uncapable of doing so again but by my obedince either your cruelty must have been as great as your Beauty or my sufferings would have far more troubl'd you then this one breach of your commands I perceive reply'd Parthenissa that you counterfeit an ignorance onely to extort a knowledge which is fitter for my blushes to assure you than my words but to evidence how great a power the Princess Lindadory has over me I do not only command you to live but shall judge of your passion by your obedience and reward it so too Alas Madam I reply'd must I then derive my Felicity from a third person and must the Means lessen the End To which Parthenissa presently answer'd Your scruples are much greater than their cause which intirely to remove I conjure you endeavour Recovery which effected I am confident I shall soon give that to your Merit which I now say I do to your Sisters Commands If I reply'd I must expect that Blessing by that Title onely from this moment I renounce all hope of it and therefore if you are not resolv'd of your self to confer it on me I beseech you let me dye otherwise you may be cruel in thinking not to be so Madam said Lindadora I beg you to receive these importunate effects as coming from a noble Cause a Love so perfect that nothing but a retribution which is so can confer on it any quiet and since you have thus far proceeded let not Words divert you when the Action does not but by assuring him you will be favourable preserve a life which I dare justify is wholly yours and as wholly depends upon what you shall now speak I know not reply'd Parthenissa pulling down her Veil to conceal her Blushes what to say but if what I have already spoken do not satisfy what you are pleas'd to undertake I will confirm Divine Parthenissa said I printing my burning Lips upon her Hand I desire no more and may Torments equal to your Hate if such could be found out fall on me if ever passion was so pure as mine or shall prove so constant After a thousand assurances of my Joy and Fidelity we heard Moneses knock at the door which occasion'd Parthenissa and Lindadory to retire softly the same way they came for we thought it not fit he should then know any thing of our affairs As soon as they were gone he came in and having enquired of my health which he found to be somewhat better'd he went away again In brief my speedy recovery being enjoyn'd me as an evincement of the greatness of my Flame I was so willing to embrace any thing might advance it that in a short time my wounds were fully heal'd and then every day I gave the fair Parthenissa so many new confirmations of my Passion that at last she assur'd me of hers I can truly affirm never two Hearts were more perfectly united than ours And if at any time so many perfections made my Desires rebel against my Reason she immediately supprest them with Reason which was not onely an argument of the vastness of her wit but of the proportionate power she had over me But why do I name the Felicities we possest in those glorious days when they were so short that the time that I have been telling you of them seems to me to be longer than they themselves were and when they do but serve to add unto miseries which are but too great already and are any other way uncapable of accession Fortune which has been always ingenious to persecute me no sooner acquainted me with the blessing of Parthenissa's Conversation then she sever'd me from it For there happened a difference betwixt Arsaces and Artabazus the King of Armenia concerning the bounds of their Kingdoms and as it is ordinary amongst Monarchs which are above the Laws to have immediate recourse to their Swords and make them both plead and determine their dispute so did they and by it engag'd all the Gallantry of both their Kingdoms I was ambitious to do something that might give me an interest in Parthenissa by my Actions and therefore resolved to undertake the Voyage I waited on her to acquaint her with my design and found her alone in her Cabinet as she confest to me afterwards preparing Arguments to divert me from that War which she apprehended my Honor would engage me in but I interrupted her thoughts by telling her Madam the joy of your Affection makes these Wars the way to Glory troublesome for Love delights in none but what it self creates Truly Artabanes she said you can shew me no greater nor pleasanter effects of your Flame than in observing what you now speak since in this one action we give and receive assurances of each others passion for I have sufficient proofs of yours when your Honour cannot vanquish your Love and when you care not to satisfy the World so I be pleas'd And you of mine when the highest condition that of your Glory cannot be of sufficient force to make your absence tollerable Alas Madam I reply'd how miserable am I then that must plead your Commands and make use of Arguments which if they prevail banish me from my Felicity and if they do not make me unworthy of it But since inevitably I must fall into one of these misfortunes I had rather embrace the first which though it make me perfectly wretched yet 't will extenuate your choice unto the World by evincing that the Man you elected to honour with your Affection valued not the hazarding of his life to merit it and since to the further manifestation of that Truth he dare expose himself to the miseries of absence who can suspect he will decline any other proof of it I now perceive said she Artabanes that you onely hitherto pretended a perfect Love for one that is so confines it self to the Object loved and makes the satisfying of it it 's onely end Alas had I stood upon these Niceties and not more consider'd you than the World you had never taken my Heart by Assault but by Siege To which I reply'd 'T is not onely Madam to please the World but to establish my Felicity in the Future for this War will every day create new occasions for my Rivals to purchase Glory and knowing your Justice to be equal to your other Perfections I would not by my idleness provoke yours so much to make me miserable But then it may be you will answer your inclination leads you to honour me with your esteem more than any other but I beseech you Madam consider how weak a Title that will appear when manifested Vertue shall come in competition with it No fair Parthenissa give me leave to act upon this Stage where I will do such things that if Merit could claim an interest in you you should be mine by right and I will no longer own the great opinion you have of me to your Goodness but your Justice Cruel Artabanes said Parthenissa have all
which two higher considerations could not besides I esteemed it as uncivil as unwise to inform her of my adoration till a succession of services had given me some title to it and then also I concluded it more proportionate to her beauties and the passion I paid them to let her discover it than I and indeed I was much more apprehensive she would do so to some than not at all I beg your pardons continued Callimachus if I have too particularly retail'd this part of my Story which I will endeavour to repair by contracting some other At length the gods restor'd us both to our precedent Healths which made me employ some men all along the Coast to discover if our misfortune had been as favourable to any of our company as to us as also to hire a Galley of good force to continue that journey which the late storm had so fatally interrupted They perform'd the last part of their employment but as to the first they could not hear of any that had escap'd alive the fury of the Seas but a couple of ordinary men who had reâ—ship'd themselves again for Asia and that divers dead bodies of Men and Women and Ribs of several Vessels wrack'd had been cast upon the shore of Thessaly With this sad intelligence by which we had just reason to apprehend our Friends and Servants were lost we prepar'd our selves for Nicomeda to which place the fair Mithridatia was very scrupulous to go because I had manifested some sensible aversion to the Pontick Court. Her civility had been so great that ever since I had discovered an unwillingness to disclose the cause thereof she had not desir'd to know it but the fresh wounds she had given me had so entirely cur'd those I had received from Monyma's inconstancy which was the only occasion I had to detest the Pontick King and Court that I thought the breaking of my silence was a duty I ow'd the civility of hers and was indeed so far from being longer necessary that I esteemed it would be disadvantageous to me since she might attribute my then speaking to those two causes which invited me to it The day therefore before we went to Sea having spoken to her something which seem'd to relish fo that which she had prohibited though really 't was not meant so by me to expiate that offence I offer'd to tell her what it was which had occasion'd my hating Mithridates Court at this overture she assumed so unusual a satisfaction that I found the knowledg of it was no indifferent thing unto her This made me hasten to give her that account which I did in the same manner I have presented it to you After I had finish'd my Story she continued in silence for some time but then she broke hers to tell me I am perswaded Callimachus you will not think it so strange being born a subject to Mithridates if I do take his part as being so if I should do otherwise 't is therefore I must tell you though your loss was great yet the Pontick Kings injustice to you was not for by your own relation I find he knew nothing if your addresses nor of her engagements to you And therefore if he injur'd any 't was Diocles who openly and by his Parents assent solicited her affection Nither indeed was the criminal so much to you as to Philopomanes for she sinn'd more against him in loving you against his commands than she did afterward against you in marrying Mithridates in obedience to them The Paternal right preceding the right of Love the first having existence from our birth the latter only from the time we are capable of those impressions which cannot also be legitimately received till the former obligation be justly cancell'd Madam I reply'd though you have said much more for her than ever she has said for her self yet I beg your pardon if I assure you the event of things has more apologiz'd for her than any thing I have heard said by her for though some Priests have given the right to the Paternal power before that of Love yet the gods those very Priests do adore have given it by their actings to that Noble Passion which seems to be the god of the gods those being necessitated to submit to that No Madam the charms of a Crown were greater with Monyma than those of Love and Constancy She could disobey her Father in Diocles's case but she would not in Mithridates's had her actings Madam proceeded from that filial duty you artribute so high a power unto it would have manifested it self in the first as well as in the last the obedience consisting in observing what Philopomanes enjoy'd and not relating to the disproportion between the persons for whom the injunctions were made so that in one of her performances she err'd for either she should not have promis'd me her affection when he had commanded her to confer it on Diocles or she should have continu'd it to me after he had enjoyn'd her to bestow it on Mithridates I think replyed the fair Mithridatia smiling that you cannot justly believe that having committed one offence 't is better to commit another than to repair that which as I understand it is the true state of your case However by her Letter I find she cannot think obeying her Father is more her duty than she fears it will prove her punishment which makes me for my Kings sake as unwilling you should visit his Court as you were formerly to do it for your own since your presence may afford Monyma a disturbance which may invite Mithridates to sympathize in it No Madam I reply'd the wrong has cured the wrong which if it had not I have since met with what secures me from ever thinking on her again These words fell from me unawares but I had no sooner spoken them than I blush'd and perceived Mithridatia did so too so that had not Demetrius accidentally come in to acquaint me that the Captain of our Galley was come to speak with me I had been engaged in a difficulty I should not have so easily freed my self from as I entered into it But joyfully laying hold of that opportunity I went out of her Chamber into my own where having told the Captain we would set to Sea next morning I dismist him to prepare himself accordingly The house in which we were belonged to a Gentleman of Thessaly who in his youth had so prodigally consum'd his estate that in his age he was necessitated to that retirement His Wife was dead and had left him two Daughters the eldest of which whose name was Nerea all the while of Mithridatia's sickness and during her recovery manifested so high a concern for her and had with such care and diligence served her that she enjoin'd me to move her Father to permit her to go with her into Bithynia which I did and after many importunities obtained his consent in requital whereof and for the use of his house and
though he perswaded me by many motives to defer it till the morning yet my impatience was more prevalent with him than his reasons were with me As soon as he had brought Lindadory to me and that she was set on the Bed-side I took her by the hand and having prest it between mine I look'd upon her stedfastly and with a deep sigh askt her Do you love me sister Is the poor Artabanes's life of any concernment to you to which she answer'd If I thought Brother you askt this question as doubting it my trouble would be as great as my affection Dear sister I reply'd this proceeds not from my doubt but to hear my joy repeated for the state I am now in is so sad that I am forc'd to summon all my felicities to keep me from despair the cause of it is that I am in Love and the object of mine is Parthenissa who to see and not to have a Passion for were as high a miracle as is her Beauty and though she prove cruel yet her hatred could not be a torment greater than my folly should I for that decline adoring her Thus you see clearly your Artabanes's condition and now do not so much wrong it as to think I make it worse than it is for if I could it would not be so great a torment I will not so much abuse your patience said Artabanes to Callimachus as to relate every particular circumstance of this Story it shall suffice I tell you Lindadory who lov'd me perfectly and knew my disposition so did not oppose that which was my desire especially being grounded as she confest on so much reason and justice and therefore we then resolv'd that she should be my Agent and Confident and that the next day she should visit Parthenissa as sometimes she us'd to do and carry a Letter to her which I then writ but with much difficulty both in respect of the pain my wounds gave me and procuring Lindadorys and Simanders permission who were apprehensive that sitting up though in my bed would prove prejudicial to me but having vow'd to them not to do it would prove much more so I had the liberty to write these words ARTABANES to the Princess PARTHENISSA IF by the loss of the greatest part of my Blood I have discover'd a Passion which offends the fair Parthenissa I am ready to shed the residue of it to appease her but before I obey a Sentence I cannot more apprehend than I will readily execute I must beg her to believe that the wounds I have received from her Beauty are far more dangerous than those I have received for it 'T is Madam at the last extremity that I make my pen assure you of a Truth which my fainting forc'd me to disclose and which I confess should rather be employ'd to implore your Pardon than repeat my Crime But I am necessitated to extremes and by so resolute a confession induce you to Pardon a Passion whose greatness you cannot doubt since I cannot conceal it or else condemn the Possessor of it if you chuse to put your Iustice in practice I am resolv'd to become its executioner by declining a recovery of these wounds Ambixules has given me that the World may believe I dyed for the Fair Parthenissa and not by her But if she elect to make use of her mercy she will preserve a flame which has no fault but the ambition of aspiring so high The success which my sister assured me of whether to create my belief or to acquaint me with hers made me after her departure take some rest though mine was often interrupted through different dreams but no sooner the day appear'd which I did so long for than I did as much so that it had been ended I could never imagine till then that impatience was so great a deluder for mine forc'd me to think it the longest day that ever I had seen though it were but the first of the spring but the occasion which made it seem so tedious was that at night Lindadory had promised to bring my definitive Sentence At last the so much desired hour arrived and immediately after my sister who was no soner come into my Chamber than I endeavoured to learn in her countenance her success But Sillaces who could not contribute to his health by seeing the condition of mine came then to give me a visit whose company before was ever as pleasing as at that instant it was the contrary Love having so much of meanness in it as to make us prefer our own interest before our friends But lest that impatience I was then in should yet seem to transport me I must tell you something of the generous Sillaces who has been so great an Actor in the ensuing Story He is Prince of Tabienv and of an Extraction as famous for Antiquity as Virtue If Fortune had been as prodigal to him as Nature he had long since been possessor of Lindadory and enjoyed a perfect happiness But his chiefest Riches consisting in that which the Old think to be onely the Ornament though it be in effect the Essential part of Men and my Father who esteemed a virtuous person without Riches fitter for his Acquaintance than Alliance deny'd Sillaces my Sister His Passion for Lindadory was till then unknown to me and that which gave me the first suspition of it was the alteration I perceiv'd in both their countenances that night when he so unhappily came in to disturb us I believe he easily found by our silence that his company was not so pleasing as it us'd to be which he since told me he attributed to some light I had discover'd of his Passion not that he fear'd he would oppose it but that I was offended to learn it of any but himself As soon as he had taken up this opinion he concluded himself fit company for nothing but his thoughts and therefore immediately withdrew to entertain them leaving me at liberty to do the same with Lindadory To whom I abruptly said with all the impatiencies of Love Fear and Hope Dear Sister What must your Artabanes expect Have you receiv'd any return which may build my hope on Justice If you have not I should be as cruel to my self as Parthenissa is to me if I endeavoured to preserve a life she is so intent to destroy But if you bring me comforts you will raise joy unto a height it never until now attain'd unto Brother she reply'd I find my waiting on Parthenissa that her reserv'dness is proportionate to all her other perfections and consequently the procuring so much as I have done assures me if all your Felicity consists in the obtaining her Favour you are not far from your desires This I speak to stay your longing for now I must tell you I never till your interest ingag'd me so narrowly obser'vd your Mistris but in this short while I have discover'd so many fresh Graces in her and those shine so clearly that not
