afterwards related to me when the bonds of Hymen had bound us together however I relate it now which otherwise would make the story lame Many beauties desire to captivate although they intend no favours to their slaves and 't is a general humour in women to desire to be esteemed and to see others lives depend upon their wills that they may tyrannize over their captivated hearts and the more a man is esteem'd the more they desire to have him subject to themselves Amenia was not altogether free from this vain-glorious humour for consulting with her glasse she
my fame might resound in Amenia's ears caus'd me with so great animosity to break into the troops of my enemies that giving life and courage to the Austures I oft times enforc't them to a victory and by my example gave puissance to their arms It was a reasonable encounter when chusing out a hundred of the chiefest of Lilibilis's Camp we attacqued a thousand of the Romans well appointed and put them to a shameful flight which extreamly irritated Caesar to see his Eagles flie backwards but neither his anger nor endeavours could recover the losse nor save his men from a miserable slaughter These actions of mine carried on with prosperous successes rendred me another Hannibal amongst the Austuâ—es Lilibilis giving me more Encomiums than my modesty could receive That speedy Herald Fame still echoed my actions in Amenia's ears and an action was no sooner done in the field than known in Austurica I shall let pass the honour I receiv'd from Lilibilis the Love from the rest of the commanders the encomiums of the souldiers and the general applauses from all the Iberians and tell you Winter being far entred and Caesâ—r having withdrawn his Troops falling at that instant sick as we thought for his ill success we returned to Austurica where under triumphal arches they made me enter the City seeking for new honours to expreâ—s their gratitude Amenia carried the sure testimonies of joy for my return in her countenance and with a very pleasing language gave me thanks for my services my content was unexpressable at the reinvisaging those lamps which had kindled the ardours in my soul and the kissing those fair hands infus'd new vigor into all my limbs I did believe my actions could not be so lively represented to her ears as to beget that affection which was possible for the intuition of them to have done This suscitated a desire to sheâ— some feats of activity in her sight that her eyes might be witnesses of my strength and agility The next day I told Lilibilis that it would not be amisse to exhibit some publick rejoycings for our good successes thereby manifestinâ— to the world the little fear we had of the Romans He was very well pleas'd with the motion and referr'd the ordering of it to my self I immediately caus'd every thing to be prepared against a time which I had prefixed and published a running a Tilt in the City Whilst every thing was preparing for these sports I gave continual assaults to that specious fort with my eyes not daring as yet to come so near as to prove its strength with the engine of my tongue for fear of a repulse and losing that ground I had gain'd not knowing the desire my amiable enemy had for an assault that the Fort might be rendred with honour Those favours she shew'd me were with so great discretion that I could not distinguish whether she favoured me as a Lover or for those services I had done her father for those shots which went from my eyes could not but declare me an amorous foe Neither could I perceive that she manifested any more signes of Love than Clotuthe Lilibilis's wife who was a young Lady and married to him since the death of Amenia's mother and indeed too young for his years My designs being nothing but what were truly honourable I resolved after those publick pastimes to exhibit my passion with a more apert language than that of the eyes Euripides was about to proceed not minding the stealing away of the time when one whose misfortunes had made a companion to him in his solitary life came into the Grove to look him but unexpectedly finding a Cavalier with him in discourse was about to return had not Euripedes espying him desired him not to descede I could not imagin said he being come near Euripedes what should detain you longer than your usual musings the consideration that you were yet fasting and the afternoon far entred made me come to seek you not thinking fortune would have brought me so abruptly to trouble your discourse with this Cavaliere I believe said Euripedes that you have done him a pleasure for I lackt a remembrancer being entred into the discourse of my life which you are acquainted with and truly not denoting the elaption of the time I might have entertain'd him yet longer with it and it may be to the tryal of his patience I beseech you said Argelois think not that I am weary of your discourse for if you studied to do me the greatest injury in the world you could not find a greater than to debar me of the content I receive in the audition of your fortunes for my diligent hearkning to the relation of your life gave me no time to reflect on my own miseries and I did not think anothers relation could have eas'd my passion I should importune you to continue your story at this time did not the remembrance of your fasting rather cause me to desire you to forbear till a fitter opportunity wherein you may better continue your discourse Euripedes following his advice having prevailed with Argelois to accompany them returned all three through those pleasant shades to his grott ELIANA BOOK the second THey had not walked very many paces in that delectable place before they came to a rock where that little rivulet which ran through the grove had its Original The rock was of a hard stone and the top and sides covered with moss round about it grew very high trees which gave a great umbraâ—e and made the place seem with so great solitude as if it had been the habitation of silence The declivity of the rock made an entrance like to the mouth of a great cave and so dark that it would have feared one ignorant of the place to have ent'red it Being at the end of that obscure entrance there was no further way to be perceiv'd still Euripedes slideing away a stone pulled at a line which rung a bell within a cave but so far that the sound came not to their ears without which gave notice to them within to give them entrance By and by some stones being taken away which on the inside might veâ—y artificially and easily be slid by gave them an entrance into a large entry which admitted light through certain artificial holes at the top of the rock that entry introduced them into several rooms having the light admitted after the same manner here it was that nature and art strove which should excell in the illustration of this Cryptoporticus Nature provided the rooms and had suffulted the roof of the rock with admirable obdurate pillars which divided the Chambers of this curious Cavern But art had so imbellished the more rude workmanship of nature that it made it surpass many pallaces Argelois little thought so tenebrous an entrance would have conducted him into so fair dormitoâ—ies but having past two or three they went into a very fair Chamber where Euripedes desiring his guest to sit down bid him
cast my eye on Amenia and very well perceiv'd by the palenesse of her Countenance what resentment it had upon her soul although I knew not but so sudden an evenement hapning to any other in her presence might have caus'd the same timorouâ—ness and that mov'd me more then his arrogancie with a desire I had to let her see how easily I could free my self from that presumptuous one whose vaunting speeches had suscitated her fear His words had no sooner flown from his mouth but I return'd him this answer ' Sir I know you not nor can I conceive what you mean by those ambitioned hopes you tax me with but as I do not care who you are so I do not care what you mean seeing you are come purposely to deprive me of my life I willingly grant it you if I cannot defend it I wont wrong your impatiencie in deterring your desired Combate but let you see how vainly you had preconceiv'd my death We immediately precipitated our selves one against another with a most violent encounter and had not his armes been good I had undoubtedly slain him at the first shock though I found his puissance not unequal to his boldness we reiterated our blowes so thick that those who Lilibilis had commanded to part us durst not come near us for fear of losing their own lives in seeking to save others Lilibilis seeing so violent an encounter agitated against his will descended from the place where he was and hazarded his own life to part us for casting himself between us with his sword drawn he stroke my Aversaries horse so violently over the head that the pain of the wound made him so curvet that he had like to have trampled him under his feet and do all what the stranger could he bruised Lilibilis's foot and cast my Adversary on his back Lilibilis commanded his Guard to seize on him and to have him to prison for his rash attempt and bold speeches in his presence I straight vaulted from my Horse and casting my self at Lilibilis feet ' I beseech you Sir said I do not expose me to the censure of all present for a debility which I am not guilty of in that I was not able to chastise his insolencie without your interposing I confess he hath deserv'd death for his insolencies in your presence this is all I beg for my Adversary that he may receive it as a man with his armes in his hand and by me who have most interest in it let not the Combate be defer'd any longer nor deter me the glory I was about to reap Lilibilis would not answer me till he had rais'd me up and then he replied I doubt not at all Euripedes of your ability in raming a stronger Adversary but his insolence doth not deserve to be so nobly punish't it would be too much glory for him to receive a death at your hands and will be too much trouble to me to see you deprive him of life with the hazard of one so dear to me let me desire you to let him suffer by the hands of executioners and not expect that honour from your hands I again besought Lilibilis and persisted with so many intreaties that at last he granted the Combat but with great reluctancie Lilibilis being returned to the place where he before sat the Guard left us to prosecute the Combat The stranger coming up to me I doubted not my Liberty said he softly ' When Lilibilis had known me however I cannot but take notice of your generosity which neverâ—heless cannot oblige me to abate any of that enmity which I bear you therefore expect the usage you could look for from your deadliest foe and think not your action hath oblig'd me to spare you I beg'd not the Combate replied I to gain your favour or to oblige you to an action which might not be for your own safety for I intend to prosecute you with the utmost of my vigor and give you that which you expect to render to others We straitwayes renew'd our Combate but with so much impetuositie that the Spectators had never seen the like my Adversary seem'd more furious and violent in his motion then at first and with his blowes seem'd to renew his strength and courage indeed he had the advantage on me in that I had travelled haâ—d all that day in those Justs which had he been to have maintain'd he would not have accounted so childish and by that reason I was something the less able to reanswer those strokes which came thundering upon my head I was abashed to see with what impetuousness he prosecuted me but considering in whose presence I fought and what consequence his fall was to the Complement of all my former performances I gathered all my strength together at that instant and falling upon him with so violent a surcharge I forc'd him to make use of all his skill for the defence of himself his armes were so good that it was a long time before I could draw one drop of blood but at last with a continual batterie I forced my Sword into his flesh upon his shoulder close by his neck the blood which incessantly ran from his wound soon died his armes and the ground with its crimson colour and much debilitated him I had received three wounds but not considerable nor were they any impediment in the heat I was in I found the greatnesse of my Adversaries wound by the weaknesse of his blowes and perceiv'd the Victory my own I thought to oblige him with these words which I directed to him ' I am unwilling Sir to take the advantage I have over you and to make a Valour fall at my feet which is considerable it was your own words made you my Enemy and having no greater cause as I know of to account you my foe your own words may likewise render you my friend go but and confesse your indiscretion at the feet of the renowned Lilibilis and I my self will help to implore your life His anger and dispight made the fire almost proceed from his eyes and thinking it would have oblig'd him I found it otherwise by his words ' Your friend said he no it is not the conservation of this life shall make me admit the least thought of friendship towards you were it in your power to give it me I hope yet and am assured on it too to see thee breath thy last at my feet With this with more fury then strength he lifted up his Sword stretching himself to render it the more violent in the interim irritated as I was through his disobliging speeches with a violent cast I made an entrance with my Sword as his arm was erected under his arm-pit which was the more enlarged through the violent falling of his own upon my head which made my Sword appear at his back he strook too home to do me any harm but clapsing his armes about me with great courage sought to fling me to the earth but having
mind to their wills and though you see so many difficulties it is but to make your enjoyment the more sweet for those things are the most highly priz'd which have cost us the most travel and the most pains and the difficultest conquest gains the most glory Many other means and speeches Melanthe used to settle a humour thorowly disturbed with love and dispair which wrought so upon her that she with-held not from her her most secretest thoughts and accounted her self happy in her sidelity Within two or three dayes the gods sent me a very savourable Crisis and my Chirurgions gave Lilibilis some hopes of my recovery which was generally desired as my sickness was lamented by them Three weeks passed away my sickness decreasing in which time I was visited by Amenia almost every day and sometime alone only with Melanthe which made me with some difficulty obey her too too rigorous commands nevertheless I exhibited through my eyes that passion which my tongue prohibited to demonstrate and by a silent declaration gave her proofs of my affection and obedience I taught my eyes to play the Orator and with a mute Rhetorick described all the passions of my soul which was perceiv'd by Amenia and would had her affection been capable of it increased it towards me my obedience gain'd upon her heart and my eyes speake so powerfully that they needed not the adjuvation of the tongue I accounted my self happy in that I had so frequent a sight of Amenia and thar she expressed so much care for my recovery There was never a day passed likewise but I was visited by Clotuthe who continued her services to that hight that alwayes made me ashamed that I was so respected In this state I remained till I had gathered so much strength as to leave my bed and walk about my Chamber My Rival who never appeared in my thoughts but with indignation about that time also left his bed and being somewhat stronger than I to please Lilibilis was led into my Chamber accompanied with Clotuthe Amenia and others who came to see me Assoon as they were entred I have brought ' said Lilibilis a prisoner who cannot be set at liberty but by your sentence nor receive that life we have given him but by acknowledging it your gift This was according to Lilibilis his humour but I well perceiv'd that Mandone did not well resent it however I returned him this Answer not without some repugnancy ' Were he criminal I should soon free him if it lay in my power being due both to his valor and merits his temerity may be excused in that he thought me his Rival and cannot be imputed to him as criminous being he acted through that suggestion for the other he knows so well how to preserve his life by his own valour that he need not ask it of any living This facilitated his complying with Lilibilis his request and made him stoop his imperious humour and after our first embraces which were cold enough on both sides and shewed a great antipathy between us what ever our words were to please Lilibilis he returned my first speeches with very humble ones acknowledging that life which he retain'd to be the effects of my goodness in that I had spar'd it being at my mercy and that he should look upon it as my donation I returned his with the like which were accompanied with many others too long to relate and in outward appearance we seem'd very good friends to the great satisfaction of Lilibilis Three days after he came again to take his leave of me being his father hearing he was recovered had sent a letter for him with a band of men to conduct him to Juliobriga we parted very friendlie according to outward ceremonies although we desired nothing more than each others death I was very glad he had left me the liberty of entertaining Amenia with more freedom by his departure for I feared his jealousie might have been some impediment to my visiting her But before he departed he made Lilibilis to promise him not to delay the time any longer of his possessing Amenia than that following Summer which he was willing to spend in the exercise of Mars against his enemies and to consecrate the next winter to the sports of Venus this being concluded he departed and by his absence left me great content though this agreement had suscitated some fear The winter was almost consumed before I was permitted to leave my Chamber and in all that time I enjoyed a happiness not to be paralleld in the most desired visits of Amenia my content in her visitations gave ease to those torments which I suffered and the fear of loosing those favours by which I liv'd as well as the fear I had to transgress her commands obserated my lips and kept my tongue under a perpetual restraint our talk was most commonly on indifferent things and if at any time I had let slip the least word tending to love or that might make her take notice of my passion my cheeks were left destitute of their Rubor and a trepidation seised on my bodie so fearfull was I by transgression to loose the happiness I enjoy'd My obedience confirmed me in her breast and gave her most terrible cruciations in that she was reduc'd to an obedience contrary to her inclinations by the duty she ow'd to her father This made her sigh in secret and send forth rivers of tears which would have washed away that vivisicent colour that adorn'd her cheeks had not the comforts of her Melanthe stopped those silver streams in the midst of their distillations Nevertheless though she perceived the languishing of my eyes and found them powerfull operators upon her soul and considered that they implor'd the assistance of my tongue to tell her the torments I endured yet could not these considerations subdue her severity though her self deserved not to use it against me but she would not countermand what before she had commanded and likewise she thought she should have been too weake to have withstood both the assault of my eyes and tongue together and made her yield with her inclinations contrary to her fanâ—ied severitie I will not repeat the world of Discourses she had with Melanthe concerning the severitie of her humour and how often she had been about to let me know the affection she bore me being overcome by the powerfull perswasions of that wench and how often she blamed her self for her own thoughts and accused her self as guilty of the most hainous crimes at the least commitment againt her severe humour yet all her severity could not with-hold her from seeing me dailie and redring me that satisfaction for my imposed silence as also to give her self that divertisement in my companie which she was not capable of in my absence Though my sequent Amâ—retta's were so unfortunate and those that made me an adversary to love yet I must confesse this was with singular innocence that we injoyed through
service when you were tri'd Woman said I with an angry tone tell me not of doing her service in so unlawful an action I know it would be the greatest disservice I could do her to blemish her honour eternallie by illicit actions the very thoughts thereof are to me more cruel than death would there were but any occasion offer'd to do her service wherein her nor my honour might be contaminated you should see how willinglie I would embrace a death in the performance I honour Clotuthe and I honour her so much that I will first lose my own life before I will defile hers or I will banish my self this place seeing I have made others criminal After these words I walked a turn or two in a very confused posture and then stopping suddenlie with an action not to be expressed I cannot believe said I looking again on the letter that Clotuthe can be guiltie of this letter the virtuous Clotuthe could never do it this is some plot of my enemies to beguile innocent Euripedes but O my enemies you shall never intrap him in such illicit actions The woman seeing me so transported had not the confidence to interrupt me but hearing me go on in this she at last fell into a thousand protestations adding innumerable oaths calling all the gods to witnesse that it was no design of my enemies and that it was onely Clotuthe who waited but her return to receive her death therefore she desired me to take pity on her and remember how careful she had been of me and that I should not cause the death of the fair and amiable Clotuthe by standing upon a foolish point of honour I was so moved that I heard not many other words that she said Ah would the gods at last cry'd I out had verified my hopes and have given me no cause to complain against Clotuthe by letting it have been a plot of my enemies with how much less trouble could I have bore it and with what shame should I have confounded my enemies Think not by your perswasions said I turning to the woman nor by your implorations to gain me to that which must be a spot of infamy to us both eternallie Have I received so much kindness so much honour so much love from Lilibilis and shall I abuse it with so great deceit so much vileness and so great an abuse as to defile his bed the gods certainly would dart thunders upon my head and the great God of Hospitalitie would Eternally plague me should I be guiltie of such a thought O Clotuth would instead of preserving it you had abandon'd this life to ruin then had I never been guilty of hearing this proposal nor it may be you altogether so criminous O Lilibilis how well indeed should I requite your favours by doing you the greatest of injuries To defile Clotuthe and dishonour my self for ever No no cease to urge me to so great a crime That impudent woman replied thus Sir I did not think you would have been lesse generous in this action for Clotuthe than you have been in all things else if you consider her love and life they will bear down those weak reasons you alledge For what dishonour or infamie can it be to love her whose love is so unparallelable and when none in the world else can discover it and when you receive an affection that any in the world besides your self would account a happinesse to be envied of the Gods themselves That reason of Honour is nothing it being but an outside and can receive no distain but in the eyes of others which cannot be procured by this being unknown Besides in my mind that is the greatest honour whereby we receive proofs of it from others to the advantage of our selves which you do in this the other being but imaginarie this real though secret But if she is willing to forgoe that point for you why should you be so scrupulous as not to do so much for her seeing she lives not but by being yours why then should you refuse to be hers Nevertheless if her love cannot move you let the consideration of her death cause you to pity her if I grant you that it is a crime which can hardly be thought so seeing the Gods themselves have authoriz'd it by their own actions think whether it be not a greater crime to cause her death by so much rigor than to preserve her life with so much ease and pleasure to your self Fear not that the Gods will punish that which themselves are examples of no they are too just to do so and as for Lilibilis it would be far greater indignitie to destroy Clotuthe for all his favours than to save her life with no wrong to him especially being unknown Consider I beseech you her death is inevitable and if you refuse her her shame will not let her live Oh be not so hard-hearted if you cannot do it with complacencie force your self to save a life which else will be lai'd to your charge I admire how I heard her so long but she had proceeded farther if I had not put an end to her speeches my choler being rais'd to the height Woman said I my face shewing my resentment wert thou not of that sex which would be a dishonour to me to hurt I would cruelly chastise thee for these speeches I know Clotuthe never gave you so large a Commission to treat as you do her Letter though it be criminal is not so inverecund I believe she her self would punish thee if she knew it and be ashamed of what thou hast spoken in her behalf being thou belongest to her whom I truly honour I force my self to forget what you have said that you may not appear before me as a Monster Tell Clotuthe that it is impossible for me to be ingratefull but I cannot satisfie her no other wayes than by laying my life at her feet if she looks for other satisfaction I have none however I will be so carefull of her Reputation that even my self will forget that ever I received such a Letter from her that she may not appear criminal in my thoughts Tell her I would come to visit her but that I doubt my Companie would be but a disturbance and suscitate those motions which I desire my absence may banish and make her incur danger of discovering to others what her prudence hitherto hath hid and which rather than it should be known my life should expire at her feet With these words I left the Woman and entring a Closet in the Chamber I gave her leave to depart There I call'd to my remembrance Clotuthe's former kindnesses her speeches and past actions and with what fervency and care she performed many things for me I could then perceive there was a passion in all she did and her ambiguous speeches were now manifested and in fine I wondred that I could not perceive it all that while being openly enough exhibited but I was so far from thinking
