wit and gracefulnesse he yeilded to none among all the Macedonians he had a great dexterity in managing the Kings will and used his fortune with him so well that it was never shaken His stature being taller and his garb more Majestick then Alexanders Sysigambis at first took him to be the King and casting her self at his feet paid him what she believ'd was due from a Captive to her Conqueror and her Master but Hephestion stepping back vvith a great deal of modesty shewed her the King and by his action made her perceive her mistake Sysigambis thought she had committed a very great error and to obtain the Kings pardon for it kneeled down again vvith her daughters beseeching him to excuse the ignorance of a vvoman vvho had never had the happinesse to see him Alexander raising her up vvith much respect you were not at all deceived Madam said he for hee indeed is my second self After that he comforted her vvith the kindest vvords civility and generosity could furnish him withal and by assurances of the same usage she could receive from Darius Their grief vvas something abated by that hope and the King vvho vvould not make his first visit too long confirm'd his promises again and vvent out of their Tent leaving them as well satisfied as they could be in their misfortune He kept his word exactly vvhich he had given them and from that very day gave order to settle their houshold again according to the greatnesse of their quality to furnish them with those Officers they vvanted and vvith guards for their persons restoring them all that splendor which their Captivity seem'd to have taken away In this interim my condition vvas very much changed and that second sight of Parisatis had so vveakned my heart that it vvas no longer able to defend it self nor to avoid those mortal vvounds vvhich it hath so dearly conserved and vvhereof it neither can nor vvill be cured but by the end of my life alone Sorrow appeared so charming in the countenance of that fair prostrate Lady and her eyes though full of vvater threw such fiery piercing darts at me that being quite surcharged vvith love and compassion I vvent forth vvith the King in such a perplexity that I had much adoe to know vvhere I vvas When I vvas gotten into my Tent her Idea came yet more strongly into my remembrance and notwithstanding all the attempts I made to blot it out my passion being vvhetted by that difficulty assaulted me vvith greater violence and seem'd to inflame it self vvith anger at the resistance I made against an affection that vvas so glorious to me Doest thou defend thy self so obstinately said Love against the beauty of Parisatis and must the most accomplished of all creatures have so much adoe to introduce her self into thy heart Doest thou think thou canst owe thy liberty for which thou strugglest so undecently to a more fair or more illustrious person Or doest thou believe thou shouldst doe a mean action unworthy of thy courage if thou shouldst deliver up thy arms to the greatest and most perfect Princesse in the world Thus Love argued to compleat his Victory but Reason replied thus in my defence That which thou alledgest O Love vvere powerful enough to procure thy entrance into a soul less capable of thy impressions but those same advantages which make Parisatis worthy to be adored do likewise settle a despair in us vvhich is the cause vvhy vve oppose thy birth Fortune has not enriched me vvith Crowns which he ought necessarily to wear who shall dare to declare his affections to the daughter of the greatest King upon Earth neither has nature endowed me vvith qualities to vvin the love of the most accomplished of all creatures True it is continued I taking part vvith my Reason that it vvould be a strange presumption to raise my thoughts to her who justly might disdain even Alexander himself as victorious as he is and who with truth believes she may boast to have no equal in the world unlesse her sister may dispute that advantage with her but though the Gods had raised me to as high a pitch of greatnesse as that of Darius it is not probable his daughters should be reserv'd for his most mortall enemyes By these considerations I strove to hinder Love from entring but my arguments were too weake and notwithstanding all my endeavours to keep it out either by the remembrance of Parisatis's birth or by the thought of that hatred which it was likely the house of Darius bore to all Alexanders party I did but vainly oppose its forces and the power of my destiny In short I began to love but to love with so much violence that no affection settled with length of time did ever torment a soul with more vehemence then mine expressed even in its very birth Alas when these first thoughts return into my mind and that I reflect upon the beginnings of my Love I finde how much reason I had indeed to resist it and how great an obligation I had to my good Genius which to withdraw me from that passion so fatal to my repose did charitably represent unto me all those evils which I since have felt In the mean time I lov'd as I have already told you but I loved with so much silence and discretion and with such power over my tongue and actions that it was hard for the most interessed persons to finde any other alteration in me then that of my countenance And truly my affection settled it self with so much respect that for a long time I considered Parisatis as a Divinity to whom I ought to pay my vows no otherwise then as adorations and sacrifices having form'd so high an Idea unto my self that I believ'd the whole Earth was infinitly below her I had the happiness to see her oftentimes with the Queens and the Princesse her sister and the acquaintance I had made with them the day they were taken added to many petty services which in their misfortune I did them with much diligence and affection gave me a freer accesse to them then all the other Princes of Alexanders Court. It is true that my quality afforded me some advantage above many of them and though my youth exempted me from many Offices which their age was more capable of then mine yet was I considered in the Court as one of the nearest to the Crown and among those Illustrious Princesses as he who of all the Princes was most submissive to them and who most ardently sought the occasions to lessen their misfortune by all manner of service and good offices the condition they were in presented opportunities every day either in their own persons or some belonging to them and I laid hoid of them with so much joy that in the end I obliged them all to some particular good will toward me I think Hephestions love took birth assoon as mine but though the Kings favour gave him great advantages he abused
of his arms and then it was that the sorrow which by your absence had begun to possess my heart sought occasions to settle it self there for the remainder of my life But becaus I cannot enter upon my storie without the mixture of another which make's a good part of it I must follow the thread thereof according to the order of time and before I tell you my misfortunes I must discover the caus of them unto you You know that the King was ever of a very amorous complexion and that after the death of the Queen our mother hee had alreadie expressed love to many Ladies of the Court but all those first affections had been without fixing any where and without continuance and it was believed that all that should succeed them would have alike success when for our unhappiness and by the crueltie of the destinies hee fell desperately in love with Stratonice Sister to the unfortunate Arsacomes and daughter to the Prince of the Issedons Shee was bred up with mee as many other Princesses of Scythia although I was younger then shee by five or six years and I may truely say that her beautie the excellenâ—â—e of her wit and a great many good qualities shee possest had produced in mee a real friendship towards her I will not describe a beautie to you Brother which heretofore you were very well acquainted with and I will onely call to the remembrance of this fair Queen who perchance may have seen her during the stay shee made at Issedon that all the features of Stratonice's face are very handsom that her skin is white and delicate her eies and hair black her stature tall and that in all her actions and the motions of her countenance shee hath a great vivacitie and somthing very attractive True it is that shee never made use of her wit to add new graces to it and that having one of the most craftie subtil ones that can bee known shee often imploied it with success to seek her own advantage It was upon the day when the feast of the goddess Tellus was celebrated that shee received the first testimonies of the Kings affection or at least of his particular esteem and of his preferring her before all the Ladies of the Court. There was a sacrifice made unto that goddess in a large open field in the middest whereof an altar was raised upon which the King for an offring was to caus a bason of the finest flowers and fairest fruits the countrie could produce to bee presented by som Ladie who for her beautie virtue or qualitie by his choice deserved to bee so preferr'd above all the rest This honor was so considerable that it was envied by the fairest and those that distrusted the obtaining of it found commonly som pretences not to bee present at that ceremonie Stratonice who certainly had a great deal of reason to pretend to it was one of the first there and of the nearest to mee If shee had any hope of it shee was not deceived for the King never wavered in his choice but looking upon the rest with a kinde of disdain addressed himself presently to her and giving her the bason with his own hands Fair Stratonice said hee receiv this authentick testimonie of the advantage you have over all beauties and present unto the goddess this offring of a King who acknowledge's you worthie of more noble and more solid offrings yourself Stratonice whose ambition had not yet deprived her of the knowledg of her self could not hear these words of the Kings without blushing and very modestly receiving what hee held forth to her shee answered onely with a profound obeisance and acquitted her self exceeding gracefully of what shee had to do for the accomplishment of the ceremonie After that first knowledg of the Kings particular esteem of her shee received many others of an affection taking birth and within a while after of a settled passion Beeing shee at that time had no other designs then what shee might with reason conceiv shee made no great foundation upon it and knowing how truely I loved her shee declared unto mee all the King's proceedings and desired mee to set down the order shee should follow if that fancie should run on I approved her discretion and thanked her for the respect shee shewed mee but not believing that the cours of the King's affection to her would bee of any importance I referred the conduct of it to her own prudence as beeing younger then shee and more ignorant in matters of love In the mean time the King persisted so in that passion that by little and little the world began to lose opinion of his inconstancie and Stratonice to change part of her modestie into an ambition which made her rais her thoughts to unjust hopes shee then left off speaking to mee any more touching the King's prosecutions and concealed that from mee which had formerly made part of our entertainments I carried my self with so much innocence towards her that I dived not into her intentions and I never thought her desires aimed at that dignitie which since shee hath attained The King who loved her most ardently served her with great discretion and I did not believ shee grounded any thing upon his love till I received an assurance which would no longer suffer mee to doubt of it One day when shee was in my chamber I put her upon that discours and asking her som questions about the King's affection shee spoke of it as of a thing shee had no thought of and whereof shee could hardly endure the remembrance and disapproved the King's courtships in such terms as made mee believ shee gave no consent to them at all I praised her discreet inclinations and modest carriage but within a while after as shee went out of my chamber a paper drop'd from her clothes and one of my waiting women having taken it up unseen to her brought it to mee I was familiar enough with Stratonice to take the libertie to see her secrets and upon that confidence having unfolded the paper I found three letters by the first of which I knew the Kings writing and presently after read these words The King of Scythia to the Princess Stratonice WIll you bee ever insensible of my affection fair and lovely Stratonice and will you still oppose mee with that tyrannical dutie whereby you defend your self against it with so much inhumanitie give over these unjust inclinations Stratonice and devest your self of that old error which perswade's you that it is a greater crime to love then to murther a King The reading of this letter discovered unto mee part of Stratonice's dissimulation but I was better confirm'd in it by the sight of the other two which like that was oâ— the Kings own hand the first of them was much after this manner The King of Scythia to the Princess Stratonice I Can hold out no longer Stratonice and you have at last reduced him to beg mercie of you who
formerly known besides the gracefulness of his person and of his presence which were very advantageous hee had both a most generous heart and a most excellent wit and as hee had made himself remarkable in war by a thousand valiant actions hee had also made such benefit at Athens in the conversation of Philosophers as gave him the prioritie of all those of his profession by most particular endowments Hee was but three and twentie years of age when hee returned to Babylon and Theander presented him to mee as one of his nearest kinsmen and was dearer to him then any man in the world O gods with what words did hee at that first fight express the contentment hee found in our alliance and how handsomly did hee begin to introduce that esteem into my minde which hath since been so fatal to our repose I received him as a man nearly allied to mee and as a man of an extraordinarie merit I had heard Theander speak of him a thousand times and many others to whom his virtue was not unknown but I thought that fame of him infinitely below what his sight perswaded mee hee deserved After that first visit hee made mee divers others and the nearness of bloud that was between him and Theander or rather their friendship rendred them inseparable giving him a free access to our hous I saw him everie day and within a short time was familiarly acquainted with him Theander and hee lived as brothers and Theander would needs have mee live with him as his sister I confess I found no difficultie in disposing my minde to it and that as well to obey my husband as to follow the incitements of my own inclination I gave him really all the friendship a brother could require from mee Yes I loved him as if hee had been my brother but if my affection ever exceeded those limits by any guiltie or unlawful desires you gods to whom all hearts are known strike this unfortunate woman with your thunder who call's you to bee witnesses of her most secret thoughts I will not tell you that in all manner of exercises either of the minde or bodie and in a thousand matches of activitie hee still bore away the prize from all those that would dispute it with him neither will I say that by his lovely qualities hee gained that affection from mee which hee gained from all those that conversed with him but I will tell you freely once again that I loved him as our near alliance his virtue and my husband's command enjoyned mee In the mean time if Theander's return was favorable to mee in som things it was quickly hurtful to mee in many others and Bagistanes who during his absence never met mee but in publike by his means recovered his first conveniencies and saw mee everie day either at our hous or in the Cittadel whither his innocent nephew carried mee himself notwithstanding all the repugnancie I showed against those visits and that which was most insupportable to mee was that this good nephew having brought mee to that wicked Unkle went often a hunting or otherwhere and left mee with him for the rest of the day true it is that I forbad the women that waited on mee to leav mee at any time alone with him and that by that order I saved my self a great while but one day which I will count for one of the most disastrous of my life I could not avoid my misfortune and I saw my self reduced to the greatest perplexitie I till then had fallen into Theander having according to his custom brought mee into Bagistanes his Chamber that wicked man who knew my husband had that day made an appointment to hunt found means to send away the woman that came along with mee and who held intelligence with him and within awhile after Theander having left us I remained alone with him and saw my self subject to the mishap I had so long avoided and which I had so much apprehended I should have much ado to describe the confusion I was in at this accident a chilness ran through all my veins and I began to tremble from head to foot changing color and beeing in a manner beside my self That lustful old man easily found the alteration that was in mee but hee desired to settle mee and though his eies sparkled with a light that was extraordinarie and that his face became one spread with a lively color which years had almost driven away from thence hee was willing to moderate himself for a few minutes to quiet my minde from the fear hee had observed in mee for that purpose hee at first talk'd to mee of nothing but indifferent matters and having insensibly brought mee upon the discours of his riches hee entertained mee awhile with it and then taking mee by the hand and rising from the chair where hee was sitting Dear neece said hee I will let you see treasures which yet I have not shown to any bodie and by that sight you will know into how wealthie a Family you have matched your self With these words hee unlocked the door of a closet whither I was constrained to follow him and having showed mee a great manie rare and curious pieces wherewith it was beautified hee opened his trunks and made mee see jewels of an inestimable value and heaps of gold able to satisfie the avarice of the most insatiable person When hee saw that I appeared astonished at those immens treasures hee looked upon mee with an inflamed eie and pressing my hands between his O Alcione cried hee all that thou seest is thine and if thou persist not in thy obstinate resolution to hate mee thou maiest dispose of all my riches and of my life Flie mee not continued hee seeing I would have got away and that I did all I could to pull my hands from between his but with som sens of pitie behold him that love's thee better then himself see how disadvantageous thy ingratitude is to thee and consider the prize thy inhumanitie make's thee to loos neither am I so odious nor the prize I propose to thy affection so vile that thou needest disdain us and thou maiest by one effect of love or if thou wilt but of compassion restore quietness to my minde and becom the happiest woman in the world The detestable old fellow brought forth these words stammering and looking upon mee with lustful eies wherein his horrible desires were lively represented and while hee was speaking them and manie others without order or co-herence hee held my hands so fast that 't was impossible for mee to escape from him then was I seized with mortal apprehensions and my fear kept mee from falling into such a rage against him as I should have don if I had been in another condition yet had I courage enough to call my reason to my assistance and to represent considerations to him which were capable to have disswaded the wicked wretch from his evil designs O Bagistanes said I
qualities gave him in his He is the most deserving of all the men in the whole world Statira without being the most insensible of all women could not have defended her self against him Peradventure Berenices inclinations may be different from thy sisters and she with justice will finde out the odds there is between Artaxerxes and Prince Oroondates Besides Oroondates before he ingag'd himself in that Enterprise had already gain'd Statira and the whole House of Persia by obligations which gave him the confidence to attempt what he undertook but Artaxerxes has yet done nothing save Actions of an Enemy either for Berenice or for the King of Scythia Do something therefore Artaxerxes that may render thee considerable to King Mattheus and that may give thee some advantage in thy pretending to Berenice If thou canst not make thy self so remarkable as Oroondates did at least seek some occasion to testifie that thou hast not the thoughts of an Enemy and either perish for them or do them some service that may procure thee a place in their esteem All things are favourable to thee if thou knowest how to use thy fortune and in this glorious Design which keeps thee in Scythia Theodates his friendship will not be unprofitable to thee I reason'd thus a long time sometimes flattering my self with hopes and sometimes afflicting my self with difficulties but in the end I overcame them all to take my final resolution Why dost thou stand wavering pursued I in a thing thou canst not possibly avoid 'T is a decree of the Destinies from which all the Contestations in the world can never free thee Deliberate no more whether thou shouldst love Berenice but deliberate of the means thou shouldst use to make her suffer thy affection If it please the Gods it may but one day be acceptable to her all the most happy persons that ever were never knew felicity in any degree comparable unto thine and if thou diest in serving her thy death will be a thousand times more glorious than thy thy life Here it was I fix'd and no longer doubting whether I should love or no I thought onely what course I should take to make my self be lov'd I resolv'd to use Theodates his friendship for my stay in Scythia but I settled a firm determination not to present my self to the King nor to the Princess his daughter till I had done some Action for their service which might introduce me handsomely into their knowledge In the interim I often saw my adored Princess but 't was in Temples or in such places where she could not take notice of my face and every time I discovered new beauties in her and felt inconceivable increases in my passion In short Brother I lov'd her with all the violence that can be found in the strongest affections and I lov'd her with so absolute a respect and so perfect a knowledge of her Excellencies that I never cherish'd any hope of making my self worthy to serve her I learn'd with much discontent that audacious Arsacomes had raised his thoughts to her and that abusing the Kings love to his sister he was so impudent as to own his to the whole world and to give the Princess publick demonstrations of it The insolence of that indiscreet subject animated me with a just wrath and with a lawfull indignation against him and if I had been in a condition to have shewn them I should not have suffer'd a presumption that displeased my Princess That was it wherein I found some consolation for I no sooner knew that Arsacomes was in love with Berenice but I heard that Berenice detested Arsacomes I staid some few moneths at Issedon on this manner and in the end the Gods made me depart from thence upon those occasions I had so ardently desir'd and so impatiently waited for The Nomades and the Hyleans rose up in Arms and making themselves Masters of all that lies near the Lake of Buges drew a potent Army into the field and began to make such havock that the noise of it came presently to the Kings ear He was desirous to apply some speedy Remedy to those Troubles and setting an Army on foot worthily made choice of Theodates to command it I blessed that favourable occasion a thousand times and prepared my self with an incredible joy to march along with that generous friend upon an Expedition wherein I possibly might finde opportunity to make my self appear with some Reputation to the King of Scythia and perhaps some Encounter wherein I might repay some part of what I ow'd to Theodates I expressed to him the contentment I receiv'd by that imployment and told him the Resolution I had taken either to lose that life he had sav'd in fighting by his side or else to do something for his service that might hinder him from repenting the affection he had so blindly given me I love you answered Theodates with so perfect a knowledge of your merit that I cannot be accused of blindness in my friendship and in performing mervellous Exploits you will do nothing beyond the opinion I have of you Theodates accompanied these favourable words with many obliging Endearments and we made ready for a departure which by reason of the pressing necessity of affairs was very sudden and precipitate I in that separation should have felt all the discontents a cruel absence can throw upon a person that most ardently loves if I had not found my consolation in the hope I had of some Advantages that Voyage might procure me We went from Issedon and took long marches toward the Enemies At first I would by no means accept of any command but contented my self with fighting near Theodates his person but in the first Battel that was given I was so happy as to do him some services which oblig'd him to bestow imployments on me that were above the reach of my capacity Arsaces his modesty caused him to pass lightly over the occasions wherein he had made himself remarkable but Oroondates perceiv'd it and being desirous to spare him the pains of telling them some of those things they had heard already from Berenice Brother said he we have learn'd part of those gallant Actions you did in that first Battell we know you sav'd Theodates his life two several times and that seeing your Squadrons waver you seiz'd upon the foremost Standard reanimated your frighted Troops by your words and by your Example and by your onely Valour turn'd the Victory to your side which was already declaring it self for your Enemies We know that after all these wonders Theodates gave you the command of part of the Army that with it you took places of great importance by Assault and that with eight thousand Horse you perfected the defeating of the Rebells near the Lake of Buges with such marvellous Effects of Valour and good Conduct that the memory of them will never be lost among the Scythians You have been told a great deal more than what I did reply'd
spirits he said to Oroondates with a more settled countenance Great Prince the errour your disguise ha's made me live in causes in me as much trouble as the honour of seeing you in this place does joy for so unexpected a happinesse I have failed infinitlie in my behaviour toward you and if I were not assured of your goodnesse I should have no hope of pardon as you if I may say such a thing shall be a good while before you obtain it for an opinion that ha's mortally offended me Cruel Oroondates could you believe that the change of your condition and the hatred of our Families could change my affection to you and that Artaxerxes was so cowardlie to lay hold of such a base occasion to revenge himself of an Enemie from whom he ha's receiv'd both his life and libertie No no generous Prince Posteritie shall not blush for a crime the stain whereof would remain eternallie in the blood Royal of Persia and it shall never be reproach'd to me that the knowledge of Oroondates blotted out my remembrance of our Obligations to Orontes I lov'd you as Orontes but I will honour you as Oroondates and if the alteration of your qualitie allow me any remainder of your former libertie I will love you alwaies more then my self since it is impossible for me to live without your affection receive great Prince these new assurances I give you of mine and refuse me not the confirmation of those I have received from you If Statira who is too much honoured by your love have not the same inclinations and same sense of the pains you have taken for her I will disown her and declare my self her most most bitter enemie I hope nevertheless that the knowledge of your merits and of your birth added to the force of my perswasions will be able to do much with her against whom I take your part with so strong a passion that you shall soon perceive how dear your interests are to me All the recompence I pretend to by it is nothing but to change your discontented manner of life since I can take no pleasure in mine while you are so afflicted and that from henceforth you ought to relie upon my care in whatsoever shall concern you It is not possible for me to relate Oroondates joy and wonder his hope raising it self by such sweet promises he became quite changed in a moment and these testimonies of a friendship which was so dear and so advantageous to him produced very sudden and marvelous effects both in regard of the health of his body and of the quiet of his minde and indeed he so forgot his sickness to answer Artaxerxes freedom and engaged himself so far in protestations of service and friendship that he would not have given over of a long time if that Prince who forsook not the care of his health had not in a manner by force made him go to bed refusing to hear any more till he was there again When he had yeilded to his desires Artaxerxes sate down by his bed side and there being no body but I left in the Chamber he commanded me to recount to him my Masters adventures which till that day he was ignorant of My Prince notwithstanding all Artaxerxes endeavours to hinder him by reason of his feaver would needs make the recitall of them himself not thinking any body else was able to express the least part of his passion he took up the Story therefore from the beginning of his love not hiding from him the smallest particularities even to the Princesses last words which had caused his falling into the swoune the occasion whereof Artaxerxes till then was ignorant of and he related it so feelingly that the very remembrance of it would have put him into the same condition if the Prince who had hearkn'd to him without interruption had not comforted him with these words Though your distrust and obstinacy in concealing your self from the most faithfull Friend you ever had touches me very sensibly I will not call to minde that injury since you have forgotten greater and of more importance and without considering the offence I commit against him by whom I came into this world I will employ my endeavours for you with such care that they shall not be unprofitable Statira loves me exceedingly and you are exceeding lovely these two points make me hope for all manner of good fortune if yours depend only upon her since while I entreat her as your friend I will counsel her as her brother I assure my self she will hearken to us and I already believe she hates you not considering that besides the obligations for which she is indebted to you I dare sweare there are few Ladies in the Court that have not some inclination to you lose not this opinion for the words she spoke they are no signe of aversion and it were very strange if so unexpected an encounter with a discourse so unlook'd for from a man whom she ever thought her inferiour should not have extreamly surprised her you know the customs of her sex and especially of those of her quality consider them I beseech you and instead of casting your self into a despair unworthy of your courage recover your former health your former humour and expect all manner of satisfaction from your own merit and my assistance And do you reply'd Oroondates expect from me all that you ought to look for from a Prince whom you have drawn out of the grave and who will not with less passion embrace the occasions of sacrificing himself for you then he would that excess of happiness you promise him After these passages and some others Artaxerxes took leave of him to go labour for his contentment and to give him liberty to take a little rest I say rest since indeed he now began to taste some in such sweet hopes and that he forsook the desire of death upon which he had so firmly fixt his resolution though the disorder he had committed in rising that day had something moved him yet was not his feaver the more violent for it and within two hours after the Prince of Persia's departure the Physitians found less distemper in his pulse and more signes of recovery in his voice and countenance In the mean time Prince Artaxerxes giving the Gods thanks for their favour in affording him the means to requite part of his engagements to my Master resolv'd to lay hold of the occasion with so much care that he might never be accused of ingratitude and not being willing to delay it longer assoon as he was out of my Masters Chamber he went as I have learn'd since from Oroondates to Princess Statira's Lodging He found her without any other company but her maids and not desiring witnesses of what he had to say he pray'd her to go into her Closset When they were there together and had shut the dore the Prince making her sit down by him after he had a while
to depart the next day at night settled some necessary Orders in the Army and provided himself of what he thought most useful for his Journey two howres before he went away hee wrote this Letter to Arsacomes commanding one of his Officers to give it him after his departure Prince OROONDATES to ARSACOMES MY cruel destiny forces me away from you without having the time or means to bid you farewel you will command the Army which I leave you and which I could not commit into better hands then yours enquire not after the cause of my departure nor the place of my abode and let the King my Father know I forsook not the Army he had given me while this Countrey had any need of my presence and he of the service of OROONDATES We took horse two howres within night and being followed only by Tyreus Toxaris and Loncates we travelled the way toward Hypoleon which is a very noted Haven upon the Euxin Sea and riding by Moon-light we arrived there by break of day We found our Barque in the best readiness we could have wish'd and the wind very right for our design My Prince commended the diligence of him I had employed and promising him great recompences went a Ship-board then making the Marriners hoist Sail we lanch'd out straight toward Byzantium Now Sir make a little reflexion upon my Masters fortunes call to mind the first actions of his life remember the beginnings of his love the marvellous continuation of it and think upon the end which the Gods seemed to have put unto it and from this consideration draw a knowledge of the persecutions of Heaven and of the inconstancy of Fortune He in the course of his affection had suffered all that the courage of man was capable to endure and when Fortune after having taken all from him made shew to promise him some shadow of quiet yet but a false one and bought with the losse of his true quiet and of all his hopes that unstable Goddess envied him even that appearance of repose which she had granted but by force and took that also from him which he enjoyed against her will Behold my poor Master yet once again in the wide world behold him more passionate then ever and behold him burning and flaming even in the midst of the waves that carried him his Barque though it cut them with a wonderful swiftness seem'd too slow by half to his desires and though the winde carried us with a stiffe and favorable gale directly toward Byzantium yet did it not swel our Sails sufficiently to satisfie the eagerness of his love nor blow impetuously enough to second the impatiency that transported him he discovered it by a thousand actions contrary to his former moderation and by a thousand sayings which retain'd but little of the solidity of his wonted Discourse sometimes he seem'd to us reasonably chearful and some glimpse of hope which shin'd yet into his soul through the midst of so many obstacles put him for a few moments into something a more pleasing humour he then revolv'd the passages of his Princesses Letter in his thoughts and calling to mind those words wherein she expressed the remainder of her affection most to the life he laid new foundations for his happinesse upon them and found matter to raise his dejected hopes which had been buried so many years Who forbids me to hope said he but that this Princesse may again take up her affection with the knowledge of my love and of mine innocence but what should make me doubt it since she assures me of it her self does she not confesse that she loves me still and that she will conserve her affection for a punishment of her crime I am certain then she loves me and by consequence I am most assured that I am happie and that I am contented since 't is upon her love alone that I have ever grounded my happinesse and my contentment be satisfied therefore Oroondates since thy Princess loves thee and that moreover she would see thee for to what other end did she cause thee to be sought out with so much care and so much hazard of her reputation and quietnesse and to what intent should she yet write so passionate a Letter to thee if she did not desire to draw thee to her once again She loves thee then and she would see thee comfort thy self therefore and obey her since by that consolation and obedience thou recoverest all that thou hast lost and goest to live in a happier condition then thou couldest hope for This thought would keep him for some time reasonable well pleased but then of a sudden the marriage of his Princesse coming again into his memory together with the consideration of her vertue and of what she owed and would undoubtedly pay to such a husband as Alexander she whom he knew to be of an humour to hold her self to the severity of her dutie though to a man much lesse considerable then so great and so gallant a person thinking also upon the protestation which she made to him of it her self and the assurances wherewith the Eunuch had confirmed it all his hopes vanished and he became more sad and melancholy then before 'T is true said he Statira loves me but she loves me for her punishment and not for my satisfaction this is but a new matter of grief for me if I were still hated by her I should only suffer my own torment but now seeing her languish in an affection which by her own confession must only serve to make her unfortunate I shall be unhappy both through her miseries and through mine own her Letter is only a mark of her acknowledgement and a dutie she renders to him whom she had used so ill and by whom she had been so faithfully served she had been very cruel if so many expressions of my love and the knowledge she has lately had of mine innocence had not extorted from her at least as obliging words as those of her Letter it is a great deal less then she owes me after all that I have done for her and though she had ask'd councel of Alexander himself he would not have taken it ill that she should give me this slight satisfaction so long as she gives her self entirely to him This last thought cast him down again so extreamly that as often as it came into his mind he would lie immovable and stretch'd out upon the deck with very little appearance of life in him then of a sudden coming out of a deep studie in which that remembrance had buried him O Gods cry'd he perchance at this very moment while Oroondates weeps and sighs Alexander is taking kisses from the inviting lips of my dear Princesse and perhaps that face which I have so much adored is at this instant cemented to his who has been the murtherer of her Father and Mother and the destroyer of her whole Family that fair body that excellent mind that admired
whom she was very dear as she ought to be in consideration of her good qualities and of the services she had done her was extreamly concerned in her trouble and every day offer'd her what soever she was able to contribute to her contentment The chiefe of our Ladies whose hearts she had wonderfully gaind strove in emulation of each other to chear her up but all their cares were to no purpose and all of them having in vain attempted it at last the fatall hower came wherein I was to be undeceived Neer to the gardens of our Palace there is an exceeding high wood one of the fairest in all Capadocia which seprading it selfe to the very banke of the river Iris is one of the most pleasant places to walk in that Asia affords there are a great number of faire spacious alleys and in litle by-turnings where one may insensibly loose ones selfe are private arbours with seats of green turfe and little bankes of the same where one may lie down shelterd from the heat of the sunn and not be interrupted in their retired thoughts I was one day in this wood with my maids and having walked a while upon the banke of the river I went aside with Hippolita the dearest of them all and the very same you see now here with me I entred by chance into one of those pathes that led to the secret arbour and having followed it a while when I was neer one of them I heard a voice interrupted with sighes and sobs and drawing a little nearer I discern'd it to be Orithia's who thinking her self not overheard by any body in such a private place complained in a very pittyfull manner I was glad of that encounter and beleeving I should thereby learne the true cause of her affliction I forbad Hippolita to come any further not being willing shee should hear the secrets of that dear freind though I had never concealed my own from her When I was alone I went forward gently and without making any noise till I came close to the arbour and peeping through the boughs that grew about it I saw my dear Orithia laid a long upon one of those green bankes holding a hankerchief to her eyes wherewith she wiped away the teares that fell in great abundance This object touched me deeply with compassion but much more when after having continued a wile silent she began to speake again in these termes Why doest thou deferre any longer miserable wretch and what doest thou hope for yet from heaven but that death for which thy mind ought already to be prepared lose that life really which thou yet hast only lost in the opinion of the world and be no longer obstinate to strive against thy destiny thou mayest yet die with the freindship of her thou lovest and if thou defer thy death till after the knowledge of thy deceits thou wil't certainely die with her anger and her hatred and insted of the teares which she now would give unto thy grave thou wilt carry nothing with thee thither but her imprecations While Orithia spoke these words her back was toward the entrance of the arbour and not being able to marke her actions well enough in the place where I was I stole insensibly to the dore where in the posture she then lay she could not discover me There I observ'd her more heedfully and after many sighes I heard her go on thus Was it necessary O Gods was it necessary you should raise so many impossiblities against my happynesse and that you should oppose the Lawes and powers of a whole Monarchy against the preservation of my life for in short what can I expect what vain hope soever I flatter my felfe withall that which I love is too pure and too perfect to make use to my advantage of the immodest customes of her country and besides I love her too well to seek my fortune by those wayes and she I love loves her self too well to overturn for my sake the constitutions of a Monarchy which has subsisted so many years and to forsake a scepter for an unknown and a deciptfull Orithia Die then miserable wretch die and make Thalestris see that thou embracest death rather then the occasions of offending her any more thy bloud shall wash away part of the crimes thou hast committed against her and she without doubt will pardon them when she remembers thou dyedst to give her reparation I understood almost nothing by these words though they put me into strange suspicions and yet I was so troubled at them that contrary to my resolution I could not forbeare making a little noise I know not whither it were that which with drew Orithia from that dialogue with her thoughts but she turn'd about and casting her eyes toward the doore discovered me I am not able to represent her confusion to you being got up she began to look upon me and observing in my countenance as much amazement as appear'd in hers she beleev'd I had heard all that she had said before I came and that she had infallibly discovered herselfe This beleef made her grow pale and tremble from head to foot which actions of a person quite beside her selfe she neither durst look me in the face nor stir from the place where she stood and keeping her eyes fast upon the ground remain'd a long time in a posture that testified her surprise and her irresolution At last she broak her silence and unmoveablenesse and casting her selfe of a sudden at my feet redoubled my astonishment by that action I was already set down upon one of the seates and beholding her in that condition I had neither strength to raise her up nor courage to aske the cause of what I saw but she drew me out of that perplexity when without lifting up her eyes to me Madam said she it has pleas'd the Gods that my deceipt should be at last discovered and my happynesse though but an imperfect one has in the end begot an envy in them This miserable man whom they saved from the waters was to perish by a more noble destiny and that death was too common for a person whom they reserved to such extraordinary fortunes I am an Impostor I am a Deceiver I have abused your goodnesse with an impudence that deserves no mercy and I submit my self to the rigour of those Laws which your sex hath established against ours you may take revenge upon the brother for the sisters Treacheries and punish the true Orontes for the crimes of the false Orithia I am that Prince equally happy and unfortunate saved from shipwrack to end his life more gloriously at your feet and too proud of his fate since hee revived from an ordinary death only that â—e may die for love and that of the fairest and most lovely Princesse in the world I implore not your goodnesse here to obtain a pardon which I have not deserved the Gods are my witnesses that I no longer love a life which
its dignitie and rais it self to the chiefest of this Province After this knowledg you ought not to estrange his affections from us to make them pass unto som other Family who will profit by our losses and enrich themselvs with that which wee ought lawfully to hope for you may use him better then you have don without violating the faith you ow your husband and though his deportments may have caused som aversion in you our pretensions are not of so small reckoning but that Theander himself if hee bee wise would counsel you to dissemble it for the confervation of them Besides Bagistanes is so old that you need not at all fear your reputation and your compliance with him cannot bee of any long continuance This pernicious Counseller was going to seek out reasons to perswade mee to his base designs when my patience forsook mee and my resentment made mee break forth with violence O gods cried I is it possible it should bee from my husband's Brother that I hear this strange proposition Go base heartless man get thee gon submit thy self to infamous things out of servile considerations and believ that if thy family bee capable of such basenesses Alcione ought not to have been matched into it these riches which thou unworthily preferrest before the reputation of thy friends nay and before thine own too these advantages and these dignities thou wouldst purchas with the price of honor shall never bee for thee nor thine if they must bee procured by that vile shameful compliance thou proposest to mee and if Theander were so base as to have thoughts like thine know that perhaps I should bee courageous enough to punish that in his person which my contempt of thee make 's mee to neglect in thine I spake many other words to him full of scorn and anger but that disloyal fellow who had alreadie prepared himself for my reproaches and whose impudence could not bee paralell'd was but little moved with all I said and would have continued his arguments if I had not left him and gon away so transported with passion that it was very hard for mee to dissemble it For all I was so much incensed at Astiages his last proposition hee was not at all dismaied but as often as hee found opportunitie to hold the like discours to mee hee bore my reproaches patiently and showed mee his obstinacle in his pernicious designs Then it was that I saw my self reduced to great extremities In my husband's hous there were none but such as were suspected or odious to mee and I had no bodie to whom I could impart my trouble or complain of my misfortune The women that served mee were corrupted by Bagistanes and that wicked man who had been diligent in such practises had alwaies kept som in pay for the like emploiments Upon all occasions they were speaking good of him and represented to mee the interest wee had in the conservation of his friendship and in short I was persecuted in such manner that my husband's hous was as an hell to mee and a place of torment I was often upon the point of leaving it and of retiring to my Fathers until Theander's return but I feared to make a nois and to publish a thing which might bring a stain upon the Family I was match'd into and to caus such sensible afflictions to Theander My mother to whom I opened my heart and to whom I discovered my misfortune gave mee this counsel and perswaded mee to wait patiently for the return of my husband who by his presence would blow over that storm and settle my minde again in its first tranquillitie I obeyed her directions wherein I found a great deal of reason and the gods who were pleased with my patience though they sent not an end unto my discontents at least sent mee som consolation in them and in the beginning of the winter they brought mee home my dear Theander for whom I had so long and so often sighed You cannot doubt great Princesses of the greatness of my joy so that I shall not need to describe in what manner I received the greatest happiness I then could wish for nor the welcom I gave to an husband whom I loved really more then my self and in whose return besides the interest 's of my affection I found also that of my quiet and my refuge against the persecution of my enemies All that a lawful innocent love like ours can produce appeared in us without dissimulation and if I expressed a satisfaction to Theander for his return Theander made his known to mee by a thousand proofs of a real passion Whole daies stole away in these first raptures and I may say that my sorrows were then lull'd asleep and that I thought my self in the haven towards which I steered by my continual praiers Astiages ceased to importune mee as hee was wont and the perfidious Bagistanes came not amongst us but to express kindness to his nephew Not that hee lost any occasion to make mee know his pervers obstinacie nor that hee forbore to speak with his eies since I had forbidden him to do it with his tongue but either I took not the pains to observ it or els I did but laugh at it seeing my self fortified by the presence of my Defender I knew not well what Astiages his thoughts were at that time and whether hee was not affraid I should discover to his Brother the ill offices hee would have don him but hee showed mee so few signs of such a fear that I was confident the excess of Theander's goodness encouraged him to despise his resentments and arm'd him against what in reason hee ought to apprehend from a Brother so unworthily offended Neither was I willing to entertain Theander with my discontents and notwithstanding the threats I had used to his perfidious kinsman I concealed their infidelitie from him as well that I might not disturbe the tranquillitie of his minde by a recital that would bee unpleasing to him as not to set dissention in his Family and make my self odious to those among whom I was to pass the remainder of my daies These considerations made mee silent in my misfortune but within awhile after it was redoubled by very remarkable accidents Cleonimus one of Theander's nearest kinsmen and the most faithful of his friends arrived about that time at Babylon where hee had been but little since his childhood having spent many years in the Armies and in the Courts of Kings and in forraign Countries and in his several voiages hee had gained qualities which wee had not yet seen amongst our Barbarians I know not whether in the continuation of those things I am to tell you I may speak to his advantage but if you will give mee leav to declare the truth without passion I will say that Cleonimus was no common person and that it was not without a great deal of justice I gave him the first place in my esteem above all those I had
continuation of my good will to him hee shall receiv others that are greater and of more importance I see my self now in a condition wherein I can make the greatness of my fortune supply the defect of those qualities of my person which hee hath disdained and wherein nevertheless after his disdains Alexander found somthing hee thought considerable I am ashamed to make you this confession but my weakness ha's showed it self but too much alreadie and my opinion of you is good enough to believ that you will not abuse the confidence I have in you 't is by it and by advantages which are not despicable that I would oblige you to tell mee news of your Master and to let mee know the place of his abode desiring no other requital of you but that alone both for the pardon I grant you and for the presents I intend you The subtil Queen spoke to us in words to this effect but wee heard nothing from her which wee had not expected and beeing wee had prepared our selvs for the answer wee should make I found no great difficultie to reply Madam although the fault I have committed bee full of innocence and stupiditie my Companion and I receiv the pardon your Majestie grants us as a meer mercie and as an effect onely of your goodness and I would it pleased the gods that in acknowledgment you required such proofs of our obedience as were in our power and that wee could tell where to give our Prince an account of the honour you do him to keep him still in your remembrance but the place of his abode is unknown to us since the time hee left Scythia after the defeat of Zopirio wee have wandred in vain from Province to Province to enquire for him 't was onely that design which brought us into this Countrie where hee ha's formerly had occasions of stay will make us prosecute our search unto the worlds end Roxana was not satisfied with this answer and having expressed as much by shaking her head If I did not know said shee that you are not ignorant of the affection I have born to Oroöndates I should believ you apprehended som danger to him in this encounter but since by my misfortune it is but too well known you cannot fear that the sight I desire of your Master can bee disadvantageous to him You know alreadie that I have loved him but too much for my quiet and you must still know whether I will or no that I love him yet more then my self you constrain mee to a confession that make's mee blush but it also secures you from all the mistrusts you might have for your Master and you are but two well assured that 't is onely to share my fortune with him that I so much desire to see him again do not therefore any longer conceal what I so fain would know of you since I am better instructed in your affairs then you imagine It is true Oroöndates went out of Scythia after the defeat of Zopirio but I know whom hee took along with him and that onely Araxes and you two attended him in that journie Wee were a little surprised to hear that the Queen was so well informed but wee lost not our confidences and persisted so firmly in our resolution that shee could draw nothing els from us though shee joined threats to the promises shee had made us when shee saw wee could bee shaken by neither shee commanded us to bee carried back again and onely said to us before Arbates you are unworthie of the usage you receiv from mee and by your indiscreet obstinacie you do your Master a verie ill office But know you ought not longer to abuse my goodness nor the consideration I have of you for his sake I give you yet a few daies to bethink your selvs go and remember that you are criminals and prisoners to them that have you wholy in their power With these words shee commanded us to bee carried away and Arbates guarded as before conveied us back unto our prison when wee were there hee reproved us verie sharply and told us that our death was unavoidable if wee persevered in our stubborness promising us on the other side mountains of gold if wee would obey the Queen and alleging what shee had don for him in reward of his infidelitie but that example caused a horror in us in stead of an incouragement to what hee desired and our aversion to that Traitor was too great to hearken to his counsels or to imitate his actions The multiplicitie of Roxana's affairs forced her to allow us a few daies respite during which wee were reasonably well used and received no other persecutions save those of Arbates who setting himself continually to torment us hardly afforded us any time of intermission but within awhile after hee came to fetch us again at the same hour and with the same Guard as the time before and brought us to Roxana in the same Chamber where wee had seen her shee beeing resolved to trie all the waies shee could to sift that out of us which shee desired received us with a great deal of gentleness and as soon as wee were com near her Well Toxaris well Loncates said shee for shee had learn't our names from Arbates will you not at last bee sensible of the request I have made to you and if the consideration of interest cannot move you will you not out of generositie oblige a Queen who ha's trusted you with her most secret affections and who demands nothing of you that is not advantageous to your Master for briefly that fidelitie hee stood so much upon to the deceased Queen Statira is no longer now in season and since the crueltie of her destinies ha's taken her from us hee ought also to take her out of his remembrance hee ha's too good a judgment to fix himself obstinately upon the love of that which hath now no beeing and to disdain a fortune in mine which perchance no other Prince in the world would contemn Consider friends what I represent unto you and bee no longer wilful in concealing the retreat of him whom I love more dearly then my self you are cruel in this action and I am confident hee will not justifie you in it himself for this small service I require of you you may certainly hope for excessive recompences and you shall finde mee so sensible of this obligation that your fortune shall bee envied by persons of the highest qualitie To these words flattering Roxana added many others which were all without any effect and Loncates answering protested with many oaths that wee knew not where you were I accompanied his protestations with mine and wee might safely swear it without offending the gods or wounding our consciences beeing well assured that you staied not for us still in the same place where wee had left you and not beeing able to guess what way you had taken afterward Roxana was no more satisfied then the
on hors-back with a design like hers and in the gloomyest and remotest places sought things conformable to his pensive humour he was so averse from all consolation that he fled from those that strove to give it him and onely the remembrance of his Hermione made up the whole imployment of his thoughts he named her every moment but never named her without tears and in all his actions there was something so dolefull and so moving that it made even the most insensible things to be in a manner concerned in his afflictions Hermione said he whither dost thou now remember me as thy murtherer or as thy lover and which is most powerfull in thy memory my crime or my affection I killed thee and I lov'd thee but if I have not forgotten thy last words they contained a pardon for thy death and an acknowledgement of my love thy goodness appeared in the latest minutes of thy life but Hermione I ought not to abuse it and Demetrius is not at all the less guilty because Hermione is mercifull These tears which I give thee ought to be seconded by all this bloud which filial duty keeps still within my veins but since my hands are forbidden to follow the instigations of my love receive that from my love alone which they are not allowed to give thee He was talking to himself on this manner when coming near unto a way which led to Babylon from some neighbouring villages he had an encounter that disturbed his solitary entertainment He saw three men on hors-back compleatly Arm'd fighting with their swords drawn against one single man on foot who disputed his life with a most generous resistance Besides the three that were upon him there was another dead at his feet and to keep himself from being assaulted behind he had set his back against an Oak two women were present at that combat who by all their actions testified they had an exceeding great interest in the life of him that fought for them but he was extreamly wounded and so weak that at Demetrius his arrival his life was in a manifest danger Demetrius who was generosity it self never stood considering what he should do in that occasion but rushing at the three men with a loud cry constrained them to turn head against him though so unfortunately on their part that the first of them who came to meet him fell dead upon the grass with the first stroke he received from the sword of Demetrius When he had done that execution he slashed at the Cask of one of the other and having cut the straps of it left his head quite bare and without defence The stranger who fought on foot had no sooner cast his sight upon the face of that Enemy but lifting up his eyes to Heaven Great Gods cried he how just are you to reserve the death of wicked Astiages to me At these words without remembring his wounds or considering the advantage his Enemy had by being on hors-back he quitted his tree and flew at him as fiercely as a Lion Astiages made so me blows at him again and strove to trample him under his horses feet but he received the blows upon his shield and having avoided the shocke of the horse closed up to Astiages so fortunately that meeting with a place not defended by his cuirasse he ran his sword quite through his body Astiages fell dead with a stream of bloud in which he began to welter and his Enemy seeing him fall turned toward Demetrius and with the remainder of his strength went to render him part of the assistance he had received from him but he stood not in any need of it for his Enemy not having dared to withstand the weightiness of his blows had already taken flight to save himself The stranger full of acknowledgement was going to give him thanks when he saw the Ladies for whom he had fought coming toward him then leaving her which appeared to be the chief and whom the gods had favoured with an admirable beauty and addressing himself to the other that accompanied her Dear Alcione said he I have lived long enough since I have been able to do you some service before I die and that I have sacrificed the disloyal Astiages unto the Ghost of poor abused Theander As he brought forth these words he would have gone nearer to her but his weakness prevented him and made him sink down presently at the foot of a tree Alcione ran to him in an exceeding great trouble while Demetrius being come near to the Princess Berenice endeavoured to re-assure her and demanded new occasions to serve her but O Gods how great was her astonishment when after she had uncovered his head she saw the face of Cleonimus his absence had so little worn out the Idea of it that it was alwayes present to her remembrance nor found she any difficulty to discern those features in the midst of bloud and paleness which were so deeply settled in her heart It would be very hard to express how infinitely she was surprised at this adventure the first marks whereof were cries wherewith she drew Berenice and Demetrius to her She pronounced the name of Cleonimus twice or thrice with a voice which showed a great deal of tenderness and not daring to follow the first motions of her affection in the presence of those persons that looked upon her she left her eyes the care to express it for her and to execute that which decency by a cruel constraint forbad in this silence her face changed colour several times and her passions were so plainly written in it that 't was but in vain she held her peace to conceal them The Princess Berenice who knew the storie of her life and who by that natural goodness which accompanied the rest of her vertues had taken an interest in her fortune learn'd the cause of all her transports by the bare hearing of Cleonimus his name and forgetting the greatness of her birth to follow her charitable inclinations she sate down by her and gave her all the assistance she could receive in such a like encounter In the interim Cleonimus having allowed some time to Alciones astonishment and conversed with her in that mute language which represented their thoughts without any affectation broke silence first and putting forth his hand to her with much respect Cousin said he you at last see Cleominus again whom his ill fortune banish'd from you and whom his good fortune has brought to die thus near you how great soever the distance that has parted us hath been you have ever been present to my remembrance and that remembrance which brings me back in spite of my former resolutions is an effect of my destiny and of the justice of the gods They prolonged my life in those sorrows that have persecuted it for no other purpose but to reserve the end of it either for your service or for Theander's revenge and the conclusion of it could not be more pleasing to
suddenly to raise a stranger a man unknown and one born in the Enemies Territories but the King who knew Arsacomes his drift and who bating his love had not many weaknesses made no reckoning of that discourse and finding every day more and more how worthy Arsaces was of his favour and with what modesty and generosity he used it instead of suffering it to be diminish'd did invisibly augment it And truly except such as were interessed there were few to whom it gave not a particular satisfaction and who confessed not that the King could hardly make a more just nor a more judicious choice for mine own part I cannot deny but that it contented me extreamly and with me I dare say all the Ladies of the Court whom he had strongly gain'd by his comely behaviour by his taking wit by his sweet obliging humour All these good qualities and a thousand others which he advantageously possessed joyned to the Kings esteem who desired that every body should use him according to his example made him be well received amongst us few dayes passed but he came to visite us either with the King or with Prince Carthasis our Unkle or else with Theodates He was in my Chamber one day with Theodates and I had no body with me but Cyllenia and some other of my maids when after a very pleasing entertainment Theodates told me that he sung very well and play'd upon the Lyre with a great deal of skill I commanded presently that they should fetch one which was in my Chamber and causing it to be presented to him I so earnestly entreated him to play and sing that though he had a mind to excuse it and that that request made him blush yet could he not possibly deny me that satisfaction he took the Lyre with a low obeysance and tuning it to his voice sung so passionate an air and accompanied his words which were extreamly amorous with so moving a gesture that 't was impossible to hear him and not be touch'd with it He sometimes fix'd his eyes upon my face with looks visibly enflam'd but as soon as he percâ—â—ved that I heedfully observed him he let them fall to the ground changing colour in such a manner that it was easie to discern he was possessed with some strong passion After he had made an end of singing with a grace that was nothing common and that we had given him the praises which were due both to what he held from nature and to what art had added I was willing to draw some occasion from his singing to make him discourse and remembring the passionate words of his song and the gesture wherewith he had put life into them Arsaces said I you perform all things with a marveilous advantage but you will give us leave to say that all our opinions are false if you be exempt of that passion you express so well Arsaces as if he had been surprised at this discourse cast down his eyes without making any reply to these first words and seeing him so silent Arsaces continued I is it possible that you are in love Although Arsaces seem'd to be in some confusion yet did he lift up his head and looking upon me with an unconfident action But Madam said he could you think it possible that Arsaces should have lived so long and seen so much and have lov'd nothing Your years are so few answered I that no body will think it strange you should have passed them without loving and besides I believed your affection to the war had been predominant over all others and that a person bred up in martial thoughts and imployments had not had any inclination to those of Love My affection to the War replied Arsaces is but very moderate and I should say I love it not at all if it had not furnish'd me with occasions to do the King some petie services and given me a means to attain this fortune to which he out of his goodness has raised me and besides Madam I never believed that Mars and Cupid were incompatible nor but that even persons who have grown old in Arms might in a moment loose that liberty which they had preserved all their life before By this reason Madam it comes to pass that the condition of my life is very different from what your Highness imagined it to be and that I am very far from that tranquillity which they may live in who are insensible of that imperious passion Arsaces brought forth these words with a sigh or two which made me believe some part of what he said and being willing to enlarge our conversation upon that subject and to make him talk a little more If you profess not that tranquility said I which you seem to envy you ought at least to have hopes which may sweeten the misery of your condition since you have such qualities as may encourage you to expect an advantageous success in your passion there are but few persons like Arsaces and if his hope be regulated by his merit there is no fortune to which he may not lawfully pretend I said this to him with a great deal of innocence being ignorant as I was of his intentions and of the advantage he might draw from thence and he replied with a little more assurance than before This judgement of your Highness would be too glorious for poor Arsaces if it could be drawn from the knowledge he hath of himself and could keep him from discerning your justice from your goodness I am far from that merit and from those unjust hopes but if the gods had given me all the excellencies a man can desire I would bound all my pretensions within the glorie which I reap by my passion it is so great that it suffers me not to bewail the loss of my repose and my thoughts are raised so high that never man had a more ambitious aim nor ever sigh'd for a more accomplished object I love since you are pleased I should confess it but I love with so perfect a knowledge of the party whom I love that I limite all my desires and all my hopes in the meer satisfaction of loving her 't is the most noble end my mind can ever propose unto it self and so far am I from finding any misery in my condition that I consider all manner of panies as the glorious marks of the highest fortune a man can aspire to If you love with so great a resignation replied I and if you give such strict limits to your affections you are not of their opinion who hold that love is a desire and who proposing to themselves an end very different from that satisfaction you find in yours turn it into pure interest They that believe that love is a desire answered Arsaces did never know its nature well or else were willing to disguise it thereby to cover less noble and less reasonable passions and if you will give me leave Madam to declare my sence touching
long as she lives in this ignorance she sees me she suffers me and shews such goodness toward me as ought to be envied by those that are most happy but after the knowledge of my presumption an eternal exile would be the lightest punishment she would inflict upon such a miserable man such a unknown wanderer as Arsaces the Gods forbid I should exasperate her by a criminal declaration and that I should provoke thunders and lightnings utterly to coâ—sume him who is but too much inflamed already Arsaces perhaps would have said more if the King had not come to joyn discourse with us but we often fell upon the same subject afterward and still found Arsaces in his silence and in the terms of his usual modesty In the mean time the Kings passion for Stratonice was risen to so high a degree that it was necessary to come to Extremities and one day the King having pressed her exceedingly to give him some proofs of her affection that ambitious woman who knew how absolute she was over his heart resolv'd to make use of all her power and after having a while resisted his solicitations Sir said she at last never hope for any thing from Stratonice but by lawfull ways and if you love her do you your self shew her the utmost marks of your affection or else cease to injure her Reputation by a suit the designs whereof are unknown These words did not surprise the King who had ever expected them but yet they troubled him and for some days kept him melancholly and unresolv'd 't was hard for him to dispose himself unto that Marriage but harder to leave Stratonice and he loved her with too real an affection to use any manner of violence against her two considerations opposed the design of this Marriage that of the inequality of their conditions and that of the Prince my brother whom he did believe he should prejudice by that Match but the force of his love and the perswasions of his flatterers conquered these two difficulties Stratonice is my subject said he yet nevertheless she is a Princess and if I finde not those advantages which are commonly sought for in Alliances at least I shall finde no shame by it a Wife of inferiour quality can take nothing away from mine and 't is not without example in this Empire nor in those of my neighbours As for Oroondates his interest that ought not to disswade me for if he be dead as his long absence makes me fear no body ought to count it strange that I think of giving an heir of mine own bloud unto my Kingdom which would fall into another Family and if he be alive he is an ingratefull son in having forsaken me without leave in my foreign and domestick Wars and in not coming back to me when the necessity of my affairs constrain'd me to beg the assistance of all my Friends By these kinde of thoughts he overcame all the obstacles that opposed his intentions and having nothing more to contend withall he told Stratonice he was ready to give her that proof she desired of his affection This news was presently known over all the Court and the King having publish'd it himself and proposed unto his Counsel those Reasons that moved him to that Marriage every body began to prepare for it but with very different thoughts If Stratonice and proud Arsacomes were in the height of their felicities Berenice on the contrary was overwhelm'd in grief I had many Reasons to be so which are too apparent not to be known to you and my consolation was that my resentments were approved by all those that were not interessed for Arsacomes his Family but how just soever they were they were to no purpose and in spite of all the complaints I made both for my brothers interests and for mine own the King forbore not to go on and after having given me some slight consolation and promised me with extreme kinde words that this Marriage should not diminish any thing of that affection he had ever born me he effected his design and married Stratonice publickly causing her to be crowned at Issedon in the presence of the whole Court That mischief not being to be remedied it was best to resolve to bear it handsomely and to fain a satisfaction for that which the King received since my discontents were but unseasonable The Wedding was celebrated with a great deal of triumph and to honour so solemn an action there were Turnaments full of pomp and magnificence Arsacomes appear'd in them with more splendour than all the rest of the Court and Arsaces though he was particularly troubled at that Marriage was yet too gratefull for the favours the King had shew'd him to neglect those occasions of acknowledging them and to please him in that solemnity he not onely made one in all those Matches but won all the Prizes and by the advantages he had in sight of the whole world redoubled Arsacomes his growing Envy That proud favourite seeing himself raised by that alliance to honours which he never pretended absolutely gave over all thought of the respect he ow'd me to torment me openly and the King became so subject to the will of his new Wife that he never resented her brothers insolency The vexation I receiv'd by it made me shun all company in general that I might avoy'd his in particular and though Stratonice did not apparently abuse her fortune in her carriage toward me but pay'd me all the civilities I could expect from my fathers wife yet was her conversation unpleasing to me and I could not consider her as Arsacomes his sister without having an aversion to her true it is that she forced me to it by the discourses she used in favour of him for she passed by no occasion of entertaining me either with her brothers love or with his deserts One day being desirous to escape a visit which I thought she intended me I went out of my Chamber with Cyllenia and two of my other maids and by a back stair went out of my lodging down into the Garden I presently gave those two wenches liberty to walk which way they pleased and leaning upon Cyllenia's arm I with her sought out the least frequented Allies Our first discourse was concerning Arsacomes and after that I had a while in angry terms detested his persecutions Cyllenia began to talk of Arsaces I confess I esteem'd his person very much and that seeing nothing in him which was not lovely great and extraordinary I could not chuse but have such an opinion of him as his good qualities deserv'd After we had spoken something touching his love the grace wherewith he expressed it and the marvellous discretion wherewith it was accompanied Cyllenia of a sudden fix'd her Eyes upon my face and when she had look'd awhile smiling upon me Madam said she will you forgive me a folly which I cannot keep my self from telling you There are but few offences said I whereof thou mightest