onely I do extoll your choice but wish my Sex were chang'd that I might be your Rival For the Beauty of her Mind equals if not transcends that of her Body and what my compliance yesterday approv'd in you this day my Reason does Dear Sister said I interrupting her though I am ravisht with this description of Parthenissa how imperfect soever it be yet I must deprive my self awhile of the lesser happiness and beg to learn the greater which is to know if for this pleasing joy you put me in I am not more indebted to your kindness than hers This you must tell me truly for you cannot long deceive me and if once I find you do by all that 's holy I 'll take so severe a revenge upon my self you cannot but repent you were the cause of it for deprivation of hope is the highest misery but deprivation of possession Therefore Dear Lindadory I conjure you by your affections tell me really what interest I have in the Felicity before you tell me what the Felicity is for I have none the knowledge how great the Blessing is will but proportionately increase the Torment of being deny'd it and if I have any you are too cruel thus long to keep me in suspence My indiscretion said he would equal your impatience should I praise a happiness you so justly ambition if I knew you should ne'r possess it but since you enjoyn me so powerfully to tell you what I have done you shall first learn I have acquainted Parthenissa that you love her but with a Passion as far above all others as the Beauty is which creates it and to confirm her in that belief I presented her with your Letter which she made some scruples to receive but my importunities supprest them that at last she read it and then told me I have so little title both to the perfections and the power your Brother ascribes unto me that I receive them rather for Civilities than Truths Oh gods I cry'd out interrupting her can she be ignorant of that which is so visible Or can so high a virtue be capable of as high a dissimulation Brother said Lindadory your impatience makes you practice in your self what you but now condemn in me Can you blame I reply'd so necessary an interruption Shall Modesty be esteem'd a greater virtue than Justice Or are they inconsistant together But I beseech you proceed and grant me now your pardon for which I will engage my self not a second time to need it I had no small trouble said Lindadory to make her confess she believ'd your affection was such as you describ'd it but the labor was far more difficult to procure from her any thing to you that might give you that assurance But she continu'd to obey your injunction I will not give you all the particulars by retail knowing that to relate the means is onely pleasing but as it conduces to the end which is that I have brought you a Letter from Parthenissa Ah Sister said I starting up How many obligations have you contracted in this one then calling for a Lamp after having a thousand times kist and idolatriz'd the fair Character I read these ensuing words PARTHENISSA to the Prince ARTABANES IF by a loss of the greatest part of your Blood you have discover'd that which was an offence you have discover'd too that which is partly the reparation since what acquainted me with the fault acquainted me with the punishment of it and if I have now any resentments they will sooner be satisfied by your preserving than by your shedding that which is left Alas said I having ended reading I may with much greater Justice say of this Letter that it has more of Civility than Affection then she of mine that it had more Civility than Truth Then letting my self fall into my bed again I continued Unfortunate Artabanes thou art yet as miserable as ever for here is not a enough kindness to make thee live nor cruelty to make thee dye I now perceive there may be cruelty in not being cruel enough that a little kindness may be a great cruely and that suspension may be so order'd that it may prove as great a misery as deprivation If your complaint were just said Lindadory I should be so far from condemning that I should participate with you in it Take heed Artabanes lest you offend the gods and that by not valuing this high favour you thereby provoke them to recall it If every day you make an equall progress to this believe me the wound of your mind will be sooner cur'd than that of your body Remember if she were as soon obtain'd as askt that might in the future trouble you as much as the fear of the contrary does at present Since 't is in Love as in War where the greater the difficulty is in the success the greater is both the satisfaction and Glory of it If said I Parthenissa's perfections needed a foil to set them off there might be some reason in what you think has so much But in the possession of Parthenissa all joyes are included and not one without it so that nothing but the end here can be term'd Felicity I must confess that in meaner Affections so much Nourishment as this would preserve Hope from Death but where the cause of the Love and the Love it self is so infinite if all things else be not resembling my sufferings must The wanting of never so little less then what will of necessity suffice is as bad as if all were wanting as well in then Food of the Mind as of the Body therefore to be kind and not kind enough does too deservedly lose that name and operation You must not therefore measure my condition at the same rate with other Lovers but proportionately to the Beauty I adore and then you will conclude as right as now you do the contrary All the Arguments Lindadory could use were not of sufficient force to moderate my despair me-thought Parthenissa's Letter had so much of indifferency in it that I could not have too much of sorrow for it and that which prov'd no small accession to mine was my sisters confession how difficult it was to obtain so little which too I receiv'd rather from her importunity than Parthenissa's favour These and â—any such reasons which my despair furnish'd me withal created in me â—belief that it were to be cruel to my self not to die of those wounds which were such that they made the way to Death far easier than to recovery and consequently it had been a weakness equal to the punishment would have attended it if when the means to end all miseries was easie and the way to begin miseries was as difficult as to persevere in them I should have declin'd the first to embrace the last in which resolve my Body so well seconded my Mind that my Fever so increast all that night as the next day when my sister came to visit me I was
the Vows of Love wrought so little on your belief as to think it possible I can be any man 's but yours And that which you even now stil'd Justice in me would be inconstancy and perjury besides these high things which you propound unto your self cannot be attain'd without resembling dangers and should you miscarry in them as the events of War are blind and uncertain how miserable would my condition be when the universal knowledge of your Virtue will so drown all men in Grief that those which should afford me any Consolation will need it themselves and every Man will be a fresh Object to renew my Sorrow Besides what you would so hazardously court and sollicite is of so speculative and airy a quality that neither the simplest nor the wisest Soldier in the Army would now exchange conditions with the famous Alexander the great ingrosser of it That Madam I reply'd would rather evinâ—e a want of Virtue in the Living than the Dead so perhaps many Women now would not change condition with the excellent Lucretia and yet that does not prove but hers is more to be ambition'd To contract my Relation I made use of so many arguments that at last she resign'd the Field but I perceiv'd it was with much reluctancy for she said How just a cause have I to complain that either my affection is not less which might render your departure supportable or that being so great I cannot have proportionate Arguments to divert your Design But believe me though my Judgement be convinc'd it is fit for you to undertake yet my Love will never be so Ah Madam said I how kind and how cruel are those words for your Love transcending your Judgement how vast an evincement is that of its being so and on the other side how cruel is the purchase of that Felicity by rendring your Love the greatest of my blessings now the greatest of my troubles After I had done speaking she lean'd her Cheek upon her Hand and having thought a while she lookt on me stedfastly with Tears running from her fair Eyes and told me with a languishing voice Artabanes since you are resolv'd to go I conjure you by your Passion remember that we have exchang'd our Hearts and that loving Parthenissa as you say more than your self evince it by having more care of her Heart than if it were your own And since you will allow nothing to surpass your Affection yet at least allow mine to be equal to it and then consider those Torments my death would be to you and be not too prodigal of that life which if lost must involve me in resembling ones These Words and Tears were so moving that I held it rather a Duty than a Weakness to accompany her in the latter which she perceiving began to ask me forgiveness by having made me erre by her example and then went to a little Cabinet in her Closet where she took out her Picture which she presented me and I vow'd to wear as long as that other I could not but carry about me whilst I did my Heart If you have ever resented the pleasing Flames of Love you may then partly guess how cruel this separation was otherwise your imagination will be as far short of apprehending as I am of expressing it But this being nothing essential to our story I will pass it over by telling you that Pacorus eldest Son to the King was General of the Army but my Father had the Superintendency of all his deep experience giving him that Honour with as little Dispute as Envy The Prince was accompany'd by his Brother Phraates and all other Great Men of the Empire amongst whom Surena was the chiefest either for Person Wit Estate or Power but of an Humour so uncontroulable that it clouded all his other Virtues These Troops were generally the gallantest and best fitted of any I ever yet beheld and in my opinion the Roman Legions were as far short of them as they excell'd all others After the Army was in a moving posture Moneses led the Body of it by easy marches towards Miramnes a strong Town which the Armenians had newly besieg'd with 50000 Foot and 10000 Horse the King being there in person Pacorus remain'd at Court ten days after to receive his Instructions and by that time Moneses was within three days march of the Enemy the Prince and all his Court overtook him where a Messenger from the â—overnor of Miramnes assur'd Pacorus that if in three weeks he had no relief it would be too late to send him any The next morning therefore he took a view of his whole Army which consisted of near near 40000 Foot and 15000 Horse but so much of resolution appear'd in the Officers and Soldiers looks that he thought every hour of delay so much time stolen from the Glory of his Triumph The consequence of this place was such that immediately a Council of War was summon'd where after a long Debate the Result of it was That the Prince sent a Herald with a Letter to the King of Armenia to invite him on the large and adjoyning Plains of Arontes to decide their difference by a Battel which would end the War and the Miseries that inevitably would be a consequence of it Artabazus having consulted with the Chief Officers of his Army return'd this Answer ARTABAZVS King of Armenia to PACORVS Prince of the Parthians The same Consideration which invites you to decide our Quarrel by a Battel moves me to accept it and since the Gods are our Iudges we need not fear Partiality the justest Sword will be the sharpest and therefore the Conquer'd shall be esteemed guilty by ARTABAZVS This Answer was no sooner read but Orders were given to every Chief Officer to repair to his Charge and to exhort the Soldiers to perform their Duties with Courage and Vigilancy The next day we discamped and pitched our Tents in the Plains of Arontes the Scene of the intended Tragedy As soon as we were quarter'd we might perceive the Armenian Army marching down the Hills of Fenistia in exact Order and camped so some forty Furlongs from us By mutual agreement both Armies rested themselves two days that they might come the third unharrast to the Battel In the mean time Moneses appointed to every one his Command The Prince honor'd me with the leading of 2000 Horse all Voluntiers and composed of the Youth and Gallantry of Parthia with whom I resolv'd to act something worthy the high Title of Parthenissa's Servant At last the long desired day appear'd but so Black and Cloudy that it hardly deserv'd that name as if the Heavens had put on anticipated Mourning for so many succeeding Funerals Presently those vast Plains were cover'd with Armed Troops and the Generals having taken all the advantages the ground would permit gave the Signal of the Battel At the first shock the Field was strew'd with dead Bodies and such a show'r of Arrows were shot into the Air that the
appears The first thing she imagin'd as she afterwards told me was that the gods had resolv'd to ruine her Family and as an earnest thereof had taken away the chief Supporter of it for that was the Title her Goodness gave me to the end she submitted with much less reluctancy than to the means But as her mind was never at rest she believ'd on the other side that my death was the effect of her Cruelty and my despair and then she abjur'd all those severe Laws which under the name of a great distance in Blood consines us to much greater from Felicity The horror which invaded all her Faculties was very great whilst she lookt upon herself as the cause of my death but it was suddenly rais'd to a higher pitch For when she was considering the sadness of her condition she had withdrawn herself to a Window that look'd into the Court where she had not been long when she might perceive Amidor and the rest of my Friends carrying me all pale and bloody towards my Chamber That object having rais'd her grief to an incapacity of being rais'd higher she suddenly accompany'd my loss with a flood of Tears and having fetch'd two or three deep Sighs fell into a swound Happy Artavasdes that by a suppos'd Death discover'dst that Truth which to have been certain of thou wouldâ—st have purchas'd with a real one But rather wretched Artivasdes that thy Fate should be so different from thy desires that whether living or dead thou should'st always torment the fair Altezeera But the noise of which the Princess made by her fall was the cause that some of her Servants ran to help her who having employ'd all the Arts they knew after an hour recover'd her again In the mean time whither by the motion whilst I was carrying to my Chamber or what other cause to ascribe it to I know not but I was no sooner laid upon my Bed than I began to give some signs of life which Lindesia who sat weeping by me perceiving began with raptures of joy to raise her hopes and to imagine that by the help of some able Chirurgions I might be recover'd which being sent for and come and having search'd my wounds and dressâ—d them found they were very dangerous yet to console my Mother told her they were â—urable and having given me some Cordials which brought me to my self again they withdrew themselves The first thing I askt was whither Altezeera was in the possession of Celindus To which Amidor who had not stirr'd from my Bed-side answer'd me she was not and that we had obtain'd so entire a Victory that nothing could could it but the condition I was in I lifted up my eyes and hands as my retribution to the gods and conjur'd Amidor that his Affection to me might not endanger the Town the preservation of which I now wholly left to his care and that he would go to Artabazus and receive his orders and assure Altezeera that nothing but the impossibility of not waiting upon her should have diverted me from that duty and happiness Amidor to satisfie me went unto the King and told him how miraculously the gods had restor'd me to life and that I had sent him to acquaint him with it and to receive his commands whilst my weakness render'd me uncapable of that honor Artabazus seem'd to be as much pleas'd as surpriz'd with this news and would needs have gone and visited me but Amidor told him that I was but newly come to my self and that the alteration which so great an honor would necessarily produce might be prejudicial to my health therefore humbly besought him to delay that high favour till I were in a condition fitter to receive it The King at last yielded to Amidor's request and committed the charge of Artaxata to him who immediately went to Altezeera's Chamber and sent in to desire the honor of speaking to her This message exceedingly perplext her for she imagin'd he came to accuse her of being my Murtherer for she had not yet heard I was alive and in a manner acknowledging herself guilty of it she knew not with what face to entertain him yet at last she sent him an admittance knowing that the sight of her grief would rather make him pity than condemn her But you may wonder generous Artabanes continu'd Artavasdes that Altezeera should believe my Brother knew my Passion To which I answer That Amidor and I had so perfect a Friendship that she believ'd I had nothing of reserve for him neither indeed had I. Altezeera who lay upon her Bed and who had sent all her Servants out that none might be witness of that freedom which she resolv'd to give her sorrows and entertain Amidor with no sooner saw him come but with Eyes full of Tears she told him Are the gods then Amidor so much declar'd our Enemies as to rob us of Artavasdes I say our Enemies for tyes of Friendship are as great as those of Blood and as you had the honor to be ally'd unto him by the latter quality so I had the satisfaction to possess him in the former Alas How dear have we bought our instant safety 'T is by a loss that nothing could augment but our outliving it She would have proceeded in this sad and pleasing language had not her Sighs and Tears hinder'd its continuance which speechless Orators so well acted their parts that though Amidor knew their cause was groundless yet it was impossible for him to abstain from keeping her company which she perceiving forced herself to tell him No no Amidor it is I that am onely guilty and should onely bear the punishment my cruelty is the source of all our miseries but I will take so severe revenge upon my self for it that you shall say though I knew not how to recompence Love yet I knew to punish Ingratitude But Amidor who was confident that this discovery of Altezeera's affection would be more powerfull towards my cure than all other remedies thought it high time to disabuse her and therefore told her Madam Artavasdes is too much your Servant to leave this World without your permission your commands exacted that at his hands and the gods who knew how how just it was for him not to disobey you have restor'd him to life but it will not onely last long enough to beg your leave to dye if you are resolv'd to neglect and scorn his Passion How said the Princess starting up does Artavasdes live This delusion Amidor this delusion cannot last do not flatter me into a Joy which if not real will make my misery the geater it cannot be I saw him dead Madam Amidor reply'd would he were as certain you would not scorn his Adoration as I am that he lives to pay it you his happiness would be then greater than your doubts My happiness said Altezeera would be as great as my torment could I but credit what you say Madam said Amidor if you suspect this