and spare them not that would rob Lilibilis of his right it grieves me that I shall not live to have a share in your glory I knew she particulariz'd her self but the answer I return'd her could give her no light that I understood her so I made her a very low obeysance and left her but Lilibilis hearing her speak of death cast himself again into her armes from which embraces I saw he was not likely soon to depart and having heard he had before bid his Daughter farewell my impatiencie made me immediately depart to Amenia's Chamber whether I alwayes had a free access She had disposed her self to receive me kindly and had none but Melanthe with her I entred not without trembling for fear I should break at last what was impos'd upon me Assoon as I saw her I cast my self at her feet and embracing her knees fully transported I was not able to utter one word I remained some time in that posture till my ingeminated sighs had clear'd the passage for some words Madam said I this favour is so glorious and so far beyond the merits of Euripedes that it hath over and above satisfied for all trouble teares and sighs which the most violent of passions and most severest of Commands have afflicted me with Ah how glorious a recompence I find But may I Madam continued I trembling and shewing that fear which possest me by my eyes and faultring of my speech may I have leave to break that I could not go on through the appehension I had of offending her but casting down my eyes I exhibited my shame for going about to transgresse Amenia's silence gave me liberty to lift up my eyes full of teares to hers which I saw fix'd intensively upon mine and to proceed thus Consider Madam ushering them with a sigh I am going whether the Gods only know if I ever may return nay I shall account it no disaster but a glory to die in the service of Amenia If I am troublesome to her or if I have offended her my death will be most welcome in â—hat it will take me from the world wherein I have no life but what I enjoy by her presence rewarding me for my presumption it will deter a farther arrogancy and through her goodnesse may expiate that crime I have committed in aspiring to love her but with so much purity that the Gods themselves could not be capable of more pure affections and if my death content her it will also content me being her Joy and her Grief are inseparably mine But if Amenia will out of her goodnesse not regarding the meannesse of my merits let me not to be so indifferent to her as to desire my death but rather that I should return in safety that also confirm'd by her fair mouth will give me this comfort if I die that Amenia not regarding my presumption in exhibiting my passion had out of her abundant goodnesse pitied me and not seen my death without regret this will be glory enough for Euripides with that of dying in her service and would give him no other cause of trouble but that of leaving her Ah Madam vehemently sighing again have I not observ'd your Commands hitherto though more terrible than death how far easier had it been for me to have died then to have observ'd this silence you have impos'd upon me must I still stopping a little then with a supplicating Air and must I depart without telling you I dar'd not to proceed but stopping with a fear that seis'd me least I had proceeded too far and should abuse the favour she did me I fell into a trembling that made her extreamly pity me My passionate words accompanied with more passionate actions and gestures not to be expressed but by those whose passions inspire them naturally rais'd so great compassion comitated with that great Love she bore me that made her say more than she had intended and forc'd her severity to give place I cannot but admire considering the vehemency of her passion which she protested to me afterwards that she had been so long Mistris of it Observing the trouble I was in and being mollified with compassion she rais'd me from my knees with these words Euripedes I have bid thee already hope that thou maist not be indifferent to me I do not yet forbid thee to hope it and I think I have in some part exhibited it by this reception though I confesse I owe more to the merits and services of Euripedes Euripedes is going to conquer Euripedes is going to expose his life against my foes and to redeem our Liberty with the expence of his own blood and could I do lesse than give Euripedes this favourable reception at his parting I would not have Euripedes think I can take any content at the losse of a Life which I have with all my abilitie endeavoured to save No think not Euripedes that I can part without trouble and do not believe but the sweet conversation of Euripedes hath gain'd too much upon my spirit as not to make me extream sensible of his losse nothing but the hopes of your return with victory and more glory than ever could mittigate a lawfull trouble for your departure therefore by that power you say I have over you I command you not to expose that Life to unnecessary dangers which shall be still priz'd by Amenia I have not disregarded your obedience and you cannot utter more than you have done already I can see that it continues without your declaring it by words what need you tell me you Love me if I believe it These words tincted her cheeks with a new Vermillion but she went on without stop I have bid you hope and were I not prohibited by the Lawes of Duty I would say more what can you desire of me Euripedes is not this sufficient She uttered these words with her wonted sweetnesse which wrought that effect upon my soul as you Argelois being so deeply touch't with this passion may conceive in the like case They had cast me into extraordinary Raptures and I hardly remembred what I did but casting my self at her seet though she sought to hinder it Ah Madam said I I shall find a very different death from what my sorrows would have caus'd If I expire now it will be in the greatest content in the world and will hinder me from seeing any more trouble and were not my Joy mittigated with the consideration of leaving you it would so exceed that it would work the same effects as a killing sorrow Alasse what is Euripedes that you should have thus felicitated him with a more sensible happinesse than if the Gods had plac'd him among themselves I cannot fear my enemies now were I to encounter with the whole world Amenia forc'd me to rise and shedding some teares I know not Euripedes said she what it is that thus afflicts me but I never felt a sadder heart in all my life and I cannot but fear that
this parting will prove satall I cannot but fear I shall never see Euripedes more but let me once more entreat you not to precipitate your self into danger and check the exorbitancy of your courage by your Love and by remembring that I impose it upon you and that I have desir'd to see you return for the encouragement whereof I tell you again my self will endeavour for your happinesse in all things wherein I am not prohibited by the precepts of duty virtue and honour Madam replied I bowing almost to the ground think not but I shall obey your Commands and with more care observe them than those of the Gods themselves and I question not but you can raise me to farre greater happinesses then they can without you You have had so much trial of my obedience that you cannot justly doubt but that I will lose my life a hundred times were it possible sooner than fail in observing them especially when they are so glorious and contribute so much to my own happinesse You need not fear that the power of the Romanâ—s is able to take away this life since you have been pleas'd to conserve it and with it you have given me so great animosity that I need not fear but victory will attend me At the finishing of these words Amenia entring a little Closet faut out a blew Scarse with a very large fair fringe all wrought with Gold and Silver in flowers and other curious work partly wrought by her self and partly by Melanthe bringing it in her hand here Euripedes said she wear this for a remembrance of what you owe me I received it upon my knee with a world of satisfaction Madam said I you are too deeply insculpted on my heart to need any remembrancer and I am too great an observer of your commands to forget them I will receive this as the most glorious of gifts and esteem it above my Life since it comes from the hand of my adored Amenia In receiving it I kissed it and being filled with Raptures I cemented my lips to that fair hand and gave it some most ardent suaviations She permitted it a little but believing I trespassed too much upon her modesty she withdrew it and raising me up Go Euripedes said she and conquer where ever thou comm'st and where it is not lawful for thee with thy Armes use thy Virtue and none can withstand you These words made me blush but I answered Madam I cannot fear to lose the Victory since you have bid me conquer but I shall not glory in all the Victories the Gods can give me or in being a greater Conquerer then Alexander so much as in being your Captive aye there lies my happinesse and there lies my glory After these words I took my leave and I saw some teares drop from Amenia's fair eyes at my deceding which gave me a consolation not to be uttered and that night I spent in the contemplation of my Happinesse where I had spent many in that of my miseries I have been longer than I thought to have been continued Euripedes in the relation of my Amoretta's but the great content I receiv'd in them then hath conserv'd them fresh in my memory to this day though I have pass'd troubles enough since to oblitterate them if I had had no worser successe in the latter than in the former I might not perchance have been so opposite to Love but those Aerumnal Loves far different than the former rectified my reason and made me see with clearer eyes than those of a Lover Love they say is a most noble passion and leads one to most generous actions true if you consider it without that effect of it desire whilst that it interest 's not it self in any thing but solely loveth the obiect because it is lovely truly then it is noble it is free and all actions that it produceth are truly generous but if you take Love as most do though you consider it in those whose Virtues were never blemish't by it yet all those actions they exhibit to the world which may seem most generous and most noble are neverthelesse servile and abject whilst desire as an inseparable accident accompanies their Love and makes those actions of seeming generosity to be but the effects of their own desire and in all they do serve their own ends I do not make mention of those whose Loves carry them to base ends being converted to Lust and to do things odious to them in their right reason you l say that none that are virtuous can be led to such actions whilst that Virtue lasts I confesse they cannot but I believe and know by experience that this passion whereon we treat is able to stifle the motions of Virtue and to insinuate those of Vice and make those persons do that which being clear from this passion they would detest and which could not be attributed to their natures but to the enforcement of their passions Some I know whose Virtues are Eminent do not yield in the least to their passion but overcome it by their Virtue and though they Love they cannot be said to be subjugated by it because it is subordinate to their Virtues I do not speak this without reason and this small digression may be some preparative to what I shall relate for in my first Loves I acted nothing against the precepts of Virtue but afterward whether my passions were more violent or lesse pure they drew me into actions that made me justly hate both my self and that passion which was the cause of them which when you have heard though it may not make you hate a passion so deeply setled in you yet it may excuse my aversion in that it caus'd me to do actions so detestable and unworthy of my self which hath drew thousands of teares from my eyes for some small expiation of my follies But I would not have you think I am an enemie to Love rightly stated for Love is the purest spark of the soul and that which illustrates the whole man and I may truly say that it is the fountain of all good and without it man were not man so the want of it is the chiefest cause of all evil But by this I mean that Love which never introduced any desire but being an emanation of the gods acts it self to that which is most pure and doth most partake of its essence and I cannot call this a passion but a fire taken off from the altar of the Gods communicating nothing but what is most pure and Celestial and making the possessor of it like to the Gods themselves In this our two Geniis find a great matter of Contestation for if the one inspire it or rather the Gods and that seek to preserve it our black Daemon endeavours to subvert it and knowing that it is apt to work upon what is fair and like it self it exhibites beauty and formositie and then stirring up a sensual desire contaminates that lustre and almost
fear of disheartning the souldiers but it was quickly known throughout the Camp for all our endeavours to hide it and had so dismay'd them that they already began to fear the successe The chief Officers and my self had work enough all that night to resettle their minds and to perswade them to fight the next day Assoon as it appear'd having had very little time to rest I arm'd my self and being they were wholly left to my dispose I drew them out of the Camp leaving a sufficient Guard within and having divided them into two equal parts I gave the care of one to the best deserver and one whose courage was not seen to fail named Etruscis and the other I intended for to lead my self We were in a very spacious Plaine and where no advantage was to be perceiv'd the Romans seeing our intentions very readily presented themselves and by that time the Sun was up we were ready to joyn I was very sensible that on this battel depended the ruin or renewing of our hopes and therefore I used all the meanes I was capable of to infuse courage into their soules and I spar'd for no paines that I might accomplish my design I rode through every rank armed except my head and seeking to stirre them up to their dutie I uttered words somewhat to this purpose VAliant Asturians methinks I see in your countenances so great a propensity to this battel that I need not use words to animate such resolute men but being I am honoured with the title of your Captain and General there shall not be any thing neglected by me that belongs to the place And though I am perswaded that I cannot infuse more courage than you already have and a more desire of revenge for the death of your valiant Head then you retain yet will I put you in mind that you now sight not so much for glory riches and esteem as you do out of a necessity to defend your lives Liberties and your Rights Your renown lyeth not now alone at the stake but your wives your children your goods your houses your lands and that Liberty so dear to you are all now ready to be offer'd up as a prey to your insulting foe and your selves born a free people to become their slaves if you prevent it not with your own valour for it is the issue of this Encounter that will determine it which will make you glorious and a terrour to your Enemies or else slaves and a scorn to your foes The Romans are neither immortal nor invulnerable but men as you are and though fortune hath hitherto declared on their side you ought not to fear but Justice and your valour will overcome her If the covetous desires of Renown and riches can infuse such animosity into the Romans sure this necessity of saving all that is near and dear to you by your valour should be more powerfull to infuse it into the Astures the Astures that are the redoubted of all Spain and that have so often foyl'd the Romans and that have shewed no lesse valour and prowesse then they in all their actions Let this therefore move you that your enemies are not many more than you that your courage equals theirs that the Justice of your cause will oppose their fortune and that not only by this you will redeem your selves wives children lands and liberties but gain a perpetual renown and hinder the Romans from the like attempt by the powerfull remembrance of your valour Let this I say move you to acquit your selves like men and to declare to all the world that you esteem your liberties more than your lives and that you have as much courage to lose your lives in the midst of your enemies as the Gallicians who effected their own deaths rather than to accept of a servile life I will not go about to encourage your generous soules with the hope of reward or booty because these more necessary considerations ought to move you Besides I know your earth plentifully affords you that which makes the insatiable Romans to endeavour your subversion and to make you their slaves for the fulfilling their greedy desires There is therefore a necessity either you must fight it out valiantly turn your backs cowardly or submit to the yoke basely or as the Gallicians did turn your swords against your selves dâ—sperately and wickedly To turn your backs upon them and to flye will render you infamous to all the world and would not save your lives from the pursuing Romans but that is so contrary to your wonted custome that I fear it not for I know you know not what it meanes to flye before your enemies it is impossible for the renowned Astures to be so cowardly But to yield to the yoke of these insulters will brand you with an Eternal infamy and make you lose that reputation you have acquired throughout the world in that with so much valour hitherto you have maintain'd your liberty No I cannot perswade my self that you can admit such a thought having spent so much blood in the maintainance of it to acquit it so basely and infamously and you cannot think of it being used to liberty without suscitating an anger capable to make you conquer the whole world if they went about to deprive you of it And then if you think of doing as the Gallicians did to run upon your own deaths desperately you had better expose your lives to your enemies with your weapons in your hands and sacrifice theirs with your own and so to die like valiant persons making thousands of them to accompany you in your deaths than to effect it your selves and give them leave to laugh at your dispair There is no other way then you see without cowardize infamy and an unworthy precipitation but that you must acquit your selves like men and offering the lives of these Romans to your just resentments exhibit to all the world that it is impossible for the Asturians to be conquered or to yield to the yoke of the Romans I quickly perceiv'd that my words had wrought the desired effect upon the soules of most that heard me for with chearfull countenances and great shouts they testified how willing they were to sacrifice their lives for the good of their Countrey they cryed to me to lead them on and they would follow me even to death it self At that time observing that the Romans had us'd the same form with us and that one of their bodies began to move I put on my Cask and gave order to Etruscis to joyn That first Encounter was very violent on both sides and many were slain by the impituousnesse of the first storm of Arrowes but being mingled together pell-mell the Ranks grew thin on both sides by the deaths of their Companions our party very valiantly defended themselves and for a long time permitted not the Romans to gain the least advantage over them but at last I perceiv'd them to retire when I advanced and quite
altered the face of the battel but it was not long without another vicissitude for their second body coming upon us with so impituous a shock that it overwhelmed the most valliantest and made the most cowardliest turn their backs Our Souldiers were not of the choisest but compos'd of all sorts that could be pickt up in that necessity and of those who being forc't had not the heart to withstand the Romans and these fresh-water-souldiers hardly withstood the first brunt before they fled and left the resolutest finding their deaths in the midst of their Enemies for hardly one of them escap'd that remained to me of the first battel for being resolved to die or conquer they nobly yielded their lives according to their determination and had the whole body been compos'd of such men we needed not to have had the least doubt of the Victorie For my part though my actions are not worth the relating yet I gave them no example to slye and seeing Etruscis slain by my side I rushed into the very midst of the Romans and in spight of all opposition I decollated his murtherer amidst the points of a hundred Swords but turning my head and seeing the shame Fortune had prepared for me by the losse of this Victory I was so suriously transported that nothing besides that command of Amenia's could have deterr'd me from running to have receiv'd my death from the Swords of my Enemies and as often as I went about to effect it that strict observance to which I had ty'd my self to all her commands hindred the prosecution and made me seek to save my life only for fear of disobeying her this made me after having sacrificed many to my resentments to clear my self a passage with my sword and to escape to the adjoyning woods with nine or ten that fought near my person after I had seen my men dispersed and my self with those few that accompanied me left alone fighting among the Romans This Victory was so absolute that the Romans slew most of them that fled and so dispersed the rest that they could never unite more I retired to the Woods with nine or ten Horsmen and from thence I went to the next Mountaines where we found a very safe retreat I did not fight so slightly in that battel but that I receiv'd four or five deep wounds which much anoy'd me after my riding These made me to keep my bed almost a month before I was permitted to leave it but in all that time I endured most heavy Agonies by the remembrance in what condition that part of the Province was and how likely Amenia was to suffer by the Romans I would in the midst of these thoughts often attempt for all the pain that I self from my wounds to leave my bed and to go help Amenia but I was still deterr'd by those attended me almost by force I sent some of those that were with me to enquire after the actions of the Romans and causing them to disguise themselves I charg'd them to enter Asturica and to acquaint Clotuthe and Amenia in what condition I was in and how insuccessfull my endeavours had been to their preservation I would have wrot to Amenia but I was so debilitated that I was not able but dismissing them I awaited their return with much impatiencie Some dayes after they returned bringing me newes that had almost broke my heart they told me that being disguised they entred Asturica with much facilitie being full of Romon Souldiers for assoon as Lancia was taken they approached Asturica and those who were left to guard it considering their own weaknesse and the advantage the Romans had over them abandoned it quite and sav'd themselves by flight so that the Romans found no resistance but committing all manner of villanies had turn'd that gallant City into nothing but confusion In that confusion they made a dilligent search after them I sent them to but they could not hear any thing what was become of them they were about to return when one of them who knew that Woman who was only the depositary of Clotuthe's love to me met her by chance making themselves known to her they told her the Commission they had from me and that they desired the favour to speak with Clotuthe and Amenia They certified me that this Woman seem'd very joyfull at their message and that I was alive she bid them to follow her and they should obtain their desires she conducted them to a strong Tower at the further end of the Pallace where was a great guard of Roman souldiers she left them without for some time and then returning with the Captain of the Guard she conducted them to Clotuthe whom they found in teares for those considerable losses she had sustain'd and though she seem'd a prisoner by the Guard yet within she seem'd to have all manner of liberty given her The Captain having withdrawn himself they did their message to Clotuthe and then enquiring after Amenia they told her I had commanded them to bring me a certain and true account in what condition they were in Clotuthe after having stood mute a pretty while Return to your Master said she and tell him in what condition you find me I am a prisoner but it is to preserve me from the outrages of the souldiers who else would not have any respect to my sex nor my birth Tell him that he may visit me safely and without fear and that I desire to see him to communicate something to him of importancie as for Amenia proceeded she Atropos some few dayes since hath cut the thred of her life and when he comes I may give him a fuller narration of it Assoon as I had heard these words I gave a sudden cry and not hearing what else they said life had almost forsaken me in that mortal apprehenston of Amenia's death And is Amenia dead then cryed I after I was come to my self and is Amenia dead and doth Euripedes live In this agonie I would have pull'd off the plaisters from my wounds that my life might have breath'd forth at those chinks but I was deterr'd that and all other meanes whereby I might effect my own precipitation by the diligence of those who looked to me Neverthelesse I gave my self over to thoughts and apprehensions that tormented me and gave me a hundred deaths in a day and were more cruell than one death I neglected the counsel of those that were carefull of my wounds who recommended silence and rest to me for continually I vented forth my grief with thousands of exclamations till I had so debillitated my self that I was not able to speak more and for rest I permitted not my eyes to close themselves for three nights together after this fatal newes which made the messengers thereof repent that ever they had obâ—yed me They all represented to me that death would inevitably follow if I persisted in my violences and I that must perish unlesse I gave my self to