excellent qualities of his person I in that conquest found all manner of contentment and advantage to my self I considered that the way he had gone was full of an exceeding great regard to me and that in asking my Fathers approbation before he made me acquainted with his love he had show'd the respect he bore our family and had freed me from all the blame a Princess might receive by giving way to a secret pretender In short both for all these reasons and the remembrance of his merit I began to love him in good earnest and the will of my friends affords excuse enough to my affection to give me liberty to own it to you I saw nothing in his person that was not lovely to the highest point nay I could not so much as wish for any thing that was not to be found most advantagiously in him This affection which I felt take birth without making any opposition to hinder it began to cause disquiets in me to which I had not been accustomed and the effect absence uses to produce in the hearts of those that love entering insensibly into mine grief for his being away and fear for those dangers whereinto he was going to cast himself found place in it very quickly and I made no prayers to Heaven without imploying part of them for his safety and for his speedy return The Prince my Father and the Princess my Mother who saw reall advantages both to them and me in his Alliance confirm'd me in those thoughts themselves and the whole Court united his interests through the present remembrance of those important Obligations it had to him rung his praises eternally in my ears and fortified me in my affection by all manner of reasons Onely Neoptolemus was discontented at it but discontented even to rage and not being able to dissemble his resentments he murmur'd lowdly at the injustice that was done him in preferring a stranger Prince whom they hardly knew before a Prince of the bloud of the Aeacidas and in suffring him in one day to carry away the recompence of the services of his whole life He made his complaint to my Father but reap'd very little satisfaction nay he complain'd of it to me my self but in such insolent terms that I was forced to tell him he had no reason to envy Agis his Fortune for though my Father had not disposed of me in favour of that Prince his condition had been never a whit the better and in short that though there had never been such a man as Agis in the World Deidamia would never have been for Neoptolemus He was not much contented with this answer but not being in a condition to let his resentments break out further while Agis was busied for the safety of Epirus which was wholy indebted to him for it he strove to dissemble them till another season that might be more proper for him to take satisfaction In the mean time our Valiant defender drew the War gloriously to a conclusion I understand it too little to inlarge my self in the particular Relation thereof and 't will suffice me to tell you that within three moneths he gain'd another Battell over the Rebells perfected the Defeat of them in some other Encounters which were all favourable to him and either by force or by the terrour of his Arms made himself Master of all the places they had gotten unto their party Still as we receiv'd news of these successes I receiv'd Letters from him also I will not trouble you with relating what they contain'd most of them I have forgotten and onely remember the very first which was in these words King Agis to the Princess Deidamia WHat will not the fortunate Agis inspired with the remembrance of the Princess Deidamia be able to do for the tranquility of Epirus and what may not be hoped for from a heart animated with so glorious a passion I would it pleased the Gods I were as certain of the Victory over my Princesses minde as over the Enemies of this State but what Victory can he hope for who begins by his own defeat and who declares himself conquered before he has fought In this condition of my fortune the success of this War could not be to my advantage but that which others may finde in Conquests and in Triumphs is found by happy Agis in the glory of being vanquished by Deidamia This was the first Letter I receiv'd and by my Fathers command I wrote him an Answer which my Mother dictated and which as I remember was in these terms The Princess Deidamia to the King of the Lacedemonians BOth to conquer the Enemies of Epirus and to conquer the minde of Deidamia King Agis hath Arms which promise him an infallible success his valour alone is sufficient to defeat the Rebells and as touching the Victory he desires over my minde he ought to hope for it not onely from the will of them that have power to dispose of me but from that they have left unto my self which shall ever make me acknowledge as well what my friends ow to his generosity as what I am indebted to his merit and to his affection I receiv'd many others as I have already told you but within a while after we receiv'd himself crown'd with Lawrels and laden with the spoils of his Enemies whose remainders he had settled in an obedience which left not so much as any appearance of trouble in the Kingdom You may easily judge how he was welcom'd and can imagine without my telling it that all the magnificence the Epirotes could possibly shew was to be seen when he made his entrance we went a great way forth to meet him and that interview passed with demonstrations of joy and affection which it would be very difficult to represent but our particular meeting stirr'd up more tender and more pressing motions in our hearts than in the rest of the company and I confess that in that second Encounter I in the person of my Agis found a thousand new inducements to love him That first day was spent in Triumphs and in rejoycings for his Return and for the happy success of his Enterprises he came to visit me at my lodging and gave me a thousand confirmations of his love with a grace against which it was impossible not onely for the prepossessed Deidamia but even for the most insensible woman of the world to defend her self I come not said he as a Conquerour to demand a Recompence for what I have done to secure this Kingdom but as a guilty person that waits at your feet to expect what punishment you will inflict upon his presumption and I acknowledge that I have less defended Epirus with my Forces than I have offended Deidamia by my audacious thoughts but I was not Master of that noble passion which totally possessing my soul with an absolute Empire left me not the least power in the world over my self and I believ'd that putting my self into the hazard of
oblige him infinitely by the desire I had to make a longer stay with him and that he had already conceiv'd such an affection towards me as would not suffer him to let me depart from him without discontent He promised me afterwards that he would carry me to see the King the Princess and the whole Court in such a way that I should run no hazard of being known and that if my face were taken notice of he would easily make me pass for a stranger whom desire of glory had brought into those places where it was to be gotten and the same day after he had instructed his people how they should behave themselves towards me and what they should answer if they were question'd about me he took me along with him to Issedon when we were alone he used me as a Prince and as a man of quality equal to his own but before those that might observe our actions he at my request carried himself towards me as an inferiour person and on that had dependance on him otherwise it would have been very hard for me to have stay'd long at Court without being suspected The second day after our arrival I saw the King in the Temple and though he was my Fathers Enemy and without doubt mine also I could not look upon the Father of Oroondates without some touches of affection His garb me thought was extream warlike and extream amorous both together and there was Arsacomes and many other Princes attending on him but the next day going with Theodates into a wood where the Princess Berenice used to walk every evening I saw her that admirable Lady I saw her and in that I think I have said all since to see her and to loose that liberty for her which I had so long conserv'd was but one and the same thing neither indeed is Berenice's beauty one of those that stand in need of long time to make a conquest for to support her very first looks without yielding is wilfully to hold out in a guilty and in an unseemly resistance I saw her with Arms against which it was not possible to defend ones self and they amongst you whose passion gives them advantageous opinions of those they love must pardon me if I say that all I had seen till then was but ill-favoured in my conceit compar'd to Berenice Scarce had I cast mine Eyes upon her but I was already in a flame and in short Brother no longer time was requisite for Berenice to make her self Mistris of Artaxerxes his heart than according to your report Statira had to win the affections of Oroondates This resemblance of our Destinies came presently into my minde nay and I think that though its assistance was utterly unnecessary yet did it help toward my first Engagement O Gods how fatal was that moment to my Repose how many sufferings has it cost me but withall how happy was it to me since in spite of all my pains inspite of all my losses and in spite of all my misfortunes it hath made me tast a bliss the least part whereof was not to be purchased with all my pains losses and misfortunes put together The divine Berenice was alighted from her Chariot to walk under the Trees with Princess Theomiris her Cousin and some other Ladies of her Attendance and though I onely kept along with the Train at a good distance I observ'd such beauties in her as far supassed my imagination You know this marvellous Princess so well already that I shall not need to make any description of her and I will onely tell you that I fix'd my self so deeply in that contemplation that I lost all knowledge of what I did and in my walk I was guided meerly by the throng of People that waited on the Princess O Gods said I to my self is it possible you should have thus advantageously display'd all your powers in one mortal beauty or rather is it possible that all your powers should have been able to form so marvellous a workmanship Fly Artaxerxes said I within a little after fly from so fatal a sight and suffer not thy self to fall into a precipice from whence thou never canst be able to retire this beauty is not destined unto men nor can men without a crime raise their audacious thoughts unto it I was so carried away in these discourses that I had hardly so much as a small glimpse of knowledge remaining and I should have continued long in that imployment if the Princess had not given over walking and if Theodates had not taken me back with him after he with much ado had raised me out of the deep meditation wherein I was buried Of all the rest of the day he could not draw a reasonable word from me and when I was in my Bed I began a war with my own thoughts of a quite different nature from all those I had ever been in before that time All Berenices beauties came presently into my rememberance and with them all the sweetness and all the Advantages that might be found in the glory of serving her but this knowledge was quickly accompanied with that of the difficulties there were in that Design and in that birth of my love I made reflections little different from those you made in the beginnings of yours 'T is true said I that Berenice is the most accomplished creature of the world and that all which men have seen till now has nothing that in any degree comes near her admirable beauties she is but too fair she is but too perfect that is not the thing that makes thee waver O Artaxerxes nor dost thou at all doubt whether she be worthy of thy love and of that liberty which hitherto thou hast preserv'd intire but she is the King of Scythia's daughter and thou art the son of Darius I staid a while upon this consideration but presently after I passed over that first difficulty by your example Was not Statira said I Darius his daughter and was not Oroondates the King of Scythia's son Hast not thou a heart as well as he And canst not thou attempt that for his sister which he so courageously hazarded for thine Thou without doubt hast facilities in thy Design which he found not in his his Example may encourage thee his proceeding may instruct thee and his assistance may make thee the most fortunate of all men living He will not refuse to give it thee dear brother and I assure my self he will do the same Offices for thee to his sister which he receiv'd of thee to thine The Gods will mollifie our fathers hearts in time and in the interim thou wilt be too happy and too contented in having a like destiny with thy Oroondates But what dost thou say reply'd I presently after to my self a like destiny Oroondates possesses thy sisters affections already and perhaps his will never approve of thine Thou oughtest not to hope for the same success in thy love which thy brothers admirable
since he cannot love the Daughter of his King without being worthy of death and it is just that Stratonice die both because she is uncapable to survive that dearest Brother and because she is uncapable to survive the loss of your affection Of my affection Madam replied the King I protest to you by all the Gods that it never was so strong as now and that it is so extreamly increased as in comparison of my love to you I do not at all love my self Ah Sir answered the subtile Queen putting a handkerchief to her eyes if you honoured me now with the affection you gave me heretofore you would not suffer that to die which next your self is dearest to me in all the World without showing some marks of your compassion She made a stop at these words and the King who presently understood the drift of them and who could not easily yield to what she desired nor favour Arsacomes to the prejudice of his Daughter remained without reply and fixing his eyes upon the ground made the Queen see the agitation of his mind She soon perceived it and kept silence with him for a while but within a little after desiring to finish what she thought she had happily begun No Sir added she for Gods sake be not at all disquieted for my consideration nor use any violence upon your inclinations for a person who cannot have deserv'd them though I cannot feel the loss of them without dying I will at least endure it without murmuring against you and shall be able to put a difference between what was lawfully my own and what I held meerly by your goodness My fortune was too high and if I dare say so too unjust to believe it would be of long continuance yet has it not so blinded me but that I can behold the fall of it as an effect of your justice rather than as an effect of my ill fate Stratonice and Arsacomes had too lofty an ambition yet Stratonice had none but what it pleased your Majesty to give her and Arsacomes dies for the expiation of his if I accompany him to the grave your Majesty ought not to be troubled at it since I shall onely lose a life which was but little dear to you and toward the conservation whereof you were unwilling to contribute any thing The Queen as she ended these words looked upon the King with the same eyes that had so ardently enflam'd him and at that moment summon'd together all her most alluring charms with such a sovereign power that being prepossessed already he was not able to resist them He lifted up his eyes from the ground and turning them upon the Queen with a most amorous gesture Do not kill me with these unkind words said he nor wrong my love any more with these reproaches I will do all for thee thou canst desire of me dear Stratonice and though I cannot consent to use a sudden violence upon Berenice's inclinations I will command her to use Arsaces as a Prince whose design I disapprove not and I will favour thy Brother in his passion as much as thou ought'st to wish The Queen appeared transported with joy at this promise of the Kings and setting forth all her most attractive allurements to seduce him before he went from her she perswaded him to whatsoever she would The Princess found the effects of it the next day for the King commanded her to visit Arsacomes and to look more favourably upon him then she had done formerly Berenice received these words as a clap of thunder and was so extreamly troubled at them that she could not settle her self again of all that day but the next morning the King having met her in a gallery and drawing her aside to a window well Berenice said he will you not visit Arsacomes with me and have you not disposed your self to do that for him which I desired of you The Princess was so surprised that she stood without reply at that question and the King having asked it again and pressed her to declare her intention Sir said she I did not understand your Majesties commands and was so little prepared for them that I still have much ado to apprehend your meaning I thought answered the King I had explain'd my mind sufficiently to leave you no colour of being ignorant what I meant but since I must clear it further to you I mean Berenice that you should use Arsacomes better than you have done hitherto and that you should consider him as a Prince whom I love who loves you and whom I account worthy to serve you Ah! Sir interrupted the Princess what a change is this of yours and what proofs your Majesty desires of your Daughters obedience I ask nothing of you added the King which you may not grant me without injuring your self Arsacomes is a Prince as considerable by his birth as by my love to him and by the alliance I have contracted with his family and if there be any dishonour in suffering his affection 't is not upon you Berenice but upon me alone that it will totally fall In short enquire no more what my intentions are but believe I have ever loved you enough to bring nothing upon you that is either shamefull or disadvantageous He left her with these words and she no sooner was retired into her Chamber to digest them but she fell in a deadly affliction she had so much repugnance to show any sign of complacency to the Kings desires that she could not hear the bare proposal of them without being transported What said she as Cyllenia has told me since shall Stratonice then Triumph on this manner over Berenice and shall I approve of her Brothers temerity to show that I am a slave unto her power No Stratonice you are not yet so absolute over me and what Empire soever you have over the King I shall alwayes be able to discern his own inclinations from yours and in this unjust and severe command one may easily know 't is Stratonice speaks and not the King my Father The obedience I owe to him alone cannot become so general and if I should endeavour to follow the orders you have made him give me that effect of a blind obedience would not now be in my power I love as much as you can wish and though I be insensible to Arsacomes I have a just sence of Arsaces his merites Alas pursued she a little after my dear Arsaces must I while thou art fighting for my Father fight here against thee with so much ingratitude and must the injury he would do thee make me shed tears while thou art shedding bloud and perhaps thy own bloud for his service This remembrance drew showers from her fair eyes which for a long time made her unable to say more but when she had vented part of her Resentments she sent for me believing she might finde some consolation in advising with me As soon as I came into her Chamber she rose to
before and since the death of the King my Husband And if by that sacred memory I have conquered the inclination which I shall have for him while I live and the remembrance of the Obligations I have to him Judge what you ought to hope for from me you for whom I have no inclination and to whom I am not at all obliged I hope replied Perdiccas that by my perseverance in loving you I shall overcome yours in hating me and that by rendring you in all the testimonies of your hatred the same services which that more happy rival did in the proofs of your affection you will finde the difference there is between his passion and mine It is a small matter for a man beloved and for a man favored by Queen Statira to continue constant in his love and to be for ever faithful to her but in the disdain and in the ill usage I receive from you Fidelity is a great deal more considerable then in a condition that were able to keep the most insensible persons firm unto your service Perhaps if you had made such a tryal of this Oroondates so worthy of your inclination you would have lost some part of it and would soon have thought your self disengaged of those Obligations that tie you to him to the prejudice of the passion I have to serve you I know not answered the Queen with a very serious countenance who can have instructed you so well in my Affairs but whatsoever hath been told you of the affection I bore to Oroondates it is too great a glory to me ever to disown it while I live I repent my self of nothing continued the Queen with a sigh but that I loved him not enough that 's all my crime And if I had not been deceived by the cunning practises of her who hath given you this information I was enough indebted to that great Prince to have preferred my grave before the honor I received to be the Wife of Alexander the Great Yet Oroondates as great and as worthy to be loved as he is hath not begot any design in me to give my self again to a man after having been married to the greatest of all men In short The Widow of Alexander shall neither be for Oroondates nor for Perdiccas but if she were to be for any body it should be for Oroondates not onely rather then Perdiccas but rather then all the rest of mankinde though the gods should raise up another a thousand times more great then Alexander I hope added Perdiccas briskly that if you are not for me you shall not be for Oroondates I will defend you against him with forces that shall not be inferior to his and if the gods have so decreed that his genius must be above mine he shall never open his passage to you till he have laid me dead at the bottom of our Walls After this discourse Perdiccas had some talk with the Queen while Alcetas entertained the Princess Parisatis upon the same subject and drew just as much satisfaction as his Brother had done That brave spirited Princess used him always with so much sharpness and disdain That if he were not of a very milde and patient nature he would have faln into some expressions of anger and particularly that day for when Alcetas reproached her that for all the severity she faigned since Hephestion's death she had not been insensible of the love of Lysimachus I for my justification replied the Princess may call all the Earth to witness what I have done in favor of Lysimachus both before and since the death of Hephestion but if I had really given my affection to the knowledge of his vertue and to the remembrance of his services I were as much excusable as I should be little if I should cast my eyes upon Alcetas I know not what Alcetas answered because Perdiccas went then out of the Chamber and he that gave me this account of their conversation went out with him From thence Perdiccas went directly to visit Queen Roxana whom he found retired from all Company entertaining her self in an Arbor of the Garden with no body but Hesione Perdiccas out of respect came in alone and the Queen seeing him enter rose to meet him and gave him the best reception he could wish After the first terms of civility Perdiccas began to thank her for the force she had used in favor of him upon her first intentions and for her complying with his passion and then he protested to her That he desired nothing so earnestly as some occasion to let her see how sensible he was of those last effects of her goodness While he was making these protestations the Queen having prayed him to sit down by her gave ear without interruption and when he had done speaking she who during his discourse had had time to confirm her self in the resolution she had taken looking upon him with an action accompanied with some shame and some uncertainty May I have a perfect confidence Perdiccas said she in the Protestations you make me And may I upon that hope make you a confession whereby I put both my quiet and my reputation into your hands You may Madam with all maner of securirity answered Perdiccas and then he confirmed his promises by Oaths which begot a full assurance in the Queen I will make no difficulty then replied she to trust you absolutely and to own a thing to you which I shall not be able to do without blushing But Perdiccas since you have weaknesses your self which you have confessed to me Why should not I confess mine to you and why should I not hope for some indulgence from you toward them and even for your assistance if it be necessary In brief Perdiccas said she putting her hand before her face if this Declaration may be permitted from the Widow of Alexander I love as well as you I love with an affection borne many years ago but with an affection which never injured that which I owed unto the King my Husband and which revived again since his death but not without a violence which I have not been able to resist neither the multiplicity of my Affairs nor the care of my Fortune have been able to banish a dear remembrance out of my heart no more then you out of yours and Queen Statira is not more deeply settled in your thoughts then Prince Oroondates is in mine Perdiccas was surprised at this discovery and looking upon the Queen with much astonishment How Madam said he do you love the Prince of Scythia I love him answered Roxana with so strong an affection that it takes away my repose and perhaps will also take away my life Ah! Madam added Perdiccas raising his voice cease to love Oroondates he must die to secure me the possession of Statira Statira must die then replied Roxana to secure me the possession of Oroondates They both were mute at these first words and looked upon one another a good while without
the Kings Authority nor by that I may have my selfe in his Dominions but only by my services and by the proofs of my affection You have yet an absolute advantage over me and you see me undertake that with very little hope which you have justly and happily obtained The Victory is yours when I do but begin to fight and Barsina's heart which I assault with feeble forces is quite o'recome already by the merit and by the love of Memnon 't is in this poynt that my condition is as much to be implored as yours is glorious and that if you ought to look upon a Rivall who ever was your Friend 't is rather with compassion then with resentment Memnon was a little flattred with these words but they were not able to satisfie him and he was going to reply with a countenance discontented enough when the King who was gotten ready while they were talking broke off their conversation by coming into the Gallery with a great deale of company Memnon who was seized with an extraordinary sadnesse and who felt himselfe uncapable of any pleasing entertainment would not stay near the King in that humour but finding means to slip away in the crowd went out of the Palace and came into my Chamber just as I was dressed to make me acquainted with his trouble I presently saw it in his face and guested the cause when he declared it to me himselfe in such passionate tearms that he exceedingly redoubled my affliction by the knowledge of his he at first made some complaints for my having concealed a thing of such importance from him but I contented him by saying that my care of his quiet had obliged me to it and that since it was an unwelcome Newes I had desired he should hear it rather from the mouth of another then from mine He could not keep himselfe that day from going a little beyond the limits of that moderation which was very naturall to him and after having complained of his Fortune and of Prince Oxyatres who came to crosse him so unjustly Madam sayd he if Prince Oxyatres will contest with me only by his love and by his services ought I to fear he can deprive me by those wayes of what I hold from your goodnesse alone and ought I to fear that you will look upon the advantages he has over me to my destruction Ah! if this fear be lawfull as you desire the favour of the Gods give me some knowledge of it and suffer me not to conserve my life a minute after the losse of my hopes In another reason replyed I I would not easily have pardoned this discourse nor do I think that by any of my actions I have given you any just cause to suspect me of inconstancy I shall know how to render unto Prince Oxyatres what I ow to the Kings Brother without forgetting that I ow all to Memnon and though with his love and services he should also imploy his Authority and that of the King his Brother he should not be able to deprive you of what you have so lawfully acquired If it prove so sayd Memnon better satisfied then before as without doubt it will since my fair Princesse promises it me I will no more lament my destiny but shall account Prince Oxyatres his love rather an effect of Barsina's merit then of my ill fortune He was comforted on this maner by the promises I reitterated to prefer him while I liv'd before all the persons in the World He was many times upon the poynt to hasten our Marriage thereby to break Oxyatres his pretensions but then he beliv'd he could not do it handsomely after he himselfe had declared to the King that he would stay till the return of that Voyage for which all the Court was making preparations and he judged that by that precipitation contrary to his former design he should exasperate Prince Oxyatres whom he infinitely considered and incite him to go beyond the tearms he had proposed these Reasons retarded it and in the mean time he suffred the visits Prince Oxyatres made me by the assurances I gave him every day that he could not draw any lawfull cause of fear from them they often met in my company and I used Oxyatres still with great respect and Memnon as I had been wont to do before Oxyatres was concerned Oxyatres shewed very much discontent at it and expressed it in most passionate complaints when he was alone with me but his resentments never made him flie out against Memnon nor against me he kept still in the resolution he had taken to imploy nothing to his advantage but his love and his services In the Interim he carried not his passion so secretly but that it was quickly taken notice of by the whole Court and came also to the Kings Knowledge That great Prince who cherished Memnon both through a strong inclination and through a just acknowledgement of his services who had particularly favoured him in his design upon me and who had moreover engaged himself to support him in it to the uttermost heard this news with some displeasure and as soon as hee saw Prince Oxyatres testified to him by reasonable sharp words that he had disobliged him by by crossing the affections of a person that was so dear and so considerable to him as Memnon Prince Oxyatres who had prepared himself for that event hearkned to the Kings reproof without interruption and when he had done speaking Sir sayd he if my love to Barsina were an effect of my will I should be faulty in thwarting the intentions you have in favour of Memnon but since it is by constraint I yeeld you can only accuse Barsina's charâ—es for their violence upon me If I could cease to love her I would do so to please you but since that effect of the complacency I ow to your Majesties desires can never be in my power permit me Sir to suffer a pain for which I will use no remedy that Memnon himself can justly disapprove You will therby be better served then you were formerly Memnon to maintain himself in your affection and in your esteem to the prejudice of Oxyatres will second the first actions hee hath done for your service by others greater and of more importance and Prince Oxyatres whom the glory and fortune of Memnon have prickt with emulation will seek the occasions of making himself as considerable by his valour as hee is by the honour of being brother to Darius we shall strive who can be forwardest to fight for you in the war to which we are going to march and if Barsina can yet bee disputed against Memnon wee shall both of us endeavour to purchase her with our bloud and with that of your Majesties enemies You have no need of that motive replied the King to actions of valour which are ordinary to you and the Persians consider you no lesse for your vertues then for your birth but neither of them can dispense with mee for what
been transported to give him a reception far beyond the bounds of decency and modesty but having as much power over her self as any woman in the world she made use of it in this incounter and keeping her self within reasonable moderate limits after she had saluted him according to the ordinary custome she was the first that broke silence in these words I am come to render you what the quality of an enemy and the condition of a prisoner of war cannot take away from your birth and vertue and to assure you that your fortune is not worse by being fallen into our hands than it was when you fought before our walls Though the Queen spake these words with a grace that was common to very few persons and that her beauty was capable to dissipate part of the resentments one might have against her The Prince was prepossessed with his by such just and powerfull motives that the sence he was obliged to have of her civill offers was hardly able to suspend that for a moment which he had of the miseries she had made him undergo yet did he force himself the best he could and being he bore a most perfect respect unto that sex he strove for all he was so much exasperated to observe decency even with his most bitter enemy Your Majesty takes a care said he which I have never merited and this favour is undeservedly bestowed upon a prisoner and upon an enemy like me If you are my enemy replied Roxana I am not yours our thoughts have still continued in their first estate and as all the testimonies of affection which I have given you have not been able to touch your heart so all the markes of hatred which you have made appear against me both in your former and in your latter actions have not been able to change my inclinations Oroondates had no intent to engage in such a like discourse as desiring to shun all occasions of falling again into the persecutions of Roxana but when she had put him upon that subject and by those words revived his sad remembrances and his lawfull resentments he could not be the master of them but being carried away by their impetuousnesse I had thought Madam said he I had been in a condition that would have freed me from hearing or from using reproaches but since by yours to me you give me some liberty to justifie my actions I will excuse them no other way but by avowing them it is true that I have the thoughts of an enemy towards you nay thoughts of such a violent hatred as perhaps nothing but your sex alone hath defended you against them and hindred me of the satisfaction to destroy the cruell cause of all my misfortunes it is not necessary I should quicken your memory of them you know well enough that after having a thousand times disturbed my quiet by your subtile plots you in the end have utterly deprived me of it by a deceipt without example and cruelly torn away my happinesse and all my hopes It is you alone that have thrown me headlong into this gulf of miseries wherein I have unfortunately languished out my days it is by your means alone that I lost all and when you thought heaven was preparing to restore it me you would have sent it out of the world to put me out of all hope to recover it you forgot that you were a woman and a Princesse to change your self into a fury armed against my life and so you could but make me perish you never feared the shame you were to receive by such a horrid cruelty nor the remorse of conscience that would have tortured you for having shed the remainders of the most illustrious bloud in the world and the remainders of the bloud of your own Kings These Madam are the gallant marks of your affection and after this can you think it strange I should have received them with ingratitude and that I should resent those crafty practises that have been so fatal to me and abhor that prodigie of crueltie in which I had a greater interest than all Mankind It is true Madam that I have hated that I have detested you and that I took up arms against you but could you think my resentments should be more moderate and that I could behold the cruel Authours of my deplorable miseries and the horrible Murtherers of Statira as other than Monsters and Tormentors of my life The Prince peradventure would have said more if the Queen who hearkened impatiently had not interrupted him I must confess said she that I have done all that you reproach me with but these actions which are extraordinary to my Sex and perhaps unto my humour have been extraordinary marks of my affection and if you had rightly considered them they would have drawn your love or your acknowledgement insted of your aversion It was for your sake alone that from opennesse and sweetnesse I fell to subtiltie and cruelâ—ie and that dreadfull change of mind was nothing but a pure effect of this affection which you have so ingratefully requited if at the first I troubled your repose it was because I thought you should have sought it in none but me alone since it was for you alone I had rejected mine if I had recourse to subtilty to get you from my rivall it was because I believed you ought to have been mine as I was wholly yours and that having by the knowledge of your ingratitude lost the hope oâ— acquiring you I was not willing my rivall should triumph over my destruction and if after the death of the King our husband I would have dispatched her out of the world it was Oroondates and not ambition of Empire they were the maximes of love and not the maximes of State that carried me on to such a cruelty she came again into a condition of taking Oroondates from me and to indeavor to secure him to my self I with her would have sacrificed all that next after him was dearest to me in the world imagine something yet more strange than that I was capable to have done it that I might purchase you but by these violences which I have done to a nature that of it self was not inclined to cruelty and by these blemishes which my actions may have stuck upon my reputation you ought to judge Oroondates of the greatnesse of my affection rather than of that of my rivall by the slender proofs you have received from her she hated you as soon as she believed you ceased to love her she banished you injuriously from her presence when with the price of your bloud and the danger of your life you came to buy her liberty and I have loved you in your ingratitude in your scorn and even in your highest provocations I loved you when you were armed for our ruine before our gates and I love you still being newly entred into our City with your sword in your hand with a design perhaps to turn it against
most unhappy and the least known hath very considerable advantages above the other who was most favoured by the destinies who by the help of fortune hath in his glory eclipsed the fame of all that followed him as well as of all that went before him You being generous as you are have taken the part of the more unfortunate and if I dare reproach you with it after your own confession of it to me you have been even in love with him blush not Calista he was a Prince worthy of you and without doubt the fates should either have reserv'd him till your Age or made you to be born in his But the Gods took care that his reputation should come unspotted to our times and that his life should be preserv'd from a blemish which you would infallibly have cast upon it his Princess deserv'd his affection wholly and only you were capable to withdraw him from that fidelity which renders him so dear to you and so recommendable to all the world Hitherto J have spoken to you as to Calista that is to say as to the Soveraign Mistress of my life and of all my thoughts now I speak to you as to her that is to read this unworthy Piece again and to whom J consecrate it with my whole heart and all my affections Besides the consideration of my love J find in you all that can be desired in persons to whom works of this nature are dedicated Your quality is most eminent too eminent for my hopes it hath hitherto made a part of my misfortunes it is that which hath made me pass many years in your service without anie other advantage then that of being yours of being sufferd by you An interessed lover or rather a captive who is your idolater might seem suspected in praising the beauties both of your mind and bodie but the eies and hearts of all France take my part and bear witness generallie that you are the most accomplished of all creatures 'T is therefore under your protection that Cassandra coms to put her self she boasts of having som resemblance of you and 't is with you alone she seeks for sanctuarie in the various changes of her fortune you wil not know her a great while though she keep you verie constant companie and will wonder to see her give the name to adventures in which she seems to have no part at all but you shall see her come out of the dark when you hope least for it and will know her again by lineaments that are not common You in her face may find a part of that which shines most visiblie in yours and in her carriage you shall neither see anie thing that can injure you nor anie thing you can disavow If this First Part divert you the designe I have to mind nothing but you alone as the mark of all my thoughts will oblige me to give you quicklie the continuation of her Storie and though I be neither Doctor nor a passablie Learned man I am certain you will never inspire me with mean low fancies since you have inspired into me the resolution of living and dying Your c. CASSANDRA The First Part. BOOK I. UPON the Bank of the River Euphrates not many Furlongs from Babylon two Strangers alighted from their Horses under certain Trees whose thick Leavinesse cast a very pleasing shade He of the two who by the richness of his arms and the respect the other bore him appeared to be the Master unbuckled his Head-piece and lying down upon the Grass buried all the disquiets that troubled him in a profound sleep But scarce had he tasted the first sweetness of it when by the other that accompanyed him and by a sudden noise interrupted in his repose presently starting up he took his Horse and Cask again and advanced upon the side of the great High-way whence he was newly come to know the cause of it He soon perceived it by the first object that presented it self which was a Combat of two Cavaliers in whom he instantly observed all the marks of an unusual valour and great animosity their Javelins shivered in an hundred pieces under their Horses feet had given place unto their swords which they made use of with so much rage and so little caution that he quickly judged the designe of assaulting each other had in those two Warriours quite extinguished the care of defending themselves and that to each the losse of his Enemies life was much more dear or much more important then the conservation of his own Till then the fight had balanced in the uncertainty of any advantage on either side when one of them whose black arms and plume of the same colour witnessed the grief that was in his heart rushed upon his Enemy with such fury that by giving him two or three great wounds he made him doubt of his safety and pressing him the more eagerly as hee found him grow weaker had then without question finished a Combat which seemed too tedious to his revenge if he who was the Spectatour of it had not cast himself between to part them praying them to hold their hands with the most civil intreaties he thought he could use in that encounter But he in the black arms whom powerful reasons made to desire the destruction of his Enemy and whom the hope of Victory had already made confident cryed out with a terrible voice Whosoever thou art unlesse thou be a Protector of crimes and an Enemy to vertue and unlesse thou wilt draw upon thy self the hatred both of the Gods and Men oppose not the destruction of the most cruel and disloyal man that ever was And seeing him persist in the designe of parting them he charged him with so much readiness and force that the Stranger finding by those first stroaks the valour of that new Enemy lost the care of anothers safety to think of his own preservation True it is that the shame of offending a man who had already an Enemy to fight with made him for some time stand upon the defensive but seeing himself pressed with so much vehemence by one whom he had not injured and seeing the danger into which he did precipitate himself by sparing an adversary against whom he stood in need of all his force he had almost forgotten all considerations when he saw ten or twelve Horse men who coming up to them full speed and having known the Combatants took the part of him that was wounded whom his weaknesse had already made but a looker on and two of the Company having drawn him aside to carry him off to Babylon all the rest fell furiously upon him in the black arms killing his Horse with seven or eight wounds which made him fall upon the place Yet was he not so surprised but that he dis-engaged himself from his Stirrups and having an invincible courage he set himself in a readinesse to dispute his life generously against them When the Stranger seeing the inequality
it was no longer defended by so redoubted a Warriour Oroondates gave some tears unto his memory and to the affliction of his fair Barsina but his soul was yet so full of mourning for the losse of his dear Artaxerxes that he was much the lesse sensible of all others Araxes would have continued his Discourse if the night which was very near had not made them retire referring the continuation of it till the next day Lysimachus had hearken'd to him with so much delight and grew to have so much interest in the wonders of the life he related that he very unwillingly yeilded to that intermission but being constrain'd to it by many considerations he return'd into the house and ran to the Chamber of Oroondates whom hee found in a condition good enough for the hope of his recovery but his minde was in so sad an estate that one lesse concern'd in it then he would have been deeply touch'd with compassion he would not make him speak that Evening knowing how much it might doe him hurt and fearing to give him occasion to talk he wish'd him good rest and withdrew into his Chamber where after a light supper he went to bed and pass'd the night as he had done that before The End of the Second Book CASSANDRA BOOK III. BUt sorrowfull Oroondates more nearly touch'd with the loss of his Princess instead of taking any repose in a place which seem'd to have been created purposely for it did there linger out the houres of his condemnation for so he call'd the necessity that constrain'd him to live in pains more sharp and insupportable then death it self Night with it's darkness bringing back horrour and silence into his Chamber brought back also most dismal objects into his minde and represented to him the wretchedness of his present condition in so many and such terrible forms that he was like to lose his life with very grief that he was forced to keep it Then it was that all the passages thereof as well the most pleasing as the most fatall came into his memory and that he saw himself most cruelly assaulted both with a remembrance of the blessings he had lost and a sence of the miseries in which he was overwhelmed He made reflexion upon the strange birth the marvelous progress and the tragical success of his affection and from all three he conjectured that the Gods had never ingaged themselves with so much interest through the whole course of his misfortunes but to shew in his life a dreadfull example of their wrath and of the afflictions into which those men precipitate themselves whom they have forsaken He embark'd again upon that tempestuous sea which had toss'd him for the space of ten whole years and recalling to minde all the most memorable accidents of that time where there was any matter of trouble he afflicted himself really but if there were any occasion of joy or comfort he was so little sensible of that that he easily found his soul being prepossess'd with impressions of grief had no entrance at all left for any thing else nor sence of any other touches then those of dispair But when having overrun all he arrived at the bloody Catastrophe of his love and that after the cruelties absences imprisonments jealousies quarrels and rigorous commands of his Princess he came to imagin her death nay a most certain bloody and inhuman death then it was that his constancy utterly forsook him and that courage which had not yeilded to the rest of his mishaps sunk under the burthen of an affliction of so high a nature He fancied before his eyes that fair and magnanimous Queen remainder of the Illustrious bloud of Persia and widdow to the greatest man that ever was holding forth her naked throat to the sword of Perdiccas and to the bloody executioners of pittiless Roxana he represents her to himself all bloody and disfigured with a multitude of wounds which make that fair body hideous and scarcely to be known he then seeks her in the bottom of a well under a heap of stones that buried her and his imagination working very strongly made him behold her in the strangest and most gastly shapes his minde could possibly conceive Then it was that he plung'd himself headlong into his grief and forgetting his resolution of being cured he sent forth cries of lamentation and gave himself quite over to sighs and groans swimming as it were in a river of tears which streamed from his eyes as two eternal sources He broke the silence that was enjoyned him for his recovery and the absence of Lysimachus Araxes and the Physitians gave his tongue liberty to ease his heart of some part of it's sorrow Fair Queen cry'd he with an interrupted speech if your soul be not utterly unloosed from all earthly thoughts and if you still conserve any remembrance of your faithfull Orontes Fair Queen beautifull Statira divine spirit look yet upon this miserable man and if you be the same Statira so religiously adored by poor Orontes see that I am still the same Orontes by whom the divine Statira hath been so religiously adored Yes I am still the same I declare it to my own shame and confusion I am the same unless I be changed by that meannesse of spirit which I have shewed in surviving you yes dear Princesse I live still though you alas are dead but if you know my affection well you cannot doubt but I will shortly follow you this cowardise of which I accuse my self is only a cowardise in appearance but is indeed an effect of my courage and of my love to you I do resolve to die Statira assoon as you are reveng'd and the numberlesse deaths I suffer in expectation of my last ought to satisfie you better then one alone whereby you have outgon me One death great Queen was enough for you but this unhappie wretch that was the occasion of it this unfortunate cause of Roxana's hatred ought to suffer ten thousand to recompence that one life he made you lose He stopt at these words to turn over a thousand furious resolutions in his minde and to invent as many kinds of revenge which all seem'd too light to his indignation fire and sword seem'd too gentle for his satisfaction and Roxana and Perdiccas too mean too feeble subjects to wreak his anger he wish'd the Gods would resuscitate an Alexander to defend them or that the whole world would take up arms for their protection Nay he who in the whole former course of his life had ever appear'd moderate and most religious fell now to contest with the Gods as if he meant to force them to take the part of his enemies Great Gods said he you who to raise an Alexander to that pitch of glory which never any man before attain'd have destroyed the Royal Family of Persia and beaten down the pride of so many mighty Kings you who have submitted so many Empires and sacrificed so many thousand lives to
discover their affections and Idolize a face ten years together without pretending to any other fruit by their adoration but the sight and entertainment of their Mistress My Love as it is more real demands also more real and sollid favours and cannot feed upon those Chimera's which satisfie the imagination of these emptie melancholy wits Will you have me set the difference know Sir that among those thave love some love simply out of an affection to the thing beloved and others out of love unto themselves the first have no other aim but the perfection of their object and ground their happiness only upon their own passion they love or believe they love a beauty not to be repaid with an affection by the person that possesses it but meerly because they judge it lovely and these Sir me thinks are void of common sense The latter to whose maxims I have always stiffely adhered seek after a real good and their own contentment as having only reasonable opinions and such as natural instinct is able to furnish them withal They love upon hope that they shall bee equally repaid and that they shall taste that happinesse in the enjoyment of the thing belov'd which they proposed unto themselves before they imbarked into their passion and these ingage not themselves so deeply as to continue their love when they have lost their hope but let us leave both in their opinions and let us stick only upon what concerns you you think that by a sweet pleasing violence you shall offend her you love had you that consideration when you pull'd her out of the arms of her friends or did you think you should displease her lesse by that action then by this which would make her intirely your own Ah! Astiages interrupted the other this 〈◊〉 alone makes me tremble and consider I pray you that my Princesse is not onely daughter to one of the greatest Kings in the world but she is the daughter of mine own King and that the very attempt you propose would deserve a thousand thunder bolts You should have had this thought replyed Astiages before you came to the tearms you are now upon but in the state your affairs are at present your condition cannot be worse and losing no hope but what you have already lost you shall labour your own satisfaction and enjoy a contentment for which you have forsaken all others But after all said the first what happinesse can one taste by forcing the possession of a thing in which the will alone gives all the sweetnesse and with what delight can one make much of the body if the minde doe not lend its consent to welcome it They that love for the love of themselves answered Astiages make no difference in that and favours are still favours which way soever they are obtained think upon it therefore Sir since it is high time and that all things are favourable to you make use of the power you have in this place and consider how great your grief will be if you let slip a prey out of your hands which would never fall into them again I promise you that after this action you shall be possessor both of the body and minde together for all that 's past will vanish out of their memory and she will do that by necessity which she would not do by inclination He made a stop at these words and seeing that the other answered him not he continued on this manner Set before your eyes Sir the little hope you have to enjoy her any other way remember how many vain prayers you have spent how many unprofitable tears you have shed let your past submissions make you ashamed and blush for having subjected your self so much to her whose insolent disdains make her almost unworthy of your affection talk no longer to her as a slave but as a Master and instead of beseeching her as you have done hitherto say boldly I will and if she resist after that knowledge of your desire make use fearlesly of that power which the Heavens have given you and never apprehend the anger of the Gods for a fault whereof they themselves have so often been your example After that the other had hearken'd some time to this Discourse coming of a sudden as it were out of a deep sleep Astiages said he thou hast overcome thy reasons are so strong that it is impossible to defend ones self against them and notwithstanding all the resistance I can make I feel my self so gently forced to consent to what flatters mee so pleasingly that it is very difficult for me not to yeild I 'le follow thy advice and if the first means which I will try yet for a while prevail not I 'le have recourse to thine and whatsoever comes on it will accuse none but thee of a fault I shall commit by thy perswasions The Gods bee thanked replyed Astiages who have at last given you thoughts worthy of you follow my counsel Sir follow it boldly and spare not to lay all the fault and all the punishment you fear upon me But Sir continued he after he had held his peace awhile we may perchance stay here too long it is already late and the Moon which begins to shine will now discove◠to us the ways which are not unknown to mee let 's get out of this Wood and return to those in whom our stay may have bred some apprehensions At these words they arose and Lysimachus who believ'd so by the end of their discourse and by the noise they made in going away rose up also The conclusion of their entertainment had informed him of the ill design they had and although his affliction was able to smother all other thoughts in him his horrour of wicked actions made him resolve to crosse their intention and as much as possibly he could to hinder it The night being reasonable clear he followed them for some time eying them still before him but in the end notwithstanding all his care hee lost sight of them among the Trees he endeavoured a good while to finde them again but after he had gone up and down the Wood to no purpose he came to the bank of the River and knew the great Road to Babylon and the path which led to Polemons house Scarce had he gone fifty paces in it but he met some of his own servants who were come out to seek him he quickly put them out of the trouble they had been in and return'd with them and Polemon who was their Guide to the house which was not far from thence Though it was late when he came in he would not go to bed nor sup without seeing Oroondates when he knew by Araxes that he was not asleep but would be extream glad to see him having express'd much trouble for his absence since it was night After he was entred into his Chamber and that being come to his bedside they had embraced one another Well Lysimachus said Oroondates to
me fickle enough to yeild to any of those considerations you esteem me but little and by consequence cannot love me much if it be true that perfect love is grounded upon the esteem of the person beloved I love you Oroondates both because you deserve it very well and because I believe you love me and my affection cannot cease so long as those two causes continue and though they should both fail I know not whether I should have reason enough left to wean my self from it Fear not Alexander therefore any longer since neither that fortune nor that merit which you alledg no nor the power he hath over me will ever be able to shake the resolution I have taken and the promise I make to be never but yours unlesse you change your humour first and unlesse you repent your having lov'd a Captive the Daughter of a Prince dispossessed of his Estates and one who hath nothing of her former quality left except her courage My Prince ravish'd with the beginning and deeply touch'd with the end of her discourse Ah! Madam said he do not accuse me of a baseness which I never can be guilty of he that feared not the difficulties that opposed his first designe of serving you will never consider the changes of fortune and if for mine own Interest I might have been permitted to make prayers that were prejudicial to you I should always have wish'd that the Gods had made you be born without that greatness which I would have rais'd you to that I might not have obliged you to abase your self to me nor to believe that the height of your quality gave the least increase to a passion which I conceiv'd for your person alone but since that notwithstanding you are all divine you yet vouchsafe to stoop so low as to me and that this great disproportion hinders you not from giving me such lofty hopes the Gods are my witnesses that I envy not their condition and that I would not change my fortune with Alexander no nor with the Gods themselves Besides these discourses they had many others whose length keeps me from repeating them and when they were fully satisfied by the mutual assurances they gave of an eternal affection they thought it time to returne unto the Queens So they went out of the Arbour where they were and having call'd us joyn'd company with them again in one of the Alleys and continued with them till they departed After that day they pass'd many others in the same tranquility and my Master for that time was so satisfied with the condition of his love that it almost made him forget that of Darius his affairs and of his Princesses Captivity but within a very little after that calm of Fortune was something troubled and it was by the arrivall of the Ladies that had been taken at Damascus who being brought to Sidon were put among the rest My Prince was glad indeed at the coming of Barsina and in shew for that of Roxana and that Princess to whom then both the true affection and true quality of Oroondates were no longer unknown for some days forbore her importunities but she fell into them again a while after in such a manner that she made him lose much of the good will and esteem he had for her yet did he conceal her love with so much care as well to follow the incitements of his own vertue which obliged him to hide the faults of a person who committed them only for his sake as because he knew her wit was able to cross him in his affection and percance utterly to ruin it if he should absolutely have offended her In the mean time Alexander fell in love with Barsina and as you know that new passion made him see the Ladies often whom before he visited not at all through an affected continence which many times had made him say that the Persian Ladies troubled the eyesight One day when they were in our Garden and my Prince with them in his ordinary entertainment the desire of seeing Barsina brought him thither your self was with him and Hephestion Perdiccas Leonatus and divers others Assoon as ever my Prince saw him come in he slunk away from the Ladies and retired into a corner of the Garden where he feign'd to busie himself in a Trade wherein he was not very skilfull not giving over that imployment of all the time the King continued in the Garden and every time he took the like walks he hid himself so carefully that he suspected not any body could observe him In all other occasions we kept our selves exactly upon our guards but within a few days after we had a terrible fright whereof you know the cause well enough though I believe not the effect it wrought in us We were with Abdolominus in his house two or three days after the King had been there when we saw a great number of his Guards come in and a man at the head of them who seem'd their Captain I began presently to tremble but my fear was infinitly increased when Abdolominus advancing toward them and asking them the cause that brought them thither he that was the chief of them made answer we come to seek for a Prince that lies hid here disguised in a habit nothing suitable to his quality he must come before Alexander to whom he is not unknown and receive from so just a King the recompence that is due to him Judge Sir of my Masters astonishment then it was that he thought himself absolutely lost and no longer doubting but that some of Alexanders attendants had discovered him in the Garden his minde was pestered with severall thoughts suitable to the condition in which he was but he was quickly eased of his apprehension by the same man who had already spoken and who addressing himself still to Abdolominus Prince Abdolominus said he be not struck with wonder but come and receive from Alexander the Crown of your Countrey your vertue cannot continue longer hid and great Hephestion to whom the King ha's left the desposing of it chuses you among all the Sydonians to command a people that gives an universal testimony of your wisdom and integrity Leave off therefore these clothes unworthy of your present condition and putting on those that are appointed for you come and give thanks to Alexander and Hephestion for the present which they make you and for the esteem they have of your merit Our astonishment was dissipated by these words but that of Abdolominus was such as you may imagin he could not believe of a long time but that they mocked him and when he saw them persevere he received that change of his condition as a misfortune sent him from heaven and behaved himself before them and before Alexander as you know and as all Asia to whom this Story is so well know ha's highly published Lysimachus interrupting Araxes at these words I was with Alexander said he when he was brought before him
that day in strange disquiets and the next appear'd so sad and look'd so ill that he was scarcely to be known he walk'd in the most retired Alleys and Statira who was troubled to be so long without seeing him sought him at last her self being attended by none but Clâ—one and having gone over almost all the Garden she found him laid along close by a stream that ran thorow it his belly toward the ground and his head leaning upon both his hands down which ran tears that fell into the water The Princess seeing him in that condition hearing him sigh two or three times made a stop uncertain what to doe while my Master not thinking himself over-heard by anybody and not being able to retain his thoughts It is too much great Gods said he it is too much and if my misfortune be true you ought not to have prolong'd my life by such extraordinary ways to tear it away from me now by one more extraordinary but continued he he shall not long enjoy this glorious conquest and that generosity which diverted the anger of an enemy shall not stop the fury of a rival He had said more if his restlesness would have suffered him to continue long in the same posture and if turning upon one side he had not perceiv'd the Princess who hâ—arken'd to him he was ashamed to have been surprised in that manner and wiping his eyes he arose and bowed to the Princess with so sad a face that she read part of his sorrow in it but not desiring to be free from any that he felt How now Orontes said she to him what new disaster afflicts you and what ought I to fear by those tears I see you shed by that sadnesse I observe in your looks and by those words I heard you speak My Prince constraining himself exceedingly to make answer Madam said he that Alexander loves you is an effect of the same merit that forced me to do so but that by your care you should win him to it and that to gain his heart you should use an industry unworthy of your self is a thing which destroys the protestations you have made me and takes away a life which you were once pleas'd to desire I should preserve The Princess surpris'd at this Discourse and touch'd with pity replyed in offering him her hand That Alexander loves me is a thing most difficult for me to hinder but that I should seek his love or ever consent to it while I live is a thing you cannot say without offending me and which you cannot have from any body but Roxana It is true answered Oroondates Roxana gave me the first hint of it but since so many things have confirm'd it that I am but too well instructed in it to have any quiet or rather to have any life Statira looking upon him with a more chearful countenance and with an eye able to drive away all fear replyed I ever doubted that that malicious creature would take occasion from what is past to trouble our contentment but dear Oroondates I wish the Gods you invoked the other day for your justification would make me perish before your eyes if ever you had more cause then at this very time to be satisfied with my affection I confesse Alexander has talk'd to me of love whether it wâ—re to divert himself or that perhaps he be truly in love with me but if his Courtship has wrought any effect upon me and if I receiv'd it from him any otherwise then as from the destroyer of our family I desire to suffer all the torments which Orosmades inflicts upon the 〈◊〉 perjur'd souls true it is I conceal'd it from you alone as the person whose quiet was mâ—st considerable to mee and to whose quiet I thought it most prejudicial but dear Oroondates doe not fear this rival and receive yet once again the promise I make you that so long as I believe I have your affection neither Alexander nor any other man but your self shall have the least part of mine and that no reason of State shall ever make me violate the faith I give you and which I will preserve unto my grave O Gods what a strange condition is that of lovers and how subject it is to sudden and marvellous vicissitudes A minute before these words my Prince desired nothing but death and now he falls out of an excess of grief into an excess of joy which is not imaginable he instantly recovers his former liveliness and detesting the malice of Roxana imprinted a thousand kisses upon the fair hands of his admired Princess with transports and raptures that are incredible Thus was his minde quickly cured again and Roxana deceived in the project she had to advance her own affairs by that means From that time forward they both began to hate her and resolv'd not onely never to give credit to her words any more but not so much as to have any communication with her they did according to this determination and four or five days after my Prince having met her and desiring utterly to break with her Madam said he your plot has not taken effect and the Gods have hitherto preserv'd us from your malice but if you think to win a heart by such extraordinary ways and so contrary to those that arâ— commonly practised to gain affection I give you notice that you are infinitely deceived and as I open'd my miade to you at Damascus with all manner of freedome I do so now again with the very same and tell you plainly whether I will or no that it is impossible for me to love you 't is not without constraining my humour very much that I tell you this truth and that I conjnre you to let him be quiet whom you have been already like to send unto his grave He staid not to hear her answer but going away with a low respect left her in such a confusion as you may imagine and from that day avoided her conversation so diligently that he was no more importuned by her Two days after the Princess meeting him and taking him into an Arbour Oroondates said she I will let you see how exact I am in my promises and how carefully I will labour for your contentment my new servant is not cooled since his departure I have just now receiv'd a Letter from him which here I bring you and to which I desire that you your self would make the Answer if you think fit I should write any saying so she gave him a paper and my Prince having open'd it found these words King ALEXANDER to the Princesse STATIRA THe Conqueror of your Kingdome lets himself be conquered by you alone and you alone have been able to doe what all Asia hath attempted in vain I deliver up my Arms fair Princesse and take more glory in my defeat then I have taken in all my victories but use not that with cruelty which you have obtain'd with justice and deal not with him as an Enemy
who declares himself your Captive ALEXANDER My Prince was exceedingly troubled at this perseverance of Alexander's and from the very beginning foresaw those misfortunes which have since befaln him he judg'd it not convenient for her to exasperate him in the condition she was in lest she should bring upon her self the indignation of a Conqueror and of a Master and that therfore she was obliged to return an answer she would have had him dictate her Letter but he excused himself and remitted that care to her own discretion and the prudence of the Queens so having asked their advice and agreed with them she answered him in these tearms The Princesse STATIRA to King ALEXANDER THE quality you give me suits so little with the condition I am reduced to that it is almost impossible for me to keep them both you are still unconquered and shall ever be invincible unlesse you be overcome with other arms then mine the fortune of our house having confin'd my eyes to no other employment but only to weep for the desolation of it will not suffer me to make use of them to any other purpose nor to acknowledge you for other then my Conqueror and my Master since I am really your prisoner STATIRA The Princess sent this Letter by him that had brought Alexanders and within two days after she receiv'd another whereof as I remember these are the words King ALEXANDER to the Princesse STATIRA THE Maximes of Love are so different from those of Warre that the condition of a prisoner and that of the Mistresse of my heart are not incompatible you need not keep them long together but may quickly loose the former if you please to accept the latter If you consent we will make an exchange and if you disdain not the passion of a King that dies for love of you I 'le quickly pay the ransome of your liberty by that of ALEXANDER The Princess by the advice of the Queens return'd him this second answer The Princess STATIRA to King ALEXANDER T IS but to divert your self from the toils of War that you spend time in entertaining your Captives I will stil preserve that title acknowledging my self unworthy of that which my misfortune forbids me to accept and I shall never desire my liberty but with the freedome of the Queens and the happiness of Darius the honour you doe me shall not make me forget my miseries nor take from me the remembrance of what is due to Alexander the Great from the unfortunate STATIRA I know not whether Alexanders ambition was at that time stronger then his love and that he would not engage himself further by Letters to restore the prisoners to liberty and peace to Darius his Estates or whether some other reason disswaded him but the Princess received no moâ—e of them while we staâ—d at Sidon and my Master very well satisfied with his silence and coldness did yet for some time freely enjoy all the contentments whereof his soul was capable But fortune grew weary of favouring him so long and the taking of Tyre quickly rob'd him of those delights which he tasted unseasonably while all Asia was in mourning That stately Town was taken as you know after a seaven months siege and Alexanders Forces which he left at Sidon receiv'd order to come to joyn with the rest and bring up the prisoners Judge Sir of my poor Princes trouble and imagin that he was infinitely sensible of it though he had already prepared himself for that change He bewailed those good Princesses who were going to suffer the incommodities of an Army true it is that they were accustomed to them with Darius and that with Alexander they were but little worse accommodated for indeed the King had taken care to have them used like Queens continuing their houshold servants about them and endeavouring to make them bear the misfortune of their condition by the noble usage they received they never heard a rude or unbeseeming word nor ever saw any body but such as rendred them all the respects they could have required from Darius his own Subjects but Sir I forgot to whom I spake you know more of this then I do and I am confident were not ignorant of many things I have related to you To proceed I will tell you that my Prince was in a strange irresolution he could not resolve to forsake his Princesse and to leave her a prey to Alexanders passion but on the other side he knew no means to see her as he had done and though the Gods should have offered him a second opportunity as favourable as the former his knowledge of Roxana's malice would not suffer him longer to hope for any safety so near Alexander and he fear'd with some appearance of reason that her unquiet spirit infinitely exasperated against him would in the end discover all his practises to the King and flie to all extremities rather then suffer any calm in that happiness which she often had openly disturbed Besides and that reason was indeed the strongest the noise of arms awaken'd him and as Achilles beheld himself with shame among the daughters of Lycomedes while all Greece was running to the Siege of Troy he contemned the life he led while all the world was fighting and while Darius was already in the Field to recover what he had lost or to decide the Empire of Asia by a final battel This last consideration made him resolve upon a cruel parting and knowing that Darius was near Babylon with the Army he had set on foot he purpos'd to go back to him again and to run his fortune in what part of the world soever he should fight having at last concluded it after a very sore conflict with himself he communicated his intention to the Queens and Princesses they did all they possibly could to keep him longer with them but having alledged to them the considerations that forced him to depart and particularly that of his honour and of the service he owed unto Darius he in the end made them consent to it It is impossible for me to tell you their sad Adieus imagin to your self all that sorrow can produce in hearts like theyrs for so cruel a separation and you may conceive a small part of what they felt the Queens embraced him a thousand times Parisatis and Barsina gave him a thousand testimonies of their trouble and of their affection but his Princess was like to die indeed when he took his last leave of her She held him a great while in her arms drowning him in tears which flowed from her eyes as two ever-streaming sources she spoke the kindest tender'st words to him that Love and grief could put into her mouth and brought him into such a condition that nothing but his tears bore witness that there was still some little life in him When she was upon the point to get up into her Chariot to obey the cruel Ordinance of the Conqueror embracing him and kissing him for the
given ear to what I said commanded us to be carried into his Tent and making us be gotten to bed caus'd our vvounds to be look'd to with much care The Physitians with many several experiments brought my Master at last unto himself and considering his vvounds very attentively they vvere long in doubt whether there was any hope of good success they believed that mine were curable and began to use their endeavours for both vvith a great deal of charity My Prince could hardly speak all that day nor the night following The next morning Eumenes being obliged to go after the King who was already a great way off in pursuit of Darius gave order to have us carried to Arbela his servants obeyed him carefully and having removed us gently to that little Town put us into a good house and recommending us unto the Master of it gave him money to get us looked to according to the command they had received from Eumenes After their departure our Host seeing me in a better condition then my Prince came and asked me his name but scarce had he learn'd it was the Prince of Scythia whom he had seen pass by two days before with Darius when lifting up his hands to heaven he prais'd the Gods for the occasion they offered him of doing his King yet some service in the help he might give to one that was so dear to him and from that time moved by a hearty zeal he ran to the Physitians and Chirurgions of the Town and besought them to take care of my Princes safety with words full of tenderness and affection Those good men wrought upon by his prayers and the knowledge they had of us employed all their art for our recovery and not being ignorant in their profession after having long consulted they agreed in opinion that if without incision they could get out the head of a Javelin which was in my Masters body their remedies with the assistance of the Gods might save his life Thereupon they presently fell to work about it and by the help of their Instruments which they handled very skilfully they in the end drew it out without any incision but with such excessive pain that my Prince swouned many times and was like to have died immediately Assoon as the Chirurgions had got it out they dressed us with more satisfaction then before and injoyned us rest and silence for many days I was so much obliged to my Master that assoon as he could speak he enquired after me and being told that I was in the same Chamber with him and that I was in better health then he he expressed much joy at it But assoon as his memory was come to him again and that he call'd to minde the cause of his wounds and the cruel usage he had received from Statira this grief assaulted him with so much violence that that remembrance was like to have made him lose a life whose preservation was laboured with so much dilligence yet did he appear more moderate then after the death of Artaxerxes whether it were that his heart accustomed to misfortunes had learn'd at last to support them with more patience or that with more age he had gotten more strength of reason and firmness of minde or that in effect he in a generous and just despite thought he ought not to die for one who after having received such remarkable services from him had us'd him so ingratefully and so unworthily True it is indeed he complained in tearms able to have cleft the most rocky hearts with pitty and shewed a wonderfull contempt of his life but he was not so obstinately bent to lose it as the other time he tore not off the plaisters from his wounds nor did he oppose the industry the Physitians used for his recovery It is certain that spite fortified him very much and that making reflexion upon all his services and upon Statira's ingratitude his resentment stifled part of his sorrow and of his love and made him almost repent of what he had done for her and of the designe he had had to die for so ingratefull a person for in the end after having examined all the actions of his life he found them so full of innocence and of the proofs of a real affection that he could not attribute her change to any thing but the inconstancy of her humour and to a meannesse unworthy of her birth which made her prefer an enemy because great and victorious before a Prince who had so faithfully served her and to whom she was engaged by so many oaths and so many obligations He repassed in his thoughts all the progresse of his love full of so many memorable events and of so many brave effects of his passion and seeing all conclude against all the likelyhood in the world in a perpetual banishment he stood in need of all his courage indeed not to sink under so powerfull an affliction sometimes when he was more sharply tormented with these cruel remembrances and that he call'd to minde the last words of Statira which were too deeply settled there to be forgotten Is it possible said he Statira that it should be you your self who pronounc'd this cruel sentence of my banishment you I say who had so many ways testified unto me that you loved me and had by so many protestations engaged your self that you would love me eternally you who had sworn a thousand times that you would never be but mine and who by a thousand proofs of my affection were most assured that I would never be but yours Are not you that same Statira whom I sav'd from the violence of the Scythians the same whose most deserving brother I preserv'd from death and imprisonment she for whom I forsook my Father and my Country for whom I disguised my quality and exposed my self to numberlesse dangers in the midst of my greatest enemies she for whom I fought against mine own Father and my King and receiv'd wounds that brought me so near unto my grave she whose Father I rescued from so great danger with the peril of my life she for whom I suffered the captivity of Artaban Parmenio and Alexander for whom I resisted the affections of the fair Roxana for whom I laid aside all consideration that I was the son of a great King to become a poor contemptible Gardner and she that very she whom but a moment before my ruine I with the price of my blood had ransom'd from the bondage of Alexander Yes you are the same nay more you are also the very same who after such powerful obligations has had the heart to say Get thee gone from before me disloyal man and deliver me for ever from the sight of my most mortal enemy Yes Statira I am your enemy and all these actions which I now reproach you with are indeed the actions of an enemy but if you give that name to me whom will you call your friends From which of your best and nearest friends