truth your eyes may give you that satisfaction which my words cannot by my waiting on you to his Chamber where your suspitions will soon vanish I accept your offer said the Princess abandoning her Bed and giving Amidor her hand to lead her thither for I can have no quiet whilst I have any doubts ut Madam said my Brother let me beg you to leave all your disdain behind you for the least quantity of that poyson kills all his hopes and consequently himself 't is not now with him as at other times where rigour did appear Justice his sufferings and services now stile it Ingratitude though he gives it still the former name and onely expects his felicity from your goodness not his condition So high a Modesty said Altezeera merits an equal Reward and I should be too unjust should I deny it him By this time they were come unto my Chamber and finding none in it but one of my Pages Amidor commanded him out and opening the Curtains told me the Princess was come to visit me The sight of so high a Beauty produc'd a proportionate effect for before she was come in I could not turn in my Bed but now I did towards her and with a firm voice told her At last Madam at last the gods have heard my Prayers and commiserating my condition have made my Enemies swords more pitiful than you they have given me that death you were pleas'd to deny me and in so blest away that 't is in defending and not disobeying you so that nothing could add unto this Felicity but that I had deferr'd receiving of these charitable Wounds till the last day of the War that you might have had no further use of my services and that your security and my quiet might have been establisht at one time But Madam since the gods do call me from you sooner I conjure you to remember I dy'd serving you and let that extinguish your resentments against an ambition which cannot be greater than was the impossibility of avoiding it Alas Artavasdes said Altezeera think not of dying the gods who have already rais'd you from Death to Life will perfect that good work They are too just to rob us of you They would be too cruel Madam said I did they restore me to my health Your Disdain prepares me torments so great that Death is a comparative happiness unto them But Madam I do beg your pardon you commanded me not to trouble you any more with my Passion and I 'll obey you onely let me beseech you to receive these importunities as my last Crimes and upon that score to forgive them for I vow never to offend you more Nor I said the fair Altezeera to receive your addresses as an offence No Artavasdes your Virtue has obtain'd the Victory and I command you now to live that I may shew you by my affection I know how to value and recompence yours Alas Madam I reply'd What do you do You may indeed by this art hinder my death awhile but as soon as I discover I am deluded by all that is most Sacred I will not live a minute Take heed fair Princess you may do like a merciful Judge who when the Delinquent's ripe for Death and made his peace with Heaven by giving him a pardon his future courses may be more criminal than his precedent ones and thereby make that which was intended for his good the occasion of his greater ill Banish those groundless fears said Altezeera for my intentions are as clear as you persuade me your Flame is and as a confirmation of it I engage my self before Amidor never to decline what I have promis'd Ah! Madam I reply'd Why am I not in a condition to fling my self at your feet as some expression of joy which certainly cannot kill since I am yet alive But my Princess give me leave not onely to call Amidor but the gods to witness that I will never decline the Passion that I pay you but will maintain my Flame alive even in the Grave for having vanquisht your Disdain it cannot be overcome and if ever I alter this profession make my future punishment equal to my present felicity As I had done speaking Lindesia came into the room and my Princess having commanded my Love to be as silent as constant withdrew herself and left me in such extasies of joy that they had like to have made me ever uncapable of any for all my wounds fell fresh a bleeding and I was so taken up with my present raptures that had not Lindesia been more careful of me than I was of my self I had dyed in and by them but having discover'd that my sheets were all bloody she came running to me and so timely that the least delay had render'd her care fruitless But my wounds being again bound up they enjoin'd me to take my rest as the best and easiest cure Thus my dear friend you see how at last my desires were crown'd and little obstacle remain'd to the perfection of my happiness but my health which by degrees I recover'd and that which contributed most unto it was the daily visits of the fair Altezeera whose conversation charm'd my ears as much as her Beauty did my eyes and every hour discovering new perfections I blest that suffering which had given me so high an interest in them My wounds which admitted of forty dayes for their cure did little afflict me because the Enemy never attempted any thing during that space against Artaxata which was occasion'd by those wounds Celindus had receiv'd in the Assault in which also he had lost so many Men and so many others were render'd useless that whilst he was recovering he sent Phanasder for a Recruit and had drawn his Aamy some twenty Furlongs from the Town contenting himself to block it up at so civil a distance But as if Fortune believ'd it necessary that nothing should be done whilst the chief Actor in either side was unable to appear she so order'd all things that at the same time I was perfectly cur'd Celindus was so too and Phanasder came to the Camp with a supply of near Ten thousand Horse and Foot So considerable an addition rais'd Celindus his hopes and being ambitious to recover his losses and to employ the fury of those new Men on some design where disadvantage of being repuls'd could not be so prejudicial as the honour of success would be glorious elected the storming again of Artaxata as most proportionate to his Revenge and Ambition and having made his chief Officers approve of his design he gave order that all things should be in a readiness for so bold an one But whilst Celindus was troubling himself to be Conqueror of a Town I was so in my affection and was more satisfyed in my Victory than he could have been in his had his pride and designes arriv'd at their ambition'd period O Gods what uninmaginable joys doe mutual fires create in Love at least mine
to grant it is that I cannot sufficiently wonder at the best construction I can make of those who are of that opinion is that their fears exceed their judgements may be their honesty Shall his defeats be the steps to his ambition and shall our having given them drown our Courages the gods forbid But Sir allow we were as low as these Mens spirits are which gave that counsel what heavier yoke can we groan under than that we would now submit unto shall our fears give that to Celindus which his Courage ne'r could purchase and shall we by a preposterous apprehension count all those deliverances the gods have hitherto sent us as so many Omens of our ruine or else Sir have these Men seen any coldness in our courages on which they build their despair if not why do they so much wrong them what shall Altezeera who is a recompence too high for Vertue be a sacrifice unto Rebellion O Sir do not by such a recompence invite your Subjects in the future to revolt what guilt can be so ugly that such a reward will not invite us to imbrace let us not then by contributing unto the Crime make our selves worthy of the punishment not let these mens timerousness perswade you to that which if once acted the gods must never after protect you unless they have design'd to appear as unjust as they would have you be to your self and the Princess who are more threaten'd by their fears than our condition But as I was going to continue my discourse upon those subjects that related to the suppressing of the mutinous people and my Fathers particular a Gentleman came in and told Artabazus there was one which wore Celindus Colours being well mounted was scap'd from the Camp and though followed by five or six of the Enemy had recover'd the Port and begg'd earnestly to be presented to the King alledging that it was about affairs of high concernment and which could admit of no delay Artabazus commanded forthwith that he should be brought in The Man no sooner heard the permission for he waited at the door than he flung himself at the Kings feet and told him Sir Anexander after a thousand difficulties which nothing could render supportable but the consideration of him for whose sake he endured them has brought an Army of 30000 Men into Thospia where a violent Feaver envious of his glory has flung him into his Bed and though his torments are very great yet he resents none so fully as those which proceed from the impossibility of his serving you in person but since his fatal sickness as if all things had contributed to increase that misfortune there has happen'd so high a dispute betwixt Stratolis and Falintus who should have the happiness to command the Army for your relief that some sad events are thereby already fall'n out and hourly will be augmented unless Artavasdes who they all beg for their General during Anexanders indisposition be instantly sent to take the charge of the War and lest your Majesty should doubt the truth of what I now deliver I shall humbly desire you to peruse this Ticket which being presented we found 't was sign'd and written by Anexander and onely begg'd the King to credit whatsoever he should relate The joy we all receiv'd at the assurance of so powerful an Army's being ready to relieve us did mitigate our sorrow at the hearing of Anexanders not being able to Head it But Artabazus and the Council to lose no time thought best to dispatch Celindus's Messenger without the honour of an Answer which they concluded was the fittest they could return his ambitious desires and to send me that night away though the wicked Crasolis oppos'd the latter alledging that the Town would doubtless be lost if I were once out of the Walls that probably I might be taken or kill'd endeavouring to pass the Enemies Guards that then not onely Artaxata but the Army would lose its Head and chief Defender and therefore he was of opinion 't were better to send a Commission joyntly to Stratolis and Falintus to command the Army than to expose all to so great a hazard This advice was not given out of any affection to the publique or my particular but that he believ'd by joyning of Stratolis and Falintus there would arise such distractions as Celindus might injoy the advantages of them But as I told you this Council at that present took not place and to omit no opportunity I went to take leave of the King and assur'd him that within fourteen days I would either make him absolute Monarch again or by my death evince that 't would not be the defect of my desire but of my Power and since the time was so short I begg'd him to give me an assurance that he would not before those days were efflux'd admit of any Treaty with Celindus The King having satisfy'd my request embrac'd me very affectionately and conjur'd me not to fail at the time appointed lest the people should force him to accept of those conditions his Reason and Inclination made him equally detest which having faithfully promis'd I went to my Princesses Chamber who not being able to conceal her grief had commanded all her servants out of the room and lay upon a Bed abandoning her self so excessively to sorrow that I surpriz'd her in the greatest height of hers and told her Madam if I could admit any doubts of an ill success where your safty is concern'd so bad an Omen as your sadness is would infuse them into me To which she answer'd I must confess Artavasdes that when I consider the many dangers you must expose your self unto and the many more that you will I find my Tears so just that I esteem it a sin to redeem them neither can you believe the assurances I have given you of my affection to be as real as indeed they are without considering my grief as a necessary Tribute of my Love and not an Omen of your ill success My Princess I reply'd your sadness could not but kill me did I not look upon it as the effect of so happy a cause but pardon me if my zeal to you be so great that I even condemn the demonstrations of my own felicity when they prove troublesome to you Alas said Altezeera what would you have me do not to deplore your absence is inconsistent with my affection and to do it is prejudicial to your contentment but since 't is impossible to suppress the first at least by a quick return make the last cease which can admit of no ease during your absence Madam I reply'd the gods shall be my witness that I will neglect no time nor shall any thing but death hinder me above fourteen days from coming to adore you at your feet Celindus and his Army shall feel what fury possesses me at this separation and my their sufferings know how dangerous it is to oppose Artavasdes when Altezeera's safety is the quarrel
since it was otherwise destin'd give me leave to conjure you to convert your affection into friendship I am capable of that though not worthy of it and since I cannot give you the first place in my heart permit me to give you an equal one in my esteem This Madam is the condition and this is the request of the criminal Artabanes who can hardly have the confidence to beg your pardon because he knows himself unworthy of it and having so highly wrong'd your goodness must not expect that for his satisfaction you will wrong your justice Though I know this discourse did trouble her yet she conceal'd hers with so much art that I almost doubted what I was certain of but judging by my silence that I expected an answer 〈◊〉 assur'd me she would not give iâ— till I were risen in which I obey'd her and then she told me That you have obtain'd a Mistress Artabanâ—â— more worthy of you than I am shall always be my satisfaction and not my trouble if I have receiv'd your counterfeit Flame 't was because you assur'd me it would create your felicity and if I paid you a reall one 't was a duty to your merit but since I lov'd you more than my self and that the declining of my affection will be more pleasing than the continuance the same consideration which made me give it you will reduce me to recall it yet I could wish you had never rais'd it or that you had apply'd some other cure for its suppression but I hope I shall be so much Mistress of my inclinations as if they have an existence yet they shall be invisible and if they must trouble any it shall be Zephalinda onely Who believing your professions before her no title to them too soon entertain'd a hope of that which 't were an injustice to confer upon her for that friendship which you beg it shall be pay'd you with a constancy and zeal worthy the object and I will value yours at so high a rate that I shall esteem it almost a sufficient reparation for that pleasing happiness you have robb'd me of Ah! Madam I reply'd can you so soon pardon and so soon oblige Will you then allow no interval between my fault and your reward If any thing could make me think my being Parthenissa's misfortune this would but my condition is such that the breath I should spend in the expressions of my gratitude I must employ in begging you to increase the causes of it 't is Madam that you would henceforth use me in publick with your highest scorn This my unworthiness and your resentment may quickly lead you to and upon this depends my future joy but if you should entertain me so in private 't would blast all my happiness and destroy what it should build for by the knowledge of your virtues I find your friendship is as necessary to my contentment as Parthenissa's love I know not said Zephalinda to what intent you mean this but if it be to delude the World the action will be so opposite to my inclination that my ill counterfeiting will reveal what you would strive to hinder Then I reply'd I am undone and to make my ruine more sensible 't is by the greatest virtue that ever was possest but even now I suspected your resentment would ruine me now I find your goodness will for justice to condemn is common but for friendship to destroy is a fate onely fit for the crime of Artabanes who is so unfortunate that virtue loses its nature where he is concern'd Zephalinda extremely perplext to see me in so great a trouble told me if by any action of mine I may convert your disorder into as great a joy assure your self Artabanes I will force my inclination to an obeying of you and nothing but an impossibility shall hinder me from it therefore I conjure you acquaint me for what great advantage you would imploy my friendship in a thing so inconsistent with it Madam said I my Father who knows your merit has so strictly enjoyn'd me to serve you that if by any fault of mine I should decline adoring you I must expect all that his indignation can inflict on me and lose the hopes of possessing Parthenissa by his consent your scorn may make the discontinuance of my addresses to you appear a kind of justice to him and so incline him to listen to my making them to Parthenissa You see by this how much I am therein concern'd and by it too how much I do respect you for sooner than the world should say I forsook the fair Zephalinda I had rather give it so strong a testimony of my unworthiness as her neglect Alas Artabanes she answer'd I had rather the world should think you just by deserting me than give it so infallible an argument of my want of judgement as to decline your Passion but since your happiness depends so much upon my counterfeiting scorn I will endeavor to build your joy by the ruine of my own and care not what men do think of me so you thereby obtain the happy Parthenissa Judge Sir if ever there were a higher generosity than this of Zephalinda's instead of revenging an injury she pardons it instead of punishing an offender she obliges him and so much to her own prejudice that to establish her Rivals contentment she ruines by her confession her own I must confess her virtue had so great an ascendant over me that I had almost deplor'd the hopes of my own felicity since they were so likely to ruine those of hers You may easily guess I left her with as high a satisfaction of her virtue as I was troubl'd at the necessity of being ungrateful to it As soon as I came to Parthenissa I gave her by my relation so just a cause of affection to Zephalinda that from that hour she vow'd her the second place in hers and in process of time they contracted so firm a friendship that though her Brother were highly concern'd in the breaking off Parthenissa's affection and mine yet she was not onely our Confident but our Counsellor and discharg'd both with such secrecy and judgement that we knew not which was most meritorious But this friendship could hardly be greater than that which Arsaces had for Surena which did every day so clearly manifest it self that the Courtiers ador'd him as the rising Sun and found the onely way to obtain any thing from the King was to be promis'd it by his favorite who truly setting the imperiousness of his humour aside which doubtless he had whilst he courted the Kings favour he had charms hardly to be resisted Neither could Arsaces's affection to the Brother be greater than the scorns I receiv'd in publick were from the Sister which at first she personated so well that I was constrain'd often to wait upon her in private to learn whether that which we design'd for a fiction were not metamorphos'd into its contrary but at last she acted them