observed with more respect than usually was given to prisoner but I was not capable to consider either their generositie or pedantry being wholly merged in my own miseries After I had observ'd the good nature of Lascaris I represented to him that which he could not be ignorant of by my actions but I gave him a brief knowledge of my love with the favours Amenia had done me and the intentions of Clotuthe After this knowledge he vowed himself to my interests and with many protestations sought to gain my good opinion of his fidelity after that time I made him the depositorie of whatsoever I thought most secret and I was not deceiv'd in his love and fidelitie After he had intuited my last letter from Amenia being passion had not depriv'd him of that reason mine had made me incapable of he began to represent the little need I had to increpate Amenia and making me read over her letter again so illuminated my mind that I began to see with a less troubled judgement that it was not so as Clotuthe had represented it and blaming my own passion for my former ablepsie I began to perceive it to be a contrived plot from the malice of Clotuthe and the more I began to examine it the more clear and apparent it exhibited it self to me I could then view with greater contentment the earnestness that Amenia used for my festination and to consider the care she had to send me word with the liberty she gave me to recover her which she would never have wrote had not she been forc'd And Lascaris representing to me with what hast Melanthe was had away when she gave him the letter and with what earnestness she expressed her desire to have the letter given me confirmed me in my opinion and began to establish that hope which through Clotuthes means had been dejected But after I had given some time to that newcome joy which I felt through those apprehensions and establisht my hopes that it was not impossible but that she yet might be mine since she was alive I was encompast with a new perplexity in remembring I was restrain'd and so was incapable to help her which gave me new cause of grief that at last brought me to this result To endeavour my release and to go rescue Amenia out of the arms of Mandone These resolutions employed all my thoughts to gain my releasment but all the intentions I could make use of prov'd in vain and in vain did I make use of all the devices my passion was able to suggest and in spight of all my endeavours I was forc'd to perhyminate mancipated to the will of tormenting Clotuthe in that place tormented by my delay and quotidianly plagued by the perseverance of her affection so much against my inclinations I must leave you here to imagin the distress I was in for I am no wayes able to express it though I should tell you I did things inexcusable in any other that were not implete with the like passion For sometimes I fell into revilings and so furiously with what weak instruments were left in my power I assaulted the walls windows and all obstacles to my liberty that even Lascaris durst not present himself before me fearing I had been utterly abandoned by sense and reason seeing me do such Athamantick actions When my strength was overcome by my labor I gave way to those words that were agreeable to my rabid humour and in them I vented what want of strength had deter'd in my actions These visits of Clotuthe were assiduous and never without exagerating her passion and at last she became so pressing that she made me go beyond civilitie when I saw she past the bounds of modestie At first I endured the visits of Clotuthe and heard her prolix amorous discourses with some patience and permitted the prosecution of her passion out of a hope to gain my releasement but when I saw all means fail and that she would not release me without I would swear not to desert her the which I would never consent to and at last resolving not to be beholden to her for my freedome I told her that prizons should never alter the resolutions I had taken never to love her Then it was I fell into those ravings and distractions seeing all means fail me and all my devices prove in vain and then it was that I begun to be uncivil to Clotuthe and sought by all essayes to irritate her for the taking away of my life and oftentimes when she came to see me I would shut my eyes at her sight and stop my ears from her words In this miserable condition I spent almost four moneths and then being past hope and made equanimous whether I would or no I effected my libertie thus The Captain who had order to make Asturica his Hybernacle facilitated Clotuthe's design of keeping me prisoner with all the power he could being drawn thereto by the specious pretences she had fain'd but never told the true cause of my detainment and fearing lest her subtil devices should be manifested through our communication she never would permit the Captain to visit me but in her company and that but very seldome because his presence impos'd a coercive power upon her words and actions and made those visits even tedious to her self But I who had not lost all generositie with my patience considered the interests of Clotuthe for the sake of Lilibilis and therefore would not discover any thing to the Captain of her love though it was to my own prejudice nor detain'd those civilities which were due to her in his presence But the Captain being of too penetrating a Judgement and love beginning to interest him in our actions made him perceive something of inclination from Clotuthe to me notwithstanding all the restraint she impos'd upon her self in his presence and besides perceiving I know not what in me worthy of his good will he had a great desire to have more communication with me than was permitted him by the good will of Clotuthe But Love who by degres had seized the Capital of this Captains breast of a Conqueror had rendred him a Captive and made him subject to the commands of his prisoner It was pity made him at first preserve her but now Love made him more strictly keep her for Clotuthe had amiable features besides a very winning behaviour and expression that gave attractions not to be resisted but by such who were as much prepossest as my self For fear of displeasing her was the only cause that he forbore his own inclinations of visiting me but at last perceiving by her frequent visitations that she had inclinations for me Love making him grow jealous he convey'd himself into a Closet adjoyning to my Chamber and where he might hear what past between us very easily for Clotuthe surprizing me in the midst of those implorations which the cruel absence of Amenia and my own restraint had caus'd the obstacle of my
that which we had prevented her in Amenia's indignation was raised at this confession but she took no other punishment on her that deserved greater but banished her her service for ever but Clotuthe entertained her for her infidelity Amenia was cruelly afflicted that she knew so much of her affaires because she lay open to all her machinations having none now to guard her from her devices for she knew Clotuthe both spiteful and subtil enough to work her mischief and she had some little suspition that she was her corrival though you never intimated so much Clotuthe and Amenia after this knowledge met not in a long time after being segregated to their afflictions and by reason of Clotuthes unwillingnesse to meet Amenia but at last they met one another where Amenia stuck not to tell her of her ill actions but with a great deal of modesty and civility But on the other side Clotuthe falling into great passion uttered words extream misbecoming and soon gave Amenia to know the authoritie she thought she had over her after she had vented her passion against Amenia at their parting she uttered some such words as these that gave Amenia a good cause to feare her complottings No no Amenia said she speaking in answer to the justifications of Amenia against her aspersions do not justifie your self against that which is so apparent you were too carefull of his life not to love him you gave him a charge not to be too forward in battel least you might lose him you car'd not how great the losse be so you lose not Euripeâ—es nor how much dammage your Country receiv'd by the backwardness of his valour so he was not in danger this doth not favour of too much affection Amenia He might as well have wrote to me as to you but he cares not to pay what he owes to civilitie and decency so he payes what he owes to his affection and yours But stay Amenia do not you think the death of Lilibilis disengages you to Mandone he hath promised you to him and though he lives not to perform it you ought this way to exhibit your love to him by performing what heengaged and do you account me your enemy and your foe by endeavouring to finde out your affection to Euripedes and by trying to convince you of your errour when Mandone may claim you for his wife by right by the itterated promise and engagements of your father which ought not to die with him and when you cannot marry Euripedes without great dishonour flatter your self no longer for if you will not be Mandone's by Love and fair means he hath yet power enough to force you notwithstanding the power of Euripedes who is a stranger and not so worthy as Mandone a redoubted Iberian Anger had suscitated a fresh crimson in the cheeks of Amenia and she had answered these speeches had Clotuthe staid to have heard her but finishing her discourse she would not stay for a reply but left Amenia somewhat disturb'd at her words Amenia saw not Clotuthe after that but retiring to her chamber considered her disasters with much weeping In this she continued till a surcharge came which I thought would have been the greatest it was the news of your last overthrow she heard the valour of the General recounted but she could not learn whether he was slaine or no or whether he survived that cruel encounter Truly this consideration more then the losse of her Countrey made her finde new springs of teares which she thought her former grief had wholly exhausted and the Flood-gates of her eyes were hardly wide enough to let forth those torrents which impituously gushed out thereat The next newes she heard did not so much trouble her being fore-seasoned with a greater as otherwise it might have done and it was the approach of our enemies towards Asturica having taken Lancia and our own men who were left to guard it abandoned us to their fury This disaster was hardly considered when a greater befell us by the meanes of Clotuthe who had most maliciously sent for Mandone and given him notice both of the Letter and of your Love to Amenia I was sitting that morning that the Romans entred Asturica with Amenia in great heaviness considering our disasters and what would become of us in that confusion and in a very sad posture were we when Mandone entred the Chamber with two or three more This sudden and unexpected coming of Mandone's so surpriz'd Amenia that she was not able to rise from the seat where she sat which gave him liberty to use all those civilities which he was accustomed to pay her Madam said he Although the gods are resolved to subjugate these Countreys to the Romans for an addition to their glory yet have they had so great a regard to your person that they have sent me for your preservation and for that end only have they preserv'd my life that I might preserve yours in this extremity Our fortunes are alike Madam and I hope our affections are not unequal since by the will and command of both our Parents we were accounted individual if you have lost your father the gods also have taken away mine if you have lost your Countrey I have also lost mine if you have been abandoned by your friends and are in danger to be ruined by your enemies I have run the same fortune and my life is solely given me for your preservation I am come therefore in this very exigent to carry you forth of the jawes of these cruel Romans make not now my endeavours fruitlesse nor sacrifice both our lives to our foes by your delay for our safety consists in a speedy departure the Romans are even at the walls and there is scarce time for these words Amenia by this time had recollected her self and rising at that time from her feat I am not Sir said she lesse daunted then I thought she had been so afraid of death but that I can embrace it joyfully having already tasted too much misery to desire life I had rather be buried in the ruines of my Country than to flye it in its deepest misery and offer this life to the hands of those that have sacrificed the lives of my Country-men slain my friends and taken away the life of my father to be slain by their swords than leave this place I am very sensible of your care of me and render you many thanks for your paines but let me desire you to leave me to my disasters and not engage your self in them nor look that you are obliged to it for me more then any other woman since I am about to leave all the world that all the world may leave their pretensions to me I desire not nor care for safety therefore leave me to receive death the chief object of my desires Madam replyed Mandone suddenly somewhat startled at her resolutions the consideration of your honour ought to festinate your abscession for you cannot continue here
memory but it was impossible for me to extinguish that fire which consum'd me in the midst of those deserts in a place where the raies of the bright Chariot-driver scarce ever penetrated so much power had love over my soul the cause of all my miseries for had I never lov'd I had never been unhappy In this place I remain'd the term of an whole year feeding on that which nature without compulsion yielded and drinking the water of a clear rivulet which ran close by my domicile with this food not usual to me but more especially with the continual grief of my mind I was so altered in my countenance that my most intimate friends would scarce have known me But to contract my relation my life being now a burthen to me and I desiring nothing more than death sith neither company nor solitude could divert the tortures of my mind I resolved to abbreviate my life with my own hands but in the presence of Cynthia Leaving my Cottage with this intention I travelled with a world of pain and trouble being much debilitated till I had gain'd the sea where I embarkt and arriv'd safely at Thessalonica My mind giving my body little rest assoon as I had prepar'd what I thought requisite for my determination I gain'd but with much trouble the sight and speech of Cynthia I had vestited my self with poor accouterments and was so chang'd in my Countenance that I was utterly unknown to her at the first but after she had commanded her Servants at my request to withdraw except one that allwayes was Conscious to her privatest actions I discovered my self to her and with many words desired her to excuse me for the breach of her severe command in that I had appeared before her and sith that it was impossible for me to live any longer separated from her I begg'd her not to deny me the happinesse of expireing in her sight and that she would accept of the oblation of my life for a full expiation of all my faults At the conclusion of these words drawing out a dagger which I had prepared I lifted up my arme to have perpetrated my determination But at that instant I perceived by her teares the true badges of her sorrow that pity had won the fort of her obdurate heart I had neverthelesse effected my purpose had she not taken hold on my arme with commanding me to forbear my bloody execution and to hope for better usage at her hands I could not disobey her commands since she had been so absolute over me I therefore left that purpose of dyeing and reassumed my despared hopes by her permission I bought me cloaths suteable to what I formerly appeared in with some gold which I had yet preserved How soon was my fortune changed where I expectected nothing but death and assured destruction I found life and comfort inrased hopes but ah constant inconstant power how oft hast thou befool'd me for when I expected the Consummation of my felicity with a strange caprichiousnesse thou replung'd me into a sea of miesries After I had resum'd my formet habit and with my endeavours brought my body to its former plight I followed the acquisition of Cynthia's love with so much hapinesse as I thought that at last she dissembling wretch confest that I had obtain'd it and promised me all that I could require of her My thoughts being all regular I pitcht upon a day of mariage which she also consented to and exhibited as much love as I could expect from a pudicite maide Her grandmother being conscious to it seemed also willing to accord with our desires Thus arrived I at the summit of my Joyes fortune having brought me from the bottome to the top of her wheele where I sat triumphing over all my past miseries But see how soon I was dejected and how in one moment was blasted all the harvest of my hopes My immodick love did not without ground beget a Zelotyp feare which at first insinuating it self for all the opposition of a contrary beliefe made me with a diligent scrutiny seek after my own death it being the nature of a Jelous person to desire draughts of poyson in the Cups of Curiosity Whilst I with great dilligence sought the love of Cynthia I had observed a gentleman of Thessalonica to resort thither who to give our enemies their due for the outward lineaments of the body the sweet vivacity of the eyes the proportionable feature of the face the exceeding pulcritude and harmonious consent of all the members of the microcosme was not to be parallal'd in all Greece but his birth and fortune was but meane This Gentleman was seldome out of the Company of Cynthia and I never visited her but I sound him in her company The great show of amity which she showed me as I have told you after my last returne wraping me into the enjoyments of a fancied happynesse diverted the first motions of Zelotypieâ— but afterwards Jealousie being more pressing and exhibiting the attractions of that gentleman gained possession of my soul which gave me as great inquietudes as ever Love had done and the more it affected me the more reason me thought there was that I should be Jealous every day through my inspection bringing forth concurrents of my fear and confirmation of my Jealousie It was in its highest opperation when she consented to my disposition and agreed on the time of our mariage but all this was too weak then to make me reject my former suspition nor so powerfull an antidote as to expell the poyson I had received I did beleeve that she had no intentions to marie him yet I had not observed somuch virtue in her as might make her reject the attractions of his beauty Being adusted with this fire I sought by all meanes I could devise to know the truth which I effected thus I first blinded the eyes of her cheifest maids fidility with the ponder of injection when I knew she must be conscious to what her mistres did what with adulatâ—on and the lunar mettall I gan'd her to confesse that which was allmost my death to hear oh the deceite of a wicked woman to promise me her faith and be naught with another This knoâ—ledg could not content me but that I must make my own eyes wittnesse to her falshood this having gain'd that maid to my devotion I did through her meanes The time drawing neer which we had determined for our mariage I pretended that I would go into Cilicia both to fetch my friends and to come accompanied with an equipage sutable to my quality and for those things that were wanting to make the day Celebrious This she willingly consented to and having taken my leave I departed Our plot being laid before I lodged very privately in Thessalonica not far from the house of Cynthia Night being come I repaired to a back dore of Cynthia's where I was mett by this maid and conducted into Cynthia's lodging chamber and hid behind
have done me being nothing but death could make me cease from affecting her yet seeing she could not be mine I would never desire any thing of her contrary to vertue and her honour and seeing that she restrained me for fear I should injure the life of Palemon I promised her that I would not effect any thing against him not for to gaine my liberty but to rid her of her fear and to shew her how obedient I would be to every thing that she desired and that for my liberty I wholly remitted it to her self being but requisit that she who commanded my soule should have the disposall also of my body and further that she needed not to doubt but that I would effect any thing that she could desire of me but that I would not do it to gaine my liberty but only for the affection that I bore her Agauve shewed her self extreamly joyfull that I had so freely promised her however she made me sware to do that which she would desire of me I would first have known what it had been but that she mightily desired the contrary so that at last I consented to take a blind oath imagining that the worst thing she could have commanded would have been to have banisht me from her and that I would not have done any thing against her husband but the proposull of this ambitious woman was quite another thing and which both amazed me and troubled me that I had swore to do it The King Palemon had had by his other Queen two children a Boy and a Girle the young Prince in whom all the people of the nation had treasured their hopes was at that time but two years old named Palemedon the young princesse Panthea the chiefest starre of beauty in our Horrizon was little more than a year old the Queen her mother dying bringing her forth into the world the King marrying Agauve as you have heard presently after the death of his other Queen whose birth beauty and virtue were unmatchable had by her the Prince Dardanus one truly noble and valiant as most of the world can witnesse Argelois here interrupting Euripedes I cannot be silent said he at the mentioning of the worthy Prince Dardanus and refrain from giving him those collaudations which are deserv'd by his merits having so highly experienced his generosity and do still bear the tokens of his favour none less ignore the valour of that Prince than my self which should I go about to declare would prove too large an interruption you 'l pardon this in that I give you to understand that I am well acquainted with him in whom the very quintessence of affability dwells and that I have heard him express great trouble for the loss of the little Palemedon whom you mention not considering his own interests and that he gain'd a Crown by his death but I perceiv'd both he and all the Court ignor'd by whom that child was taken away which it may be seeing you know so much of those affairs you may declare Argelois stoping sometime and seeing Euripedes did not proceed judging aright of the cause Let not this knowledge of me said he that I am conversant with Dardanus be any obstacle to your relation for if you dare to credit me I will engage my life that no danger shall accrew to you thereby Euripedes thankt him in very affable words and telling him that he would not doubt neither of his secresie nor generosity he proceeded in his relation thus Ambition the ground of all evil being seated in the breast of Agauve soone found the young Palemedon an obstacle to her desires and never beheld him but with an eye of envy Her evil Daemon suggesting her to most pernicious designes she thought of nothing more than betraying this young princely child into the arms of death that by his falâ— she might raise her son Dardanus to the Crown of Pontus This was the cause of her visite and this was the condition she would release me upon and to which she had made me most rashly swear that I should either effect or see effected the death of Palemedon She urg'd many arguments and reasons for the performance she confest the desire she had to have Dardanus raign she urg'd that thus I might revenge my self on the King â—gain my liberty perform my oath and shew her the greatness of my love that I would perpetrate a thing so contrary to my nature for her sake After I had heard her discover her self I was very much amazed at the temerity of my oath and sought by all perswasions to cause her to forego so mischievous a design But she still persisting in it with such fascinating adulation such carriage and flagitation still pressing me with the considerations of my love and oath that at last oh hainous to think it she made me yield to see it perpetrated although I would not do it my self I hope now your self will excuse me for my aversion to a passion that made me so enormiously consent to so wicked an act I must impose my whole fault on my passion for it was that which overcame me through her fascinating words and not my consideration of revenge or liberty I told you before that I knew by experience that Love hath been able to extingush the coles of vertue and enkindle those of vice Judge you therefore whether I speak without just cause against that which made me act against all Justice After I had a longe time sought to stop the stream of this exorbitant motion with the dam of perswasions and that I saw it still bore down with the impetuousness of her will not able longer to contradict her I was carried down with its rapidity in the slender boat of my affection where consenting to what she required I steer'd into a harbour of misery For being set at liberty on these sad terms I endured the continual wrack and torment of my conscience and I never thought of my perpetration without horror but having sworn to effect it and being still bound by the chains of my passion I enforc'd my self to resolutions of perpetration But in the mean time this cruel Agauve searing lest pity and vertue miâ—ht overcome me had gain'd three of her own Countrey men to assist me with a charge not to be perswaded by me if I endeavoured to hinder the execution of the infant after we should have it in our power promising them very considerable rewards for their assasin knowing that was most avidously desired by those fordid spirits Being conjoyned with these by the order of Agauve we remained some time secretly in Tomus awaiting an opportunity for our design which was propitiously offered us presently after The night before we seized on that young Prince being extreamly troubled in my thoughts at what I was about to perpetrate I felt a continual torment till sleep had freed me from those cogitations But being in the kingdome of the image of death me thought I met a