the state of my present condition may permit me I confesse I have great obligations to you and by their greatnesse I strive as much as I can possible to counterballance the evils you have done us but Sir what particular marks soever you give me of your affection which way would you have me to receive the proofs and expressions of your love while you persecute my Father with so much cruelty and that not being satisfied with the usurpation of his dominions you aim so eagerly at his life and refuse him the retreat of a little corner which is all he hath left of so many Countreys he formerly possessed Which way would you have me receive the offers you make me of your liberty so long as I am deprived of mine own and how will you have me believe my self your Queen and your Mistresse so long as I know I am really your prisoner and your Captive Alexander was ashamed at this discourse and with his hand hiding the blush which came into his face Your reproaches Madam said he have much reason hitherto but the cause of them shall quickly cease with the War which if I have made against Darius it has been for Empire and for glory and if I be firm in the prosecution of my Victory it is lesse to have the honour of Conquering him then to have the means of using him generously it is that I may my self restore that to him which I have gloriously taken from him and to make you Mistresse of Asia by the gift you shall receive of it from me rather then by succession When we shall see these effects reply'd the Princesse of your goodnesse and of the affection you professe to me neither Darius will be so ungratefull as not to acknowledge that obligation as he ought nor I so disobedient as not to submit unto the command he shall lay upon me to honour you and to esteem your person both according to the greatnesse of your actions and to the favours you shall do us Though Alexander was not satisfied with this answer he feigned neverthelesse to be so and from that time forward he laboured to win her love by all the actions which he thought might be pleasing to her After we had staid a month at Babylon wee were to remove from thence to Susa Abulites the Governor of that Town did as Mazeus had done and coming to meet Alexander upon the bank of the River Hydaspes delivered it up into his hands with infinite store of spoyle and fifty thousand talents That Town put an end to the Princesses voyages and Alexander finding by Statira's countenance and discourse how much she was troubled to run after all his expeditions and to endure the incommodities of his Army gave them leave to recide in that City from whence they have never stirr'd since that time having left the charge of them to Archelaus Xenophilus and Callicrates with three thousand selected Macedonians for their Guard and for the Garrison of the Town Before his departure he went to take his leave of them and talking with Statira while Hephestion who was in love with Parisatis and favoured by the King in his affection was entertaining her Madam said he I am forced to leave you but though I go from hence my thoughts shall not be separated from you perhaps I shall come back one day to lay all my Victories at your feet and I pray the Gods to grant that I may be able to conquer your minde as they make me able to conquer Kingdoms and that I may find you as much soften'd at my return as I leave you obdurate at my departure The Princesse reply'd You shall always finde me most ready to acknowledge both your worth and the favours you do me and I will never rule my actions otherwise then by the will of my Parents and the usage they shall receive from you If the Princesse had followed her own inclinations she would have repulsed him with lesse obliging terms but being extreamly discreet she would not exasperate a young Victorious Prince by her disdains nor give him occasion by her deportment to cast off that respect which he had ever shewed her He departed on this manner from Susa and left them by his absence in a very great tranquility it lasted for some time without interruption but within a while after the Queen was earnestly sollicited by Madates her Nephew and Governor of the Province of the Vxians who having incensed Alexander by his resistance and not being able to obtain pardon implored her credit with him from a Town where he was besieged and reduced to extremity Sysigambis suffered her self to be urged a great while before she could finde in her heart to make any request to Alexander but in the end being forced to it by the importunities of Madates who had stirr'd up that displeasure only by his fidelity she wrote to him in his favour and besought him to grant her only the life of her Nephew I was dispatch'd to the King with her Letter and I obtain'd not only Madates his safety but also his re-establishment in all his Commands and the conservation of the Priviledges of his people with the same immunities and advantages they enjoyed under Darius He sent back some of his servants with me who brought a Letter to the Queen and another to the Princesse that to the Queen contained only Civilities and the other to the Princesse was as near as I can remember in these words ALEXANDER to the Princesse STATIRA I Give Madates his life to the Queen who ask'd it of me and I give the whole Province to my Princesse who ask'd me nothing I would it pleas'd the Gods that she were as easie to be entreated and that she would lose all her rigor to me as quickly as the remembrance of her hath dissipated all my anger against those that have relation to her It is only of you fair Statira that I implore the same mercy which these vanquish'd people have obtained since it is for you alone that I suffer much sharper pains then those which they apprehended use me but as I use them and do not dishonour your Conquest by shewing cruelty in his destruction who hath rendred himself without any resistance I hope for this effect from your generosity and only from your goodnesse for the safety of ALEXANDER The Princesse Parisatis received one also from Hephestion but I having no interest in it never desired to learn what it was The Princesse Statira by the Queens advice answered Alexander to this purpose The Princess STATIRA to King ALEXANDER BOth in the safety of Madates and in all your actions we receive proofs of your vertue I shall always have a most justly deserved value of it and for the favour our friends have received from you desires full of acknowledgement and esteem this is all that a Captive can do for her Lord and all that Great Alexander can expect from the unfortunate STATIRA She received
left the Princess alone with liberty to digest them she at first thought it extream difficult and defended her self a long time against the consideration of her obedience to the Queen against the dangers wherewith she threatned her and against the advantages she proposed unto her but being some few days after urged again with the like or more pressing arguments and seeing her self persecuted by those friends she esteemed most she open'd her eyes to the truth of those reasons they alledged and looking upon Alexander whom till then she had beheld only with disdain she saw nothing in his person that was not truly great and truly amiable He is as you know a very handsome Prince in the flower of his age and endowed besides that valor which has made him the greatest of all men living with al the qualities that can render a person most compleat The Princess considering these things without that animosity which before had hidden all the lustre of them from her and remembring that by your infidelity she was more then dispensed with for the promise which she had made to you and of which she believed you would never exact the performance suffered her self in the end though with very much adoe to be overcome by so many appearances of reason and by the perswasions of all those that had any credit with her Oroondates could not forbear interrupting the Eunuch in this part of his Relation with so many sobs and such lamentable complaints that he forced him to break off the thread of his Discourse and melt into tears of compassion His fire was kindled again by this recital and so much of his affection as was smothered by the belief of his Princesses infidelity broke forth again into such a violent flame by the knowledg of her innocence that he became more ardent and more passionate then ever He was a great while before he could settle again and when Tyreus saw him a little recovered he went on with his story on this manner I will not relate unto you Sir the joy of Alexander nor the sumptuous preparations for the Wedding but will only tell you that within a few days after he had her consent he married her publickly at Susa with all the pomp and all the magnificence which the high quality of two such eminent persons could require and crowned her Queen of all the people that lived under his obedience That Wedding was not celebrated alone for with the liking of the King Sysigambis Artabasus and of all those that had interest in them Hephestion married the Princess Parisatis and shortly after Ptolomeus and Eumenes Apamia and Arsinoe Artabasus his two younger daughters and many other Princes and Lords of the Court were wedded to the Princesses and Ladies of Persia The King then seeing himself peaceable possessor of that beauty for which he had sigh'd so long desired to stifle the remembrance of all past misfortunes in an universal joy and restored those happy days to Persia which had so long been banished thence Sysigambis took the same place with him she had enjoyed with Darius really gave him the affection she had born unto that dear son Oxiartes and Artabasus were in greater splendor and authority then they had been under him and all the Persians began generally under the mildness of his Reign to recover breath after that tedious burthen of their miseries hope of that quiet peace which had forsaken them The King having got so rich a prize of Beauties took his revenge upon them for all the disquiets they had made him suffer and made much of his fair Queen with so dear a tendernesse that she began to approve that out of affection which she had yeilded to only out of reason of State she began to condemn that obstinacy which had so long made her fly from her own happinesse and by the strength of her virtue banishing all those remembrances that could withdraw her from the love she owed unto the husband which the Gods had given her she gave her self to love him in good earnest as her dutie and the proofs of his affection obliged her Then it was that to please him she drove away all those sorrows which were wont to appear in her troubled countenance and by a compliance worthy to be esteemed she set forth her beauties with all the ornaments which the misfortunes of her house had caus'd her to lay aside But scarce had she begun to taste the sweetnesse which this change of her condition might have brought her when Queen Roxana came to Susa she had not yet fully recovered the sicknesse that had retained her at Pasargada but having got a hint of the Kings relaps into his old passion and of his designe for a second marriage she resolv'd to break it by the means she had in a readinesse but being advertised of it too late she arrived not at Susa till eight days after the wedding I can very hardly tell you the greatnesse of her displeasure at it and the words which jealousie and the competition of a rival so much advantaged above her made her to bring forth It being no longer in her power to hinder a thing already done she took a resolution at least to alienate their minds as much as possible she could and to put Statira again into her first affection thereby to withdraw her from what she owed to a husband whom she desired to possesse alone With this determination she went to visit her the next day after her arrival and after a salute full of civility and dissimulation and an hour of indifferent discourse she pray'd her to withdraw into her Closset for she had something to say to her in privat The Queen did as she desired and shutting the dore when they were alone Roxana broke silence in these words It is hard for me Madam longer to conceal the obligation which you have to me and the desire I have to be better beloved of you then I have been heretofore forces me to declare that 't is to me alone you owe this establishment and this greatnesse to which you are now raised The Princesse astonished at this beginning would have reply'd when Rouana perceiving her amazement pursued on this manner Let not this discourse surprise you Madam I say nothing but truth and I will quickly make you see it by infallible proofs yet to speak unfainedly when I laboured for your happinesse I did not pretend to that I now possesse for perchance I should not have been so good a friend as to procure that Fortune for you to my own prejudice which since that time the Gods have granted to my self but having always believ'd that only the Daughter of Darius was worthy to be the wife of Alexander the Great I used all my endeavours to dispose her to love him and to drive out of her minde all those thoughts that might withdraw her from a felicity which she rejected out of considerations that were justly to be
spark of goodnesse the weaknesse of a woman maliciously abused and the force of those appearances that deceived me you will have more pity for my misfortune then indignation for my change and judging of my heart by the greatnesse of your own you will yet do me the favour to believe that all the Empires of the Earth could never have been able to work any thing upon me if I had thought I had still had any part in you Give credit to this truth out of compassion and cease to hate her who lov'd you more then her self while she could and believ'd she might and who now that she can no longer loves you still more then she ought this remainder of an affection which was heretofore most just continues with me to torment me for my crime but if I cannot blot it out of my soul I will keep it there only for my punishment and convert it to an use which shall not injure that I owe unto the husband whom the gods have given me I shall always remember you as him to whom of all men living my affections were most lawfully due and from whom the Gods have taken them onely because they knew me unworthy of his I will consider you as the protecting Genius of our Family I will make prayers for your prosperity and will begge of Heaven to recompence what you have done for us This is all I am able to render you for so many great obligations and it is all you could now hope for from this unhappy creature if you should yet afford any moment of your life to the remembrance of the unfortunate STATIRA I know not how to expresse into what a miserable condition this Letter put my poor sad Prince he let it fall upon his bed with a great cry and began to sigh with so much violence that I fear'd his sorrow would instantly have deprived him of his life he was a long time before he was able to speak one word that could be understood then of a sudden crying out like a man beside himself Ah! Statira said he how unseasonably your repentance comes And how much too late are you undeceived Why do you acknowledge me for innocent when you will no longer acknowledge me for yours And why do you cease to hate me now you cannot love me without a crime since you ceas'd to love me when without a crime you could not hate me Why do you kindle those flames again which you will never be able to extinguish while you live And why do you force me to love you still since out of duty you force your self to love me no more He remained a while in this thought then falling presently into another No no Statira pursued he you shall not get free at so cheap a rate I am not so easily to be shaken off nor can such losses as I have suffered be so lightly repaired your prayers for my prosperity cannot content me and 't is in vain you believe to satisfie me by making requests unto the Gods for my happiness and for my repose you who are the only creature that has destroyed my happiness and my repose and who hast cast me headlong from that high degree of felicity to which I was risen by my services into that depth of misery in which you would have me spend all the remnant of my days ask therefore of those Gods to whom you recommend me that they would annihilate what is past that they would revoke your marriage and that they would restore you again to the condition in which you were when you forsook me behold the means to satisfie me but since you hope not for it no nor so much as desire it and that the affection you bear your husband permits you not to make wishes in my favor and to his disadvantage resolve Statira to suffer that punishment you propose unto your self not only a remembrance of Oroondates not a faint remainder of the love you gave him heretofore but Oroondates himself from whom you have not yet escaped you shall yet see him again at your feet you shall yet hear his reproaches and perchance he yet may have the happiness to breath out a life in your presence which cannot possibly be but yours After these and some other passionate Discourses ful of love and despair he commanded us to retire and while I carried the Eunuch to take his rest and that I my self endeavoured to get as much as my sense of his misfortune would suffer me he languish'd out the night in disquiets a great deal more insupportable then death it self It was no sooner day but he sent to call us and assoon as we were alone by his bedside Araxes said he to me we must abroad again and since the Heavens have made thee unhappy in my friendship to thee thou must keep my misery company unto the end I was infinitely troubled to hear this resolution but being stedfast in my design of running his fortune throughout and never to leave his service while I had one moment of life Sir replyed I I never will forsake you and into what Corner of the world soever you go Araxes will not part from you nor will ever die but at your feet My Prince having tenderly embraced me at that answer Dear friend said hee the Gods will give thee the recompence thy fidelity deserves and if by their mercy there happen any change in my condition thou shalt have such a share in my fortune that thou shalt not perhaps bewail thy youth which thou losest in company of this miserable man since therefore thou still perseverest in thy first affection I give the same Order for my departure that I gave for my first Voiage into Persia I will have but the same Equipage and the same persons that went with us but we shall need a Barque to passe over to Byzantium that 's the way I mean to take my Journey endeavour therefore to procure me one and to set our businesses in such a forwardnesse that we may depart within two days When I had received this command I went instantly from him and was no sooner out of his presence but I remembred that in the Army we had a man of Miletopolis nearly obliged unto my Prince who might easily accommodate us with a Bark and carry us himself unto Byzantium where he had a great deal of acquaintance I had made a particular friendship with him having known him to be a very honest man and going immediatly to seek him I disposed him to all I desired and sent him away presently to the Port of Hypoleon to set the Vessel in a readiness that was to carry us I spoke not a word concerning my Master but promised that I would be with him within three days My Prince was overjoyed at this happy success and by good fortune the Town we besieged was surrendred that very day and left almost no more matter to continue the Warre in that Province Oroondates being resolv'd
through a Gallery to a door that went into her Closet It was presently open'd to us and my Prince finding Barsina there alone judg'd by her impatiency of the truth of her friendly affection Assoon as ever we appear'd she arose from her seat and came toward us with much civility but scarce had she cast her eyes upon my Masters face when in spite of the change which some years had made in it she knew him by the light of many tapors which made the place as bright as day At first she was amazed and by her silence testified the confusion she was in but within a while after recovering her astonishment she could not forbear casting her arm about my Princes neck and embracing him with such kindness as discovered the freedome of her friendship to him more then ever Good Gods Sir said she is it you and are we yet indebted to your love for a happinesse we never expected again and which we had no reason in the world to hope for Has not then the ingratitude you have found amongst us and the loss of what you had so gloriously acquired kept you from coming again into a Country where you have suffered so much and where you have gained so little Doe you come continued she with tears which grief and joy shared equally between them do you come to see her in the arms of another whom so many services and so many gallant actions in favour both of her and of us all made so lawfully yours and whom your common misfortune rather then the fault of either of you has unjustly robb'd you of This thought touch'd them both so sensibly that it was impossible for Barsina to say more and for my Prince to answer her otherwise then by a stream of tears which he pour'd forth out of interest to second those which she shed out of charity but when he was a little settled and that having return'd her kindnesses in silence he was set down by her he look'd upon her a while with an eye able to make her die with pity and then taking her hands which he press'd with transports of grief and tenderness Madam said he behold this castaway of Heavens anger is return'd this miserable banish'd man or rather this faithless this unworthy man whom you have oftentimes condemned your self unto the torments he has felt behold him more ardent and more passionat then ever and as if his passion receiv'd increase from his misfortunes as they grew up and reach'd to the greatest height they could attain to so fast likewise did it re-double and mount unto the highest pitch to which there was a possibility for it to rise I return Madam but I return to die in your presence or to receive that assistance from your goodness which you have been always pleas'd to afford me you helped me charitably in my prosperity and forsook me not in my adversity you also are the only person to whom I now have recourse and from whom I come to beg some relief and some consolation in the small remnant of my life do not refuse sweet Madam to take this unfortunate man under your protection and to doe something for the conservation of a life which he no longer hopes for but from you I require from your friendship no proofs that may be prejudicial either to your vertue or to what you owe to Alexanders person or condition the inclinations I have and have ever had to you are full of too much respect and those I have had unto the Queen are too noble and too pure to change their nature now I have not with my hopes lost my remembrance of what is due to her and to your self and all the favour I look for from you and which I beg of you by that pity which your tears express to me is nothing but to see and to discourse with my Princess which you may easily procure me without danger to her or to your self If I may but yet tell her upon my knees that I am and have been always constant and that I was never faithlesse I shall then die satisfied and no longer envy Alexanders happiness but confess my self obliged to you alone for so fortunate a conclusion of my life My Prince brought forth these words and some others which he accompanied with so many sighs that Barsina's heart being touch'd with grief and compassion she was not able to answer him and when she had a little recovered her countenance and wiped away the tears that had bathed both her cheeks and neck she replyed with a great deal of trouble Sir the Gods are my witnesses that I was not much more deeply griev'd for the loss of my dear Memnon then I am for your afflictions and that sorrow which brought me so near my grave had but little advantage over that I suffer for your misfortunes Yes Sir I protest to you by the memory of that dear Husband I would willingly restore you part of your contentment with part of my life and should be so far from considering Alexanders interests that I would not at all consider mine own to settle you again in that happiness which was so lawfully your due and which you so unjustly and unfortunatly lost I am too much concern'd in your affairs to have laid aside the remembrance of them and your vertue has too powerfully won me to leave you any belief that I can receâ—ve the occasions of serving you otherwise then as my greatest blessings Make not use therefore of any farther conjuration to oblige me to do for you all that so vertuous a Prince can ever desire I will labour for your satisfaction with much eagerness and fidelity and perhaps with more success then you expected require the rest from your own courage let it supply my weakness and the Queens want of power and finde in it a love wherewithal to satisfie a noble and generous soul like yours perchance the Gods will make some alteration in your fortune this day wanted but little of being the happyest you ever saw and he who is now the obstacle of your joys is commonly exposed to so many dangers that it is not likely that hindrance can continue long This sight you desire of me shall not be hard to be obtained I have that good fortune that the Queen in all the accidents of her life has honoured me with her first affections and I yet have hopes that the endeavors I shall use in it will not be unpleasing to her My Prince not being able to suffer her to say more cast himself down upon her and embracing her knees with raptures full of affection said all that his acknowledgment of so great an obligation would put into his mouth and made protestations to her which might have been thought due only to Statira Barsina having rais'd him up with much respect and shame to see a person of so high quality in that posture renewed her promises to him and having given him encouragement to
hope much from her assistance and made him abate something of the violence of his grief she began to enquire after the passages of his life for those years he had spent since he went from Persia My Prince was willing to content her and to that end related succinctly all that had befallen him in Scythia and the most important particulars she was ignorant of but when at the conclusion she learn'd that it was he who had sav'd Alexander that afternoon she vvas so seiz'd vvith admiration that she could not forbear expressing it by exclamations full of vvonder and amazement O Gods Sir cryed she have you then taken so painful a Voiage by Sea and Land to give that enemy his life who gives you your death and did you so visibly expose your own to preserve one that is so fatal to you O miracle of vertue and generosity there was no other action remaining but this alone to crown all those gallant ones you had done before if you had come to Susa but one day later then you did or that you had been but a little lesse generous then you are you would now perchance have been the happiest of all men living but great Prince hope from so many marvellous events for an advantageous successe unto your self you have merited Statira by so many rights that its impossible but she must be one day yours and the Gods were very unjust if so great a vertue should not in the end constrain fortune to yeild it the victory After these and some other sayings which her astonishment produced she in exchange of his recital gave him some account of the life which the Queen and she had led during his absence she inlarged her self a little upon such matters as he had not learn'd from Tyreus and ended with those that happen'd since that Eunuchs departure My Prince informed himself curiously how she stood affected to him at that present and heard that her inclinations to him were little different from those she had expressed in her Letter and that knowing her self obliged to love her husband she endeavoured by all manner of ways to bury the remembrance of my Prince not that she has any hope added Barsina to effect it but her vertue is so perfect and the proofs she receives of the Kings affection are so great that she makes incredible attempts to root those thoughts out of her heart which are hardly consistent with the love to which she believes her self ingaged but how strong soever her resolution to that purpose is we scarce can pass one day without speaking of you and no sooner has that mention awaken'd you in her memory but her soul is so afflicted that the perplexity I see her in at those times has made me often resolve to avoid all occasions of that discourse And for Roxana said my Prince how is she employed now In bewailing her self answered Barsina for the little affection the King expresses to her having given himself so wholly to the merits of Statira that he seldom so much as bestowes a visit on that other Queen she is fallen into such a jealousie and vexation at it that she is not to be comforted and they were saying to day at my Fathers that not being able to endure the Kings visible neglect of her and his extraordinary fondness of Statira she is resolv'd to go away within a few days to pass over her ill humor at Babylon the loss of her company vvill be but little lamented by any of us and wee have all conceiv'd such an aversion against her that vve vvait impatiently for the hower of her departure Ah the wicked creature cryed my Prince and making a stop at those vvords gave ear to the rest of the news Barsina vvas telling him It vvas grown very late vvhile they entertain'd one another on this fashion and Oroondates not to incommode Barsina any longer vvould have retired unto his Lodging but she vvould not suffer him to go from her house and commanding that some Chambers a little out of the way should be made ready for Tyreus and those that vvere vvith him shee caus'd us to be conducted to them not accompanying my Prince her self for fear those honors should discover something of his quality She bad him not good night till she had promised him that he should see the Queen the next day and making us pass for Tyreus his friends or servants took away all the suspition her people might have had of my Master Ask me not how he pass'd the rest of that night in the expectation of an happiness he had been incouraged to hope for the day appear'd before he could close his eyes and scarce could the length of his former watchings cause him to take a little rest in the morning It was reasonable late vvhen he avvaked and vvas not yet gotten up when Barsina sent to know if Tyreus vvere ready vvee knew very vvell it vvas my Prince vvhom she inquired after and Tyreus vvent into her Chamber to give her the good morrow from him vvhere he told her how he had pass'd the night Assoon as she vvas dress'd and that she knew my Master vvas so too she came into his Chamber being attended only by a Waiting vvoman vvhose fidelity vvas vvell known to her and vvith vvhom I had formerly made a friendship When she had bidden him good morrow and us'd him vvith all the modest kindness she could invent she led him through a Gallery into the Closet vvhere they had conversed the night before and after some Discours vvhose length hinders me from repeating it she commanded the Table should be serv'd in her Closet vvhere she dined vvith my Master not admitting any body but that vvoman and some servants vvho could not know us yet howsoever she before them gave the chief honors to Tyreus to keep Oroondates the more from being discovered Assoon as vve had dined and that she believ'd the Queen was risen from the Table she gave order to have her Chariot made ready to go to the Palace but before that vvas done they brought her vvord that Queen Statira vvas coming to visit her as she often did and that she vvas already at the Gate So unexpected a good fortune made my Prince's heart leap for joy and tremble with apprehension It is hard for me to express his inward motions to you but it is true that he was so besides himself that in his whole life time I had never seen him in such a condition In the mean time Barsina having given him charge to stay in the Closet shut the door and ran down to meet the Queen she found her at the bottom of the stairs and having receiv'd her as she vvas wont to do she help'd her by the arm in her coming up and waited upon her into her Chamber The Queen who made that visit to discourse with her in privat bad all those that came with her to stay in the out Chamber and taking only Cleone in with
he could get them out but in the end recalling his great courage a little in that necessity he had of it he strugled so with his passion that he at last brought forth these words in reply to those last his Princess had spoken Trouble not your self any longer Madam to think what should become of you nor to contest what resolution you should take for the interest of your dutie and for the establishment of your quiet he who by your own confession came into the world for no other end but meerly to serve you and to please you returns not to you now to trouble a quiet which must needs be dear nor to assail a dutie which is considerable to you neither come I to reproach you or to challenge you of your word which you have broken and which you are now no longer in a condition to keep your own heart and your own conscience speak enough to you for me and I have nothing to recall into your memory which both of them have not often represented to it I return only Madam to see yet once again the person for whom only I have lived to save the life of a husband who is dear to you and who ought to be so for the consideration of his vertue and to yeild up a life at your feet which I have kept only for your sake and which I will keep no longer since you have now drawn from it all the service it is able to do you since it is prejudicial to your quiet and to your dutie and since it is not pleasing enough to give me any desire to prolong it Behold the reasons Madam that brought me hither but how specious soever they may seem they should not have recall'd me from that banishment to which you had condemn'd me if you had not revok'd it your self and if I had not learn'd that mine innocence was not unknown to you and that I was faulty in nothing else but in having rais'd my thoughts to a happiness which Alexander alone could lawfully aspire to the Gods have granted him a fortune which was due to none but him and have given you him for a husband who of all men living is least unworthy to possess you let him live without any fear of losing what cannot worthily be but his and do you live without any remembrance of the oaths which you have violated I quickly will deliver him from the apprehension of a rival as fearelss as himself and you from a remorse that may trouble the calm of those delights you ought to enjoy The poor Prince would have said more but the Queen who during his discourse had rais'd her self a little out of the astonishment in which she seem'd to have been buried hearken'd to his words with conflicts which it were impossible to represent and look'd upon him with eyes which though drowned themselves made him live and die a thousand times in a moment then it was that love and dutie renewed their dispute afresh and that both of them distracted the minde of that poor Princesse with incredible vehemence But in the end though duty got the upper hand yet was it not able to hinder love from giving such expressions as it could not have forbidden without inhumanity and that fair Queen after she had long enough contested it let her self sink at last upon my Prince and casting her arm about his neck joyn'd her face to his with such a transported ardency that both of them were like to have yeilded up their souls oneby the sweetness of that reception and the other by the violence of that sweetnesse The mixture and force of their different passions had put the Queen so besides her self that she appeared inseparable from my Prince and seem'd to have forgotten her self in his arms and my Master who could not die more happily nor more gloriously then in hers beg'd of the Gods either to prolong his bliss or to finish his days in that condition The Queen in that action had not the strength to bring forth one word but the name of Oroondates only which she repeated twice or thrice with so much tenderness and affection that she expressed her meaning thereby more eloquently then she could have done by all the words which the estate she was in at that present could have put into her mouth In the end she withdrew her self from her kindnesse and sitting down again upon the bed side where she sate before she seem'd extreamly out of countenance for an action that had so visibly testified her want of power over her passions and put her hankerchief up to her face to cover the blushes which died it and to wipe away the tears which ran down her cheeks When she had a little recovered her self she looked awhile upon my Prince with an eye which dying as it was commanded him to live and then with much adoe forced out these words though they were so interrupted with her sighs that they were hardly to be understood What testimonies soever you have newly received of the affection I still bear you I know not Prince Oroodates which way I can carry my self toward you now If I consider my present condition and what I owe to my lawfull husband and to mine own honour I can neither speak to you hear you nor see you but if I remember what is past and recall him into my memory who was my dear Orontes who was my life who was my all 't is not by speaking to you by hearing you or seeing you no nor by giving you my heart my soul and the little life I have yet remaining that I can satisfie the least part of my obligations to you What will you therefore have me do and to what do you destine this unhappy creature who had destined her self to you alone and who had never been but yours if the Gods and her own misfortune rather then yours had not disposed of her to another I know all you can say against me and all I can alledg for my justification but you are too generous to confound a wretched woman with your reproaches and I am both too guilty and too much obliged to you to go about to clear my self of a fault which I cannot repair and for which I suffer at least as much as you It is true most noble and most faithfull Oroondats I ought to have been yours by all manner of rights and by all manner of reasons and you ought to have been mine by that ardent and pure affection which I really bore you but you see the heavens had otherwise ordain'd and the sincerity of our love has not been able to defend us from the anger of the Gods nor from the malice of our enemies Now my dear Oroondates I say my dear Oroondates since in spite of all the reasons that can forbid me you are still and to my grave shall always be dear to me since by that cruel decree which has separated us for ever I am
able now to do nothing for you what do you require of me you know my want of power my reputation I am sure is dear to you and that vertue which made you yesterday run into the jawes of death to rescue him from thence who has sent you thither puts me in safety from all those thoughts that might offend it By what means then can I preserve unto my Lord that which can be no bodies but his and satisfie part of those deep ingagements you have laid upon me O Gods continued she lifting up her hands and eyes to heaven Gods who have powred down all your cruelties upon the Royal house of Persia why did you not bury me in the ruins of it and why aim'd you not all those darts of vengeance at me alone which were the distruction of poor Darius and which rob'd us of our dear Artaxerxes Her tears which overflowed most violently would not suffer her to go on and I must confess to you Sir that Barsina Cleone Tyreus and I kept her such faithfull company in that imployment that we were incapable of giving her any consolation My poor Prince who had not stirr'd off from his knees and who still embraced hers with raptures of affection which cannot be expressed nor scarce imagined received some comfort indeed by finding that her love was not extinguished but he was so sensible of the grief in which he saw her overwhelmed that his own thereby was unspeakably redoubled He nevertheless drew some relief from his great courage and using infinite violence upon himself to settle his passion so far that he might be able to speak Cease Madam said he to give me a double death my grief is strong enough alone to send me to my grave without the help of yours nor ought you to be longer in pain which way to satisfie me since the tears you shed for this miserable man have but too fully requited all he ever did for you weep no longer for a misfortune in which your charity only makes you be concern'd I alone ought to bewail it since it belongs to me alone the Gods could not more equally match the most perfect of all women then with the greatest of all men and you ought not to murmur for what they have done against me since for you they have done all that in reason you could wish Possesse without disquiet and without sadness the Empire they have restored you enjoy the tranquility wherein they have re-established you and never disturb it with the remembrance of this unhappy wretch whom you have justly abandoned and who will quickly abandon himself to the last and most assured of all remedies These words were so sharp unto the Queen that it was impossible for her to suffer them longer without interruption Cruel Oroondates said she looking sidewise upon him you should rather keep your self to the justice of your cause then make your self faulty by reproaching me with so much inhumanity reproach me with your services if you will reproach me with the falsenesse of my oaths and the violation of my faith which I had given you and I will confesse all without reply for though I be innocent in my intention I am too guilty in the effects ever to pretend to justifie my self but reproach me no more with a basenesse which I never was capable of I have shun'd Empire too much ever to give occasion to have it believ'd that I found any sweetnesse in it and the repugnance I have shewed against that I now enjoy has given cause enough to have it thought I established not my happinesse in that I am indeed more happie then I ought to have hoped in the possession and in the love of a Prince worthy of a better fortune but I never found any felicity in that wherein you establish it for me and 't is only the consideration of my duty that has made me taste any sweetnesse where my inclination made me to feel a bitternesse you are not therefore unfortunate alone neither shall you run to death alone if all such as are so must run thither I do not love that Empire and that tranquility you reproach me with so well but that I 'll keep you faithfull company and if it be thereby that you desire proofs of my affection that without doubt will be more easie to me and more lawfully permitted then the least of those I now could give you Those you have received too day though weak and fruitlesse are yet truly to be blamed and I can no longer without fault dispence with my self to take those liberties which are now forbidden me but I have given them for this once to the memory of what you have heretofore done for me to the reparation of a crime which I cannot better repair to the pains you have taken in coming to me again after the losse of your hopes to the safety of a husband whom you so generously restored me and in short to the remainder of a passion which I was not Mistresse of All these considerations render my first slips excusable and you from henceforth will have so much regard of me as not to desire to make her more criminal whom you have lov'd so perfectly Oroondates knowing the aim of her discourse suffered her not to continue it and after he was risen up crossing his arms upon his brest and retiring a step or two Yes Madam said he you have done too much for me and you have reason to repent the testimonies I have received to day of your friendship I have merited them so little that you ought to blush for having granted them and this miserable man who is of so small value and has done you such poor services could not justly hope for such favours from the greatest Queen in the world The Queen drawing a sigh from the bottom of her heart reply'd You are too blame Oroondatrs to put me yet again in minde of the merit of your person and services you know that I am ignorant of neither and I have already confessed to you that the gift of my heart of my life and of my very soul could not acquit me of any part of what I owe you and shall owe you to my grave how much soever I strive to satisfie you No Oroondates I am not ignorant of it nor do I disavow it the Gods also are my witnesses that if I were at my own disposing I would give my self entirely to you and that if they had left me a thousand lives I would willingly lose them all to requite part of my obligations but what can I do more to escape ingratitude and what can you pretend to or what can you hope for from me beyond that confession and that desire Do you not know the strict rules of my dutie and do you not know that I am still the same Statira in whom you heretofore have lov'd some little vertue My Prince who hearken'd to her attentively and who while she spoke seem'd
great an insensibility soever she shewed for the thoughts of his felicity his knowledge of the affection which his Princess had still toward him did much allay the sharpnesse of his grief and flattered him at least with this kind of comfort that the misfortune which deprived him of the possession of her body did yet leave him some interest in her mind In this consideration he found wherewithal to lessen part of his despair and Barsina who most affectionatly concern'd in his contentment set it often before his eies and endeavoured by all the reasons she could alledge to make him pass his life a little lesse unpleasantly but besides the consolation she gave him by her Discours the good offices she did him contributed much more unto it and indeed she laboured for his quiet with so much affection and so discreet a cariage that my Prince wil never lose the remembrance of it nor the desire to requite it though with the losse of that life which she alone prolonged She feign'd a sickness and for some time she kept her bed to give the Queen pretence to visit her and those to whom the friendship that great Princess bore her was not unknown thought it not strange that she went to see her every day In these favourable occasions my Master found both an abatement and a redoubling of his sorrows for tasting inconceivable delights in those small favours she granted him he found death in the restraint of others which were reserv'd for one more happy he often complained of it to the Queen and being as a man he could not be utterly loosened from his senses he now and then took liberties beyond what vvere voluntarily permitted him and by some of his actions testified that he was not absolute Master of his desires But that discreet Princess though she could not justly condemn them reproved them with a pleasing Majesty and using the Empire she had over him handsomely and without tyranny she reduced him by reasoning within the limits of his former obedience Besides the visits which Barsina received from the Queen during her feigned indisposition after she came abroad again she had recourse to other inventions for my Prince's satisfaction she would never suffer him to leave her house and being perfectly lov'd and honoured by all those of her servants who of necessity were to see him she kept him there vvithout any great danger us'd him with so much sweetness so many testimonies of friendship that she made him recover part of his more lively humor She often procured him the sight of the Qâ—â—in a fair Garden she had without the Town sending us out of the hous before day she would come with the queen to the garden in the afternoon and bringing her either alone or attended only by Cleone into private Arbours where my Master waited for her gave him the conveniency of entertaining her now and then an howre Tyreus was gone home again to the Queen and his fidelity being very well known to her by his means their interviews were for the most part effected Three or four moneths were spent in this manner of life my Prince never discovering himself all that while to any body but Barsina though as I have already said he had a great number of friends of both sexes in the Court whose fidelity he did not at all suspect but his consideration of the Queens honour and quiet made him so cautious that he would not show himself so much as to the Princess Parisatis The Gods know with what affection both she and Queen Sysigambis as likewise Prince Oxiartes and Artabasus with many others would have welcomed him and with what joy they would have made him partaker in their fortune but the interest of his love had so banished all those out of his minde whom else hee would gladly have receiv'd into it that his soul was no longer capable of any thought without the compass of his passion Their most ordinary meetings were at Barsina's and one day they were there together when the King as he return'd from Hunting heard at the entrance of the City that the Queen was at that Princesses house whereupon without going to the Palace he alighted at her gate and went up stairs without giving any notice of his coming Scarce was Barsina advertised of it time enough to run and meet him without the Chamber door and my Prince surpris'd with so unexpected a visit had hardly time to get into the next room where he sate down in a dark corner on the farther side of a bed From thence he heard the King as he came in say to Barsina in the Queens presence Madam you have robb'd me of my Mistress and these frequent visits will at last make me jealous she has given her self so wholly to you that I can scarce enjoy her a moment The Queen answering for her Think it not strange replyed she and believe it is an effect of those rare qualities which you found in her and that I have too much sympathy with your Majesty to have inclinations different from yours They had many Discourses after which the King being weary with the toil of hunting had a desire to sleep and having a while striven against it he ask'd pardon of Barsina for the liberty he took at her house and being well acquainted with the Chambers he went into that where my Master was retired to throw himself upon the bed which he remembred he had seen in it Hephestion Ptolomeus Seleucus Antigonus Leonatus and many others staid with the Ladies and the King alone went to take his rest where my Prince had taken sanctuary O Gods with how many different thoughts was he assaulted seeing him come into the chamber the antypathie he had against the ravisher of his happinesse the desire to free himself from a rivall whose life was the destruction of his own and his belief at first that he was discovered and that he was the cause of the Kings coming into that chamber made him put his hand upon the hilt of his sword with a designe to run him through the body but after that first motion was over his care of the Queens reputation which that action would visibly have ruined the consideration of Barsina to whom he was so nearly obliged and the remembrance that a good number of Alexanders friends were in the next chamber ready to oppose his intentions and to make him perish himself if he attempted any thing with held him and made him resolve not to make any noyse nor to stir out of his corner if he were not forced to it In the mean time the King not discovering him by reason of the darknesse of the place where he was threw himself upon the bed and lay so near him that he wanted but very little of touching him my Prince stirr'd not at all nay and kept in his very breath as much as possibly he could till he was asleep which was not long for the King
of my affection be taken notice of nor did I let passe any occasion to set before her eyes the greatnesse and purity of my zeal with all the respect and discretion she desired The King who already was passionately taken with the Princesse Statira gave her many testimonies of his love and which was more hurtful and more insupportable to me having perceiv'd that of Hephestion to Parisatis he swell'd his courage by the assistances he promised him and gave him the boldnesse to serve her openly These difficulties did not dishearten me but fortifying my self against the obstacles I foresaw I resolv'd not to abandon so glorious a design but with my life In the mean time the King departed from Memphis to visit the Temple of Jupiter Hammon and not being willing to take the Princesses along in so painful and so dangerous a Voyage left them at Memphis under the guard of part of his Forces My duty and my honour obliged mee to wait upon him and carried it against my inclination which made all places hateful to me where my Princesse was not Hephestion who stirr'd not from the Kings person went the Voiage also which was no small consolation to me Before our departure having watch'd my opportunity when my rival was with the King and that the Princesses were in the Gardens near their Lodging I found means to addresse my self to Parisatis who was in an Alley with Apamia Arsinoe and some of her maids having given her my hand to help her in her Walk the Gentleman Usher that led her withdrew and yeilding me that honour left me the liberty to entertain her when we were far enough from the other Ladies not to be overheard and that I saw them busied in a particular conversation I took occasion to speak unto my Princesse Madam said J it is not to trouble you with the remembrance of a passion which you disapprove nor to call into your minde a fault which you have condemned that I open my mouth yet once again before you but it is to protest to you at this rigorous departure that in being separated from you I am really separated from my self and that the most sensible grief I feel is that absence will deprive me of the occasions of doing you some small service not but that you have imprinted a great deal of respect in the souls of those that stay behind with you but the duties of a person tyed by a most powerful inclination are very different from those which are paid onely to your quality and to your merit and moreover which way soever they serve you I shall envy their happinesse so much that the remembrance of their good fortune will most sensibly aggravate the discontents of this tedious and cruel Voiage to which I see my self condemned I doe not represent my sufferings to you to oblige you to an affection which with justice I can never hope for but to draw from your goodnesse some mark of compassion for this glorious unfortunate man who without murmuring endures the gallantest and the most cruel of all torments The Princess seeing I held my peace at these words replyed I should be very ingrateful Lysimachus if I did not acknowledge my self obliged to the good will you express to me with so much discretion and respect but I should also be a dissemblet if J could hide the trouble you cause in me by your perseverance in a design which J opposed in its birth not through any aversion or undervaluing of your person but through the knowledge of the difficulties you would meet withal in my humour and of those which the Heavens do so many ways produce against your intentions J know your birth is illustrious and J have eyes as well as others to discern the advantages of your person This consideration hath indeed given me all the esteem you can with reason desire from a Princess who knows you and is obliged to you but J am not thereby exempted from what J owe to my own quality and to those persons to whom my birth hath submitted me it is from them alone J will receive thoughts beyond that esteem I have of you and if you should see me engaged to it for some other body accuse only my obedience and not an inclination which shall never declare it self in favour of another rather then of Lysimachus J doe not think you have any reason to complain of a confession I make to you with a great deal of freedome neither do J believe that without a designe to offend me you can desire any more She blush'd at these words as ashamed to have favoured me so much and though being well explain'd J found very little change in my condition J received them as a most advantageous obligation and not being in a place where J could cast my self at her feet to give her thanks for it J bowed down with much respect and answered I never hoped Madam that my fortune should attain that pitch you have rais'd it to and having adored as soon as lov'd you I always believ'd that for the accomplishment of my glory and happinesse it was sufficient my vows and adorations were not unpleasing to you without pretending to any acknowledgement which I could not aspire to without much presumption I see too well the obstacles that oppose my more perfect felicity and I will expect from Heaven and from your self both the alteration of our fortunes and what you shall ordain concerning my life In the mean time Madam be pleas'd that at this rigorous departure I may for my consolation make use of that hope you give me and that to save me from despair I may believe that Hephestion not being more zealous nor more passionate shall neither be more happy then Lysimachus J ended these words with some fear of having displeased her but that Princesse who had no weaknesse at all in her minde was but little moved at them and having staid a while before shee made answer Lysimachus said shee I pardon this liberty for the same cause that made me pardon the others you have taken and I not only excuse it but to let you see I am not cruel I will also confirm the promise I have made you It is true I suffer Hephestion both for his merit and by the command of the Queens and because it is from their will only next to that of Darius that I will receive the rule of my whole life but be certain that if my inclination alone can establish the happiness of both Hephestion by it shall never have advantage over you I was going to reply and it was likely our conversation would have lasted longer if the King had not come into the Garden and with him Hephestion Perdiccas Seleucus Antigonus and many others who interrupted us The King drew near to the Princess Statira and Hephestion coming up to Parisatis took that hand which hee found free and being an obstacle to me all the rest of the day had
some time of the sight of my Princesse and 't was not till I came to Babylon where we were brought in by Mazeus within a while after that I received an honour I had not deserved Though the Queens and Princesses were sufficiently to bee excused for not visiting those who had been wounded only in fighting against their nearest friends yet had they the goodnesse to doe that honour to Hephestion Perdiccas and my self whether it were that they thought themselves obliged to it by the services we had done them or that their complacency made them give Alexander those marks of their esteem for persons that were either dear or considerable to him I received that honour as too high a fortune for me and not being able to give Parisatis particular thanks for it in the presence of the Queen and of a great many others I by my looks expressed my acknowledgement of that favour and thanked the Queen with the most respectful words the greatnesse of that obligation could suggest The King graced me with a visit while they were there and I remember it was in my Chamber he spoke of you to the Princesse Statira and that he held that discourse with her which you have heard since from Tyrcus Hephestion and Perdiccas who had been wounded by your hand received the same honor and within a few days after we left our beds and were in a condition to repay their visits with usury From Babylon he went to Susa and there it was the Princesses put a period to their Journeys and that the King thought fit to exempt them for the future from the wearisomnesse of his Voiages During our abode there we visited them every day and the King passionately in love with Statira sollicited her with a great deal of obstinacy but yet accompanied with very much respect and civility And Hephestion seeing himself favored in his passion by the King rose to such a pride that hee declared it openly and pretended in the sight of the whole world to her whom hee was not worthy to look upon without adorations Sysigambis gave way to it through prudence and reason of State yet Parisatis could not forbear expressing to Hephestion how much that presumption had offended her but as hee naturally was very eloquent and graceful in all his actions he excused it so many ways and alledged so many reasons for his justification that she was constrained at first to dissemble it and a while after absolutely to pardon him But the temerity of his proceeding wrought such a displeasure in me and such an hatred against him that from that time I sought an occasion to quarrel with him without offending my Princesse and without exasperating the King who took his part most strongly but for which consideration I should not have deferred my resentments His thoughts were little different from mine and his belief that I was an obstacle to his intentions and that I was in her favour at least as much as he kindled him with such a rage against me that he had much adoe to conceal it 'T was about that time that Ptolomeus my dearest friend and one of the most valiant and vertuous Princes in the world fell in love with Apamiâ— Artabasus his daughter and Eâ—menes with Arsinoe her sister Ptolomeus discovered his passion to me with a great deal of freedome and obliged me in such manner by the openness of his carriage that I was constrained to lay my heart naked to him and crust him with a thing I had so carefully hidden from all the rest of mankind he gave me great consolation and offered himself to serve me against Hephestion in all encounters which that competition might produce between us Within a shorttime after we departed from Susa but before we went away I press'd my Princess with so much love and discretion that at last I drew this confession from her mouth That if those persons to whom her birth had given the power over her will should enjoyn her to love me shee would receive that command in my favour with lesse displeasure and more satisfaction then for any other man living This assurance produced a joy in me which it would be very hard for me to express and gave me all the comfort I could receive for an absence that was like to bee of long continuance I know not how Hephestion was us'd by her but a while after our departure being in the Province of the Vxians he took the boldnesse to write to her and to send his Letter with those the King wrote to Sysigambis and to the Princess Statira by the Messengers that came from them to intercede in the behalf of Madates I knew nothing of it at that time but shortly after being at Persepolis two or three days before it was set on fire we being both in the Kings Palace he passed by me looking upon a Letter and making a stop as it were to finish the reading of it he brought it so near my eyes that he gave me leisure to observe Parisatis's hand and the characters of her Letter and not satisfied with having given me that knowledge he let it fall at my feet as by chance and some of those that were about as stepping forward to take it up Leave this honour to me alone said hee with an insupportable pride all that comes from my Princesse is so divine and sacred that only Hephestion is worthy to touch it Though that saying offended all those who had offered to doe him that service his credit with the King kept them from replying but I had not the same consideration and my jealousie laying before my eyes the advantage hee had above me and the belief that those words were meant to none but meeâ— I was not capable of those arguments that swayed others but without considering the place where I was I came a little nearer to him and taking my time as he rose again after he had taken up the Letter and that to spite me the more he had kiss'd it stood folding it up again before me I said in his ear with a reasonable loud voice Hephestion is lesse worthy of that honour then any body else He changed colour hearing me say so and turned briskly toward me but as hee was going to reply with as much sharpnesse as the place where we were would suffer him to expresse all those that had taken notice of our action stept between us and the King having heard of it came to us and reproved us very severely When he had told us of our fault Hephestion continued he I would have you to consider that Lysimachus is a Prince but also Lysimachus I would have you remember that I love Hephestion as my self I know not what interest obliged you to make him that reply but I doe not mean that you nor any body in the world shall crosse him in the design of serving Parisatis since it is I that inspire it into him and will assist him in it
failed him and the use of speech forsook him with his life Behold in short what the end was of the greatest man the Earth ever bore and of whom posterity to the last ages of the world shall never speak but with astonishment He remain'd cold and unmoveable amongst us and his death dejected us on such manner that we all seem'd to have breathed out our souls with him Never was so great a consternation seen in so generous persons and the courage of so many gallant Princes who in a thousand dangers had made themselves a thousand ways remarkable seem'd to have taken flight with the spirit of Alexander I will not describe the height of our affliction particularly it shall suffice me to tell you that it was suitable to our loss and that the Macedonians bewailed him as their God and the Persians as their lawful King and the greatest that ever had reigned over them And in brief you need only make a little reflexion upon the life of that potent man to comprehend the effects his death produced in all those that knew him For mine own part I will assure you with truth that his loss imprinted such a grief into my heart that I was hardly to be comforted and though I had received such usage from him as was enough to alienate the affections of the most zealous the last testimonies he gave me of his love had wiped them all so clean out of my memory that there remained not the least sign of them and the remembrance of that great Prince his admirable vertues settled so deep a sorrow in my breast as for some time I suspended the thoughts of my love to give them wholly to the consideration of our general loss The next day we met altogether in the Palace with a generall consent and admitting none into our Assembly but the Princes and the most considerable Commanders we began to deliberate what honours should be rendred to the body of our King and who should be his Successor Perdiccas having placed the Kings Chair in the midst of the Hall upon which was his Crown and his Arms laid the Ring there also which the King had given him at his death and by the sight of that object drew new cries and tears from the whole company which of a long time afforded him not that silence he demanded They all were willing he should speak first and when he saw the Assembly settled he began his Discourse with the praises of the deceased King and with the revenge that was fit to be taken for his death upon those Paâ—â—â—cides if they could be discovered who by poison had shortned so brave and so glorious a life He went on with recommending those honours that were to be rendred to his body and to his memory and ended with the care that was to be taken in the election of a Successor worthy to possesse the place of our late King To that end he mentioned Roxana's being with childe and concluded it fit to wait till shee were delivered that her issue might enjoy the Crown of its Father Perdiccas his motion was seconded by some of the company but a great many others opposed it and particularly Nearchus Ptolomeus and my self who knowing Roxana's spirit and her enraged jealousie against Queen Statira and the Princess her sister desired to prevent the storm which threatned them in the authority of that ambitious Princess Ptolomeus represented unto the Assembly that the condition of our affairs would not permit the staying for an uncertain birth nor the Government of a child who perchance would prove of a different sex from that vvhich ought to have the command over us and then proposed to elect a Prince by plurality of voices among those of the blood-Royal and to yeild the Empire to him with an Universal consent I believe that his friendship to me perswaded him partly to give that counsel to the Assembly knowing that by nearness of alliance I was like to have good pretensions to it Ptolomeus his authority procured him instantly the attention of the whole Company and presently after Ariston nominated Perdiccas Alexanders Successor Some of his adherents approved that Election but we opposed it stiffely and Meleager one of the boldest and valiantest Commanders in all the Army but of a factious turbulent nature vvas not satisfied vvith contradicting those that voted in favour of Perdiccas but after having alledged the injury it vvas to other Princes who vvere more considerable he crowded through the press and putting himself among the Soldiery began to stir up a sedition All things were going into a strange disorder vvhen I bethought my self of the wrong that was done to Alexanders lawful heir and though my own interests were sufficient to have stopt my mouth if I had been of an humour to prefer them before justice I could not suffer them to go on farther vvithout proposing vvhat my conscience and the consideration of the deceased King enjoyned me and addressing my self to the vvhole Assembly What need is there said I to waver longer in the Election of a Prince whom the Gods have left us and who is amongst us Is not Aridaeus Alexanders brother and the son of King Philip Why will you deprive him of the Crown which belongs to him by right and by succession And why will you frustrate him of what Reason and Nature have given him These words appeased all the tumult and the Princes having digested them a little though their interests made them of a different opinion believ'd they could not vvith justice oppose so lawful an Election Aridaeus thereupon vvas call'd and Meleager to spite Perdiccas having guarded him into the Hall with an armed Band he vvas saluted King and named Philip by the Soldiers Though this Election appeared most just the Princes vvere not very well pleas'd vvith it and knowing there were such defects both in the body and mind of that Prince as rendred him in a manner incapable of so important a charge they destined it to the sonne that should be born of Roxana vvhen he should be of a fit age and condition to execute it and named Perdiccas and Leonatus his Guardians submitting themselves unto the new King until such time as Alexanders son should be able to hold his place This was that which gave Roxana that authority which hath proved so fatal to us and the consideration of the King her husband hindred me from opposing those advantages which were aimed at for her son This order appeas'd the uproar for a day or two but presently after it broke forth again more strongly then ever Many Macedonians lost their lives in it and Meleager was assassinated in a Temple by the command of Perdiccas who had usurped the greatest authority These disorders obliged us to assemble our selves again and not being able to agree about the Election of a Prince we resolved to share the Territories Alexandeâ— had conquered towards which we had contributed the best part of our
some morality to be mix'd and to the exercises of the body added also some exercises of the minde able to purge it from those bloody humours that were predominant amongst our women I grew expert and vigorous enough in those of the body and by the toil of hunting whensoever I had any spare time and by the care of my Mistresses I became so strong and so skilful that when I was but 16 years old there were but few women among our Amazons whom I could not dismount and whom I was not able to instruct either how to draw a Bowe or how to fight on Foot or how to ride an Hors vigorously These were our ordinary passe-times and upon the banks of the rapide Thermodoon wee drew up Battalions every day and kept up that Warlike humour which had maintain'd them for many Ages The Queen my Mother bred mee to that aversion against men which is general amongst us and exhorted me daily rather to suffer death then to slacken any thing of our ancient customes or submit my self to that sex which hath usurped so tyrannical an Empire over ours I would it had pleas'd the Gods great Queen that I had followed thy counsels I should not then have drawn Heavens anger upon me for my disobedience nor should I have precipitated my self into misfortunes which I can attribute to nothing but that alone I will not entertain you with the particulars of my childhood which are too trivial for your hearing but I will passe them over and content my self with telling you that I had compleated my fifteenth year when the Queen my Mother at her return from an Expedition in which by reason of my youth I had not waited on her presented the valiant Orithia to me a person of a stature extraordinary amongst us of a most Martial Garb and of a most excellent Beauty She was yet all arm'd when the Queen my Mother brought her into my Chamber and I thought her so handsome that I found no difficulty in obeying the command she gave me to love and esteem her particularly This generous Lady said the Queen to me though she was not born among us yet having the same inclinations hath cast her self voluntarily into our party and in all the encounters wee have had with the Cilicians shee hath showed proofs of such an admirable valour that I took her a long time for Bellona whom I thought the defence of her sexe had armed in our favour In our last action she dis-engaged mee from a throng of Enemies where else I had infallibly perished and succoured me in so great extremity that I cannot deny but that I am indebted to her for my life she in my sight killed the most valiant of all our enemies with her own hand and overthrew all that made any opposition against her In short she hath begot in me so much admiration and so much love that next to my only daughter she shall ever be to me the dearest person in the world She ended these words embracing her and by her example obliged me to welcome her with an extraordinary kindnesse Orithia receiv'd it with great submission and made protestations of fidelity to me in so respectful and so civil tearms that from that very moment I esteem'd her extreame worthy of the judgement the Queen had made of her I am most readily disposed said I to her to second the Queens affections with mine and to requite the vertue of this fair Stranger by all the proofs she can desire from my friendship Orithia kneeled down upon one knee at these words and kissing my hand which I put forth to raise her up Madam said she I make a vow never to be but yours and from this instant I dedicate my self unto you with a passion which shall never end but with my life Shee pronounced these words so gracefully that I was touch'd by them vvith an affection and casting my arm once more about her neck I promised her an eternal friendship Shee went out of my Chamber to put off her arms and return'd thither within a while after in her Womans apparel in which I thought her so lovely and so well shap'd that I gave her the advantage above all those of our Countrey I renewed my endearments at that second sight and begg'd of her not to leave us in tearms which shee accounted very obliging O Gods when I remember the protestations she made to me of an eternal fidelity and the oaths wherewith shee accompanied those protestations I cannot sufficiently admire the patience of the Gods that suffer such perjured souls without darting their loudest thunderbolts against them After I had given her all the proofs she could desire of the friendship she sued for frâ—m me I pray'd her to tell me who she was and what fortune had brought her into our Countries This new Amazone having bethought her self a while what to say spoke to me at last on this manner Although you see me now in the exercise of arms I have not been bred up in it and that little valour the Queen your Mother exalted vvith more affection then justice is rather an effect of my misfortunes then of my nature I am the daughter of the deceased Prince of the Massagetes and Niece to the King of Scythia to whom our Province is Tributary Death having deprived me of my Father in my very infancy I was bred up in the Court of Scythia with the Princesse Berenice and my Brother Orontes with Prince Oroondates his Cousen I spent some years in that Court with pleasure enough but the War between the Scythians and Persians breaking out afresh Prince Orontes my Brother march'd along with the Prince of Scythia and scarce had he begun to show some proofs of his valour in so early a youth when by the fall of a Bridge he was drowned in the Araxis and all the fair hopes he had given were buried with him in the waves of that River I will not trouble you with the Discourse of my sorrow for that dear Brother 't is enough if I tell you that his death making me Heiresse of the Province of the Massagetes moved divers Princes to cast their eyes upon me I had a natural aversion to men but it was visibly augmented by the offer the King made me of one of his Favourites whose birth was obscure and his person unhandsome I received the first overture of it as a mortal injury but the King who desired with my fortune to recompence the services that man had done him was not at all repulsed by my denyal but using his Authority on the behalf of that unworthy Favourite commanded me absolutely to resolve to marry him This forcing of me redoubled my hatred and I should infallibly have rather chosen my grave then his alliance whom I beheld as no other then a deadly enemy and a monster appointed to devour me I need not tell you how many tears I shed how often I cast my self at the Kings feet