miseries proportionate to her crimes O no those charms would melt thy anger into pity rather kill thy Rival nobly and shew by his destruction how much she has mis-chosen then fly into some Desart where thou shalt never hear again th' enchanting name of Parthenissa and in the horror of some silent Grove pine away thy life as a Pennance for having believ'd any of her sex could prove constant My distractions were so high that it was day e'r I could elect any resolution yet in the end I assum'd this last as finding it fittest for my resentment and despair and immediately calling Simander I commanded him with secresie and without dispute to carry a Paper I gave him to Surena and tell him I expected him in the Eastern Meddow near the sacred Grove The Challenge contain'd these words ARTABANES to SVRENA TO possess Parthenissa 't is not enough to have her declare she loves you but you must dispute the Conquest with your Sword and by that Tryal prove whether the gods will be as favourable to you as her infidelity In a word my death must secure your Affections and yours must revenge me on your perfidious Mistriss and though her inconstancy render her unworthy my Resentments yet your addresses to her after you knew of mine renders you worthy of my revenge Simander immediately suspected what it was but not imagining the cause began to make some question for which I took him up so short that I put a silence to all his doubts and sent him away to perform what I had commanded then dressing my self I took one of my best Horses for 't is the custom in Parthia for all Men of quality to fight on Horseback and went to the place appointed where I had not long been but Simander came and acquainted me that Surena would be with me instantly These words were hardly deliver'd when I might perceive him that sent them onely attended by one of his Servants I had not the patience to delay my revenge by any expostulation but drawing my sword and galloping up to him bade him defend himself The first encounter he gave me a slight hurt upon the Bridle-hand and I him in his right Arm and after a few passages for the gaining of the Crupper I won his and ran my Sword through him up to the Hilt with which he fell and going to repeat my thrust the remembrance of his excellent Sister stopt my hand and made me tell him That which I have done though it be too little for my resentments yet it is too much for Zephalinda's Brother for which Relation I give thee thy life If reply'd Surena thou payst Zephalinda any affection evince it in taking that little I have left she is so generous she had rather hear I am dead than live by my Enemies Mercy therefore I conjure thee by those wrongs thou sayst I have done thee and by thy affection to my Sister finish what thy good fortune has so far advanc'd and by one wound more end those torments my being vanquisht will throw upon me and secure thy love to Parthenissa which whilst I live will be unsafe Why said I dost thou by that name tempt my fury and revive an anger whose justice is declar'd in thy defeat farewell for I dare not trust my self with my resentments Ending these words I turn'd to Surena's Servant and bade him have a care of his Master Then going to my own I told him come Simander since death refuses to ease my misery I will seek some other cure and commanding him to follow I gallopt away whether my Fortune would conduct me and continu'd moving till towards night where coming into a Grove whose unfrequentedness was fit for my melancholly as well as safety for I was loath Parthenissa should satisfy her Eyes with my Execution I lighted off my Horse and giving him to Simander I flung my self upon the Grass and there began to consider the sad condition I was in which was so much the more so by how much my happiness had been so lately great Parthenissa's inconstancy appear'd so odious that I could not have the patience to think on her nor it But that which caus'd indeed my real grief was the unworthy return my sad condition forc'd me to make the fair Zephalinda who for all her gallantry and friendship had no other payment but the neglect of her Affection and the murther of her Brother These thoughts were more insupportable than my own misfortunes and that which brought an accession to mine was that my actions of Ingratitude would be as apparent as my sorrows for them would be the contrary After a thousand reflections of this quality I resolv'd at last to write to her and finding no Ink more proper for the occasion than some Bloud which ran from a slight hurt I made use of it and writ these few words ARTABANES to the Princess ZEPHALINDA 'T Is in bloud that I have offended you Madam and 't is in bloud that your pardon is begg'd by the miserable Artabanes whose Love and Hatred to Parthenissa were ordain'd to make him equally injurious to your quiet I must confess it had been more suitable to my despair as well as friendship to have fallen by Surena's Sword and so have merited your pity rather than to have been necessitated to implore your Mercy But great gods to what a strait did you reduce me To dye had been the triumph of my Enemy and to kill makes the trouble of my Friend the first rendring me unfortunate the latter guilty But since those Powers which create our destinies has made the last of these mine I am resolv'd to take some such forlorn course that though you cannot commend the past actions yet you shall the future sufferings I will inflict upon the Criminal Artabanes I writ another Letter to Arsaces wherein I told him that I was almost as much troubl'd to draw my sword against his Favourite as at the cause of it that I had injur'd his Laws to avoid doing the like unto his Judgement which might have receiv'd some blemish by his electing one to revenge a publique affront that wanted courage to resent a private one of the highest nature that though by this action I had render'd my self uncapable of serving him yet by declining it I had made my self unworthy of that honour so that of two crimes I elected but the least And since the gods by Surena's defeat declar'd him guilty I could not believe that he which bore their Image would be of a different opinion I folded these two Letters in a third to my generous friend the Prince Sillaces to whose care I commended Lindadory and all things else I had any concern for and from whom I begg'd a thousand pardons for not having acquainted him at first with the cause of those miseries which forc'd me to a voluntary and eternal banishment Whilst our Horses were taking that refreshment which their hard travel requir'd I was disputing what
the Rampire I had the honour to be the nearest to him in this action where he did so many noble exploits that Fortune must have been as unjust as they say she is unconstant had she refus'd him this Victory No sooner had our Army perceiv'd how easy a passage my Prince had made than above 6000 of them enter'd by that way and without shedding any more Bloud rendred themselves absolute Masters of the City but whilst Spartacus was taking order to preserve the Salapians as much as in such an occasion was possible and that he had dispers'd many of his Officers and I with them to do the like as I was going through one of the fairest streets I saw a great confluence of Soldiers about a House whose Structure sufficently spoke the magnificence of the owner and being come thither I inquir'd what was the cause of it one of the Officers soon inform'd me that a company of young Gentlemen onely considerable for their resolutions had made so generous a defence and so slighted all Quarter that they were necessitated to make use of numbers to suppress them and that now at last they had kill'd all the Defendants but one who having gain'd a narrow Stair-case was yet making of it good with so much courage that he deplor'd the destroying as much as the effects of it and that he understood this generous man's name was Perolla You may easily imagine the hearing of that name gave me an unexpressible desire to save the Master of it and having conjur'd the Officer to run and acquaint Spartacus with it I thrust my self into the croud and by many actions which shew'd my concernment and haste commanded them in Spartacus's name to forbear any further attempt against so generous an Enemy This Order found a ready obedience as well out of the knowledge they had of the affection my dear Master honor'd me with as out of a desire to preserve Perolla who they now fought against rather to shew that an Army might kill him than out of any design they had to doe so At last by the help of our Officers I came to the place where the gallant Perolla stood who appear'd to me to be less weary with conquering than our Soldiers were with assaulting him and spight of that Bloud which endeavour'd to disfigure his Face I perceiv'd a Countenance so Spiritual and so Lovely together that I knew not which most to admire but my wonder was quickly rais'd to a higher pitch by the sight of a Lady who possest the several Beauties of shape stature complexion and features in so inaccessional a degree that an affection for her could not so properly be called Passion as Reason The contemplation of so many perfections had almost made me forget the design I was come for which fault I soon repair'd by addressing my self to the generous Perolla and telling him The great Spartacus Sir who cherishes Virtue whereever it is plac'd has sent me hither to preserve so great a possessor of it as you are for he believes your Gallantry is a stronger obligation on him to serve you than your imploying of it against him is to make him your Enemy Since reply'd Perolla that is your Generals Principle the fair Izadora here is a worthy object to employ that generosity on which I believe you cannot doubt when I assure you that her exterior parts are as far short of the Beauties of her Mind as the Passion I pay her is unworthy the Object for her sake I can beg though not for my own and will acknowledge you civility as great as your courages if you will promise me she shall receive an usage as proportionate to her merit as you can possibly pay her this engagement will be more obliging farr than my own safety and make that death which my sad fate now renders necessary as full of happiness as such a deprivation is capable of As I was about to answer him I was hindered by a great noise which turning about to discover the cause of I perceiv'd it was my Prince who with incredible haste was breaking through the Croud and came time enough to see the perfect Izadora fling her self at her Lovers feet and tell him Alas Perolla can you talk of happiness in death and yet think of leaving me behind you did you ever find any felicity in separation that you beg it even of your very Enemies or have you so low an opinion of my passion as to think I can survive you Ah Madam said Perolla interrupting and putting himself in her posture if you will lessen my trouble give me rather marks of your disdain than of your love since the vastness of that score now creates my sufferings which are so great they cannot be increast but by new additions of your favour Judge then if it be not time to dye when my highest blessing that of your Affection proves my torment Then reply'd Izadora my condition will as much require death as yours for 't is as impossible for me not to augment your sufferings whilst I live as 't is to survive you which since my sorrow will not permit let my Love anticipate the effects of it this will be more proportionate to my vows and cut off the tortures of a lingring life so Death the enemy to other passions may prove the friend of ours and conferr that union on us in the other life which our Fates and cruel Parents have deny'd us in this Izadora said Perolla flatter not my hopes with an union in the other World the gods which held me unworthy of you here will have much more cause to continue that belief when instead of your mortality they shall cloath you with the reward of Virtue alas then you will be fitter for their adoration than mine Can there be she reply'd a felicity in the other World for Izadora if she be divided from Perolla do not by such suggestions fright me into a hatred of Elizium which if what you say be true will lose its quality and fancy not the gods unjust onely to make us miserable no Perolla we have walkt too exactly in the paths of Virtue to fear Death and as an argument of this truth that minute which separates your Soul from the fair Mansion it now inhabits shall give mine freedom for to dye is a Blessing or a Curse if the first I will not be deny'd it too if the latter I hope 't will hinder your despair when you know I will involve my self in it This noble dispute had continu'd longer had I not told Perolla that Spartacus was come who indeed was so ravished with the Virtue of these Lovers that his admiration made many who knew him not suspect that his suspense proceeded from his being as absolutely vanquisht by the Eies of one of his Enemies as his Sword had been victorious over all the rest But Parthâ—nissa was too deeply fixt to be defac'd and her Beauty had got so absoluâ—e an Empire over
inclin'd to believe any thing rather than that he dissembles especially since in not crediting his vows I cannot injure him more than I do my own felicity At this reply Blacius could no longer suppress his Choler but with Eyes and Looks which had terrified me in a Cause less just than I now defended he told me You are not then only contented to preserve a criminal Flame in your Heart but you must publish it too and to raise your insolence to an inaccessional height you voluntarily acknowledge that you find your contentment in that which divests me of mine but since by your disobedience you will force me to use my paternal power I will make you e'r long not only know but practise your duty Finishing these words he went out of my Chamber and left me in as great a trouble at his rigor as he could resent for my constancy I must confess that my Affection made me say things which I should have condemn'd upon any other score and which after my resentment was a little over I endeavoured to wash away with Tears But no passions of Love or Repentance were hardly more predominant in me than those of Rage and Fury were in Hannibal who could not reflect upon the injury done his Authority and Revenge by forcing a Prison in his Head-Quarters and taking thence his capital Enemy upon the Eve of the Execution which Perolla had done by surprize and by the assistance of a few resolute friends he had in Salapia who were all disguis'd as well as he without abandoning himself to an excess of choller which made him utter things unworthy his Place and Reputation neither for two days together could those which had most intimacy and power with him obtain of him to appear in publick or so much as to take sufficient nourishment to preserve Nature nor had his despair been so soon vanquisht had not his Officers engag'd themselves not only to find out the Offenders but the Prisoner too if he would publish a Proclamation which might promise large Rewards to those which should effect either upon which the Carthaginians set forth a Manifest of this Tenor. HANNIBAL General of the Carthaginians in EUROPE WEre not Ingratitude a crime of so high a quality than nothing can be of a higher than to pardon it that same clemency which induced us heretofore not only to forgive Blacius but restore him to his Estate might have now again extended it self to him But our above-specified Principle and his unparallel'd Treachery makes him so unfit for a repetition of Mercy that 't would lose that name and turn to Injustice were it conferr'd on him who was not contented to be guilty himself but hath so involv'd others in his offences that he has in having forc'd our Prisons by his Complices as much violated the publique Iustice as his private Engagements These great wrongs done to the Carthaginian Empire through me their Minister are well merited if endur'd which to avoid I hereby solemnly protest before the gods by the Glory of Carthage and my dead Fathers memory That whatsoever Person shall reveal where the persidious Blacius is conceal'd or who were the Contrivers Caâ—sers or Actors of his Liberty shall have any one thing that the said party can desire and we can grant and receive besides some such other mark of our favour that all Men shall know we are as much concern'd in rewarding of Fidelity as in punishing the want of it I Know not whether the promise of so unlimited Rewards or the Justice of the gods who would not let Blacius enjoy that liberty he had been so unthankful for to the Bestower of it was the cause of his discovery but two days after he had relisht the blessing of Freedom he lost it again by a Squadron of Soldiers who violently breaking open the doors went so directly to a secret Vault where he had conceal'd himself that it manifested their search for him proceeded from their knowledge and not from their suspitions from thence they conveyed him bound in Irons and with words as ill to be digested as their usage to Hannibal's own Lodgings where a Guard of barbarous Affricans newly come from Carthage were set over him who no more understood the Roman Language than what belong'd to Humanity For Hannibal you may in some sort guess at his joy by what his trouble had been but for my part I was so drown'd in sorrow that when you can imagine the highest operation of grief I can truly affirm mine did make that good And indeed when I considered my unfortunate Father in the hands of those whose fury would not be quencht but with with his Bloud and that Perolla's usage made me esteem it as high a sin to engage him in any further attempt for Blacius's relief as my ignorance where he was made it impossible to send to him I found in my Judgement and Duty such strong arguments for sorrow that I had no way better merited the misfortune than not to have deplored it in the sublimest degree In the mean while the cruel Carthaginian to avoid all accidents and to hasten the satisfaction of his Revenge caused my Father the next day to be brought with ignominious cruelty to a Scaffold he had erected in the Allarm-place and as well to avoid those tumults which the Salapians affection to Blacius might raise as to satiate his Eyes with his Enemies Bloud he had raised another Scaffold near the first and there waited on by his Guards be intended to become a Spectator of that execution of which he had been the Judge Whilst these things were performing in publique an antient friend of Blacius's came to visit me and to give me that consolation my duty and affection so abundantly wanted After some discourses of a nature fit for the subject I was very inquisitive whether the Revealer of my Fathers retirement was not yet found out To which he answered me that though he had declin'd no ways imaginable for that discovery yet his endeavours had been fruitless but he continued though I cannot tell you the offender yet I can I am confident shew you the cause of the offence and thereupon pull'd out the Copy of that Proclamation I even now acquaint you wit Though my grief were of a quality which hardly permitted my Eyes to do any thing but weep yet as the gods would have it I stopped a while their employment to read that fatal Proclamation which as soon as I had ended I reflected upon some words in it that I thought might prove of great advantage to me and immediately after asked this charitable friend whether he thought the execution were yet done To which he answered he was confident it was not for just then he came from the place where it was to be performed his antient friendship rendring him uncapable of seeing such a Spectacle where some of the assistants had told him the usual Ceremonies that are practised in such Cases would take up
was to Callimachus thus obeying his dear Masters Commands they both perceiv'd him coming towards them accompanied with one of the Priests of Venus who was come to advertise his Superior that the Sacrifices which are usually offer'd to appease the incens'd Deity and to break the Oracles unaccustom'd silence onely expected his presence to be performed He immediately obey'd the Summons though he had much rather employ'd his time in hearing of Symander whose Relations so charm'd him that it almost darkened his Piety but that he might return the sooner to so pleasing an entertainment he took Artabanes by the hand and led him to be an assistant to those Ceremonies which were unavoidably to be perform'd before he could learn his Fate PARTHENISSA THE FIRST PART BOOK VI. THE Sacrifice being finisht and Callimachus having perfectly consider'd the Prophetical parts of the Victims assured all the Assistants that the Deity was well pleased with their Devotions but that he could not as yet discover any Maxim in Divination which might afford a certainty that within few days the Oracle should be restored to the liberty of speaking Artabanes was extreamly troubled with this belief and the better to entertain those thoughts it created he withdrew himself into a solitude which that morning he had discovered and which was indeed a place fit to cherish so deep a melancholly as his it was in a Valley all over-hung with lofty Trees whose tops were so interwoven by the help of Nature onely that they rather formed an obscurity than a shade it was watred too with many clear Fountains whose sad murmur seemed to bear our unfortunate Lover company and to have a sense of his miseries but this forlorn retirement was so far from the Temple that Artabanes whose natural strength was very much impaired by an internal grief which by degrees consumed him was constrained to make use of his Horse to return thither where he was no sooner come then having ty'd him to a Tree he flung himself upon the grass and after a serious reflexion on his past misfortunes and present condition he cryed out Great gods do you take delight in cruelty that you enjoyn me to live after a loss which makes my life my torment or are you ignorant that it lies not in your power in this life to repair the miseries you have cast upon me in it if not one of these why did you command me to live when I had almost found in my resolution my cure and enjoyn me to receive my Fate from this Oracle on which at the same instant you impos'd an extraordinary silence if you intended my ruine why do you bring your power in question by not effecting it and if you design'd my felicity why did you take Parthenissa to you if you were resolv'd upon the former why did you bestow on me so great a Heart and if you meant the latter why did you give me so great a Constancy Shall I find Courage is as high a Curse to me as it is a Blessing to others and shall I find in Virtue a greater torment than ever you inflicted for the punishment of Vice Great gods he continued fetching a deep sigh I have for all this obeyed you when it was against my reasâ—n when it was against my inclination and yet all the reward I beg of you for so painful an obedience is that by a mark of your fury I may receive one of your Love but if your Thunder be kept for the wicked and not the unfortunate let your Oracle command me to dye this hand when you have taken off the impiety shall be the joyful Executioner of your sentence and by one generous blow send me to that union in the other World which it seemed you thought me unworthy of in this Whilst Artabanes was in these expostulations Callimachus had led Symander into that Walk in which he had begun his relations and where he desired him with an impatience that manifested his concernment to prosecute them which the faithful Servant willingly undertook and having begged Callimachus's pardon for dwelling so long on a story not essential to his Princes which yet he believed highly worth the relation and minded him that he was interrupted at Hannibals return unto Salapia and that he always spoke the fair Izadora's words thus continued her Adventures The continuance of Izadora's and Perolla's History YOU may be pleased said Izadora to my Prince to excuse me if I have too much particularized Hannibals success and actions on which I should not have so long insisted had he not vowed to me they were performed more upon the score of Love than Glory in which last he was ambitious to our Rival Perolla as much as Perolla had him in the first I believe too you have not forgot that when he did leave this City he did not either his hopes or his passion the first of which was cherish'd by Oristes's undertaking and promises who to avoid being as false to Hannibal as he had been to Virtue entirely bent himself to ruine the perfectest flame that ever any Lovers were capable of and knowing that Vice is never so powerful as when it assumes the habit of Virtue he resolved to take up the name and for a while too the actions of a friend in which hypocrisie he was so successful that he made Perolla his as sincerely as he was seemingly so to him and truly he proved so excellent a Conterfeit that his misfortune had been as great if he had not reacht his ends as his fault was in attaining them In brief he so engaged himself in all my generous friends concerns and so deeply sympathized in his joys his fears and all his other passions that it was only the work of time to disclose the fallacy but at last hearing of Hannibals return and knowing that delay in designs of Love and Glory are equally intollerable he began to sow the seed of jealousie betwixt us which he was confident would bring him so plentiful a return and indeed it was a great misfortune that the Carthaginian had elected an instrument so perfect both in dissimulation and in wickedness for if the former had been less his power to do ill had resembled it and if the latter had been so his Will had been the like but both concurring together was a danger whose greatness can hardly be equalled but to the goodness of those powers which hindered its effect I told you Sir though Oristes knew well what Hannibals impatience would be yet he declined his attempt till a good while after his return not doubting but to satisfy him for the delay by the certainty of the advantage it would produce In order to this the same night he entred Salapia Oristes waited on him of whom he immediately inquired with an earnestness which demonstrated an accession rather than a Diminution of his passion what progress he had made towards the settlement of his felicity to which the false Agent replyed that as yet he