encrease and the Injuries that I receiv'd were allmost innumerable inso much that it defatigated my patience and made a Tedium of my life But now the time was come wherein my unlucky hand freed my self of these miseries but involv'd my self in far worser dolors one day which was very inauspicate Massanissa being with me in a garden adjacent to our house upon some small differnce between us about Casting of our darts stroke me a box on the eare adding some Stimulating speeches which provokement bannisht all former fear and naturall Love filling me with wrath and disdaine My passion blinding my reason gave me no liberty to thinke into what precipices I slung my self but drawing my sword I shew'd him it was impossible for me any longer to take his affronts Massanissa not declineing this unnaturall combate opposed me with his sword and expressed a desire to end all quarrels with a duell We both prosecuted this fight with strange fury no hatred being so strong as that between brothers yet had I had ever so little respite my reason would have overcome my passion but this duell was soon Consummated for at the third thrust I passed my sword thorow his body tumbling him dead at my feet Then and not till then did I consider what I had perpetrated Remorse straight ways seized upon me and Repentence converted my eyes before dry'd with anger and flaming with wrath into standing pooles which overflowing discharg'd themselves into Rivers of tears all the faculties of my soul were now turn'd into grief all ceasing their operations to give this the more scope At last seeking to revive him with the eyes of pity I cast my self upon him mingling teares of repentence with his crimson blood and washing his wounds with those distillations addressing vaine implorations for forgivenesse whilst he expir'd in my armes When I saw that he had yeilded to fate new considerations unlockt new springs till the excesse of grief had froze those currents to my cheekes and had as it were converted me into a marble statue wherein was neither life nor motion In this posture my father and my brother Marcipsius coming Casually into the garden found me and seeing me at a distance with one lying by me approperated as to behold some novelty but appropinquating they soon beheld that sad spectacle So sudden and unexpected an in counter put them into an astonishment and takeing away the faculty of Speech left them no power but by their eyes to demand the cause of his death My Conscience interpreting the dum language of their eyes I cast my self at the feet of my father and with out excuses punctually and truely related what had hapned betwixt us Marcipsius not more sorry for the death Massanissa than glad that I had slaine him that the wrath of my father might immolate me to the Ghost of my brother stimulated him to excecute his resentments immediately upon me who provoked equally with his words and passion devaginated his sword to have slain me But I startled to see death appear in the hand of him who gave me life consented to the present motion of my spirits and fled the furie of his wrathfull hand Wrath invigorating his ancient limbs made him follow me with nimble strides but yet my velocity left him behinde some paces and fear made me too nimble for winged death who carrying me into the armes of my mother made her prove the Coale of Life For meeting her at the entrance into the house I cast my self at her feet As you have been the author of my being said I so now it is you only can preserve it but that I cannot begge seeing I have been the distruction of anothers in whom you had a maternal interest suffer me only to disburden my Life at your feet the approach of my father stifled the rest of my wordes my mother agast at this incounter could not reply but trembling in this astonishment she stood till the exceeding love she bore me excited her for my safety assoon as she saw at whom the wrath of my father extended Casting her self therefore at his feet she so strictly embraced his knees that she stopt his further pursute and overcame his strugling with her strickt embraces mingling her tears with plaintive words and those with such overcoming gestures that she stifled his fury and made him withhold his eger revenge to give her an account of what had hapned biding her not to retard that Justice he ought to inflict upon a murtherer Her tears stopped her words for some time both in consideration of Massanissa's losse and my danger but at last to appease his wrath still embraceing him on her knees she sought to mitigate him with implorative words to this effect Ah sad disaster Ah double misserie wherein the blood of one Son must be the oblation for the blood of another Ah! thinke you not my miserie great enough to lose one Son but that I must see another also fall by the hand of his own father Let my teares conjure you to consider first the action before you perpetrate any thing in your wrath for that cannot be done in justice which is ballanc'd by passion for if you do it now it is not so much for satisfaction of the Gods as of your self and passion and not so much in consideration of Justice as for to fulfill the effects of your wrath I will not in the least excuse his wicked perpetration for I cannot have lesse interest in the death of Massanissa than your self but yet in punishing Lonoxia by death we shall augment our evil by a double losse besides I find too much imbicility to withstand another surcharge which this unnatural slaughter will inevitably bring upon me it will be impossible but that I shall make one in the Tragedy therefore at least spare him his life and execute Justice by some way lesse severe rather banish him and disowne him for your son than he being a son should be slain by the hand of a father in which you will shew some mercy as a father and yet not fail of the duty of a Judge These and many other perswasions her motherly affection emitted to save my life which could not but overcome the heart of my father had it been much harder her words being accompanied with showers of teares and her sighs seeming stops in the dolefull harmony of her words and her actions harmonizeing with her plaintive voyce alltogether sent forceable penetrations to the soul of Marcipsius who ever bearing great love to my mother could not entertaine them without the exaction of some teares But yet to be just though he consented to spare me my Life he commanded that I should immediately leave that Country and see him no more least my fight should instigate him to that which through the perswasions of my mother he had omitted This was greif enough to my mother and gave anxieties not to be known but by such who have had the like affection and
given her this defilement by force Excuse her and rather turn thy fury on thy selfe for that thou art of a sex so injurious or on all other men for the sake of the contaminator But think canst thou withdraw that Love which binds the insollubly to the object canst break those irrefragable bonds of Cupid where with thy heart is linkt to that criminal try try thy strength but 't will be in vain Ah cruell and unmercifull power of love to cause me love that which I desire to hate to make me still dote on a beauty defiled with pitch and though I know that which may be would make others loath and an abhor yet it is not powerfull enough to remove my desires or abate the force of my Love Ah lovely Atalanta I must love thee as well with thy blemishes as with all thy gloâ—ious indowments This will give her occasion to see the strength of my love this it may be will make her hear my state and cause that spirit to bow which otherwise might have been too too loâ—ty and have scorned to stop at so low a prey She is not the lesse lovely for her fault Love hides thousands let 's find a place in ours to hide this Such like complaints as these were continually emitted by me Love and hatred wracking me miserably sometimes I detested my love by and by blamed my selfe for detesting sometimes I thought to depart and then againe I found it impossible for I no sooner beheld Atalanta but all my resentments ceased and I found that my chaines were nothing loosned with the knowledge of her crime her eyes still transpierced me and my flames burnt as ardent as ever However a week passed away in which I dayly lamented my misfortune in hers and with that excesse of trouble which could not be concealed that they wondred at the interest I took in hers She poor soul dared scarcely to behold me so much shame was seted in her eyes which made her with an humble dejection project them on the earth her countenance being cloathed with so much sorrow and her penitentiall teares were so many that they were strong motives for the taking away all ill opinons of her and to move one rather to pity and compassion than to any upbraidings or to the increasing of her griefe which was so excessive Ah! Sabane would she sometimes say canst thou now blame my teares doth not my crime deserve greater penances is it possible that thou do'st not detest me doe not you think me worthy of death and unworthy of your company and friendship Oh Gods how unjustly ye prolong my Life no no it is just that thereby ye prolong my misery But may I not violate your restraining Lawes and give my selfe liberty by a voluntary expiration as well as I have violated those of chastity Speake Sabane by what death shall I redeem my honour Alas it is now too late I cannot break the chains of life but I must murther the innocent In this manner she would run on whilst my teares kept pace with her words both in consideration of her griefe and my misfortune All the comfort I could administer was too weake to stop her complaints or the effluence of her Christal fountaines which with a kind of miracle carryed flames in the midst of those waters Sorrow it self giving a kinde of I know not what lustre to her beauty and her teare bedewed countenance spake so eloquently and pathetically that it made me forgetting my self to run out into such fury against our sex devowing to be revenged with my own hands on him that had caus'd that fair on such dolor and had done her such despight For that end desiring her to let me know who it was I beseech'd her to give me leave to let him feel the fury of my so just resentment To give satisfaction to my desires and that I might see she would withold nothing from me she commanded her maide and chiefest confident to give me a brief relation of her fortune who in obedience to her commands gave me the relation in these termes Who would give any audition to the oathes to the vowes and invocations of men Who would believe them when they swear who would pity them when they seem to groan themselves to death And who would grant them the least favour before Hymen tye the indivissible bond of matremony when they are so wicked so deceitfull so instable such egregious Imposters delighting to deceive our weaker sex and when they have vitiated our honours leave us to reap the fruit of shame and ignominy My Lady I confess hath exhibited the weakness of our sex and shown how easie our natures are to be beguil'd who for wit and judgement in so tender years for beauty in so springing a blossom and for all the other endowments of nature is not to be parallel'd in all Iberia yet hath been beguil'd by the most false and abominable among men and hath been betray'd by the deceitfulness of Love and the susceptibleness of her own nature into the arms of folly But to tell you briefly how and by whom this misfortune happen'd know My Lord Prince of the Turditanes and father to the Princesse Atalanta being forced by the chances of war and fortune to vail his Crown to that of the Romans took up his residence in the pleasant City of Hyspalis and under the tuition of those generous enemies liv'd with the same security as amongst friends I was then given to Atalanta to be her consort and her servant my duty and my love bound me indivisibly to her interests and from that time she made me her Confident and Repository of her secrets For beauty begining to break forth through the clouds of her infancy and that fair and decorous bud beginning to expand it self in the blossom of riper years perstring'd the eyes of many a warlike Roman and made them languish with desire to crop so fair a Rose Every day added new lustre to her eyes and every week planted fresh roses in her cheeks Each hour brought new captiv'd hearts enchain'd to render adoration at her shrine and the Maâ—tialists receiving the fire of their courage from that of her eyes confest that the power of Venus was far greater than that of Mars Whilst thus she encreased the glory of the City by the same of her beauty and whilst she had as many Lovers and Adorers as Spectators Love seeing her inexorable to all was hatching a man to plague her for her cruelty She was now in the prime of her beauty her fair flower fully blown and in its chiefest lustre when the most perfidious vagabond Marcipsius being expulsed Affrica arriv'd in the Amaene City Hispalis To see Attalanta at that time and not to love her was impossible Fame made Marcipsius covet the sight of Atalanta which intuition set that wicked one all on fire he being the tinder of Cupid and inflam'd him with I know not what kind of lustfull and
but that the seas have prov'd his grave how know we but that his Ghost silently reproaches us for thus falsly accuseing him it may be fetters detaine him and who knows but he dyes a thousand times a day for fear I should reproach him for his stay he is not return'd why then should we conceive thus ill of him he hath not yet been in Africa why then should we not thinke that either death bonds wounds imprisonment or some such accident detaines him and deprives us of the happinesse of seeing him Ah! madam I 'de answer how good are you to this criminall but I fear you wrong the laws of charity I rather thinke that haveing forgotten you or at least remembting you with derision he is endeavouring to beguile some other and to betray some such innocent creature with his facinating looks Let it be so then she 'd reply faintly neverthelesse speak not against him I cannot endure it ' cause I love him would I had one I could entrust I would send once more into Africa it may be he may be return'd by this Why madam said I have you lost the confidence you were wont to repose in me can you say you want a confident whilst I am with you No dear one said she but thou art not fit for such a voyage I ment one of the robuster sex who might have sought him out where ever he is and satisfy my doubting minde whether I have accus'd him wrongfully or no. My Love is not so small madam said I but that I could undertake a far greater voyage than this for your sake and for your content engage my self into greater perills say not I pray you then that you need any since I am both willing and ready to undertake it At last I gain'd her consent to let me take the voyage upon me and investing my self with those viril garments you saw me in I crossed over to Mauritania leaving her big with the expectation of the issue of my voyage Making a deligent perquisition I understood at Lixus that Marcipsius was with his father and how that his youngest brother â—ad slain the day before my arrivall the other named Massanissa and that Lonoxia being very young who did it was banisht by his father These things being tragicall yet not any thing concerning me I resented nothing but on Marcipsius being there The next day I went to speake with him and gaining at length private audience I ask'd him if he had forget me and when I saw he did not know me I pull'd out a letter which I had received from Atalanta and gave him After he had read it with passion little enough Is it posible said that cursed wretch that she should complaine on me attend said he to me to morrow and I will return an answer to your lady's letter My eyes at these words flam'd with indignation and my heart â—iseing against him I felt great pain in striving to smother those reproaches I had prepar'd for him which I did by reason that I would see the utmost of his wickednesse and that I would not exasperate him before I had receiv'd the letter from him As little notice as he took on me he knew me well enough for my lady had in her letter given him notise that it was I presented him with the letter and knowing this I was out of measure enraged but without venting on word I returned giveing him notice I would wait on him according to his appoyntment Hardly sleeping all night for the passion the carriage of that devill for he deserves not the title of humane had put me in the next day I went to enquire for him when his servants told me that he was departed without the notice of any presently after I had left him At this news I was so disturb'd that they Judg'd by my actions that I was distracted I stampt tore my hair my face and clothes and call'd him a thousand traitours But at last I vow'd ne'r to return to Atalanta till I had found this traitour out and vented my reproaches to his face Guided by fury and rage I left the city being assured by divers that saw him leave it that he was gone and with most diligent pervestigations I spent five or six weeks in vaine visiting all the cheifest places in Mauritania and inquireing after him with unweariable paines till at lest I heard of him in the city of Tingis Resolving to give him no opportunity to escape I awaited a time till I spied him without the City walking under the shade of some trees not far from the palace wall of King Bogadus After a little while I perceiv'd him to draw a kind of tablet out of his pocket on which he busied himselfe with great intentivenesse so that I had the opportunity to come behind him and spied the effigies of some lady I knew not But suddenly takeing hold on him Traitor said I you shall not easily escape my reproaches now for what reason hast thou thus abused me He turn'd hastily about and perceiving it was I I saw he was amazed but strugling with me sought to be gone My small strength at that time so engag'd him that he could not easily disentangle himself from my armes and leggs Stay traitor said I stay and hear what I have to say then I ask'd him again whether he had forgot his vowes and oaths and why he had abused Atalanta See here answered that ungratious and boldly impudent one holding to me the tablet which he held in his hand the cause of my change this beauty hath a crown to give as well as pleasure Ah vile monster cryed I out aloud right African brood doubly deceitfull Marcipsius can'st thou thus impudently behold me the wittnesse of thy Crimes of thy oaths vowes imprecations do'st not remember perjur'd wretch the execrations vengeance and plagues thou invok'd and wisht might fall upon thee if thou brakest thy promise Ah devill are the Gods so unjust to foreslow their vengance on thy accursed head Vilaine who shall restore Atalanta the honour thou hast rob'd her of Scelerous wretch let the God of Hospitalty the great Jove plague thee for the wrong thou hast done to thy entertainer let all the Cyclopean weapons be thrown upon thy neck let new invented torments and everlasting plagues be sought for thee Promethean paines are too easie for thy nefarious heart Sysiphean labour is too gentle Ixionian grinding not bad enough an eternall Marsyan excoriation will hardly suffice for to reward thee for the wrong thou hast done to one who is worthy to tryumph over the whole world and now languisheth in misery through thy means did I think it would be accepted of Atalanta I would endeavour to deprive thee of thy wretched life with these hands but the Gods will e're long plague thee with thy own wishes and exterminate thy life for thy perjury As I ended these words I perceiv'd a back dore of the pallace to open and a young lady
happinesse without which he was no longer able to live he invented a figment to deceive you and all this time hath been an impostor and now knowing through a strange providence how nearly you have been engaged to his brother he quits all pretensions of being your servant any further than the laws of civillity and duty bind Atalanta at that instant let goe my hand and looking upon me with an eye in which I saw at once both pity and anger killed and revived my soul at the same time Blushes and palenesse took their turnes in her cheecks and amazed she stay'd in a suspence not knowing how to answer which caused me to speak thus Maddam behold a criminall that implores your goodnesse though I must confesse my crimes of so high a nature that they are almost impardonable with the most mercifull I deserve to be hated if I had been innocent in that I am allied so nearly to hatefull Marcipsius But ah Atalanta forget these resentments and let pity exuscitate your pardon remember that you have promised of what nature soever my crimes were to grant it remember the love you have borne Sabane let it not be converted to hatred to Lonoxia That is it I beg may be continued that your opinion of my goodnesse may not be diminished by this knowledge Alas to forgive my crimes and to hate me is but to kill me through grief I will freely offer my life as an expiament for my imposture so that after my death you will but retain me whole in your memory without remembring my crimes Remember that Sabane though an impostor never did any thing that may make your virtue blush to remember it It was love made me excurre into this crime on that I lay all the fault that you may be the better induced to forgive me since your selfe have been deceived by him Love I say Love hath been of such force as to make me thus disguise my self happy disguise under which I have received so many favours of divine Atalanta under which I have received that content which might have been envied by the Gods under which I have enjoyed the sight of my titular angell But cursed disguise under which I have prov'd an Impostor to innocent Atalanta I have loved you hoping rhat time might have made me worthy through my long services to have attained to that which now is not lawfull to thinke on But by a peculiar providence of the Gods finding that my brother hath made you his though accursed he hath forsaken you my designes which were honest are diverted and I forced at length after my sorrow and sicknesse to confesse it neverthelesse though I desire nothing at your hands my Love is inconvertible but it beares the same stamp that a brothers hath to a sister or is the same that your self divin Atalanta bore to the faigned Sabane after this free agnition let the remembrance of Sabane stir up your pity your pity your pardon and your pardon give life to Lonoxia who else dies to satisfie you for his imposture I ended with these words and my eyes being full of tears I awaited her sentence Remaining thus for somtime I saw that this sudden and unexpected accident had made her immovable What maddam said I cannot you yet determine what sentence to passe on this wretch whether life or death Alas though you 'r lought to emit so severe a sentance from so meak a soul I perceive you 'd have the impostor dye but you 'r lought to passe the sentance from your mouth you are not in a suspence whether he ought to live or no but whether you ought to command it Well! I le satisfie you without bidding the crime is too great to be pardoned yet say dear Atalanta as I have been an impostor so â— have been obsequious and faithfull in the love I bore you consider all the ancidents of Sabane and you will be forc'd to say that although Lonoxia followed the motions of his love passion yet he never transcur'd the bounds of vertue and lastly say I was wlling as far as able to satisfie for all my crimes At that instant trembling and casting my eyes about I espied a knife at the beds feet which I suddenly snatched and plucking open my bosome I will I will Madam cryed I give you satisfaction this shall execute your will As I lifted up my hand to have let her seen that I regarded my life lesse than her love and fear'd the loosing of it lesse than the acquiring her anger she caught hold on my arme Sabane said she so I must yet call you I cannot consent to this rigorous chastizement I confesse you have much amazed me and I should be more difficult to believe what you tell me did I not see the same virtue Sabane hath hitherto exhibited to remain still in Lonoxia But I command if my words may have any power that you forbear to injure your self and give me some time to revolve this accident in my mind Madam said I letting go the knife which she took from me I obey you I have wholly devoted my self to your service and though I may have purchased your hatred and displeasure it shall never be acquired by my disobedience Saying this I kissed her hand and departed I betook my selfe to the solitary walks and found a great relaxtion in my mind in that I had passed over that difficulty that so oppressed me and that I perceiv'd the Love she bore me in the faign'd condition of Sabane had taken too great an impression to be obliterated by the knowledge that I was Lonoxia I had not walked two hours but that the confident of Atalanta came to invite me to her mistris's chamber I followed her with perturbation enough I there found her governesse with her to whom she had related who I was who riseing from her bed side as I came in I know not said she what compellation to give you not how to behave my self towards you since the knowledg of your sudden Metamorphosis We are so accustomed to Sabane that we know not how to call you Lonoxia But since you are no longer what we have taken you for you must not be discontented if we are more severe since modesty commands it You have put Atalanta into no small passion by the knowledg of what you are since she has shewn those favours to Sabane which shames her to think they were given to Lonoxia And indeed it was enough justly to purchace her hatred had not the love she bore to Sabane made her consider the virtuous deportments of Lonoxia and forces her not to follow the dictates of her irritated humour I have at last pacified her and she hath given me leave to tell you that she will equally ballance the vertuous cariage care love and troubles of Sabane against all the crimes of Lonoxia and the Love she bore you under that name against the hatred you might have acquired under this So that she seales