and how many imprecations I uttered against his tyranny the recital of these would be as uselesse as they themselves were unprofitable In short I saw my self reduced to the cruel necessity of marrying a man against whom I had a mortal aversion but having begg'd assistance from the Gods and call'd for help from my own courage I resolv'd by flight to avoid the misery that threatned me and knowing my self to be of a reasonable strong constitution I discovered my secret to no body but one of my women in whom I had a perfect confidence and by whose means I procured a suit of mans Apparel so getting away with her the night before that day which was appointed for my fatal Wedding I left Issedon without any other design then that of flying to the worlds end but I would avoid the misfortune intended me I went out of the Kingdome with a great deal of trouble and incommodity but by little and little I became inured to the toilsomnesse of travel and finding my self strong enough to bear arms the general indignation I had against men made me resolve to do my uttermost against them and to conquer the weakness of my nature to follow the incitements of my hatred My knowledge that you were their implacable enemies made me take my Journey this way and to abridge an unnecessary relation after the wearisomnesse of a long Voiage I arrived at the Army of the Queen your Mother The Maid that came away with me from Issedon forsook me not and except her company I was left quite alone without support or acquaintance if the Queen had not charitably received me and if the Gods had not increased my Forces to make me doe that great Princesse some considerable service In these tearms Orithia recounted her adventures succinctly to me and the knowledge of her quality obliging me to look upon her with more respect then before I began to use her as if shee had been my sister I confirm'd the assurances the Queen had given her of our protection and offered her our assistance for the recovery of her inheritance and to take satisfaction for the violence that had been used to her She thanked me for my offers with very civil and passionate expressions and protested to me that her highest ambition was to spend the remainder of her life with me I prefer that advantage said she before the Province of the Massagetes nay before all Scythia and if my Princesse disdain not my services and affections I will never part from her but to be carried to my grave I answered these words no otherwise then with a thousand kisses which I gave her with a great deal of innocence and affection and having testified that her company should always be most dear to me I observed more joy in her countenance then the condition of her fortune seem'd in reason to permit From that day I liv'd exceeding freely and familiarly with her she was lodg'd in Chambers near to mine and the Queen presently settled her a Family and furnish'd her with all servants necessary I saw her every day and though at first she express'd her self with some difficulty in our Language she had quickly learn'd it and spoke divers others so fluently and gracefully that her conversation was wondrously delightful We were always together at one exercise or other and seeing her far more expert then it was probable she should be for the little time she had practised them I receiv'd instructions from her and admiring what nature had wrought in her in so short a space I form'd my self by her example in a profession I had ever used I was also desirous to learn some of those Tongues she knew she taught me the Greek the Persian and some others which she spoke very pleasingly and did it with so much mildness took so much care to frame my mind and manners and in all her actions testified so firm a friendship to me and so profound a respect that she won my heart infinitely and tied me to her with such an affection as yet I had not born to any body but the Queen my Mother Within doors abroad a hunting and in all our ordinary pass-times we were inseparable and if sometimes I had been but a while without seeing her I ran to her with open arms and gave her kisses which she receiv'd with inconceivable joy and delight If it had not been avoided by her self we had lien together I often proposed it to her but her not accepting hindred me from pressing it farther I declared to her the aversion I had against divers of our customes and my resolution rather to let the. Crown fall to another Family then to give it an Inheritrix by those shameful ways our former Queens had taken Orithia approved that modest intention and confirm'd me in it by reasons which made me yet more in love with her vertue In the mean time when we were hunting together if she saw me obstinate in the pursuit of any dangerous beast she would withhold me gently and when the beast being press'd home turn'd to a bay against us she would cast her self before me and exposing her self to the danger for my security made me visibly finde my life was without comparison dearer to her then her own All these actions together with the grace wherewith she accompanied them and her charming conversation absolutely Mastred all my affections and made me even foolishly fond of her She liv'd on this manner a whole year amongst us giving me no proofs of her love but such as were very innocent In this interim our neighbours made many incursions into our Territories and we entred often into theirs and in all those occasions Orithia showed so many proofs of an admirable valour and of a prudence infinitely beyond her age that the Queen my Mother gave her most important commands in her Armies undertook no Expedition of any moment without her advice I about that time began to go into the wars and desiring to passe my Apprentiship with Orithia I never stirr'd from her side she was often troubled at it and her care of my safety hindred her from running on into dangers as she did when she had no other life to look to but her own she perpetually blamed the ardour that carried me into the thickest of our enemies and though her commands often call'd her otherwhere shee would not move a foot from mee and when she saw the point of any Sword or Javelin turn'd against me she opposed the passage of it and neglected all the blows that were made at her to break those that might have wounded me Alas dear and faithlesse Orithia how welcome to me were those first testimonies of thy affection and how sweet is the remembrance of them still unto my memory Certain it is thou forgottest nothing that could be done to make thy self be loved and that thou livedst only for Thalestris neither was she ungrateful to those proofs of thy affection but
which she had receiv'd from one of Orithia's Women whom of all about her she trusted most I judg'd instantly that it came from her and would not have taken it but that I waa persecuted by Hippolita who was absolutely resolv'd I should see the last marks of the affection of a person that had so perfectly lov'd me I was forced to yeild to her and assoon as I was in bed I took it and breaking it open I read these words The Guilty ORITHIA to the Divine THALESTRIS Madam I Depart as you have commanded me and with your sight I forsake this Countrey from whence you have banished me for ever 'T is not to avoid death that I goe away for I should have runne boldly to demand it of the Queene for the punishment of my crime if I could have died in that manner without interessing you in my death the cause of it would without question have broken forth and you would have received displeasures by it which would have afflicted me more sensibly then death it self I goe therefore to seek it far from hence and to free the Earth from that ambitious Orithia who by the greatness of her crime hath merited your indignation nor could she however have resisted that remorse to which you gave her over and which would justly have punished her for having troubled the tranquillity of your soul I begge of the Gods to restore it you for ever and to conserve it as entire to you as I have and will unto my grave that passion which leads mee thither by its violence by your will and by the knowledge of my fault In the mean time most divine Princesse if the prayers of one so guilty may be receiv'd by you suffer mee yet once again to implore your pardon for the offence I have committed and at the extreamity of my life to conjure you not to hate the memory of a person who hath offended you onely in loving you and who hath lov'd you onely with the most pure and perfect affection a heart is able to conceive Grant mee this favour with generosity as I give you my life with joy and if the fault of the guilty Orithia come sometimes into your minde remember that if shee was too blame 't was rather through love then malice and that though shee was imprudent though shee was presumptuous yet was shee ever faithfull and died as she had lived yours I know not how to expresse to you Sir with what motions my soul was touched at the reading of this Letter but certainly tendernesse and pity never produced more sudden nor more powerfull effects in an heart prepossess'd with anger and resentment then they did at that time in mine I let the Letter fall upon my bed and looking upon Hippolita without one word I set forth my sorrow by my silence and by some tears which I could not possibly retain Then it was that Orithia represented her self unto my eyes in her most lovely shape and if to banish those thoughts that argued for her I fancied her to my self as that presumptuous Orontes who had maliciously deceived me and abused my favours and my easinesse shee would return within a moment into my memory as that charming Orithia who had exposed her self unto such manifest hazards to see me and to serve me who in a storm of blows had saved me from a death which without her help had been inevitable who by her valour had restored mee the Queen my Mother who by a thousand actions of that nature had heretofore won my heart with a most absolute Empire and for a conclusion died for me and died with a resignation and a fidelity which the rigour of my usage had not been able to shake O Gods how sensible was this remembrance to mee and how nearly did that consideration touch me I took up the Letter again and reading every word of it over and over divers times I suffered my self to be insensibly caried away into a compassion very little different from that which is called Love All that Prince his good qualities and all the proofs he had given mee of his affection appeared unto me then with so much advantage that it was impossible for me to defend my self both against the grief for his misfortune and against the birth of that passion for which â— since have so much suffered In short Sir if I lov'd him as Orithia before I began now to love him as Orontes and could neither finde strength enough in the consideration of that vertue I had proposed unto my self nor in that of our Laws to resist the violence of my destiny I spent the night in cruell agitations and if I went to shut my eyes in hope that sleep would give some respite to my disquiets Otontes came presently into my imagination with that gracefulnesse which accompanied all his actions It is not just me thought he said Thalestris that you should enjoy a repose which you have robbed me of for ever awake to think upon this unfortunate man whom you have ruined remember that I have forsaken my Countrey my kindred and my life it self to love you that I have witnessed my love by proofs which perhaps have no example and that for all my reward you have banished mee from your sight for ever If you will bee quit with mee and capable of that sleep you seek for restore mee the yeares which with so much perill of my life I have spent in your service put your self again in the condition you were upon the breach of Phryne and into so many other dangers from which my valour alone hath delivered you and in short if you can possible make all that is past never to have been and you shall be free from that remorse to which I leave the care of revenging me and with which I may more justly threaten you then you can me This Discourse seemed to argue incessantly in mine ears and my grief making my fancy work exceeding strongly I pass'd from this thought to a more dismall one and imagined Orontes either dead or dying for me Behold Thalestris said he in my minde behold the brave effect of thy cruelty I could not live after the sentence of death thou didst pronounce against mee and my own hand hath freed mee from those miseries to which thou inhumanely hadst condemned mee See the happy conclusion of a Love full of respect and fidelity and see the worthy recompence of the services I have so zealously and so discreetly rendred thee In these thoughts and entertainments J pass'd the whole night and the next morning J was so ill that J could not rise all that day J made no difficulty to trust Hippolita with my disquiets and with the birth of my affection That discreet Wench endeavoured to comfort mee and to banish from my minde those thoughts which fruitlesly afflicted mee Shee represented how unprofitable those reflections were and though she took Orontes his part her belief that the mischief was
so neither was I touched with that alteration and I resolv'd for the worst events a Captive could expect except the losse of my honour for the defence whereof I determined to suffer death if any body should go about to assault it The fair Queen was in this part of her Story when she was interrupted by Amintas who came to see her wound Thalestris put forth her arm and after he had dressed it and assured her of a speedy cure she set her self in her former posture and went on thus with her Discourse The end of the Third Book The Continuation of the second Part of CASSANDRA The fourth Book THe usage I had received from Neobarzanes at the beginning of my captivitie began quickly to alter for the better and the women that were appointed to wait upon mee began to serv mee with verie great diligence and respect Neobarzanes sent often to see how I did and when my wounds permitted mee to leav my bed hee came himself into my Chamber I was surprised at that unexspected visite and if I would have followed my first motions I had given him a reception which without question would have kept him from coming any more but considering the power hee had over mee and how much his former behaviour might bee excused by the death of his Brother and the loss of his Armie I believ'd it fit for mee to receiv him as a man that repented his having used mee ill though his pretences for it were specious enough and as a man whom I ought not to exasperate if I had desired to secure what it was in his power to take from mee by violence These Reasons obliged mee to use him reasonable civilly which without doubt confirm'd his evil intentions and that passion which had mollified him and which brought him then into my Chamber When hee had enquired after my health and was set down by mee Madam said hee I doubt not but you are much offended with mee for my first usage of you and that you still keep some resentment of your ill welcom and of the threats which my grief made mee utter against so fair a Queen and one worthie of a better fortune and of a better reception but your goodness will pardon those transports in a person who by your hands hath lost a Brother who was extremely dear to him and whom his virtue made verie considerable to the whole world and by the hands of your Souldiers an Armie of fourtie thousand men the Relicks whereof can hardly bee perceived within this Citie you will without question have som regard to so lawful an anger and will judg of the caus that suppresse's it by my forgetting so great and so late offences 'T is true the bloud of my Brother and of all my Souldiers demand's som satisfaction from mee but a force more powerful then nature or reason of State forbid's mee to give them any to your disadvantage and disarm's my rage after having disarm'd my heart of all that could defend it against you I think this knowledg is sufficient to make you understand my inclinations and I cannot declare them better then by representing to you that they devest mee of those of nature and of my most tender affections nor can I more truly testifie that I love you then in loosing for your sake the remembrance of what I lov'd most dearly Think not this Declaration strange I know it is a Discours to which you have not been accustomed but wee daily see greater changes and if you had suffer'd the access of men you would doubtless have engaged them in that passion which hath made mee absolutely yours you hate them only becaus you know them not and 't was an irregular caprichio of your Predecessors that deprive's you of the societie the gods have established and by which and for which the world subsist's You may if you pleas make som reflection upon what I have said and if among men whom you have alwaies shunn'd you can finde any one worthie of your affections bee pleas'd to cast your eies upon mee who have given you mine first with an exceeding great respect and a most absolute Empire I am not able Sir to express how much I was incensed at this Discours and how much I resented that Captivitie which constrain'd mee to suffer it if I had been at libertie I would have punished that insolent fellow with mine own hands and would have made him feel that force to the purpose of which hee had twice had experience to his shame but I had too many reasons to moderate my furie so that I suffer'd it not to rise to that extremitie and I at that time had prudence enough to dissemble part of it but not power enough over my face to keep it from beeing inflamed with a color like fire nor over my tongue to hinder it from replying sharply Remember Neobarzanes that I am a Queen though I bee your Prisoner and that if the chance of war hath given you som power over my bodie my minde is still in its former libertie and doe's no way partake in the changes of my fortune This first knowledg you give mee of men confirm's mee in my intention of hating them if you persevere in yours and this freedom you take to a Queen whom her disaster hath brought into your hands is a strong obstacle against that esteem of them you desire to work in mee therefore give over an unprofitable care and a more unprofitable affection and believ I shall value you as much if you use your fortune generously as I shall dispise you if it encourage you to unjust liberties and such as you cannot give your self without unworthiness Though Neobarzanes was stung with this answer yet did hee not show himself much moved at it and after having continued a while silent hee onely replyed I doubted you would not receiv this first overture of my love without som displeasure but I also hoped that time might sweeten the sharpness of your first motions and make you finde that I may without offending you or abusing the power I have over you make you an offer of my affections Time said I shall never make mee loos my first resolutions nor can it do any thing to your advantage but by such usage as is due to Prisoners of war of my qualitie If you are my Prisoner of war answered Neobarzanes I am your prisoner of love and if you use mee with any favor I shall no longer consider you as a Captive but as the sovereign Mrs of my heart Use mee replied I tartly as Thalestris who within these few daies hath conquered you in two set battels and who by the defeating of your Forces hath shewed her self capable of another entertainment then that of your loves Neobarzanes was touch'd with these words and answered mee with a smile mingled with som sharpness You are capable both of war and of love and will make both if you follow the cours of your
enough to do you a service of the same nature with those you had alreadie received from her Scarce did I give Hippolita leisure to make an end of this discours but cried out O Gods Hippolita what doest thou tell me was it Orontes then to whom I am yet once more endebted for my life was it Orontes himself whom I saw do so many wonders for my safety at the head of our women and was it Orontes who projected managed and executed this enterprise 'T was even Orontes himself answered Hippolita nor had hee vanish'd from your sight without making himself known but for fear of displeasing you after the rigorous commands you had laid upon him beleiving unfortunate man that hee had not don enough for the expiation of his crime hee came onely to save you not to present himself to you and though your kinde remors and last inclinations were not unknown to him hee durst not hazard himself in that presence from whence you had banished him for ever How Hippolita replied I extreamly moved are not my last inclinations unknown to him and from whom did hee learn them From me Madam answered shee coldly to whom you imparted them What said I raising my voice with an angrie tone have you then told Orontes my sorrow for his absence and the affection which I really have born him since his departure It is true Madam answered Hippolita that I told him all to comfort him in his affliction and to animate him in an enterprise upon which your safety depended the fidelitie of his love touch'd mee with a sens of pitie and I believed I ought no longer to conceal his happiness from him who gave us his life so liberally I am not able Sr to represent the trouble these words produced in mee nor how much I was ashamed to see my passion discovered It was impossible for mee to dissemble it and looking upon Hippolita with an angrie eye Ah! thou indiscreet and disloiall wench cried I is this the care thou hast of my reputation and hast thou made this use of a secret wherewith I so freely trusted thee hast thou thus fixt an eternall reproch upon my daies and wilt thou make mee blush for ever for a fault which I discovered to none but thee alone Ah! never hope for pardon from mee nor let him for whom thou hast dishonored mee ever expect any for the confusion hee make's mee suffer by his imprudence this last service might have obtain'd it both for his disobedience and for his former faults but my reputation whereof thou hast been so lavishly prodigal forbid's ever to see him any more who not content to have displeas'd mee by his love to have deceiv'd mee by his disguise and to have disobey'd mee by his return hath known to my shame that hee had made mee sigh that hee had made mee in love and that hee had made mee foolish Ah! no Hippolita let him never com before mee again if hee bee innocent of thy fault hee is guiltie of mine and I am resolved yet once more to banish him who to aggravate all his crimes hath learn'd from thy mouth that I lov'd him I had rather put my self again into the condition from which hee hath delivered mee then bee obliged to see him becaus I am engaged to him for my life go thy waies therefore indiscreet Hippolita go and repair thy fault by forbidding him to see mee and resolv either to free mee from his sight or to absent thy self from mine for ever I ended these words with so loud a voice that they were easily to bee heard into the next chambers and Hippolita who knew my weakness and my first motions very well seem'd but little moved with them and when shee had heard mee patiently of a sudden putting her handkerchief to her eyes Ah! Madam said shee how lawful is your anger and 't is with a great deal of justice the Gods have taken away this unfortunate man from your resentment 't is well for him the destinies have call'd him hence since after so many services you prepared him so unworthie a compence bee no longer offended Madam bee no longer in choler against that unhappie man hee is rather in a condition to draw tears from you then imprecations and the death hee hath newly suffered for you secure's him from all your anger and satisfie's you for all the offences you have received from him I was so troubled at this discours that I could not permit the continuation of it and turning suddenly toward Hippolita How said I Hippolita is Orontes dead Hee is Madam answered Hippolita sadly and with my own eyes I saw him breathe out his life of those wounds he received for your deliverance his bloud hath wash'd away our common faults and his last words were the first hee spake to mee to assure you that hee died yours and that hee died with glorie and satisfaction since hee was so happie as to die for you These words went so near mee that I lost both sens and knowledg and my strength forsaking mee I remain'd cold and in a swoun in Hippolita's arms she would not call in help but running to water that stood in my chamber threw so much of it in my face that shee fetch'd my spirits again no sooner did I open my eies and my mouth but I imploied them in tears and cries and not believing my self longer in an estate to dissemble my grief or rather my despair I did all the actions and spoke all the words that could be expected from those who are most deeply touch'd with it Dear Orontes cried I art thou dead then and doth this wretched woman who is indebted to thee for two lives survive thy death Hast thou yielded up that faithful soul which my ingratitude was not able to repuls from an affection I had so little deserved and didst thou return from these places whither my crueltie had confined thee to accompanie the life thou regavest mee with the loss of thine own Ah! cruel if there were a necessitie of thy dying why diedst thou not far from hence and of som death unknown to mee and why camest thou to open those wounds again by this last effect of thy love which time had alreadie half closed up I had suffered enough for thee before and yet wouldest thou aggravate my sorrows by the last my heart was capable to feel Yes dear Orontes this shall bee the last of all my afflictions and if by my ingratitude I have made my self unworthie of thy love I will testifie to thee by my death that I am not insensible of that affection wherewith thou mai'st lawfully upbraid mee I accompanied these words with so many sighs that one must have been extream hard-hearted not to bee moved with som compassion but Hippolita used reproches to mee in stead of consolations and abusing the affection I bore her you are to blame Madam said shee to afflict your self for a thing you had before decreed and whereof
fuller of perfection and if the Painter flattered them not 't was necessarie to confess that Nature had set forth all her skill in the making of those two admirable structures I was not so far dazled with the sight of them but that I read their names and saw they were Statira and Parisatis Princesses of Persia After these I saw Barsina the Daughter of Artabasus Roxana the Daughter of Cohortanus and Aspasia the Daughter of King Occhus and of a great many other Persian Ladies Araspes and his son had placed those of their own countrie first and next to them I saw a Ladie whose statelie presence and sparkling eies witnessed the ambition of her minde and the vivacitie of her wit it was Olymphas Queen of Macedonia and by her Cleopatra her rival and Mistress to King Philip the father of Alexander When I had considered the countenances of these Ladies I beheld two whom I instantly knew and whom the Painter had very justly rank'd among the fairest of all the world they were Berenice Princess of Scythia and Stratonice Princess of the Issedons I was much pleas'd with the sight of a person to whom I had the honor to bee very near and looking heedfully upon her I judg'd by the resemblance of that picture to the true Berenice that the Painter was excellent in his art and that without question hee had made the rest very like who were unknown to mee After these I saw Ada Queen of Caria and Cleopha Princess of the Massegnes and truly I observed in those two Princesses all the features of an exact beautie but I fixt my eie more earnestly upon the face of a woman arm'd at all points and who discovering onely a part of it through the beaver of her Cask which was set up shewed mee all the lineaments of a pleasing fierceness and of a look able to imprint both fear and respect The extraordinarie fashion of her habit caused an impatience in mee to know her name which I saw to bee Minothea Queen of the Amazons after I had read that I kept my eies a while upon her but O gods scarce had I taken them off when I cast them upon the picture of my divine Thalestris your age seem'd not to bee above thirteen or fourteen and yet you were arm'd as the Queen your Mother except your head which was quite uncovered and whose fair hair hung down in long tresses upon your shoulders and so to the bottom of your coat of arms One of your hands was laid upon a table where your helmet stood and in the other you held a dart the point whereof rested upon one of your feet I will not tell you what my thoughts were of you at that time beeing you are not ignorant what they have been since nor will I describe the beautie I found in a picture whereof by the favour of the gods and by your goodness I may contemplate and admire the Original but I will unfaignedly assure you that from that very moment I began to bee yours and to frame designs to serv you all the other beauties though they had drawn my admiration had not yet won my affection and I looked upon them with an indifference which I could no longer keep when I beheld you 'T is true my passion settled not it self in my heart with violence at the first nor do I believ a picture able to beget love so powerfully but in effect I in my opinion preferr'd you far before all the rest and I thought I should bee most happie if I could finde the occasions to see you and serv you I had often heard talk of your customs and judging that a man could not introduce himself amongst you without much danger and difficultie I desired to know of Araspes which way his son had gotten your pictures since men were so strictly forbidden to enter into your territories For all that answered Araspes this ventrous boy lived many months among them where his youth and a womans habit wherewith hee was disguised made him pass for one of their sex and gave him all the facilitie he could desire to satisfie his foolish curiositie Araspes had no sooner said thus to mee but I presently formed a confused unsettled design of what I after executed and when I had discoursed a while longer with him of what hee had learn'd from his son concerning your customs and the severitie of your laws I retired into my chamber After that time I saw that lovely picture every day and when I was from it the remembrance of that object troubled my minde and caused som disquietness in mee I resisted a long while and endeavored by divers arguments to oppose the birth of my affection but either the force of my destinie or the fancie of my youth carried it against the consideration of all difficulties and knowing that our armie was return'd into Scythia and that there was no hope of overtaking it I having no passion nor powerful reason to recall mee into my own countrie resolv'd to play a trick of youth and take a turn into your dominions to see whether the Painter had not flattred you and whether the beauties of your minde were correspondent to those of your bodie Since Araspes his son said I to my self hath dared it and executed it what should hinder mee from undertaking it shall I have less courage and less cunning then hee and shall not I do that for so lovely a Princess which hee did to satisfie an unprofitable curiositie What reason oblige's mee to return into Scythia and what reason forbid's mee to form my self in forraign countries to many things which are befitting persons of my qualitie am I of an age to make a retreat and to do nothing but after a mature deliberation No no Orontes 't is a shame to fear thou must bee bold and hazard somthing thou art of an age wherein follies are pardonable and if thou foreseest any difficultie in thy enterprise thou shalt also gain glory by overcoming it if thou must needs love 't is best to love somthing great and extraordinarie the gods favour adventrous designs and they have given thee spirit enough to drive all obstacles before thee In this resolution I waited for my perfect health and for the recoverie of my strength and when I felt my self in such a condition that I might undertake the voiage within a while I was willing to repay the kindeness I had received from Araspes by a trust to which hee had sufficiently obliged mee his discretion had been very remarkable in hiding the desire it was probable hee might have to know mee and I thought that without beeing ingrateful I could no longer conceal my self from him nor distrust a man to whom I was indebted for my life To that end beeing one day alone with him in my chamber after som other discours Father said I I were the most unworthie of all men living if I ever should lose the remembrance of your favours
my threatnings that I kept them from it and gave the Lacedemonians leisure to fetch off their King and deliver him out of that throng from which hee was no longer able to free himself By his retreat the victorie declared it self absolutely for the Macedonians and Antipater prosecuted it so hotly that almost all the Lacedemonians were defeated but their valiant King beeing unwilling to survive that loss alighted out of a litter in which they had put him and though so weak that hee was hardly able to stand hee caused himself to bee carried back into the fight where after hee had don things that surpass belief and raised a breastwork of dead bodies round about him hee sunk at last as his predecessor Leonidas at the strait of Thermophiles and falling tired with conquering upon the heaps of those hee had slain received a death which ought to make him live for ever in the memorie of men I have enlarged my self contrarie to my design upon this passage becaus I was most sensibly grieved at it and that the memorable end of so great a Prince deserved a particular mention of him By that onely victorie Antipater settled Alexander's affairs again in that countrie and believing I had contributed somthing towards it hee did mee honors and shewed mee kindnesses which were considerable enough I continued with him till having no more enemies to fight withall hee began his march back into Macedonia Then I took my leav of him and of his son though they both were very earnest to keep mee with them and offered mee very advantageous conditions A year was alreadie expired since my departure from Themiscira and I had a desire to return into Asia but I travelled a different way from that I came and was willing to spend the time that still remained in seeing those provinces which were yet unknown to mee I went into Parthia and the countries of the Mardes and of the Bactrians whither the disloial Bessus was alreadie retired after the murther of his King from thence I entred into Hyrcania and in the end I came upon your frontiers There I put on womans apparel again and there the first news I heard was that of your captivitie I need not tell you Madam the greatness of my sorrow my passion is sufficiently known to you to give you som guess of it and you may well imagine that had it not been for the promise of the gods and my belief that in this encounter I might finde som occasion to serv you I should have sunk under that affliction I summoned all my courage together to employ it for your service and begging of the gods to grant mee extraordiuarie forces I went with som confidence toward the place where your armie was encamped Before I would discover my self to the other women I desired to learn of Hippolita whom I had ever known to bee most discreet in what estate my affairs were in this countrey and whether I might yet pass for Oritâ—ia I was so happie that I found a favorable occasion as you have heard and received comforts from her which raised my hopes again I learn'd of her and bee this spoken Madam without stirring up your anger that you had bestowed som tears on my departure and that my memorie was not indifferent to you all my afflictions were counterpoised by the joy this knowledg caused in mee and it so redoubled my courage that I accounted all things too weak to retard the design I had to deliver you You have heard from Hippolita all that passed from the time of my arrival to that of your deliverance and I will add to what shee hath told you that as wee marched toward this Town I praied Menalippa and the chief of those women that had access to you not to speak one word of my beeing return'd but to stay till I discovered my self before you heard that news from any bodie els This was it that favored the dissimulation which wee used so happilie for mee and retiring after the fight while the women did their duties to you I found means when you were in bed to speak with Hippolita and to plot that with her which shee so cunningly hath effected to my advantage Orontes ended his storie thus and by that conclusion of it made mee blush again and fetch'd back part of my shame and part of my anger but beeing no longer in terms to dissemble my affection I gave him all the modest proofs of it hee could desire From that day hee carried himself towards mee very differently from his former manner and cutting off all those liberties I had granted him as Orithia never gave mee any caus to blame him for want of respect or of discretion I am too tedious in my relation but I will shorten the rest of it and tell you that beeing carefully dressed and looked to my wounds were quickly cured and not beeing strong enough to keep the field in Cilicia against those supplies which in probabilitie would arrive within a while I contented my self with putting a garrison in that Town and as soon as I was able to endure a chariot I returned into my own territories and took my way toward Themiscira But before I was gotten to my chief citie hee that succeeded Neobarzanes sent to desire peace with mee and the misfortune I had suffered by war together with the counsels of Orontes whose thoughts were very avers from it perswaded mee to grant it him upon reasonable conditions and to establish an alliance with him which since hath not been violated I shall not stand to recount the welcoms I received from my subjects after a sharp and dangerous captivitie nor the honors they rendred to my valiant deliverer whom they beheld as the protecting Goddess of Themiscira shee took again her former lodgings in the Palace and her former servants and had a great deal more autoritie amongst all our women then in times past but shee abused it not and managed their respect to her so discreetly that shee inflamed them all with a violent affection for mine own part I must confess to my confusion that I found so many amiable qualities in her and had so many causes to bee pleased with her love to mee that I preserved not the least remainder of my former inclinations but gave my self to her as much as my virtue and the informations I had received from her self could permit mee wee had no more but one thought and if I may say so without blushing wee had no more but one soul and one will I made no longer any difficultie to open my heart to him and to confess that I loved him more then my self but what advantage soëver he drew from that confession hee never emboldened himself to take those liberties that were forbidden him My women often admired that they no longer saw that familiaritie between us they had formerly observed and though our conversation was more frequent then ever they found but knew not the
upon it I read these words The abused Orontes to the faithless Thalestris IF I have been so simple as to hope for fidelitie in a woman a weakness is to bee accused of it which appearances that were specious enough seemed to autorise and I believed I might conserv your affection onely becaus I had well bought it and well deserved it Though I have been so unfortunate as to spend som years in your service I shall bee wise enough to retire now that you have made your self unworthie of my affection and of my esteem I begg not of the Gods to punish your fault you have don it sufficiently alreadie by the undervaluing you have showed of your self by the contempt you have deserved from the whole world and by the shame you have for ever fixt upon your memorie Live in the infamie you have sought with so much pains and since your ambition is so nobly limited lose the remembrance of mine which so blindly had bounded in you alone I leav your armies your countrie and your self for ever and I carrie away nothing with mee in this voluntarie banishment but my repentance for having returned after my first If the Gods send mee my death I shall prefer it before the affliction of seeing you again and if they continue my life I will pass it wholly without so much us a thought of you When I read this letter by good chance I had no bodie by mee but Hippolita who seeing mee grow pale and stagger at the end of it put forth her arms to hold mee up and kept mee from falling on the floor Which way shall I bee able Sir to describe the the greatness of my affliction in so unexpected a disaster and how shall I make you to conceiv what I finde my self unable to express I cannot better compare my sorrow then to that of the Princess Statira when by the craftie deceits of Roxana shee received that fatal letter which hath caused all your misfortunes and I believ that as there was a great deal of resemblance between these two adventures so also they produced the same effects I had fainting fits like Statira I tore my hair and wept like her and like her I sai'd all that rage and grief can inspire into distracted persons I passed all that day in restless startings or rather in convulsions and if Hippolita had not carefully observed my actions I should have used my own hands against my life The next day after I had long tormented my self I called for her that had brought mee that cruel letter and having commanded her to tell mee in what place and in what condition shee had left Orithia shee told mee that within a while after the battel shee had won shee was taken with an excessive sadness which kept her for som daies in bed and that as soon as shee was a little better shee took hors with no bodie but Lascaria and having commanded this woman to follow her till shee was two or three hundred paces from the camp shee gave her certain rings for a reward of the service shee had don her strictly charging her to deliver that letter into my own hands which shee would not trust into any bodies but hers and bidding her tell Menalippa shee might take the command of the armie which shee forsook for ever and that when shee had given these orders shee took a way quite different from that which led back to the Camp where since that time shee had never appeared This account perfected the settling of despair in my heart and put mee into the most lamentable estate that a soul was able to conceiv I began to reflect with repentance upon the proofs of affection I had given to that ungrateful man for whom I would have abolished our laws and forsaken a kingdom to run after meaner pretensions and those uncertain ones too I examined all the actions of my life which could possibly have given him any suspicion or discontent and finding them but too full of innocence and affection to him I plung'd my self into an abyss of sorrow and vexation I had som conceit that my journie to Alexander might have displeased him but my stay there had been so short and all my actions had passed so openly and been eied by so many witnesses that I did not believ hee could from thence draw matter for all those high abuses and that unworthie usage To that inconstancie wherewith hee cast mee off after having received so many testimonies of my affection hee added wrongs and upbraidings of shame and infamie the terms whereof I could not digest Hippolita who had often read over his sharp injurious letter could find no words to excuse him no nor free her self from those reproches I used to her for having favoured his base pernicious designs I will not repeat Sir what my grief and my resentment made mee say that recital would bee of a troublesom length and I will satisfie my self with telling you that after having sufficiently wept and deplored my misfortune I at last made hatred succeed my love and took a firm resolution to go and seek him to the world's end that I might punish his perfidiousness and revenge the unpardonable injuries hee had don mee I then contradicted all that the consideration of that disloial wretch had made mee speak unto our women to the advantage of men and I then animated them to the aversion which they naturally had to that sex by such words as made them judg I had som new occasion to hate them My sorrow did not so little torture mee but that it cast mee into a sickness which forced mee to keep my bed or my chamber above two months during all that time I heard not one word of that Traitour and as soon as I was recovered after I had concluded a peace with the Cappadocians by the mediation of som of our neighbours who interposed I put the government of my state into Menalippa's hands and went from Themiscira without other companie but Hippolita and this other woman whom you see with mee wee clothed our selvs in mens apparel as now wee are and to begin my search I took the right way toward Scythia believing the disloial Orontes was retired thither and that I there might glut the rage wherewith I was so justly exasperated against him I will not trouble you with the particulars of my voiages nor of my encounters I will not repeat the names of those places where I passed nor of the provinces I travelled through to go into your countrie you shall onely know that after a long painful journie I arrived in the Province of the Massageâ—es but that people had heard no news of their Prince from the time hee fell into the Araxis and were then governed by an old Prince to whom the succession by nearness of bloud did rightly belong not beeing satisfied with that I passed the mount Imaüs and entred into Europe and into the Province of the Issedons to
visit the Court of the King your father where I believed I might hear news of him I staied there in a vain expectation three whole months and it was at that time when you were in prison and that a valiant Commander named Arsaves was gon with the armie of the King your father to the frontiers of Scythia against Arimbas who had invaded them I was so deeply buried in my passion that it hindred mee from informing my self of your adventures and I onely heard what the meanest of the people could not bee ignorant of I somtimes saw the Princess Berenice your sister whom I thought fair beyond imagination but the resolution I had taken to keep my self alwaies unknown was the caus I neither waited upon her nor discovered my self to any bodie the instructions I had received from Orontes gave mee knowledg enough in the language of his countrie to make my self bee understood of all the world When I had staied at Issedon as long as I have told you I departed full of grief and went towards Arsaces his armie where I thought desire of glorie might perchance have stop'd him before his coming to Court I got thither within a few daies and was one of the first at that bloudie battel which was fought upon the confines of your Kingdom where I saw that valiant General do actions of so rare a courage that I shall ever preserv the memorie of them as of a prodigie I continued in that armie without making my self known for other then a young voluntier till it began to march back towards Issedon and then seeing my self as unsuccessful in my last hopes as I had been in my first I returned into Asia which I visited almost all in a years time I spent in travelling up and down there in the end after long wandrings to no purpose I came into this countrie with som hope that among so many Princes whereof Alexanders Court was composed I might learn som news of my faithless Orontes against whom I have preserved my indignation so strongly that time shall never bee able to wear it out of my minde Behold continued Thalestris ending her narration the abstract of a life full of misfortunes pardon mee if in som places I have too much enlarged my self and if I have passed over others too succinctly since onely the motions of my passion made that difference See now if my anger bee not just and if I have not a lawful caus to hate that Prince who by his infidelitie hath rendered himself unworthie of the honor hee hath to bee allied to you The Queen ended her storie on this manner and Oroondates having hearkened to it attentively Madam said hee I cannot choose but bee Orontes his enemie after the knowledg you have given mee of an infidelitie without example yet when I remember the proofs which without Intermission hee shewed you of so real a passion after which wee see him fall into a baseness without any probable ground and when I call to minde what subtiltie and calumnie have heretofore don against mine innocence I am forced to suspend my judgment and believ that either you have been deceived by others then Orontes or that Orontes hath been deceiv'd himself by very strong appearances for indeed so sudden and so unexspected a change is contrarie to common sence and passe's my imagination and I am fully perswaded that there is more innocence in Orontes his intentions then there hath been in the effects either of his grief or of his inconstancie The Queen would have replied but Oroödates seeing it was extreamly late and that so long a discours might impair her health took leav of her till the next day and having bidden her good night retired into his Chamber CASSANDRA The fifth Book ORoöndates passed that night as hee had don many others and the day following was spent in those sad imploiments which his deadly griefs had alreadie made habitual to him yet did hee afford part of it to the entertainment of the fair Amazon and discoursed a great while with her touching the causes of Orontes his infidelitie which hee could neither comprehend nor excuse the friendship hee had born that Prince made him seek out reasons to justifie him but the Queens spirit grew so incensed against him that hee was fain to give over his defence and condemn him with her The conversation of that Princess diverted his sorrows for som few moments yet no sooner was hee out of her presence but hee plunged himself so deeply in his afflictions that without a most particular assistance of the gods or rather without an apparent miracle his life could not have subsisted in such violent assaults Ah! my dear Princess said hee somtimes how great is my patience and how great proofs do I now give you of the truth of my affection certainly the most happie persons never found more difficultie in resolving to die then I do in enduring to live receiv this last testimonie of my love as the greatest I ever shewed you and by this severe constraint judg how dear the desire of satisfying you is to mee even after your death it self In such like discourses and in such like thoughts hee lingred out five or six daies at the end of which his wound was almost perfectly healed but his strength was not so soon returned and his sadness had brought him so low that a longer time was requisite for the recoverie of it Hee walked every day in the wood where hee sought out those places that were most gloomie and most conformable to the estate of his minde all objects of pleasure to him were fatal and those that represented any thing of wo gave him the most real satisfaction Thalestris's wound was quickly in a good condition and permitted her to leav her bed within a few daies The eight after Lysimachus his departure which was the same hee had made them hope for his return was almost quite expired and the Prince of Scythia began to bee troubled to see him fail of his promise when his Squire Cleantes arrived Oroöndates presently running to him enquired news of his Master Hee is in Ptolomeus his armie Sir answered Cleantes and you will see the caus of his stay in this letter hee hath written to you saying so hee presented him a paper and Oroöndates having opened it read these words Lysimachus to Prince Oroondates OVr common affairs hinder mee from seeing you again so soon as I intended but the caus of it will procure your pardon for a delay which trouble 's mee very much Those Princes my friends whose assistance was needful for our revenge were all dispersed and som of them were alreadie upon their way to those Provinces which are fallen to their lot Ptolomeus and I labor to get them together again and that care will neither bee unprofitable nor unnecessarie Perdiccas and Roxana whom our proceedings and the remors of their crime have made suspicious draw forces towards them again and by our
grief that hee almost trod upon him in his haste to finde him When by the light of the moon which began to shoot forth reasonable clear beams hee saw his dear Master in so woful an estate hee was seized with such a violent sorrow that hee was like to have kept him companie hee was going to fall into bewailing complaints when hee remembred that his help was more necessarie for him then those unprofitable testimonies of his affection and summoning all his courage to make himself capable of doing somthing in an affliction that put him besides himself hee stood up and while Berenice and Polemon having quite disarmed him applied handkerchiefs to his wounds to stop the bloud hee had yet left in his bodie hee busied himself with the rest in cutting branches and making a kinde of hand-barrow to carrie him away Lysimachus his two servants less possest with grief wrought so fast that they quickly made one fit to serv their turn and having spread their cloaks laid the Prince upon it and began to bear him gently towards Polemon's hous Although Araxes was generous and charitable his beeing so powerfully prepossessed hindred him from taking any care of the stranger who by the absence of his Squire was left alone and stretched out upon the place without sens or appearance of life and thinking onely upon his Master's safetie in all his actions hee did not ill second the mourning of the afflicted Berenice They had not gon above half way when either through that stirring of him or som other caus Oroöndates came out of his swoun and by som little moving accompanied with a weak sigh hee raised their almost quite dejected hopes and restored som serenitie to Berenice's countenance shee stept close to him in a suspence between joy and grief and having called him twice or thrice shee saw him turn his head toward her and give her that token hee had som understanding left Ah! my dear brother said shee you shall not die your virtue is too dear unto the gods to lose hopes of somthing to your advantage In the mean time Polemon was gon before to get readie all things necessarie and before they arrived at his hous they met the Amazon Queen attended by Hippolita and Amintas who came toward them in a fright at the news shee had heard of that accident having vowed a real friendship to Prince Oroöndates her grief was not slight for his disaster and drawing near him shee gave all the proofs of it hee could desire from the Princess his Sister they went into the hous together and having put him presently to bed Amintas look'd upon his wounds hee had two in his bodie two in his thighs and one in his left arm All that were present exspected the Chyrurgion's opinion with apprehensions which were easie to bee observed in their countenances but O gods how great was their joy when having searched them hee gave assurance that none were mortal that onely loss of bloud and weariness had caused his sounding and that if hee would but bee more tractable then hee was of his former wound hee promised them an infallible cure within a short time This judgment brought joy again amongst persons so affectionate to him and they altogether shewed marks of it proportionable to the friendship which nearness of bloud obligations and the consideration of merit had established in their hearts color returned into their faces and Queen Thalestris who in her first trouble had not considered the Princess Berenice attentively cast her eies upon her with more curiositie and hearing her call Oroöndates by the name of Brother shee called to minde som lineaments of that beautie shee had seen in Scythia but desiring a more perfect assurance of it shee drew it from the mouth of Araxes As soon as hee had fully informed her shee used complements to the Princess full of respect and civilitie and Berenice who at the same time learned Thalestris's qualitie from Araxes repaied them with all manner of submission the disquiet they yet were in for Oroöndates would not suffer them to hold any long discours and they concluded with protestations of a perfect friendship and mutual promises to tell their adventures and let each other know the caus of their arrival in that countrie as soon as they should have a more convenient time In the interim Oroöndates was so far com to himself that hee spoke and knew every bodie and seeing Berenice at his bed side I am wounded sister said hee but my rival is slain and the ingrateful Cassandra shall have but little satisfaction by her infidelitie These words the caus whereof was unknown to all that were present made them believ hee was lightheaded but after them hee spoke others of so good sens that they partly lost that opinion Madam said hee to Queen Thalestris see there the Princess my sister I know it Sir answered Thalestris and since that knowledg have vowed my affections to her with a great deal of respect and desire to merit hers by my services That offer replied the Princess is too advantageous to mee to receiv it as other then a meer favor and since with so much goodness you grant mee what I could not justly hope for I will not abuse it further then to beg the continuance of it Their civilities had not ended so soon if they had not been in another place but Amintas who alreadie had dressed the Prince imposed them silence and having more expresly enjoined it to his patient hee perswaded them to retire The two Princesses whose friendship was quickly grown went into Thalestris's chamber where having given each other new confirmations of it resolved not to part beds while they continued together After supper they mutually expressed their desires to know one another more particularly and Berenice having told Thalestris shee desired to make her the relation of her life in the presence of the Prince her brother Thalestris offered to begin with hers and for that purpose going to bed together within a while after they spent a good part of the night in the recital shee before had made to Oroöndates Berenice infinitely taken with the wonders of her life with her detested Orontes his infidelitie and having promised to requite that favor as soon as her brother should bee able to hear her those two great Ladies fell asleep when it was almost day and rose not till it was very late In the mean time Oroöndates whose thoughts returned to him with his forces was in a condition different from that wherein hee had passed many daies hee rested all night reasonable quietly and the next morning hee reflected upon his fortune and after long contestation judged it to bee rather better then it was before Statira is inconstant said hee to himself but yet at least shee is alive and unless in my affection I considered onely mine own interests I cannot equally consider her death and her infidelitie I had rather shee should ceas to love
mee then ceas to live and 't is enough that my jealousie arms my hands against my rivals without arming my wishes against my Princess let us satisfie our selvs with having displeased her in the death of her favorite and if my love demanded reparation from her inconstancie let us believ that that wee have received is no light one since with our own eies wee have seen him fall dead whom shee loved more then her life beeing for him shee in so short a time had lost the memorie of our services and of her illustrious husband But miserable man said hee again what doest thou rejoice at canst thou bee pleased to have offended thy Princess and canst thou have sent him out of the world whom shee loved without becoming her mortal enemie and canst thou becom her enemie without becoming a more cruel enemie to thy self But added hee for his justification 't was that rival himself that defied mee and assaulted mee upon that quarrel I can suspect no other caus of it and hee without question knew mee for Statira's servant and for him that had heretofore obliged her to som good will perchance also hee is not dead but may have received from his friends alike assistance to that which ha's brought mee back from the grave if it bee so O Rival in spite of all my repentance and in spite of all Statira's interests prepare thy self for a second combat and dispose thy self to lose thy pretensions with thy life or to tear away these remainders of mine there is no part of the world able to conceal thee from the pursuit of a desperate lover and thou art too brave a man to hide thy self from him against whom thou so valiantly hast defended thy advantages This thought having drawn on another hee opened the curtain of his bed and calling for Araxes commanded him to send to the place where they had fought and if his enemie were found there capable of any assistance hee charged him to give it him as to his own person and to use his utmost indeavors to recover him into a condition of terminating their quarrel Hee took care also for Arsacomes his burial and having given these orders in a few words and obeyed the command hee received from Amintas to keep silence all that day The two Princesses left it him wholly free and beeing got up late they contented themselvs at the Chirurgians desire with going but once into his chamber to give him the good day and to enquire how hee did Hee had alreadie told them his encounter with Perdiccas and had as much astonished them with those last effects of his generositie as hee joied them with the news of Statira's safetie whose loss they had deplored as well as hee In the mean time Araxes beeing returned from the place whither his Master had sent him brought backward that hee had vainly sought the bodies of the stranger and of Arsacomes and that som one having taken them away had hindred him from rendring them the last offices of burial Oroöndates expressed som trouble at it and the next day the Princesses obtained permission of Amintas to stay with him and keep him companie upon condition they should not make him speak too much As soon as Oroöndates saw them by his bedside addressing himself to the Princess Berenice Sister said hee wee have not yet had time to entertain one another since our meeting I burn with an impatiencie to learn your adventures and the caus of your coming into this countrie I beseech you to satisfie it in the presence of this fair Queen who need not bee suspected to us Brother replied the Princess provided your health may receiv no prejudice by your attention nor by the nois of my speaking I am readie to content you and to tell you wonders that are unknown to you and wherewith as you may remember I never had the libertie to entertain you during your imprisonment The Princess then turning towards Amintas to ask his approbation and hee having assured her that Oroöndates might hearken to her for som time without danger shee began the relation of her adventures thus The Historie of Berenice HOw shall I bee able dear Brother to avow my faults and weaknesses to you and what account shall I give you of a life which you must needs think criminal if you judg of my actions with severitie and if you have not som regard to a dear memorie to reasons that are specious enough and to the frailtie of our nature Indeed this consideration abashe's mee and make's mee fear as many changes of my countenance in this relation as you will finde changes in my fortune but Brother to reassure mee I will remember not onely that you have loved since decencie prescribe's us different rules but that this fair Queen who hear's mee hath not been exempt from this passion and that by the height of yours and the qualities of your person you obliged a great Princess whose virtue was without blemish and whose example may authorize part of my faults to slacken somthing of her severitie for your sake and to conceiv inclinations full of a real affection After this preparation to my discours I will make you a naked confession of the accidents of my life whereof you have till now been ignorant and with part whereof I had entertained you in Scythia but for the strictness of those spies which were set over you in prison and the order that was taken about your departure I will therefore begin my recital from the time of the first voiage you made into Persia and will neither tell this fair Queen my birth which shee cannot bee ignorant of after the knowledg of yours nor the particulars of my infancie which have nothing considerable and whereof the remembrance is but too deeply drowned in that of my more important adventures You know I was but in the thirteenth year of my age when you marched against Darius with the King our father and all the forces of Scythia and I hardly began to enter upon the fourteenth when the King returned to Issedon with his armie and yet even when I was so young I did not escape the assaults of Fortune nor of those sorrows wherewith I have since been overwhelmed The first I received of weight enough to make it self bee felt was that of your going away and though I saw marks of your remembrance in a letter which was given mee from you that testimonie of your affection served onely to make mee more sensible of your departure and I with my particular affliction accompanied that general excessive sadness which seized upon the whole court for that occasion The King expressed an extraordinarie grief and condemned the lightness of your youth by words which sufficiently made known how really hee loved you at that time That kinde of mourning took off much from the divertisements of that winter and moderated those rejoicings which were prepared for the Kings return and for the success
manner of submission and modest respect without letting her self loos to blameable liberties and such as might have stopt her passage to that greatness which shee hath since attained I believ indeed that in this discreet and virtuous way of proceeding shee followed the incitements of her own nature but it is also true that shee was confirmed in it by the counsels of her mother who was one of the most politick women in the world and who often represented to her that by that manner of carriage shee might change the nature of the King's passion and engage him in an affection full of esteem and respect which might rais her to the highest dignities Stratonice hearkened to these instructions and practised them with so much prudence that the King whose thoughts at that time perchance were different from those hee hath had since began to fear the success of his love and to despair of possessing her by any other then lawful means which yet hee was not resolved to make use of for notwithstanding the excess of his affection to that Princess hee was too great a Politician to prefer the motions of his love before the consideration of his State and to run on to a marriage that would bee condemned by his neighbors and murmured at by his people Behold in what condition were the affairs between the King and Stratonice and I thought fit to tell it you in a few words before I engaged my self in a recital which hath a great dependance upon that I have made you Now I must acquaint you that while the Sister stood upon these terms the Brother I know not by what blindness found somthing lovely in mee and whether it were by the rigor of my destinie or the crueltie of his engaged himself presumptuously in that affection for which I have suffred so much and for which hee himself hath suffred a death which by his last actions hee deserved Arsacomes was then about two or three and twentie years old and I may tell you Madam that hee was of a fair stature a handsom person expert in all manner of exercises and had the reputation of a valiant man Hee by birth held the rank of a Prince amongst the Scythians but by the King's favor hee was raised above all dignities and considered by the absence of the Prince my brother as the second person of the Kingdom The King who besides that hee loved his sister had observed a great many recommendable qualities in him had placed him in the highest degree of Fortune that any Favorite had yet been seen to rise to and every day redoubled his favors toward him with so many demonstrations of friendship that his happiness quickly drew the envie of the Courtiers It is true that Arsacomes carried it with pride enough and beeing of a very haughtie nature hee found matter enough in his fortune to becom insolent and insupportable by his vanitie Hee was liberal but hee gave with ostentation and when hee had don any one a courtesie to the King hee would set so high a value upon it as took away part of the obligation I repent mee that I said hee found somthing lovely in mee since now I think better on it I believ it was onely his pride that made him rais his eies to the daughter of his King and that seeing nothing in Scythia which according to the vanitie of his conceit was not below him hee believed that without abasing himself hee could not address his thoughts to one of meaner qualitie It was a long time e're I discovered them but the reflexion I have made since put 's mee in minde of many actions I saw him do in the beginning of his love which were sufficient to have made mee observ it if I had been so much concerned at that time in the Temples in all assemblies and in the visits hee made mee his eies were alwaies fixt upon my face hee sigh'd hee chang'd color and by all his actions gave mee caus to suspect him of having particular thoughts of mee hee sought out and affected occasions of beeing near mee and when hee met with any of doing mee service hee embraced them with cares which his high ambitious humor would not have permitted him to take for any other Princess except her to whom hee had given his affections I valued my self enough to receiv all his services as the duties to which my birth obliged him and seeing in him every day new marks of complacencie and civilitie towards mee I witnessed my sens of them by all manner of good usages and accompanying the King's esteem of him with the proofs of mine I by the innocent testimonies of my acknowledgment fortified him in her thoughts and in those hopes hee had unjustly conceived Certain it is I continued a long time without suspecting him to have any design I could condemn and that I should have considered his actions a great while longer in the same manner if in the end hee had not lost his respect to acquaint mee with what I should and would have been ignorant of His qualitie the King's favor and his many good parts gave him a very familiar access amongst us and a free entrance into our chambers and into our conversations Having one day attended the King into my lodgings with many others while the companie staied in my chamber where I entertained the King hee passed on into my closet where were som of my maids and having talked with them a while hee saw a standish and paper upon the table and finding that opportunitie to his imagination hee resolved to make use of it for a thought that came into his minde upon the sudden and sitting down by the table hee began to write My maids who respected him for many considerations not daring to interrupt him Hee had been so imploied a good while when the King went out of my chamber leaving him behinde After the King was gon I went into my closet where I found Arsacomes leaning still upon the table with a pen in his hand As soon as hee saw mee com in hee start up and hastily hiding the paper hee had written hee seem'd to bee in a great confusion for having been surprised in that action and stepping back a little hee beseech'd mee to pardon his imprudence in having taken a libertie in my closet which hee did not think should have been known to mee I easily excused it but knowing hee had a very good wit I out of curiositie desired to see what hee had written and making use of his accusation of himself If you will have that pardon you demand said I you must buy it with an obedience I desire from you and must shew mee what you have written upon my table and upon my paper The subtil Arsacomes counterfeiting modestie Ah! Madam answered hee do not desire to see these marks of my follie and bee pleased to require som proof of my respects that may bee more advantageous to mee This unwillingness
encreasing my curiositie made mee obstinate in my first intention No no Arsacomes said I you shall not escape mee so easily I believ you have written nothing in my closet against the State nor against decencie and if my curiositie bee not prejudicial to you I entreat you to satisfie it Madam replied Arsacomes I have made so solemn a vow never to disobey you while I live that I know nothing that can remit mee from it and of what importance soëver my secret is it is impossible for mee to conceal it from you since you have expresly forbidden mee But Madam continued hee drawing forth the paper hee had put up before you cast your fair eies upon this writing I must tell you the subject of it and confess that I have set down in this paper the true declaration of my passion for a Princess whose divine qualities ought to place her above the ranck of mortals and my respect to whom hath hitherto kept my tongue tied up with an extreme tyrannie I have suffred for her without accusing her I have suffred in her presence without declaring my torments otherwise then by my looks and other mute expressions of my passion I have a thousand times called for help from my courage to unloos my tongue which in this onely adventure is deprived of his ordinarie function but that soveraign Mistress of my life hath as often imposed mee silence by that profound respect I bear her and hath reduced mee to the necessitie of tracing out those words with my hand which fear will not suffer my mouth to bring forth Shee shall read them her self that absolute Queen of all my thoughts and with those same eies which burn the whole earth as well as mee shee upon this paper shall see my real adorations of her I was surprised at this discours of Arsacomes and not having learned before that hee was in love I wondred to hear him speak with so much vehemence of a passion which was unknown to the whole world and beeing desirous to gain a fuller knowledg of it I replied to his last words Your discretion is not common Arsacomes in having so well concealed from all the world so violent a passion as you describe yours to bee but since you have confessed so much of it to mee give mee leav to ask more and tell mee for the interest I take in your satisfaction what assurance you have that shee from whom you have alwaies hid your thoughts will see them upon that paper shee will see them answered Arsacomes becaus shee ha's desired to see them and that in presenting them to her my self I shall onely obey the absolute command shee ha's imposed upon mee If it bee so added I innocently you are not ill in her favor and you ought to hope that shee will not disapprove your designs since shee make's use of the power shee hath over you to oblige you to declare them to her Alas replied Arsacomes with a sigh that is a thing to which I cannot lawfully rais my hopes and that which I love is so high that Arsacomes is unworthie to look upon it yet it is certain that I take not this libertie without an express order from my Princess but I am ignorant what the success will bee and I may learn it Madam from your self after you have read this paper your thoughts will bee the thoughts of this divine person and your fair mouth will without doubt pronounce the sentence I shall receiv from her If in the condition I now am one should hold such a discours to mee I am not so dull of capacitie as that I should need more ample expositions of it but at that time I was so young and to say the truth so simple and so innocent that I understood not Arsacomes his subtiltie and without sounding any deeper into his intentions or reasoning any longer with him I took the paper hee presented to mee and in it read these words YOu have desired O divine Princess to know my most secret thoughts accuse therefore onely your own commands of my temeritie and remember I obey you in declaring that I die for you That same respect which hath made mee dumb whole years together had yet concealed from your fair eies this presumptuous paper where you now read this criminal discoverie of my passion if your own mouth had not expresly forbidden mee Give mee leav therefore since you have so commanded mee to make confession of a fault whereof I neither can nor will repent my self It is true most divine Princess that Arsacomes adore's you and that to those many powerful reasons which tie him to your service hee hath added an inclination yet more powerful condemn it not as a crime since it is of the same nature with that wee have of the gods themselvs and that in considering you as the most lovely Princess in the world hee consider's you also as her whom of all the Princesses in the world hee is least worthie to serv Think if after the discours which had past before I could still doubt whether these words were addressed to mee and yet I was so simple or rather I found so little likelyhood of Arsacomes his presumption that I gave no way at all to that belief and with the same innocence I had shewed before I praied him if hee might to tell mee the name of that Princess for whom hee had a passion so full of respect I dare not said Arsacomes though my Princess hath alreadie commanded mee pronounce her name before you but since I cannot resist her will and that you have neither learned it by the reading of these words nor by our conversation you will bee pleased that my pen having alreadie don the office of my tongue prosecute its crime to the utmost and write it upon the letter which I will leav in your hands upon condition you will not read it till after I am gon from you I promised what hee desired and then taking the pen again hee put a superscription upon his letter and having given it mee with a low reverence went out of my chamber As soon as hee was gon I cast my eies upon it but O Gods how great was my astonishment when I read To the Princess Berenice I Am not able Brother to make you comprehend the trouble that seized mee at this encounter and the displeasure I received at Arsacomes his presumption I fell into a sudden and so violent anger that I had not words to express it and after having torn the letter all in pieces I sate down in a chair so strucken and confounded that I had hardly confidence to look upon my maids Cillenia whom I loved best of them all stept to mee and asking mee the caus of that sudden change Let mee alone Cillenia said I let mee pass over my ill humor and believ that if I thought thee an accomplice of Arsacomes his temeritie I would banish thee out of my sight for ever Cillenia
onely in their words or that there were any really in mee if I may say so without blasphemie I am but little beholding to the gods for it since they gave mee that small portion I received of them onely for my ruine and that by the confession of my persecuters it ha's been the sole caus of all my misfortunes I in an early youth found many men that expressed affection to mee and divers amongst them whose alliance was advantageous to Polemon had alreadie sued in vain for his when the gods gave mee him to whom both for my happiness and my unhappiness I was destined by their supreme decree Bagistanes that treacherous Governor of the Cittadel of Babylon who since basely quitted the partie of his Prince and without resistance delivered up into Alexander's hands that Fortress of high importance and the treasure which had imprudently been trusted to his keeping briefly that Bagistanes of whom you have heard speak if Alexander's actions are not unknown to you had a nephew endowed by the heavens with qualities that obliged mee to an affection which dutie afterward established in my heart Theander so was hee called began to love mee when I was scarcely out of my infancie and witnessed his affection to mee by so many proofs that without blindness I could not bee ignorant of it nor without ingratitude refuse him the advantage over all those who had the like intentions yet I depended so wholly upon my Father and had left him so absolute a power over my will that I did nothing but by his nor gave Theander any hopes but by his injunction hee found no caus of complaint in my proceedings and having none but very lawful designs hee made no difficultie of discovering them to Polemon and of asking his daughter with submissions full of the testimonies of his love Polemon received him with all manner of civilitie and seeing manifest advantages in that match could not dissemble his satisfaction Theander was of a handsom person a man of courage and well bred and though wee were noble his Familie was of a rank somthing above ours and to say truth might have pretended to higher fortunes besides as I have told you hee was nephew to Bagistanes who next to Mazens was the most considerable man in all this Countrie indeed hee was a good while backward in granting his nephew the consent hee demanded for our marriage and Theander who honoured him exceedingly and who besides the consideration of bloud was tied to him likewise by that of fortune waited for his approbation with such respects as were due to none but his Father or his King in the end Bagistanes was mollified by his nephews patience and by other motives and after delaies which it would bee tedious to recount hee gave him that permission hee had long expected In all the time of his wooing there passed nothing considerable and I will onely tell you Theander having no more difficulties to overcom after the consent of those that had the disposing of us married mee publikely in Babylon before I was full fifteen years of age As soon as hee had mee in his possession hee took mee home with him to his hous where hee began to live with mee in a most kinde and loving manner besides his affection to mee hee had naturally a great deal of goodness nay even to an excess which his friends have often blamed I was not ingrateful to his love and receiving manifest proofs of it everie day I became so wholly his that I may safely swear before all the gods whom I have so often invoked in my adversities that never woman loved her husband with a more ardent nor a more entire affection I gave him a thousand innocent testimonies of it which inflamed him still more and more and in the first year after our marriage wee tasted all the delights that a perfect union can produce in two souls knit together in a lawful love whithersoëver Theander went Alcione would alwaies accompanie him and if the necessitie of his affairs or the service of his friends parted us for som few moments that separation was born with much disquiet or rather with most sensible discontents In this mutual felicitie a whole year ran out but when hee had given that time to his affection Theander was likewise desirous to give som to his dutie and remembring that hee was a subject to Darius whose Territories Alexander after his victorie at the Granicus over-ran with a prodigious success hee for som time buried the consideration of his love in those of his honor and of the service of his King and Countrie and taking an imploiment suitable to his qualitie among those Forces that were raised by Mazens hee left mee a prey to grief and to those miseries which his absence prepapared mee I made use of my praiers my tears and of all the credit our affection gave mee with him to keep him with mee but hee defended himself against all my importunities with such just and powerful reasons that without offending him I could no longer persist to require proofs of his love to the prejudice of his honor Hee marched from Babylon with those Forces but before his departure recommended mee to the care of his Brother Astiages who under som pretence exempted himself from that voiage and to his Unkle Bagistanes whom hee considered as a Father and to whom hee submitted himself with a dependencie which many persons have condemned True it is that the respect Theander bore him was to bee excused by many reasons that were not to bee slighted Bagistanes who was extreamly rich had no children that were legitimate and being then of an age which forbad him to hope for any onely Theander as his nearest kinsman could lawfully pretend to bee his heir and though hee was generous enough to bee little tied by such a motive yet was a plentiful fortune necessarie to maintain the expences into which hee was carried by his liberal nature and his Unkles wealth was not so inconsiderable but that it might oblige to an observance and the dignitie of Bagistanes were sufficient to autorise After Theander's departure his good Unkle and his good Brother strove who should bee forwardest in showing mee their mindfulness of the charge hee had left them and by all manner of kindness and good usage they endeavored to drive away som of my melancholy hours they made meetings and invented sports to divert mee but I was long insensible of all the divertiâ—ements they gave mee and during my husbands absence I spent part of my time at my Fathers and in this hous whither wee came often to take the aër when I was at Babylon I saw Bagistanes every day and though hee lodged in the Cittadel there passed but very few that hee came not to see mee and when hee failed Astiages to satisfie him and as hee told mee to perform his Brothers desires carried mee to his lodgings where I was welcomed with infinite demonstrations of