see under my Ensignes Forces that will give her by their Virtue those Kingdoms hers do merit and which my birth deny'd me for I will not presume to declare my self her Servant till I can wear Crowns of Laurel and present her with those of Empire Yes generous Artavasdes I now repent my self I declin'd that Army afterwards conferr'd on Crassus but now I have the ambition to Command I shall not long be without one I will make Glory my Advocate as well as you and 't is fit I should be miserable did I expect any other way to felicity To contract my narration after I had assur'd Ventidius I would so fill Udozia's Breast with the Character of his Virtue that she should be as much taken with his Fame as he was with her Picture and that he did injure her to talk of Kingdoms after she was Ventidius's he retir'd himself in such raptures of joy that in few days he return'd to his former health But alas I was no sooner to mine than the gods cast me into a relapse whose cause was worse than the disease 'T was the death of Annexander to which misfortune I paid so many Tears that I thought though falsly their storc had been exhausted never did any death more convince me there was another Life than his for had not he been satisfy'd of that truth he could not have yielded himself up to eternal Ashes with so absolute a resignation Great Gods continu'd Artavasdes why did you not then acquaint me how miserable I was that I might have left the World when Annexander did and have had so sure a way to eternal Felicity as the following of him and that in the effects of my Duty I might have found those of your Mercy But alas you had destin d me to be as unparallel'd in suffering as in Love and thereby I hope instructed me there is a reward in another world since my constancy is deny'd one in this These passionate words both Artabanes and Callimachus sympathiz'd in which made Artavasdes the sooner finish them which he did by thus resuming his discourse after he had begg'd their pardon for having interrupted Before Annexander's Funeral by passionate perswasions of one of his most confident Servants I caus'd his Body to be open'd wherein alas I too visibly found he was sent to the gods by the wickedness of Men which being not discover'd during his life made me not wonder that the Senate had once expell'd the Physitians out of Rome for in this experiment I found 't was their ignorance and not their profession which was banisht but this sad misfortune and discovery with my impossibility of disclosing the poysoner cast me into a violent Feaver wherein though those we adore were not so merciful as to end my Miseries and my Life yet they were so just as to discover who wickedly would have been so charitable for I had retain'd all my Fathers Domesticks and being prescrib'd after my Physick the drinking of some Broth as it stood warming by the fire one of those little Dogs which are so common and so much cherisht in Rome came and lapp'd it all up but no sooner had he been my Taster than he began to reel then to swell and at last fell dead by the Bed-side This happen'd whilst Ventidius was present who remembring how Annexander dy'd enquir'd of Philanax who had made the Broth and having learnt it was one of my Fathers Cooks he immediately went down seiz'd upon him and presented his naked Ponyard to his Brest in the apprehension of death he discover'd that which made him desire and think it a happiness but as he was ready to expire observing Ventidius and Philanax were spectators of his execution he begg'd and obtain'd leave to speak with them privately where he told them that to dis-burthen his Conscience of a load which might sink it into eternal darkness he acknowledge'd that 't was he by a lingring poyson had murther'd Annexander and that he had been hir'd to that sin by Crassolis This intelligence after Justice had past on the Criminal the only knowers of it told me I kept it private lest the Traytor by the knowledge of the discovery might avoid the punishment of it But though I had in one Moon cast off my sickness yet I did not recover my health and was told should not till I chang'd the Air. Ventidius immediately offer'd me a magnificent Palace of his which stood by the Sea side within the Gulph of Tarentum whither I went after having took leave of the generous Artabanes who I could not perswade to remove thither till his wounds were perfectly cur'd and unto whom I promis'd to return that I might enjoy the felicity of his company as far as Armenia but I never had the blessing to see him since till by his Presence I not only receiv'd my Life but the relish of it too Some ten days after my arrival at Ventidius's by that excellent Air I recover'd strength enough to walk abroad and as we were diverting our selves by the Sea-side we saw a Gally cast Anchor in the Road and mann out a Boat to land her Passengers where to my admiration I found one of them was the gallant Falintus who at first seeing me put on a joyful Look which his Face was so little accustom'd to that I observ'd it was soon expell'd as an intruder But oh gods why do I protract the disclosing my miseries since I complain their having given me no more is a misfortune because formerly they have given me so many Yes Artabanes 't was Falintus told me that Artabazus had displac'd Phanasder as soon as I was gone that by discontenting so gallant a Man he had lost the Hearts of all those which bore that Title That he had lost a great Battel to Arsaces and Pacorus his Army being led by one of Crassolis's creatures who the common Soliers had sacrific'd to their Fury to rob the Parthians of the Glory of an entire victory by acting of a part of it themselves That Artabazus Lindesia and Altezeera had been shut up in Thospia and oh gods that I live to tell it that the last Here the miserable Artavasdes had not fortitude enough to resist the remembrance of his loss but abandon'd himself to effeminacies which made both Artabanes and Callimachus more pity than condemn them The generous Armenian was above half an hour e'r he could dry up his Tears or silence his sighs but as soon as he had gotten the victory of those Passions which had so lately gotten it of him he made use of it to continue his Story which he thus did with the sorrow and attention of the Hearers PARTHENISSA THE THIRD PART BOOK II. IEndeavour'd to tell you said Artavasdes in Epitomy the effects of Falintus's intelligence because I thought the remembrance of those miseries would have deny'd me the possibility of their full relation but now I find that those gods which gave me the fortitude to bear my affictions
I do not extinguish your desire of revenge I may present you wherewithall to act it Oh gods reply'd Phanasder lifting up his eyes why do you give unto guilt the same expressions with which innocency should be cloath'd Then turning them to me he told me Artavasdes thou wilt not then by ending of my torments shew methou hast some pity if not friendship for me No I reply'd for should I so put a period to yours I should create in my self greater than I cen extinguish in you Remember then he reply'd that there being no way to end those I groan under but by my death or thine that denying me the former thou necessitatest me thereby as much as by thy crimes unto the latter which I will perform though thou shouldst conceal thy self in that heart which thou valu'st more than thine own then turning about his Horse he thrust himself into the Wood full speed my pity at his condition not being greater than my ignorance of what created it I follow'd him to learn what he had twice deny'd me and when I found I could not overtake him I endeavored to make my voice do it which was so far from retarding that it did but hasten his course so that I soon lost sight of him yet for above four Furlongs I follow'd by the track of his Horse but then mine began to faint and suddenly after fell dead under me by a deep wound he had received in the fight and which my earnest prosecution of Phanasder made me not observe 'T was thereafter my heat was mitigated that I began to find how much the gods took delight to torment me and after I had a little reflected on those strange Accidents which had arrived me in so short a space I could not abstain from saying Great gods was it not enough misery for the unfortunate Artavasdes to lose his Princess but you must add unto it the losing of his friend And were not both those losses sufficient to glutt your hatred but that you must give me resolution and fortitude to survive them Ah cruel Powers did you give me Innocency but by punishing it as Guilt to change mine into it And are you so sollicitous to make me blaspheme that you make Innocence unfortunate to invite me to it But I continu'd after a short silence if I have offended you let the world read my sin in my punishment but since I have not offended either Altezeera or Phanasder why would you induce the world to believe I have by making them my Persecutors 'T was with as many extravagant Reasonings as these that I fed my despair and my rage not permitting me to rest I found my self out of the Wood as soon as I remembred I had been in it and seeing a Village not far off I went thither where having hired a Horse I prosecuted that journey Phanasders strange distemper had interrupted As soon as I came into my Inn I found that Falintus and Philanax having met with no obstructions were gotten thither before me from whom I was informed that though they could not find by any intelligence they had learnt that my being in Armenia nor my having been at Evaxes Castle were known yet they had cause to believe both were for Crassolis that morning was retir'd from the Court neither could they any more discover the cause of his departure than the place of his retreat so that Falintus told me I might be confident Artabazus would not deny me justice for my Fathers murther since Crassolis to think his own guilt only not my knowledge of it made him flie and in that faith he might return which as soon as he did then was the time of demanding justice For the giving of it then would give me revenge with it and to implore it now were absolutely to miss of the latter by a concession of the former since to condemn him were but giving him advice to secure himself These Reasons since I could not suspect either them or the Author of them I determined to obey I then told Falintus what as unfortunate as strange an Accident had arrived me with Phanasder which he admir'd at as much as he was ignorant of the cause and told me This morning Sir I met him coming from the Princess Theoxcena's Apartment and with a countenance whose disorder he could not conceal after he had by some short embraces and expressions congratulated my happy return he then precipitately asked me where you were for he had some business of high concern to communicate unto you I told him that both Philanax and I continued at Court purposely to learn and send you things of that quality and that if he were over-harrast with his late journey and that he would acquaint me with the secret I would overtake you that night and stop you till his coming To this Phanasder replyed That he would trust me with his heart but that the business he had with you was of a nature which would lose its virtue if it were delivered you by any but himself and therefore he passionately conjured me to let him know which way you had took and to pardon a silence which I could not condemn when I should be instructed in the cause I did therefore satisfie both his requests and 't was by my information that he so unfortunately found you out but could not you Sir continued Falintus in his passion collect something which might tell you what created it No I replyed though by reiterated intreaties I conjur'd him to tell it me and with faithful promises if I were guilty to contribute to and not oppose his revenge but all was in vain and I could collect nothing but that he was as confident I was criminal as I am that I am not The best part of the night we entertain'd our selves in resembling discourses which at length I put a period to by conjuring Falintus to continue about the Court to endeavor to learn the cause of Phanasder's change that though his carriage render'd him not absolutely worthy my care yet thinking the knowledge of his error would not only punish the Criminal but restore unto me the gallant Phanasder I was passionately concerned therein That he would enquire after Crassolis and send me constant intelligence to a Solitude near Satala which I had elected in a great measure by his persuasions and reasons and where I would pass away the reliques of my melancholy and love Falintus would have accompany'd me thither which I absolutely declin'd and then he having as absolutely promised to obey my former requests the next morning we separated our selves he taking the way to the Court and I to Thospia where I intended to visit Lyndesia before I secluded my self from the World There that excellent Woman gave me such admirable Reason for the suppressing of my Passion that I must havebeen entirely divested of the former had I not divested my self of the latter which whil'st I did not for I shall not scruple to
me more large and pregnant Arguments for my Obedience than my memory or weakness will permit me to repeat but though I had the fortitude to resist his presents and flatteries yet I had not to oppose that which he alledg'd was for your Advantage there Madam he assaulted me where I was least able and least willing to resist neither could he have made me an Enemy to your desires but by convincing me that therein I was a Friend to your power and honour I had this consolation that nothing could make me prejudice you but for your advantage nor does a Physician merit his Patients resentments for depriving him a while of health to restore him thereby to a more perfect one But Madam I will not so much as think there are any arguments for my Justification lest you should believe there are none for my Pardon for I would not have so sensible an addition to the Misery of being deny'd it as to know 't was done so against reason To be brief Madam for I find my Death hastens to serve you as I thought to obey my King and to preserve Artavasdes whose Death was obliquely threaten'd by him and who I thought you would be less displeas'd to see live in your hatred then dye in the honor of your esteem and love I finally condescended to act what I could not hinder but yet in expectation that time might produce some as strange Revolutions in Artavasdes favour as it has done to his prejudice and that Artabazus might be converted I perswaded him and Crassolis who was all this while present that 't were best only at first to give you the Letter which was to acquaint you with Artavasdes change and then a good interval between to present you the other which was to acquaint you who had occasion'd it for if they were deliver'd both at once it might relish of design and besides the latter coming when the first had shaken your Constancy it might find the less difficulty to suppress it I believ'd Madam the first of these would not thrust you to what they both might and that if you were not anothers there was still left you at any time in shewing you Artavasdes Innocence the Power to reward it 'T was thus Madam that the constant Artavasdes was betray'd whose false Servant Allaner presented you with that false Letter which had so strange an influence on you and which I abundantly contributed unto till I saw how much it hazarded your Life by that dangerous sickness it cast you into a little before Pacorus's besieging Tygranocerta You know Madam that during your indisposition I took Artavasdes part to make it cease and you confest 't was I which restor'd you to health by restoring you to hopes that the cruel Letter had something of mysterious in it which I undertook to discover and which I had done but that your and the general danger with Pacorus's transcendent Gallantry and Services made me esteem that generous Prince had a better Title to you in every respect than Artavasdes had and that to disclose we betray'd him had been to betray you who I resolv'd the gods favour'd in no small degree since by so strange a way they lead you to so noble an end and converted even the very treachery of your Friends into your Advantage 'T was therefore Madam that feigning once an indisposition at Theoxcena's I continu'd all night there and made you believe at my return that I had found that Letter there which I had brought thither and which I then presented you with a superscription Cypher to it of my own Invention But alas I soon repented it when it cast you into that violent fever and I was a thousand times upon the point of disclosing all unto you But then the certain ruine of Armenia and the as certain of the generous Pacorus with your miraculous recovery which you told me proceeded from your having as absolutely banisht Artavasdes from your heart as he had you from his and your esteeming your self oblig'd if not out of Love yet out of Gratitude to give your self unto Pacorus silenc'd that resolve by which you have enjoy'd a felicity that I hope will be no small inducement to procure a pardon for so successful a crime and event and without which I shall leave the World in Torments which perhaps will inspire you with as great a repentance for having impos'd them on me as me for having merited them Neither Madam is it one of the meanest services my Insidelity has done you to preserve Artavasdes Life who without what I did had tasted of that fatal Cup which has sent his Father into another World Regeliza had no sooner ended speaking than she did her Life though she seem'd to have something more of high concernment to inform me of but she had that consolation to do it doubtful of those Resentments which had she liv'd she would but too visibly have observ'd This Pharasmanes is the cause of those Tears you have already seen and which can never cease till their source be exhausted if I resent any advantage by Regeliza's Death 't is that it affords me a cloud for my sorrow and makes the World believe she is the object of my weepings when alas she is the cause You see by this I am convinc't of your Friends Innocence and I hope you are so of mine I am miserable Pharasmanes more than faulty but perhaps I shall not appear so to Artavasdes who may think my believing him capable of change as great a crime as I find it a punishment Alas Pharasmanes I am in fears as great as my griefs Not to let him know I have discover'd he is Innocent may continue him in troubles as high as mine when I thought he was not and to let him continue his belief of me is to invalidate this miraculous discovery and render his hate almost as great a Justice in him as misery to me Great gods she continu'd why did you not make me believe Artavasdes innocent when I had the power to reward his being so and why did you make me know he is so when I am divested of that Power But doubtless it will be a less affliction to the generous Artavasdes to be satisfi'd I want not the will but the ability to recompence his virtue than if I wanted both 'T is therefore Pharasmanes I have desir'd this visit from you that you will by an express acquaint your Friend with my unfortunate Story I dare not do it in apprehension my Letter might miscarry besides I am too full of grief to describe it and perhaps of seeming guilty to be credited Tell him Pharasmanes Oh tell him all that the highest sorrow ever dictated and tell him all that is short of Altezeera's the greatness of whose Torment if he suspects because it has not yet destroy'd her tell him That that it self is a transcendent argument of its being so and that I would curse its lingring did I not cherish all