your pardon and will not think amisse of your virtue Ravish'd at these words I cast my self at her feet Ah Madam cry'd I now I can dye content this is more than I have merited but it pleases the goodnesse of Atalanta to be equally mercifull with the Gods The ancient Lady raising me from that humble posture led me to Atalanta's bed side who blushing gave me her hand in sign of confirmation of what her Governesse had said Ah said she sighing have I made known my weaknesse to a man strange providence the brother of the causer of my woes The fidelity and Loyalty of the one said her Governesse shall repay the perfideousnesse and disloyalty of the other who 'd thinke nature could produce two such contraries out of one Venter the one is not so wicked but the other is as good the one is the abstract of Iniquity the other of Goodnesse and constancy Many such prayses that lady out of the depth of her Goodnesse was pleas'd to give me At their request I gave them the relation of my life and how providentially I was brought to Olissippo with the beginning of my Love Me thought said Atalanta I saw the lineaments of Marcipsius face in yours when I first saw you but I attributed it to the effect of a vain imaginatioin That treacherous one hath not alone prov'd perfidious to me but a foe and traitour to you They were pleas'd to Commiserate my condition although their own were enough to imploy all their thoughts The deception of Marcipsius held us in discourse the rest of the day at last they concluded since the providence of the Gods was so manifestly seen in bringing me to that place that I should take care of the Infant that should be produc'd into the world and to bear it thence least the Crime of Atalanta should be made conspicuous to the world Thus past I over the difficulty that affrighted me and after my discovery became serviceable to Atalanta They thought it not convenient to discover me to the rest of the servants and therefore I was permitted to wear the habit I had assum'd and enjoy the happinesse of seeing and being often with Atalanta who many times complain'd that I was not Sabane that she might expresse her Love with that endearednesse she had us'd to do And for my part I loved her as intirely as if we had been produc'd out of one Venter Five dayes after my discovery the hower came wherein Atalanta was to undergo the paines of child-birth and to become the unhappy mother of some fair Infant Whilst with painfull throwes she was produceing into the world the fruit of her furtive pleasures I walked in my usuall places of solitude and with continuall prayers invok'd Lucina to her aid But surely some envious Juno retarded her paritus and made her endure an Alâ—maeâ—ean travell for before Ilithya eas'd her throws by giving birth to a fair and pretty boy she counted twice twelve howers in those bloody sweats and was left with little hope of life After I was made acquainted with the birth of the Infant I departed to Olisâ—ippo to prepare a barque for my transportation to Lixus where I knew I had friends enough that would keep the child secretly I soon hired one for that purpose and appoynting the time when I would come I return'd and being admitted to see Atalanta I sound her so weak and faint that all their endeavours could hardly keep life in her After they had made that little one ready and had indued it with mantells and rich jewells suteable to its quality they gave it to Atalanta to take her leave of it which she did with many bitter teares and scalding sighs Go said she in delivering it to me bâ—be of sorrw the Gods may give thee life to revenge the death of thy mother on thy ungratefull father Go seek thy dessiny in this miserable world thou art born in Sorrow and art expos'd in thy tender dayes to the inexorable rage of Fortune May the Gods be more propitious in thy growing yeares and change these thy miseries into Gladnesse Though thou art the fruite of my crimes innocent babe yet thou art part of my self and I cannot part with thee without bewaileing thy losse with teares that spring from the depth of the fountaine of sorrow Alas innocent thou must suffer for thy mothers crimes and be expos'd to miseries for to save her honour We seeing that she would spend the remainder of her strength in these querimonies took the Child out of her sight but at parting Lonoxia said she 't is to you I commmit this infant and to your care and tuition his life and nurture by that love you have bore me forsake him not whilst life shall last but in him allways call to minde the distressed Atalanta Her weaknesse would not permit her any more words but teares and sighs inherited their room Mine gave me leave at last to take my leave of her and to assure her whilst I liv'd my life should be onely for the protection of the Infant I parted but with a heavinesse that presag'd my ensueing miseries Most of the servants still ignor'd the cause of Atalanta's sicknesse so that we were fain to conveigh the child enclos'd in a chest to Olissippo where I embarqu'd and with all the speed could possible be made set our prow toward Lixus A gentle gale set us off that shore on which the humerous mares conceiving with the aurâ—'s of the favonian wind brought forth their short liv'd colts We were come allmost in sight of the desired shore when the caprichious element leaving its tranquillity assaulted the sides of our vessel with its liquid billows and the inauspicious apparition of the parted twinns gave the mariners an assured signe of an ensuing storm Presently the furious winds mustering their forces on the plaines of the ocean began to astuate the face of the waters into living mountaines which moveing with a horrible sight threatned us with a tumulation under their liquid ruins but our barque forceing its way to the top of those watry rocks with the like impetuosity descended down their â—â—ideing backes The other Element angry that the force of the windes nor the fury of the waters could neither overturne nor drown our vessell seem'd to promise our deaths by the fires that assaulted us and day betraying us to the discomfortable shades of night left us no light but what the sudden flashes of the threatning lightning gave which was accompained with a tonitruous eccho that took away the audition of those crys our wretched copartners in these miseries made For my part I had sorrow enough to behold into what danger fortune had cast that Infant as soon as 't was borne who yet without perturbation and insensible of its own death satisfied it self with the dulcid liquor of its nurses breasts Our ship slead for many leagues before the fury of the winds on those roughned plaines the strength of the mariners
had been so blind so long The next time she was alone with Dardanus as she was walking she suddenly stopt and speaking to him Brother said she you accused me for causing the trouble of Argelois but I tell you his life lies in your power and none besides your self can recover him Dardanus wondering at his sisters speeches reply'd If it lies in my power this shall be the last moment of his trouble were it with the parting of my Life It may be said Panthea it may be something dearer than your life Pray said Dardanus hold me no longer from the knowledg of that thing that may give ease to the better part of my life Brother reply'd that afflicted one I have hitherto hid nothing from you I have communicated to you all the thoughts of my heart as you may well judge in that I have not hid my insulsities nor been asham'd to confesse to you my Love yet I am affraid to tell you this left you will not be so generous as you think you can be Fear not said Dardanus but my love to Argelois will carry me to impossibilities why then said Panthea Argelois is in Love with Eliana 'T is for her he dayly sighs 't is she that hath made him loose those formosities that were so exceeding in him 't is she alone that hath consumed him and that hath brought him to the sadness that you see Dardanus was startled at these words and standing still he exlubited by his lookes he made some difficulty to beleive them You hardly can credite what I say went on Panthea truly I would not believe my own thoughts till I had satisfied my self by observing what I never denoted before 't is too true and by that time you have considered his lookes and mark'd his actions you will say as I do 'T is very strange what you tell me said Dardanus but I must satisfie my self with those observations you speak of before I can force my self to believe it Dardanus in few dayes satisfyed himself and though none in the world could be moâ—e cautious in that secret of Love than he yet Dardanus gathered enough by the sighes that escaped him unawars and that forced their way through the impetuosity of his passion and by those pity-praying lookes that he cast at Eliana But for that he hop'd to draw it from his own mouth the next time he was alone with Argelois he begun thus Dear Argelois I must accuse thee for breaking those linkes of amity by which we are conjoyn'd and by which of two we are become one This is contrary to the nature of union for you to smother those thoughts in your own breast which by the right of friendship I may claime interest in None can be so blinde as not to see the trouble of your soul by the delineated sadnesse in your face and none can be so ignorant as to think that sadnesse to proceed from no cause Hide not from me my dear friend that which is able to give you such cruciations let it be what it will be the Love I bear you will carry me to do those things that you may account impossibilities my life is the least thing that I esteeme so it may free you from this sadnesse Leave these impieties against your self said Argelois I am too much honored by the least notice you are pleased to take of me Indeed the excesse of Love you have shewn me hath made me forget my own condition and sure you forget what I am when you speak so lavishly Cease dear Argelois said Dardanus I have often told thee that 't is thy virtue that has conjoyned me to thee and thou art not to dispute that now since thou hast granted me that entire and indissoluable Love which is compacted between us Now it is that you begin to rebell and to break those reciprocall Lawes of friendship made between us by withdrawing the knowledg of those things that causes these sad and pityfull looks Do not think I will be put off for I cannot live and see you so grieved certainly you know not my affection that you dare not trust me I have not the least suspicion of your love and constancy reply'd Argelois it is far beyond what ever I have or can deserve though my life were to continue in your service to the end of the world Had I any thoughts worthy your knowledg they should not be hid from you but this sadness that hath lately exhibited it self in my face is a kind of a strange humour which hath stolen upon me by degrees and will suddenly vanish Every thing must have its period and I am conscious to my self this is allmost at an end That is it I fear said Dardanus embraceing him very passionatly thy life and it will end together well I must and will remedy it and you shall see that I will think nothing to dear to give content to Argelois Dardanus with these words lest him but essay'd at many other times to gain the knowledg he desired which was assoon to be done as to gain water out of a slint for Argelois determined to end his life and make that known together He try'd all wayes to gain that from him which he kept so secretly but he could never extract it out of him which made him give over at last to solicite him and to gain the knowledg of it some other way In the mean time what ever ' ere the thoughts of the fair Eliana were she did not much denote those wan lookes of Argelois but when that she beheld that they exhibited the danger oâ— his losse as insensible as she appeared to be she at last let him know that she pitied him those sadnesses As they were walking together one day Eliana observing very narrowly those shaddowes of former beautie in his face was moved with a great deal of pity towards him He answered to most of her discourses so broakenly and confusedly that she saw the agitations of his minde not only to alter the forme of his body but also to disturbe his intellectualls I wonder said Eliana at this great alteration in you surely it cannot be the effect of a small trouble that can have such dominion over your body and minde as to alter the one and disturb the other Argelois startled at these words seeing she took notice of his agitations Madam said he such is the effect of Melancholy that it gives to them that discourse with such persons matter enough to exercise their patience to hear their tautoligâ—s and for their goodnesse to pardon their insulsities This is not reply'd she the effects of melancholy as it is naturally a passion without some extraordinary cause for it is contrary to your constitution 't is some strong passion which you smother with so much art to your own detriment These words raiz'd him quite out of his stupidity and as if he had receiv'd some quickning from that angelicall voyce his cheeks indu'd a faint blush It is
the nature of friendship You 'd have me to make my love known to Dardanus you perswade me he will pity me you tell me it is possible he may seek to content me and to leave his interest for me nay seek to gain Eliana to me You mind me that he beggs to know the cause of my saddnesse and that I do ill to deny it him and that it makes him suspect my love you tell me it will ease my miseries and put an end to my trouble Ah! pleasing thoughts true indeed I doubt not of generoâ—â—ty and excesse of friendship all this may be But must I be so selfish to rob my friend of that which is so much estemeed by my self No it is contrary to the nature of friendship to covet that for my self which will be a loss to my fâ—iend No no friends lay down their lives willingly for one another and how easie could I sacrifice many if I had them for to save thine Dardanus but this is far greater to endure a living and continuall death and to deny my self of what I love with so much passion this is the highest act of friendship and didst thou know it Dardanus thy self wouldst say so Yea Dardanus I can be content to deny my self and to see the fair Eliana thine without repining thou alone dost deserve her I will continue my abnegation and persevere in it till I am utterly consummated by my silence No Dardanus were I sure thou wouldest satisfie me and give me what I can wish and what alone will make me happy I mean the possession of Eliana I would not discover it to thee No no 't is far better that Argelois shold dye than that Dardanus should be deprive'd of that happinesse of enjoyning Eliana It is better for to let thee suspect my friendship than to discover this to thy hurt for 't is thy generosity that I fear and thy Love lest it should make thee consider me more than thy self How soon shouldst thou know it were I sure thou wouldst put a period to my life with thy ponyard for the wrong I do thee and for my audacity in loving Eliana How willingly should I receive it from thy hand and how glorious should my death be No no thou wilt be apt to pardon such a wretch as I therefore thou shalt not know my passion 'till death hath seal'd up these eyes nor then neither but to clear my self of the suspition of breach of frindship But ah misserable wretch cryed he out more vehemenâ—ly and looking discontentedly upon himself what unpardonable crimes hast thou committed and dost dayly commit against that divine princesse in whom is seated something more than mortall in takeing her name into thy mouth Oh unpardonable and deserving the worst of torments that thou who art ignobly and it may be spuriously borne thou that knowest not thy self and only raiz'd by the excesse of love in Dardanus that thou shouldest dare to offer to raise thy thoughts and so audaciously sublimely love a Princesse the fairest and divinest of princesses oh horrible thou deservest not one moment of life for sinning against Eliana and abuseing the goodnesse of Dardanus After the sending forth a few sighs and teares Ah divine Eliana went he on pardon me ah pardon me I confesse I love but 't is impossible for me to contradict a power so unconquerable Ah I do but conserve those flames in my heart that took their origenall from your eyes I preserve flamâ—s presumptious ones I confesse yet are they pure and châ—st flames and those that make me but adore you as a deity too good to be poluted by our defiling thoughts I confesse my self punishable in the hiâ— heâ—â— deâ—reâ— but yet am I unable to helpe my crimes I am forc'd to sin against you but pardon me ah divine Eliana that shall be one of the last requests I will make Dardanus that he gain your pardon after my death and that you may at last confesse though I was presumptuous and incomperably bold yet withall that I was conscious of my duty in repressing those flames that consum'd me with so much impetuosity and also that I knew that none was worthy of the incomperable Eliana but the matchlesse Dardanus Dardanus who heard this generous and pitifull complaint was oppressed with extreme agitations in his mind Fancy and friendship struggled for the victory and love and desire equally oppos'd each other it was sometime before he could overcome his resentments but at lâ—st that noble and invincible mind to whom both love and generosity were inseparable gave the palme of victory to his friendship and resolv'd to do an act worthy of so Heroic a soul What said he to himselfe after long strugling wilt thou have thy Argelois overcome thee in all things dost not thou hear his immense generosity ah true friend and wilt thou love lesse or lesse generously than he But greater considerations ought to move you than these 't is the love and life of Argelois How often have you said that the beauties nor other considerations of the whole world could be able to rob him of one graine of the love you bear him and shall the love of your self now stand in competition with it shall he dye for you by denying himself and cannot you foregoe that princesse for whom you have no passion to save his life dear Argelois I have commited a crime by expostulating so long that cannot be clear'd but by gaining thee the object of thy passion and full fruition of thy desires 'T is done Argelois be content thou art mine more than all the world and thy interests shall disengage my own And what hitherto I have sought for my selfe I will seek to acquire for thee Whil'st he was in these silent disputations Argelois had renewed his complaints ah heavens said he in what perplexities am I brought I am not able to endure the torments of life and yet I dare not wish my ease by the stroake of death love forbids me to live and love forbids me to dye At these words Dardanus not able to forbear longer ' rose from in the place where he was hid which action causing a rusling amongst the bowes so near to Argelois put him besides his complaints and made him forsake the earth and cast himselfe upon his feet to see what it was Dardanus rushing suddenly from among those close woven trees cast himselfe upon the neck of Argelois No Argelois shall not die said he but shall enjoy what he so passionatly desires Dardanus loves him too well to see him expire when 't is in his power to help it Argelois shew'd by his countenance how amazed and angry he was at this accident for not able to utter one word he cast his eyes about as if he would accuse the trees the birds and the heavens for contributing to this discovery or for having some intelligence with Dardanus I know not how many changes in his countenance were seen in a moment
whil'st Dardanus powered out kisses upon his cheeks and kept his neck prisoner with his arms he made a shift to draw his ponyard It is lawful cry'd he just as Dardanus left imbraceing him 't is better than to injure Dardanus Dardanus looking about at those words saw he had lifted up his hand to give a fatall stroke to such resolutions had the anger of being discovered brought him But he extreamly affrighted at that action caught hold on it and so diverted the blow but the impetuosity of the stroke being so great he could not hinder it totally from doing some execution so that it stroak into his left arme quite through the flesh the blood sprinkling in the face and upon the cloathes of his friend Dardanus Argelois vex't that he had mist his blow pulled the dagger out of his arme and strove a long time with Dardanus to have throughly perpetrated his desire At last Dardanus seeing he could not bring him to leave his design against himself with any remonstrance or striving suddenly left him and pulling forth his owne ponyard and makeing bare his breast ah Argelois said he lifting up his arme Thou shalt see I cannot live without thee Argelois flinging by his ponyard flung himself upon the arme of Dardanus and hindred him from emitting that soule that was truly conjoyned with Argelois Dardanus once more casting his armes about his neck What have I done that I should deserve this injurie at your hands said Dardanus you little thinke you have wounded me more then your self Argelois troubled at these words sought all about to see where he had wounded him No said Dardanus it is by sympathie do'st thou think I do not feel the wound in thy arme to cause dolor in my heart you utterly mistake your selfe if you thinke you could have slain your selfe and not have deprived me of my life at the same time Let this knowledge cause you to preserve that life on which necessarily mine depends I am not worthy to live replyed Argelois nor can I without doing injury to you and since I have discovered unwittingly what of all things I desired to have kept secret judge whether I ought not to punish my self for my audacity and false-hood 'T was the only excuse I have made to your sister which I have violated by loving another O heavens what have I done to deserve this extraordinary vengeance Peace said Dardanus be content and thinke not that the gods have ought against the perfect image of themselves they seem to conspire for your felicity and to promise you what you desire by many circumstances I will not blame you for hiding from me thus long the cause of your trouble since it was no other consideration than your generosity But now the gods have discovered it envie me not if I would desire to be as generous as your selfe and in resigning my own interest promise you I will effect that for you which you shall account the highest of your felicities Oh gods cry'd Argelois very passionatly with how much of your divinity have you fill'd this Prince This is it I feared and this is it for which I deserve to dye ah Dardanus let me not thinke of such an injury shall I be the cause of so great ruin of your felicity and of depriving you of a princesse who is not for the capacity of mortalls but your self consider my basenesse ere you go about so great a detriment to your self and consider you will but draw upon you the indignation and wrath of so divine a princesse All these considerations replyed Dardanus are far below the love I bear Argelois therefore let me intreat you that you speake no more words against it nor no wayes contradict what I am resolved to effect I may leave Eliana without detriment to my selfe since I enjoy her in Argelois who is more worthy of her than Dardanus and since I am ignorant of that imperious passion love It s true I love Eliana as she is the most perfect piece of Nature and as I am obliged too by the goodnesse and vertue of her disposition but it is not with that peculiar passion as to love her beyond another if altogether as faire and virtuous she is not to be found in the universe said Argelois that is your opinion said Dardanus but I believe the gods are not so scanty in their productions as not to match her It is impossible said Argelois and I swere by all the powers of heaven that I will not wrong you by causing you to forgoe such an extraordinary happinesse You will do me no wrong said Dardanus it is but justice and it may be a pleasure to us both for if that powerfull and impetuous fire which hath so secretly over-powered you should hereafter singe the wings of my saith to Eliana for another what injury should I do that faire one for whom I never had any passion for it is the wont of that God seldome to let scape those who contract without tasting of his burning flames so that it is dangerous for me to marry Eliana having no such passion for her lest hereafter I may wrong her through the impetuousnesse of another fire There is no fear said Argelois but her charmes will hold you eternally Your wound answered Dardanus will not permit no more talke at this time but this I must needs ingage you to before we go from this place unless you intend to see me expire before you that you act nothing that may be prejudicail to your life and that you leave the managing of your Love to me After very many words Dardanus obtain'd it from Argelois but it was so faintly that Dardanus not added if you deceive my expectations assure your selfe I will not servive one moment This was the only thing that kept Argelois in awe and impeded that petpetraction which otherwise he had resolved against himself Dardanus tearing his shirt made a shift to bind up Argelois wound and leading him by the arme they returned to the castle Assoon as they were within the second court they met with the two princesses who were walking under the shadow of a row of jessemines Panthea had no sooner cast her eyes upon Argelois and seeing him so extraordinary pale with the losse of blood and all his garments distained with the eflux that came from his wound but that the palenesse of her face discovered the pangs of her heart Her passion and paine was increased by the restraint she was faine to impose upon her selfe before Eliana and she had been no longer able to endure those effects had she not vented that passion which she was big of She had espied her brothers cloathes sprinkled with the crimson dye of Argelois his blood from which the acies of her love drew a colourable deceit to hide what her passion enforced her to She ran towards them ah Ar cryed she love being too nimble for her other thoughts had made her almost to discover what she endeavoured