not possible for him to disswade her from that resolution so putting on her arms in his presence as soon as her horses were readie shee took leav of him and bade Hippolita guide her after Berenice Oroöndates beeing left alone in his chamber made a long reflection upon the past events of his life and upon the estate of his present condition and making a stop upon his later daies hee had scarce thought upon his Princesses beeing alive but hee called to minde her infidelitie That hard curb which the rigor of his destinies had given unto his joy kept it in with an excessive crueltie and that unworthie remembrance brought a confusion into his soul which hardly left him his reason free Ah! cried hee in the violence of that thought Ah! unworthie daughter of Darius unworthie sister of Artaxerxes unworthie wife of Alexander and if I dare say so my self unworthie Mistress of Oroöndates would you then give so shameful a conclusion to so many noble actions and did you defend your self so virtuously against persecutions so just as mine were onely to yield so lightly in favor of a new commer But without question I deceiv my self said hee again and this affection is not new as I believed I begin to finde it took birth before I came from Susa 't was that infallibly which caused your sudden change which made you in a moment repent the modest favors you allowed mee and which in short drew from your mouth that cruel farewel which you gave mee with so much inhumanitie and though the services I had don you deserved as much as I received from you this rival could not suffer that innocent and moderate felicitie but you must banish mee to satisfie him and 't was that new passion which hardened your heart so that you could see mee swouning and dying at your feet without shewing any mark of compassion O my memorie how didst thou forsake mee all this while and how came it thou wert so long before thou foundest that a former affection cemented with so many services and so many obligations could not bee destroied but by a second If it bee so Statira as without doubt it is you are both more faultie and less to bee valued then I believed and during the life of so brave a husband you ought not to have been capable of another love since you had so many reasons to defend your self against mine Hee discoursed thus to himself in the violence of his resentment and a while after falling into another thought But said hee must I so soon accuse her of infidelitie shee who perchance is no longer in the world I have but a light assurance of her life and I ought at least to bee certain shee is alive before I can bee certain shee is inconstant 't is to this miserable extremitie I am reduced and one of these two necessities is imposed upon mee either that Statira is not or that Statira love's mee not Hee would perchance have spent the rest of the day in these sad considerations if hee had not been withdrawn from them by Araxes who came into his chamber leading a woman by the hand Oroöndates presently began to know her but as soon as shee came near his bed and that hee fixt his eies upon her face hee no longer doubted but that it was Cleone the dear and faithful confident of his Princess and shee who had inseparably accompanied her in her first and in her last adventures The unexpected arrival of her whom hee believed dead and on whose memorie the remembrance of her former good offices had made him bestow som tears surprised him so that hee became mute and unmoveable at the sight of her but when hee began to recollect himself and that hee prepared to show som testimonie of his joy for her safetie the fear of receiving from her mouth the confirmation of one of his misfortunes suspended all his thoughts and hee was more strucken and confounded then before Cleone more confident then hee forcing the severitie of her sex and of her humor to receiv welcoms full of transport and affection which a long and particular acquaintance might excuse broke silence first and while hee embraced her with tears of kindness Sir said shee have I deserv'd you should still remember you have known mee The Prince giving som respite to his endearments Sweet Cleone answered hee at last I will never lose a remembrance which was ever dear to mee and the grief I have been in for my Princess did not so totally possess my soul but that my sorrow for you found also a place in it but O! Cleone since you are risen again is not my Princess also alive and do not you com to bring mee news of her safetie The Queen is living replied Cleone unless shee bee dead within this three daies O gods cried the Prince without permitting her to go on gods all good and all powerful I give you the thanks I ow you for the life of my Princess and since by this assurance you have taken away the fear of my first misfortune I will prepare my self for the second without murmuring against you His natural generositie or the goodness of his disposition made him instantly bring forth these words according to the real incitements of his heart and certainly his joy in this encounter equalled the grief hee had felt at the sad news of his Princesses death but that living and lawful grief was no sooner driven out of his minde but his jealousie before constrain'd and lock'd up in a kinde of servitude broke loos into its place and extending it self with tyrannie into all those parts it quitted began to reign there alone with such an Empire that it produced as violent effects as could have been apprehended from both passions united his mournful tender thoughts gave way to furious desperate ones and briefly that cruel and imperious passion which had established it self but with uncertaintie finding it self now lawfully grounded seized upon all his soul with a most absolute autoritie Let us not bewail Statira cried hee Statira is alive Statira is satisfied but let us with tears of bloud bewail and deplore the misfortune of despairing Oroöndates whom the gods after a thousand sorrows wors then the most cruel deaths have saved from a thousand kindes of ordinarie death onely to make him fall by an end suitable to the miseries of his life After these first transports having held his peace for a few moments hee turned towards Cleone and seeing her silent by his bed side Well Cleone said hee the Queen is living but O Cleone the Queen love's mee not Yet not to love mee Cleone is but a small matter and her fault would bee but light if her forgetfulness and her ingratitude were the onely things wherewith I could reproch her but to love another man to the prejudice of what shee owed to mee to the prejudice of her faith and even to the prejudice of her honor to forsake him who
Alciones and that hee believed as shee did that the wounded stranger was the Prince of Scythia that hee had not been able to learn any thing of it from them that served him whether it were that they were ignorant or that they had order to conceal it that all hee could guess at by their discours was that possessed with som violent grief hee had given himself that wound and that those that looked to him had all the difficultie in the world to perswade him to live and suffer his cure to bee endeavored No sooner had Polemon given the Queen this information but shee guessed at the truth of that adventure and judged by her former knowledg of your love that the news of her death had cast your soul into that despair this belief redoubled if it were possible her affection to you and made her think of finding out som means to see you without beeing seen of you What said shee to her self shall I have thrown my dear Oroöndates into this danger and shall I have receiv'd this last this potent mark of his love to mee and shall I know him so near mee without seeing him Ah! no my dutie you shall not bee so severe I will not forget you though I see my dear Orontes and I will bee so circumspect in this action that you shall bee sure to receiv no offence by it But miserable Statira what would becom of thee if Alexander's ghost should present it self to thee in this visit and reproach thee with thy lightness in a threatning voice My bodie would it say to thee hath not yet received the rites of burial and dost thou run ingrateful woman to new affection Dost thou seek occasions to forget mee thou whom I have so dearly loved while the whole earth whereof I have been the terror is in a general desolation Ah! dear and glorious spirit give som truce unto thy just resentment and consider that I am not guiltie of infidelitie for beeing a little sensible I reverence thee much as I ought and as thou canst wish but I am so much indebted to poor Oroöndates that if thou wert alive thou would'st not forbid mee thy self to see him for som few moments in a condition to which I alone have reduced him After having long contested on this manner shee resolved in the end to see you if shee could do it without danger of beeing discovered and for that design having conferr'd about it towards the evening with Alcione and told her that verie important reasons obliged her to certifie her self with her own eies whether or no it were the Prince of Scythia shee was long contriving waies with her and having found them all too dangerous shee hearkned a little to the last Alcione proposed Madam said shee at the end of a gallerie to which I can lead you by a back stair there is a little door which open's into the space on the far side of his bed close to the head of it 't is seldom made fast but toward the gallerie and if to morrow morning before those that wait upon him com into his Chamber your Majestie will have mee bring you in at that door it will not bee hard for mee to do so and if any bodie should com in while you are there you may easily get out the same way and not bee perceived by any bodie it will onely bee needful to learn if hee bee asleep and for that purpose I will go in first and looking in at the curtain will bring your Majestie word The Queen found a great deal of hazard in this proposition and was long before shee could approve of it but at last the ardent desire shee had to see you made her pass over all manner of difficulties and resolv blindly to follow Alcione shee would not venture upon it without communicating it to the Princess her sister and that scrupulous Ladie not beeing able to yield to it argued long against that design with many specious reasons but in the end knowing how much shee displeased the Queen in opposing her intention shee agreed to her desire and would needs accompanie her to the door her self The day hardly began to appear when the too Princesses were readie and Alcione beeing their guide led them through the garden while every bodie was yet asleep The Queen went trembling up the stairs and if by the accidents of her life shee had not been accustomed to great and dangerous things shee would never have had courage enough to execute that enteprise when shee was in the Gallerie Alcione opened your Chamber door very softly and went gently to your beds head though the place was somthing dark it received light enough by the opening of that door to let Alcione see your face was turned towards her and that you were asleep when shee was certain of it shee came back to the Queen who staied for her with fears and impatiencies which are not imaginable shee went in nevertheless but with inward shiverings and apprehensions which put her almost besides her self when shee was by your bedside and that by the opening of the curtain shee discovered the face which shee had so extreamly loved and which neither loss of bloud nor the darkness of the place could hinder her from knowing her affection transported her in such manner that shee was like to have gon beyond the bounds of modestie to follow the violent motions which that sight awakened yet was shee Mistriss of her self in that occasion as shee had been in all the actions of her life and that constraint made her fall into a wondrous great perplexity shee looked upon you as much as the light would give her leav with thoughts enflamed by her former passion and with raptures of love which shee hath since confessed to mee as crimes shee was often even upon the point to waken you and to discover her self to you by all the modest proofs you could desire of her affection but shee was as often disswaded from it by those severe scrupulous considerations I have alreadie told you Must it needs bee so said shee very softly must it needs bee so my dearly loved Orontes that you should bee longer ignorant of the estate of your present condition and that for weak considerations I should use a violence upon my self which kills mee must I conceal my face from him to whom my heart was never concealed and must I refuse him my verie sight to whom I have totally given my soul Ah! no vain shadow of an unjust reputation oppose thy self no more against such just and such powerful motions thou tyrannizest over mee too inhumanely my dear Orontes must see mee and must receiv at least this satisfaction for so many services as hee hath don mee In this thought shee put forth her arm to waken you but at that very instant the remembrance of Alexander came into her minde which not onely diverted her from that design but also made her blush at that intention and
by the light of the Torches made himself way and coming to mee O Toxaris said hee is it you I instantly lift up my head overjoied to meet one of my acquaintance in that necessitie and fixing my eies upon his face I knew the man who had spoken to mee to bee Arbates that faithless servant of yours that had been who corrupted by Roxana's presents stole the Bracelet from you at Damascus which you had received from Statira who a great while after carried it to her with the Letter you write unto Roxana and who in short had managed all that treacherie which caused such bloudie effects and from which almost all your losses have proceeded Although his infidelitie made mee to abhor him I confess I was glad to see him at that time hoping that by reason of our old acquaintance hee would bee a means to procure my safetie and my libertie as soon as I had perfectly called him to minde and gotten a little confidence by that encounter Yes Arbates said I I am Toxaris Then I presently saw that fals man draw near unto Roxana and having desired audience for two or three words hee spake to her awhile so softly that no bodie could over-hear him and when they had don talking Roxana turning towards one of the Captains of her Guard Carrie this fellow said shee to a place of securitie and use him according to the directions of Arbates who shall let you know my pleasure At that command they took mee from before her who went out of the Garden at the same time and Arbates guiding him that led mee out of the Palace I was brought to a hous which was appointed for my prison where they set guards upon mee whose lives were to answer it if I escape I continued that night and the next day in great apprehensions and disquiets among which the fear of death was not my chiefest trouble Not but that in effect I was afraid of it and had a sens of the punishment which uses to bee inflicted upon Spies especially those who hearken after the secrets of Soveraigns and principally of such as are in the condition Roxana was since I might have been suspected to have had som design against her person and to have been dealt withal by som of the contrarie partie and by those who had an interest in her death but to that apprehension I joined my sorrow what I could not make use of the mercie the gods had shewed mee and that I could not prevent the murther of those great Princesses by the notice I should have given them of that conspiracie if I had been at libertie I was also verie much afflicted that I could not return to your Highness to give you an account of the Commission you had imploied mee in not doubting but you were impatient of my delay That day I was visited by Arbates who highly endeared the good office hee had don mee and protested to mee with oaths that but for his intercession with the Queen my ruin had been inevitable hee afterward promised mee the continuation of his endeavors on my behalf and made mee hope for all manner of good usage To say truth that I received was not ill for a prisoner and the next day I saw a companion brought into mee when I least expected him It was Loncates whom your Highness had sent after mee to Babylon by reason of my stay and who having unluckily met Arbates was known by him and by his direction seized upon by Roxana's guard who brought him presently to the same place where I was In that Arbates was imprudent for if hee had kept us in several prisons hee might much more easily have drawn from us what Roxana had a minde to know then by putting us both into the same chamber where wee had leisure enough to instruct one another and to conform our answers that wee might not bee intrapt if they examined us apart When I had given Loncates an account of the caus of my imprisonment and of the words I had heard from Roxana and Perdiccas touching the design they had against the Queen Statira and the Princess her sister Loncates with a sorrowful look told mee hee began to hear a whispering in the Town that those poor Princesses were dead alreadie and that hee having been at the Palace of Queen Sysigambis had heard cries and seen faces that had confirmed him in that opinion That news surprised mee with a mortal affliction and considering how it suted with the words I had over-heard I no longer doubted of the lamentable destinie of those poor Ladies Wee spent all the rest of the day and the next in bewailing a loss wherein wee knew you would have the greatest share and wee had not yet dried up our tears when Arbates followed with a Guard came into our Chamber and told us hee had order to bring us before the Queen and that wee ought to hope for a good success from the sight of her Wee were so dejected with grief that wee received that message with an indifferent countenance and without informing our selvs of Roxana's intentions wee followed Arbates to the Palace It was alreadie a good while within night and Roxana was in her bed the Guard brought us to the Chamber door but onely Arbates and som of her women went in with us and bringing us on the far side of the bed showed us Roxana in a condition able to have caused love in persons that had not been prepossessed with powerful reasons to hate her the season beeing verie hot shee was almost half naked in her bed and her arms and neck quite uncovered set forth such beauties as in the opinion of other Judges would have found few equals in the world her head dressing though negligent was not unbecoming and her whiteness in a place where all things were black had a very extraordinarie lustre Onely Hesione staied at her beds feet and her other maids beeing retired into the next room with Arbates Roxana after having looked awhile upon us spake on this manner If I dâ—d not believ you to bee civil men and that you have gained virtue and discretion by beeing near the Prince whom you have the honor to serv I should not use you in a fashion quite extraordinarie for persons of my qualitie since however you cannot disavow but that you are faultie and that one of you ha's been taken in an action which in all customs and all Nations make's him worthie of death but the breeding you have had with a Prince who is an Enemie to all evil thoughts doe's partly justifie your intentions and although they should bee criminal his consideration is sufficient to make mee forgive the most unpardonable offences and to move mee to forget all the designs you could have had even against my life it self I will therefore pardon you whatsoëver you can have attempted against mee but I will have your Master thank mee for it and after this small proof of the
hous with a thousand hors to meet them and bring them to the place where they were alreadie encamped Oroöndates who saw them go away and who felt the return of his forces began to take up his former fierceness and as a young lion waken's his anger with his tail hee animated his courage by the remembrance of his losses and excited himself with motions of joy unto the war hee saw already kindled Yet did not that object smother the remembrance of his love but as often as hee was alone with Cleone hee renewed the discours of it with a vehemence able to ruine a health not well confirmed Cleone to cure him of those violent thoughts justified her Mistress as well as possibly shee could against his accusations protested to him with a thousand oaths that shee did not so much as know Arsaces and that shee had waited constantly enough upon the Queen her Mistress to swear for her that shee had never been in his companie but som few moments and 't was very unlikely that great and virtuous Queen who in the sad estate of her fortune and even when shee thought her self forsaken by him had so long resisted the suit of Alexander should so suddenly and so lightly cast her affections upon that stranger Oroöndates saw a great deal of probabilitie in what shee said and but little ground for his suspicions but when hee remembred the testimonie hee had received with his own eies and the conformitie thereof with the report of Perdiccas with that of Cleone her self and with that of Arsaces his Squire hee was constrained to fall again into that cruel belief which struck him into despair and deprived his reason of all the power it was wont to have over him to fortifie that opinion hee alledged to Cleone the wonderful effects of inclination and what hee heard Lysimachus and many other speak touching the good qualities and graceful person of Arsaces The election Arsaces had made of the other partie joined it self also to that remembrance It is not likely said hee that after having fought against Perdiccas and put him in a condition which promises him but little securitie hee should cast himself on his side if hee were not moved to it by som stronger consideration then his friendship to Seleucus No no hee is advertised that Statira or Cassandra call her which you will is now in Babylon and 't was to bee near her that hee forgot his resentments and the peril which threaten's him near so dangerous an enemie but bee it how it will Cleone wee shall see the success of it after the end of this war and if it pleas the gods that Arsaces survive mee the Queen shall possess him in tranquilitie which shee ought never to hope for while I am alive These were his ordinarie thoughts wherein hee was often comforted by the fair Amazone Queen and by the dear wives of Ptolomeus and Eumenes who knowing most part of his discontents and having succeeded their elder sister in her good will toward him endeavored to moderate his trouble by reasons like those which Cleone represented to him and which hee himself could not disapprove Hee was in this conversation with them at one of the windows of his chamber when casting his eie over the nighboring field hee observed an extraordinarie shining a great way off All the companie looked that way after him and when the objects were a little nearer they discovered that the Sun-beams produced that effect upon the arms of the troups that were advancing and within a while after they distinctly perceived the first squadrons and the first battalions of that great armie which had been so much expected and which Lysimachus and Eumenes were gon to meet Hee likewise saw Ptolomeus take hors with Queen Thalestris and som of the Officers of his Camp to welcom those Illustrious friends who disbanding themselvs from their several commands came galloping also to receiv those dear embassies and made a little bodie of the greatest men that were in the world This reception was made between the two armies who at that sight sent forth shouts and cries of joy and of alliance which made the banks of Euphrates eccho to the very gates of Babylon A thousand flying banners a thousand standards displaied and the glittering lusâ—re of well polished arms were discerned by Oroöndates and even the sound of the trumpets and the neighing of the horses already came unto his ears The Princesses who stood by him grew pale at these objects but they absolutely rouzed up the Prince's martial humor and made him with som kinde of shame and repentance remember his glorious apprentiship in that trade his good beginnings in it and the progress hee might have made if it had not been interrupted by his love This reflection drew som sighs from him and kindled an extraordinarie color in his face Hee burned alreadie with a desire to know all those valiant men whose fame was spread through the whole world and amongst whom hee was sure hee should yet finde a good number of his friends and without doubt his desire had been satisfied that very day if Lysimachus who had a minde to shew them to the Prince in all their gallantrie which so well became them had not praied them to defer their visite and to rest themselvs the remainder of that day in tents that were prepared for them while hee busied himself with Eumenes in making their forces encamp whose quarters were all appointed and their places set out for them The order that had been taken many daies before facilitated their encamping and that great number of men was in a short time lodg'd commodiously and without disorder or confusion the provisions were alreadie com as well those they brought along with them as the other which by Eumenes his care were gotten from the neighboring places and from the open countrie and those forces which were hutted alreadie received them that were newly arrived and accommodated them with such as they had so that contrarie to the ordinarie custom that armie was lodged almost at its very arrival and passed the night very contentedly Ptolomeus Lysimachus and Eumenes after having imploied the rest of the day and the beginning of the night in lodging their friends and accommodating the souldiers returned to Oroöndates and having excused themselvs that they could keep him companie no better by reason of the necessitie of their affairs they gave him account of what they had don and of the order in which they had put the camp Oroöndates received their civilities with much respect and Lysimachus having asked him if hee would not see their armie in battalia and all the commanders at the head of their men the next day in case his health would permit him to bee carried in a litter as far as the plain hee shewed an extream desire to do so and the Chirurgion having assured him that hee might without danger hee prepared himself for that sight with great
satisfaction Hee passed that night very impatiently and the next morning getting himself readie hee no sooner heard that the armie was in battalia but hee went out of his chamber with the Ladies and when hee was com down the stairs finding a litter which waited for him hee got up into it with Queen Thalestris who as well and as warlike as shee was would needs keep him companie the other Ladies seated themselvs in the chariots prepared for them and all of them together under the conduct of Cleantes and Araxes crossed through the place where the forces had been encamped camped and from whence the Commanders had drawn them out that morning to imbattel them in the plain a few furlongs below The Prince found them in excellent order and presently admired the Grecian discipline and the Macedonian Phalanxes That which had facilitated the leavie of so many men and their so sudden arrival was that all they who commanded them at that time and who had raised them partly in those territories that were fallen to their share had commanded in those same Provinces in Alexander's life time in the qualitie of Governors and many of them resided in them alreadie and had there received the request of Lysimachus and Ptolomeus to arm those in their favor who since the King's death were becom their subjects Those people who were accustomed to obey them acknowledg'd them gladly and followed them without difficultie in that expedition and in those Provinces where the Princes were absent as those of Lysimachus Ptolomeus and many others the Lieutenants they had left there take arms at their first summons and had found no trouble in making those people obey them who adored them for their virtue and who hoped to enjoy the same happiness under their reign which they had tasted under their government The forces were not drawn up in battalions and squadrons fit for a battel nor was the Cavalrie upon the wings separated from the infantrie but they were ranked according to their nations and followed their several Commanders who without such order as is proper for service marched at the head of their new subjects The first that appeared to Oroöndates his eie were those of the greater Phrygia under the conduct of their Prince Autigonus consisting of four thousand hors and eight thousand foot they had somthing of the effeminateness of their countrie but they began to grow warlike under their new Master and to learn a trade of him wherein hee had passed his apprentiship under King Philip and had acquired so great reputation under Alexander Antigonus was mounted upon a very large bay hors all his bodie was covered with well polished steel heightned with gold upon the edges and his hair which began to turn gray was pressed with a little head-piece after the fashion of the Greeks shaded with a plume of feathers hee had two steel-headed darts in his right hand and with the left hee bore a weightie shield the workmanship of the most industrious Masters in Greece The comly presence of Antigonus and that high renown of him which spread it self every where abroad would have obliged Oroöndates to consider him with a long attention if his sight had not been withdrawn from him to fix it self upon a more pleasing object It was his son the young Prince Demetrius who rode by his fathers side with a grace able to attract the eies and hearts of all the world his beautie was nothing inferior to that of the fairest Ladies of Asia and his eies had a charming sweetness in them which gained affections insensibly if hee was handsom hee was yet more valiant and though hee was scarsly full eighteen years old hee in the last exploits of Alexander had given proofs of a growing valor which even in its beginnings yielded not to that of the most renowned warriers but if hee was handsom and valiant hee was yet more amorous Never was soul more capable then his of the sweet impressions of Love and in the whole cours of his life which was one of the most glorious and illustrious that ever was the severest mindes never found any other blemish save a too great propensitie to that passion which criminal Philosophers have condemned Hee was upon the back of a white hors full of little black spots who by his proud carriage and stately trot set off the graceful fashion and pleasing garb of his Master all his armor glittered with gold and stones of value his coat of arms was all covered with an embroderie which did not ill accompanie the richness of them and to shew that soft inclination was predominant in him hee in his shield had the image of the God of love painted by the hand of the admired Apelles The sight of this young Prince did marvellously delight the great Oroöndates and the generous Thalestris but presently after they were not less satisfied with that of two renowned Captains whom Fame had alreadie make known to the whole world they were Craterus and Polypercon Craterus who by his admirable virtue was worthie to share Alexanders affections with Hephestion and who lost nothing in his inclination which hee gained not with advantage in his esteem Craterus who alone obliged that great King to respects and honors from which his greatness excused him toward all the world and Craterus briefly who onely by his virtue did till his death preserv the chief autoritie among the Macedonians and the chief place in the hearts of all the â—oldiers Polypercon for his valor was not less considerable then hee and hee kept up his reputation so well among Alexanders succesrors that not long after hee in the opinion of the great Pyrrhus was preferred before all the rest These two brave men together led the half of those thirtie thousand Macedonians which deceased Alexander had caused to bee raised for his guard and which hee had drawn about him a while before his death the rest of them had refused to follow their companions and had taken part with Perdiccas they were all foot but their arms were light their persons well chosen and their discipline so good that the Princes grounded the better part of their hopes upon them After these appeared the Syrians under the conduct of Laomedon they were heavily armed and never fought but standing still yet though they did little incommode the enemie by going out upon parties and were exempted from all duties or light armed men they made profession to fight in their ranks to their last breath and to suffer themselvs to bee cut all in pieces before they would let their battalions bee broken their number was three thousand hors and seaven thousand foot and their valiant Leader was able to shew an hundred scarrs received under Alexander in a thousand encounters wherein hee had made himself remarkable The Scyrians were followed by the Cylicians under their Prince Philotas who worthily bore the name of the first Parmenio's unfortunate son that ended his life in torments by the
surcharge unto his shame to make him kill a Woman whom he was to love or to make him love a Woman whom he had kill'd My crime was before my love my love is the punishment of my crime and both my crime and love will have an equal destiny O Heavens did you ever see a fortune that could have any resemblance unto mine and could you not have made the face of it less strange less cruell If you had so decreed that I must love this Woman could I not have loved her without killing her and if you needs would have me kill her could I not have kill'd her without loving her Others may have kill'd others may have loved but never any except Demetrius lov'd and kill'd both together Love every where else begins and declares it self by Services onely mine begins and declares it self by death nay and by a death which fore-ran both its declaration and its birth Ah Demetrius How cruell are the marks of thy affection and how strange a revolution has thy condition suffered in a short time This morning thou wert both free from love and innocent of Murther this evening thou art guilty of the one and mortally wounded with the other there remains onely since thy love and thy crime are inseparable that thou prosecute both to the uttermost and that in this heart the seat of thy affection thou give the last blows to that unfortunate Image which is engraven in it by thy crime alone These were the discourses wherein the disconsolate Demetrius passed the whole night and if he interrupted them many times 't was onely to leap out of his bed run to the wounded Ladies chamber door and inquire how she did of those that waited on her she to whom they related his disquiets to oblige her to desire life and indeavour her recovery seem'd to be deeply touch'd with them and speaking with much moderation to those that were about her Intreat Demetrius said she to take his rest for my sake and if he will have me pardon him my death let him not redouble her griefs who wants not other causes of affliction These words being told Demetrius wrought some light effect in his minde and testified this to him at least that the marks of his love were not indifferent to her As soon as day began to appear he would have risen and run to her Chamber but the Chirurgians not having been able to hinder him by the consideration of his wounds which held him at last by that of the person whom he loved and made him with great impatience defer the sight of her till the hour her wound was to be dressed and that sentence pronounced which he waited for with mortal apprehensions During that tedious space the conversation of his father together with that of Lysimachus Ptolomeus and Oroondates himself who hazarded his health so far as to come and visit him were not able to divert him so much as a moment from his violent disquiets These Princes who from the Chirurgians had learned how little cause of hope there was in the strangers wound endeavoured to prepare him insensibly for the worst event but they found him so little disposed to hearken to them that they were fain to give over their design At last the hour he so much desired being come he caused himself to be made ready and going into her Chamber with all the company he came softly to her bed-side and kneel'd down against the opening of the curtain without being able to speak one word The wounded Lady who saw him in that posture and who could no longer be ignorant of his passion Demetrius said she if my life were as innocent as yours our fortunes would have some resemblance and if you will love me after my death there will be much conformity in our destinies I would love you after your death replied Demetrius if I could possibly survive you but I should be unworthy of life if I were of so mean a spirit as to preserve it after the loss of you These words struck Antigonus into a very great fear and upon this discourse the Chirurgians being come in began to go about their business Demetrius trembled all the while they were dressing her and looking upon the wound he had made O cursed and sacrilegious hand cried he why did not the Gods suffer the sword of Cassander or of Leonatus to take thee from my body before this fatal encounter Philip and Amintas having taken off the plaister and seen the wound knew presently that it was mortal but because they were forewarned by Antigonus would not deliver their opinion before him and onely said that the success was still doubtfull and that it was to be hoped for from the Gods and from the virtue of the remedies applied Their Patient asked them leave to entertain Demetrius and the Company and they told her she might do it without any danger which liberty so freely granted made her soon know that her cure was despaired of and Demetrius if he had not been so much blinded might easily have judged with the rest of those there present that that permission had not been given her but that rest and silence were no longer available for her recovery She intreated Demetrius to sit down by her bed-side and Oroondates Antigonus and the rest placed themselves round about which done addressing her speech to Demetrius she spake in this manner The History of Hermione I Know very well that I shall die but I feel I have yet strength enough both to live some few days and to make a long discourse which obliges me Demetrius to give you the recital of my life and in this you receive no small mark of the esteem I have of you since it is so guilty that I ought in reason to conceal it to all the world but I pass over that consideration because you from thence may draw the knowledge of many things which will be advantageous to you the first is that of the crimes of this unfortunate Woman whom you love which without doubt will cure you of this affection whereof she acknowledges her self most unworthy the second that of my hearts being prepossessed which though the gods should prolong my miserable life would not leave me any power to answer to this friendship you express to me and the last that of the disasters which make life odious to me and which making you see with how much reason I ought to detest it will comfort you as well as me for the loss of it Besides these considerations which concerns you O Demetrius I have others for my particular interest capable to oblige me to this relation before persons who having perchance known my crime are ignorant of the excuses it may have and who by this naked confession of my life will have a perfect knowledge of the one and of the other Although I have in arms received this favourable wound which by one death alone delivers me from many yet am
levied seven thousand Bactrian Horse and with them marched toward Maracanda to get my Father to follow his example and rebel against his benefactour and his Master Pardon me O Spitamenes if I renew the remembrance of thy perfidiousness and believe that it is neither to injure thy memory nor to seek to justifie my self that I accuse thee but to make the truth known unto these noble persons who are as little ignorant of part of thy life as I my self Spitamenes being arrived at Maracanda and having made himself known at the Gates was received by my father his ancient friend with all testimonies of affection and concealing his rebellion from him he made him believe that by Alexanders order and for his service he was to lead those forces upon some expedition on whither he had sent him my father receiv'd him into the Town and into his house with all manner of welcome and used him as a Brother and as a man in whom he perfectly trusted nay he was so imprudent that he quartered some of his Troops within the Town and the rest hard by as commodiously as he could wish The subtle Spitamenes had already taken good order to keep my father from being undeceiv'd and sent Horsmen abroad upon all the High-ways to stop all those who by order from the King or otherwise might come to give him notice of his Revolt by this means it was conceal'd from him and poor Cradates never shewed the least mistrust In the interim Spitamenes from the second day became in love with me or at least feign'd to be so to advance his designes and presuming upon the friendship my father bore him and upon the power he believ'd him to have with Alexander who according to his report gave him Armies to command he discovered unto him his intentions toward me and demanded me of him in marriage The abused Cradates gave ear to the proposition and really believing that Spitamenes was in a high degree of fortune and in great credit with the King judged that he could not hope for a more advantageous match for his daughter and without further deliberation or informing himself how I stood inclined gave him his word that I should be his wife Spitamenes having had this promise began to cast loving glances at me and to discover his affection but alas how little was I in a condition to hearken to him and with how great a coldness did I receive his protestations That very evening my father made me acquainted with his pleasure and commanded me to resolve to marry him The Gods know in what manner I receiv'd both that declaration and that command how many tears I shed at my fathers feet and how many entreaties I used to get him change his resolution but that poor abused man who believed himself engaged by his word and who fancied imaginary advantages to himself by that alliance was inexorable to my prayers and being offended at my resisting of his will redoubled his command and to them added threats full of severity I passed all that might in deadly griefs and a thousand times invok'd my adored Alexander to ask satisfaction for the violence used against me Theano could finde no way to comfort me but representing to me that I could not pretend by lawfull means to the possession of him I lov'd counsell'd me to take Spitamenes and obey my father I had no mother to whom I might address my complaints she was dead many years before and having made my moan to two young brothers I had they blamed my resistance and lay'd before mine eyes the duty I owed my father they were ignorant how my heart was prepossess'd and believing as well as Cradates that I should have a very great fortune in Spitamenes could not approve the difficulty I made in submitting to his will Till then I had lived without knowledge of any crime and in that innocency of life I believ'd that without being extreme faulty I could not disobey my father to whom besides my respect I had ever born a very tender and perfect affection to which he had obliged me by all manner of kinde usage and by testimonies of a most indulgent love How great difficulty soever I found in withdrawing my thoughts from that lovely object whereupon they were fixt and how great an aversion soever his tyrannical proceeding had made me conceive against the Husband destined for me I felt my self too weak to resist those that had an absolute power over me I was destitute of all shew of help and not so foolish as to hope for any success in my passion for Alexander The knowledge of these things after having sufficiently wept and tormented my self made me at last resolve to undergo the yoke which they strove to impose upon me and to dispose my self by that cruell necessity to contend against my first affection and labour to introduce that into my heart which duty ought to establish in it Why should I keep you longer in this tedious part of my life Cradates at last found me obedient Spitamenes by a hard violence and by the despair of my former passion drew from me the consent he demanned and my father who loved me dearly and who would not have forced my inclinations but out of a hope it would be much to my advantage express'd a great deal of satisfaction at it The wedding was celebrated with pomp and magnificence enough but Lucina the Goddess of Marriages presided not at ours onely the furies held forth their Torches at that fatal alliance and about our nuptial bed whether I was lead as a sacrifice to the altar nor was there any thing heard but night-ravens schreech-owls and such birds of fatal presage In those first days of our marriage Spitamenes strove at least in appearance by all manner of kindness and testimonies of love to make me approve of that by inclination which I had done out of obedience or constraint and notwithstanding all my repugnancy he would at last have obtain'd it and I should have forced my self with reason to drive away that passion which was so great an enemy to my repose and to my duty if by most horrible crimes he instead of the coldness i had toward him had not introduced that bloudy hatred into my heart which hath since produced such dismall effects Here I shall onely recall many things into your memory which without doubt you have heard before but since that for the most part they are not unknown to you I will pass them the more lightly over Cradates now liv'd with Spitamenes as with his son he trusted him with his most secret thoughts and referred himself to him both for the government of the Town and for his most important affairs and indeed who would have suspected such a horrid treachery or who would have imagined that so much dissimulation and perfidiousness could lodge in the soul of a man nobly descended The eigth day after our marriage was hardly pass'd when
Spitamenes found meanes to bring in a great part of his forces at several gates and when he had made himself strongest in the Town where the Garrison and the Inhabitants were very weak after he had given those Orders to his men which he resolv'd should be executed he came attended by a great many followers to finde my Father in his Chamber he the day before had told him that he intended to march about the expedition Alexander had imployed him in saying it had been retarded by his Marriage and my Father who saw how much the Countrey was burthened with his Forces was content to let him depart upon hope of a speedy return at that time seeing him come into his Chamber he believ'd he came to take his leave of him but Spitamenes quickly put him out of that errour and having desired to speak with him Cradates said he I have hitherto dissembled my intention because I was not yet in a condition to declare it to you but now I must lay open my heart and by my example oblige you to do what you ought since our ancient friendship and the alliance we have contracted perswades me to move you to it by such ways as I should not have made use of toward another Know then I am Alexanders enemy that the Forces which follow me have taken Arms onely against him and that if you have any love to your Countrey and any consideration of your Son in Law you ought to take Arms for the one and follow the fortune of the other I was present at this discourse of Spitamenes and saw that my Father not being able to suffer the continuation of it How Spitamenes cried he have you betray'd me then and was it onely with this intent that you sought my alliance I asked your Daughter of you said Spitamenes because I lov'd you and 't is because I love you that I yet once again intreat you to imbrace our party and not to make them your enemies who do yet consider you and who are stronger in Maracanda than your self By these words poor Cradates plainly found he was betray'd and instead of answering to Spitamenes his proposition Ah! Traitour cried he the just Gods will punish thy perfidiousness and if I must fall they shall see me die like a man that was faithfull to his Masters till his latest breath With these words he laid his hand upon the Hilt of his Sword but cruell Spitamenes having already drawn his ran him through the body and made him fall dead at my feet weltring in a stream of his own bloud my two Brothers were eager to have revenged him but those that accompanied Spitamenes kill'd them presently upon the place and at the same instant the signal being given they began through the whole Town to drive out and cut the throats of the Garrison I make you Judges my Lords of the condition I was in at that time I saw my poor Father breath out his life in my arms and my two poor Brothers fall murthered with divers wounds the bloud of them all spouted forth upon me and made me all over in a gore but I was not long a beholder of that dreadfull spectacle for having scarcely had the strength to give a shreek I fell upon those dear bodies without sense or understanding I knew not then what was done in the Chamber where these cruelties were committed but when I came out of my swound I found my self upon a bed encompassed with a great many women unto whose charge I had been delivered As soon as I opened my eyes I remembred the wofull objects I had seen and you may believe that at that horrid rememberance I neither spared my hair nor my face and that by all my actions I gave sufficient testimony that in the condition I was left in the world I had but little love of life remaining I had seen those persons murthered before my eyes who were the nearest and who ought to be the dearest to me in the whole world and I had seen them murthered by the hands of him who in spite of all his treacheries and cruelties was still my husband besides the force of bloud and the considerations of friendship the condition I was in by that horrible revolution of my fortune was very lamentable I in those dear persons had lost all the support and all the protection I had and I saw my self miserably exposed and abandoned to the mercy of that monster from whom I expected as bad a destinie At that time I thought not of all these things as being capable of very little sence in that extreamitie of trouble but fixing my self onely upon those so late objects and upon the bloudy Idea's which I had still fresh before my eyes I suffer'd my self to be totally possessed with grief and with astonishment As often as I named my poor Father and my poor Brothers I detested their treacherous murtherer and I made not more complaints for them than I powred forth imprecations against him I kissed the bloud which was yet upon my cloathes and left horrible marks thereof upon my face I should fear to weary you my Lords and perchance I should not have life enough to make an end of my recital If I endeavoured to repeat all the words which my despair made me bring forth and it will suffice me to tell you that I passed all that day and all the night following like a person utterly out of her wits and had it not been for the hinderance my women used when I was so violently transported I had infallibly attempted upon my life I had continued above thirty hours without taking any nourishment at all when I was forced to it by the tears of my old Nurse who hanging about my knees and sighing by me touched even me my self with pity whose condition was wofull enough to move compassion in all the world That second day was passed just as the first and the next after impudent Spitamenes presented himself before me O Gods with what a violence did that cruel sight waken my resentments I felt my strength redoubled and leaping from my bed I ran to strangle that Paricide with my hands and without doubt in the fury that transported me I should have perished by his or should have made him run some hazard but that I was stopp'd by those women who having held me back with much adoe carried me by force and laid me again upon my bed Cruel Spitamenes was not at all moved at my action and being set down at a distance from me he gave ear a long time without reply to the reproaches and imprecations I vented against him after I had said all that rage could put into my mouth Perfect thy crime continued I thou murtherer stain'd with illustrious bloud and with bloud for which thou oughtest to have shed all that whichh runs in thine own veins send the disconsolate Hermione after her Father and her brothers piercet his heart an enemy to that
Parricide hand which but few dayes before thou joynedst to mine for a pledge of thy love and which thou gavest to poor Cradates for an assurance of thy fidelity since it is with this noble recompence thou hast re-paid the favours he did thee and with these gallant Characters that thou hast engraven in the memorie of mankind the alliance which thou madest with him spare not this remnant that is left and nourish not for thy ruin a serpent that will devour thee unless thou stiflest it know that thy life shall never be secure so long as Hermione is in the world and that she preserves hers onely to assault thine by all the most cruel wayes she can invent At this discourse disloyal Spitamenes fained to be touch'd with repentance and compassion and having looked a long time upon me without reply Hermione said he at last I am afflicted with thee for thy loss but for the conservation of my fortune and of my life it was necessary for me to seize upon Maracanda and though I was already advertised that thy Father had betrayed me and that he had already promised to deliver me up to Alexander I protest to thee that for thy take I would have pardoned him and that I would not have drawn my Sword against him if he had not laid his hand upon his first with an intention to have kill'd me since he could not give me up alive into the power of my merciless Enemy I contributed not to the death of thy Brothers but they themselves ran headlong upon the Arms of those that accompanied me However it were Hermione if Cradates was thy Father Spitamenes is thy Husband and thou art more nearly tied to me than ever thou wert to him our interests and our fortunes are henceforth inseparable and thou oughtest to become an Enemy to all those that were so to thy Husband The faithless Spitamenes spake on this manner and to jnstifie himself in some sort strove to blemish the memory of my Father by a horrible calumny but his innocence was too well known to me and I could no longer suffer the scandalous slanders of that disloyal wretch Ah! Traitour cried I Traitour a thousand times Traitour to Darius Traitour to Bessus Traitour to Alexander and most of all Traitour to the unfortunate Cradates and to his deplorable Family Spare at least the honour of them whose lives thou hast inhumanely destroyed and content thy self with murdering their bodies without murdering their Reputations in the grave our bloud never suffered any reproach of perfidiousness and all that ever it can apprehend is the having receiv'd faithless Spitamenes into a Race that till then was without any blemish but let the thunder of the Gods bury me with the rest of our poor Family rather than thou should'st ever see Hermione acknowledge thee for her Husband thou thy self shalt acknowledge her to be a revenging fury chain'd unto thy life by an unshaken resolution and which will either give thee thy death in the middest of a thousand Guards or receive her own from those abominable hands yet stain'd with that bloud to which thou wert so unworthily allied I said a great deal more to him with the same vehemence but he grew weary of hearing and went out of the Chamber telling me that his love made him pardon my being transported and that time would restore me reason and bring me comfort I continued many days in this condition disposing my self to live no further than I was forced by the urgent intreaties of many that loved me and testified much compassion of my misfortunes Spitamenes was peaceable Master of Maracanda where he had quartered most part of his men and where Alexander by reason of his weighty imployments otherwhere let him alone quietly for that time but he was not in the least degree master of my heart and notwithstanding all the industry he used to make me forget my resentments it was impossible for him to effect it and I had conceiv'd so violent a hatred against him that I could not consider him as other than the Butcherer not onely of Cradates and of my Brothers but even also of my self I fancied him always dyed with that bloud which had been so dear to me and I continually fram'd horrible and dreadfull Idea's of him to my self which waking and sleeping came eternally into my rememberance in short all that a most just anger can produce in a heart already prepossess'd with some aversion imprinted it self most deeply in mine and I then took a firm resolution to live for nothing else but to take revenge and to sacrifice to the Ghosts of my Father and Brothers that barbarous Fellow who had inhumanly massacred them before my eys He visited me every day but I still receiv'd him as a Dragon ready to devour me and if he forced me to speak to him I onely uttered such bloudy Reproaches that any other soul but his must needs have been touch'd by them and which so wicked an one as his would never have endured if it had not before been really touch'd with a violent passion I was a Prisoner though in appearance I was free and if I had not known how much I was observ'd and how carefully I was kept I should have endeavoured to get out of Maracanda and escape out of the hands of that barbarous man The Gods know and I call them to witness that though I had married Spitamenes without any affection I had done all I could after we were married to banish from my heart the love I bore to Alexander that I had done all that a discreet Woman could do to settle it intirely upon that disloyall man I could not hope to effect it easily but at least I had taken a strong resolution to die rather than suffer the smallest thought that could injure it I continued that design as long as he abstain'd from murdering my nearest Friends but after that he with their bloud had wash'd out all the Characters of that alliance which tied me to him I believ'd my self free from that engagement and afterward when my losses were no longer so fresh that time suffered me a little to unlose my thoughts from them the image of Alexander came again into my minde but it came in such a way as made me instantly observe the difference there was between him and Spitamenes I made no opposition against its return but drove out of my heart all the thoughts I had formerly had to love that Monster placing more noble and more glorious ones in their room O Gods cried I how beautifull is Virtue in respect of Vice and how lovely is my Alexander in respect of Spitamenes Depart from me O you unworthy rememberances of the most unworthy of all men and return to me O dear Idea's of my gallant Conquerour we may submit our selves to him without baseness since the whole earth submits it self with us and may kindle as much love in our heart for him as
eternal continuation of my miseries that I utterly lost all hope and courage Ah! Cruel cried I to Alexander who had turned his back and was going away stay but one minute and at least behold the death thou givest me though I was thine Enemies wife I never was thine Enemy all my friends have lost their lives for thy service and all the offence that I have done thee is that I freed the world of thy most treacherous most implacable Enemy If thou wilt fly from me with so much inhumanity fly from my heart which thou tyrannically hast usurped and restore me the liberty thou hast rob'd me of and not that which thou offerest me My crimes are not infectious as thou believest and if the Macedonians learn any thing by my example it shall be to prefer death before an unfortunate life and it shall be to love thee a thousand times more than their lives nay to love nothing in the world more than Alexander As I made an end of these words which were heard by no body that regarded them I fell in a swown in Theano's arms and they that were present at what I said believed without doubt that I was out of my wits hearing me speak such strange things and with so little discretion We were near unto a Citie called Edessa upon the bank of the River Ganges whither Theano seing me very ill found means to have me carried and got me lodg'd conveniently there I was taken with a violent Feaver and fell into a dangerous sickness while Alexander set forward toward the Indies Theano in her cloaths had quilted up some Jewels of reasonable good value which I had put into her hands when we came from Nicea and which by good fortune or for fear of their Commanders Catenes his Souldiers had not taken from us with them she at that time and afterwards procured mony enough to supply our necessities and during the whole course of my sickness she looked to me with so carefull and tender an affection and expressed so great a desire of my recovery that her consideration alone kept me from assisting my disease and made me take those remedies that were given me to regain my health I say her earnest entreaties accompanied with her tears which in regard of my Obligations to her I could not resist hindred me from contributing to my death and when I thought my sickness would save me that labour I found great consolations in that belief Now I shall die said I and by that welcom remedy shall free my self from Alexanders Tyranny that cruel man who despises and tramples me under his foot shall no longer have any power over me and death will deliver me now from his inhumanities yet will I return into the world to visite him again and my Ghost driven by a just desire of revenge shall follow him continually to sting him with remorse and vex him with reproches These were my hopes while I lay sick but at last I began to mend and was not a little troubled at my recovery When I was well again I frequented a society of women in that City who lived separated from the world and had dedicated themselves to the service of the goddess Cibele I found so much sweetness in their conversation and so much innocence in their life that I thought among them I might find some quietness of mind and some truce from the perâ—ections I received both from my love and from my conscience which did every where torment me with a cruel war With this hope I put my self amongst them and Theano with me taking their habit and embracing their manner of life and truly I was not utterly deceiv'd in my expectation their pleasing company diverted part of my sorrows and I received visible favours from the goddess whom I serv'd I remained there a whole year not without disquiets nor without love but yet with some extraordinarie firmness of mind which made me resist my afflictions more couragiously than in former times I enjoyed this little tranquillity till the news came to us that Alexander victorious over the Indies was returned to Susa where from all parts of the world he received homages not much short of adoration This news through the anger of the gods which my crime had stirred up against me with an irreconcileable hatred waken'd those passions with more cruelty than ever which before were in a kind of slumber I in that long absence had supported my misfortunes more patiently but at this return my hopes returned also as ridiculous as before and to fortifie my self in them the more I called to memorie the examples of all those who by long perseverance had at last conquered their ill fortune I resisted these troublesome sollicitations for two or three moneths and used all imaginable endeavours to banish Alexander out of my heart but when I found they were to no purpose and that by a cruel necessity I submitted to my pityless fate I gave way to my misfortune and took my leave of those sweet companions whose tranquility I began to disturb with my afflictions and to whom I was not tied for the remainder of my life by any vow or other engagement Before I took my journey I thought it best to disguise my sex to avoid those accidents it might be subject to and causing Theano to buy mans apparel and horses for us both we accoutred our selves and began our voyage At first I had much ado to endure the toilsomeness of travel but I hardned my self to it by little and little and the desires of my minde at last overcame the tenderness of my body It is neither necessary nor easie for me to entertain you with the particulars of our journey it was very long and had nothing in it considerable but when we were on our way to Susa we heard that the King was departed thence and that having defeated the Cosseans he was gone to Babylon We altered our Road with a purpose to follow him thither but within a few days after we received the onely news which remained for the conclusion of my fortune and that was the death of my adored Alexander After the Relation I have made to you 't is needless for me to weary you with my complaints the discourse of them would be troublesom and therefore I will tell you that I continued for many days void of Reason or understanding and when I came to my self again all that Theano could obtain of me was that I would prolong my life till we came to Alexanders Tomb upon which I vowed to sacrifice the miserable remainders of it I found some sweetness in this resolution and going forward with that Design after many days journeys I at last arrived at Babylon I stayed there for some time but could not obtain the satisfaction of seeing the Body of my dear Lord and Master which is kept locked up in a certain place of the Palace to which all access is forbidden by a great
the incensed Thalestris but though their strengths were imployed with some success all their perswasions were utterly fruitless and the Queen's wrath grew so enflamed by their hindrance of her intentions that she had much adoe to forbear discharging some part of her anger upon them These things were done so near Perdiccas his Camp that the noise made them instantly taken notice of and Cassander who was seldom from Orontes believing there was some fowl play offered to his friend and being ready Arm'd for some other design got hastily on horseback followed by a good number of his men and ran full speed toward Thalestris and Lysimachus crying out that they broak the Truce and that they deserved death Orontes who by the means of Arsaces and Lysimachus was beginning to retire toward the Camp strove in vain to stop him and Cassander seeing the Queen who with her sword up endeavoured to get from them that held her calling Orontes Traitour and Coward advanced toward her and without considering his odds laid on with his sword upon her cask with all his Force the Queen staggered at the blow and Cassander was going to second it when Arsaces fearing least he might kill her in his arms would hold her no longer and the impatient Thalestris whose anger needed not that new provocation to swell it to the height no sooner felt her self at liberty but she ran at Cassander with an action which made him grow pale and think already of retreating amongst his men when the Queen raising her self upon her stirrups struck such a weighty blow upon his Helmet that she sent him headlong to the ground After this action she turned her looks and cries again toward Orontes with more fierceness than before but they that had accompanied Cassander were beginning to bend their Arms against her and against Lysimachus who with his sword in his hand had placed himself by her side for her defence when Arsaces did all he could possibly to keep them from it and Orontes himself who was already a good way off faced about and drew his sword for the preservation of his Enemy But at the same time Seleucus came thither who had so great an Authority amongst those Souldiers that at Arsaces entreaty he made them hold and while they took up Cassander who was hardly come to himself he got Lysimachus to carry back the Amazon Queen All the credit he had with her was necessary to overcome her to that retreat yet she yielded to it at last when she saw her self in an impossibility to satisfie her revenge and seeking out her false Orontes with her eye Thou prolongest thy destiny but in vain cried she and if thou escapest me at the Battel I le seek thee in the most hidden places of all the world Lysimachus pulled her from thence at last and was constrained to accompany her without being able to finish his discourse with Arsaces This Valiant couple returned into the Camp and during the little way they had thither Lysimachus could not draw one reasonable word from Thalestris Since this sudden alteration of her humour she was hardly to be known her face was all on fire and her eyes seem'd to cast forth live sparks all her motions had a mixture of rage and furie and all her ordinary moderation had given place to most impetuous transports You have seen him said she at last to Lysimachus you have seen that Traitour whose quarrel you defended with so much Valour and so little justice and if his life were guiltless of infidelity perchance you would think him handsome enough to excuse some part of the passion a maid may have had for him She made a stop at these words to give Lysimachus leisure to deliver his approbation of what she said and within a while after going on with another tone How true and just are the gods said she and how well do they begin to perform their promise in bringing me this disloyal man whom I will sacrifice to the God of Love and to the God of Hospitality the Laws of both having been basely and unworthily violated by him they expect this reparation from me and my Traitour obstinate in his treachery brings me that head himself which I ought to have sought to the furthest end of the whole world With these and some other words she came into the Camp where she would not alight till she came to Oroondates his Tent. Oroondates since his recovery had left Polemon's house to the Ladies and Prince Oxyartes had presented him with a Tent the Rooms whereof were very spacious and convenient As soon as Thalestris was come into his Chamber Oroondates cried she that Valiant stranger that did so many admirable actions upon the bank of Euphrates against Lysimachus and his Companions and in our last fight against me and the rest of our party who do you think it should be but my perfidious Orontes the justice of the gods hath at last brought him to the foot of those Altars upon which he must be sacrificed Oroondates at first was surprised with this discourse but presently after Lysimachus having confirmed what the Queen had told him he admired the fantastical effects of Fortune and those strange events whereby she seems to make her self sport with our destenies He is with Perdiccas continued Thalestris my particular Enemy is among your Enemies and that monster of perfidiousness thinks himself not yet black enough with that he hath showed toward me unless to aggravate his crimes he embrace an unjust quarrel and take up Arms against the party of his Prince It has not pleased the Heavens that I should engage my self in this war without other interest than what I take in yours but they will have hatred and resentment execute part of that which honour and friendship made me undertake to serve you When Oroondates had replied to this discourse the Queen fell again to threats and pour'd forth the most violent and furious words against Orontes that her passion could put into her mouth Oroondates knowing her impetuous humour went not about to justifie Orontes to her so soon but giving way to her impatience he onely said that he hoped the success of that adventure would prove advantageous to her repose While he was in this entertainment with her the sorrowfull Demetrius wept at the River side over the Tombe of his deceased Hermione since the time he had been able to leave his bed that had been his usual imploiment he spent almost whole dayes there and as soon as the Sun began to cast his light upon the earth that desolate Prince whom his sorrows had made hardly to be known went forth of his Tent with a dejected countenance and a feeble pace and drawing near to those dear ashes paid them his homage and sought no consolation but in that mournfull exercise his tears made a stream which did almost mingle themselves with the waves of the River the embraces he gave to cold senceless stones would
and since I must give you account of those accidents of my life whereof you are ignorant and which are of much greater consequence than the last 't is best for me to relate them according to the order of time wherein they happen'd to me this reason makes me forbear the telling of you those things at first the recitall whereof must needs surprise you and that surprise will be no way the less pleasing by making them known to you in their due place in the story of my life Oroondates and the Amazon Queen were equally satisfied with this motion and being they had ardently desired the Continuation of Berenices recital the beginning whereof had been interrupted they prepared themselves to hearken to her with a marvellous attention Sister said the Prince you prevent the request I was about to make to you I assure my self it will not be tedious to this fair Queen and I have so great an interest in your affairs that it is not just I should be ignorant of them longer At these words they sate down all three upon a bed and the Princess of Scythia after having thought a while of what she had to say and indeavoured with her hand to cover a little blushing that came up into her face began her discourse in these terms The Continuation of the History of Berenice IN the first actions of my life which I recounted to you when I began my discourse before perchance you found nothing criminal but in these which I now am going to tell you you will finde something not altogether so innocent and 't is that confession I must make which calls blushes into my cheeks and which strikes me indeed with some shame and confusion not but that with a little indulgence they may be excused nor are they so black as to give you any occasion brother to disown me nor you fair Queen to repent of that affection wherewith you have honour'd me I have already acquainted you with the beginning of the King my father's love to the Princess Stratonice and of the persecutions I suffred from troublesom Arsacomes I believe you have not forgot the condition I left them in nor that wherein I was my self by the vexation I received from that insolent Prince of the Issedons The brother and the sister had made a very unequal progress in their designes and the Empire Stratonice had obtain'd over the King was not much less than my aversion to her brother We were upon these terms and liv'd with very different hopes and intentions when the Nomades and the Hyleans having taken Arms upon some slight pretences rose up in rebellion against the King slew all their Governours and arming all their Forces broke out into an open War and into the utmost Extremities The King who desired to stifle those Disorders in their birth sent Theodates Prince of the Sarmates against them with an Army of thirty thousand men judging that strength sufficient to stop their proceedings and chastise their temerity having a perfect knowledge of Theodates his valour prudence and fidelity Nor was he deceived in his opinion for within a short time after his departure he received news of the beginnings of his progress which certified him that in many encounters the rebels had all manner of disadvantages and 't was not long before he heard that they were absolutely defeated in a pitch'd battel and that the Army being victorious had lay'd siege already to some of their Towns but in the report of these things which came to Court they much extoll'd a certain stranger who having ingaged himself in that service out of affection to Theodates had shewn proofs of an admirable valour and had with his single person contributed more to our successes than whole Troops joyn'd together Theodates writ of him to the King with such praises as raised that man above humanity and his character of him was confirm'd by some Eye-witnesses who gain'd him a wondrous high place in the Kings esteem They told how in the battel he had twice sav'd Theodates his life and that having seen some of our Squadrons give ground which example struck a fear into those that follow'd them and like to have put them in a general Rout he ran to the head of them and snatching the formost Standard out of his hands that carry'd it spake to those affrighted Troops with so much Eloquence and efficacy that he got them to make a stand and having re-incourag'd them a little charg'd headlong into the middest of their Enemies with so great valour and success that he chang'd their fortune and brought the Victory alone to that side of the Battel That after that important day Theodates acknowledging how much he was indebted to him and how great service such a man was capable to do his Master had given him the command of some of his Forces which was void by the death of one of the principal Officers That within some days after being gone with those men to view a place of the Enemies he had found it in an ill condition to make defence and that laying hold of that opportunity with as much prudence as courage he had storm'd and taken it by force with a very inconsiderable loss that by these Actions and some others of this nature he had won such a Reputation among the Souldiers that they call'd every day for new occasions to fight provided they might be lead on by Arsaces At this name of Arsaces Oroondates sig'd and chang'd colour but he would not interrupt his sisters narration which she went on with in these words That war was ended in a short time with an entire glory to Theodates and those that had accompanied him but the valour of Arsaces had hasten'd the end of it with all the success that could be desired and we heard that that Valiant stranger having received eight thousand horse from Theodates had assaulted the Relicks of the Enemies Armies near the lake of Buges and had cut them in pieces with a general defeat and with a moderate loss on his side This fame of that strangers actions made the King extreamly desirous to see him and to tie him to his service by rewards equal to his deserts the whole Court longed not much less to have a sight of him and we were all satisfied quickly after when Theodates having settled those Provinces in good order reurned to Issedon by the Kings command and brought along with him that gallant man who was so much desired and whose fame had already produced very different effects in the Court I was with the King when Theodates came to kiss his hands and after that he had showed him such favours as were due to his quality and the merit of those services he had newly done Theodates presented Arsaces to him I had cast mine eyes upon him as soon as he was come into the room and quickly found cause enough in his person to fix them there without looking upon other objects I confess