the Augurs and Victimares the former bearing a Celestial Globe as a Badg of their Profession and the others some Sizers of Gold some Sacrificing Knives and some Axes of Silver as a Badg of theirs Those Youths which carried the Wine and Milk followed two and two in their places and order and last of all some Ten paces before Callimmachus who was followed at that distance by our Hero's there went the Virgin who was to deliver the Oracle She was bless'd with so much Beauty that she appeared a fit Servant for the Queen of it her Robes were as white as her thoughts the tresses of her Hair were so bright and long that they merited better to be converted into a Constellation than Berenices did they were tyed up with Delphian Lawrel and wreathed Garlands of the same crown'd her Head 't was in this order the generous troop arrived at the Temple whose Front extended it self from North to South a Hundred and fifty Geometrical Paces at whose extremities were two Pavilions whose Pinnacles seemed to lose themselves in the Clouds The Walls both of these and the Curtain were adorned with great Branches of Foliage carved in the stone and in a large Compartiment composed of Groteskery were seen Sphynxes Harpyes the Claws of Lyons and Tygers to evidence that within inhabited Mysteries and Riddles Over the Portal was a table adorned with a larger Compartiment wherein there was in big Letters of massy Gold inchased into a great square of Porphyre this Inscription THE TEMPLE OF THE GODDESS OF LOVE AND OF WHAT INSPIRES IT On each side of the Portal there arose from the Earth two square Basements the Plinth of each of them was beautified with Sculptures of great Relieve one of them was crowned with the Statue in Pharian Stone of the Boy the Goddess brought into the world And the other in Corinthian Stone of the Boy she loved best in it Our Hero's had hardly leisure to consider these few exterior imbellishments amongst so many others because Callimmachus having given the Signal the Sacrificers and Victimaries stopt their march and having ranged themselves and their victims on either side the way made a large one for their Prince who still followed by Artabbanes and Artavasdes went into the Quire of the Temple which immediately ecchoed with such divers and harmonious voices that for a while all their faculties resigned up their Functions to their hearing but that Sense at length resigned its empire to the Sight which wanting Parthenissa and Altezeera could not more nobly be entertained than in the adornings of the Temple The first Table was Venus ascension out of the Sea much more white than that froth the Poets say she was composed of Near this was a much larger where the happy Paris stood Judg of those Beauties whose perfections came in competition by that Apple given at Peleus wedding by the Goddess of Discord Never any Beauties more justly merited that name than those the Painter had exposed to the judgment of the happy Son of Hecuba but yet the Artist had so much given the preheminence to her to whom Paris did that he could not have declined doing so without being as blind as her Son Opposite to this Picture was the Goddess's falling in Love with the fair Anchises who grazing his Herds little thought how near he was possessing so much Beauty and being Father to a Son whose Sword was to conquer as many as his Mothers Eyes Near to this last Table was the Beautiful Son of Cinyras who Venus more admired than he did her and in the same Picture was contained all their Amours how she wept his being killed by the Boar or his being drown'd contemplating his own Beauty in the stream for of both those some learned Poets have sung Lastly her converting his dead body into an Annemine which she watered with her tears and who by death being rendered uncapable to reward her weepings by kissing them away seemed eternally to blush at so unfortunate an impotence In a word all the real or imaginary Loves of that bright Goddess were so well represented by the Artist that if she had no cause to blush for her electing the originals she had as little for avowing them in the Copy only indeed her unfortunate surprize in the Arms of Mars occasioned by a Passion as ugly as the Possessor of it was there purpofely omitted but the wound she received from the cruel Diomed was not esteeming it perhaps a greater glory to evince her blood gave a being to the lovely Rose than a shame or prejudice that a Deity could bleed But all these representations being rather evincements she was the Subject than the Goddess of Love in other Tables were the illustrations of that truth There our Princes saw the volatile Iupiter courting and possessing the fair Io the strange Metamorphosis the God made of her to conceal his Amours from the jealous Iuno how in spight of his disguise she discovered them then begs and obtained the transformed Io of her Lord who grants what he durst not refuse how the Nymph was committed by the suspicious Goddess to the care of Argus whose hundred Eyes were too vigilant for the offended god who to make those Sentinels sleep eternally that would not momentarily sends down Mercury who by the charms of his Musick ends his vigilance then with his Sword ends his Life how Iuno having first adorned the train of her own Bird with the Eyes of the unfortunate and faithful Argus to let her god understand she not only knew but could revenge his Murther makes Io as frantick as her jealousie had made her who yet runs with the same celerity over the world as she would to the embraces of her Iupiter The Painter in another side of the same Table shew'd how the Heifer flew to her Father Inachus into whose trembling stream she leaps to quench her heat and thirst from thence he makes her run into Egypt where she resumes her former shape by the permission of Iuno who had then received an assurance from Iupiter to abstain both from the desires and acts of love the grateful Io in her true shape returns to let her Father see it that he might participate in her joy as he did in her affliction which latter had so operated on him that he had wept himself so big he was unknowable to his Daughter as she had been to him but at length maugre their new disguises they knew each other and Io having performed this charitable duty returns again to the Banks of Nyle where her exteriour and intrinsecal Beauties made the People which drink of that Flood elect her for their Goddess under the name of Isis. In another Table was the same inconstant God fallen in Love with the fair Daughter of Lycaon King of Arcadia but knowing that wars of Love are different from all other since in those the conquest by yielding is more pleasing thâ—n that by force the god lays aside his power and
execute what we had resolved which after I had by the pressing'st reasons I could disclose he told me The just gods Madam who know how unfit it is for you to put your self into the hands of one who prefers his Lust before his Faith have sent me an Intelligence which may so far absolve their Providence that if that misfortune must be yours it shall be your fault and not theirs For the Gentleman sent by the King is employed by the generous Ariobarzanes who knowing all Intelligence both by Land and Water is debarred me lets me know that Arzimin who I thought in the last Sally had lost his Life has lost but his Liberty and that Vixores is hastily raising an Army of 30000 Horse and as many Foot for my relief so that Madam you have but to assume a few days patience and you may derive that real security from my Sword which will prove but an imaginary one in Arsace's protestations The gods forbid I replyed much more confirmed in my Fears by this answer that so many thousand Lives should be sacrificed as Victims for the suppression of my doubts but allow they were of so criminal a quality as that nothing but so much blood could wash them away yet what advantage could we propound unto our selves by a Battel which we are not more certain of without one for you must either resolve to expel Arsaces out of his Throne and Empire or at length you must trust him and that too when the resentments of his losses and our opposition may give him a rise and provocation to evince the justice of our Fears by his acting them which a Confidence in him may as much deter him from as his very oaths so that since of necessity we must to prevent his Crime act a greater or put our selves into his Mercy when it may be the world may esteem his conferring it by our provocation an injustice I do not only approve of embracing his offer but conjure you we may do it and this I desire the more pressingly because that having a power to oppose his our submission may appear our election not our constraint and thereby have two obligations on him that of Religion and that of Trust which latter will confine him if he considers his honour and the former if he considers the gods Are you then Madam he reply'd so little vers'd in the Maxims of Kings as to think your self secure under him when you have demonstrated you have a Power of being so without or against him by shewing that Truth and then divesting your self of it we do not only shew him he is not absolute but provoke and which is worse enable him to become so the folly of yielding to an offended Prince is greater than the Sin which made him so and if we must at length submit 't is better doing it when our necessity is the motive for the extending his Mercy then is a greater as well as safer virtue Do not Madam I beseech you tempt Arsaces's honesty by prejudicing his Power and Love There is no necessity of ending the War by either expelling him his Throne or submitting to his Mercy a successful Battel may procure us such conditions as it shall not be in his Power to infringe them or when he sees his Passion or Empire must cease he will relinquish the former which were it founded on Virtue would be as permanent as the reward of it but being on Lust and meeting such dangers and obstructions it will as soon expire as would the pleasures of it I confess this discourse made me tremble and I could not abstain from replying Certainly Surena there are Passions of another quality than you have now given me a character of or else you have given me an ill one of yours or of your self for if those which are built on Virtue never expire I must conclude yours had not that foundation or else is still existent Surena found himself as much surprised at my inference as I was at what gave me the rise to make it But after a short silence he told me There is Madam no general Rule but has some exception and 't is I only make it in this Neither Madam should I tell you an untruth if I assured you my love for you makes me not love you I esteemed it but an ill effect and character of my Flame to oppose and injure yours and since the gods have made the perseverance in my Passion as great a misfortune as your not rewarding it I transplanted that permanency the gods had given me for a virtuous affection on a virtuous Friendship and they will not so much lessen their obligation in this change as to evidence it no miracle which it would neither prove nor appear did they produce in Arsaces a resembling operation I told him that to repeat was not to annihilate a Miracle That I could not esteem a production of reason to be one or if there had been one in his affection it was in that he had assum'd and not declined it since he could not be more powerfully invited to relinquish his addresses from the unworthiness of their object than from her preingaged Love which she resolved as eternally to cherish as his Friendship that had so generously contributed thereunto I further told him That since the extinction of his Flame evinced a possibility of Orodes doing the like and that the hazard in trusting his vows could not be greater than that of a Battel I conjured him if 't were upon my score and not his own that he drew his Sword that he would sheath it again and not so far engage himself in hazards as to find both our destructions in what he intended as an argument of a Friendship I could not be more desirous than satisfy'd of I began my request again Parthenissa continued to retrench all discourse of his Passion which like a Relique might lose its respect by becoming common To this Surena replyed By what I have done Madam I know what will be done unto me and that Orodes when ever he has the Power will make use of it to render me a sacrifice for the fair Parthenissa This being both my faith and my ambition so it may be in a handsomer way than on a Scaffold permit me to stand upon my defence if that succeeds you may command your own desires and lest it should not let me publish I did but conceal not suppress my Passion and do you assure the King 't is your constraint not your inclination detains you here and that you will accept of his offer as soon as I permit you This Madam will secure you against all misfortunes for Arsaces cannot decline his Concessions at the very last because your not receiving them at first was your misfortune not your fault All the while Surena spoke I blush'd and sometimes trembled in apprehension what he said was not his motion but his resolve but not to let him know my fears by my
having so high an influence on Artabbanes's Mind had a proportionate one on his Body or whether so long a charming of his Prince as that was whilst his Princess and his friend were speaking did qualifie the violence of his Feaver but I know that after some discourses upon the precedent ones Parthenissâ— being retired he found so sensible an amendment that he not only acquainted us with it but convinced us of it and from that day so uninterruptedly recovered that when the generous Sillaces was fit to continue his Embassy my Prince's condition was so promising that no just apprehension of his Friend needed any longer to have suspended it 'T was therefore that the fair Parthenissa came to Artabbanes's Chamber he not being able to wait on her in hers where she found already Sillaces and Zenophon and though this meeting was to consult upon the managing of their designs yet I was not excluded I shall pass over their debates to acquaint you with their results which were That Zenophon with those Forces he had then raised should no longer protract his advancing since Tygranes stood so much in need of them That Sillaces as the Parthian Ambassador should accompany Zenophon to his King to treat and conclude on that league which was so requisite and necessary to the ruining of my Prince's Rivals both in Empire and Love That Sillaces should employ all his Power as publick Minister for the restoration of Artabbanes as being Nephew to his King which he might the more safely negotiate since Arsaces had really revok'd his Banishment whether to increase Surena's Fears or to silence Parthenissa's That if he found any inclinations in Tygranes to receive him he should then and not otherwise acquaint him where he was That Zenophon should depute during his absence such a Governour in Arsacia as was entirely to receive and obey Artabbanes's commands and as much to conceal his so doing The next day after this resolution was assum'd it was put in a way of being practised Sillaces accompanied with Zenophon whose Troops consisted of near 10000 Horse and Foot began their March towards Ecbatan against which Merinzor with 15000 Horse and 25000 Foot was advanced and Camp'd within sixteen Furlongs of her Walls under which the King's Forces which were near 10000 Horse and as many Foot were intrench'd The Governor left in Arsacia was called Cloriman and had received his education even from his Cradle under Zenophon who having found him replenish'd both with Courage and Judgment had given him a large participation both in all his Commands and Fortunes This young Gentleman was so assiduous in this duty of his employment and to Parthenissa and Artabbanes that they could not but commend Zenophon's Judgment in his Choice I must confess I had done so too had I not observed he was as assiduous in more than his respects to the fair Emilia but her carriage was such that it gave me rather a satisfaction than an Allarm Artabbanes soon after his being left alone with Parthenissa never left her so at least when he could do it with civility and my Prince could not be more intent in increasing Parthenissa's affection than I was in obtaining Emilia's so that all that time my generous Master employed in his Loves I did in mine but whether it were a punishment for having so long contemned the power of a god of which I then was sufficiently convinced or whether it were the fair Emilia's disposition to behold the effects of her own Power which could not be more visible than in continuing my Passion without any demonstration of hers for above three Moons though I could not obey my Reason I found more than I had thitherto known for my detesting of Love and though at last I received the felicity of an assurance from the object of my Flame that she approved of and would reward it yet it was accompanied with the misfortune that I derived that declaration from Parthenissa and Artabbanes's prayers as much as from my ovvn yet the belief I had that Emilia's Judgment not want of affection made her elect to oblige Three sooner than one gave me a satisfaction which her words had denied me but my Prince who had already obtained the victory over those tedious formalities now happily pretended to a more transcendent one by successfully imploring from his Princess in an Hymeneal Crown to give his Passion the lowest and highest satisfaction it could ambition But as Emilia's grant was accompanied with a qualification so was Parthenissa's for my Prince derived it from his reasons as well as from her affection Those he made use of were That he could no more repine at the gods but at her if he were perpetually miserable since she might hinder his being so by a Concession of his request which would not only prove a reparation for his past misfortunes but a preservative from his future That then the gods could neither make his Life short nor unhappy since the excellency of the felicities would repair their want of duration That he concession would put a period to his external as well as intrinsecal sufferings for though his Rivals might have some hopes to conquer her Constancy yet they could have none to do so to her Virtue Here the fair Parthenissa interrupted him by saying Take heed Artabbanes lest what you imagine will silence the fury of your Enemies do not render it more fatal for when they find you are from but a probable obstacle become a certain one they will no more scruple to take away your Life than I will to take away my own after such a loss Madam said my Prince you may banish those apprehensions for you have by pardoning my criminal jealousies so abundantly evidenced the Immutability of that esteem you honour me withal that when to that you shall add a religious obligation the known Truth That thereby we can have but one destiny will make them have the same care of mine which they will have of yours so that Madam to secure me from danger as well as unhappiness what I now implore at your Feet is absolutely necessary Parthenissa more satisfied with his Arguments than his motion though she esteemed it not fit to mingle felicities with fears nor to be in the embraces of her Prince whilst those who had been her Companions in her sufferings could not be so in her joys yet at length she yielded to it that her Artabbanes might not say she deny'd him any thing with reason Oh gods continued Symander it is impossible I should tell you my Prince's transports how often he prostrated himself before her how many thousand times he embraced her knees and kiss'd her hands 'T is sufficient I assure you his joy was proportionate to what created it and that it was impossible the Sence could relish those felicities his Mind did He bless'd a Milion of times the privacy of their then condition which admitted no other preparative but a Priest lest the celebration of the