to hide but presently smothering that word Ah! dear brother said she casting her self upon his neck but turning her face towards Argelois and looking upon him with eyes that exhibited her passion how come you thus wounded come let us leave this place where nothing inhabites but ravenous and cruell beasts or some lethiserous and inhumane creatures What hand was it that could be so immane as to wound thee ah brother ah Argelois where were you at this perpetration let 's know these assassins that we may revenge our selves on them Dardanus perceiving to whom she spake and believing the pleasure he did her to let her vent her passion let her go on a great while without interrupting her Argelois beheld her with wonderfull compassion being none of those insensible ones that cannot be mov'd neither with blood not teares he knew too well the insufferable pangs of love which made him extreamly sensible of that poor princesse passion giving a kind of dolefull air to these words she utter'd and her eyes shewing the languishing of her heart encreased his commiseration Madam said Argelois at last the Prince is not wounded the Gods have more regard to his person his clothes are onely stain'd with blood that flow'd through a small wound which I have accidentally received Eliana glad of Panthea's transport made good use of it to settle in the mean time I know not what signes of inward emotions which appeared in that beautifull face But the prince and Argelois had cast their eyes upon her before she had throughly recollected her selfe and found that excesse of snow had obvolved the Hyacinths in her cheeks and that her eyes shewed a kind of disturbance which they knew not how to apply She noteing their looks soon gave life to those blushing flowers which use to expand themselves upon sheets of snow and resetling her selfe Panthea said she intends to ingrosse all to her self and give me no interest in your wounds They are not many said Dardanus 't is only Argelois that infortunately hurt his arme which will be no hindrance at all to your defence if need were You think us very selfish then replyed Eliana and that we desire your welfare but for our own ends you are much mistaken our natures are not immane we cannot chuse but pity our enemies in distresse much more our friends I had no such uncharitable thoughts replyed Dardanus Argelois was ready to sinke under the cruciations that he felt within him through the encounter of thoughts that suffer'd an Antiperistasis which the Princesses attri buting to his wound desired Dardanus to give him ease by speedy dressing They went into the Princes loging together where his surgion presently applyed what was requisite and promised them a speedy cure Whilst he lay under the cure of his self-given wound that which he had receiv'd from love having no such charitable surgions grew worse and worse blood and spirits continually effused themselves there at and had scarcely left enough to maintain the vitall part The palenesse that display'd it selâ—â— in his face shew'd that his sicknesse was more viscâ—rall than the wound in his arm and that the paines he endur'd from that were nothing to the pangâ— of that of his heart How ever as the one grew worse the other amended and healed and though it be strange it was the same â—aâ—ve that wrought such contrary effects that cured the one and festeâ—'d the other you may believe that Love and pity attracted the eyes of these faire princesses to an intuiâ—ion of his wound at every dressing you may also believe that the virtue of Elian's eyes was the panacea that â—anated his wound and that the aspects of those heavenly oâ—bs conjected more life and virtue than all the medcines could be apply'd But on the other side those piercing flames that darted fâ—om her eyes were too corrosive for that tender Cyprian wound They made too great incision and attracted too strongly the small remainder of life wâ—ich was preserv'd by the care of Dardanus This generous prince is the sole preserver of his life and his comfortable remonstrances are lenitives to his wound He daily and continually diswades him from his purpose of dying and by speeches as full of virtue and power as of nobleness and generosity at length compells the languishing Argelois to be rul'd by him and to consent to that abnegation so worthy the noble spirit of Dardanus Alas cry'd Argelois resenting his favours I must then be overcome by generosity noble Prince I yeild my self captive to those chaines you offer and will indue them since 't is your pleasure But think not that I can ever think of enjoying Eliana were I in a capacity or to desire the satisfaction of my love till your passion leads you to the adoration of some other star which the Gods must parposely create for to repay your exceeding generousnesse whilst Dardanus thus sought to ease the passions of Argelois love which was altogether tyrannicall stimulated the princesse Panthea and giving her cruciations which were intolerable made her do that which otherwise she would have accounted inaequitable Cythera's little son in these few persons exhibited his tyranny and his blindnesse the one by those raging â—its with which he agitated these poor lovers the other by his promiscuous dartings which thwarted each other affections Jealousie which seldome can keep secrecy made Panthea slacken those favours she was wont to shew Eliana her love being but extrinsecall must give way to that caused by the imperious shaft 's of the amorous Deity And her affection giving way to anger and jealousie cauâ—'d the sight of the lovely Eliana to be troublesome and irksome Panthea was no disembler nor could she have power to hide her resentments which made her exhibite somewhat more then she was willing of her passion and aegritude Livor began to be exuscitated by Love and to be entertain'd in a breast which never had spot till it entertain'd love and to finde residence where till now nothing could be found but the purity of the incontaminate lily 't is very contrary to the nature of this princesse which is all charity and out of which envy can scarcely draw poison enough to maintain her selfe so that you are to hoâ—e this snaky hag will soon desert her and you are also to judge so charitable of so â—â—ir a soul as to believe it could not have entertain'd the least ill thought if it were not impressed by a power altogether imperious But whatsoever signes of discontent she exhibited there was not found the least on the part of Eliana but rather a nearer uniteing of her love and affection so that 't is to be hoped those suavous carriages and overcoming attractions will soone dissipate those cloudes envie begins to raise in the breast of Panthea In the mean time the carefull Chiron as skilfull in his art as the sabulated Centaure had perfected the cure of Argelois's wound and had rendâ—'d him sound into
with what ardency he desired his life It was two dayes before he opened his eyes but then being insensible of those images they received he shut them again The third day he spoke which extremly rejoyced the Prince these were the first words of that revived man Dear Panthea have I satisfied your severity or is there yet any thing more to be done Chiron hath conducted me to the walk of Lovers and I find many as gloriously tragidized as my self amongst these Stygean shades But surely Charon hath not dealt so charitably with me as others they seem to have forgotten their past-miseries and are not tormented as I am Surely I mistook and drunk of Mnemosyne instead of Lethe But 't is no matteâ— I ought not to forget Panthea and though death hath taken me he cannot take the remembrance of that glorious Princess which shall be my comfort in the lower shades as it was my life above We perceived by these speeches that he thought he had been dead but Chiron told Dardanus that it would be very prejudicial and dangerous for him to talke which made the Prince endeavour to make him sensible where he was but he could not effect it Weakness made him leave speaking but in lieu of that he emitted abundance of suspirations The wound of his side began to heal and all things agreeing with the desires of the Prince he began to take that rest which his love and charity had denyed him We were accompanied with what the meaness of that Cottage could afford which although it were but evilly yet it greatly contented the Prince in that he never had tasted the like morsels nor lay so hard but when he was a souldier The Prince remembring that he had not heard how Arizobanes was brought to that exigent sent for Lamedon and telling him his desire he relatee it in these words Sir said he the Prince Arizobanes being called from the Court of the King your father by letters from his which imported that a Prince amongst the Parthians called the stout Pampatius being in that Countrey was faâ—n in love with his daughter the fair Philadelphia and had desired her of him in marriage and that he would not give him any answer till his reture with wonderfull regret and had it not been for so important business all the world could not have withdrawn him from that fair Princess whom he so passionately lov'd her attractions being stronger than all the world besides Panthea blushed at these words and interrupting Epidauro you may said she save your self the labor of relating such circumstances and only tell us the matter Madam replyed Epidauro I hope you will pardon me seeing I do but render the words of another and being I should be both unfaithfull and a Detractor should I leave out such glorious expressions of Lamedons 'T is but reason said Argelois that he should give us the relation entire I I will not contradict you said Panthea turning to Argelois though I little deserve them Their silence inviting Epidauro to proceed he continued his relation thus The squire said he thus went on 'T is impossible for me to represent with what passion the Prince was accompanied and how often he sighed out of the glorious name of Panthea in his jorney He went by the motion of his thoughts and all our speed seem'd like that of a snail to those desires that hastned his return We were not long in getting to Sinope where the Prince was wellcomed home by the joy of his Parents and his sister there he found that stout Prince who rendred him a great deal of civility and was reanswered by Arizobanes with the like The good King Pharmach knowing the wisdome and great discretion of the Prince his son was resolved to be ruled by his Counsel in this match The Princess whom I dare compate to none but your sister having her spirit as full of meekness as her face of beauty found a great antipathy in her against Pampatius and could by no means away with his rough nature being every way more fit for a souldier under Mars than Venus and his looks accompanied with so much fierceness that they were rather a terriculum than an allurement to Ladies There was nothing in him that was amiable or to be regarded but strength and valor Philadelphia being afraid lest she should have been given a prey to this Monster soon discovered her mind to the Prince and assaulted him with so many tears that he assured her no consideration of state whatsoever should make him yield to any thing contrary to her mind This resetled that fair one and expelled the fear that had a long time cruciated her Arizobanes stimulated by the remembrance of Panâ—hea hasted to dispatch this affaire what he could and delivering his opinion to his father accompanied with many reasons made him resolve oâ— give his answer in the negative to Pampatius who having receiv'd the answer and seeing his hopes and vain expectations frustralled left the court with as much brutishnesse and incivilty as might be threatning that they should know whom they had offended The King was something fearfull of the sequele but being comforted by the Prince he was resolved to stand to his determination Philadelpha she receiv'd her name from the City in which she was born rendred her brother abundance of thanks for what he had done for her and thank't the Gods for that delivery moâ—e than she would have done for the preservation of her life Pampatius having heard that Arizobanes was the chief frustrator of his desires intended to wreak all his fury upon him and within two or three dayes after his departure sent him a challenge very secretly The Prince knowing him valiant would have no suspition of treachery and being valiant himself promised to meet him at the place appoynted Arizobanes having called me to him commanded me to bring him his most approved arms as secreetly as I could into the back garden belonging to the pallace Having perform'd his will whilst he fastned his armour I brought a couple of horses and mounting I follow'd him not dareing to ask him his intent When we were a dozen furlongs from the city he told me that he was going to parley with Pampatius about his sisters marriage I understood him presently erected my thoughts to the caelestiall deities for his preservation We were come to the place appointed which was in a valley about two miles from the City compassed about with hills and woods where we found Pampatius with his Squire according to the agreement Their armours were both chosen for the strength and not for gallantry there being no spectators to behold the beauty of their armes 't was no tornement in a theator and the shining steel was not aureated nor enricht with stones The Parthian coming up with much boldnesse told Arizobanes that although he had deny'd him the possession of his sister he should not deny him for recompence of it his life The Prince told him
deepest meditations and casting himselfe at her feet would have spoke but that her anger prevented him For rising up extreamly mov'd at his presence pierc'd the soul of that prostate Prince with whole showers of angry darts which she sent from her eyes and before he was able to open his mouth stopt it for ever with these words Disturber of my repose I cannot bear your sight but with impatiency If you intend to oblige me you must never more see me These words more killing than the greatest thunder bolt struck Arizobanes as dead at her feet she departed from the place with Arâ—elia and left him miserably extended on the grasse when he saw she was gon he got up and looking after her with eyes that testified his distresse perceived that she said something to me I hasted to the Prince being in the garden all the while and expected by the Princesses words to find him as I did Lamedon said he hide not the confirmation of that doom which but now I have received hide it not from me but tell me truly what the Princesse said to you I did not dare to dissemble with him so that I told him the truth which was this That she bid me tell him she was forced to infringe the laws of civility since he was filled with so much importunancy and that she could no longer breake her repose for his pleasure and therefore she desired him to leave her and disturb her no more with his presence These words wrought the like effect as the former and it was a long time before I could recall his senses from a banishment which had like to have been eternall Ushering his words with heart-breaking suspira's Yes Panthea I will obey and give you that repose you desire it may be my death may be gratefull to your eares when you are assured you shall be free from your tormentor I confesse I have been too impudent and too bold but I will endeavour to exterminate a monster so horrible to your sight He was not to be comforted and therefore I permited him to ease his passion with such ejaculations without interrupting him That night he clos'd not his eyes but imagin'd all the precipitances as could be hardly tormenting enough to expiate his crimes The next morning pretending businesse into Itali he left Thrace and landing in Asia after he had traversed all the woods and solitary places he found out this cottage free from neighbours and very solitary Resolving to end his life in these woods he would have sent me away unlesse I would swear by those oaths which we account damnable to break not to contradict him but to let him follow those dictates which his love and dispair gave him I was forc'd to to do this strict obedience rather then I would leave him I hoped that my perswasions might prevaile against all precipitances and that at least if he dyed I might have the honour to accompany him We came to this cottage and freeing our horses of their burdens gave them the liberty of these spatious woods we exchang'd our clothes for these you found us in by the help of these two anent people and enriching them with all the gold jewels the Prince had about him purchas'd our living their love The wood where you found us was the entertainer of my Prince where he spent al the day somtimes most part of the night emiting the complaints that would have forc'd the heart of the princes to compassion had it been of stone or never so obdurate if she had hard them every day increasing not diminishing his sorrows he resolved to live no longer being too weak to undergo a burthen so insupportable he hid is intentions from me till this day bringing me to the place were you found us the ordinary place for his lamentations having pared the rine of a young tree to writ on with a reed for that purpose He sent me away to seek him such another but before I returned he had made the wound in his side and was characterising with his blood I ran to him and screching out would have stopt it but he taking up the dagger put me in mind of my oath and commanded me not to disturb him but to let him finish what he had begun to write I beseeched him not to let me behold so horrid a perpetration but to let me die with the same weapon No sad he you are to survive me and if ever you bore me any affection shew it at this instant in promising to obey my desires you must deliver to the Princess Panthea what I am about to write with my heart that is loyal though miserable I gave a great screech at these words and beg'd I might not be tyed to such an execution But that power which alwayes forced me to obey him constrained me to be silent and permitted him to finish his death so strangely I intended to have obeyed him but noâ— to have survived my obedience a moment But the gods pitying this Love-distroyed Prince hath sent you to do a miracle and to recal a life certainly past into the lower shades The Prince Dardanus having heard this sad and deplorable relation could not but blame you of too much temerity to precipitate a Prince so â—ffectionate Lamedon having fetcht him what the Prince had wâ—oâ— dyinâ— his Highness could not read it without sighs so moving it was After he had read it he put it up and promised the Squire to satisfie the Prince concerning it In a weeks time Chiron had brought Arizobanes to his senses and Dardanus presented himself to him and told him by what means he had been saved Ah! Gods said Arizobanes I cannot contest with your Divinities yet pardon me if I cannot give thanks for the saving of my life But is it Dardanus that is my Conservator how little reason hath he to preserve that which is unsupportable to his sister The Prince comforting him with words naturally sweet and moving perswaded him not to afflict himself so much and promised him to use the utmost of his power to make him happy Arizobanes presently called for what he had written the Prince believing his intentions got some more of that kind of paper and giving the right to the Squite bid him give it to his Master After he had looked it over and sigh'd he commanded him to burn it in his presence Dardanus unwilling that you should loose the sight of that strong testimony of his passion conveighed the blanks into the fire and preserved these unseen Arizobanes every day recovering of his wound began at last to leave his bed The Prince seeing the place so discommodious for his recovery would have perswaded him to have accompani'd him to Byzantium but Arizobanes would not be brought to it for fear of disobeying At last the Prince perswaded him to return to Paphlagonia and his wound being whole enough to permit him travel Dardanus would not leave him till he had seen him
love the virtuous This which he beares you is nothing but a lust that would lead him to actions unfit to be spoken and for which end he hath made Sejanus his pandar Dardanus was amazed at these words being not able to speak a great while At last But do'st thinke it Epidauro said he extreamly irritated Oh heavens can man be guilty of such crimes I 'le make Caligula sensible he hath no effeminate in hand and Sejanus repent that ever he serv'd him in this action Sir said I I beseech you do not praecipitate your selâ— into actions that may acquire the anger of Tiberius and so endanger your life upon my thoughts and imaginations at least have clearer knowledge from their own words or actions before you make such considerable men your enemies and run your self into inevitable ruin by a temerity that can do you as little good as you can do them hurt I had but just lay'd the Princes passion when Caligula came in my Master gave him a reception without exhibiting any disturbance or shew of anger Methought I saw at his first coming in I know not what flagrancies in his eyes which I believe was but the exhibition of that abomiable lust which boyled in his veines He expressed his wonted civilities and sought to expresse the ardency of his affection by the stricktnesse of his embraces My master entertain'd him with many ordinary discourses which he seemed to endure with wounderfull impatience and often turning his eyes like comets on Dardanus thought to make him understand his desire by that ocular demonstration At last the prince as 't were complying with his desires which he did to see the utmost of his inrentions led him into a chamber which was his orâ—inary place of repose and seating himself upon the side of the bed gave liberty to Caligula to exhibit what he was It was a long time before the strength and sury of his Lust could overcome that awe which the gravity and Majesty of young Dardanus had struck him with 't was that suspended his embraces till night began to vaile that Majesty and seem'd to lend its darknesse to shoddow a crime unworthy the least of any light The darknesse begining to hide those fair eyes of the Prince which stroak an awe into the soul of Caligula and which with their lightning carried such a virtue that o're power'd the vicious thoughts and instigations of that wretch he began to cast his lascivious armes about his neck and pressing his cheeks with his lips Ah dear Dardanus said he how surpassing is thy beauty all the Romane dames Thou hast rob'd them of all their glory and the beauty of the fairest could never gain that power over my soul as thine has done with that he pressed the Prince backward upon the bed and began to use uncivill actions which were the preparitories to his crimes Dardanus throughly heated with a generous disdaine forc'd himself up and thrusting Caligu'a backward overturned him in the flore Base Paedicator said he was this the scope of your faind love and affection Did you thinke me some Spâ—do that could indure the embraces of a monster fraught with impieties and the most horrid of crimes This moment ought to give termination to that impious life of thine but I spare it for the sake of Germanicus who never did act worthy repentance or crimination but in giving life to thee Caligula was so amaz'd at this repulse that 't was a long time er'e he could recollect himselfe to speake Dardanus said he at last I should take this at no mans hands living besides yours 'T is I that am abused for you gave leave for that perpetration which otherwise I should not have dar'd to have ventured on When replyed the Prince By Sejanus said he this day He hath both deceived and abused you replyed Dardanus For such horrid impieties never entred into my breast but I shall rewâ—rd his lenocinium and make the hilts of my sword kisse that breast so full of impieties The Prince calling me commanded that Caligula might be lighted forth with a tapor and turning from him went into another room he stood a great while with his eyes dejected at last seeing the Prince not there he followed me muttering I know not what revenge Tell your master said he to me at parting that he will repent what he hath done he should have considered my quallity and power when he affronted me Dardanus little regarded his threats when I told him but smiling I did not said he believe such vicious desires could have been harbourd in the breast of man as I now see by this paedo This City reply'd I as it hath in it the most eminent virtues so likewise hath it the greatest vices they are both intermixed and neither are wanting in this populous place The next day Dardanus met Sejanus in the street and not being able to moderate his anger told him very roughly that the day before he had relinquish'd his office of captain to play the Pandar or worse and for reparation he desired to accompany him into the feild where the should see he was neither woman nor child Sejanus being of a temper extreamly cholorick gave command to some of his souldiers that followed him he being captain of the Pretorian Cohorts to cut my master in peices They who were not to dispute the legality of his command shewed they were true souldiers by their blind obedience about ten of them evaginated their swords whose glittering had been enough to have sent a mean spirited man to the lower shads The Prince as young as he was nothing terrified at their number or power drew his weapon and with the first thrust had almost sunk Sejanus with giving him a sight of the effusion of his own blood Go base stuprator said he the life of Drusus and the whordome thou hast committed with his wife should in justice have long since finished thy dayes The souldiers in the mean time had let fall their weapons on Dardanus and had made way for the effusion of that blood which was too royal to be so basely spilt I gave him my weak asistance the love I bore him made me more valiant than ordinary But the wonders that the Prince did are incredible he fought not like a man despaireing of his life or desirous to dye in a kind of furious precipitancy but like one of Judgment and wisdom so guarding himself and so offending them that he laid eight of them at his feet to accompany the other two which fortunatly I had slaine These were Romans and of the stoutest of the Romans and therefore you will look upon it more then the routing of an hundred Asians But this extream valour could not have long deterred my masters death for twenty more of those souldiers drawing their swords had devided us into as many peices if at that instant Caligula had not come to our assistance who seeing so great hurly burly in the middest of the