I was surprised at his gracefull fashion and that if the Idea of the Prince my brother had not been present to my remembrance I should have believed I had never seen any body in the world that could dispute that advantage with him His stature was little different from yours and in the garb and liberty of your bodies there was a great resemblance he was a little browner than our Scythians who by reason of the coldness of their climate are fairer than other men yet had he a fresh smooth complexion all the lineaments of his face were merveilously well proportioned his eyes sparkling yet full of sweetness his hair black naturally curl'd and falling in great rings upon his shoulders his aspect noble and full of Majesty and all the motions of his body had an extraordinary comeliness He was then hardly twenty years old and 't was that early youth that wrought an admiration in all those that knew his prudence and that had seen him lead men to fight with such an experience as had not yet been found among the oldest Commanders I know not whither this little description will make me to be suspected of any thing but I am sure that before the end of my discourse you will confess this report of Arsaces may be made by the most indifferent persons The King who was already prepossessed with an exceeding high opinion of him beheld him with admiration and having given his eyes liberty to view a person so exactly handsome while Arsaces kissed his hands with much respect he embraced him with a kindness far above what a stranger as he was could probably have hop'd for When by most obliging words he had testified the knowledge he had of his vertue and the esteem he had of his person he asked him touching his Countrey and his fortune and then Arsaces after having pawsed a little to consult with his modesty Sir said he I was born in Bactria which is now under the Dominion of the Persians my Parents were of reasonable good birth but I left them as soon as I was able to ride on hors-back and seeking glory in the Wars and in forreign parts I have hitherto made those places my Countrey where I believed I might best find it Prince Theodates his goodness stay'd me in your Majesties service and the knowledge I since have had of the honour it is to serve you hath engaged me yet more powerfully in it You could not have light into any Countrey replied the King where your vertue should have been more cherish'd and valued than amongst us you have already found that glory you seek for and with it a Prince who will alwayes be ready to acknowledge the greatness of your deserts and the important services you have done him Arsaces made an answer full of submission and modesty and the King giving him occasion to speak gave him also an opportunity to let the Company see the quickness of his wit and the grace wherewith he expressed himself He spoke not the Scythian tongue perfectly but so well that there was nothing harsh in his pronunciation and was so ready in the Greek and many other Languages which are in use amongst us that his conversation was merveilously pleasing From that day the King began to be very liberal to him and gave him pensions able to maintain him in handsom equipage he received them without either greediness or disdain and if his growing fortune met some that envied it at first his vertue suffered them not to do so long Indeed he had not been many moneths in Court but he was both the admiration and the delight of it and his excellent qualities in a short time won him the love even of the roughest natures All the world was ravish'd with the gracefulness of his behaviour all the world was charm'd with the sweetnes of his wit and conversation all hearkened as to so many prodigies when there was any story of his warlike actions told by those that had seen him do them and generally every one considered as wonders the marks that appeared in him every day of the greatness of his courage of his goodness and of his natural generosity He was quickly in a condition to show them for the King who look'd upon him and admired him as the rest became in love with his vertue and desired to tie him to his service by all manner of obligations he observed something in his face and in all his actions that was so great and so far above other men that he felt himself forc'd by unknown reasons to set an extraordinary value on him and indeed he in a short time raised him to such imployments and Offices as other could neither obtain by birth nor by long services without a great deal of difficulty Arsaces abased not this good fortune and those dignities to which he saw himself called without suing for them puffed him not up nor made him prouder than before on the contrary his humour seem'd to be more sociable he served all those with freeness and humbleness that stood in any need of his power and credit and ran to meet those occasions they had to make use of him with such an eager desire to effect them as made the obligation a thousand times the more considerable his liberality was boundless and being far from enriching himself with what the King gave him he distributed it so profusely that his friends blamed him for it and the King himself was fain to complain of the contempt he show'd of his presents and of the little care he took to keep what came from him This reproach could not moderate Arsaces his liberality but it made him more circumspect in husbanding his favour and in avoiding noise or ostentation in his bounty Though none of his actions were guilty of the least blemish of pride yet as humble and submissive as he was to others he could never bend his mind to make any applications to Arsacomes who at that time next to the King was most considered of any man in the Kingdom and who was in a condition to build what fortunes he pleased and to overthrow those which were not yet well confirmed and but beginning to be establish'd as that of Arsaces Not but that Arsaces paid him civilly whatsoever he thought due to a man that was esteemed by the King and that was Arsacomes his quality but he could not consider him as did those slaves of favour who having an aim very distant and thoughts very different from his sought their advancement of him by base servile compliances to which he would never stoop and besides these reasons he had particular and more powerfull ones which opposed his giving him that observance he expected from all others Arsacomes who saw that scorn in him and who besides feared least that budding fortune should at last o're-top his and become powerfull enough to ruine it strove to hinder its groweth and often told the King that it was something dangerous so
death of Prince Artaxerxes He looked earnestly upon him without being able to open his mouth and in the mean time Arsaces turning toward the rest and stretching forth his arms to them What Unkle said he to Prince Oxyartes and you Cousin to old Artabasus will not you know me neither Oxyartes and Artabasus received his kindness but with such a confusion as kept them still as mute and as wonder-strucken as before At last Prince Oroondates broke silence and greedily devouring Arsaces with his eyes If I believed said he that the dead could recover the lives which they have lost and if with most part of the world I did not know that Prince Artaxerxes was killed in the battel of Selena I should infallibly take you for him you have all his features you have all his actions and 't is by your Valour that I should know him better than by all these marks but alas that happiness would be so great that I dare not so much as raise a thought to it Artaxerxes was not slain replied Arsaces and he had a destiny in Scythia directly like to that you had in Persia I have concealed my self from the whole world except my Princess onely and 't is by her favour I hope to recover the acquaintance of my dear Oroondates He accompanied these words with such close tender embraces that Oroondates as much surprised and besides himself as he was could no longer be ignorant that 't was he his heart show'd him his dear Artaxerxes and after his extraordinary agitations were a little past over he became certainly confirm'd of that strange truth As soon as that belief was settled in his minde it produced such violent effects there that he was like to have died with an excess of contentment his cheeks were presently bath'd in a stream of tears and his joy broke forth into such passionate expressions that though the by-standers had not been at all concerned they could not but have shed tears at such a moving spectacle He hugged him in his arms almost an hour together without affording a share in him to any body and ever and anon crying out O Artaxerxes O my dearest brother without being able to bring forth any other word distinctly all language is too weak to represent a part of what passed in this encounter never had man been so passionately beloved of another as Artaxerxes of Prince Oroondates unless Artaxerxes himself disputed with him for that advantage and never had real death been deplored with so many tears as the supposed death of Artaxerxes had been by his dear Oroondates nor did the knowledge of his being alive transport him unto less extreamities for all that a most violent passion can produce appeared at the highest pitch in that encounter At last Oxyartes and Artabasus required their part in Artaxerxes and it was just they should possess him for some few moments scarce could they obtain it of Oroondates but they pulled him out of his arms and Lysimachus who besides the acquaintance he had with him as Arsaces had so many other reasons to consider him particularly with ardent entreaties begged the continuation of that friendship which Arsaces had made him hope he should enjoy Araxes who had his share of gladness as well as the rest came and cast himself at his feet and received also his part in those charming endearments wherewith the Prince of Persia won the hearts of the most barbarous persons all the company remained a long time before they could utter any thing that hung together but when they began to be a little settled Oroondates who could not get out of his astonishment and who through the excess of his joy could hardly tell what he did nor where he was at last recalled past-actions into his memorie and looking upon Arsaces with eyes that were full of love What cried he was that bloud then which my sacrilegious hand hath shed the bloud of dearest Artaxerxes And was it against my dear Oroondates added Arsaces that I made such cruel resolutions O Gods continued Oroondates raising his voice how many blessings do you send me all at once you think it not enough to give me Artaxerxes but you also restore me Statira whom I had lost and since it was onely of Artaxerxes that I was jealous and that 't was onely to Artaxerxes that Statira granted those favours which drove me into despair Statira is innocent Statira is not inconstant This last discovery put the two Princes into new raptures of joy which had like to have been fatal to them and Arsaces who but a few minutes before came into the Chamber with such cruel suspicions against Berenice could not be cured of them without falling into inconceiveable extasies How said he quite besides himself with joy has not Berenice forsaken me then and was it but to her brother she gave those mistaken embraces which have cost us so much bloud and which have produced such strange effects Ah! Madam pursued he turning toward the Princess and doing his endeavours to throw himself at her feet what shall guilty Arsaces do to obtain pardon for so many offences and by what bloud can he be able to wash them out if they have already made him spend the best part of his He would have said more and strove to have begged forgiveness on his knees but the Princess would not suffer him and forcing modesty to embrace him in her turn Your faults answered she are very pardonable and instead of punishing them I acknowledge them as the most powerfull marks you could have given me of your affection Ah! Sister added Prince Oroondates how easily do I now excuse the love you bore to that Arsaces whom I so much hated and how well are you beloved of the Gods in that they have reserved for you the greatest and most accomplish'd Prince that ever was They would all have enlarged themselves further in this discourse if they had not found that Prince Artaxerxes was extraordinarily ill with those great disorders and therefore it was necessary to remit the continuation of it that he might be got to bed again but the two Princes could never resolve to part so soon and Arsaces his bed was fain to be brought into Oroondates his Chamber where it was presently made ready and where they laid him with a purpose to let him rest and to labour for his recovery with a care very different from that they took before for the health of a generous Enemy The end of the sixth Book and of the third Part of Cassandra The fourth Part of CASSANDRA The Authour to CALISTA IT is but reason Calista that I should watch for you all manner of ways and that some part of these nights you make me pass without sleep should be bestowed on this imployment which you have ordained me I obey you without repugnance both because in pleasing you I meet my satisfaction and my perfect glory and because I indeed finde some pleasure in entertaining my self
it be so replied Agis I 'le out-brave all the obstacles that threaten me and all the powers of the world are not able to do me any harm while Deidamia is on my side but Madam remember the promise you make me and believe that in the extreamity I shall demand extream proofs of your affection I was going to answer when our conversation was interrupted by certain Ladies who came to visite me We had many other discourses upon that subject and in the mean time Agis every day found new confirmations of his fears in the Kings countenance I was little less afflicted at it than he but I dissembled part of my sadness that I might not redouble his we continued many dayes in an uncertainty full of apprehension but at last our misfortune was but too plainly discovered to me and the King being one day come into my Chamber took me alone with him into my closset where he spoke to me on this manner Deidamia when I commanded you to love the King of the Lacedemonians I was obliged to do so by many considerations which rendred that Alliance advantageous to us and truly our obligations to that Prince and the good qualities of his person disposed me towards it with joy but our condition is changed and we had not then more reasons to approve that match than we have now to disapprove it In short for many causes which are above your age and knowledge and wherein my whole Kingdom is concerned Agis cannot be your husband and you ought betimes to withdraw your self from that affection you bear him to dispose of it in favour of some other whom the Maxims of State shall make choice of for you You know that the daughters of sovereign Princes marry for other considerations than those of love and you also know too well what resignation you ow your Father to make any difficulty of being guided by his will I was half dead before the King had ended this discourse and he easily saw by my face into what perplexity I was reduced I had neither strength to speak nor confidence to look upon him and he had so much patience as to wait till I was resettled that he might receive my answer but when he had vainly continued a long time in that expectation and that he saw me still keep a silence full of trouble and confusion speak Deidamia pursued he and give me some assurance of your intention to obey me without repugnance I was so struck and cast down that I knew not which way I should be able to reply yet did I use my utmost endeavours to recover a little courage and recollecting my spirits to explain my self Sir said I what qualities soever there are in the person of the King of the Lacedemonians and what service soever he has done this State I had not loved him if you had not injoyned me nor should I have licenced my self to an affection which your command alone can authorise 'T was out of obedience onely that I cast my eyes on the good will he bore me and I have so religiously observed it that your Majesty could not desire more acknowledgement from me nor more affection to our deliverer than I have really given him 't is true Sir that I have loved him and I love him still by your orders by a most powerfull inclination and by a just knowledge both of his worth and of what he has done for us but my resignation to your will has rooted these thoughts too deeply in my heart to be ever able to pluck them thence and I was too ready to comply with your desires to love Agis with a light affection or with such an one as can be taken off and placed upon another that is a thing Sir whereof I feel my self no way capable and if in this Declaration your Majesty find any matter of complaint against your daughter be pleased to consider 't is but for having been too obedient that I now am disobedient The King heark'ned impatiently to this reply and was exceedingly ill satisfied with it yet being he had not doubted but he should meet with some difficulty in my mind and that he found a great deal of reason in my words he would not fall into passion but contented himself with saying What Deidamia will you persist then whether I will or no in an affection which is disadvantageous to you and which I disapprove My affection to Agis answered I shall never make me do any thing that can bring you shame or that can justly give you sorrow but it shall alwayes be strong enough to keep me from forgetting him and from giving that to another which he has so well deserved and which he holds onely from your self You shall have a little time replied the King to perswade your self to follow my commands in which interim see that you resolve to do so and let me find no more resistance in you upon pain of a displeasure which would not be to your advantage The King after these bitter words stay'd not for an answer but going out of my closset left me in the saddest condition I had ever been in all my life I loved Agis indeed equally to my self and this unjust forbidding me to love him appear'd so cruel to me and so tyrannical that it left me neither sence nor words but to accuse the King of injustice and of ingratitude My tears lent me a great relief in that occasion and 't was by them I began to complain of the violence that was used upon me two of my maids to whom I trusted my most secret thoughts and which are these you now see with me kept me company in that sad imployment and when I was the most deeply buried in it unfortunate Agis came into my Chamber The entrance of it was alwayes free to him and notwithstanding the severe resolution that was taken against him they still remembred both his quality and what he had done for Epirus and therefore in appearance he received the same usage he was wont to have As soon as ever I saw him my griefs were sensibly redoubled and I could not hinder my self from sending forth a cry wherein he instantly sound the cruel confirmation of his suspicious he made a stop at my Chamber dore with his arms across and seeing me all in tears upon my bed and these two wenches busied in comforting me he was like to have lost both his strength and his understanding and all he could do in that condition was to lean against the wall to keep him up and cast looks at me in that sorrowfull posture which made me almost die with grief and with compassion Well Madam cried he after a long silence is it certain then that I am ruined I had not the power to answer him at first but when he had repeated these words two or three several times It is true said I my dearest Agis I am forbidden to love you but 't is also true that
I live in Scythia as a man to whom the misfortunes of Persia were things indifferent while Alexander layes our Countrey desolate usurps our Territories and persecutes our House Ah Arsaces Arsaces remember that thou art still Artaxerxes cast off this personage which love has disguised thee with to take up that again to which thine honour recals thee and consider that Berenice her self would not esteem thee if thou couldst linger out thy life so shamefully at her feet I ne're stood wavering about what resolution I ought to take and how great violence soever my love made me feel at that separation to which I was to dispose my selfe the care of my Reputation and the tender affection I bore to my own bloud made me master of that passion which fought against my duty with its utmost power When once my honour is satisfied said I wee 'l suffer love to work and I may better serve Berenice when I shall have freed my self from a shame that would render me unworthy of her when we have repell'd that Enemy who equally destroys my fathers Kingdoms and my hopes wee 'l return into Scythia and with a freer confidence demand that of Berenice which we should not dare to aspire to being depressed with infamy This was my final determination and I imparted it to Theodates who was most sensibly concern'd in my afflictions and who resolv'd to keep me company in that Voyage and to follow my fortune over all the world Though he comply'd exceedingly with my passion he could not disapprove my resolution and he confessed that in the extremity our House was reduc'd to I could not give my self over to my love without blasting my memory for ever with an irreparable want of spirit My departure therefore was concluded in spite of all the oppositions of my love but yet I was not a little troubled to leave Scythia without giving my Princess some knowledge of it I contriv'd several ways in my imagination but my fortune took care of it and 't was about that time my little Picture spoke for me and discover'd that unto my Princess which my respect had forc'd me to conceal I am not able to describe at length with what a grief I was afflicted when I receiv'd the sentence of my condemnation by the mouth of Cyllenia notwithstanding the astonishment that appeared in my face I did not think it very strange and I had ever believ'd that the Princess would not without displeasure receive a declaration of love from a man unknown as Arsaces who passed in the Court of Scythia but for a private person but I was extremely griev'd I had offended her by my presumption and that at my departure I should carry away with me the sorrow of having incurr'd her anger I had a desire she should believe I knew Berenices merit too well to permit her to be serv'd by a man of obscure birth and I judg'd that peradventure she would finde less ground of offence in the passion of the Prince of Persia than in that of an unknown Arsaces this was the reason that made me demand that audience by Cyllenia which I had so much ado to obtain and which I cover'd with other pretences than those of my love knowing very well that without entertaining the Princess with it I by the discourse I had to make might blot out part of the injury I had done her I le not speak a word to her of my love said I to my self nor is it necessary since she is well enough instructed in that already that perhaps I may get her to approve it by the example and by the remembrance of Oroondates and when I shall joyn the intercession of that Friend to the knowledge of my quality I may perchance seem less faulty in my Princesses opinion 'T was upon this hope I pressed the demand I had made unto Cyllenia and when I had obtain'd the favour I desir'd I came into the Garden after I had premeditated what I would say and how I would behave my self Here Arsaces making a little pause Oroondates told him where his sisters recital had been interrupted and then Arsaces went on with it on this manner Since my Princess has told you the first words of our conversation it will suffice me to let you know the rest After that by her command I was risen from my knee I fixt my Eyes upon her face and though she out of resentment turn'd away hers from me I forbore not to speak to her in these terms I should not have deferr'd to obey you Madam but should have left a Countrey in which you no longer behold me but with indignation if I could have done it without deceiving a person who heretofore was worthy of your friendship and who honour'd me particularly with his I have taken the charge upon me to let you know what is become of him and to draw you by the relation of his Adventures out of a great many discontents wherein the ignorance of them may have retain'd you But before I tell you the name of that illustrious person be pleased Madam to behold a pledge he gave me of his friendship and perhaps the sight of it will prepare you to lend more credit to my discourse At these words Brother I shew'd her a Ring which you had bestow'd upon me and which you had received from her self It was a stone of very great price and luster upon which two hearts were ingraven tied together many several ways with certain bands and in the Greek Tongue this word Inseparable The Princess struggled with her anger to cast her Eyes upon that Ring and she no sooner saw it but she knew it immediately Ah! Arsaces said she this Ring was the Prince my Brothers Yes Madam reply'd I and 't was from him that I receiv'd it O Gods cry'd the Princess in what part of the world was it you knew him and what news do you bring me of him I can give you a very particular account pursued I if you will allow me a favourable hearing I shall hearken diligently to you without doubt said Berenice and you cannot ingage my attention by a more pleasing Entertainment nor by any wherein I can have a greater interest O my dearest Brother continued she with a transport of affection what Province can retain you now and how great is your inhumanity in absenting your self so long from those to whom your absence is a death After this short Exclamation she disposed her self to hear me and to satisfie her Expectation began thus Before I tell you Madam in what place I had the honour to be known to Prince Oroondates you will give me leave omitting what concerns my self till the end of my narration to entertain you with his most important Adventures and to make you acquainted with passages whose recital without doubt will not be unpleasing to you Then I began to relate your first Encounter with the Queens and Princesses of Persia in that Tent where
you sav'd them from the violence of the Scythians I told her the birth of your affection the Encounter you had with Prince Artaxerxes in the same occasion your generous usage of him and the discourse that passed between you your parting and your particular thoughts till you dis-incamped and re-passed the Araxis Having instructed her in the cause of your departure which till then she had been ignorant of I related your Voyage into Persia your gallant entry into the Court how you made your self remarkable in the courses by dismounting so many of the most noted Persians and how under the name of Orontes you were known again by all Darius his family for their valiant Deliverer but I inlarg'd my self more particularly than in all the rest upon the passages between you and Prince Artaxerxes and desiring to work some esteem and some affection in Berenice toward that Prince I forgot modesty to speak things to his advantage the recital whereof would have been very unseemly in my mouth if love had not excused me I heigthen'd the proofs he gave you of his friendship in terms that might make him far more amiable than he is and which caused the Princess to interrupt me saying What Arsaces was he whom you describe to be so obliging and so perfect a friend to my brother the same Prince that was slain in the Battel of Selena Even he himself replied I but make no reckoning of these his first Actions since in his last you without doubt will have more cause to think well of him or at least to abate part of that hatred you bear his family Ah! said the Princess how much am I afflicted for him and how much you would have oblig'd me Arsaces if you had spared me the grief I feel for his untimely death After these words I prosecuted my Narration but I did so exaggerate the affection wherewith Artaxerxes receiv'd the discovery of Orontes to be Oroondates the passion wherewith he sollicited his sister in his behalf the care he took to favour him in his love all manner of ways and in short the last proofs he gave him of his affection as well in contesting with him about chusing sides as in what he did and suffer'd for his consideration at the Battel that when I came to make the Relation of his Death the Princess prepossessed with the impressions I had given her could not forbear to shew how sensible she was of it and looking upon me with Eyes all drown'd in tears which a generous compassion made her shed Ah! Arsaces said she how cruell you are in having given me so great an affection fora Prince whom you meant to kill I would it pleased the Gods he were alive and that Oroondates by a good part of his Dominions and even by a good part of my bloud were able to requite his obligations to him He was resolv'd Madam replied I coldly to give him a more glorious recompence and if you will give me leave I le tell you Madam 't was by the glory of serving the Princess Berenice he intended to repay Artaxerxes for the good offices he had done him to Statira 'T was Artaxerxes Madam whom Oroondates had destin'd for you and if that poor Prince had been so happy to make himself worthy of you 't was by the hope of that double Alliance he aim'd to settle peace between your fathers How often did that Prince flatter'd by the hopes he gave him and in love with you already by the description Araxes made press Oroondates to seek some way with him for the attaining of that happiness he had propounded and would have resolv'd to come disguised into your Country if he could have forsaken Oroondates in affairs wherein he believ'd himself necessary to him Oroondates is now with Darius belov'd of his Princess and in a condition which would not be miserable if he were not mortally afflicted for the loss of his dear friend and brother He was slain poor Prince but his fate is too happy and too glorious since the recital of his Death has drawn tears from your fair Eyes in spite of the hatred between your families he was slain because the Gods knew that perhaps he was not worthy to live for you and that you would have condemn'd both the intention of the Prince your brother and the presumption of Artaxerxes His Estate is a thousand times more fortunate by being dead in such a condition as makes you to esteem his memory and to bestow those tears out of your compassion for his loss than if he had died guilty in your opinion or if he had died for the expiation of such a fault as that of Arsaces Let 's not talk of the fault of Arsaces said the Princess interrupting me it has nothing to do with the fortune of Artaxerxes for if that lovely Prince had had those thoughts for me which my brother would have infused into him he had been guilty of no other fault but of having had too great a compliance for a friend and of having blindly given his affections to a Princess that had not deserv'd them If I believ'd Madam replied I very glad to see her brought to the point I desir'd that you really had those inclinations towards Artaxerxes which you express without doubt I should comfort the trouble his death hath caused in you and should make his destiny so fortunate that the most happy persons in the world should have reason to envy it What consolation can you give said the Princess for losses that are irreparable and if you should tell me that my brothers fortune is at the highest point he ever could have hoped what will that alter this poor Princes condition since in fine he is dead and that our wishes cannot call him back into the world again At these words I took courage and raising the tone of my voice which my passion did extremely animate But if Artaxerxes should be alive said I if he should be in Scythia if he should have seen you if he should have adored you and did adore you still with passions a thousand times more violent than those the Prince your brother indeavoured to inspire him with to what punishment would you condemn his presumption Berenice astonish'd at this discourse look'd upon me without being able to reply but I had not the power to conceal my self any longer and taking my time to fall at her feet while she was in that trouble Behold him Madam continued I behold him that happy and that miserable Prince whose death has touch'd you and whose life has displeased you either cease to hate Arsaces or else cease to love Artaxerxes the one cannot be innocent so long as the other is guilty and sure the Gods did not save an innocent Artaxerxes to make of him a guilty Arsaces If Arsaces his passion has offended you that of Artaxerxes is supported with the friendship with the assistance and with the inspirations of Oroondates repay me some
Alexanders and if he had known me to be Darius his son my captivitie would certainly have been as long as my life In these considerations all I could do was to imploy all my courage to take a little patience and hope that the Gods who had then declar'd themselves Enemies to our house would mitigate their anger and lessen the hatred they expressed against Darius his miserable family 'T was in that place dear friends I lingred out my tedious daies while you were fighting for my interests and 't was in that Prison I saw a whole year run out which seem'd longer to me than all the rest of my life O Darius cried I often by what a strange disaster art thou abandon'd by thy son in thy cruell misfortunes wretched man that he is he can give thee no manner of assistance but is reduced to serve thee onely with his wishes while Oroondates fights without question by thy side and ingages himself in thy miseries with more affection than he could in what most nearly concern'd himself O my dearest brother continued I why am I not with you now and why can I not at least keep you company in those dangers you so nobly run into for my sake From these thoughts which my dutie inspired me with I fell into those my love suggested and out of the grief which was caused in me by the former into the rage occasioned by the later But shall I never see you again Berenice cried I quite transported and will not the Gods who for some offences are exasperated against the House of Persia be contented that I lose my inheritance that I lose my nearest friends that I lose the King my father and that I lose mine honour with them unless I lose Berenice also I liv'd on this manner buried in the depth of my sorrows when by the report of them that kept me they receiv'd a most intolerable surchage They told me news of poor Darius but alas the saddest that yet had come unto mine ear I heard that having march'd from Babylon with three hundred thousand fighting men he had given Alexander Battel near Arbella with the same success as he in the two former ones that he had lost the greatest part of his men and with them the hope of maintaining his Dominions being reduc'd to seek his safetie in a sad Retreat with a very small remnant of his forces that it was believ'd he had taken the way toward Media but in so weak a condition that no body thought he ever would be able to raise a sufficient power to dispute the Empire of Asia any longer against Alexander Oh Brother how infinitely did this wofull news torment me and how great need I had of all my courage to keep me from sinking under so heavie an affliction O Darius cried I why can I not be with thee in thy flight at least since I could not accompany thee in the Battel I would strive to comfort thee in thy misfortunes and not having been able to fight for the conservation of thy Empire I would fight at least for the safety of thy person Then Brother as all fatal objects represented themselves to my remembrance I was afraid least you should be in the number of those whom Alexanders happie destinie had caused to fall under the Macedonian Armies and in this thought after having given you a floud of tears I wish'd with all my heart to have been in your place to have receiv'd your wounds and to have contributed to the preservation of your life by the loss of mine own I should never have done if I should relate all my discontents at large but I le shorten the recital of them as much as possibly I can A whole year was already run out from the day that I was taken when both in the face and Actions of the Captain of the Castle who was the chief Commander of those that had me in custody I perceiv'd an extraordinary affection and a very great compassion of my misfortunes He naturally had a love to virtue and had resisted those inclinations out of a sense of his dutie to Arimbas but in the end having seen how unjustly he detain'd me and having found something in my person which he thought worthie of his affection he resolv'd to make use of his power for my deliverance believing he should not be very faultie in giving a man his libertie from whom it had not been taken by any right of War With this design coming to me one day when I was extremely dejected by the remembrance of our last losses Sir said he to me comfort your self your Captivitie shall not be much longer and your virtue has found a person amongst us who both can discern it and will hazard himself to serve it Though I was exceedingly surprised at this discourse I could not suspect that man of any ill design and judging that my condition could not be worse than it was already I believ'd I ought not to neglect any way that might be for the recovering of my libertie O Criton answered I how mercifull you will be if you use your indeavours to help me both Gods and men will recompence your goodness and I am of such qualitie that I dare say your condition will be better with me than with Arimbas Depend upon the assurance I give you replied Criton that you shall not be long a Prisoner and trust to me for the management of the business I will trust you alwaies said I both with my life and libertie and I protest to you that I would not expose you to any danger for their conservation if in the present estate of my affairs my eternal shame were not link'd to my captivity Criton would hold no longer discourse with me at that time for fear of giving some suspicion of his design but within a few daies after he effected it very happily and having made those of my Guard drunk whom he had least confidence in when they were fast asleep he came with the rest into my chamber in the dead of night and bringing Arms for me and for the two Scythians that serv'd me he took the Keies of the Castle and let us out without any difficultie then getting upon good Horses which he had caused to be held in a readiness about a hundred paces from the Gate he resolv'd to follow my fortune having by that Action lost all hope of favour with Arimbas When I saw my self at libertie I felt all the joy my sad condition could be capable of and receiv'd a sweet consolation by the hope I had that I should give my father the last assistance he could hope for from his son in the downfall of his House I promised Criton that I would not be ingratefull for the good office he had done me and that I would reward him so well for it that he never should have occasion to repent himself We took our Journey toward Media whither they said Darius was retreated and
I obey'd her punctually and in the sad passages of my Narration I saw her so nearly touch'd that I thereby receiv'd no light marks of that affection which from thence forward was to make up my whole fortune and be to me in the stead of Parents of Empires and of whatsoever the Anger of Heaven had taken from me Arsaces was in this part of his story when the Princess Berenice accompanied with Apamia and Cleone came into the chamber They that kept the door of the Tent knew very well that Princess was not comprehended in the Order which had been given them and of those three persons there was not one that could be thought unfit to hear Arsaces his discourse As soon as they entred the Princes who were sitting by Arsaces his bed-side rose up to salute them and the two wounded ones receiv'd them with a great deal of joy the motions wherof nevertheless were a little different Arsaces could not see his Princess without some inward alteration or rather without some kinde of transport and Berenice could not behold Arsaces in a much better state of health than she had hoped for in so short a time without shewing some signs of such a contentment as a bare good will is not able to produce When she had likewise receiv'd an assurance from the Princes mouths of the amendment of their wounds she sate down and Apamia and Cleone with her upon seats that were brought them Berenice was going to fall into some discourse when the Prince her brother not being willing to be diverted from their former entertainment opposed her intention Sister said he content your self that the troublesom passage you so much apprehended has been related in your absence and that we have heard you have lov'd without your being put to the pain to tell it us Fear not sister continued he seeing Berenices face ore-spread at these words with a glowing colour you would have more cause to blush if one could reproach you with having been so blinde as not to know the admirable qualities of this Prince with having been ingratefull for the obligations we have to him and in short with having been able to see and know Artaxerxes without loving him Do not hinder us from hearing the rest of his Adventures and hearken to the share you have in them without interrupting us Arsaces accompanied these words of Oroondates with a most humble and beseeching look which seem'd to beg pardon of his Princess for the confession he had made to the company of the affection she bore him and seeing that they were all settled again in silence and that they disposed themselves to attention he went on thus with his discourse The end of the second Book CASSANDRA The fourth Part. The third Book IT is true my fairest Princess that being oblig'd to this Recital by the command of my dear Brother I have declared to this illustrious company the testimonies you gave me of your affection but they are not ignorant that 't was to the remembrance of Oroondates you granted what could never be due to the services or person of Artaxerxes and that your inclination to a Brother so worthy of your love made you look upon the passion of his dear friend and brother more advantageously than you would have done upon that of the Prince of Persia The signs I receiv'd of the continuance of my Princesses good will pursued Arsaces turning toward Oroondates and the rest of the company were so precious to me that I really believ'd I had no reason to complain against heaven which did so fully recompence me for the loss of those Empires it had depriv'd me of and being by my Princesses orders retired with this knowledge to the lodgings that were appointed for me in the Palace I imploy'd the rest of that day considering in that the greatness from whence I was fallen had not in its most pompous lustre had any thing comparable to my present felicity It belongs to none but the Gods said I to do miraculous Actions and as great and powerfull as they are they could not make me amends for the greatness of my losses but by the greatness of that fortune to which they now have raised me having taken from me whatsoever they could take away they give me whatsoever they could give me of most great and of most beautifull and in short they give me all that I could desire and more than I could lawfully hope for let them bestow the Empires of Asia and of Europe on whom they please provided they leave but Berenice to fortunate Arsaces he never will accuse them of injustice but will without envy behold the absolute Authority of those Masters of the whole Earth These really were my thoughts and Fortune who by such glorious tokens made me believe she meant to declare her self in my favour forsook me not in those beginnings but made all things contribute to the happiness she had procured me That service I had done the King finding him prepossessed with some good opinion of me and with some affection to me wrought presently the most powerfull effect one could have hoped for by it from the most gratefull Prince in the world and if at my former Voyage I had been held in some consideration at Court this last Action added to the inclination which the King had already toward me raised me there to such a credit that to represent it to you in a few words I may truly say that within one moneth Arsacomes had no advantage over me and had it not been for the power of the Queen I should without dispute have held the first place in the Kings esteem and affection 'T is true I labour'd not to make my self great by Offices and imployments for having thoughts very far distant from those I was satisfied with causing that to be given to others as much as I could without abusing the Kings favour towards me which men who had been slaves to an Ambition different from mine would perchance have kept for their own selves This manner of carriage added to the good fortune I had at that time gain'd me a reasonable good number of friends in the Court and I did so little trespass upon their friendship or upon the compliance which the estate of my condition oblig'd them to render me that amongst them all I never observ'd any one to grow cold toward me or discontented Arsacomes envied my fortune but he durst not cross it openly remembring that he was indebted to me for his life and the Queen his sister who had the same obligation and who was an extreme cunning and politick Princess would not thwart the Kings inclinations which she knew to be very potent toward me As Arsacomes his envy of me was nourish'd in him by certain considerations so my aversion to him was increased by divers others and though I could not love him because he was my Rival and a Rival very troublesome to my Princess yet durst I not
of my Discontents but the image of my Princess was ever present to my remembrance and all the joy I could tast by my Victory was strongly moderated by my trouble for her absence I had no body with me to whom I durst impart my thoughts and though I knew the affection of Criton who had not forsaken me and that I had a great deal of confidence in some servants I had received from Theodates yet had I not enough in either to acquaint them with my love or with my quality for those were secrets of too great importance to declare them to any body but Theodates and Cyllenia Yet had I then a fair occasion to write to my Princess and being oblig'd to give the King an Account of the happy issue of that Battel and of the condition of our affairs in that Province I would not give that Commission but to one of those faithfull servants Theodates had put to me and having commanded him not to deliver the Letter I wrote to that dear friend till he were alone with him I seal'd up that to my Princess within it having had triall enough of that mans affection to trust him as far as that came to I writ our Victory to the King in a few words having given the Messenger instructions to inform him more at large and sent nothing to Theodates but new Protestations of friendship and Recommendations of my fortune but the Letter to my Princess if I can remember it was in these terms Arsaces to the Princess Berenice TO burn for you to be at so great a distance from you and to fear incessantly to lose you do you think fair Princess that these are light afflictions to poor Arsaces and that his love his absence and his apprehensions are not capable to give him that death which he has not found amongst your Enemies swords because your will ordained him to avoid it For love the Gods forbid I should complain of it it does and will ever make my most glorious condition for absence my duty obliges me to bear it and it is by serving her father that I ought to make my self worthy of my Princess but my fear hath something in it more cruell and if I could be secure against the misfortunes I apprehend I should indure the rest of my torments with more courage I do not doubt dear Princess of the constancy of your minde but I dread strong persecutions I dread a sovereign Authority and I dread the fortune of Arsaces yet is it altered since it depended onely upon you and I have had nothing at all to do with chance since you were the maker of my destiny I expect a happy one from your goodness and it is out of that hope I will remember you have imposed a command of living and of returning upon your faithfull Arsaces I dispatch'd this Messenger when I had given him such instructions as were necessary and a few days after made the Army dis-incamp and we march'd in pursuit of Amasis to reduce that Province under the Kings obedience but we were stopt at the first Towns we came to and all those that had never so little strength indured the Siege with marvellous obstinacy That Resistance protracted the War and kept us all that Summer in the Province of the Tauro-Scythians while in that of the Agatirsians Amasis made up an Army partly with the broken Forces he had left partly with new Troops levied in those revolted Countries We were besieging Bursia when the Messenger I had sent to Issedon came back to us and brought me Answers of the Letters he had carried The King wrote to me with praises able to have glutted the Ambition of the most vain-glorious man in the world and promised me Recompences infinitely above all I could deserve Theodates gave me confirmations of his affection in the most obliging terms that could be invented assur'd me of the continuation of his care and comforted me with a certainty of my Princesses perseverance and of the little fruit Arsacomes reap'd by all his industry but 't was Berenices Letter that caused my impatiency and opening it when I had kissed it a thousand times I with incredible transports of joy read these words The Princess Berenice to Arsaces IF you love me if you are absent and if you be in fear for me you suffer nothing Arsaces which I do not suffer as well as you and I may truly protest that I am not exempt from any of those disquiets which my affection the want of your company and the fear I am in for you can make me feel In this 't here is a perfect conformity between us I cannot condemn an affection which I have conceived for him who of all men living is most worthy of it bear your absence out of the same considerations that make you indure mine but I know not how to defend myself against the fear of losing you in those dangers into which you too lightly precipitate your self Secure me I pray you against this apprehension if you will have me secure you against yours and think of bringing me home Arsaces if you would finde Berenice again in the same condition wherein you left her My joy was excessive at the reading of this Letter but scarce had I begun to express it as much as I might in the presence of that man when he added astonishment to joy by the news he brought He told me that Prince Oroondates contrary to the expectation of all Scythia was come back to Issedon and that when the whole Court was going to testifie their gladness for a Return so ardently desir'd the King his father being of another minde had receiv'd him as a mortal Enemy and had caused him to be imprison'd in the Castle of Serey where he was kept under a very strict and severe Guard O Brother what motions did this discourse stir up within me and in what manner did I receive this news of my dear Brother of whose life I had been uncertan I abhorr'd the cruelty of the King your Father but was comforted for your imprisonment by the assurance that you were alive it pleased me a great deal better to hear you were Prisoner to the King your father than to have been still in doubt you were â—ead And indeed I hop'd his choller would be allay'd in a little time and that how great soever his Resentments were against you he would still remember that you were his son and a son worthy of his affections Upon this thought I laid foundations for my happiness and propounded delights unto my self in your company which had been interrupted by our cruel separation I spent some time upon that remembrance and ask'd the Messenger a thousand questions about that business but all the particulars he could tell me of your imprisonment was that no body was permitted to see you and that the Princess having with much ado obtain'd the liberty of a visit had never been able to entertain you in
accompanied you though as he has told me since it was not without great violence upon his inclinations The Prince of Scythia interrupting Arsaces here It is true said he Brother Theodates did religiously observe what he had promised you and still speaking to me of you as of Arsaces he contented himself with begetting a love in me toward you by the recital of your good qualities without ever making me suspect that you were Artaxerxes Alas I was far from imagining any such thing and neither time nor the continued course of my Adventures had been able to make me lose the remembrance of my dear Brothers death It was always present to my thoughts and now I call to minde that when it drew tears from my Eyes and made me fall into those lamentations which I owed unto so dear a memory Theodates would alleadge Examples to make me believe that by some strange effect of fortune you might still be alive and that there had been persons deceiv'd after as great probabilities as those which had perswaded us you were dead While the Prince was speaking thus Dinner was brought in and those illustrious persons made a pleasing Meal together during which their discourse was partly concerning the marvellous Events Arsaces had recounted and they had no sooner dined but that Prince disposed himself to go on with the remainder of his story the company who fear'd least speaking so long might be hurtfull to him in his present condition would have disswaded him from continuing his Narration but he told them he felt himself well enough to make an end of it without prejudice to his health and so having put them into their former silence he went on where he had left on this manner The end of the third Book The continuation of the fourth Part of CASSANDRA The fourth Book THe joy I had receiv'd dear Brother by the news which gave me hope of your liberty was moderated by that which Theodates brought me the day after when he told me the King had commanded him to accompany you in that voyage which Arsacomes who was also to go along with you This was a very sensible blow to me and when I saw my self reduc'd to lose the consolation of that dear friend I knew not which way I should be able to bear it Theodates seemed no less troubled at it then I was and would rather have drawn the Kings anger upon himself then have forsaken me in a season when he was so necessary to me but I was very unwilling my freindship should be prejudiciall to him therefore representing that I was not like to runne any hazard of my life during his absence and that the King seemed to be a little mollifiâ—ed since my imprisonment I after a long contestation perswaded him to leave me for a time I will not entertain you with the discourse of our farewells the place would not suffer us to embrace one another but it hindred us not from saying all that so tender an affection as ours could make us utter at such a parting We took as good order in my affairs as the hastiness of your departure would permit but it was so sudden that the next day I was deprived of that dear friend who so generously assisted me to support the burthen of my misfortunes I heard in what manner the King had fetch'd you out of prison himself and how he had made you to take horse without giving you the liberty to come into the Town or so much as to see the Princesse your sister and I judg'd with some probability that knowing how earnestly you would interess your self on my behalf he had us'd that caution in your departure to keep you from all knowledge of me which I the rather believ'd because he appointed none of those to wait upon you in your voyage who had been present at our last conversation and for Arsacomes if he knew who I was as it was likely he did since it was by one of his creatures I thought my self to have been discovered he wanted not many reasons powerfull enough to oblige him to silence I was left in a very gloomy night though it were lightned with some small beam of hope in the expectation of your return and sweetned with some comfort by the going away of Arsacomes who by that means lost the opportunity of making any advantage of my imprisonmentâ— for the furtherance of his pretensions to Berenice 't is true the Queen his sister supplyed his place well enough and tormented that poor Princess in such manner that she was often constrain'd to make complaints against her by whose ill usage she was driven beyond the limits of her usuall moderation I receiv'd no more of her letters after Theodates his departure but Criton saw Cillenia every day and learned news of her which he still brought me by word of mouth This was some case to my afflictions for being deprived of so dear a sight yet not so great an one but that they began to overwhelm me and to put me into such a condition as might haue mov'd pitty even in the King of Scythia himself I liv'd on this manner or rather suffred a continuall death when my miseries receiv'd a bloudy surcharge and that which I had ever apprehended Queen Stratonice finding with what repugnance the Princesse defended her self against her Brothers affection and imagining by the opinion she had of him that he was handsome enough to merit hers believ'd that so strong a resistance both against his persecutions and against the Rings command could not proceed from any thing else but an aversion caus'd by some other love Arsacomes had already told her his suspicions of me and had by that advertisement oblig'd her to observe my actions more needfully then before nor was she contented with that care but that she might be perfectly satisfied of the truth she by presents and promises had corrupted one of the Princesses maids who had formerly belonged to her and had so disposed her to a treacherous complyance with her intentions that that disloyall wench had no other thought but to play the spie upon her Mistresses actions and to seek occasions of betraying her as the means to make her self a fortune The Princesse trusted her not with the secret of her affection neither did she mistrust her but next to Cyllenia used her as favourably as any of the rest She observ'd the frequent discourses between Critton and Cyllenia during my imprisonment and by telling the Queen of them confirm'd her in her suspicions and drew more considerable gifts and promises that engag'd her further in her pernicious design which she found means to effect when she least expected it The Princess contrary to the request I had often made her kept all my letters and not thinking she had any body about her so false as to seek to betray her onely lock'd them up in a cabinet with those other things she valued most One day having shut her self up
you in and of the successe of his own journey wherein he had no considerable encounter When we had thus instructed one another we fell to think whether we should retire and what order we should take to get my wounds drest they began to trouble me and though they were but slight ones the violent exercise I had used my losse of bloud and the vapours of the night made them a great deal worse then else they would have been Criton was no lesse hurt then I but his affection was so strong that he forgot his own danger to take care for mine After we had consulted a while Theodates would need have us go for the remainder of that night and the day following to the house of one of those men who then was with him which was not above an hundred furlongs from the place where we were I suffred my self to be guided by his will and as we rode along Theodates calling all his company to him drew a new promise from them of their fidelity and tyed them by all manner of entreaties to be as secret as we could desire They were all very affectionate to their Master and some of them were so well inclined toward me that they were both forward in promising and exact in performing what we demanded The house we went to was farre from any great road upon the edge of a huge forrest and in such a place as was very unlikely to be suspected for our retreat When we were come thither the Master of the House and some women we found there took the best order they could to receive us and by good fortune Theodates having brought his Physitian and his Chirurgion from the army with him furnished with such things as were necessary for any wound we had the means to have ou'rs dressed as commodiously as if we had been at Issedon I had but three and those were found to be such light ones that it was not probable they should keep me long in bed They appli'd what they thought most convenient to them and likewise to Critons who had four or five greater then mine but not at all more dangerous The Physitian enjoyn'd me to give the remainder of that night to rest contrary to the intension I had to spend it in discoursing with Theodates but the next day I had leisure enough and ask'd him a thousand questions concerning my dear Oroondates By what he had done in my behalf he was become as criminall as I and his accesse to Court was as difficult and as unsafe as mine His affection to me was sufficient to make him undergoe it with patience but I was afflicted at it for him and his love to Theomiris being known to me I doubted not but he had a restless longing to see her again We fell to deliberate what we should do with our selves and were along time before we could resolve I was too firmly fixt in Scythia to suffer so much as a thought of going out of it and would rather have exposed my self to a thousand evident deaths then have perswaded my self to leave Berenice but if I had been so minded it would have been exceeding difficult to do it and we doubted not but that the King had sent to stop all the Ports and to lay all the other passages by which we could get out of his territories We beleiv'd also that how secret soever our present retreat was it could not serve us many dayes and that those persons the King imploy'd in search of us might at last discover where we were After we had long consulted we beleev'd the surest way we could take would be to returne to Issedon where when the first troubles were once past over we might have free entrance by night and where by reason of the greatnesse of the City and the multitude of new affairs that sprung up daily in the Court and in that throng of people we might easily lie conceal'd in houses that were at Theodates his disposing especially being the King would never suspect we were return'd thither and that we had taken sanctuary so near him against his anger This advice seem'd the most reasonable and was most conformable to my humour and to the desire I had not to go farre from Berenice in the mean time we sent two witty understanding fellows back to the Town to fetch us such things as we wanted and to enquire after what concern'd us They perform'd their commission very cunningly and in the evening brought us the same news we had imagined They told us that the King had appear'd more sensible of this last discontent then of any other he had ever felt before and that for all the remainder of that day those that were most in his favour hardly had the boldnesse to come near him that he had left no body at home that was able to ride on horsback but had sent them all in pursuit of us and that as we had foreseen he had given order to stop all the ports and passages of his Kingdome that neverthelesse they said in Town that none but those that were interessed obey'd his orders without trouble and that the better part of Scythians amongst whom the name of Arsaces was still in high esteem rejoy'd at his escape and favoured him with their wishes as much as they could possibly In this news I found some consolation but when I ask'd them concerning Berenice they could tell me nothing but that the rumour was how since this accident the King had commanded she should be surely guarded and that very few persons were allow'd to see her This report made me guesse at part of the truth and I beleev'd that the Kings late resolution against me had proceeded only from the knowledge he had gotten of my passion Ah! how many torments did that beleif cause in me and how many sighs did it cost me when I thought what that fair Princesse was like to suffer by my occasion O King of Scythia cri'd I revenge thy self upon Arsaces but do not punish Berenice and though that be the most sensible part wherein thou canst wound thine enemy remember that Berenice is above thy laws and above the Empire of mankind The second day being passed Theodates was of opinion we might be much more secure in Issedon as we had already thought then in that house and for that purpose having sent to make ready a lodging where he was confident we might safely trust our selves we took our way thither the night following Our wounds would not suffer us to ride without inconveniency but I had so great an inclination to be nere Berenice again that I was scarcely sensible of mine and having rid it in little more then two hours we entred after midnight into the Town the gates whereof were not wont to be shutt Those that accompanied us parted severall wayes some of them retiring to other places and for fear our number should at last make us be discover'd we kept none with
Artaxerxes nor did he neglect any thing that could serve toward his revenge and seeing that the Gods or his ill fortune had made him ' scape out of his hands he sought out all the wayes to mischief him that could fall into his imagination He caus'd many manifests to be drawn and sent into all the quarters of his Kingdome wherein he accus'd him of treason and of a conspiracy against his life exhorted all his subjects to endeavour his destruction and the more strongly to invite them to it promised fiue hundred talents to whosoever should bring him his head The news of this cruelty and malice of the Kings drave Arsaces into resentments which were like to have made him go beyond those considerations which till then he had preserv'd towards his person Ah! said he why must this barbarous man be the father of Berenice and Oroondates and why is it not permitted me to revenge with the bloud of so cruell an enemy the ingratefull designs he ha's against my life and the wrong he would do my reputation After these words he return'd again to himself and repenting that he had spoken to them ask'd me pardon and protested he never would fall any more into those violent thoughts against my father And indeed till then he indeavour'd to force himself to patience but he utterly lost it at the last effects of the Kings indignation How great compliance soever the King had till then shewed to Stratonice yet had he never resolv'd to marry me to Arsacomes and though he was driven to it by the considerations of his love and by the Queens eternall persecutions his ambition and some remainder of his affection to me made him repugnant to that alliance but when once he began to loose the hope of taking revenge upon Arsaces by any other way he overcame the remnant of his love to me and beleeving he could not afflict his enemy more sensibly then by giving me to his rivall he resolv'd absolutely upon the marriage He had heard was nothing more to do in the Countrey where Arsacomes was with his army and having determined that he should return with his forces he sent an express to him with orders to bring him back and with a letter which he wrote to him the words whereof were to this purpose The King of Scythia to Prince Arsacomes Since you are the onely man worthy of my friendship and of my alliance I intend that you shall have them both come therefore Arsacomes to receive the recompence that expects you as well for the services I have receiv'd from you as for those you have render'd Berenice from hence forward she shall be yours and all the difficulties you have found in winning her shall yeild to the authority of her Father and of her King He show'd this letter to divers of the Court and published his resolution to every body to the end Arsaces might come to hear of it and feel the sorrow he prepared for him He would needs also give me my share of it and the next day after the departure of that fatall messenger he came into my chamber and bearing the markes of his cruell intention in his forehead put me into as great a fear as I could possibly be capable of He took not so much leisure as to sit down for the short visit he meant to make me but looking upon me with a severer eye then ever he had done before Berenice said he hitherto I have been too favourable to you but you too unworthily abused my indulgence therefore now know my last intentions and dispose your self once for all to marry Arsacomes I give you as much time to resolve upon it as will be necessary for his voyage hither but I declare to you that he shall be your husband from the very day of his arrivall Though I was infinitely surpris'd at this strange discourse yet did I call up all the courage I had to make reply to that severe proposition of the Kings and looking upon him with an eye that was more animated then ordinary I will obey you Sir said I to the last minute of my life but my death I hope shall free me from the obedience I owe you You shall have leave to dy repli'd the King if you prefer death before Arsacomes but you shall never obtain a more favourable election He stai'd not for my answer but going out of the room left me in the condition you may judge I was reduc'd to by that cruell threat Truly it was a very lamentable one and Theomiris and Cyllenia had never been more sorrowfully imployed about me then they were all the rest of that day I would have dissembled my grief to Arsaces whom I was to see that night and I prayed my Cousen not to tell him of that visite of the Kings but 't was impossible for me to hold my resolution and as soon as ever I saw him my tears broak forth in such abundance that before I was able to speak he was but two well instructed in my misfortune wherefore I was forc'd to confesse it to him after the tears that had betrai'd me and seeing he suspected something more fatall I was fain to tell him all I knew both of the Kings message to Arsacomes and of the cruell command I had receiv'd from his own mouth Arsaces never appear'd so terrible to me as at that killing news and I do not wonder his enemies should think him so dreadfull in fight since in the anger I saw him at that time I could not but be affraid of him my self Yet did he all that possibly he could to master it before me and when he had a little conquer'd that first fury which made him fly into an extremity of rage against the Kings violent proceeding and that he had kept silence for a few moments 'T is too long deferr'd added he Arsacomes must dy and the bloud of that unworthy favourite must pay for the Kings tyranny and for his own Oppose not this just resolution Madam with unjust commands my obedience in this encounter would be cowardise and in the extremity we are now reduc'd to I ought to be exempted from it The King doth but vainly prepare a marriage for him to which he ha's unworthily pretended neither am I so forsaken of the Gods or men no nor of my own courage which hitherto hath serv'd me faithfully enough but that I can make that rivall fall at the head of his army The King of Scythia perhaps shall find that the remembrance of Arsaces is not yet extinguish'd in the Court of Scythia and I hope it shall be with his own forces that I 'le oppose his unjust and tyrannicall designs These were Arsaces his words and I saw him so fix'd upon that resolution that I had not the confidence to oppose it with all the power I had over him Yet did I strive to pacifie him as much as possibly I could and alledg'd all the reasons I thought capable
then his Settle thy self said I and do not feare the sight of a single man and of a man whom all thy cruelties have not been able to make thine enemy I neither come with a power nor with an intention to take revenge for so many unspeakeable wrongs I onely bring thee a head which is necessary for thy perfect Satisfaction and a head which with Berenice thou should'st present to Arsacomes Behold my armes which I throw down at thy feet pursued I letting fall my sword and behold at last this Arsaces to whom thou bear'st so implacable a hatred who comes both alone and unarm'd to expose himself to all thy indignation but as it is with no designe to hurt thee so neither is it with any to appease thee that he here presents himself he demands no reparation for the injuries thou hast done him nor does he preten'd to any favour by those thou hast receiv'd from him and he would be a sham'd to receive life from them to whom he ha's been accustomed to give it Powre forth all the effects of thine anger upon this Artaxerxes the sonne of Darius who with thine own forces ha's assaulted thy walles ha's forc'd thy Town ha's pulled thy daughter out of thine Armes and ha's reduc'd thee thy self once more to be beholding to him for a kingdome and for a life which he hath so often preserved but spare Berenice who is not guilty of Arsaces his crimes Revenge not forreigne wrongs upon thine own bloud and since it ha's no affinity with that of Darius wreake upon that of Darius alone whatsoever of greatest cruelty thy rage can thinke Arsaces ha's deserv'd death but Berenice ha's not deserv'd the punishment thou inflict'st upon her or if she have deserv'd it 't is onely for having forsaken me and for having exposed her self a new to the mercy of her enemies Let alone the innocent Berenice then and overwhelm the Criminal Arsaces thou could'st not desire more facility for this revenge to which thou hast run head long by so many base and shameful wayes and besides the conservation of thy life and Kingdome thou hast yet this last obligation to me that I my self have deliver'd thee a person whose ruine thou so often hast in vaine attempted and that I have sav'd thee the labour of seeking out new murtherers to give death to the greatest of thine enemies While I spoake on this manner the whole assembly listend to my words and with a merveilous attention expected what would be the issue of that adventure I will not tell you what Berenices thoughts were at this last expression of my love nor what were those of Arsacomes since they were the Kings that first manifested themselves If he had been astonished at my sight and at the beginning of my discourse he was no lesse at the knowledge of my strange resolution he saw so little likely hood to hope that commanding a potent army wherewith I was in a manner able to dispose of his destiny I should abandon all the meanes I had to frustrate what he had determin'd to come and expose my self alone to his mercy that he could not suffer his beliefe to credit what he saw Wherefore he remain'd a great while in doubt of the truth but when he beheld me alone without caske without sword in the midd'st of a throng of his own followers and that he heard no noise at all in the streets that could make him feare the coming of his enemies he began at last to believe that my love had brought me to that resolution and that my despaire making me despise my life had made me also neglect the meanes I had to preserve it This assurance settled it self in his mind with joy and his feare was no sooner lull'd asleep but his anger was awaked againe The sight of his enemy and the fiercenesse of his words kindled his wrath afresh withal its violence and he had scarce had time to recover his first apprehensions when he open'd his mouth to give it vent Yet wicked wretch cryed he thou shalt dye and this false generosity which thy despaire hath inspir'd into thee shall not save thee from my lawfull fury Yes I will dye replyed I and if I would not have dyed I would have come with a power that might have defended me from thine Boast not of an advantage which thou holdest from no body but my self nor threaten me with a death wherein thou onely seru'st for the Minister of my despaire I rather serve the justice of the Gods answered Macheus and all Kings who are interessed in my quarrel but whether it be from the anger of heaven or from thine own despaire that I have this occasion to revenge me of thee thou shalt not see me neglect it nor for manie considerations spare him that hath seduc'd my subjects and that led an army of rebells and traytours against their Prince into his Citty into his Palaces and even against his owne person He had hardly ended these words making signe to his guard to encompasse me and to hinder my getting out of the Temple when the Princesse who till then had heard us without interruption mov'd from the place where she stood and coming toward me with a countenance animated with an extraordinary confidence You shall not dye alone Arsaces said shee and since you have been so little fearefull to afflict me in lavishing a life that was dearer to me then my own you also shall have the grief to see me run to a death which I owe to nothing but your despaire You ought to have expected the event of what I had resolved to doe for you If I had been so base as to have given my selfe to Arsacomes that basenesse would have been enough to have cured you and if I had preferred death before him you might have followed me to the grave without the blame of having thrown me into it By these words and by my Princesses action so different from her humour and from her usuall moderation I knew the greatnesse of her affection better then ever I had done before and forgetting all that I had taken ill from her I gave my self up againe totally to my love Ah! my dearest Princesse said I what a thought is this of yours and with what a reproach doe you aggravate my sorrowes I defended my life as long as I believ'd you car'd for it and you know that after the losses I have suffred nothing could have made me think of its preservation but the opinion I had that it was not indifferent to you That was it that made me oppose the King your fathers armes which after the ruine of my family I should have welcom'd into my breast that was it that set me at the head of an army and in short that was it that ha's made me do many actions which could not have been expected but from a person that had been much in love with his life Yes Madame I did love it while I