participated in the satisfaction of the Mind it began to amend but yet so slowly that Tygranes had but too many experienees that his success under the gods was derived from the generous Sillaces Neither was the good Fortune of Merinzor's without some Clouds for as he computed the business he apprehended before he could reduce Ecbatan to his Power either Syllaces recovery or Zenophon's increasing Army would cast him into the same despair which that generous Prince's performances had involv'd him in already but when to these apprehensions the intelligence was brought him that not only his design on Artabbanes was destroy'd but that it was so too by Surenâ— he was almost as much troubl'd at the manner as at the thing but yet at the arrival of Vixores and the Parthian Forces he began to hope 't was out of tooâ—much affection for Parthenissa and not of tooâ—little for him that he had saved my Prince and therefore 't was he determin'd no longer to delay an execution which Surena could not well suspend without wronging as much his Ambition as his own Love But whilst Merinzor was employing himself to obtain his designs Artabbanes and Surena did their Healths and Emilia by a seeming spy to the last of them but a real one to her Father had learn'd that Cloriman had only taken those two days respite for the sending for a faithful Priest but to purchase so much time for his unripe Treachery But continu'd Symander to hasten my relation I will no more replenish it with any things but those so essential that you shall be convinc'd I am as much concern'd in the speedy finishing it as my hearers can be It was but half a Moon after the Ryvals recoveries that one day walking in the Palace-Gardens a Captain of the Guards presented Surena with a Packet which the better to read leaving Parthenissa with my Prince he retir'd himself into another Walk where opening the Letters he found the first was directed to him from Merinzor and contained these words Merinzor to the Prince Surena WEre not that esteem I pay you built on a very firm foundation by having so preserv'd one Enemy you might have rais'd your self another and it may be as dangerous a one as him you protected Neither could I but conclude if I consulted with reason not friendship that I have a very considerable share in yours since to confer on me the highest disobligation you are capable of you use your self at that rate Do not I conjure you break with your Friend to preserve your Enemy nor evidence how little I may expect from you when to the obliging me I only desire you to sit still and cannot obtain it I have sent those who will infallibly secure and revenge us if by way of reparation for having hitherto hinder'd it you do not undertake it your self I hope you will not by neither acting nor permitting this give me so much reason to be your Enemy that I must find a Misfortune in the too-much justice of becoming so Surena having read this high Letter open'd the other and though it were without address or name yet by some private mark he was not ignorant that it came from Merinzor's Secretary whom he had corrupted both by large Gifts and hopes it contained these words YOu can no longer have Merinzor and Artabbanes your Friends neither indeed can you undertake to defend the latter from death but you will more than hazard participating in his Fate by endeavouring to hinder it for there are so many engaged in the Design that your desire of preventing it cannot be greater than the impossibility believe it Sir as a certain truth that the first attempt you make for your Rivals defence will be your last and that he which is Merinzor's Enemy and he which endeavours to hinder his destruction will be consider'd under one netion Parthenissa and Artabbanes who concluded by Surena's leaving them alone that what invited him to so unusual an action had an unusual motive did not walk away from the place he had left them in but from thence had fixtly consider'd his actions and gestures as things in which they might discover his thoughts which they found were very perplex'd for having ended his two Letters he walk'd three or four turns then read them over again and after the third time he had done the same pulling down his Hat over his Eyes and folding his Arms one within the other he conntinu'd with as little outward disquiet as the inward was great At length after an hour so spent he came again to the Princess and his Rival and to the first of them presented his Letters telling her withal by whom the last was written and that he had sent it in his Prince's Packet as the least hazardous conveyance Parthenissa whilst she was reading both in her looks and gesture exprest no small disorder and Surena as soon as she had ended having receiv'd his Papers saluted her with as much humility as sadness and then went to the Garden door where his Guards expected him and where he commanded their Captain immediately to seize upon Artabbanes to carry him close prisoner to the Castle and to keep him there in that quality 'till he received further orders Surena having given him these Commands went immediately to the Cittadel whither he remov'd his lodgings and from whence he sent two hundred Soldiers to guard the Place and to permit none either to enter into it or to come out of it without a Pass under his own hand The Captain who had receiv'd direction make Artabbanes his Prisoner being a Parthian and consequently reverencing the high blood of the Arsacides came even in tears to do his duty and protested he had much rather have lost his own Liberty than become the Instrument of depriving my Prince of his who judging by Surena's abrupt departure and by those of the Guards coming towards him what their intentions were went to his weeping Princess and implor'd her to support her Faith on the many precedent deliverances the gods had sent him that Surena had so dearly purchas'd her esteem and so justly valu'd it that it was improbable he would by any Criminal performance destroy what was so long a perfecting especially since his fall herein would be like a Statesmans which admits not of a second He saw in his Looks a reluctancy to his action and that he was too much a Gentleman to be guided by considerations opposite to reason and honour or for the satisfaction of Merinzor's hopes to ruin his own Artabbanes had further enlarg'd himself in consolations of this quality had he not perceiv'd that already Parthenissa's colour began to abandon her as her senses did suddenly after and by falling in his Arms seem'd to tell him she expected no consolation but from Death my Prince that had given her hopes for his own condition could give himself none for hers which lasted not long in that extream for by that time that he Emilia
I had against Diocles over whom thereby I might believe my advantage was sufficient without seeking any greater from my Sword Whilst I was thus evincing my gratitude and entertaining my apprehensions Monyma went out of the room as she told me to call one of her Women left Philopomanes by finding us alone might not only suspect the cause of Diocles's going away but prohibit her receiving any visits from me to prevent his receiving the like disgust in the future Her return with what she went for was so sudden that it then silenc'd one of my doubts and because I had received as much satisfaction as I could have promis'd my self from that day's waiting on her that I had a witness which deni'd me the liberty of those discourses which I took most pleasure in and that the hour of meeting Diocles drew near I kist the fair Monyma's hands and went not long after to the place we had agreed on where instead of finding Diocles I found a guard of Soldiers who convey'd me to my own house and by their placing themselves at my Gate made me know it was my prison soon after a friend of mine came to advertise me that Diocles had preceded me in the like usage At first I repin'd against Monyma who I knew was only acquainted with our difference and who I learnt afterwards went out of the Chamber purposely to send notice thereof to the Officers of Justice apprehending she denied me the repetition of a Victory my Sword had once conferr'd on me But then my thoughts changing I began to believe as Lovers still are apt to flatter themselves that her being more a friend to my safety than my honour had occasioned this proceeding and in that faith I found in my trouble my satisfaction But said Callimachus to continue this part of my Story in that brevity which I have hitherto practised I shall tell you That after the Magistrates had declar'd we should not be freed till we had mutually sworn never to fight against each other and that all our friends had long and unsuccessfully endeavour'd to extort that promise from us wearied with our confinement more with our not waiting upon Monyma but most of all to obey her command we past that assurance before her and continued as much friends as persons which had so little cause for it could be The next day after this reconciliation Monyma sent to me to meet her at Irenes with whom she was perfectly reconcil'd having discover'd her mistake where she told me she had received a positive command from Philopomanes never to admit any of my visits and therefore henceforth those I pay'd her must be where I then was and that too both privately and seldom left the priviledg of going to see her friend might be also denied her She further told me she was confident this had long since been resolv'd though but that morning only enjoin'd for her Father knew too well how much an alliance with so considerable a person and so vastly rich as Diocles was would be to his advantage and settlement in Miletus not to prosecute it with his utmost endeavours and that had he given her that command before the reconciliation it would for ever have hinder'd it for knowing I should have been eternally depriv'd of her company I would probably have declin'd that agreement which must have involv'd my Rival in the like infelicity she then too acquainted me with that which her disorders at my former visit had made her omit which was that before Diocles made any expressions of his passions to her he had conjur'd her to acquaint him whether she had any inclinations for or engagements to me that if she had he might not be so rude as to give any interruption to a person whose satisfaction should always form his To which she assur'd him she had not which then was a real truth my not waiting on her having made her believe I had supprest my inclinations for her which had invited her to silence any she honoured me with This information made me much lessen that aversion I had for Diocles who I till then thought had designedly endeavoured to be my Rival but on the other side I was struck with so deep a sadness foreseeing those obstructions my passion would contend with that neither some fresh favours of Monyma's nor Irene's promising me all her assistance could any way divest me of my melancholly which made the first of them tell me she thought my affection was not near so high as I represented it since she too visibly found my fear was greater than my love and that the apprehensions of things to come were more prevalent to make me sad than her friendship was to hinder me from it I was much asham'd to have this reprehension but much more to have deserved it which to do so no longer I forced my self to divert those two persons I so justly esteemed which yet I did so constrainedly that I gave them more cause of pity than satisfaction I had some time the happiness of thus waiting on Monyma at the fair Irene's and of receiving reiterated assurances from her that neither Diocles's address nor Philopomanes commands could any thing prevail to the prejudice of my passion And as she was determin'd not to give her self to any without his consent so she would not be given to any without her own 'T was by such entertainments as these that at length my grief was conquer'd and almost the two Moons of Telamon's absence during all which I had not heard any thing of or from him which gave me occasion both of trouble and wonder But alas not long after this tolerable condition I was told by Monyma that her vigilant Father having discovered these hours of entertainment we enjoyed at the fair Irene's he had so expresly prohibited her ever to speak to me again that now there was no way left of communicating our minds but by Letters which too must be manag'd with much circumspection and art lest that Expedient of acquainting each other with our thoughts might be also denied us But now I must make a little digression to inform you of what brought as great as unexpected a change not only in my then passion but in all the subsequent Actions of my life When Sylla had pacified Asia and made conditions with or rather impos'd them on Mithridates two of which were that Ariobarzanes should be restored to Cappadocia and Nicomedes to Bithynia he shipt his Army for Italy in the resigned-up Fleet of the Pontick King and left Murena and Cotta with two Legions only either to shew how absolute his conquest had been or that he could spare no more from his intended one to settle those Princes in their Thrones and to order those other affairs which his precipitate departure had denied him time to effect These two Roman Commanders summon'd Mithridates to withdraw his Garisons and Army out of those two Kingdoms which at first he seem'd to
in not only being content to save my mortal'st Enemy when too she contributed nothing to his ruine but the performing of her Duty but also in making the purchase of that safety the loss of my only Child she obey'd me whilst she knew I was ignorant of what I did and disobey'd me when she ignor'd not what I enjoyn'd but that also the injunction was just besides after I had preserv'd Perolla's life when I had both Power and Justice to extinguish it by her receiving his prohibited visits and by making a contract of passions with him she thereby endeavours to induce me to detest Charity by converting the effects of Mine into so sensible a gief and when for my successful endeavours and duty to the Roman Empire I became Hanniba'ls prisoner she invites an assistance for my Liberty which I had declar'd in her hearing was a greater misfortune than that execution I was menac'd with whereby she did offend either my professions or me the first by not crediting them or the last in acting against them if she believ'd their Truth nay she acknowledg'd she was apprehensive of losing her happiness in attempting to preserve a part intending her Lover by the former and her Father by the latter thereby becoming so impious as before Perolla was her Husband to give him a precedency only due unto that relation She is so earnest to disoblige me that she impudently confest she put her self in the highest perplexity she was capable of to involve me in a resembling one When I was got out of prison in the hurry of that change she endeavours to extort a declaration from me that in a setled temper of mind she knew my judgement would deny gives Perolla unjust praises to make me give him an unjust reward and would render that an act of Friendship for me which was but one of Friendship to himself as you may be pleas'd to remember I then largely evinc'd but when the second time I was taken whether it proceeded from their revenge or my own misfortune I will not positively determine Alas Sir how ungrateful was her carriage she says that she came to preserve my life but her actions say 't was to preserve Perolla's and when her Fathers and her Loverslife came in competition she gave up the first a Sacrifice to preserve the last from being one neither can she alledge this impious proceeding was an effect of a precipitate election upon a suddain emergency for after she had publish'd her Love was the god over her Duty Hannibal startled at a Declaration which was even a Monster in Nature gave her not only leasure to reflect on her crime but power to recall it yet she to demonstrate that the murthering her Father was a premeditated design and not a hasty choice perseveres in and repeats her impiety when he that was to receive the advantage of it condemn'd and detested it which action of Virtue her depraved reason makes a confirmative argument for her continuing in her vice This Sir which I alledge would be I believe the reasoning of a stranger which has any but now I beseech you let us take her own sence upon this way of proceeding she first alledg'd that I had not been gratefull enough to Perolla's Virtue and that now she was to act my part she would make him know what his performances were and what my gratitude should have been by her Retributions To this I answer that besides my former saving his life after his Father treacherously endeavour'd to take away mine the condition I then was in sufficiently confirm'd my Gratitude for the same Proclamation which gave her a rise to save my life by her declaring who 't was that fore'd the Prison for my deliverance gave me the same power for no one was excluded by the manifest which my Gratitude made me decline and rather elect to lose my own life than secure it by hazarding my preservers for I was confident the Guards were too strict to have admitted his going out of Salapia and though as in this action I evinc'd that I preferr'd my Gratitude before my life so I did too too that I preferr'd death before any alliance with Pacuvius's Bloud yet she persever'd in a passion which tended to that or a more unlegitimate end Hernext allegation is as vain as the first for to justify she murther'd me with a good intention she designs to murther her self as if one crime could expiate another or as if having kill'd one of the Family the destroying of the residue were a sufficient reparation No Sir she loves Pacuvius's Bloud so much that she has a hatred to her own for being the object of his and so weds his resentments that she executes her Father herself and consequently all her family to act them but my enemy wasmore merciful than my Daughter for I receiv'd that life from Hannibal which Izadora deny'd me and though those Crimes her Constancy in a forbidden Flame and her seeking Death because of a supposed loss which she knew was my satisfaction might have induc'd me to consider her sufferings as an immediate justice of the gods for her want of duty yet as soon as Hannibal threaten'd to be their instrument in it I not only hazarded my Life and Fortune to prevent it but also embrac'd her satisfaction with so much concern that rather than continue her languishings I intended to set a period to them by giving her to Perolla which I had effected had not he at the same time I was acting his felicity been robbing me of my Glory for though he attributed his immediate leaving of Salapia after Hannibal's repulse to a design of suppressing any jealousie his continuance in it might create yet I was perfectly inform'd 't was his Ambition not his Respect that caus'd it and his speedy return to the Camp was only to ingross an honor to himself which in a good proportion was built with my Bloud neither did his long abstaining from justifying himself to me proceed as his Mistriss said from his ignorance of my resentments but from his being conscious of the justice of them And though she magnifies Pacuvius's Sons gallantry in crediting my Change I must only his Reason since in that only by what I had already done he might well credit any thing I should doe But after that by Perolla's new affront I had alter'd my resolutions by esteeming him unworthy of my Allyance that esteem'd me unworthy of justice and after that by my former concessions I had manifested to her my present resentments were effects of my Reason and not of aversion for her Lover yet she was so far from sympathizing with me in my legitimate resolves that when I presented her Flamminius who wanted nothing but the being of Pacuvius Family she was notonly content to decline the Husband I approv'd but elected one I justly abhorr'd and when his being more intent in Affrick on her Revenge than his Love which might have something lessen'd hers