pirates never imagining his deceit having seen him hitherto so cordiall and active in all encounters applauded it as a notable stratagem Prepareing for this businesse he drew out the band of prisoners telling them that it would colour the stratagem the better from their enemies and leaving them instructions what to do he with drew out of the fight of the rest of the pirates and seeing none with them but those that had been prisoners he told them what he had done letting them know he was in earnest and not in jest that they after had destroyed those they should enter the fort where they should extirpe the last of that viperous brood He aggravated their crimes and how pleasing 't would be to the Gods and how acceptable to men The unlawfulnesse of their actions and cruelties of their natures he extold their valour told them he enduced them to nothing but what was glorious and to what they should see him lead them with a free hand The sense of their miseries and indignities received stimulated some to revenge and others accounting it an act meritorious to extirpate such destroyers of human society were excited to perpetrate it some out of fear to be repugnant and others out of compliance so that there was none dissenting but all gave him their hands to do their utmost for their in extermation Araterus presently appearing was met with a false skirmish according to his appointment but they found to their cost that 't was a true one they saw they were betrayed when 't was too late to help themselves They from the fort seeing the verity of Araterus's promise rallied all their men and issued out to help to end his enterprize Araterus seeing them let them destroy their adversaries whilst he rallying his confederates took breath and assoon as he saw the others had done their work he intimated to his that now was their last part to be played they fell upon them wearied with slaying theiâ— fellows and amazed at this surcharge were halfe slain before they could recollect themselves Araterus as if he had conserved himselfe for this last part did such amazing actions that they attributed the sele overthrow to the vigour of his arme Most of them were slain very few escaping from our fury and by this meanes our selves were left free and those monsters and robbers exterminated their deaths and destruction exhibiting how dangerous a thing it was to trust an enemy Araterus having divided the Pyrats treasure amongst their exterminators stayed but few dayes before he departed and accompanying some of the prisoners that were of Gaul we put into the river Ligeris Parting with his company assoon as he was on shore he resolved to travell over that countrey Having followed our intentions some few dayes as we were taking the fresh refrigerating air under the umbrella's of the trees we heard the confused musick of the yelping hounds which having run down a fair stag deprived him of his life close by us The company comming in amongst the rest we observed a gentleman of a very handsome port who seeing Araterus so night came and saluted him very courteously Araterus having returned his complement with an increment of words describing you as well as he could made an enquiry after you and at the gentlemans request told him how he lost you and your name He had no sooner heard it but with open arms embracing him he told him that the prison of his arms should retain him 'till he had padroned that crime which Love Duty and necessity had made him commit against him Declaring presently what had hapned to him and you made himself be known to the Bruadenor Prince of the Veneti Having in a word heard of your exploits knowing by him of your going into Spain Full of joy for this encounter we would have immediately departed but Bruaâ—enor expressing the great affection he bore you forc'd us to accompany him to a faire lodge where he entertained us after a most royall manner continually praising your vertue and valour with an affection as ardent as his words were suaveous Two dayes being expired we left him contrary to his desires having pressed us much to have gon to his pallace with him where he promised Araterus that entertainment he was unable to give in those woods whither he had retyred to divert himselfe We left him sure in an unfortunate hour for taking our journey directly to Spain we were come to the Pyrenaei when a very violent feavour seizing upon Araterus imprisoned him in his bed all that summer the next spring arriving before he was able to go abroad His feavour was augmented by the dolor he received at his stay having fed himselfe with the hopes of seeing you I could not leave him in that barbarous place among mountaines and those messengers we sent we never more heard of the wars beeing then hot in Spain 't was very difficult for any to passe without being taken prisoners or slaine Assoon as he was able to sit his horse he left his habitation and past the Pyreâ—aei but we were no sooner in Spain but we were taken by a band of Romans who delivering us to the camp martial we were detain'd amongst other prisoners which the fortune of war had given them We were sent immediately to Taâ—racon and to the extreame grief of us both detain'd there all that summer till that the Austures Gallicians and Cantâ—brians were wholy subdued and setled under their government Then the Prisoners being distributed with other prizes amongst the Captains we were allotted to so generous a one that he seeing something more than common in the behaviour of Araterus freely gave us both our liberties which we accepted with immensity of thanks for an act so worthy a Roman Seeing our selves free I unripped my doublet and with some gold I there kept in banco furnished our selves with horse and armes Hope of finding you yet in Spain made Araterus resâ—lve a thorow search of that country and directing our course towards the Câ—ntabrâ—â—ns we went up the river Jberius extenuating the discommodities of heat by the coolnesse and pleasantnesse of the rouling waters The excessive heâ—t of the Sun made us spend the meridies under the shadow of the fair spreading trees which made a kind of grove all along the rivers side Araterus being extended on the grasse was taking that repose the meridiall heat insensibly draws one to when not far from us I heard one who with a kind of angry murmur reiterated your name and Amenia's with Epithets that shewed that rage and revenge were his chief simulators awaking Araterus at this accident I told him what I heard and invited him to hear more creeping on our knees and hands upon the grasse we came close to those thick bushes that interposing hindred us from seeing him where we heard him in close and an angry tone invoke the Gods for your destruction and petition them that he might but find you to revenge himself for the
injuries you had done him Amongst many other words that his fury and distemper made him utter I retained these Cruel mischance cryed he out just as I hoped for the fruition I had so long expected but who can conquer Fortune that mocker of our hopes I thought I had been past all danger of her mockeries I thought she had done her utmost against me I thought the cruell Goddesse had given me Amenia for to recompence the losse of the Kingdom she hath taken from me Cruell destiny inexorable goddesse thou art nothing but illusions no thou knowest no other way to make Mandone throughly miserable but by this last ereption of all my comfort with Amenia furies snakehaired sisters asist me Fill me with your veniferous potions add fire to my flames and let your stings give me no rest till I have revenged my self on that cursed vagabond Euripedes and that strumpet Amenia Assist me in my invention and they shall know there is no rage like that of love converted to fury and revenge your selves shall be lesse cruell than I will be in inflicting those tortures rage wrath and revenge provoke me to No Euripedes thy weak arme cannot help thee now I am assisted by the internall Furies wrath and revenge Thou shalt find that my arme is stronger than it was and the inspiration of rage hath augmented my forces And thou Amenia shalt repent thee of thy folly thy beauty nor teares shall move me to any pity no I will blind my eyes with revenge and answer thy demerrits with whips of steel Araterus after he had listned a while to the rage and fury of this man impatient of longer delay and hoping by him to learn some newes of you lest his secret ausculation and presenting himselfe to that mad man I have heard said he accidentally what your fury hath made you vent against a man whom I go in Quest of and who is my friend and kinsman The ardent desire I have to meet with him induces me to pardon your crime upon condition you direct me where I might find him otherwayes consanâ—tinity and fâ—iendship ties me to chastise the irregularities of your tongue The man who by thâ—â—e words was sufficiently roused cast himselfe upon his feet evâ—ginating his sword Gods cryed he I thank ye for sending one that dares maintaine the Quarreâ—l of Euripâ—des how great eâ—â—e will this be to me that his friend shall bear the first Stigma's of my fury Without other words he assaulted Araterus with his eyâ—s that shewed rage and desâ—eâ—atenesse and with so much strength and fury that it made me doubt of the event Araterus opposed him with a sufficient courage and animosity and oppoâ—ed to his strength and fury skill and Judgment The battle hung long in suspence blood and wounds having been equally shar'd till at last after three hours endeavour Victory began to declare her selfe for Araterus Mandone beâ—inning to faint with the losse of blood and courage I expected every minute when he would fall when Fortune shewing one of her usuall pâ—ankes had like to have given away the victory and life of Araterus to Mandone Araterus warding a back blow of Mandone's and stepping back stumblâ—d at a shrub which intangling his leg flung him on the ground Mandone noâ— loosing that opportunity thrust his sword in at the buckling of his Curace which neverthelesse with the sudden turning of Araterus mist his body and piercing the other side pinned him fast to the ground Mandone drawing his dagger sell upon him and had there put a period to the life of Araterus If I seeing the danger he was in had not whilst he was busie in taking away the life of Araterus deprived him of his with a thrust which I gave him in at the back Araterus arising pulled off the cask of Mandone and finding him stone dead instead of the thanks I expected very angerly told me that he had rather he had dy'd than that his honour should be destain'd by so cowardly an act Abash'd at this insulsity I replyed that no wise men but would disowne such generosity which had rather lose a liâ—â— that ought to be preferred to all the world before the breach of such a foolish punâ—illo I told him that I did not do it till necessity urg'd me to it and that it was no stain to his honour himselfe not consenting to the fact and that I hoped he would not be angry at my care of his life but rather that he should have accounted me a monster to have stood by and have seen him murthered without lending him my assistance My teares haveing more poweâ— than my words and promising to offend him no more in the like pacifyed his anger and reconciled him to me Leavinâ— the place and the dead body of Mandoâ—e we rode to the next village where we spent a mon'th in the cure of Araterus his wounds Their sanation being perfected we searched all those places where we had any hopes of meeting with you the last Countrey being the Cantabrians where not finding you and believing that you were returned home we took shipping at Flaviobriga with an intent to do the like Our sailes swelled with a prosperous wind till we had compassed Spain and were almost come to those straits that give entrance into the Mediterranean Sea A reâ—â—â—ting gale arising by little and little the ship notwithstanding the endeavours of the mariners far from the entrance of the strait and withstanding their art and paines bore them into the midst of the Ocean The skie began to befrown his serene face with spissous clouds and to muffle himselfe with an unwonted obscurity darknesse and horror began to empale us round The eyes of heaven continually shot down upon us fulmineous flames his voyce bespeaking our deaths with a tonitruous eccho Every man had his deaths symptomes in his face fear having tainted the cheeks of all the Passengers with a pallid hew The winds breaking their Hyperborean prison fomented the waters which with a kind of imperious greatness swel'd into liquid mounrains opposing it self to the agil lightning Our ship left to the mercy of the winds ran far into those traceless paths ore which Dedalus's wings had never soar'd where lost in that new world of waters it sometimes mounted to the Poles and by and by sunk to the vally of Stix between the aqueous rocks which perpetually threatned with an eternal Tumulation those poor souls with whom fear and sorrow were continual Concomitants Driven thus with a perpetual Hurricano for ten dayes together towards the Antartick Pole we found the Sun almost in our Zenith which penetrating us with its ardoâ— made us know the intolerable heats of those Climatâ—s The storm now tired with assaulting us or else giving a trace to our almost quite-spent Barque abated and heaven unfrowning his face seemed to smile on our miseries There were no gods left unthank'd for this serenity and being reviv'd from that death Dispair had cast them into they
ruin and subversion of us all unlesse the Queen yielded her selfe to his demands we dayly here out of Sinnana of the great preperation that he makes to invade us which enforces our Queen to raise her forces for her defence resolving to withstand his fury and defend her selfe against his injuries So that peace is now leaving the stage which she hath Kept so long and Mars is coming to act a new and bloody scene Cleoputulus so was our Entertainer called thus ended suscitating a desire in Araterus by this relation of the Wars to go and present himself to the Queen and desired to be listed amongst the number of her Soldiers He made his Hospitator acquainted with his mind who immediatly commending his intentions strengthned his desire and profered him any thing that might further his intentions Araterus after he had resolved upon it and had cloth'd himself after the manner of the Countrey in loose thin garments he took his leave of the kind and generous Cleopotulus and according to his directions took the way towards Sinda the chief City in that kingdome of Sornalea which stood at the ingulfing of a very long river into the sea of Bengan and which sprung from a lake amongst those mountains which serve for an impregnable Mure against the Tartars incursion into Sinana In this famous City Queen Amarillis kept her Court and to which after a few weeks travel we arrived All the Cities that ever we had seen before was nothing to this both for the extent fairness and pleasantness of it Should I tell you the bigness of it you would think it incredible and believe that I fabulate but those that are any thing acquainted with the buildings of the East will not so much wonder at it we entred it when the Sun had scarce ran two hours of his diurnal course and before we could attain the Pallace which stood in the midst of the city and though we went on horse back he had past as many from the Meridian It was so populous that you would have thought all the people of the Kingdom had met there as at a fare The houses were extream fair and well built being most of stone Round that large City ran a wall with battlements and towers with about a hundred gates so strong that it rendred it impregnable on the one side as it was washt with the river and the South side butted towards a kind of sine which breaking forth of the gulf came thorow the City to the Pallace walls on which continually floted thirty thousand boats And though there were so many people and that it was so vast a City yet every thing seemed so decent in so good order that in all that ever we had seen there was no thing like it At that instant one of Euripedes servants came to give him notice that their dinner waited on them which made Meador stop and give liberty to Euripedes to incite his guests to accept of that small repast which his Grot could afford Every one shewing the pleasure they received in Meadors relation could hardly be perswaded to spare so much time but at last following Euripedes they entred another room which they found furnished so deftly that it expressed he had been one of great estate After the handsome excuse of Euripedes for his mean accommodations for so illustrious persons they fell to their repast which they soon finished having a great desire to hear the conclusion of Meadors relation After they had dined they return'd to the same place where they were before and being seated Meador knowing their desires directing his speech as he did before to Euripedes he thus proceeded in his relation Having glutted our eyes with beholding the variety of Objects as we passed thorow the City we came at last to the Pallace about the time I have mentioned Having provided for our horses in those houses for entertainment we went to view the Pallace which we found agreeable with the rest of the City full of state and the structure mixed with strength and beauty It was mounted upon a little rising hill which made it shew to the City as the head to the body both for ornament and command It was not only the head of the City but of the whole kingdom at that time for in it sat her Majesty with her great Councel to determine concerning those things which the necessity of their affairs made them to resolve upon Having viewed the external part of it Araterus somewhat boldly for a stranger ascended a pair of staires which led us into divers stately Halls passing many of them we at last had lost our selves and knew not which way to return at last trying every turning and entrey we descended a pair of staires which brought us into a very large garden in which were near an hundred Partizans At the farther end of this garden was the Councel Chamber in which the Queen and her Council then was these Partizens being their common guard Ignorance often causes boldness for not knowing the custome of the Countrey we entred the garden which it seems was present death for any to do whilst the Council sat without the Certificate of the High-Priest to shew their urgent occasions The Partizans presently flocking about us asked us for our Certificates but our looks demonstring to them that we were ignorant of what they meant they streight-way cryed out Traitors and Spies and collimating their Javelins at us began to make us know into what error we had run Araterus would fain have had them understand that ignorance an I fortune had brought him ro that place but their noise and eagerness of endeavouring to deprive us of our lives took away the audition of his words and made him see that if his sword could not prove more effecacious thâ—n his speech he was there to finish his life after his travels and miseries We both drew for our defence and did what ever could be expected from men hemmed in on every side with death-threatning weapons We had both received many wounds but for every wound Araterus gave a death and for every drop of blood he shed whole pools of theirs and did things through desperateness that were ever after esteemed Miracles Valour must have at last given place to number and life to death if we had not been immediatly rescued The noise that proceeded from this Encounter was heard amongst the Councel which at the first approach imbued them all with fears of treachery and complottings All desired to know the cause of what they heard but every one was affraid to leave his seat least at their first peeping forth of doers they should meet with the instruments of death many of them knowing what belonged to a gown but very little to a sword they could order but not act At last Peomontile uncle to the Queen and one in whom Mars and Mercury made a pleasing conjunction left his seat and entring the garden found us both at the
about her confest he was the most accomplished stranger that ever they had seen The Queen conversing with him asked him many questions concerning his Countrey and Nation and concerning his birth and quality with divers other things of our Manners Customes and Lawes to all which Araterus answered so promptly so gracefully and with such satisfaction and pleasure that they found no wearisomness in a discourse that lasted two hours nor had been scarcely broken off then but that the Sun revisiting the western parts of the world began to leave the Orient destitute of his light and splendor Both being well satisfied with each others wit and behaviour Araterus at the Queens command retired she telling him that he should the next day attend her in the Camp where there being a general Muster she would assign him a place to serve her in promising that he should not find her ingrateful to his services Araterus returned more fired than before and so full of ardencies that he vowed to serve her all the rest of his dayes without ever thinking of returning to his own Countrey again He thought her worthy of all honour and esteem and believed that the sacrificeing of a thousand lives in her defence would not be a victim sufficient to obtain the least favour or grace Whilst Araterus spent the night in those unusual agitations Love and Desire caused the Queen with no less disturbance past it over in the silent meditation of him She sought oftentimes as she told Araterus afterwards to interdict his appearance in her memory and to banish him into oblivion but he pressed on so heard and appear'd arm'd with so many charms that 't was impossible for her not to give him admission into her thoughts This night being passed over with very little sleep on the part of Araterus he appeared on the morrow at the place appointed which was in a large plaine on the North-side of the City In that place was met the whole strength of the kingdome in so gallant an equipage that we accounted it the greatest rarity we had yet seen I doubt what I shall tell you will be scarce credited when you shall compare the Armies of the East of Asia with those of this part or of Europe not considering the vastness of their Countryes and populosity of them the land not being sufficient to contain them is fain to borrow habitations for millions on his neighbour element The plaine which was only covered with trees towards the City was of an extent of many Leagues on which was spread milions of Tents made of a thin kind of stuff imbued with divers colours being branched forth into rare works and compartments On the top of the Chieftaine's or according to their language Birebassaâ—'s Tent of each Province or Shire hung the Insigna of each Province to which all of that Province were to repaire Of these there were seven Tents that carried Insigna's six of the Provinces and one of the Cities which had an Insigna by it self besides the royal standards of the Queens which appeared more superb then all These head or capital Tents stood an equal distance each from another and although it were on a plaine on which the Horizon might be seen a vast way the lines lying plane and level yet the tops of the one could hardly be perceived from another They were placed four square makeing a small intrenchment for many Leagues about each Tent leaving large spaces betwixt for the exercise of armes Within these entrenchments were the Tents of all the under Captaines with their Companies which consisted most commonly of five thousand The tent with the insigna of Sinda was pitched next to the City all their Companies being stretched along by the wall of the City the other standing like a large Quadrangle enclosed the royal Tent of the Queens which at a distance exhibited it self like a large Castle in which was variety of rooms and conveniencies and yet made with such art that in six hours it could be either set up or taken down its greatness nothing hindring its portage there being Elephants for that purpose The Tents set forth with variety of paintings and imbellished with streamers rendred themselves very pleasing Objects to the sight but the innumerable companies of men and arms amazed us and made us believe that 't was impossible they should be overcome yet they confest they expected their enemies with far greater force Whilst we were amazed at what we had seen we saw another thing which would at first sight seem a great wonder amongst us 'T was a Charriot which comming on the left hand of us ran a great pace over the plane without the drawing of any living animal You would have thought it had been inchanted or that your eyes had been deluded we indeed counted it strange at first but having often seen them used 't was no wonder to us The first inventor of them was a Sinanan who intended to make the land navigable that they might sail as well upon the land as the sea They were made in form of a boat with four wheels with springs and engines that rendred it flexible every way The guidance was not without art and was managed by one who as the Pilot in the ship kept it direct before the wind In the middle it had small Masts on which were spread the sails that being swoln with the wind moved the Charriot a great swiftness over the plane This Chariot which we saw we soon knew by the richness and the insigna to be the Queens which took the way to her royal Tent being followed by all her Court. Araterus rode not far from the Charriot all the while contemplating of those things which are memorable to Lovers Afteâ— she had entred her Tent which illustrated the whole plane and a while reposed her self Araterus was had in by Peomontile The Queen was seated in a kind of Throne advanced by some steps in a spacious room where she expected all the Chieftains of the Provinces to render up their Muster rolls that she might know the number of the men and arms I will remit the nominating of their Captains or Provinces being only names harsh and barbarous in your ears and only give you an account of their number and order that I may not render you weary with my prolixity Peomontile being the Chieftain of the City had the first place of presenting the number of men under his charge which were an hundred and fifty thousand with five thousand Elephants with Castls divided into troops and subdivided into Companies every Captain of a Company having under him five thousand and of a Troop fifty thousand The other Chieftains in order presented the Queen likewise with their rolls after they had been admitted to kiss the end of her robe the first Province brought two hundred and eight thousand men well armed and appointed with a thousand Elephants the second as many the third ten thousand more the fourth brought five