encounter especially there being a general rumour that she was dead That belief and her habit which was very different from what she was wont to weare hindred me from giving credit to my eyes but when by my action she saw me expresse my astonishment Never doubt of it said she I am Statira I am the widdow of Alexander the Great And I sister cryed I quite transported am Prince Artaxerxes your Brother and casting my head piece at her feet I ran to her with open armes and in her amazement which made her incapable of resistance I gave her a thousand kisses accompanyed with teares which my eyes bestow'd on my affection If the wonder that had seiz'd on me was great you may well imagine that hers was without comparison and that she could not see that brother againe whom she had lov'd so well and whom she had thought dead eight years before with a moderate astonishment When she was got loose from my embraces she retired a step or two to consider my face could not believe but that it was my Ghost ask'd me often if it were possible I should be alive and in short did all those actions which you did your self at our knowing one another Assoon as she was perswaded that I was Artaxerxes indeed shee cast away her doubts to give her self over to her affection and throwing her self into mine armes with transported cryes she made me see that neither time nor the accidents of her life had at all diminished her former love We continued a great while in a strict embrace without having power to bring forth a distinct word and when once we were able we question'd each other mutually concerning what we were ignorant of How come you to be a live deare Brother How come you to be a live deare Sister said we both together and answering both at the same time we began a very confused discourse and so interrupted with endearments that we could tell one another nothing Besides my sister believed that in the place where we were we could not without danger engage our selves in a long conversation so having pray'd me to carry her from thence and to run if it were possible to the relief of Parisatis who was a live and a prisoner she perswaded me to get on horsback and having set her behind me we rode as she desir'd a long the River-side She would have question'd me about my adventures but I having told her that the relation of my life would require no lesse then a whole day and that it was more necessary I should learne some thing of her present condition and of Parisatis she in a few words told me all that had happend to her since Alexanders death the name of Perdiccas with whom I had fought and the estate in which she had left Parisatis but she said nothing of Prince Oroondates whither it were that she judg'd that remembrance faulty after the death of Alexander or that she meant to speak of him more at large when she had better leisure She had not quite ended her discourse when we saw the chariot coming in which Parisatis was you have heard the beginning of that which passed and how having made Statira a light that I might be fitter for the encounter I was assaulted by halfe a score horsmen who guarded the chariot and that while I was engag'd among them Statira was taken againe I heard her crye a loud when they put her into the chariot and would have run to help her if I could have had free passage but the enemies I had upon me stop'd my way and reduc'd me to a necessity rather of defending my self then of relieving my sisters Three of them lay already gnawing the earth and the rest began to find that though I was alone they should obtaine no easy victory In effect my strength was so redoubled by my anger and by my grief for this last accident that I quickly dispatch'd another and by good fortune Criton who was returning from a place whither I had sent him came in just then to my assistance and he no sooner knew me but making use of Policy to strik a terror in my enemies Courage Sir cryed he you are reliev'd I knâ—w not whither these words and the confidence wherewith they saw him fall upon them made them believe he was follow'd by others or whither their fear of two men alone produc'd that effect but however it were the fierceness of my enemies began to cool and presently after they turn'd their backs leaving me the victory and the field but at the same time my horse fell dead of the wounds he had receiv'd and Criton seeing five or six without Masters catch'd the best of them and brought him to me I no sooner was upon his back but I ran after the track of the Chariot which had carri'd away the Princesses and had follow'd the bank of the river a while in that pursuit when I was stop'd by a considerable encounter and such a one as I ought well to remember since I still bear the markes of it and that it cost me more bloud then I had lost in all the rest of my life It was the encounter of you and Berenice Brother I found you when I least expected it and I also found Berenice but in such a condition as I beleiv'd I never could have taken her O Gods what were my thoughts when I knew my Princess but O Gods what were my resentments when I saw her hanging about the neck and kissing the face of a man in Arsacomes his armour I presently believ'd that it was he but knew not how to imagine my Princess should be guilty of so horrible a lightness I stood a while considering their actions but when I saw her continue such extraordinary kindnesses as could not have been pardon'd if any body but a brother had receiv'd them I gave my self over to a rage which in appearance was but too lawfully grounded You found the effects of it dear Brother as I felt those of your matchlesse valour which by a number of very deep wounds made me fall upon the ground without sense or understanding The condition I was reduc'd to interupted Prince Oroondates was no better then yours and if I had the glory to share equally with you in the event of our combat I owe it to those you had fought before which without doubt could not have left so great a vigour as I encountred in that last in any other man but the invincible Arsaces If my former combats repli'd Arsaces had caus'd any weariness in me the jealousie or rather the fury wherewith I was transported banish'd it in such maner and did so powerfully redouble my forces that I never was fresher nor in better condition to dispute my pretensions against any body else but Oroondates In short I was fallen upon the ground where Criton had me in his armes who that day did me his wonted services and who after he had long
motions which were stirr'd up in me by that sight yet could it not have perswaded me Brother to leave you in the condition you then were but I believed I could do no less than use my endeavours to see Arsaces again and to show him Berenice whom he sought and the finding of whom would put an end to all his wandrings this was my onely intention and when I followed the litter 't was with a hope to overtake it quickly seeing it went but very slowly and to come back to my Brother again within a little while as I had done but for the hinderance I met withall and then I had spar'd you both the bloud which you have mutually shed I walk'd as fast as I was able leaning upon Alcione's arm when I unfortunately met with five or six hors-men who presently surrounded us and having cry'd that I was Berenice they leapt from their horses and putting up the Beavers of their Helmets no longer conceal'd their faces from me The first I cast my eyes upon was that villain Astiages and by him with an incomprehensible amazement I saw Eurimedon Eurimedon the Lieutenant of Thrace from whose persecutions I had fled with Arsacomes and whose presence was yet less supportable to me than his To instruct you by what encounter he was then with Astiages you shall know that after my departure his love to me had made him leave Byzantium and not caring to lose his Fortune to obtain me he had substituted his Brother in his command and with a greater number of men than Arsacomes had was come in pursuit of us with a resolution to kill Arsacomes and pull me out of his hands But whither it were that he made not so great speed or took not the same way the Gods would not suffer him to overtake us He was at last arrived at Babylon where he had lyen a while conceal'd not being willing to be known in the design that brought him and not having been able to learn any news of me there he had spent a great many dayes in seeking me about the Countrey but all his search had been to no purpose till the day my Brother killed Arsacomes and laid Astiages for dead with a blow of his Gauntlet As soon as that wicked fellow had recovered himself again he went directly to the place where Arsacomes his body lay and finding there was no life in it when he had lamented his loss according to the affection he bore him he caused him to be taken up by some of his servants that were come thither and was carrying him to the house of our retreat when he was surprised in that imployment by Eurimidon and his party Eurimedon as soon as he knew Astiages ran at him with his Sword drawn but Astiages finding he was too weak had cast himself at his feet and appeased him by the promise he made to serve him in the recovery of Berenice Hereupon Eurimedon had changed his threats intoâ— protestations of friendship and having learn'd all that Astiages knew of Arsacomes his destiny he had kept him from that time to make use of him for the execution of his promise They had together caused Arsacomes to be buried and meeting in each other a great conformity of disposition they by little and little had banished their distrusts heart-burnings and had resolved to seek me together in a Countrey from whence Astiages believed I could not be gotten very far Eurimedon had been carefull to win Astiages by all manner of kindnesses and Astiages who in the condition of his affairs stood in need of a support against those whom his crimes had made his Enemies had really engaged himself to do him service and unfeignedly sought occasions to satisfie his desires He also had brought him to the same retreat where we had been and which Arsacomes his servants had quitted after their Masters death and from thence it was that they were come when my cruel destiny made me fall into their hands Eurimedon appeared transported with joy at that encounter and taking one of my hands which he kissed whether I would or no How great is the goodness of the Gods said he since they restore me the adored Princess I had lost after having punish'd him that stole her from me I was so extremely surprised at this unhappy accident that I neither had strength nor courage to reply but onely pulling away my hand from between his and looking upon him with a disdainfull eye I made him know that if my sight was a contentment to him his produc'd a quite contrary effect in me but this encounter surprised not me alone for Alcione who was with me was like to have fallen down dead when she saw Astiages and Astiages who knew her after he had ey'd her a good while was so astonish'd at that sight that as impudent as he was he had much ado to recover himself In the mean time Eurimedon being got again on hors-back and having set me before him by the help of one of his servants carried me toward that cursed house which my ill Fortune had chosen for the retreat of my ravishers Astiages having overcome his amazement did the same to Alcione and in spite of our cries which made all the plain to ring and of all the resistance we could make after having many times escaped and many times been taken again we were at last partly on foot and partly on hors-back carried or dragg'd to that house with all the violence in the World Astiages his friend who was as wicked as himself lent it him very readily as well out of his inclination to mischief as his expectation of those recompences Eurâ—medon made him hope for As soon as we both were prisoners as I had been before Eurimedon came to me and putting on all the mildness he could alleaged his love to excuse his violence pray'd me to take heart and to believe that his passion should never make him exceed the bounds of that respect he ow'd me and that if I would but take some pitty of it I might expect any thing in the World at his hands and even my return into Scythia and the regaining of that liberty Arsacomes had rob'd me of he also protested that if I had shew'd him but any favour at Byzantium he would from thence have carried me home to my Father and that if by my future carriage I did not oppose the intention he had to serve me I should quickly see an end of those miseries that had cost me so many sighs and tears He said a great deal more to me but I gave no ear to him at all and having learn'd by Arsacomes his last deceit never to believe the promises of wicked persons I was nothing moved by his but looking upon him with an angry eye Hope not said I to work upon me by the hopes thou givest me I will not receive any favour or assistance from thee but scorn thy services as much as I hate and
despise thy person Arsacomes himself was not so odious to me as thou art for though he were unworthy of my affection he had many advantages above thee both by his birth and qualities and by the services he had done me which should strangle those guilty hopes thou hast conceived and make thee know that if the Gods have punish'd his crime with death thou oughtest to expect a much severer recompence for thine Moderate thy ambition continued I presently after and consider that if the daughter of a King be to be served by Eurimidon 't is onely as a subject or a houshold servant Eurimedon found matter of offence in these words but his love made him digest them and my quality or some other considerations did indeed give him some respect which left him not the courage to execute his wicked intentions Poor Alcione the companion of my Fortune who was then my onely consolation was in no less affliction than I not being able to behold the face of Astiages the onely cause of all her sufferings and of the death of her dear husband Theander without falling into swownings which brought her almost to her grave Yet that shameless fellow came into her presence with a brasen impudence and when he could make her hear him Alcione said he for I dare not call you Sister you have such a strange aversion against me let us henceforth forget all that 's past and suffer me to make a confession to you which I never made before I ever lov'd you and if the consideration of Theander made me silent know it was my own that made me jealous of Cleonimus and not that of Bagistanes The interest of that kinsman should not have perswaded me to trouble the Repose of my Brother who was much dearer to me than he and you well may judge that that compliance alone would not have been able to carry me on to so great extremities Forget therefore those injuries which my love may excuse and with them forget Cleonimus who either is no longer in the world or else no longer remembers you and if you will receive me for your Husband I will supply the place of Theander wee 'l reunite our Fortunes and our Houses and you shall be no more less happy with me than you were heretofore with my Brother Poor Alcione was not able to hear these impudent words from a man whom she had so much cause to hate without being transported with a Rage which she could not possibly dissemble Ah! Monster stain'd with thy Brothers bloud cried she thou Monster black with a thousand treacheries Canst thou think me capable to hear thy horrible Propositions And hadst thou yet this last crime to commit to be the most detestable of all men living Having spread thy villanies both in Europe and Asia doest thou come back into this Countrey to give them a conclusion suitable to them and to thy self If Cleonimus be dead thy crimes have kill'd him and if he no longer remember Alcione 't is onely his virtue has made him forget her and 't is onely thy vice that brings her again into thy memory But be confident be confident wicked wretch pursued she thy love is yet more cruell to me than thy hatred and I sooner will consent to see thee a second time be the death of what is dearest to me in all the world and also of my self than to let thee hope that I will make Theanders murtherer his successour Astiages in whom all shame was quite extinguished hearken'd without blushing to these Reproaches but still by all his Actions indeavour'd to make Alcione believe that he was really in love with her In these torments we liv'd till the time of our deliverance having hardly an hour free from the persecutions of our cruell Enemies The master of the house where we were had obtain'd a protection from the Officers of this Army to the end your Forces might not indammage any thing that belong'd to him neither did any of the Souldiers ever come near his house and he leaving it to Astiages his disposing went every day into your Camp and feigning to be very well affected to your party sought onely to secure his house and his estate the care he took in favour of his friend did much advantage the Design they had to lie conceal'd for many considerations Eurimedon knew that Prince Lysimachus whose Lieutenant he was was one of the Commanders of your Army and after the fault he had committed in leaving Byzantium at a time when there was most necessity of his being there durst not appear before him And Astiages blasted with crimes and defam'd in his Countrey had not the confidence to shew himself And indeed I think they were seen but by very few and if one of them went out sometimes he left us under the custody of the other with so exact a Watch that all means of liberty were utterly cut off Yet did I hope in the assistance of my Brother who I knew was so near us though I much fear'd his wounds and could never get any true information concerning them from our Landlord I was confident he would take care to make me be sought after and that if the place of my imprisonment could be but known to him I doubted not but he would easily rescue me out of the hands of my Enemies I also knew that Arsaces was in this Countrey and dar'd to hope that his coming hither was for no other end but to seek me and I may truly protest that if I had not expected Relief from one of you I had put an end to my miseries by some effect of my despair I receiv'd the sweetest consolations from Alcione that she could possibly invent to give me and the affection she expressed to me had oblig'd me to love her so dearly that there was nothing in my heart I did not utter to her she knew all the particulars of my life and took so great an interest in them that she forgot her own misfortunes to bewail mine and bore all the afflictions which infamous Astiages made her suffer with an admirable patience that she might be able to comfort me in all my griefs Our cruell Guardians were neither at the Battel you gave nor in any of the Encounters that passed but while so many thousand men were fighting in this plain they kept within doors where their onely combats were against Berenice and Alcione In the end whether it were they believ'd they could not longer stay securely in that house and that they had a minde to seek some other Retreat that might be further from your Army or that Eurimedon had a design to carry me back to Byzantium or to some other place where he thought himself more powerfull and more absolute they resolv'd to leave that house and to perswade us to be set on horse-back to go along with them they often swore they would carry us to the place where they had taken us since by all their
for fear of the effect his discourse might have produced And without doubt he had said enough to make that Princess comprehend the truth if all her thoughts had not been very far from Matters of that nature and if her sorrow giving her other employments had not partly darkned the light of her understanding She div'd not into the meaning of his words as she would have done in another season and to let him see she bore a part in his discontents As long as I believed said she that all your misfortunes were known to me I endeavored to comfort you by the encounter of a person touched with an affliction like that of yours but if you have other sufferings that are not come unto my knowledge mine cannot choose but be augmented by the share which your vertue and your goodness makes me take in your unhappiness And if you are so generous and so charitable replied Demetrius a little more confident then before shew me some signs of that compassion which makes you have a sense of my misfortunes He cast down his eyes at these words with some confusion and the Princess in whom they began to cause a suspition of the truth was something abash'd as well as he She could not imagine so ignorant she was of her own power that Demetrius from an extremity of grief should so soon have faln into another passion and the little probability she found in it kept her uncertain what she should believe And perchance she had been still in doubt if Demetrius had not recovered courage during her silence and had not made the utmost attempts upon his fears to overcome the utmost difficulties He fixt his eyes again upon her face and preparing her by his looks for part of what he had to say Agis is dead said he with a sigh but Demetrius is dying also and that which Agis found in her despair and in the arms of the Macedonians I finde to the full in the charms of Deidamia therein it is my destiny is more glorious then that of my Rival and my Fortune likewise shall be above his and above all other mens if by the gift of my life I can obtain but a part of that place in your remembrance which he till now hath worthily possessed I would not strive to conquer those inclinations which some resemblance of Fortune made me to approve if I were able to resist this power which hath drawn me away from mine to give me others more legitimate nor would I use my endeavors to banish a Prince out of your memory who merited your affection by the greatness of his Services if he were in a condition to reap the fruits of it But Agis is now no longer in the world Madam and one may truly say That you love nothing since you onely love that which no longer hath a Being you are as free in your affections as you were in the earliest years of your life and if their object cease to be they neither ought by any reason nor can by any means continue after it I have found that truth my self in a fortune like that of yours and am more to believed then another in this discourse by the testimony I can give of it in mine own example Demetrius stop'd at these words seeing the tears run down of a sudden from Deidamia's fair eyes and knowing by her looks that this discourse had sensibly afflicted her Ah! My dear Agis said she sighing with a most tender and passionate action Ah! My dear Agis If you were necessitated to receive this offence should it not rather have been from any other body then Prince Demetrius Her tears interrupted her Speech for some few moments and in the mean time the reflection she made upon this adventure wakened her grief again without giving her any resentment against Demetrius That yong Prince was so worthy of affection and had by all his actions disposed her already to so much acknowledgement and to so much good will toward him That if she could then have been capable of a second impression of love she would have received it sooner in favor of him then of any other person So that though she was firm on the resolution of keeping her self wholly to the ashes of her Agis yet did she suffer Demetrius his Declaration without breaking forth into anger against him or without going beyond the bounds of that sweet moderation she had formerly expressed and turning her eyes upon him with an air that seemed more sorrowful then angry Let us still weep together said she let us weep Demetrius as we have done hitherto or if you think you have shed tears enough for your Hermione suffer my grief and my affection to have other limits then yours I owe so much to my dearest Agis that your example would not be sufficient to justifie the change you propose to me and though I disapprove not yours I am not in a condition to imitate it Your person is as considerable to me and as dear as you can in reason desire I neither am ingrateful to your good offices nor blinde to your good qualities and the displeasure you now have done me hath not blotted out of my heart the value I have and ever will have of you But for Gods sake suffer Agis to continue still master of it and counsel me not to do an unfitting thing if you judge me worthy of your esteem This is a request I most earnestly make to you and you can give me no better proof of your affection then by ceasing to combat that which ought to last as long as my life As she ended these words she rose up from her chair and took leave of Demetrius without staying for his reply but it was with a countenance in which sorrow reign'd alone and in which anger left no mark that could give him cause to fear his love had made her his enemy Demetrius remained he knew not himself in what condition and doubted a long time what judgement he should make of his Fortune At first he had a very ill opinion of it and believed he found himself utterly rejected by Deidamia's Declaration but afterward he thought he had no reason to expect a more favorable event by the first discovery of his Paâ—â—ion and that though the Princess should indeed have inclinations to him that went beyond esteem and good will she owed some resistance both to the memory of Agis and even to modesty it self In things we desire we naturally flatter our selves and Demetrius finding occasion to do so in Deidamia's modest carriage hoped that by long services he might shake her resolution and with what fears soever he was assaulted he could not repent his having broken through those first difficulties While he was musing thus upon his Fortune Oroondates was complaining of his that had suffered Perdiccas to escape from his revenge and had left him still in a condition as much conquered as he was to cross him more then ever in
things I have been able to learn and which fall within the employment I have under Queen Roxana THe Gods are my Witnesses that I used all the power I had with the Queen to diswade the cruel resolution she had taken against Toxaris and Loncates when she saw them obstinate in concealing their Prince's abode but she was so incensed against them that my importunity in their Favor was like to have put me in disgrace She commanded they should be carried out of the Town to the end that Action might be the more secret but when she heard by him that had escaped the hand of their deliverers that they were rescued out of their hands before they had been able to draw that confession from their mouths which she desired she was extreamly troubled and displeased at it but was the more confirmed in her opinion That Prince Oroondates was in this Country In this belief casting her eyes upon me who hapned to be then in her Chamber Arbates said she all things run contrary to my desires and the gods whom the folly of my love hath exasperated against me will not suffer them to be satisfied but either I am the most deceived of any Woman in the World or cruel Oroondates is in these parts Let him hide himself the ungrateful man pursued she a while after let him be insensible of my love or rather let him persist to hate me as he hath done hitherto I at least have this advantage that in flying me he flies his Fortune and that he shall never enjoy the happiness for which he disdains that I have offered him He shall not make himself sport with my rival by scoffing at the mean spirited affections of Roxana And though I be miserable I shall not have the discontent to see her triumph over my miseries who hath been the cause of them Yet Arbates continued she having paused a little I cannot disavow but that I still have those first inclinations that have brought me so much trouble and I mean to employ all the affection thou hast to my service in seeking some redress for my disquiets Set all thy wits a work to inform thy self if he be not in Babylon where we took his servants the greatness of the Town and the confusion of our affairs that make us receive so many unknown persons into it might permit him to lie long concealed here but he cannot be so to thy vigilance if thou wilt take the pains to employ it and after such a service there is no recompence that will not be below thee By these words the Queen discovered to me the continuation of her love and strove to confirm me in the design I really had to serve her And I believed Sir added Arbates addressing himself to Oroondates that I might safely comply with her without doing you any hurt considering the quality of her Fortune and the general opinion of Queen Statira's death therefore I protested to her with so many Oaths that I would use my utmost care to obey her commands that she drew some consolation from my promises and then being desirous to avoid Cassanders anger which I feared after I had disposed her to hearken to me patiently Madam said I Cassander persecutes me to serve him in his affection to your Majesty and not many days ago he forced me by his threats to take a Letter which he had written to you but I neither had the boldness nor so much as an intention to deliver it but having torn it in pieces I have put him off ever since as often as he asked me any thing about it by saying that I had not yet found a fit opportunity to present it to you You did very well answered the Queen and to keep fair with him you may say I tore it my self That insolent man raises my anger to the extremity and if in the present condition of my affairs I had not need of him I would give him such proofs of it as should cool him perhaps for all the rest of his life Take heed in the mean time that you never receive either Letter or Message from him any more and let him know that I have expresly forbidden you I promised to do as she commanded me with a design to follow her Orders and that very day having met Cassander Sir said I my desire to serve you hath perhaps ruined my Fortune and your Letter hath been like to make me be banished for ever out of the Queens service she tore it without reading it and hath protested That at the first employment I shall take again of that nature she will cause me to be exemplarily punished Cassander who by many other encounters had known the Queens intentions easily gave credit to what I said but he flew into a violent passion and uttered many words both against the modesty and against the respect he owed her The Queen 's too blame said he afterward to drive a man into despair who as her affairs now stand is not unuseful to her and who with the peril of his life against a great number of Enemies struck the main stroke perchance in setling her in the place she now possesses Tell her Arbates that among all Alexanders Successors she shall finde none more powerful in Europe nor in Asia then the Son of Antipater nor among all men living a more faithful or a more passionate Servant then Cassander I prayed him to excuse me that I could not undertake that Message alledging the Queens absolute charge to the contrary and the fear I was in of being utterly undone if I disobeyed her Commands This kinde of usage from the Queen was not able to repulse him and seeing himself then in a condition not to fear her power as he had done in Alexanders life time he no longer was so careful to hide his passion as he had been before and governed himself with so little discretion that it was unknown to no body Roxana's aversion to him was but the more redoubled thereby but being she was cunning and politique she partly dissembled it or at least through the necessity of her Affairs suffered without taking revenge what in another season she would have resented in another maner Cassanders credit amongst his Companions and Antipaters in Europe were well enough known to her to make her judge That she should not do well to make a powerful Enemy of a passionate Lover and of a lover who in her present troubles might do her good service and had done so already That consideration kept her from following the incitements of her anger but not from letting Cassander see by all her words and by all her actions that his passion was very unpleasing to her The liberty of coming into her Chamber was permitted him as well as others for the Reasons I have given you and being there one day with Leonatus and two or three more of his Friends I think it was with a purpose to oblige him that the rest withdrew
the return of Artaxerxes whom the gods have miraculously raised again hath overthrown all our Policy but it is as true that I would revoke what 's passed if it were in the power of mankinde and that I now could wish with all my heart those Princesses were alive They are alive Madam answered Perdiccas instantly and the gods have nâ—t permitted That the most Illustrious Blood in the World should be so cruelly shed Are they alive cryed Roxana in admiration Yes Madam added Perdiccas they are so And he whom deceased Alexander honored with the last marks of his affection was not so base is to destroy what was dearest to him in all the World it was by the death of certain condemned Slaves that your eyes were deceived and your passion satisfied But neither my compliance with you nor the consideration of my Interests were able to make me forget what I owed to my King and to the quality of Prince in which I was born You required too inhumane and too shameful effects of Perdiccas his Obedience and if you were to have employed his hand to do you service it should have been in an action more worthy of him and against other Enemies then those great and innocent Princesses While Perdiccas spake on this maner Roxana hearkned to him with so much astonishment That of a long time she was not able to reply and that strange news surprised her in such sort that she knew not which way she should receive it The return of Artaxerxes which thwarted the security she thought she had established in her Dominions by the death of his Sisters might have made her content they were alive but that of Oroondates bringing to minde the interest of her love incenced her so against her rival whom she saw coming into the World again to deprive her of a happiness upon which she had settled some flattering hopes That she straight repented the wish she had made in her Favor but a minute before What Perdiccas said she looking upon him with an angry eye Have you then deceived a Princess that trusted no body but your self and that put all her Interests into your hand so freely I have deceived you replied Perdiccas as I should have deceived all the most Sovereign Powers upon Earth And though my action stand not in need of any justification know To the end you may be better satisfied That to the Interest of my honor and to that of Alexanders memory I also joyned that of my love which alone was able to overturn all my Resolutions I love Madam since it is no longer time to disavow it I love Queen Statira and for that love instead of attempting against her life I would have given my own She hath no Enemies against whom I would not have defended her at the price of my Blood and I have done a great deal more to content you then I ought to have done since I put her in fear of death since I kept her concealed to avoid your anger though she were all maner of ways the greatest Princess of the World and since I made her lay aside the name of Statira peculiar to the Royalty to take again that of Cassandra the Daughter of Codoman She is now in Babylon and if hitherto my respect to you hath obliged me to conceal from you both her being alive and the place of her abode I think that now I may declare them to you by reason of Artaxerxes his return of the belief I have that her misfortunes may have appeased you and of the hope that you will have some regard to the love of Perdiccas who hath blindly tied himself to run your fortune and who hath endeavored to comply with you even to the prejudice of his honor Roxana was so troubled during this discourse that she knew not in what terms to express her sence of it and after she had long beheld Perdiccas with an eye that seemed to tax him for deceiving her I should never have believed said she that you would so craftily have deluded me me who would have depended upon you for whatsoever was most precious to me I am not troubled that Statira and Parisatis are alive they were other motives then the ambition of reigning that made me to desire their death and in the extremity I will make known that which may justifie my crimes as well as you alledge the cause of your subtil artifice I will not tell you that I will imploy all the power I have to destroy those you have saved to the falsifying of your word and that perhaps I am potent enough over the hearts of the Macedonians to do it though you should undertake to protect them It is not out of inclination that I am led to cruelty and I consider you more then you have considered me The love you bear Statira may justifie in part what you have done but I can tell you you shall profit little by her being alive and that it is not for your self you have preserved her It is for Oroondates the Prince of Scythia the most dreadful of all your Enemies and he himself whom you saw yesterday dyed in the blood of your Soldâ—ers and also of your own that you have plotted and Statira is so totally his even before she was Alexanders That nothing but death alone can possibly take her from him You have that puissant rival at our Gates you shall have him to fight with all without and her constancy to assault within our Walls it is by them without doubt that I shall be revenged of you and that I shall see you repent the Service you have done for your most cruel Enemy This threat of the Queens made Perdiccas grow pale but he recovered himself presently again and desiring to let her see his resoluteness I do not doubt said he but that Queen Statira is prepossessed with some powerful inclination that makes her to disdain my affection nor am I ignorant but the Prince you speak of is a valiant and a terrible Enemy I have already tried his Forces in two set Battels and I have had a discourse with him which hath sufficiently made me understand his intentions but neither the knowledge of Cassandra's engagement can repulse me nor is that of my rivals power able to affright me I should have satisfied him before now if I could have feared his threatnings but if in the open Field he saw me not avoid to encounter him he shall not make me tremble behinde Walls which are strong enough to resist the greatest Army in the World And though Fortune should favor him against me he shall see me perish in the resolution I have taken and defend that against him to my latest gasp which I have too lawfully acquired to deliver it up but with my life Well we shall see replied the Queen extreamly vext which way you will behave your self and I will also think how I shall behave my self in this new face of my Affairs I hope
having imprudently discovered the secret of her love to Cassander which she would not have confessed but to Perdiccas Yet Perdiccas pacified her a little by putting her in minde That she could not hope for any satisfaction in that business without giving further knowledge of it to the World and that though Cassander had not learned it by that means he could not have been much longer ignorant of it He prayed her also to pardon his hastiness and the violence of his passion for though both Cassanders love and his person were odious to her it was best to dissemble her indignation and not to come to extremities against him so long as she had need of his assistance The Queen promised him part of what he desired but she would not give him any hope That she would shew any kinde of favor to a man whom she with a great deal of appearance suspected for the death of the King her Husband From this discourse they fell into that of the resolutions they should take in matters of the War and after they had talked a while upon that subject they determined to send one into your Army to stay some days unknown amongst your men and bring them intelligence of what passed both in the Camp and among the Princes When they had spent some time in bethinking themselves whom they should employ they cast their eyes upon me as well because of my readiness in speaking several Languages and of my being versed among most of those Nations your Army is composed of as out of a belief the Queen had That I would bring her some particular news of Prince Oroondates yet was she not ignorant of the hazard I ran of being taken by some of his men to whom my face was known but she believed I had cunning enough to avoid their knowledge or rather as it is the custom of all great persons she little considered the danger of a man provided she might draw any service from it I was presently sent for and the Queen and Perdiccas having proposed the business they desired I should serve them in I offered readily enough to undertake it they instructed me punctually in my Commission and the Queen commanded me very earnestly to learn something of Oroondates if it were possible Why should I trouble you longer with a discourse of small importance I came that very day out of the Town the passages from thence being free by reason that the Out-works then were ours and after I had made a little circuit I went into Craterus his quarter and lay that night among the Cilicians my Country-men with whom I quickly made acquaintance and the next morning which was yesterday I walked about all the Camp while part of your men were busie in assaulting our Out-works I observed the order of your Encamping the number of your Forces and the maner of your Guards but by the loss of our Out-works I no more had free entrance into the City as before yet did I not despair of getting in one way or other But before I returned I was desirous to do something in discharge of the Queens Command and while I sought means to see Prince Oroondates without being seen by him or any of his that could discover me or at least to learn something concerning him that I might carry back to the Queen My walking hereabout begot suspicion in those that took notice of it and made me fall into this danger wherein I should certainly have perished for a punishment of many crimes together if my destiny had not depended upon the greatest and most generous Prince that ever was ¶ Arbates made an end of his Relation thus and casting down his eyes expected the confirmation of that Pardon that had been granted him but Ptolomeus not having learnt so much by his discourse as he desired Tell us said he the order of the City Guards and what number of Soldiers there is in the Town Besides the Inhabitants replied Arbates who most of them bear Arms there are yet Fifteen or sixteen thousand Soldiers Alcetas commands that quarter that is opposite to Craterus his post where he makes Two thousand men go upon the Guard every night which are relieved every Four and twenty hours Andiagoras hath the same charge over against that side where Prince Oxyartes lies with the same order and the same number of men and Antigenes defends those parts towards Artabasus being there is no more of the Town besieged but what stands on this side of the River the greatest force of the Garrison is quartered there and on the other side the Guards are very weak but they intend to strengthen them as soon as you go about to pass the River The Town is provided with Victual for four Moneths and is in a condition to defend it self till relief come which they have sent to demand on every side The Princes had some other Questions to ask Arbates but Oroondates who could not see him without feeling too sensible renewings of his grief having till then endured his presence and his discourse reasonable patiently For Gods sake said he to his Companions dismiss this Fellow and never expect a true Answer to your Demands from a man that hath so little Fidelity in him Go continued he turning toward Arbates Go back again to Roxana Perdiccas and Cassander thy Illustrious Masters and my generous Enemies And since I by thy mouth am informed of their designs and threats let them also hear from the same Mouth what effect that knowledge hath wrought upon me Tell Roxana she hath now too little vertue to make a man in love with her who did not so much as value her when she was more innocent and that the remembrance of her old perfidiousness and that of her last cruelties is too deeply engraven in my minde to leave me other thoughts of her then those of horror and detestation Tell Perdiccas That I neither can endure him as a Friend nor fear him as an Enemy that I equally regard his designs against the life of his rival and his considerations of a Prince beloved of Roxana and that if he will deserve Cassandra he must become more vertuous then he is and dispute her against me with more valor then he hath done hitherto And tell Cassander That I willingly yeild to him in his pretensions to Roxana and that I would do him service if I could possibly in his design upon a person worthy of him That I will not fight with him upon that quarrel but in the intention I have to serve these Princes who prosecute him as the poysner of his King I will make him know if I meet him in the field That to take away the life of Oroondates is no easie enterprise for such a man as Cassander I give thee no Message to my Princess for I know thou wouldst perform it with thy usual Fidelity but if thou hast the honor and hast yet the face to appear in her presence I give
and if Berenice had charms against which they of her own sex could not defend themselves Barsina's were little different for scarce was there in the World a more lovely person The next day was bestowed in visiting those that were wounded the greatest part whereof drew near their cure Thalestris had already left her Bed and Demetrius and his Father were almost well enough to leave their Chambers They thought to have sent the Prisoners whose number was about Seven or eight thousand to some neighboring Towns where they should have been distributed to be kept till the end of the War but when they heard the little care Perdiccas had to free them and the resolution of Leonatus to take part with the Enemy they offered to do the same and after they had given the Princes to understand the purpose they had to serve on their side and that they had been promised all maner of good usage and protection they put themselves under Leonatus and encreased the Army with a very considerable recruit It for some days lay idle staying till the Boats were ready that were in hand and also for the finishing of those Engines which were making and which were necessary to storm the Walls they were so thick that the force of Rams was utterly vain against them and so high that without making great elevations on the out-side they seemed impossible to be scaled All the most industrious Masters of Asia were employed in framing Engines and most part of the Soldiers were set to work about them That business required time nor could it be hoped they would be fit for service of many days but the Boats were ready a great deal sooner and almost at the same time when Thalestris Demetrius Antigonus Polyperchon and all the most considerable of those that had been hurt were in a condition to bear arms again Thalestris was cured of her outward wounds but her inward one was still as bad as ever and then the absence of Orontes whom she could not hate or rather whom she could not cease to love drew the same sighs from her brest which a few days before had been caused by animosity and resentment The remembrance of that repentance he had shewed at their last parting had dissipated the greater part of her anger and since then the perswasions of Oroondates who had employed himself very carefully in that business and her own inclination which had perswaded her yet more powerfully had so mollified her That if Orontes had come back to her again she would easily have been brought to pardon him The young Demetrius cured also of the wounds of his body was in no better estate then she for that of his minde and all that he had suffered for Hermione was light in comparison of what he felt for Deidamia That fair Princess since the Declaration he had made to her had been more reserved toward him then before and though she had visited him afterward while he kept his Bed she had ever avoided the occasions of being alone with him and by all her actions and discourses had taken away part of his confidence yet did she give him signs but of a moderate resentment without any shew of anger or aversion and without being carried by the knowledge of his love to any uncivil or disobeying usage She saw nothing in his person that was not great and lovely and she would have had no repugnance to receive a second affection for him if the memory of Agis had left her the liberty to do so that also was the thing she endeavored to make him understand and it was by the mildest ways she could use that she strove to divert him from an affection which she could not and believed she ought not to approve Demetrius in whom all passions imprinted themselves with violence took all her actions to his disadvantage and though he knew her love was to be bought with greater and longer services then those he yet had done her he could not without trouble consider the little progress he had made toward the gaining of her heart This remembrance caused disquiets in him which would not afford him any rest altered his looks and deprived Antigonus and his Friends of all the consolation which his forgetting of Hermione had given them After that he had been able to leave his Chamber he had shunned all other company but Deidamia's and not being content to avoid the society of his Friends during the day time he bestowed part of the night upon his solitary walks Many times while all the Camp was fast asleep flying a repose that fled from him and not being willing vainly to seek those slumbers in his Bed which nothing but weariness drew sometimes into his watchful eyes he with a slow pace followed the bank of the River and let his roving thoughts abroad in a silence which gave them a fuller liberty The passage to go out and return into the Camp was free to him at all hours among those that were upon the Guard and he made no difficulty to walk without the Line and stray a great many furlongs off The nights were fair and clear and the Moon which was then in its perfectest form imprinted its shining figure upon the stream of Euphrates and discovered objects distinctly enough through all the Plain The yong Prince fixing his eyes sometimes upon that fair constellation which gave light unto his steps sometimes upon the calm Waters of the River which rested then in their usual Bed without the disturbance of the least murmur and sometimes upon a Wood whose gloomy obscurity could not at such an hour present it self to the sight without a kinde of horror found in all maner of objects fresh matter for his passionate thoughts All Creatures said he both upon the Earth and in the Waters do now enjoy a peaceable repose while Demetrius alone watches with the Stars his eyes are open to sources of tears which never must be dried up they are not to be closed by sleep and he wages a more cruel War with his own disquiets then with the Enemies of his Party It is in brief The woful destiny of the infortunate Demetrius that all things should contribute to his ruine and that as if the living were not sufficient for his destruction even the dead themselves should take up arms against him It is enough pursued he that love should have tormented me for what no longer hath a being and that remorse should torture me for having been the death of what I loved but my hard fortune must stir up Hell it self against me and to revenge the dead raises the dead against my happiness If I had living Enemies to combat with I should make use of the little valor the gods have given me but against Agis who no longer is but in the memory of Deidamia What Arms and what Forces can I possibly employ Ah! Fortunate Agis went he on How blessed is thy condition and how glorious should I reckon mine
undergone that painful day Berenice received her Brother and her lover with the transports of her ordinary affection Deidamia Barsina and her Sisters appeared no less joyful then she for that good success and all the Camp welcomed the Victorious Princes with acclamations and rejoycings They gave order to have the bodies sought of the principal men that had been slain in that service to give them another burial then that of Fishes bellies they caused those that were wounded to be dressed and by some sacrifices returned thanks unto the gods for so favorable an event Then they commanded out Forces to make the descent when the Bridges should be finished under the conduct of Demetrius Alexander and Menelaus young Princes who desired that occasion to make themselves famous and it was granted them not having thought it necessary That all the Princes should return thither as they had done then unless the issue should oblige them to it Onely Thalestris was wanting in that brave assembly Hippolita Menalippa and the rest of her women enquired for her with great earnestness and great apprehensions and Oroondates and Berenice were no less troubled then they to know what was become of her at last there were Soldiers found who told them of her adventure and having related all that passed and with what hast she was run after the track of that Stranger to whom she was indebted for her life delivered them from their fears and caused many to take Horse to follow her In the mean while that fair Princess rode with great disquiets in quest of her valiant defender and asking news of him from all she met by the tokâ—ns that had been given her she learnt as she went out of the Camp That he had been seen to get upon a Horse which a man held ready for him without the Line and that he went cross the Fields toward a Wood that appeared about Thirty or forty Furlongs off on the left hand The Queen observed some track of Horses on that side that was shewn her and resolved to follow it with some hope of success in the search she went about Must my ill fortune said she make me ow my life to a man so often without being able to testifie some acknowledgement for my safety But said she again perchance it is not a man whom I am obliged to for it This succor I have twice received in so great a necessity hath something in it that is miraculous and I ought rather to believe that it is a god that it is the protecting angel of the Amazones come down from Heaven to save my life in those extremities The suddenness of what he did in my favor and the suddenness wherewith he twice hath vanished from our eyes marks out something of divinity And if it had been a man he neither would have shunned my thanks nor the praises due to him for such gallant actions Although she spake these words she was not without some suspicion it might be Orontes and that was it rather then any other motive that made her so eager to finde him out But continued she with a sigh what if it should be my cruel my ingrateful my injurious Orontes And what if that repenting Prince for the expiation of his crimeâ— should have sought occasion to satisfie me by services which he hath so usually rendred me What kinde of fortune would mine be and what resolution should I take Should I pardon him that cruel man who hath used me so unworthily and so outragiously Who after having had the possession of my heart forsook me is a person not worthy of his affection and who by his Letters and his Words hath endeavored to fix an everlasting infamy upon my reputation But went she on presently after should I not pardon my lovely Orithia who gave me so brave and so dear assurances of her first affection who was faulty onely by error who offended me onely by an excess of love and who gave so great and so important reparations for her offence She had some other discourses with her self full of irresolution when she entred into the Wood that had been shewed her and there upon the green swarth she lost that track she had followed and wandred about a great while among the Trees That Wood had something more wilde and savage in it then others and was more suitable then ordinary to a melancholly solitary humor The Trees were of an excessive height and with age were almost covered with Moss and Ivy their tufted Branches cast a shade which even at high noon defended a great part of the ground from the Suns most piercing Beams Among the Trees one might see many pieces of Rock over-grown also with Moss and for the most part dropping with a clear Water which moystened the Grass round about them and which with the help of certain little Springs turned insensibly into a little Rivulet The place was rugged and unfit for walking as well by reason of the Rocks as of thick Bryers and Bushes that stopt the passage and shewed it was but very little frequented The Princess roved about a while where it was passable with least inconveniency and though she was almost out of hope she found some pleasure nevertheless in visiting a place so unfrequented and so conformable to that pensive humor she had long been in The Wood was of a large extent and she spent some time in searching through a good part of it at last she came to a little Brook where her weariness and some incommodity she felt by the wetness of her Cloaths and the Water she had swallowed that day constrained her to alight and to take a little rest upon the Grass Her deep musings kept her there so taken up that she spent almost an hour ere she was aware at last remembring the design that had brought her into that Wood and looking on which side she should continue her search she perceived a thing she had not taken notice of before she from the edge of the Brook a good way into the Wood on that side where she had not been observed that the Grass was trampled down by the treading of Men and Horses which seemed to have worn a kinde of path and thereby she suspected that place to be inhabited by some body who for the use of that Rivulet had beaten that little way by having often gone it She began to settle in that belief when she heard a noise and looking round about saw a Horse come trotting down that path he had a Saddle on his back but was without either Bridle or Halter and tossing up his head and neighing at sight of the Amazones Horse he came unto the Brook where he drunk quietly of the Water that rouled along certain little Flints and when his thirst was quenched he took the same path again as a way that was usual to him At this sight the fair Amazone no longer doubted but that she in that place might finde what she was seeking
by your assistance and you shall live by my desire since your death would now be mine and that you have but too much satisfied me without dying These words penetrated so far into Orontes and produced such sudden and such powerful effects in him That in a happiness so little expected his joy was like to have done that in a moment which his grief had not been able to do in many days He with all his force resisted the vehemence of those motions that transported him beyond himself and embracing the knees of that fair Queen with raptures which she easily understood Ah! said he you are my divine Thalestris I know you now by these miraculous marks and no body but Thalestris could have made me pass in an instant from the grave to this supream felicity Vngrateful Orontes does now sufficiently understand the excess of his ingratitude and that of your celestial goodness but since that without horror you can endure this Monster such as he is and that compassion is stronger in your heart then justice What punishment will you ordain this guilty man to settle him again in that estate from which his crimes have thrown him Where will you finde torments that can expiate a part of them In short as full of goodness as you are Where will you finde enough to blot out their remembrance Orontes brought forth these words keeping still upon his knees whatsoever power the Queen could use to make him to rise but in fine being resolved to draw him out of that woful condition and to take all matters of affliction away from him I command you said she to forget your faults since I have lost the memory of them and that you have made amends for them but too fully by your last actions I command you to leave this abode unworthy of you to seek a more delightful company among the Princes who esteem you And finally I command you to take that place again which you heretofore possessed in my affection and with it all those hopes which you had lost As she ended these words she constrained him to rise and fortunate Orontes taking then the liberty to kiss one of her fair hands How unjust are you said he to shew such favor to so guilty a person And how my sufferings ought to be envied since they end in so glorious a conclusion Such was the reconciliation of these two lovers whom too violent resentments had separated for so many years and this reunion was so sweet to them that it seemed as if Heaven had consented to that breach for no other end but that after such sensible afflictions their happiness might be the more perfect and entire Orontes who saw his fortune so different from what it had been a few moments before had much ado to comprehend that admirable change Thalestris who saw her self delivered from those torturing disquiets which had so long made war against her and who found in her dear Orontes as great a fidelity as she could wish was in an extasie of joy little inferior to his and even Lascaris who with his Masters condition saw his own so advantageously changed could not contain the excess of his gladness and having cast himself at the Queens feet assoon as his Master allowed him to do so received from her the acknowledgements that were due to so faithful a servant The Queen would not suffer Orontes to tarry longer in that melancholly Cave but commanding Lascaris to go and make ready Horses she needs would have Orontes put on his Arms immediately in her presence Never had Lascaris received any command more joyfully then that nor ever did Captive that had languished ten years in Irons receive the news of his liberty with a more perfect contentment Orontes was armed and the Horses ready in a little time and the fair Queen leading that solitary lover by the hand out of his gloomy Cave appeared in that action not much different from Hercules when he drew his dearest Theseus out of the black and horrid Dungeons of Hell Although Orontes left his Grot without unwillingness yet could he not go away without looking back upon it with some affection If it were in my power said he favorable Cave I would consecrate thee to the godess of Love as the place where the most passionate of all Lovers hath received the greatest and the most glorious of all fortunes May it please the gods thou never serve for a Den of Lyons and Tygers and mayest thou never be polluted nor prophaned after having been the temple of those Adorations which I have paid to my divine Thalestris The Queen accused Orontes of impiety for these last words but she pardoned all in regard of his passion and at the same time geting on Horseback they crossed through the Wood by a way well known to Orontes and rode toward the Camp when the Sun was upon the point of seting but before they were out of the Wood Thalestris who knew not in what maner and in what Country Orontes had passed his life since his departure out of Cappadocia being desirous to learn something of it It is not just said she that I should be ignorant on what fashion you have lived since you forsook us let me entreat you therefore to give me some account of it during the way we have to go Madam answered Orontes since you are pleased to desire it and that you have already pardoned my faults I will refresh the memory of them by a brief recital of my life which I shall give you in a few words as well because there hath befaln me nothing of great importance as because in so short a way we have but little time to spend in it but being I shall have happiness to be near you I will recount the particularities of it more at large whensoever you shall be pleased to command me The History of ORONTES I Was in Cappadocia where I had the honor to command your Army under the name and habit of Orithia and where by some fortunate successes I had already secured the tranquility of your Frontier when Arethusa one of the principal among those women that had command in the Army and one of those whom you most esteemed being one day come into my Chamber with more hast then ordinary Madam said she I mean to be the first that shall tell you a pleasing news unless perhaps some other body have prevented me I opened my ears at these first words and natural curiosity having moved me to press her that I might hear the business We have hitherto been ignorant pursued she for what design our Queen was gone from Themiscira in so gallant an equipage but I come now from learning the truth of it and you shall know that being obliged by our Laws to give us a Queen that may succeed after her death and not being willing to bring into the world a Daughter that should be unworthy of her she disdained all her Neighbors to cast her
such Eminent Persons a Glory that may establish my highest felicity You ever desrv'd it replyed Oroondates but you have made your selfe more worthy of it by your last actions then by those which made you be condemned of your best Friends and that which makes you merit Thalestris may justly make you merit the affections of vertuous persons For my part dear Cousin went he on embracing him I confesse I had very great resentments against you but that repentance which has obtained the pardon of this fair Queen and the obligation we have to you in what you have done for her safety restore you my affection entirely The remorse I have felt answered Orontes for the offences I had committed against my Queen have been accompanyed with a sorrow for having born Arms against the party of my Prince but as I may excuse my errour of the faults I did against my Love my ignorance also was the cause of those I did against my duty and from the very minute I was cured of both I pass'd from my crime into a suddain and severe repentance Let 's talke no longer of your faults added Prince Artaxerxes since she who therein has the principall interest is willing to forget them and since the Noble Actions you have done in her favour ought more justly and more worthily to possesse your remembrance Orontes never wants the power interrupted the fair Queen to save the life of Thalestris he has done but that twice or thrice in your presence which he had done before upon the wals of Phriney and in the Prison of Neobarzanes Alas sayd Orontes not suffring her to proceed how happy am I in having done these petty services for so good and so gratefull a Princesse and how different would my destiny be from what it is if you should judge me with severity They had enlarged themselves further in this conversation if every body had not passionately desired to hear the truth of that Encounter from the Queen and if the Princess Berenice seconded by her Brother and by her Servant had not pressed her to it very earnestly Thalestris disposed her selfe to obey them and though she could not do it without blushing nor without making appeare some inward disturbance in many places of her discourse she made them a full recital of that Adventure and by relating the words of Orontes the place of his abode and the condition she had found him in drew tears from the eyes of the most hard hearted She was making an end of her Discourse when Araxes Hyppolita Menalippa and some other Amazones who had been abroad to seek her came into the Tent if Hyppolita was ashonished to meet Orontes there Menalippa and her Companions were so a great deale more when in his face they saw all the feature of Orithia's and when they found a man in the person of that valiant Lady who had liv'd so long amongst them not but that they had heard some rumour of it both in their Country after their Queens departure and in the Camp since their arrivall there but they had found some little probability in that adventure that they stood in need of such a confirmation as that to lend a perfect belief to that Report They knew not at first how they should receive such a Metamorphosis but in the end being they bore a great deal of affection and respect unto their Queen they submitted to her inclinations and not judging that her love to Orontes reach'd to the destroying of their Laws and Customs they approv'd it without discontent not being able to condemn any thing in it if it were Platonick and if it went beyond those limits they had as little cause to dislike that she should give them a Queen to succeed her of the bloud of a Prince whose vertue was very well known and whose person had ever been very dear to them although they conceal'd part of their thoughts before that illustrious Company they declared the rest by endearments full of affection which they gave to their ancient Companion And Orontes knowing Menalippa and with her some other women whom formerly she had cherish'd and esteem'd imbraced them with motions full of tenderness and shewed them great expressions of his first affection Valiant Menalippa sayd he to what will you condemn this deceitfull Orithia who under false appearances abused your friendship we will condemn her answered Menalippa to love us as she ha's done heretofore and that 's all the punishment we can impose upon this generous imposter to whom we owe the safety of our Queen Hippolita had her full share in the kindnesses of Orontes and Lassaris renew'd his friendships and his acquaintance among the Amazones The arrivall of Orontes and the satisfaction of Thalestris being very considerable to that illustrious company made that whole evenings entertainment and after having spent it in a conversation which afforded them matter enough they all retired into their Chambers to take their usuall rest Orontes was lodged in Prince Oroondates his Tents Artaxerxes would have no other quarter but being the Tents were very spacious they had their Chambers apart with good conveniency the Princesses lay near them within the same inclosure though their lodgings were separated only Apamia and Arsionoe were retir'd to their Husbands and even Thalestris leaving Menalippa to command in the Amazones quarter would not forsake Berenice Deidamia and Barsina with whom she layd aside her Warlike Humour to live in a society more conformable to their Sex During that night and the beginning of the next day the workmen who were in hand with the Bridges hastened their business with such diligence that two hours before Noon they drew near the other bank and only stayd for the forces that were to sustain them and that were to land to place the last Boats and to finish the work Demetrius who remembred the imployment he was to have that day had begun it in the duties of a Captain experienc'd above his Age and using the clear lights of his understanding had begun to put that in practice which afterward he executed with so much reputation he took a carefull review of those forces that had been assigned him and having drawn them up in Battalia upon the bank of the river he divided those that were to pass over to the other side in Boats from those that were to go upon the Bridge at the head of which he meant to fight himself against those that should oppose his discent Alexander and Menelaus to whom the other Bridge was assign'd laboured on their side with the same Care but when Demetrius had taken such order as was necessary upon the bank he resolved to bestow the time he had left before there was matter to imploy him in visiting Deidamia the remembrance of that fair Princess never forsook him for a moment and considering that the chance of war might make him fall in the perill to which he was going to expose himself he demanded of his
Berenices feet enjoyed the felicity that had been interrupted by his absence and by his jealousie Orontes at those of Thalestris endeavoured to repair his former faults and his former sufferings Demetrius with very great assiduity combated against the fatall thoughts of Deidamia and Barsina who in appearance was in a different condition from those of her companions faild not among so great a number of Princes to find illustrious adorers That beauty attended with all the graces that could set it off had been but a little while among persons capable of sence and understanding without producing its ordinary effects and many of those gallant men were already touched for her with a pain the expression wherof respect made them leave to their looks and sighes Amongst them all Prince Oroondates who was no lesse interessed in Barsina's affairs then in his own took particular notice of Prince Oxyatres and observing part of what he had done in his presence since Barsina's arrivall discovered that his inclinations to that Princesse were far from indifferency hee neither came neer her nor spake to her without changing colour but that effect had been so sudden that it was easie to judge this last sight had rather revived his ancient flames then kindled new ones in him This imagination made the Prince of Scithia call old remembrances to mind and by little and little brought into his memory the discourses hee had heard before Barsina's mariage concerning Oxyatres his affection to her but being in those dayes hee took no particular interest in her fortune he had been ignorant of those passages or had heard them but very lightly He therfore had then a desire to inform himself more fully of that business and he believed he had credit enough with Barâ—â—â—a to demand some trust in what concerned her and to oblige her to tell him freely all hee had a mind to know Prince Oxyatres for all he was Darius his Brother was but ten years older then his Nephew Prince Artaxerxes hee was then hardly above six and thirty there were few men in the World that were of a fairer statute of a more pleasing countenance or of a braver and more magestick fashion in his garb and in all his actions there appeared somthing extreamly suitable to the greatness of his birth and that shew of a Royall dignity that was to be observed in his person extended it self into his maners and might easily bee discovered in all the actions of his life his valour had made it selfe known sufficiently to hearken without envy to the recitall of that of his companions and would have been more famous without doubt if it had not been obscured partly by the fortune of Alexander and partly by the destiny of the house of Persia if Oxyatres was valiant he was also liberall generous and without self interest and by all these noble qualities had gayned the affection and respect of all those Princes that shared in the command with him Oroondates to whom for his vertue and for many other reasons he was more considerable then to the rest looked upon him also with a stricter eye and he no sooner believed him to be in love with Barsina but he entertained the desire of doing him service if it were possible in a design which could nor chuse but bee extreamly honourable to his good friends The more he setled in that thought the more he recalled into his mind the remembrance of those old rumours which time and the importance of his affairs had blotted out of it but desiring a more particular assurance from Barsina's own mouth he sought an occasion to discourse with her of it particularly it was not hard for him to find one and the next morning being gone betimes to the Princess Berenices Chamber hee met Barsina at the door who earlier then the custome of her sex was comming to give her the good morrow Berenice was in Bed and her Chamber with respect forbad Arsaces as well as other men to enter at that time of the day was open to the Prince her Brother and to Barsina Assoon as they had given and returned their mutuall salutations and asked each other the first questions that affection put into their mouths Oroondates prayd his sister to lie a little longer to therby to hinder the visits that might disturb their conversation and afterward being set down by her bed-side with Barsina he took that Princesses hands between his and looking upon her with a smile If you had known sayd he the design I have to persecute you to day perchance you would have avoyded meeting me more carefully then you have done but if I be indiscreet in that enterprize you without doubt have forc'd me to this indiscretion by the little trust and the little friendship you have shewed me I wil ever trust you replyed Barsina with an action like his with whatsoever is most secret and most important to me nor do I think I have reserv'd any thing from you that you desired I should make you acquainted with You persist answered Oroondates in a dissimulation for which you shall suffer punishment before we part and since you have judged me unworthy to be your Confident which I should value more then I do my life I will introduce my selfe into that Honour and to drive my indiscretion to the utmost I 'le make my Sister partaker in it as well to punish your reservations as to oblige you to give her proofs of the friendship which you have promised her But what do you accuse me of interrupted Barsina and what is 't you would now have of me I would have your mouth added the Prince confirme that to us which Prince Oxyatres his actions have already declared I was too much versed in matters of that nature to behold the actions of a Prince in love with as much ignorance as others and that which may deceive them cannot escape the knowledge of a man too well instructed and too much interressed in what concerns Barsina that Oxyatres loves you and that he has lov'd you is a thing in which I find nothing to surprize me but that I should be more ignorant in it then other men and that you should have concealed it from him who would open his heart to you with his own hands if there were any thought in it that would hide it selfe from you that 's it which I will never pardon you without a great reparation Ah! Brother added the Princesse Berenice I protest to you you have prevented me and that I from Prince Oxyatres his actions had drawn a knowledge like that of yours I was not yet familiar enough with this fair Princesse to tell her what I thought but if for your sake I may be received into this confidence which you demand I promise her that I will never abuse it while I live Barsina had not been able to hear Oroondates his words without blushing nor see her selfe exposed to his reproaches without some alteration of countenance
reasonable man that would not with the better part of his bloud buy a felicity like his I would it pleased the Gods went he on that eyther Memnon had not prevented me in the design of serving Barsina or that death might prevent my fear of serving her unprofitably This discourse struck to the bottom of my heart where it pierced me with mortall stings and though my confusions made me silent for a time a trouble which I was not mistresse of made me break it and looking upon Oxyatres with a resenting eye Sir said I your discourse amazes me and I had thought for divertisements of this nature you would have taken another object then Barsina My divertisements Replied Oxyatres Ah! Madam give another name to the most materiall imployments of my life No indeed 't is not Barsina that ought be the object of my divertisements but 't is Barsina who but too much for my repose is the object of all my thoughs and of all my affections this is a declaration that displeases you but 't is a declaration I am forced to by a most tyrannicall power Sir said I interrupting him I am unworthy of the honour you do me but though I should deserve it the good offices you did for Memnon are too fresh in your memory to have a thought so soon of destroying them I served Memnon in his suit to you answered the Prince as long as I could without destroying my self I would serve him yet with the hazard of my life and you may thereby judge how great the violence of that passion is which makes me crosse the fortune of a man whom I have so dearly esteemed I have often told you and told you truly that Memnon was very worthy of love but I never told you neither did I ever believe that his good qualities should forbid all others accesse to Barsina unless they could take away their sight and their judgement for the knowledge of beauty I will never contradict what I have sayd to his advantage but you will not think it strange if I be as industrious for my self as I have shewed my self for a friend I will speak to you more modestly of Oxyatres then I did of Memnon and if I praysed him to you for his valour and his good qualities it shall be by nothing but my passion that I 'le endeavour to recommend my self You are recommendable replied I both by your birth and vertue and by many excellent parts and you shall ever be so to Barsina both as the Kings brother and as one of the persons whom in all the world I ought most to honour if I must answer seriously to your words you 'l give mee leave to say that your change astonishes and afflicts me both together and that I cannot consider these different proceedings without having reason to complain of one of them in the former you conformed your self to the Kings intention to that of my friends and if I dare say so ever to mine own inclination and in the later you thwart all that you before had favoured Hitherto said he I have carried my selfe either as a man without passion or as a man that was master of it and now I do like a man that is not only passionate but like a man that is a slave to his passion I for the reasons you alleadge have resisted this affection which displeaseth you as innocent and as full of respect as it is but all my resistance has serv'd for nothing else but to render it more violent and more imperious In short fair Barsina it is no longer in my power to hinder my self from loving you though to the consideration of Memnon you should joyn all those that ought to be strongest in me and if by them you make me comprehend that I have done amiss and make mee know the greatness of my pain yet can you neither cure me of it nor make mee to repent my fault But Sir replied I infinitely perplext what can you hope for from a person whose engagement is not unknown to you And how great a glory soever it bee to me to be loved by the brother of my King why do you reduce me to the necessity of being ingratefull to your affection I do not pretend answered he to bee considered by Basina as the brother of Darius and should be unworthy of the honour to serve her if I thought to make use of other advantages then those my services can give me my birth has nothing that can exâ—mpt me from servitude and I now protest before you that I will never combat Memnons felicity but by the testimonies of my passion Give way to this design since it cannot be diverted and if I cannot bee loved by you suffer me at least to love you without making the effect of it to be your aversion I must be fain to suffer all said I from a person to whom I ow all but I cannot without a very sensible griefe acknowledge the honour you do me in a season when I cannot receive it without being the most faithless woman in the world To these words I added many others to disswade him from his resolution but hee still continued firm and by the rest of our conversation made me sufficiently understand that he would very hardly be withdrawn from it After that day hee let slip no occasion of expressing his love to me and entertayned me with it every time he had opportunity 't was always with as much respect as I could have exacted from the meanest Persian and with so good a grace that a person lesse preengaged would have found it very difficult to defend her self against him but being I was really possessed with an affection to Memnon which he had extreamly well deserved and that besides that tie I was many ways obliged by my honour to keep the constancy I owed to him I could not receive the proofs of Prince Oxyatres love as other then causes of a very just affliction I had liv'd some time in these discontents when to bring me some consolation in them Memnon returned to Persepolis after having done the King marvellous good service in his Commission and brought the Rebells of Susiana under a perfect obedience The King received him with great demonstrations of friendship all the Court welcom'd him with a great deal of honour and I did all that modesty and decency permitted me to testifie that his absence had not altered my inclinations He had determined in his return to demand from my Father and from the King himself the last effects of their good wills but at his arrivall he found the Court in preparations for the voyage that was thought upon for Scithia whither the King exasperated by the losse of certain troops that had been cut in peeces upon the frontiers resolved to go in person and to take all the Royall family along with him 'T was partly for that reason that the King had made him hasten his return and having discoursed