had like to have render'd her disobedience without excuse she determines to abandon her Father and the World rather than a negligent Lover and was satisfy'd with no way of being reliev'd from her Distress unless she increases her own Crime by making Perolla act another nay so much abhorrs any thing from her Fathers recommendation that Flamminius coming to her upon that score she will rather hazard her Lovers Bloud than spare his To conclude that her impiety might be uncapable of any accession and to resemble her Servant as perfectly in Sin as in Affection she like him by stealing away violates all Divine and Humane Laws and her not being Married which she alledges to qualify her Crime is an aggravation of it for flying from her Father to her Husband had been only an offence in giving Perolla that Title but flying from her Father to her Lover she must be more oblig'd to Mens Charities than to her actions if they have not thereby as bad a Character of her Chastity as I of her Duty These Sir said Blacius are my reasonings and as I believe they are not much dissonant from Truth which gives me a confidence that if your justice be proportionable to your power you will right an injur'd Father but if her Sex moves you to pitty Perolla's I hope will not your punishment of him will obliquely repair my wrongs for either his death will be the occasion of hers or if she revive him her torment or her cure will be my satisfaction This discourse did but increase that wonder Pacuvius had given a being unto And my Prince was preparing himself to declaim upon a Theme which would have furnish'd reasons to a Judgement as ill as his was excellent when he was diverted by a noise and suddainly perceiv'd the occasion of it was the coming in of Granius Furiles and some other Officers of his Army that presented him with two Salapians whose very sight almost depriv'd Pacuvius and Blacius both of theirs and of their Lives Spartacus observ'd it and so did our generous Lovers but being ignorant of the cause they expected with much patience to learn it which they soon did by one of the Salapians addressing himself to Spartacus in these words Sir we are come to beg Justice of you for you These two Gentlemen pointing at Pacuvius and Blacius whose guilt is as much in their Faces as in their Hearts observing in the Assault that my Companion and I employ'd our Lives somewhat prodigally for the defence of our City inferr'd from thence that we would hazard them to be reveng'd on the Conqueror of it and in this Faith came severally to us and by assurances of excessive rewards hir'd us by our treachery to destroy what we could not by our Swords This office we accepted were seemingly wicked but to be really the contrary and undertook to kill you that we might preserve you for we apprehended our declining their overture might have induc'd them to invite some others to embrace it where the greatness of the reward might have cover'd the greatness of the crime besides Sir for us to have undertook such a design had been a Sin against Gratitude as well as Honour for we are two of those that receiv'd our Liberties when we expected our Deaths and if we employ'd those Lives against you which we receiv'd from you 't was not only by your permission but by your command and since to obey you we durst draw our Swords against you you cannot suspect we will decline any other obedience The Salapian had no sooner done speaking than Blacius first and afterwards Pacuvius acknowledg'd by their words what their tremblings and disorders had confest and though they severally alledg'd that the ignorance they then were in of my Prince's virtue and their knowledge that in him only consisted the Life and Soul of his Army had induc'd them to that revenge yet all the Assistants but the generous Lovers were so enrag'd at them for their Tyranny to their Children and their intended treachery treachery to so mild a Conqueror that there was nothing heard in that great Assembly but Cryes that Spartacus should revenge himself that he should extirpate such Monsters out of the World and pay with their Lives those Crosses which they had given to Izadora and Perolla Granicus too and the other Officers that came with him inform'd Spartacus that they had been already condemn'd by a Court-Marshal upon that Article That whosoever endeavour'd the death of the General should receive his own for his punishment so that he had nothing to do but to give the Law its course which in that case to oppose was not to be merciful but unjust All this while the generous Lovers were so confounded that had not their innocence been known their disorders and trouble had been taken for their Guilt but my Prince having whisper'd something privately to Euriles he went to Izadora and her generous Servant begg'd them to excuse an execution which Blacius and Pacuvius merited had it been only for their cruelty to them that in their deaths they might read the justice of the gods by rendring their vices which had been the cause of their own troubles the occasion of their Parents punishment and of their own quiet that since for him to be just would make them happy he hoped they would pardon a revenge which he inflicted as much upon their score as his own Then my Prince bid Euriles carry away the Delinquents to receive the censure had been giventhem At that sad command both Izadora and Perolla cast themselves at Spartacus Feet which having a while wash'd with their Tears they begg'd him either to alter his sentence or permit them to participate in it that if the death of their Fathers must be the only way to their union they would be content with the being eternally deny'd it rather than purchase it at that rate that they should be more miserable in the loss of their Parents than in their cruelty and lastly they protested by inviolable Oaths if they suffer'd they would perpetually banish themselves from each others company and either by grief or resolution suddenly follow them Then rising up from my Prince they prostrated themselves at their Fathers Feet where they again reiterated those engagements and in such passionate terms and moving actions implor'd their pardons for those disobediences their Lovers not they had committed and which they would suddainly repair by embracing a resembling destiny to theirs that my Prince could not abstain from crying out Tyrants are you so much fortified against Virtue that so powerful an assault must remain fruitless can Fathers see that without pity which Strangers cannot can Nature be insensible against the attempts of Nature Whilst Spartacus was speaking many things of this quality Izadora and her generous Servant had by their weepings so laid their Fathers rage as showres do storms that those Clouds of hatred which had so long hinder'd Reason and Nature from shining began
him but as believing it a Sanctuary which Prusias durst not violate for it was from the Romans he had received his Kingdom which he had forfeited to them by that assistance he had given Perseus King of Macedon whose Sister he had married But nothing being able to suppress the Tyrant's cruelty when the dictates of Nature could not he sent Minas to Rome to destroy that life there which the gods had so miraculously preserved in Bithynia But Minas when he was to act his treachery and had on purpose inveagled Nicomedes alone to walk on the banks of Tiber was so overcome with the Majesty of his Person and the charms of his Virtue that instead of executing his crime upon his Prince he revealed it to him and afterwards made him so clearly sensible of the great hazard he should constantly be in of losing his life if Prusias had power enough left to destroy it that he at length perswaded Nicomedes to go to Attalus and implore an Army able to bring Prusias to Reason Minas assuring him that as soon as he entred Bithynia he would bring him forces so considerable that Prusias should not be able to resist In brief all this was performed and after a long and intricate War Prusias scorning all accommodation was reduced to be King of nothing but the City of Nicomedia in which Minas had so good intelligence and so many friends that they admitted Nicomedes and his Army by night who before his entrance prohibited all violence or incivility to his Father upon pain of death But Prusias at the alarm fled in disguise towards the Temple of Iupiter for Sanctuary and being by the way met by some of Nicomede's Soldiers though he told them who he was was yet kill'd This news brought to Nicomedes he ran to the dead body embraced and wept over it punish'd exemplarily all the Soldiers which had had a hand in his death then gave him a Regal funeral and afterwards languished away his own life To him succeeded his Son Nicomedes sirnamed Philopater who no sooner came to the age of relishing a Scepter but his was forced from him by Socrates â—irnamed Chrestus his only brother and thereby necessitated to seek protection in Cappadocia under Ariobarzanes the King of that Country whose daughter he married and when she had presented him with a Son also called Nicomedes she engaged her Father in the War against Chrestus who being a greater Soldier than either Philopater or Ariobarzanes not only after a ten years War drove them out of Bithynia which they had invaded but also out of Cappadocia and forced both the Kings with the young Nicomedes to fly to Rome where some years they continued imploring a Roman Army for their restauration which they at length obtained The Generals were Mannius Aquilius and Lucius Cassius whose Armies being small they were ordered to demand an additional force from Mithridates Eupater who having privately agreed with Socrates to have Cappadocia if he would not assist the Romans in recovering Bithynia deny'd Cassius and Mannius his assistance who yet by that influence the banished Kings had over their Subjects defeated and killed Socrates in a furious Battel and re-seated Ariobarzanes and Nicomedes in those Thrones of which they had been so long and so unjustly deprived But the poor Philopater had no sooner received his Son from Rome whose youth was as promising as either his Parents or the Bithynians could desire but that his Queen died and that loss had so strong an operation upon him that he soon accompanied her and left Bithynia to Nicomedes my Father I have given you this little account of my family the crimes whereof though but inherent to one yet the misfortunes were to all to let you see that such as are eminent in Title are often so in afflictions that the gods by ruining the highest earthly felicities teach us thereby that they are not too solicitously to be prosecuted by those that want them nor to be rely'd on by those which possess them but that they ought to be considered as things which will leave us or must be left by us that we should be no more moved with the fruition than with the deprivation of them and that these just considerations might instruct us to fix upon that place where Fortune has no Empire and to which Vertue only has the title The Kingdom of Bithynia knew few Superlours in extent in fertility in the beauty and greatness of Cities or in the multiplicity of warlike Inhabitants when Nicomedes my unfortunate Father came to govern it and though he were a person replenished with all the realities and ornaments which makes one worthy to ascend a Throne and to be setled in it yet those Powers who from occult causes raise some to a Crown that deserve it not and tare the Scepter from some who deserve to hold it esteemed the unhappy Nicomedes a fit Subject on which to manifest the last of these truths and it was in this manner that they acted their decree When he came to ascend the throne by his Father's death it was in so early an age that he had a higher desire to observe how other Kings did rule their Subjects than he then had to rule his own or else he believed by having a personal inspection into the advantages and defects of the Regiment of others he might the more perfectly know how to carry on his own but from whatever principle it proceeded and whatever danger he incurred yet he was unmoveably fixt to visit in a disguise the Courts of such Princes in Asia whom same had most celebrated and therefore having intrusted his affairs at home to the Prince Astyages his Uncle and then apparent Successor a Person as eminent for the honest as the politick part of Government but so strict a Justiciar that he put his only Son to death for having violated a Law whose infringement was to be accompanied with that penalty he began his travels in an equipage fit to cloud the greatness of his real quality and yet sufficient to manifest he was of no inconsiderable one In brief after he had fruitfully visited all places fit for his curiosity or benefit he at length came to Mithridates Court then the most considerable of all others in every respect for though as then the Prince pharnaces the Prince Ataphernes the Princess Statira and the Princess Roxana were not come into the world yet there was such a confluence of other illustrious persons and beauties which composed it that Nicomedes was often heard say That to be one of that Court was as good as to be the chief of any other But that which raised this opinion in my Father was that the Pontick King who all the world knew was as violent as inconstant in his loves had then newly assumed a passion for the Princess Fontamyris who was only Heir to Cephines a Tributary-Prince unto him yet very considerable for his power and wisdom This Amour joyn'd with
Mithridates youth made his Court the most delicious place not only of Asia but of the whole world My Father too being in an age very susceptible of all the charms of such a place it was not strange he had so high an opinion of it since all sort of gallantries shined there in their greatest lusture The next night after Nicomedes came to Pergamus then the residence of Mithridates he was informed that the ensuing one the King presented Fontamyris with a magniâ—ick Ball the great discourse of such a meeting and the greater of that beauty who was the cause of it gave my Father the curiosity to be a looker on but he no sooner saw the fair Fontamyris than he became one indeed and what his curiosity had extended over the whole Assembly a more pressing cause confined to one of it And though Nicomedes the more unobâ—ervedly to gaze on his new Conqueror had retired himself into the throng yet his good Meen and the advantage of his stature was such that amongst many who considered him upon those scores as well as for his being a stranger the fair Fontamyris did it so intently that not only Nicomedes observed and was concern'd in it but Mithridates did the like too and they had both much more cause for both when the fair Fontamyris by the rules of the Ball was to elect one to dance with she chose my Father out of the throng who as much confounded as joyful at it having with a deep humility acknowledged the honour she did him in the Pontick tongue also which he spake as naturally as his own he afterwards acquitted himself with so much grace and unconstrainedness in the Dance and observed the Cadence with so much justness and regularity that the Courtiers who found how much his having done so disgusted Mithridates could not find in their envy and malice the least rise to manifest either for the more curiously and nicely they examined what he had performed the more cause they found to esteem and admire it And that Fontamyris might have as much occasion to be satiâ—fied with his civility as he had to be with hers whilst he was leading her to her place he again made her so many handsom retributions for the honour she had done him that if she had reason to be pleased with what he did in the Dance she had at least as much to be so with what he had done after it Nicomedes being obliged by the Rules of the Ball to take out another Lady he took one who â—ate next to Fontamyris with whom he Danc'd and then having saluted Mithridates and all the company with much humility but Fontamyris with much more he retired into the throng where he continued as long as the Ball and in distempers which till then he had never been acquainted with But said Callimmachus not having undertaken Nicomede's story but mine I will be as brief in his as I can with obedience to what you have commanded me concerning mine own and therefore I shall in short acquaint you that my Father was so far engag'd in his passion to Fontamyris and so successfully made his Court that at length it was not only her opinion but confession that the difference between the Kingdoms of Mithridates and Nicomedes was not near so great as that between their persons for my Father had informed Fontamyris and Cephines of his real quality though he and they had conceal'd it from the Pontick King who never knew thereof till Nicomedes had secretly carried away the Princess into Bithynia which he did both by hers and her Father's consent who yet durst not publickly own it lest Mithridates resentments might have vented themselves against him who only was in his power Soon after in Nicomedia the Nuptials were re-solemnized openly and with all the magnificence a young King and a successful Lover could invent But alas those joys were but of short duration and like glorious mornings which are the soonest over-cast and turned to tears for the lightning of this Nuptial-Torch was the flame which set all Asia on fire was the original of that fatal war which afterwards the world too well knew by the name of Mithridatick and was the occasion or pretence of drawing the Roman Eagles out of Europe into the East where they have since extended their wings into the Euphrates over which 't is believed they had long since flown had not the Domestick differences of her proud Citizens done more for Asia than the blood and swords of all her Inhabitants This great people jealous of their glory or thirsting after a pretence to encrease it and their Empire so highly resented Mithridates not assisting Mannius Aquilius and Lucius Cassius in the recovery of Bithynia and Cappadocia that they commanded those two Generals to invade Pontus and to make the loss of that great Kingdom the Penance of the King's disobedience But knowing the Roman Army was too small for so great a design by a solemn Embassy they invited Nicomedes to joyn his Arms to theirs and to suppress the Enemy both to his Family and Person Nicomedes who owed his Crown to the Romans who knew Mithridates Resentment would proportion his Loss That if he omitted this opportunity of depressing him he would probably never meet with such another and perhaps in a heat of youth ambitious to mingle Laurels with his Myrtles invited by Gratitude Policy and Glory added a Bithynian Army to the Roman over both which the Senate made him General which they the more confidently did because his Education was Roman and this Action made them believe his Inclination was the like Nicomedes Mannius and Cassius found Eupater on the Frontiers of Pontus with a vast Army which he had raised to invade his Rivals Kingdom but now to his grief and wonder he found must be employed to defend his own The Retail of this War would be endless I shall therefore omit all the battels sieges and encounters of it to tell you the event of that signal day on the success of which both parties had set up their Reâ—ts The Consequence being great the Forces which composed both Armies were the like under Mithridates Ensigns there were Two hundred thousand foot and One hundred thousand Horse rais'd in Pontus Lidia the two Scâ—thia's Mesopotamia Armenia the less and even the Bactrians and the farther Eastern people came to his help against the Romans their common Enemy to all which Craterus a great Captain had brought him One hundred and thirty Chariots armed and fortified with sharp Sithes an invention which till then the Romans and Bâ—thinians had never been acquainted with and which did more against Nicomedes Army than all Mithridates's besides These great Forces were led by Commanders whose Gallantry rendered them as formidable as their Numbers besides Craterus there was Dorilaus who led a Phalange of Foot so considerable both for the number and order that the Romans both feared and admired it Neoptolemus led Thirty thousand Horse and