seeing the resolutions of the Queen not having any sinister opinion of Araterus seem'd contented and leaving the Queen with his authority and perswasions he at last pacified the souldiers and begat a better opinion in many of Araterus who hearing of these passages extreamly desired to rectifie their thoughts concerning him by his actions which he effected soon after Every one expecting the enemies with much impatiency prepared all things that were necessary for their defence The City was every where fortified and well guarded the ports all along the gulfe secured the fine that came into the City chained up with a kind of fort made of boates to defend it and at the mouth lay their ships and boates ready prepared most of all the bigger vessels being armed with sithes hooks and their prowes set with sharpe Irons to spoyle their tackle and ships There was nothing wanting that those Kingdomes could afford either for their own defence or to oftend their enemys Araterus also animating his souldiers to the defence of their Queen their own lives and liberties set them on fire with a longing to be fighting with their enemies that they might testifie the courage his words had inspired into them After some few dayes the fleet of the enemies was discovered from the summit of a high tower which consisted of such an innumerable company of vessells that the sea seemed to groan under their weight The noise of their enemies instruments as Clarons Trumpets Flutes and such like being heard they were reanswered from the fleet of the Sornaleans with the like and with shouts that exhibited they were nothing feared with their approach Two dayes they lay in the gulfe within fight of the fleet without shewing the least signe of engageing the third being favoured with a full winde they came up towards ours with such a shout that the fowle which flew over their heads through the clarification of the aire fell as dead among their ships The â—uâ—mits of all the towers of the City were filled to behold this first naval encounter and the Queen with the chief ladies in the Kingdome being mounted on a high tarrasse had a very fair prospect on the sea Assoon as they were come within shoot of one another the Sinanaâ—s let fly a volley of shot from those murtherers which I before spake of which so beat the aire that it shoke the firmest buildings in the City the smoake of the sulpburious powder arising in curles cast so great a mist that it deprived us of the sight of both the fleets This kind of weapon amazed us having never before beheld the like and made us in the midst of that confusion consider its danger The Sornaleans reanswered their shot with another of darts and slings which breaking their way thorow the smoake gave many of their enemies their deaths Knowing that 't was not for their safety to keep at a distance with them they tacked about and gaining the wind came in upon them with a fury not to be depainted Their prowes rushing one against another made a horrible crash and riving many in two let in the indomitable water into their bowels valour was exhibited on both sides and strength and fury reigned every where but the Sinanans having galled our ships with their great shot between wind and water many of them sunke to the bottome of the gulf We could not perceive that before they grappled they were pittifully shaterred both in their tackâ—ing and men but when outs came to a close they repayed them double our enemies ships being so thawc't with men that they hindred the performances of one another so that ours where ever the stroke felled some and made a flaughter that lightned whole ships of their numbers and imbued the whole gulf with the tincture of their blood Blood and Death reigned every where and this encounter lasted many houres accompanyed with all the horror and slaughter that can be framed in the immagination All the ships being intermingled one with another made a strange confused noyse made up of groans and shoutes Araterus had beheld this naumachy with wonderfull impatiency and transports from the forte that defended the sine being ready at every shout and disadvantage to leap into the sea but the remembrance of his charge kept him in the fort and ty'd him to his duty till that he saw the Sornaleans loose ships apace and began to faint being too much pressed upon by their numerous enemies He was then no longer able to contain himself but causing all the small vessels which lay within the rode to be got together he man'd them with thirty thousand men and leaving the rest under command to secure the Key he advanced towards the fleet and with undaunted courage mauger all the endeavours of his enemies himselfe borded their viceadmirall and clearing the decks took her from a whole squadron of enemies The rest emboldened by this action fought so stoutly that the disadvantage perspicuously appeared on our enemies side having lost all those ships they had taken with many of their own Night coming on the sleets separated with a considerable losse on both sides ours indeed had lost most vessels but they by far most men 'T was darke before they left them and both cast anchor within sight of each other makeing a shew of another battell the next morning Araterus returned to the sort highly commended by his followers for his valour and courage Love had directed the eyes of the Queen to observe his actions which made her to send for him the same night where she gave him those collaudations and Eulogiums which his modesty would not have accepted and which did but raise up the envie of others though she rewarded all alike lest any should take notice of her partiality she also commanded her own Chirurgions to dresse those wounds he had received which were a thrust into the left hand which he got in boarding the vice-admirall and a shot thorow the same arme by one of their Murtherers By this action Araterus gain'd the favour of many by clearing those suspicions they had of him and especially amongst the rest Peomontile who highly carressed and esteemed him The next morning appearing each side had light to view their losse which was so considerable that they shewed no desire of a second encounter before they had repaired their breaches In this posture the Sinanans continued eight days and being well satisfyed with the courage of the Sornaleans they feared to hazard another battle by sea They saw that the ports were too well guarded for them to land and notwithstanding their great puissance they saw 't was a matter of impossibility to endammage the City Land they must and therefore they endeavoured to effect it without our suspition or knowledge having considered all places that were any thing commodious they pitched on an obscure place which indeed was too weak to make any resistance In the night time as silently as might be they passed most
prepared for us He saw the disadvantages that they had in the ground but being supernumerary in men he hoped to overwhelme ours Besides they had the advantage in weapons half of their men carrying those hand-murtherers He had divided his army into 6. battalions every battallion equalling ours if not exceeding It will be needlesse to describe this battle to you though it were one of the bloodiest and greatest that ever was fought in the East both for that your self have been in many and therefore know the heat and Mars-full Enthusiasme that then agitates generous and couragious spirits and that I may not terrifie these Ladies with the relation of nothing but horror blood and death Besides should you desire it I could not give it you exactly as it was because I had no time to observe that congression on the land being ingaged so hotly in that on the Sea The Queen with the most considerable Ladies in the Kingdome was mounted on the utmost summit of the Rock that they might the better assault Heaven with their prayers and that they might behold a battel that made the strongest amongst them yield themselves to fears and fainting As for the Queen believe me she could not permit her eyes to behold whether her army weâ—e like to prove victorious or not although on it depended her crown riches state honour and it may be life such a power had love above fear in her soul Her eyes were inseparable to the navie and you may believe that 't was for Araterus's sake that she was so partiall as to regard that battle on the sea more than that on the Land Indeed her eyes sought for Araterus 't was a very easie matter for love to make her finde him he rendering himself so signall and remarkable She saw him do wonders and miracles and as if victory still attended him she could not withdraw her eyes from observing him and indeed his actions were so immense that they chain'd her eyes to him with a kind of pleasinng charm and inchantment They followed him thorow the thickest presse and accompanyed him amongst blood wounds arms I need not tell you that every time she saw him in danger she was struck with fear of loosing him which presently made her change colour a thousand times and which would have been observed by others had not so generall a congression attracted all their eyes with an intensity on their actions Araterus after he had brought terrour wounds and death to all that opposed him and begat an admiration in all that beheld with an undaunted courage being grapled with the admiral entred his ship and there giving death and mortall wounds to all that withstood him made the rest fly whom he pursued into the hold where finding a great deal of combustible matter he flung some of their black powder amongst it and after that some fire which he had got in the ship This incontinently taking fire set the ship into a light conslagration which being drove with a gale of wind amongst the rest caught hold of all that came a near it and the ships lying so close grapled together took it with such futy and so immense a flame that there needed then no other enemy to contest with Our admirall caused as many ships as possibly could to be saved of ours and turning their prows about got forth of the bay and left those flames the victory which gained a very absolute on over them for their ships being so numerous and conjoyned so thick one to another 't was impossible to hinder the progresse of the flame which running from one ship to another at last consum'd the whole navy to ashes with thousands of their men For some flying the fire perish'd in the water and others thinking to escape drowning got into the ships and were burnt Then it was that the flames smoke and consusion had obscured Araterus from the eyes of the Queen she fear'd that she had utterly lost him and that he had perished with thousand others this made her as if the victory depended wholy on his life or death to turn away her head from that fatal place with dispairing eyes as if the combustion of her enemies ships had been to her losse and detriment And if it be true as she said from whom I learn't this afterwards she could not abstain from shedding some teares at the conceited losse of Araterus But her eyes were soon reclear'd for she had no sooner cast them on the midst of the battell but she saw him victorious and conquering and doing his ordinary wonders at the Head of her army He but narrowly escaped the danger of being drowned or burnt but when he had set the ship on fire he gain'd a little boat by my help and sled to the shore amongst the rest â—hâ—t 〈…〉 nothing but the saving their own lives Bâ—ing gâ—t to the shore 〈…〉 our selves amongst the multitude and finding some 〈…〉 and rode to the two armies who were now in the miâ—st of all 〈…〉 The battle there was no lesse blody than that had been on the Sâ—â— and the whole place was become a Sea of blood wherein â—ailed nothing bâ—t Death and Horror At the beginning our men had the worst loosing four to one but Peomontile perceiving the odds in their weapons knew that to overcome them 't was necessary to conjoyn anâ— to come to handy-strokes with them which they knowing the advantage they had declinâ—d with dexterity enough After he had endeavoured it for some houâ—s in vaine he caused about fifty thousand Elephants to advance from the top of whose Castles the Sornaleans did gallant execution and under whose shelter the right wing of the army advanced The Sinanans endeavouring to shun the close siâ—ht had like to have disordered themselves and have given away the victory with a kind of runing retreate At last perceiving 't was inevitable and that their enemies were too pressing they met with a fury that caus'd thousands to dye on either side The valour of our first battell had declared them the victory when they received the shock of the second and being augmented by ours they opposed them with a continued violence Theirs beginning to shrink their third battell advanc'd led by the Prince himselfe which was met by ours with a shout that equalized the noyse that their instruments of death made After many houres dispute the fourth battell in which were both the generalls met and that instant 't was when we came to the army Araterus placing himself in the head of them led them on with a courage that inspired the most cowardly with a desire to do bravely 'T was then indeed that he rendered himself so signall that all that beheld his actions cry'd out miracles and wonders Desiâ—ing nothing so much as glory he was ever tyred with shedding common blood he finds them too weak and unable to resist him and pressing in amongst the thickest he makes his sword tast the flesh of those whom he
fear then that she will think either of his inferiority or her greatness but of her place and duty Love is the mother of obedience for who obeys the gods better than those who love them neither fear or honour can beget so true obedience as love the other are servile this free and ingenuous There is then no fear of those disunions disjunctions and disagreements which he imagins Love being the conjoyner no fear that she will usurp more authority over him than is meet and that she hath gained over his affection But these are vain and idle suppositions for may not the gods cause a disunion and disjunction where they please These things must be left to them who take a special regard over Princes and Kingdomes placing titular Demons or inferior spirits for their safeties If they are minded to unite hearts for the prosperity and felicity of a kingdome what disparity can be an obstacle but if they will disunite and disjoyn the hearts of the Princes for a plague to us what love can bind For this we should make our dayly orations this should be the subject of our prayers and petitions to the gods that they would continue their unity and concord In the the next place my Lord was much besides himself in saying Araterus was one of whom we have had but small experience I wonder what experience he would have can there be greater than we have had can there be more Hath he not given us an essay of his valour prudence magnanimity policy courage and animosity Hath he not been sufficiently trusted with the Army with the Navey with the City what mischief might he have done us had he been false how beneficial hath he been to this kingdome and how much experience have we had of him what greater would he have what greater can he have and yet this man tells us that he is one that we have had small experience of when for this two years he hath been sufficiently employed by the Queen who with all others that are not as malicious as himself have had sufficient experience of his vertues and generosity I am sorry I have said so much to evince a truth so obvious and which in spite of envy himself was forc'd to confess when he goes to eclipse his valour What and every good Captain may not make a good King yet 't is requisite that every good King ought to be a good Captain and he that proves fortunate in the field is most likely to prove fortunate in the Throne and he that is bad in the Camp is not likely to prove good in the Court Their discipline is not so far different as he imagins and though it be granted that he who knowes how to rule an Army may not know how to govern a Kingdome I am sure he that knowes not how to to govern an Army cannot rule a Kingdome for how can he that cannot rule few govern a multitude Is it not most likely that he which can rule himself should rule others and he which can govern an Army govern a Kingdom How can he which cannot rule himself govern a family How can he which cannot govern a family rule a City And how can he which cannot govern a City rule a Province So how can he which cannot rule an Army govern a kingdome But Araterus can tell how to rule an Army therefore we have no fear but that he knowes how to govern a Kingdome He hath shewed himself valiant in the Camp and therefore most likely to shew himself wise in the Court. And truly good Kings ought to be good Captains for where a good Captain comes to be a King there most commonly is the best Government for he which cannot rule few can never govern a multitude At last he would fain insinuate into us a Maxime of policy fram'd to beat down aspiring minds That Princes were only indued with a capacity from the gods to rule others to obey which I deny and though it be little to the purpose I cannot let it pass unanswered I could stop his mouth thus by telling him that Araterus was a Prince and therefore by his own Maxime of a capacity to reign But the falsity is so perspicuous that I need but mention to you the experience we have had of many Princes about us that have lacked a capacity to rule and of others far from the line of Nobility which have received their Titles and Kingdomes and have not only had the capacity to rule but to rule well Is the gods inspiration into Princes any other than education They having a greater means to beget Majesty and magnanimity knowing besides the excellency of Teachers that they are born to a Crown and to rule And were they ignorant of their birth and not nursed up in those princely employments we should see that the gods inspiration is secondary through education But again my Lord mistakes to think we would make our Queen mercenary we know he hath merited much and he hath been well rewarded and we know his modesty would not have accepted the honours the Queen hath given him neither is it his seeking nor our desire as he thinks to reward his deserts with the Queen and kingdome But that my Lord might see that he hath the art to continue its happiness and peace Alas how weak hath he shewed himself in repineing at Araterus's valour when the enemies themselves acknowledge it And though he pleads that his praise was against equity and Justice I never heard him yet superlaudated nor did I hear any ascribe more to him than he deserved Shall we repine at the valour of a man though it eclips'd that of the Sornalians so long as it was for their safety and welfare is this according to equity and justice is this his best gratification for his being instrumental in saving the Kingdome and us What if he beat not the Sornalions himself He cannot deny but that he was the chief cause of their overthrow what if many others ventured their lives as freely what if they were not equally rewarded was there any that did deserve it I believe though that none returned with life from the wars ever complained to him or any else of the ingratitude of the Queen or that they were not satisfied But Araterus's glory is too splendent to be eclipsed with this durt What he is pleased to reflect upon me I value it not though it be contrary to the use and custome of this place to move secret suspition If he thinks me guilty of any thing worthy condemnation let him accuse me according to the way and order of our Lawes For I protest I do it not in any way of gratification to Araterus for that life which I confess I hold from his valour but that I think in my conscience it will be for the happiness and prosperity of the Kingdome Alas what avails it to be vertuous since it cannot shelter from the Calumniator How wickedly and maliciously goes
you expose your life to a thousand dangers I set not so much by my self as to value my life worth those dangers you may expose your self to in redeeming it nor do I want courage to redeem it by my own hand rather than to hold it of another did I not think you still retain'd that passion which you exhibited to me which would make this service as pleasing to you as it will be acceptable to me I give you notice then of my captivity with leave to redeem me and if I must be a captive it shall be to none more willingly than Euripedes It is to you then that I resign my life and fortune and 't is from you I hope to receive my liberty I know not whither I shall be carried therefore I candirect you where to finde me I know your passion will accellerate you to effect my Liberty which when I have receiv'd I shall consider the services of Euripedes by requiting them by what in lawful and just wayes may be required from AMENIA Before I had finish'd the reading of it all that were present saw by the joy I exhibited in my eyes with what content I receiv'd it and reading it over divers times I continued a great while in this consolation framing to my self a happiness which the very next thought dejected for reflecting upon that which I had heard concerning her death it not only mitigated but absolutely took away all the joy I had conceived After I had desired the man that brought me that Letter not to depart from me before he saw me recovered and that the company were withdrawn leaving me to the liberty of my thoughts I uttered many different exclamations both in the sense of my joy and grief Sometimes reading that letter with excesse of joy I ran into those pleasing cogitations that made me to forget my grief and reflecting on every word I could not see her affection without a world of content being that as I then thought that would make me the happiest man living being that which I had desired with so much passion and for which I had expos'd my life to so much danger But these joyes did but augment a grief that came violently upon me at the least reflection of her death for considering that this letter was wrote before I receiv'd that fatal news and that I could find nothing that might contradict it nor could gain no knowledge of the man that brought it you may consider what agonies I was in and with what grief I was agitated by these cogitations I thought that Mandone might sacrifice her to his resentments or that her self rather than yield to him against her inclinations might precipitate her self to death these thoughts with those that the nearness of my happiness and the assurance of her affection had rais'd augmented my dolor in that I lost a happinesse at the point of receiving it Before said I to my self her severity her duty and that law which she had impos'd upon me made me languish in pain and were the only motives of my grief but now her duty is taken away her severity is turned into mildness by her inclinations and that Law is abolisht by her affection yet I languish in paine and more powerful motives to grief are represented to me motives that subvert both my joy and my hope to joy in knowing her affection when she is incapable to render it to me is a folly to hope she should revive it is against reason no no her death is too sure and all my joy and my hope is turn'd to grief and despaire In such respirations I languished for some moments when different motions arose It may be said I again to my self it may be that Amenia lives and expects thee and reproaches thee for thy tardiness in that thou exposest her so long to the violent assaults of Mandone and givest her cause to think that thou slightest her and that may make her fill'd with indignation to give her self up to Mandone more to dispight thee than please her self hasten therefore and do not frustrate her expectation in neglecting to help her by a vain opinion of her death Sure this was my good Genius that insusurrated these suggestions and though they were not able quite to abolish those fatal apprehensions I retain'd of her death yet they made me resolve to festinate the cure of my wounds by yielding to whatsomever might conduce thereto that I might go to Clotuthe to understand the destiny of Amenia and so either to redeem her if living or to follow her if dead The desire I had to be cur'd made me yield to all that was propos'd to me for the curation and in space of a week I left my bed and before another was fully finisht I departed that place fully cured But least suspition should be raised in the breasts of our enemies by our number we divided our selves and took several wayes to Asturica I kept only the young man that brought me Amenia's Letter From him I understood the brave resistance Gurgulinis had made at Lancia against the Romans which had so incens'd the souldiers that their Captain could hardly gain them from turning that Citie into ashes and by the ruines to have made it a perpetual monument of their fury We were come within sight of that stately City Asturica without any adventure when the gods intending to make me the instrument of their justice sent thither the chief of the Brigaecins who was the author of our destruction and had betrayed us to Carisius by giving notice of our designes upon their Camps The beaver of his cask was up so that the young man knew him and discovering to me who he was I resolved to sacrifice him to the Ghost of Lilibilis and to execute that justice upon him which was due to traitors Riding up to him I discovered my self and soon let him know what he was to expect from me his conscience accusing him of the fact he answered not but being valiant he refused not the combate It was soon debated for my anger against the traitor soon augmented my strength so that I left him dead upon the place with almost twenty wounds I receiv'd not any so considerable as to make me to repair to the Chirurgions but stopping their bleeding with such things as I alwayes carried about me I entred Asturica almost in the evening My impatiency gave me no liberty to repose my self that night without seeing Clotuthe and I long'd to know a desting which would either prove fatal or joyful to me I therefore went to that tower wherein I understood she was and the guard knowing my desire to speak with their Captain sent an Officer to understand his pleasure It was not long before he came to me and understanding my desire to see Clotuthe and that it was by her command that I came thither after having used those civilities the Romans were ever prepared with he desired my stay for a moment whilst he