with him in privat touching his designs for that intended war obliged him to defer that of his marriage the little desire I had to engage my self under that yoke so suddenly made me approve of his considerations nor did I think it strange that so warlike a spirit should give it self wholly to an Expedition of such consequence He forgot nothing in the mean while that could make appear the greatnesse of his love and expressed the troubles our separation had caused in him in tearms that made mee think him yet more lovely then hee had seemed to me before his departure I would not entertain him so quickly with the love of Prince Oxyatres and believed he would know it but too soon without my being hasty to tell him of a thing which he could not hear without discontent neither was it needfull I should take that care upon me for the third day after his coming home Prince Oxyatres himselfe saved me that labour he was confident it could not be long e're he would learn the truth and therefore he resolved to declare it to him himselfe in a fashion something extraordinary Having found him at the Kings rising in the Morning he made much of him as he had been accustomed to do though in his face a suspicious body might have discovered the alteration of his heart and having intimated that he had a minde to talke with him in private he led him out of the Chamber into a Gallery close by there they took three or four turns discoursing only of indifferent matters but when Prince Oxyatres saw there was no company near and believed he might speak without being over-heard after having look'd in Memnon's face with an action that was not ordinary he began thus You would be strucken brave Memnon at the discourse I have to make to you if you had not a courage great enough to hear stanger Novelties without being daunted and yet perchance for all you are so accustomed to all maner of Events you will not be able to heare the confession I am going to make without being surprised I was willing it should be rather from my own mouth then any other bodies that you should be informed of the offence I have done you since in avowing it I may represent my weaknesse to you better then another and alledge the power that has made me faulty toward you In a word Valiant Memnon I love Barsina and 't is only by the losse of my liberty I have offended you The Gods are my witnesses that for your consideration I defended my selfe a long time and that the remembrance of what I ow'd to you to our friendship and to the services you have done the Persian Empire made me for a great while oppose the violence of a passion which is become too imperious to be resisted any longer I love Barsina and if without dying I could keep my selfe from loving her I would certainly do it for your sake but since 't is an attempt I cannot hope for over my selfe being so far engaged suffer what my destiny has ordained in spite of me and suffer him to be your Rivall who has ever been your Friend and whose ancient affection is not alienated by the birth of this new one Oxyatres perhaps would have sayd more if the sadnesse he observ'd in Memnons face at so unexpected a discourse had not hindred him from going on in effect he was so surpris'd and so afflicted together that as he afterward confessed to me he in all the accidents of his life had never been in so strange a perplexity He had alwayes born a great respect and even a great affection to the person of Prince Oxyatres but he had so great a zeale and so great a love to the King to whom he believed he ow'd all that was possible that he held whatsoever concern'd him in a most sacred veneration that was it that caused his most sensible discontent and he made it sufficiently known to the Prince by his silence and by the alteration that appear'd in his countenance yet having a mighty courage he strove to receive it with dejection and lifting up his eyes from the ground where he long had kept them fixt to turn them upon Oxyatres face he answered him in these tearms With what greatnesse of courage soever you are pleased to flatter me you ought not to think it strange Sir that in the confession you have made me I find much matter of griefe and of astonishment I am astonished that a Prince to whom I am indebted for a part of my happynesse and whom by a zeale not inconsiderable I thought I had obliged to my protection rather then to my ruine should have changed his inclinations for my destruction and should go about to take that from me with inhumanity which I believed I held from the King and from himselfe rather then from the merit of my person or that of my services and I am afflicted that Fortune having a will to raise me up a Rivall should have rais'd me up the only man that I could fear and the only man that could tryumph over me by all maner of advantages if among all the Persians or perhaps among all the Inhabitants of Asia any other but Prince Oxyatres should unjustly assault my Fortune I would without doubt defend it and defend it perhaps to his confusion I would make use of those Arms which are dayly imployed for the service of your House I would make use of a good number of generous Friends and for my greatest advantage I would make use of that friendship wherewith you heretofore have honoured me but being to dispute it against Prince Oxyatres I can draw no maner of assistance neither from those Arms I weare to fight for him and his nor from that friendship which his passion has cruelly extinguished I cannot Sir I cannot dispute any thing against you and you may take Barsina from me both by the greatnesse of your Birth and Authority and by the merit of your person I know that I ought to yield to you in all things yet can I not yield Barsina without giving my life up to you with her the respect I ow you has not that Empire upon my love but if my life be contrary to your satisfaction I know how to give it you with the same courage that makes hazard it every day for the service of all that has relation to you Oxyatres was touched with these words but they wrought no effect upon his passion and being willing to expresse his intentions to Memnon I do not pretend sayd he that my Birth and the Ranke I hold in Persia should give me any advantages over you and for the Conquest of Barsina I 'le make no use of that which I account to be below her and below your Vertue if you can fear me for a Rivall 't is only as the Lover of Barsina and not as the Brother of Darius for I mean not to dispute her against you by
tearms of war hinders mee from speaking of the march of our Army and of our first successes After a great many of dayes we came to the bank of the Araxis and upon Bridges of Boats that were prepared our Forces passed that River and encamped in the Territories that obeyed the King of Scithia The King and the chief Commanders would have had the Ladies stay on this side the River but they all together opposed that motion and the Queens protested that since the King had brought them so far they would follow him whither so ever he went You know Sir all that passed of any consequence at that time and I will only tell you and the Princess your sister who is much lesse instructed in them those matters wherein I have some interest We hardly were beyond the River when we heard that the King your Father with all the forces of Scithia was comming to meet us and the next day after our Scouts discovered your foremost Troups who came to encamp within half a dayes march of ours You are not ignorant Sir of all the skirmishes that happened in those beginnings and as you made your self renowned by a thousand gallant actions on your side on ours yong Artaxerxes in those first trialls of his Arms acquired a marvellous reputation but Oxyatres and Memnon prickt with emulation and engaged by the propositions they had made ran on mutually to extraordinary exploits and by the report of those that came off those services did actions that were altogether wonderfull Perchance you may remember one encounter which was the most bloudy of all that passed beyond the Araxis and which might deserve the name of a Battell though the whole Armies fought not in it since on both sides there were above twenty thousand men left dead upon the place I remember it very well sayd Oroontes interrupting Barsina it was to gain a rising ground which was of advantage to each party that the Cavalry was insensibly engaged we contested for it with a great deal of bloud and there it was I received my first wound The Troups went on Barsina were already mingled and slaughter had brought disorder amongst them when Prince Oxyatres seeing Memnon who bloudy all over hewed open his passage with his sword amongst your men came up to him with a loud cry and placing himself by his side Memnon sayd he do you see yon'd red Standard about which the greatest force of the Scithians appears and where without doubt their most considerable Captains fight in person Memnon having cast his eye that way where Oxyatres pointed I see it answered he and if I be not deceived 't is the King of Scithia's own Standard since there are so great a number of men that defend it There it is replied Oxyatres that we must seek for Barsina or for death we must either perish or bring off that glorious mark of valour Le ts on Memnon and see to which of us Fortune will give that advantage Saying these words hee flew with his sword in his hand into the midst of the Scithians and Memnon excited with some resentment for seeing himself prickt with honour in such an occasion in stead of answering ran whither glory calld him with an impetuousness like his I have heard them say who were present at this action that never two men fought more generously that emulation had like to have been fatall to both of them and they rushed headlong into dangers where in all probability they should have met with death but Fortune was more favourable to them and those that followed them were so animated by their example that they broâ—k the Scithian Squadron in that place and the thrung of those that environâ—d the Standard upon which they had set their aim being opened by their fury they that defended it neerer were either routed or cut in peeces and he that bore it was beaten down with two blows given him at the same time by Memnon and Oxyatres they both ceaz'd upon it at the same instant but as soon as Memnon cast his eye upon Oxyatres he puld back his hand which he had thrust forth and being willing to yeeld him the glory of that action The Standard Sir sayd he is yours and mine the honour of having seconded you No Memnon replyed Oxyatres I will not rob you of your part in a glory which is equall between us and I am not ill satisfied to divide it with you With these words he gave the Standard into the hand of those that followed them and turning another way carryed new markes of his Valour thither Here Oroondates interrupting Barsina That which you tell me sayd he is very true 't was indeed the Kings Standard which we lost in that encounter and 't was a Nephew of Arsacomes that carryed it but the King my Father was not in the field that day and he comforted himselfe for the losse of his Standard by the gaining of that piece of ground for which we had fought In all other occasions pursued Barsina Prince Oxyatres did almost on the same fashion and he hardly ever saw any danger into which he invited not Memnon and into which he did not precipitate himselfe with him Memnon sought not those occasions but being stung to the quick neither did he avoyd them and though in his discourse he yielded all to Oxyatres yet he disputed all with him by his actions this maner of proceeding had like often to have been their destruction and was the cause that they sometimes committed faults in poynt of their commands by fixing themselves too eagerly upon particular actions The King himselfe blamed them for it many times but it was hard to convert Oxyatres who had undertaken either to eclipse the glory of Memnon by the lustre of his own or make him perish in the dangers to which he exposed him dayly or force him to quit his pretensions to me by the difficulties he raised him up In the mean while they both saw me every day and Prince Oxyatres expressed his passion to me by such obliging and such pleasing markes that if indeed I had not been prepossessed and prepossessed with a great deale of justice I should not have been unsensible of it He chanced to be one day alone with me and taking his time to entertain me with more liberty then he did in company Shall I never bend you sayd he to me and will you see me languish eternally at your feet without testifying at least that my pains are not unpleasing to you Any other body but your selfe if they were not sensible of love would yet be touch'd with compassion and not let her selfe be so far dazled with a first affection but that she would still have eyes to judge of those that love and serve her Is my passion or my person the more despicable because another lov'd you before me and may I not repair for the time to come what I lost in times past by having imployed some years of my
your own that of Nearchus they have been long at your owne disposing but wee l beseech you to make use of them to regaine us what we have lost wee l talk no longer to Perdiccas of Exchange but since your health permits you may retire if you please to Babylon and when you are among those of your Party you 'l remember the request we make you to restore us Prince Oroondates Seleucus esteemed this motion of Artaxerxes and this maner of cariage so obliging that he knew not where to find words to expresse the sence he had of it wherefore hee remayned a while without reply considering which way he should receive the civility of the Princes but having spent some moments in that thought By the former triall I made said he at last of my credit with Perdiccas I ought to have lost all the hope I had in his friendship neither will I any more ground a confidence upon it nor is it for our enlargement that I will promise you that of Prince Oroondates that exchange would bee too unequall and there is nothing amongst us all that can pay the value of so pretious a liberty but since you are pleased I should make use of that you offer me I le goe into the City with Nearchus where wee l imploy our utmost power to get the Prince of Scithias freedom and if our indevours prove ineffectuall I give you my word that wee l return to you and that wee l bring back with us all the forces we have in Babylon You are free without condition replyed Artaxerxes and though we should not be able to regaine the Prince by your mediation you are not at all engaged to returne to us but if after that last proofe you judge Perdiccas unworthy of your assistance and of your friendship we shall receive them both according to the inclination and esteeme we have for your Vertue Seleucus and his Companion answered these words in tearmes full of acknowledgement and after having spent some time in prosecuting that conversation and in giving order for their departure they tooke leave of the Princes with great demonstrations of friendship and went toward the Gâ—tes of Babylon with a Convoy suitable to their Quality But before they came neare unto them they were overtaken by Araxes who begged of them to carry him with them into the Towne and to procure if they could possibly that he might continue with his Master in case he should not be released they promised him to doe the best they could and having prayed them to request the same favour for Cleone who desired also to go and wait upon her Mistresse he went along with them as if he had been one of their retinue The Princes gave in charge to those that convoyed them that they should propose a Truce for two dayes to fetch off the dead that lay in the Moat and to give them buryall during which time they also permitted them to bury those of Nabarsanes his Party wherewith the Ground was covered for many furlongs and they in the interim engaged themselves not to make any attempt nor do any thing in prosecution of their Worke. The Princes being parted from one another Artaxerxes and Oxyatres went to visit Berenice and Barsina who at that time and almost alwayes were together and to whom as almost equally interressed they desired to confirme the Newes they had already sent them of Oroondates his being alive The Princesses found a great deale of comfort in it and received such welcome Messengers very favourably Artaxerxes was not ignorant of his Unckles passion and had a purpose to serve him in it as much as possibly he could Berenices intentions were the same as well for the interest of Barsina as that of Prince Oxyatres wherefore they both gave him the liberty to entertain her and he whose passion was really kindled again with more violence then it had been in former years could not see himselfe in those tearms without discovering by the changes of his countenance how sensible he was of such opportunities he began to discourse with that Princesse in a way that shewed lesse confidence then in probability he should have had after so long an acquaintance with her and from that timerousnesse Barsina drew a just computation of the greatnesse of his love They talked a while of Prince Oroondates whose being taken did then almost wholly possesse the thoughts of his friends but from that discourse Oxyatres took occasion to fall into another You are very sensible sayd he to Barsina of Oroondates his misfortune as indeed you ought to be both to acknowledge the esteem he has of you and to follow that which all the World has of him I commend a sensibility grounded upon so much reason but since you are capable of it for another why do you want it for Oxyatres whose life has been yours from the earliest years of your own I never was unsensible replyed Barsina either of the qualities of your person or of the affection wherewith you heretofore were pleased to honour me and you without doubt should receive from my acknowledgement and from my esteem what I now pay to the misfortune of Oroondates if you were in the like condition Ah! Cousin answered Oxyatres believe it I am no more at liberty then Oroondates and my imprisonment though it be more glorious and more pleasing then that he suffers amongst our Enemies is not yet lesse strict nor lesse difficult to be escaped I stand more in need then he of that compassion you expresse for his disaster I need it more then I did in the first years of my affection and when upon the Frontiers of Scythia I was like to have dyed for you I was not so fit an object for your pitty as I am in the present condition my Love has brought me to I had thought replyed Barsina something out of countenance that a good number of years had worn a person out of your memory whom you un justly enough had placed there and I have more reason then ever to believe it now that the better part of my Youth is past and that my years and my afflictions have taken away what you might have accounted lovely in my face she could not end these words without a smile and indeed she had spoken them with a great deale of injustice she was then but in her seven and twentieth year and neither her age nor her many crosses had made her lose any thing of her former Beauty Oxyatres who with very much reason thought her handsomer then ever she had been could not suffer the wrong she did her selfe and setting off his discourse exceeding gracefully If I did not know sayd he that you speak against your own thought I should call the eyes of a thousand witnesses against you who will all acknowledge the advantage you have now above that of your former years neither the Beauties of your Body nor the Beauties of your Minde had ever attain'd
into her chamber presently after and having heard her new causes of affliction she sought out all the words her affection could put into her mouth to give her consolation their last hope was in the assistance they expected from Prince Artaxerxes their Brother and their sorrow was a little moderated by the remembrance of that Great Princes being alive and by that of the succour they might probably look for from a man of that Reputation seconded by the Valiant Lysimacus and by their generous and invincible Companions But Roxana's mind was at no better quiet then those of the two Princesses and her love made her endure whatsoever was least supportable to them in their captivity and in the rest of their misfortunes she saw the most potent Party of the World armed at her Gates for her destruction and who by the first and most important successes ought in likelyhood to hope for the last advantages she saw Enemies within her walls not doubting but that Seleucus was sufficiently incensed to harbour thoughts of revenge against her she had heard of the defeat of her Allies in whose reliefe she had grounded part of her hopes she was persecuted by a bruitish man whom shee saw ready every moment to vent his fury in some bloudy attempt and by the testimony of her owne conscience she believed both Heaven and Earth to be her Enemies yet all this touched her not so deeply as Oroondates his scorne that cruell remembrance made her neglect all care of her affairs and hardly left her so much as a minutes rest When she returned out of the Garden where she had had that unpleasing discourse with Cassander shee went to the lodging of her Prisoner though she had incited him once that day already and as she passed by the Guard she had set upon him shee commanded their Captain to have an exact care of his person and to defend it to the last gasp against all those that should attempt to hurt him Shee used that caution for his safety by reason of Cassanders threats believing him capable to flie upon some violent design Oroondates who received her visits with a great deal of wearisomness had much adoe to settle his countenance to what civility seemd to require from him but Roxana was not repulsed thereby though it was a mortall grief to her to see those continuall marks of his aversion and drawing neer him with a dissembling look Well cruell Oroondates said she will you for ever be my enemy and will you not open your eyes at last to see the faults you commit both against your own happiness and against the gratitude you ow to my affection Do you not consider that I neglect all my interests to preserve you and that I put both my affairs and even my very life in a manifest danger to defend you from Enemies which your fortune hath stird up against you Had it not been for this protection wherwith I have powerfully sheltred you both they from whom you take the love of Statira and they from whom you take Roxana would ere now have powred upon you whatsoever their jealousie could suggest unto them will you be insensible of these last obligations as you have hitherto been of former ones and if you disdain the happiness and the glory which you might find in the acknowledgement I demand of you do you not think that even generosity it selfe obliges you to use some violence upon your inclinations in favour of a Queene who is as obstinate in loving you more then her selfe as you are in hating her for all her love But you your selfe Madam replied the Prince somewhat briskly doe not you believe your selfe obliged by that generosity you alleadge to leave him at least some liberty of mind from whom you have taken that of his body and if it be true that you bear me that good wil wherof I acknowledge my selfe most unworthy do you think to expresse it to me by effects so contrary to their cause Doe you believe a heart can be changed by persecutions and if mine were capable to be so do you judge it could be by the usage I receive from you While I was free I defended my selfe well enough from those Enemies against whom you have taken my protection and now I am their Prisoner or yours I had rather die by their hands then by the mischiefs which you make me suffer and which nevertheless you would have me receive as proofs of your affection Ah what do you suffer ingratefull man said the Queen what do you suffer that might not make all Prisoners of War to envy your condition I suffer answered Oroondates an imprisonment very different from that the Prisoners of your Party found with us I suffer for the captivity of my Princesse I judge of her torments by mine own since she is in the power of a man whose inclinations are suitable to yours I bear her absence a great deal more impatiently then when I was far from her nor can I from this affection to which you would have me think my self so indebted obtain the liberty to see her so much as for a moment No added Roxana you shall never obtain it and I would rather kill my Rivall with my own hands then consent unto that cruell enterview which you demand but to compleat the ruining of my hopes Nor shall you replied Oroondates ever obtain one word from me or one moment of compliance more Do kill her the Daughter of your King and by that action you will but finish what you had so generously begun your heart already is enough disposed unto that crime to be the actor of it without reluctancy and you must never hope that hee who could not love you in a more innocent estate can cast his eyes upon you when by your cruelty you shall have drawn upon your self the imprecations even of those that had no interest in it The Queen was stung so deeply with these words that her anger shewed it self in the rednes of her face and beholding Oroondates with an offended eye You are said she the most ungratefull man alive and the most unworthy of this affection which you have so insolently abused if I could obtain of my heart what my lawfull indignation has reason to demand you should never see me but as your most cruell and irreconcileable Enemy but such as I am fear to drive mee to extremity and by the remembrance of those cruelties wherwith you reproach me every moment judge what I may be capable of when I shall be prompted by despair I hold you capable of any thing replied the Prince except of making Oroondates love you and neither your threatnings nor your kindnesses shall ever work my minde to thoughts which are worthy only of Cassander Roxana heard not these last words distinctly for when Oroondates spoke them she was already gone out of his Chamber Hardly was she gotten to her own when Perdiccas came in they presently read their resentments in
forbidden it and commanded him to sit down by her upon a Chair that stood near her bed-side The Princes agitation of minde had seiz'd him in such maner that the Queen was fain to break silence first and beholding him in his extasie with motions full of affection Am I then permitted to see you again sayd she and has the cruelty of mine Enemies yielded to the only favour I have asked them I had not hoped for this only satisfaction I was capable to receive and was disposing my selfe to die without expecting this sweet consolation in my misfortunes The Queen spake to him in these tearms testifying by her looks how dear his sight was to her and the Prince who recovered courage by his discourse and who had had a little time to recollect himselfe replyed Madam I had not thought this blessing had befallen me by your means and I had prepared my selfe for it with fear of displeasing you remembring how carefully you had shun'd the occasions of it while you had the liberty to grant it me while I was in the same house with you and while the report of your death had brought me so near unto my Grave At that time indeed if I may be permitted to use some reproach against my Soveraign you might with more facility then now Madame have drawn me out of the deplorable condition I then was in I was dying for the rumour of your death and you were alive close by me to see me die without shewing any marke of compassion for my death my presence was then so odious to you that you preferr'd a cruell captivity amongst your most cruell Enemies before it in a season when you had so much need of the services of all that honour you and my life was so little deaâ— to you that you would not secure it by a bare knowledge of yours The Prince would have enlarged himselfe further in these complaints if the Queen had not thus interrupted him They that made you this Relation if they did faithfully recount my life and if they be of those to whom my thoughts were known may have told you the Reasons I had to use a cruel violence upon my inclinations to keep my selfe within the limits of my duty Your â—ight was very dear to me your assistance would have been most welcome and what you sufferrd for me found as great a sencibility in my heart as ever you could have desired from it but I ow'd so much to the memory of so Great a Husband who was dead but two dayes before that any other remembrance save his would have been criminall in me and without destroying my reputation and making my selfe unworthy of your esteem I could not cast my selfe into the arms of a man that had lov'd me and that lov'd me still when the King my Husband had not so much as received the honours of enterment It would be harder for me to justifie my selfe to another then to you my dear Oroondates in whom vertuous thoughts do easily make impression and usually weigh down the scale against your interests No I could not see you without doing my selfe an injury and yet I visited you I sought you to your very bed and to give my selfe that satisfaction I put my honour in the greatest hazzard that ever I had done in all my life How great repentance soever that action was like in probability to have drawn after it I passed over all maner of considerations to follow the incitements of my affection and I was already disposed to let you see me and to discover my selfe to you when the violence of my enemies pull'd me away from you and deprived me of the means of effecting my resolution If 't were by Cleone as I believe it was that you have been instructed in my life you heard from her in what maner I bâ—â—e that seperation what your remembrance has made me suffer since and what tears and lamentations I bestowed on the memory of what I ow'd you The Queen pronounced these words in so tender and so passionate a way that the Prince repented he had so reproached her and being desirous to expresse his sorrow for it I ask you pardon Madam said he for the complaints which were drawn from my mouth by an unjust resentment you are incapable of erring and 't was not by reproaches I should have begun so deare and so desired a conversation These marks of your goodnesse are a full reparation for all that I have suffered hitherto and though with the years I have spent in serving you I should have given a thousand such lives as mine I should be too gloriously recompenced by your remembrance Since happy Oroondates continued he kissing one of her fair hands ha's not lost the place hee heertofore had in your heart he ha's no reason to bewail his fortune your will shall ever make the better part of it and that which depends upon the Gods and upon the chance of war is too inconsiderable to oppose that which I hold from my Princesse goodness But Madam am not I obliged by this knowledge I have of it to render you some account of the persecutions I suffer from our cruell Enemy Would it had pleased the Gods pursued he with a sigh that I had done so in times past then perhaps by a small fault against discretion I might have avoided these tedious miseries that have made me shed so many tears Roxana torments me if I may say so with modesty Roxana would have me love her Roxana would have mee cease loving you nor had she suffered me to see you but to have me tell you that I ought only to bee hers and that I never can be yours And Perdiccas replied the Queen would not have consented to this enterview but that he desired my mouth should let you know that I will never bee but his and that you ought to lose all the hopes you have in my affection And do you believe said the Prince that I can obey Roxana Or do you think added the Queen that I ought to do what Perdiccas would have me What you ought to do is so perfectly known to you replied the Prince that I will never take the liberty to counsell you this I am sure of that if I had a thousand lives to lose I would give them up all to the rage of my enemies rather then bestow a moment of them upon other thoughts then those of living and dying for you but I dare not demand a like proofe of your affection as well because I have not deserved it as because if we ought to fear our enemies threats it would be fatall to you peradventure I shall never obtain from the care I have of your safety so much forgetfulnesse of mine own as to advise you to love Perdiccas since he is unworthy of your affection in regard both of the defects of his person and of the injuries he ha's done you but neither can I perswade you to love this
knowing who he was flew so suddenly at him that his fatall sword finding passage through his body in a place ill defended by his Arms appeared all bloudy on the other side and layd Cassanders brother dead at the foot of his companions Behold cryed the Prince seeing him fall behold a victime which I offer to the Ghost of Alexander and a just execution of one of his perfidious poysoners These words and the death of Iolas pierced so deeply into Cassander that despiâ—ng the danger there was in comming neer his enemy he would have run to meet a certain destiny in the point of his Arms if many of his men had not interposed who all falling at once upon the Prince reduced him to the greatest extreamities in which he had ever been Many of those that fought for him had already lost their lives and the rest forced by the abundance of their enemies gave ground apace defending themselves and compeld their valiant leaders either to retire with them or let their enemies have the satisfaction of taking away their lives too easily Seleucus who had yet some hope in Nearchus counselled the Prince to yeeld a little to the multitude and by that advice obliged him to retreat before a world of enemies that hotly prosecuted him he quitted the place to them with a great deal of trouble but still shewing them a fearlesse countenance and keeping them at a distance from him by the greatnes of his blows they drove him back on that maner to the end of a street that brought them to the Key and there having more liberty to enlarge their front they put them in greater danger then before He still retired from them with Seleucus and still the small number of his men made opposition till they came to the great stone Bridge that divides the Town into two equall parts that place was something favourable to them for spreading their soldiers the whole breadth of the Bridge they put themselves in such a posture that they could not be charged any where except in front but wearinesse began to lessen their strength though they had yet been so fortunate as to have received but very little hurts and it was evident that without some speedy succour they could not protract their fate much longer In the mean while Roxana had no sooner seen her Pallace clear of enemies but she went down into the Court where she had rallied all the men she could see in a condition to fight shee yet found three or four hundred and at the same time saw seven or eight hundred Draches and Argeans who were comming up with great affection to serve her and who among all other Nations were they on whom she had the greatest power she then resolved to make use of it to requite Perdiccas in his own kind and in taking revenge upon a man that had offended her take also the life of her Rivall deprive her of the means of drawing benefit from the liberty she had given to Oroondates I have saved my ungratefull Scithian said shee from the cruelty of Perdiccas but I do not mean Statira shall be the better for his safety and if I had not saved him for my selfe I will bee sure not to have saved him for my Rivall With these words she placed her selfe at the head of those men and after they had loudly protested to her that they would follow her any whither without consideration shee marched in fury toward the house where the two Princesses were kept Alcetas had staid to guard it for some time but when he thought there was nothing more to be feared from Roxana and that he had heard Seleucus with his men were fighting with Perdiccas and that Nearchus was gone to set the gates open to the enemy hee beleeved hee could no longer stay with honour in that house while all his Companions were engaged in fight wherfore leaving three hundred of his men to defend It hee was marched away with the rest to seek in what place his assistance would be most necessary No sooner was he gone but furious Roxana came and presently seeing the gate was guarded shee commanded her soldiers to break in and put all to the sword that made resistance They found a great deal more then they expected from the small number of their enemies for being valiant men and faithfull to Alcetas they with successe did long make use of the advantage of the place to supply the difference in number they shot arrows exceeding fast from the top of the gate and from the windows and kept their enemies a great while in play by that defence but they at last were so encouraged by Roxana's cries that in spite of all opposition they got up to the gates and having beaten them open entred the Court and drove Alcetas his soldiers as far as the stairs there they made head again to win time for the comming of relief and there they slew a great many of Roxana's men and stopt their progresse a good while longer The fair Queen Statira and the Princesse her sister having heard that noise and partly guessed the cause of it ran to a window that looked into the Court and there they saw cruell Roxana who was come in thither after her men had made themselves masters of it and who by inciting words pressed them still forward to an absolute victory That sight begot not so much fear in those great Princesses as to make them stoop to any thing unworthy of their great courage and the illustrious Widow of Alexander beholding her cruell Rivall with disdain Compleat thy crimes Roxana cried shee carry them on to the highest degree and if thou hast abandoned Oroondates to the rage of Perdiccas wreak thy malice without further delay upon her whom hee abandons unto thine thou never oughtest to hope that Oroondates if he be alive can love a Monster black with so many horrid crimes and if thou canst reap no other advantage by my death thou at least maiest thereby revenge the contempt hee ha's of thee Roxana heard these words distinctly enough but being they put her to confusion by the knowledge of her faults she made no answer and heartned up her men in such a maner that in the end their enemies were constrained to quit the stairs and retire disorderly into the Hall Thither they pursued them with such haste that they had not time to shut the door and there despair made them fight a little longer which was a means to retard but not divert Roxana's intentions Then did these two great Princesses no longer doubt but that the end of their life was come yet in that fear they did not any thing that misbecame their greatnesse and if they made shew of any griefe 't was only out of a sence wherwith neernesse of bloud and affection inspired them mutually The Queen embracing the Princesse her sister and bathing her face with tears shed out of love to her Dear sister said she if it
since was master of the greatest part of the Earth This consideration ties me to much severer rules then if I had been in another condition and all my engagements to your love and to your services cannot hinder Alexanders Widow from being accused of lightness if after the loss and the so late loss of such a Husband she can consent to give her self unto another All the world that was concerned in his life and in his death looks with another eye upon my actions then if I were only the Daughter of Darius and all the world could not chuse but wonder that I should turn my thoughts upon any man after the losse of him that extended his Dominion over all others of him who by his glory had obscured all those that went before him and perhaps all those that shall live after him and who had seated me in the most considerable place of the whole Universe While the Queen spake thus Oroondates his face grew pale but Artaxerxes was enflamed with an excessive colour and the different motions of those two Princes seemed to precipitate one of them into the grave and transport the other into a violent anger and resentment What sister cried the impatient Artaxerxes is it with these scruples you mean to repay the services of Oroondates and will you kill us both by your ingratitude 'T is I alone will die added the King of Scithia with a feeble voice and I 'le die without complayning if my Queen pronounce the sentence of my death You shall not die my dear Oroondates said the Queen falling upon him with open arms and I my selfe will die a great deal rather then give you any reason to accuse mee I have represented to you all the considerations that might crosse the happiness I wish for you I have told you what the world would censure in this you desire of me but now I tell you that to satisfie what I ow you and to follow my inclination I 'le passe over all these maximes and over all the considerations of peoples discourse to give my self wholly to you I had rather bee accounted light and imprudent by them that know you not then faithless and ingratefull in your opinion I am yours by too powerfull reasons to be ever able to retire and would it pleased the Gods that in giving my self to you I could give you something more worthy of you and of your love I do not wrong the memory of Alexander by bestowing my self on a successor not inferiour to him either in birth or vertue and one who might have extended his conquests as far as he if his passion for me had not given him other imployments then that of invading his neighbours territories Live then with an assurence continued she offering him her hand not only that Statira will never be anothers for that 's a thing wherof you are already certain but that shee will bee yours by lawfull wayes whensoever you shall desire it This answer was solemnized with an acclamation of the whole Company who with an extraordinary joy saw the conclusion of a fortune in which their own seemed to be involved Oroondates could not find words that were able to express the height of his contentment and shewed it only by embracing the Queens knees and by doing many other actions full of transport and extasie His happy successe made all the rest to think at the same time which way they might bring their pains to the like conclusion Artaxerxes was not disquieted with any doubt and having often had assurance from his Princesses mouth that shee would give her self to him as soon as the King her Brother should desire it he was too confident of Oroondates his friendship to enter into any distrust of his happiness And indeed hee then received very potent considerations of it for the King of Scithia turning toward him after having spent some time in the expressions of his joy Brother sayd he now that by my Queens goodness and by yours I have attayned the top of my felicity I cannot but desire our satisfactions should be equall and since you judge my sister worthy of your affections she shall be yours the same day the Queen shall vouchsafe to consummate my happiness I wish that with her I could restore you the Empires you have lost but I know your vertue disdains them or can recover them by that sword which may make you aspire to the most glorious conquests and in the interim dear Brother give me leave to resign one halfe of a reasonable spacious Empire which the Gods have left me It is equally divided you know one part in Asia the other in Europe and Mount Imaus makes the seperation of them You if you please shall have the Asiatique Scithia where you shall raign with the Authority that I shall have in Europe I offer you that as being neaâ—er to those Countries upon which you may have some design and with it I offer you not only all the other not only the strength of all my Dominions to assist you for the recovery of yours but even the lives of my selfe and of all my Subjects which you may dispose of with a most absolute power Oroondates spake on this maner and the Prince of Persia having harkned to him with attention Brother replyed he after the Gift of Berenice there is no Empire that I can consider and I prefer my Princesse not only before that which was the King my Fathers but before the Monarchy of all the Earth yet do I not refuse the effect of your generous Friendship and if I accept not of that part of your Kingdome which you offer â—e 't is because I shall believe I raign in all places wheresoever my dear Brother shall command and that I will not possesse any thing that can be seperated from your Domiâ—ion I 'le retire into Scithia with you and when I shall have breathed there a while in the felicity you allow me I 'le make use of those Forces you offer me to reestablish my selfe if it be possible in part of those Territories that were ours and to give my Princesse a Crown that may not suffer her to fall beneath her Dignity I 'le begin the War upon the Parthians upon the Hircanians and their Neighbours and 't is on that side I hope with your assistance and that of the Gods to establish a Monarchy over the Countries our Enemies possâ—sse without pretending to the recovery of those which Fortune has bestowed upon our Friends Artaxerxes declaed his intentions thus and Oroondates protested to him once more that if he would not accept of halfe his Kingdome he should have it all and that he would not exercise any Authority that should not be common to them both Lysimachus was then at the â—eet of Parisatis where by the Queens example he endeavoured to draw assurances of his happynesse from her mouth She had no repugnance in her heart to grant him them and she was so much indebted
the trees till coming near a great Oak he saw words cut into the bark of it and then looking about upon the other trees which were nearest to it he saw they were almost all marked with the same Characters he drew near without designe and lifting up his head toward the nearest he perceived the names of CASSANDRA EVRIDICE ingraven upon the bark in great Letters and in divers places After this fight being at the foot of the great Oak and casting his eye upon the writing which reach'd down almost to the very root of the tree he read these words distinctly which he found there Whosoever thou art whom Chance or Designe shall bring into these solitary places bewail the misfortunes of desolate Cassandra here it is that unhappy She weeps and will weep the remainder of her days both for what she ha's lost by her own fault and for what she ha's lost by the anger of the Gods by her tears she will deplore what the Gods have taken from her and by her tears she will testifie to those same Gods and to the memory of that which was so dear to her the full repentance of her crime She lov'd that which she ought to love she still loves that which is now no more and to her grave will conserve both her first and last affections pure and inviolable Lysimachus was touch'd with compassion at the reading of these words and lifting up his eyes to heaven Great Gods said he it is not upon me alone you poure forth your wrath and the number of the unfortunate is almost as great as that of men then going on yet a few steps further he saw a little Rock standing upon the edge of a pleasing brook all covered over with the like Characters he there saw the names of CASSANDRA EVRIDICE Interwoven a hundred several ways and underneath these words graven with the same hand of the former Strive not O Charitable Euridice to asswage my miseries by the consolations thou givest me that which I lov'd and which I ought to love either is no longer in this world or is no longer in it for me contest no more therefore with me about an advantage which thou hast injustly disputed for though thy losses be of the same nature with mine thou hast defended thy self better then I from that violent passion which makes mine so sensible to me and it is only the consideration of my misfortunes which makes the greatest part of thine Lysimachus his own afflictions hindred him not from bearing a great share in those of this unknown Cassandra but he was yet more deeply touch'd with them when being set down upon the bank of that little stream he saw these words also at the foot of the Rock in the same manner of writing Fair remainders of what I have so dearly lov'd whether part of you be placed in the rank of the Gods or that part of you wanders still amongst men since this heart which was open to you as long as it could and as it ought leaves you still an entry which shall never be open but to you behold with how many tears I solemnize your memory and content your self with the last duties I pay both to the ashes and remembrance of that which was the better part of my self the thought of my other losses hath no part in my afflictions and as all my felicities were bounded only in you so your loss alone hath settled this sorrow in my soul which can never be separted from it Lysimachus could not make an end of reading these words without letting fall some tears and the knowledge of others misfortunes calling to minde the remembrance of his own afflicted him so deeply that he remained almost without sence or motion when he was come a little to himself again he took off his Cask and stretch'd himself all along by the side of the brook which running upon small stones made a very pleasing murmure There it was that his eyes after having shed aboundance of tears were closed by a gentle slumber caus'd both by his weariness and waking the nights before and that his body as overburthen'd as it was with the passions of his minde let it self be sweetly lull'd into a quieter repose then his present condition seem'd capable of And indeed he made a mends for his former want of sleep by such a sound one that night was already well advanced before it left him neither perchance would he have waked so soon but for the noise which two men made who were talking together very near him When he had rouz'd up himself he wondred to finde that he was in a place from whence darkness had already driven away the day yet lifting up his eyes toward heaven he perceiv'd through the boughes which rob'd him of part of it a pale faint light by favour whereof he resolv'd to seek out his way to Polemons house not doubting but his servants were already in pain for his long stay yet as he was upon the very point of rising he heard the same voice that had wakned him and though he was loose from all other thoughts save those of death yet some remaining spark of curiositie made him desire to learn what the discourse of those persons might be in such a place and at such an houre They that talk'd were set close by him and making use of the delightfull coolness the evening afforded entertain'd themselves freely without fear of being heard Lysimachus lending an ear heard that one of them said But Astiages would you not hold me for the most wicked of all men living if I should follow such pernicious advice I believe your friendship only obligeâ— you to give it me but consider also who I am and against whom you counsell such an action besides that it would be shamefull and horrible to the remembrance of all the world would also draw the vengeance of the Gods upon one and would never leave my miserable conscience any quiet Those that are much in love reply'd the other will never stick upon these slight considerations and though in other matters the fear of the Gods be to be commended in an enterprise of this nature it can pass for nothing but weakness a violent passion may excuse all and those that are overborne by such an one commit no crimes but such as are very pardonable shut up your eyes Sir against all that may disswade you from your designe and call that no longer vertue which is indeed a faint-hearted and an unreasonable patience But is it possible said the first that they who love perfectly can ever bring themselves to do actions that displease the party whom they love and that you have ever been capable of that noble flame you I say who give counsel so contrary to the maxims of all those that are touched with it I have lov'd most perfectly answered Actiages but not as these speculative Lovers that content themselves with a glance or with a sigh who
astonished at that threat made great protestations of her innocence and perswaded mee so far that I discovered my trouble to her but in such terms as made her judg that Arsacomes was extreamly in my ill opinion after I had said all against him that my resentment could suggest What continued I shall I then endure that a subject of my fathers should speak to mee of love and that hee should fool mee like an ordinarie simple girl and shall his presumption remain unpunished becaus the King love's him or rather becaus hee is Stratonice's brother Ah! no Berenice suffer not this injurie without resentment at least endeavor to take satisfaction and ask justice from the King thy father against the insolence of his subject I was even upon the point of going instantly to complain of him to the King but when I remembred the considerations hee had for him and the power Stratonice had over him I forbore that design judging I should not obtain all the reparation I might lawfully desire and I resolved without begging assistance to keep off that audacious man by all manner of scorn and ill usage Till then I had beheld him without aversion and had as others observed som good qualities in him but by this action hee changed the nature of all my thoughts and all that was most advantageous in him took then another form in my opinion his courage begun in it to pass for rashness his dexterous wit for cunning and treacherie his liberalitie for vanitie and ostentation and the confidence hee had in his conversation and in all his actions for an insupportable pride This sudden Metamorphosis made him instantly odious to mee and desiring to free my self of him for ever I commanded Cillenia to forbid him my chamber and to give him express order never to appear before mee Shee performed that charge the next day but I learned from her that Arsacomes seemed but little moved at that shew of my displeasure and having patiently hearkened to all shee said to him from mee Cillenia said hee the offence the Princess hath received from mee is not so great as shee hath fancied it and if shee will hate all those that love her shee must dispose her self to hate all the world If I never commit other crimes I shall never have any repentance and so long as shee ha's no other reason to accuse mee I shall not believ my self guiltie to her tell her therefore that if I had injured her in the smallest thought I would wash my fault off with my bloud but that in a condition full of innocence shee cannot without injustice inflict pains upon mee a thousand times sharper then death it self nor can Arsacomes hinder himself from loving her so long as the gods shall give him life and knowledg This was that hee said to Cillenia and shee having told it mee I found so much irreverence and want of respect in his words that the hatred I had alreadie conceived against him was thereby fully redoubled Hee received proofs of it at the first visit hee would have made mee and my maids having had such order from mee refused him entrance into my Chamber telling him I was not well hee was used on the same fashion as often as hee came and any other bodie would without doubt have been repulsed by so many marks of my disdain but though hee was so proud as to support them impatiently hee was likewise so vain as to hope hee should overcom mee at last and to bee whetted by the difficulties of a Conquest which by that resistance would yield him more glory and more satisfaction Seeing therefore that his admittance into my Chamber was forbidden whensever hee came alone hee disposed the King to visit mee often and coming with him forced mee to suffer his presence against my resolution but by that manner of proceeding wherein hee show'd so little obedience and so little compliance with my desires hee incensed my anger and my spite so violently that I was hardly able to dissemble it I often receiv'd such like importunities but I alwaies avoided him so warily that I never afforded him the means of entertaining mee in particular One day beeing com into my Chamber in his ordinarie companie hee drew near to a window where the King was talking to mee and within a while after the King stepping a little aside to speak to som of the Princes that were com with him left mee alone with Arsacomes whom hee commanded to make mee the relation of somthing that had pass'd at Court a few daies before I detested that spiteful occasion but seeing my self reduced to the necessitie of either hearing him or speaking to him I took that time to declare my resentments and as soon as ever hee open'd his mouth whether it were to obey the King or to give mee new causes of dipleasure Arsacomes said I consider who I am and remember who you are your self and since you have prefer'd my hatred before the esteem I had of you dispose your self to suffer it eternally and all the disdains that are due to a disobedience and to an insolence like yours As confident as Arsacomes was hee was so dash'd with these words that hee was not able to dissemble it hee changed color twice or thrice but when hee prepared to answer I left him and having found som pretext to join with the companie again I no more gave him the conveniencie to speak to mee After that day knowing how much his carriage had displeased mee hee behaved himself with more moderation and more fear of offending mee and seeing how carefully I kept him from all occasions of entertaining mee hee contented himself with showing mee his perseverance or rather his obstinacie by his looks and all his actions While hee stood upon these terms with mee the King was upon those with Stratonice which I have alreadie told you and that craftie ambitious woman having alreadie rais'd her hopes to the Crown had extinguish'd all those the King had conceiv'd by other waies Hee labored every day to overcom her yet shee yielded but very little and following her mothers counsels shee opened her way toward the Throne by her gentle cunning resistance The King having spent som time in this imployment turned his thoughts upon the war with Darius and having made great preparations and set that potent Armie on foot against which you fought in person upon the Frontiers of Persia hee caused it to march towards his enemies Countrie whose ruine hee aim'd at in that expedition I will not enlarge my self upon the order the King took for his departure upon the numbring of his Forces nor upon many other particularities which are not necessarie to my Relation and which are above my element and my knowledg I will onely tell you that the King took his leav of Stratonice with all manner of expressions of trouble and that before hee went away hee made protestations to her of an eternal affection Hee
used mee with kindnesses suitable to the love hee had ever shown mee but though I was deeply afflicted at his departure I found som consolation in that of Arsacomes who made the voiage with him They went from Issedon and marched toward the Araxis with Forces that had drained a good part of the kingdom and which in probabilitie were like to defeat his Enemies you know better then I brother the progress they made and the circumstances of their first actions when they entred upon Darius his territories This part of the Princesses Discours bringing into Oroâ—ndates his minde the remembrance of Artaxerxes his death drew sighs from the bottom of his brest and tears from his eies in great abundance and the Princess not knowing the caus of them asked him if hee felt not som new indisposition but the Prince having wiped his eies and settled himself a little prayed her to continue her recital which shee did in these terms After the King's departure wee remained at Issedon very melancholie and pass'd all the time of his absence very sadly most of the principal men of Scythia beeing with him amongst whom all the Ladies of the Court had som bodie to griev for Stratonice visited mee often and paid mee great civilities but wee lived no more together with our former freedom and the interests of that ambitious Ladie had taken away part of the friendship shee had born mee Shee received many Letters from the King and Arsacomeâ— was so impudent as to write som to mee but they that delivered them from him were so ill received that they had no more the boldness to com to mee with such like messages As I have excused my self from the discours of the war so I hope you will excuse mee from the recital of what passed amongst us during the King's absence which is indeed of no great consequence and will bee pleased I may pass it over to tell you that having long wished for him wee saw him return to Issedon four Months after his departure the condition hee came home in put all Scythia in doubt what they should think touching the success of that war of that great and flourishing Armie wee had seen march away a short time before with such gallant hopes hee brought back nothing but pitiful reliques laden with wounds and which hardly made up the tenth part of what hee carried with him but these few shattered Forces boasted that they had cut all Darius his Army in pieces and slain his own son and all his chief Commanders upon the field which they had won However it were the King was received as if hee had returned with his whole Army victorious over all Persia and those that had accompanied him in the danger and hardship of his voiage had their part also in his reception Hee shewed as much kindness to mee as I exâ—pected but without doubt I had received more from him if Stratonice had not possessed his thoughts and if hee had not believed hee owed part of that time to her which in another season hee would have given to mee alone I will not lengthen my discours with relating his new expressions of affection to her they went beyond the exspectation of the whole Court and they for many daies were the whole entertainment of it but I was the less troubled becaus by the visites hee made her hee freed mee from those of Arsacomes who never came into my Chamber but with him Hee as they said had made himself remarkable in that war by many valiant actions and that reputation hee had gained had raised his pride to a greater height I had but too much knowledg of it by the continuation of his importunities and in all manner of encounterâ— hee lost no occasion of letting mee see hee persisted in the design of vexing mee all his life I took not more care to avoid his companie then hee did to seek for mine and the assurance hee had that it displeased mee was never strong enough to divert him from it I was one day in the Temple of Mars in the place appointed for mee when the King passing by mee followed by Arsacomes Theodates Cidaris and many others after hee had spake som few words to mee went on to Stratonice who was with her mother on the other side of the Temple and all those that accompanied him going thither also only Arsacomes staid behind with mee This action kindled mee with spite and anger which might have been observed in my countenance if any bodie had taken the care to look upon mee I turned not my eies towards him but keeping them fixt upon a praier book I held in my hand I used him with such a scorn as I was not wont to show to any bodie els yet was hee not repulsed with it but bowing down his head that hee might bee heard by none but mee hee said softly I dare not Madam ask justice for your usage of mee in any other place then before the god's since onely they are not below you and that onely they know with how much injustice you have condemned my zeal to serv you Hee had said more without question if I would have suffred him to proceed but though the consideration of the place where wee were and of the assembly kept mee from breaking forth as I should have don if hee had spoke to mee otherwhere yet did it not hinder mee from replying with a look of resentment and indignation Arsacomes if you continue to offend mee I will require justice my self of the King my father for the insolencie of his subject and since my own consideration is not strong enough to bring you into the respect you ow mee I will know from him whether hee approve's this carriage which so much displease's mee Arsacomes appeared a little strucken with these words but within a while after hee answered The King is so just Madam that I cannot fear his condemnation nor believ that my zeal to serv you will pass in his opinion for an offence These words redoubled my anger and made mee reply I account every thing an offence that com's from you since you have forc'd mee to it and I cannot receiv a more sensible one then that you do mee in interrupting my devotions to entertain mee with your follies Arsacomes who had not utterly lost all respect would not importune mee further and bowing down to the very ground hee went to wait upon the King who was discoursing with Stratonice In many other encounters wee had conversations of this nature and as hee persisted in the design of displeasing mee I persevered in the resolution I had taken to despise him all my life In the end his obstinacie tired but my patience and seeing with how much presumption hee continued to give mee marks of his love by all his discourses and by all his actions I determined to do what I had long deâ—err'd for fear of enraging him and knowing no other remedie to cut off the
against whom the Gods had so well assisted him that hee had gotten the better of them but could not com to the knowledg of his enemies Theander without sounding any deeper into that adventure rejoiced at his good success and within a while after going to his hous hee found Astiages there so confounded with Cleonimus his words that hee hardly knew in what place hee was That treacherous fellow believing his wickedness could not bee long concealed resolved to prevent those that might inform his brother of it and having alreadie prepared himself for the discours hee was to make to that purpose desired a time to speak with him in private Theander retiring with him into his closet gave him the libertie hee demanded and then that perfidious wretch after long preambles to testifie his trouble that hee was to acquaint him with so ill a business told him openly what hee before had confusedly strove to make him believ and protested to him that I loved Cleonimus with passion and with scandal to all their race that Bagistanes and hee had perceived it with a great deal of grief and that they had endeavored to divert mee from it by entreatie and even by som threatnings which the interest of their bloud might autorise but that I had been insensible of their remonstrances and that abusing with Cleonimus the facilitie of so good an husband wee by a thousand scandalous actions had made known our passion even to those that were least quicksighted Astiages said so many other things to Theander that hee was wearie of suffring him longer and looking with disdain upon him You are too zealous Astiages answered hee and I have alreadie told you how well known Alcione and Cleonimus are to mee I should bee very much satisfied with them both if their friendship were yet a little greater then it is and since that onely I am concerned in it I will desire them to augment it for my sake These words spoken with a disdainful tone troubled and exasperated Astiages and obliged him to reply with an angrie accent If you are so little sensible of the dishonor of your hous they that may bee blemished with it are not so tame as you are and your nearest friends shall never bee reproched for having tolerated a mischief of the nature of this they have discovered since it is an extreme one it ought not to bee thought strange if they apply extreme remedies to it and if the honor of their family arm them against the destroiers of it Theander was so deeply touch'd with this discours that against any bodie but a brother hee would violently have expressed his resentment and in his last words observing the hatred and the evil designs hee had against Cleonimus hee presently believed that it was hee who had laid that ambush for him which hee had escaped by his valor and in that opinion looking sidewaies upon him Wicked man said hee thou hast discovered thy self too much and I no longer doubt but that thou thy self didst set on those villains to assassinate Cleonimus Astiages grew pale at that accusation and by a manifest trouble made Theander see his reproches were true That belief having enflamed him with anger Ah! thou unworthie Fellow continued hee that art the shame and dishonor of our bloud thy self what examples hast thou amongst our kindred of such a baseness ah I need no longer doubt it and the knowledg I have ever had of thy wicked inclinations doth but too much fortifie mee in that conceit Theander accompanied these words with a torrent of others which so dash'd Astiages that hee was a long time e're hee could get out of his confusion but at last striving to recover himself and laboring to shew a confidence If you were not my brother said hee I would make you know how sensible I am of calumnies of this nature and if Cleonimus persist's in this opinion hee shall see I am not ignorant of the means to disabuse him Theander laughing at that bravado despised him more then hee did before and after having used a thousand reproches to him with express threats which Astiages answered onely with a confusion that absolutely confirmed his brother in his former belief not beeing able to stay longer with him hee went away directly to Cleonimus As soon as hee saw him hee ran to him with open arms saying Dear Cleonimus if my brother bee wicked if my brother bee base wee are neither guiltie of his crimes nor of his baseness and you ought not extend your resentment unto mee who will no more consider him as my brother but as a traitor and as a murtherer Cleonimus was much surprised at this discours and believing that Theander by other means had learn'd the whole truth of the business did no longer disavow that which by an admirable discretion hee had resolved to conceal both from him and from all men living Theander beeing assured of his brother's crime first by Cleonimus his silence and then by his confession desired to know the particulars of it and Cleonimus having told him all made him change color a thousand times and a thousand times detest his destinie which had made him bee born of so wicked a race After this discours hee ingenuously made him acquainted with all that Astiages had said to him and informed him of his jealousie in terms and with an action whereby hee found that though hee had the greatest interest in the business hee was not moved with it at all Cleonimus nevertheless shrunk up his shoulders at the hearing of it and looking upon him with a countenance extraordinarily troubled I knew said hee Fortune would bee jealous of the happiness I enjoy in your friendship and that I must bee fain to follow the usual cours of my destinie which never granted mee a lasting felicitie After the suspicions of Astiages and Bagistanes I cannot bee innocent since I have given them occasion to conceiv them but that they may take no more neither from my presence nor from my imprudent carriage I will absent my self both from Alcione and from you and will moderate the grief of that separation by the remembrance of a repose which I will never trouble Theander would not suffer Cleonimus to go on but embracing him with much affection I had rather said hee that Astiages and Bagistanes were in their graves then that you should continue an hour in that thought let them avoid your sight themselvs if it bee suspected to them and let them not envie a happiness they are incapable to give mee Alcione I will follow you if you go away and though you will shun our companie wee will tie our selvs inseparably to yours Theander spoke these words with so passionate an aër that Cleonimus was moved with them and considering Theander's good nature and the heartie affection hee bore him hee could scarcely withhold tears which the force of his friendship was like to have drawn from his eies and embracing him with an
excess of love O Gods cried hee should I not bee a thousand times more faithless then our slanderers if I could ever have a thought to betray such a friend as Theander I will never fear it added Theander and if this calumnie I have told you of make's you abate any thing of your familiaritie toward Alcione I shall believ you have ill interpreted my intentions and that you are becom my enemie I will rather becom my own replied Cleonimus and beeing your will shall ever bee mine I will live both at your hous and every where els as you shall enjoin mee but to give you further proofs of my innocence Alcione shall tell you the true caus of the hatred of Astiages and Bagistanes 't was by my entreatie shee ha's deferr'd to acquaint you with it all this while and by my consent you should never have heard any thing that could trouble your contentment if my enemies had not brought things to an extremitie now it were no longer wisdom to conceal the truth of it from you but you shall learn it from the mouth of Alcione who is the most concerned in it and in whom it will bee more handsom to tell it you then in a man who may bee grown suspected by reason of a treacherie the memorie whereof is yet so fresh Theander protested to him a thousand times that hee would never suspect him and pressed him a long time to draw that confession from him which hee referr'd to mee but hee defended himself so well against his importunities that hee gave them over and desiring to com back to mee that day to give mee account of all these adventures and to satisfie his own curiositie hee left Cleonimus after having made him promiss that hee would com and see us the next day at the furthest Before hee returned hither hee saw Astiages again and when hee had laid his crime before his eies with words full of reproches and invectives hee protested to him that if any evil happened to Cleonimus no bodie should bee questioned for it but hee and Bagistanes since their ill intentions had discovered themselvs both by witnesses and proofs that were irreprochable I believ this threat secured Cleonimus his life which would have been in great danger if his enemies had not feared to bee accused of it after such manifest appearances In the mean time having got loos from a good number of his friends who were com to see him and from whom hee carefully hid the Autors of his adventure hee went abroad to make som visite but as hee passed through the street hee chanced to see the man to whom hee had given his life the day before and to whom hee had promised the reward which hee was to have received from Bagistanes for his death although Cleonimus had given him order to com and fetch the monie at his lodging hee had not the impudence to go and demand a recompence which hee so ill deserved and contented himself with the mercie hee had received without daring to present himself before him but Cleonimus having spied him remembred his promise and beeing a most religious observer of all those hee made hee called him and carrying him to his chamber his own self gave him the sum hee had promised him The fellow confounded with so extraordinarie a liberalitie cast himself at his feet and speaking to him as to a man whose virtue was little less then divine hee beseeched him to dispose of his life and to command him somthing whereby hee might have occasion to hazard it Cleonimus acknowledging his good will since you are so thankful said hee you must needs do mee a service which I can receiv from no bodie but you and that is to give a letter into Bagistanes his own hand which I will write to him and which cannot well bee delivered but by yours Fear him not I shall bee able to defend you against him and against all those whom my consideration shall make your enemies The man having offred himself with a great deal of joy to perform what hee desired Cleonimus called for paper and wrote to Bagistanes in these terms Cleonimus to Bagistanes THis minister of your generositie come's to demand the recompence you promised him it was not his fault if hee hath not served you to your minde and if your design hath not taken effect 't is becaus Fortune doth not alwaies second great and noble enterprises This last wherein you imploied this bearer is of a nature that may leav you a gallant reputation hee for his payment desired a letter of recommendation to you and hee believed hee could not address himself better then to him who hath the happiness to be your Nephew and to whom you have shewed so fresh and so obliging proofs of your friendship if nearness of bloud tied mee to you before the remembrance of that favor give 's you the disposing of a life whereof you have a great deal of care and which cannot bee lost with more glorie nor with more advantage then when it may facilitate your possessing of that cruel Ladie whom you so virtuously honor with your affection Cleonimus having written this letter gave it to the man who carried it to Bagistanes This was all the revenge hee would take of him beeing of an age which forbad him any other and I believ it was not so light a one as hee imagined and Bagistanes alreadie vext that his design had succeeded so ill was like to have burst with spite at such just and such jeering reproches but beeing very subtil hee made no shew of it and within a few daies after hee that had been the bearer of them vanished and never could bee heard on since whereupon wee belived that Bagistanes and Astiages had caused him to bee made away that the world might no longer bear so undeniable a witness of their villanie In this interim Theauder was com home to us and had told mee the particularities of Astiages his treacherie and of Cleonimus his generositie and after hee had related the discours hee had with his brother whose rage hee described to mee in the terms wherewith I have represented it to you hee made mee acquainted with what had passed between him and Cleonimus upon that subject and praied mee to make the recital which hee had referred to mee I was before sufficiently disposed to give him that satisfaction of my own accord as soon as I knew Cleonimus disapproved it not I staid not for a second entreatie but told him at large of all the persecutions I had suffred from Bagistanes and his perfidious brother even to the smallest particulars in the same manner as I have related them to you I know not what judgment you will make of Theander's proceeding in this encounter but for mine own part I was very ill satisfied with it Hee indeed detested the treacherie of Astiages and called him a hundred times base fellow and unworthie to bee born of noblebloud but